Fibrosis of the Intestines in Response to Foreign Objects: A Case Report.

Foreign body ingestion of sharp objects can be a striking feature of psychological dysfunction with high morbidity and mortality. While the phenomenon has been reported on, primarily from a psychiatric perspective, this report will present the effects of this behavior on the intestinal system from a pathology perspective. The report is of a 43-year-old female with a past medical history of foreign object ingestion, borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, and prior suicidality who passed away due to bowel obstruction. Review of her history revealed an eighteen-year history of repeated foreign body ingestion with multiple surgical interventions. A particularly remarkable aspect revealed through the surgical history is the nature of the complications. They begin in 2008 with bowel perforation due to a blunt object and continue to present with perforation in the early years but show a gradual change to adhesions and obstruction as the primary concern. Her final presentation to the hospital and cause of death was due to obstruction, not perforation, even though the foreign bodies were six knives. While this case is not the only known report of foreign body ingestion, the extensive timeline and frequency allow for an examination of the gradual progression of fibrosis and adhesions within the intestines and abdominal wall, which led to the obstruction and death despite being a protective factor against further perforation.This case was presented at the annual Association of Clinical Scientists meeting (April 2-4, Jacksonville, FL).

Valproic Acid Induced Thrombocytopenia and Dysmegakaryopoiesis in a Pediatric Patient.

OBJECTIVE: Valproic acid (VPA) is an effective first-line anticonvulsant that is associated with several side effects including bone marrow suppression and subsequent cytopenia. However, VPA associated myelodysplasia is not a well described entity that can be seen in patients on VPA treatment. CASE REPORT: Herein, we describe a 9-year-old female patient with a past medical history of seizure disorder who presented with 3-week history of intermittent fevers, fatigue, weakness, and multiple unexplained bruises. Complete blood count (CBC) was remarkable for marked thrombocytopenia. Trephine biopsy showed a normocellular marrow with maturing trilineage hematopoiesis and scattered atypical megakaryocytes including numerous small hypolobated forms with frequent forms showing separated nuclei. Her CBC showed normalization 7 months after VPA was stopped. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of bone marrow suppression and myelodysplasia in patients on VPA treatment should be taken into consideration as it can cause a diagnostic pitfall especially in pediatric and elderly populations. A careful review of past medical history and medications can help make the correct diagnosis.

Lung Findings in a Patient with a History of Nicotine Vaping and Cannabis Smoking.

We report a collection of lung findings in a patient with a remote history of cigarette smoking, but now engaged in heavy nicotine vaping with daily edible and combustible cannabis use. Computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrated numerous, small, and bilateral nodules with ground-glass appearance. The largest nodule is demonstrated in the right upper lung lobe. Clinically the differential diagnosis at this time included hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis. Atypical infection, particularly of a fungal etiology, and metastatic malignancy were also considered. Initial pathology of the right lung needle biopsy revealed alveolar septal thickening with associated atypical pneumocyte proliferation, suggestive of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH). Subsequently the patient underwent wedge resection of the right upper, middle and lower lobes. Pathology examination revealed pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) in the upper and lower lobes, with CD1a staining highlighting the aggregates of Langerhans cells. Vascular changes were also present including intimal thickening of muscular pulmonary arteries, consistent with pulmonary hypertensive changes. Background lung parenchyma demonstrated respiratory bronchiolitis, smoking-related interstitial fibrosis, an organizing thrombus in muscular artery and associated pneumocyte hyperplasia.

Malignant Variant of Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumor with Neuroendocrine Differentiation.

A 60-year-old female presented with asymptomatic failing mandibular dental implants. Computed tomography (CT) showed a partially calcified, hypointense lesion within the soft tissues, measuring 1.3 x 0.8 x 1.0 cm along the buccal cortex. Incisional biopsy demonstrated a basaloid type of tumor composed of sheets of cells with plump ovoid nuclei, distinct nucleoli, and scant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitoses were present, averaging about 2 per 10 high power fields with scattered individual apoptotic cells. Numerous laminated calcified bodies (Liesegang rings) were observed with confluence of these bodies to form larger foci of dystrophic mineralization. These features clearly established the malignant nature of this tumor. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for synaptophysin, focally positivity for CAM 5.2 and had a Ki-67 proliferation index of approximately 25%. This is the first report of a tumor with features of a malignant variant of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor and neuroendocrine differentiation.