Cryptococcal Meningitis in an Immunocompetent Patient With Underlying Risk Factors.

Cryptococcal meningitis, a severe fungal infection of the central nervous system, is usually found in immunocompromised patients, especially those with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Its occurrence in immunocompetent individuals is rare and the presentation can be nonspecific. We present a case of cryptococcal meningitis in a young, immunocompetent male with a known history of intravenous drug abuse who was also found to have hepatitis C during admission. Induction therapy with amphotericin B and flucytosine was completed for 14 days. This shorter duration was considered as he had a good clinical response with rapid improvement in mental status and intracranial pressure with an extraventricular drain and negative repeat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture. However, during the consolidation phase with fluconazole, the patient developed new neurologic symptoms and the induction phase had to be re-initiated for a total of 28 days. The patient likewise required the re-placement of an extraventricular drain and the creation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt due to persistent CSF accumulation and increased intracranial pressure. He was eventually discharged on fluconazole for a planned consolidation phase of eight weeks, followed by a prolonged maintenance phase, but the patient was lost to follow-up.

Clinical Challenges and Management Strategies in Pulmonary Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma.

Pulmonary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare but aggressive malignancy of the lung. Its nonspecific presentation and propensity for severe disease at the time of diagnosis create challenges in treatment. We report a case of an asymptomatic 61-year-old female who was incidentally found to have a pulmonary nodule after a fall. Upon further workup, she was found to have an aggressive LCNEC. The patient underwent a robotic-assisted left upper lobectomy, which was complicated by left lower lobe bronchus kinking and post-obstructive atelectasis, warranting further management by thoracic surgery. The patient additionally underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), open thoracotomy, pneumopexy, and bronchial stenting. This case highlights the need for strategies for early detection in at-risk populations. A multidisciplinary approach, which may involve both medical and surgical subspecialties, is essential in the management of this complex disease from the time of diagnosis to follow-up postoperatively to achieve the best clinical outcome.

The Management of Intracardiac Thrombus in a COVID-19 Patient Using IV Thrombolytics: A Case Report.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has unveiled numerous clinical challenges, particularly its association with thrombotic events, which significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality. While thrombotic complications such as arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are well-documented, instances of intracardiac thrombus are notably rare. This case report discusses a 60-year-old male with COVID-19 who came to the hospital due to respiratory distress. Despite treatment with remdesivir, the patient's condition worsened prompting further workup. His nuclear medicine (NM) ventilation-perfusion scan was inconclusive, but a 2D echocardiogram showed an intracardiac thrombus in the right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV). As the patient's condition worsened, necessitating a transition from nasal cannula to high-flow nasal cannula, a decision was made to treat him with intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy. The patient received 100 mg IV alteplase and IV heparin, resulting in significant respiratory improvement and symptomatic relief. A repeat echocardiogram after 48 hours showed normal ejection fraction and complete thrombus resolution. In conclusion, this case highlights the complex link between COVID-19 infection and prothrombotic states, leading to severe complications such as intracardiac thrombus in transit. The successful treatment of this patient through a multidisciplinary approach and thrombolytic therapy underscores the importance of prompt recognition and intervention in high-risk cases.

Recurrent Oral Ulcers: Are They Horses or Zebras?

Oral ulcers are one of the most common complaints seen by general practitioners in their offices. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis affects roughly 20% of the general population. When ulcers persist despite conventional treatment, it is crucial to consider systemic diseases such as Behçet's disease to prevent delays in care. Early recognition and appropriate management of underlying conditions are essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life. We present a case of a 41-year-old Scottish male who came in with complaints of recurrent oral ulcers and oral thrush. Initial treatment by an infectious disease specialist resolved the oral thrush but not the ulcers. Despite further treatment attempts for three years, including biopsy and antiviral therapy, ulcers persisted. Finally, referral to rheumatology led to comprehensive autoimmune testing, revealing positive HLA B51 and a diagnosis of Behçet's disease. Treatment with topical steroids and colchicine yielded significant improvement.

