Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Case Report and Literature Review of Red Flags.

Introduction: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterised by recurrent paroxysmal brief episodes of electric shock-like pain along the trigeminal nerve distribution. Based on the underlying cause, the current classification systems have classified TN into idiopathic, classical and secondary TN. This manuscript presents a case report of a patient seen in the clinic with features of TN secondary to an intracranial lesion. Case Description: A 39-year-old female presented to the clinic with a 15-month history of severe, intermittent, short-lasting episodes of pain affecting the left lower teeth, jaw, nose and temporal region. The patient reported familiar shock-like pain during the physical examination when the skin of the left ala of the nose was lightly touched. The rest of the clinical examination was non-significant. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed an approximately 20 mm wide lesion at the level of the left cerebellopontine angle. After subsequent tests, the lesion was diagnosed as meningioma, and the patient was treated with stereotactic radiation therapy. Practical Implications: In up to 10% of TN cases, the underlying cause can be due to a brain tumour. Although persistent pain, sensory or motor nerve dysfunction, gait disturbances and other neurological signs may concurrently exist, raising a red flag for intracranial pathology, patients often present with pain alone as the heralding symptom of a brain tumour. Due to this, it is imperative that all patients suspected of having TN undergo an MRI of the brain as part of the diagnostic work-up.

Sonographic Evaluation of Incidental Synchronous Masses in Patients with Breast Cancer: Clinical Significance and Diagnostic Workup.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of breast ultrasonography in classifying incidental satellite masses as benign or malignant in patients with breast cancer and to assess its effect on their surgical management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration/biopsy was performed in 288 satellite masses of 225 patients with breast cancer. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the sonograms of these masses and classified them as benign or malignant and compared this feature with the results of the histopathological examination. The location of the satellite mass and type of surgery were also documented. RESULTS: Of the 288 satellite masses, 139 were located in the same quadrant, 95 in different quadrants, while 54 were in the contralateral breast. Of the 123 sonographically benign masses, 106 showed benign pathological outcome, and from 165 sonographically malignant masses, 127 were found malignant on histopathology/cytology. McNemar's chi-square was 7.27 (p-value=0.007), showing statistically significant association between sonographic features and pathological outcome of satellite masses. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were 88.2%, 73.6%, 77%, 86.1%, and 80.9% respectively. Based on these findings, 61 patients underwent lumpectomy limited to a single tumor, 52 underwent extended resection, 78 underwent mastectomy, four underwent lumpectomy for the contralateral breast, and bilateral mastectomies were performed in another four patients. Surgery was not performed in 26 patients. CONCLUSION: Although ultrasound is an effective tool for the detection and characterization of incidental satellite masses in patients with breast cancer, biopsy is imperative to ascertain the pathological diagnosis and, therefore, select the most appropriate surgical plan.

Dopamine Agonist-Induced Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhoea: A Case Report.

Introduction: Prolactinomas are the most common pituitary adenomas. Medical therapy with dopamine agonists (DAs) is the mainstay of treatment and rarely requires surgical manipulation. Patients may rarely present with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea after starting therapy with DA in case of massive or invasive prolactinomas. Case Description: We present a case of a 29-year-old lady with invasive prolactinoma who presented with CSF rhinorrhoea after a month of starting bromocriptine therapy with the development of meningitis and warranting early surgical repair. Practical Implications: Patients with macroprolactinoma should be closely monitored initially after starting on DA to avoid life-threatening complications.

Ectopic Acromegaly Secondary to Bronchial Tumour: A Case Report of Rare Occurrence.

Introduction: Acromegaly is caused due to the unregulated and sustained overproduction of growth hormone (GH). The majority of the cases are caused by autonomous secretion of GH from anterior pituitary tumours. Nonetheless, in <1% of the cases, the cause of autonomous secretion is secondary to ectopic GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) production. Bronchial carcinoids are the most common cause of ectopic GHRH production. Case Description: A 32-year-old female presented to the clinic with a history of cough, haemoptysis and undocumented weight loss for 4 years. Initial workup showed a large right main stem endobronchial mass. Transbronchial biopsy of the mass revealed a Grade I neuroendocrine tumour (NET). During NET workup, a large sellar mass was incidentally found on cross-sectional imaging. The hormonal profile revealed markedly elevated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and mildly raised prolactin. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain study revealed pituitary macroadenoma measuring 2 cm × 1.2 cm × 1.5 cm. The patient underwent bronchial carcinoid tumour resection, which led to normalisation of serum IGF-1 and GH response to an oral glucose tolerance test. Subsequent MRI brain revealed complete resolution of previously noted sellar mass. Practical Implications: This case highlights the importance of differentiating acromegaly secondary to pituitary adenoma and ectopic acromegaly. This case emphasises the importance of keeping rare entities in the differential while assessing patients with pituitary macroadenoma.

