RESUMEN
Cutaneous metastases of the breast carcinomas can present clinically as nodules, plaques and tumors (most commonly as nodules) as well as 'erysipelas-like' lesions are known as 'carcinoma erysipeloides'. We want to share our experience in diagnosing a middle-aged lady with carcinoma erysipeloides secondary to breast carcinoma and her management as this is commonly misdiagnosed as cellulitis or scleroderma in general practice. Unfortunately, the patient had presented to us at a late stage with wide-spread metastasis, and as such, chemotherapy was the only available option. She expired after her third cycle of chemotherapy.
RESUMEN
We present a case of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a patient with systemic vasculitis immunosuppressed on cyclophosphamide and prednisolone. The patient presented with a diffuse haemorrhagic oesophagitis and a non-specific duodenitis. Biopsies taken from the oesophagus and duodenum demonstrated infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) respectively. Viral infection of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a recognised complication of immunosuppression and HSV is one of the most common pathogens. CMV on the other hand most commonly causes a colitis or less commonly oesophagitis. CMV enteritis is rare as is the synchronous infection with two viral agents in an immunocompromised patient having being described in a few case series only. Viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract in immunocompromised patients should be treated with systemic anti-viral medication and consideration to withdrawal of the immunosuppressive therapy if possible and appropriate. The authors highlight the need for a high suspicion of viral infection in immunosuppressed patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