A Rare Case of Trichilemmal Carcinoma of the Scalp.

Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is a rare, low-grade, malignant adnexal tumor. It is usually less than 3 cm long and arises from the external root sheath of the hair follicle, most commonly in sun-exposed areas of the body. The treatment of choice is wide local excision with tumor-free margins. We present an 88-year-old male patient who presented with an incidental large, dry, fumigating mass on his scalp for a one-year duration requiring surgical excision. The mass, initially thought to be a benign sebaceous cyst, was a 12-cm trichilemmal carcinoma diagnosed based on the histopathologic features of the mass. The specimen was composed of keratinaceous material and necrotic debris. The viable tumor was consistent with atypical squamous proliferation. The mass was fully excised down to the scalp on the first encounter, leaving no further tissue to excise. The patient's scalp site remained clean and without bleeding or recurrence. Currently, there is an increasing incidence of trichilemmal carcinoma. The pathophysiology of this disease is still unclear. The radiation from the sun is one of the factors that causes the growth of the lesions due to its location and distribution. Trichilemmal cysts can also transform into malignant trichilemmal carcinomas due to the p53 deletion. TC has a non-aggressive course despite its aggressive histology. The prognosis is generally good as it has low metastatic potential, like cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. However, TC with metastasis has a poor prognosis, and there is no consensus yet on treatment. For non-metastatic TC, simple surgical excision with adequate (0.5-1 cm) margins is an effective treatment. Different studies use different margins, and there is no consensus on the measurement for margin excision. Regular follow-up is recommended, but further studies regarding follow-up schedules are needed. Furthermore, despite the common use of chemotherapy in cases of malignant TC, only a limited number of studies have explored this treatment approach. Given the increasing incidence of the disease, we highly recommend more research to address this knowledge gap.

Cardiac Tamponade: An Initial Manifestation of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma.

Pericardial effusion, a clinical condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, has multiple etiological factors. One of the prominent causes is malignant effusion. The patient is a 69-year-old female with a past medical history of Crohn's disease, melanoma status post-resection, and osteoarthritis. She presented with complaints of abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath on exertion, and lower extremity swelling for the past 2-3 days. She was recently discharged four days before this visit after being treated for a viral infection. A physical examination was significant for tachycardia, muffled heart sounds, abdominal distention, and bilateral lower extremity swelling. Labs were in the normal range except for elevated liver enzymes and sodium of 130 mmol/L. A chest X-ray revealed a small bilateral effusion; a bedside echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction greater than 70% and a large pericardial effusion >2 cm, consistent with cardiac tamponade. Emergent pericardiocentesis was performed with the drainage of 250 milliliters of hemorrhagic fluid, which was sent for diagnostic studies. Post-procedure echo on the next day showed an EF of 35-40% and no recurrent pericardial effusion. The workup for connective tissue disease was negative except for elevated antinuclear antibodies (ANA). CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed gastric wall thickening with no solid organ mass. Her pericardial fluid studies were consistent with exudative etiology and positive for atypical lymphoid cells, leading to the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Malignant pericardial effusion is common due to solid organ malignancy; however, it is rare with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We present an intriguing case where pericardial effusion was the precursor to the eventual diagnosis of DLBCL, highlighting the complexity and diverse manifestations of this lymphoma subtype.

An Unusual Case of Thalamic Stroke in a Young Adult With Patent Foramen Ovale and Finasteride Use.

