Case report: Purulent transformation of granulocytic sarcoma: An unusual pattern of differentiation in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

RATIONALE: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a curable subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. APL is currently treated with combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) resulting in the induction of apoptosis and differentiation of the leukemic cells. Differentiation syndrome (so-called ATRA syndrome) is the main life-threatening complication of induction therapy with these differentiating agents. PATIENT CONCERNS: Herein, we report the case of a 49-year-old woman diagnosed with APL with, concomitantly, a bulky cutaneous lesion of 10 cm diameter with a red-to-purple background and a necrotic center, localized on her abdomen. DIAGNOSES: After 10 days of treatment, the cutaneous lesion became purulent. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis performed on this pus confirmed the presence of malignant features in the involved granulocytes proving their origin from the differentiation of leukemic APL cells, as all the analyzed nuclei showed 2 promyelocytic leukemia (PML)-retinoic acid receptor-a (RARA) fusions signals. INTERVENTION: The association by ATRA and ATO was continued. OUTCOME: Eventually, the evolution was favorable with healing in three weeks. LESSONS: This case report therefore highlights the differentiation phenomenon of promyelocytic blasts within promyelocytic sarcoma with the ATRA-ATO combination and the efficacy of this drug association in resolving both the malignant sarcoma and a secondary local infection.

Dabigatran etexilate.

Dabigatran etexilate is an orally administered prodrug of dabigatran, which is a potent, concentration-dependent inhibitor of thrombus formation and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Dabigatran etexilate pharmacokinetics were linear across a wide dosage range. There were no clinically important pharmacokinetic interactions with digoxin (a P-glycoprotein substrate), pantoprazole (a proton-pump inhibitor) or drugs that are substrates and/or inhibitors of hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes. In two large, randomized, double-blind trials of the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement surgery, orally administered dabigatran etexilate 220 mg/day was noninferior to subcutaneous enoxaparin sodium 40 mg/day for the primary composite endpoint of total VTE events or all-cause mortality during the treatment period. There were no significant differences between dabigatran etexilate and enoxaparin sodium in major VTE events and VTE-related mortality. Across trials, < or =0.5% of patients experienced a symptomatic pulmonary embolus or died. Dabigatran etexilate was generally well tolerated. In patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement surgery, there was no significant difference between dabigatran etexilate and enoxaparin sodium recipients in the incidence of major or minor bleeding.

Left unilateral breast autoinflation and intraprosthetic collection of sterile pus: an unusual operative finding of silicone gel bleed with silicone lymphadenitis.

Implant rupture is a known complication after augmentation mammoplasty. Saline implant failure may present with few diagnosable problems due to the loss of volume. On the other hand, intracapsular silicone gel implant rupture or failure can be silent, asymptomatic, and difficult to diagnose in the absence of loss of breast volume. Silicone leak and migration to regional nodes has been reported but is uncommon and lymph node enlargement can be nonspecific in patients with intact prostheses. Causes, timing, and diagnosis of implant failure sites and mechanisms have been extensively studied and reported in the literature. Implant failure resulting in lymphadenopathy is uncommon. In this article autoinflation of the left breast with regional lymphadenopathy is presented. Upon exploration, the prosthesis was found to be filled with sterile pus, showing an inward movement of a thick creamy material in an otherwise macroscopically intact prosthesis.

Generalized pustular psoriasis and hepatic dysfunction associated with oral terbinafine therapy.

We report a case of 61-yr-old man with stable psoriasis who progressively developed generalized pustular eruption, erythroderma, fever, and hepatic dysfunction following oral terbinafine. Skin biopsy was compatible with pustular psoriasis. After discontinuation of terbinafine and initiating topical corticosteroid and calcipotriol combination with narrow band ultraviolet B therapy, patient's condition slowly improved until complete remission was reached 2 weeks later. The diagnosis of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) induced by oral terbinafine was made. To our knowledge, this is the first report of GPP accompanied by hepatic dysfunction associated with oral terbinafine therapy.

Docetaxel-induced onycholysis: the role of subungual hemorrhage and suppuration.

Nail changes are common side effects of taxane chemotherapeutic agents. Docetaxel (Taxotere) is known to cause a great incidence of nail change. Various types of nail changes have previously been reported as a result of treatment with taxanes. We describe 2 cases of severe nail changes induced by docetaxel. The patients had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer and advanced gastric cancer, respectively. During the course of treatment with docetaxel, nail changes became apparent in both patients. Initially, they complained of nail bed purpura. Subungual hematomas with hemopurulent discharge were later observed in several fingers. Drainage of the hemopurulent material occurred spontaneously in our cases, leading to onycholysis. Following drainage, the pain in the nail with subungual hemoprulent material was relieved immediately and spontaneous healing of the patients' nails was noticed after few months. Subungual hemorrhage and suppuration therefore are considered causes of onycholysis and the pain in these patients. Although systemic or topical antibiotics were not used to treat these patients, antibiotics may be also worthwhile to hasten the drainage of the subungual hematomas and suppuration in patients for quick relief of pain.

