Hepatic Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor Mimicking Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, and liver PEComas are extremely rare. They are usually discovered incidentally, and diagnostic pitfalls are frequent owing to similar imaging characteristics to other liver neoplasms. We present a patient whose evaluation was consistent with a right-sided hepatocellular carcinoma for which right hepatectomy was performed. Based on the final histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry, a diagnosis of PEComa was made. Immunohistochemistry plays a crucial role in arriving at the diagnosis, and resection represents the standard of care. A long-term follow-up is recommended because the natural history of PEComas is unpredictable.

Congenital Anomalies of the Pancreas: Various Clinical Manifestations and Their Impact on Pancreatic Diseases and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Congenital anomalies of the pancreas are relatively uncommon. Most of these are asymptomatic and are detected incidentally, but can present with a variety of clinical manifestations like pancreatitis, duodenal obstruction, biliary obstruction, and rarely malignancy. Here in our study, we describe various congenital anomalies of the pancreas associated with various clinical manifestations, its management strategies, and outcomes. The aim was to study the various clinical manifestations of and management strategies for pancreatic diseases associated with congenital anomalies of the pancreas and their outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained institutional database of 14 patients, admitted over a period of three years from June 2019 to May 2022, who were treated for different clinical manifestations of various congenital anomalies of the pancreas and their outcomes was done at our institution. RESULTS: The total number of congenital anomalies of the pancreas in our study was 14 out of whom 7 (50%) were males and 7 (50%) females. The mean age of the patients was 37 years. The most common congenital anomaly was pancreatic divisum in six (42.9%) cases. The most common clinical manifestation was acute pancreatitis in four (28.6%) cases. One (7.1%) case was incidentally detected intraoperatively for another condition. Eight (57.1%) patients underwent surgical intervention and six (42.9%) patients were medically managed. Mortality occurred in two (14.3%) cases. Associated alcohol consumption was seen in 2 (14.3%) cases; 10 (71.4%) patients had no comorbidities while 4 (28.6%) patients had diabetes mellitus. Out of eight (57.1%) surgical patients, two (25%) had Clavien-Dindo grade I and one patient (12.5%) grade V complications. CONCLUSION: Congenital anomalies of the pancreas can be associated with a variety of clinical manifestations; their management strategies and outcomes are no different from patients with the same clinical manifestations with normal pancreatic development.

Clinical Outcomes among Asymptomatic or Mildly Symptomatic COVID-19 Patients in an Isolation Facility in Chennai, India.

Globally, India has reported the third highest number of COVID-19 cases. Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, witnessed a huge surge in COVID-19 cases, resulting in the establishment of isolation facilities named COVID Care Center (CCC). In our study, we describe the demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics; clinical progression; and outcome of 1,263 asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients isolated in one such CCC between May 4, 2020 and June 4, 2020. Around 10.5% of the patients progressed to moderate/severe illness, requiring referral for tertiary care, and three died. Nearly half (49.5%) of the patients were symptomatic at the time of admission, 2.2% of the patients developed symptoms post-testing, and 48.5% patients remained asymptomatic during the entire course of illness. Most common presenting symptoms were fever (69.9%) and cough (29.6%), followed by generalized body pain, breathlessness, and loss of smell and taste. On multivariate analysis, we identified that symptomatic patients with comorbidities and higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were more likely to progress to severe illness warranting referral for tertiary care. COVID Care Center ensured case isolation and monitoring of asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic patients, thereby providing hospital beds for sick patients. COVID Care Center isolation facilities are safe alternatives for medical institutions to isolate and monitor COVID-19 patients. Older symptomatic patients with comorbidities and a high NLR admitted in an isolation facility must be frequently monitored for prompt identification of clinical progression and referral to higher center for advanced medical care.