Skin Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients; a Case Series.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. It frequently metastasizes to bones, lungs and liver. Although rare, skin metastasis may also take place. It may also be the presenting feature of initial or recurrent breast cancer. The assessment of recurrent metastatic disease involving skin after mastectomy can be challenging because of the benign-appearing clinical presentation. The purpose of this case series was to explore the clinical and radiological presentation of skin metastasis in patients of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective case series of breast cancer patients with skin lesions on chest and abdomen at the time of initial presentation, or post-treatment such as, after mastectomy or breast conservation therapy; who underwent various radiological investigations including mammography, ultrasound scan, computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging from 1 May 2018 to 30 September 2019 at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Pakistan. Results: A total of eight cases were identified, out of which seven were females. The most common presentation consisted of the presence of metastatic nodules which were seen in 62.5% (five out of eight) of the patients. Other features consisted of erythematous or plaque-like skin thickening on clinical examination, increased density with indistinct margins seen on a mammogram and diffuse oedematous changes in the skin with small irregular mass or infiltration into subcutaneous tissues were visualised on ultrasound and CT studies. Conclusion: Skin metastasis from breast cancer most commonly presents as nodules, although rarely they may present as plaques or diffuse skin thickening. Awareness of diverse manifestations of skin metastasis is of utmost importance in early diagnosis and management.

Imaging Characteristics of Breast Lymphoma; a Case Series.

Introduction: Breast involvement by lymphoma is rare. It can occur as a primary breast tumour or as an extranodal manifestation of the systemic disease. The imaging features of breast lymphoma (BL) are not characteristic. Biopsy is necessary for diagnosis due to non-specific imaging features. Materials and Methods: A retrospective electronic medical chart review was conducted of patients diagnosed with lymphoma of breast that underwent diagnostic radiological procedures (including mammography, ultrasound breast, computed tomography (CT) scan and positron emission tomography (PET/CT) scan from 1 July 2018 to 31 March 2019 at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Pakistan. Results: Four patients were identified. On mammogram, the most common finding consisted of the presence of high-density masses with circumscribed or indistinct margins. On ultrasound, hypoechoic masses and indistinct diffuse infiltrative patterns were observed. PET/CT and CT were helpful in detecting extramammary sites of disease and for classifying the disease into primary or secondary BL. Conclusion: The early diagnosis of the BL is important. The radiologists should include lymphoma in the differential diagnosis when there is the absence of microcalcifications or spiculated margins on mammography and ultrasound.

Remote Cerebellar Haemorrhage: A Potential Iatrogenic Complication of Spinal Surgery.

We report the case of a 51-year-old man with no significant past medical history, who underwent elective revision spinal surgery and subsequently developed intracranial hypotension, remote cerebellar haemorrhage (RCH), and mild hydrocephalus on the fourth postoperative day. Remote cerebellar haemorrhage is a known complication of supratentorial surgery. This iatrogenic phenomenon may also occur following spinal surgery, due to dural tearing and rapid cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage, resulting in intracranial hypotension and cerebellar haemorrhage. This complication may result in severe permanent neurologic sequelae; hence, it is of pertinence to diagnose and manage it rapidly in order to optimise patient outcome.

Perfusion Imaging in Autoimmune Encephalitis.

Encephalitis is characterized by inflammation of brain tissue and has various infectious and noninfectious causes. CSF analysis and MRI usually reveal inflammatory changes although sometimes brain imaging may be normal. Autoimmune encephalitis is caused by antibodies against neuronal synaptic receptors, surface proteins, or intracellular proteins. In this case report, we present a 65-year-old female who presented with a fall and altered mental status. Workup for infectious etiologies was negative and MRI of the brain displayed focal restricted diffusion with corresponding T2-FLAIR hyperintensity involving gray matter structures, making the diagnosis unclear. CT perfusion of the brain demonstrated increased cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow in the left parietooccipital gray matter, with corresponding normal mean transit time. Following treatment failure with acyclovir, antibiotics, and steroids, the patient was found to be positive for GAD65 antibodies and diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis. Symptoms markedly improved with plasmapheresis. Autoimmune encephalitis rarely causes restricted diffusion and this is the first case report to describe corresponding hyperperfusion on CT perfusion study.

Grading of oligodendroglial tumors of the brain with apparent diffusion coefficient, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging.

Purpose We explored whether advanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques could grade oligodendrogliomas. Methods Forty patients (age 9-61 years) with oligodendroglial tumors were selected. There were 23 patients with World Health Organization grade II (group 1) and 17 patients with grade III (group 2) tumors. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were calculated by b values of 0 and 1000 s/mm2. Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) images were obtained during the first pass of a bolus of gadolinium-based contrast. These data were post-processed and cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps and permeability (PS) were calculated. MR spectroscopy was acquired after drawing a region of interest on the tumor using two-dimensional chemical shift imaging. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results When the rPSmax was combined with the rCBVmax, there was a significant difference between the two groups ( p ≤ 0.03) with area under the curve of 0.742 (95% CI: 0.412-0.904). rCBV, rADC, choline/creatine, and choline/NAA alone were able to differentiate between the two groups; however, they did not show any statistical difference with p values of ≤ 0.121, ≤ 0.722, and ≤ 0.582, respectively. A CBV PS product threshold of 0.53 provided a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 83.3% in detection of grade III tumors. Conclusion Combined rCBVmax and rPSmax can be utilized to grade oligodendrogliomas. ADC values, relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and MR spectroscopy alone can be utilized to differentiate between the two groups of oligodendrogliomas but without statistical significance.