Symptomatic cerebral infarcts with cryptogenic ischemic stroke pose diagnostic challenges due to unknown etiology. Notably, up to half of young individuals with cryptogenic stroke exhibit patent foramen ovale (PFO), while finasteride, which is used for male pattern baldness, elevates testosterone levels, potentially increasing the risk of thrombosis. Here, we present a case of thalamic infarction in a 21-year-old male devoid of cerebrovascular risk factors but with PFO and finasteride use. The patient presented with short-term memory issues, otherwise lacking medical history or substance use. Examination revealed neurological deficits, with imaging indicating a left thalamic infarct. Subsequent investigations identified PFO, prompting referral for closure, yielding symptomatic improvement. Furthermore, discontinuation of finasteride was advised due to its thrombotic association. Finasteride's inhibition of 5-alpha reductase 2 increases testosterone conversion to estrogen, potentially promoting thrombosis. Finasteride use can cause thrombotic events, emphasizing its risk. In conclusion, young embolic stroke patients warrant PFO evaluation alongside hypercoagulable workup, with closure benefiting those under the age of 55. Additionally, discontinuing finasteride may mitigate thrombosis risk.

Evaluation of Monkeypox as an Unrecognized Sexually Transmitted Disease: A Rare Case of Monkeypox Infection with HIV and Syphilis Coinfection.

Monkeypox (MPX) virus is endemic in Africa. However, since May 2022, many cases have been reported worldwide in many non-endemic regions as well. The virus usually spreads from animals to humans or from humans to humans through respiratory droplets or after contact with infected lesions. In the recent outbreak of MPX, many cases did not have any travel history to endemic areas and were reported in men who have sex with men (MSM) along with the diagnosis of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, MPX is not yet considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI), even though a relationship between MPX and other STIs may exist with a possible facilitating action on their spreading. We present a similar case of MPX infection in an MSM patient with concomitant HIV and syphilis infections and no travel history to an endemic area.

Interventional Dilemma in a Young Woman With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Who Presented With High-Risk Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) Progressing to ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI).

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent presentation of acute myocardial infarction in young women and denotes the non-atherosclerotic separation of the coronary artery wall. Precipitating causes include fibromuscular dysplasia, postpartum hormonal changes, multiparity, connective tissue diseases like Marfan syndrome, autoimmune conditions, and hormonal therapy. It is often underdiagnosed due to a low index of suspicion based on age and gender bias as well as knowledge about different angiographic variants in SCAD. Intracoronary imaging with optical coherence tomography (OCT) or intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is used for patients where coronary angiography fails to secure a diagnosis to increase the diagnostic yield. The mainstay of stable SCAD is conservative management. However, there are no definitive guidelines due to limited clinical experience. Treatment involving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), fibrinolytic therapy, and mechanical hemodynamic support should be individualized depending upon clinical presentation, type, and extent of dissection, hemodynamic instability, critical anatomy involvement, and the extent of ischemic myocardium. We are presenting a case of a young female who presented with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) that progressed to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A coronary angiogram showed a tortuous left anterior descending artery (LAD) with a distal 100% occlusion due to SCAD. PCI was attempted but the guidewire could not be navigated intraluminally past the occlusion. CABG was not pursued due to the distal location of the occlusion and lack of visualization of the distal vessel. Our case provides a useful learning opportunity for physicians who may come across similar clinical presentations. In patients with high-risk features of SCAD who are deemed inoperable, timely and appropriate medical management may be a useful alternative for PCI/CABG and the recurrence rates of SCAD are very low.

Follicular Lymphoma Presenting as Intussusception in an Adult.

A 61-year-old male with no past medical history presented with intense abdominal pain for three days, associated with hematochezia, nausea, and non-bloody vomiting. CT scan of the abdomen showed distended small bowel, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and intussusception of the distal ileum into the cecum with obstruction. Ileocolic resection and histopathological staining confirmed the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma and appropriate treatment was initiated. Intussusception is a condition that involves the invagination of the proximal segment of a bowel tract into its contiguous distal segment as a result of enthusiastic or impaired peristalsis. Only 5% of the total intussusception cases are found in adults. Most cases in adults are caused by pathological lead points which can be benign or malignant. Lymphomas rarely present with intussusception and follicular lymphomas are even less common. To the best of our knowledge, there have only been a few such cases of follicular lymphomas with the initial presentation of intussusception. In this article, we present a rare case of follicular lymphoma presenting as intussusception. Considering lymphomas as a cause of intussusception in adults can decrease diagnostic delays and guide treatment.