Complications associated with the bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination in Ireland.

INTRODUCTION: BCG vaccination is currently recommended for all newborns in Ireland except where specifically contraindicated. This paper describes a marked increase in the number of referrals of patients with localised complications after vaccination to two Dublin paediatric hospitals. This increase coincided with the introduction of a new strain of BCG vaccine METHODS: A population surveillance study was undertaken to determine the frequency and spectrum of complications associated with the new strain of BCG vaccine introduced in Ireland. Patients were identified though review of the infectious disease service case records and microbiology laboratory culture reports for the two year period from August 2002 to July 2004. Prospectively gathered data were supplemented by retrospective chart review. All infants who had inoculation site abscesses, suppurative adenopathy, or non-suppurative adenopathy with nodes > or =2 cm were included. RESULTS: Fifty eight patients presented a median of 13 weeks post-inoculation: 32 with suppurative adenitis, 17 with inoculation site abscess, three with both inoculation site abscess and suppurative adenitis, and six with non-suppurative adenopathy. The overall complication rate was estimated at 1/931 vaccinees with 1/1543 developing suppurative adenitis. Twenty six infants required surgery. DISCUSSION: This series illustrates the role of hospitals in sentinel surveillance and highlights the importance of having a well functioning and responsive system of adverse event reporting. These events raise a serious question as to the suitability of this vaccine strain for use in a national immunisation programme in a country where the prevalence of tuberculous disease is 10.4/100,000.

Needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic modality in suppurative lymphadenitis following Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccination.

OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks are known to occur after Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination. An outbreak of suppurative lymphadenitis in 18 infants, following BCG vaccination is reported from Sikkim, with incidence of 8.6%. The outbreak occurred after a change of vaccine. METHODS: In a prospective study the cases of suppurative lymphadenitis were diagnosed by needle aspiration cytology and culture of the material aspirated and managed only with repeated needle aspiration and no antitubercular treatment was given. RESULTS: Cytomorphology revealed necrosis alone in 66.6% and necrotizing granulomas in 22.2%. Acid and alcohol fast bacilli were detected in 77.7% cases. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated in eight cases. One case of staphylococcal suppurative lymphadenitis was detected. Sixteen cases were managed with weekly aspiration with mean period of resolution in eight weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Needle aspiration is useful in the diagnosis and effective in the management of these cases. No antitubercular treatment is desired and required in the cases of suppurative lymphadenitis following BCG vaccination.

Pyometra and uterine adenocarcinoma in a melengestrol acetate-implanted captive coati (Nasua nasua).

A 9-yr and 3-mo-old captive female coati (Nasua nasua) was implanted with melengestrol acetate for contraception for 4.5 yr prior to presentation. During her annual examination, purulent vaginal discharge and a palpably prominent uterus were identified. Ancillary diagnostic tests including hematology, cystocentesis, radiographs, and abdominal ultrasound were consistent with pyometra. An ovariohysterectomy was performed and histologic examination revealed pyometra and uterine adenocarcinoma, similar to pathology that has been associated with melengestrol acetate contraception in felids, canids, and primates. Given the potential association between melengestrol acetate and uterine pathology in this case, we recommend caution with melengestrol acetate use in procyonids.

Postoperative hypopyon after intravitreal bovine thrombin for macular hole surgery.

PURPOSE: We used intravitreal autologous fibrinogen with bovine thrombin for the surgical closure of macular holes in 60 cases. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy with separation of the posterior cortical vitreous was performed after air/fluid exchange. One to two drops each of autologous fibrinogen and bovine thrombin (20 to 80 U) were instilled in each patient. RESULTS: Five (8%) of 60 patients developed a hypopyon without unusual pain on the first postoperative day. Inflammation responded to frequent topical corticosteroids within 48 to 72 hours. CONCLUSION: Postvitrectomy hypopyon after the use of bovine thrombin may represent an immune reaction that must be differentiated from endophthalmitis. We recommend careful observation and frequent topical corticosteroids.

Amyloidosis secondary to drug abuse and chronic skin suppuration.

Amyloidosis has not been included in the wide spectrum of medical complications associated with drug abuse. Chronic visceral infection is a recognized cause of amyloidosis, but chronic suppuration of the skin is not a well-appreciated cause of this condition. Furthermore, to our knowledge, chronic skin suppuration secondary to parenteral drug abuse has not been reported as a cause for systemic amyloidosis. We report a case in which subcutaneous injections of narcotic tablets led to chronic skin suppuration and systemic amyloidosis.