Aches and Pains in a Patient With History of Prostatectomy: Extensive Skeletal Metastasis Picked up by Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

A 64-year-old gentleman presented to the out-patient with complaints of generalized body ache. He had a history of prostate cancer for which robotic radical prostatectomy (RP) was done earlier. The levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly elevated. Skeletal radiograph showed only few sclerotic foci. Magnetic resonance imaging whole-body diffusion-weighted image (MRI-WB-DWI) however revealed the presence of diffuse skeletal metastasis. In any elderly male who presents with generalized body pain, eliciting a good history should not be overlooked. With a history of prostate cancer, diffuse metastases should be high in the list of differential diagnosis. Though there are several imaging methods to detect metastases, MRI-WB-DWI is a welcome alternative to the established methods. Patients who undergo RP for prostate cancer should be counselled regarding the importance of follow-up of their PSA levels.

Eucalyptus oil poisoning: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Eucalyptus oil poisoning is rare in adults but is not that uncommon in children. The common side effects in children include depression in the level of consciousness, ataxia, seizures, and vomiting. Unlike in children, seizures are unusual in adult patients with eucalyptus oil poisoning. We report the cases of two patients with eucalyptus oil poisoning, both adults who unintentionally took eucalyptus oil and presented to the emergency room of our institution with seizures. CASE PRESENTATION: Two adult Indian men who unintentionally consumed eucalyptus oil presented to the emergency room of our institution with seizures. In both patients, arterial blood gas analysis showed the presence of severe metabolic acidosis. Both the patients were managed in the intensive care unit and received standard supportive care. Metabolic acidosis was corrected with intravenous bicarbonate infusion. They were successfully discharged on the fourth day. CONCLUSIONS: All physicians should be aware of the toxic effects of eucalyptus oil, which is used often in daily life in India. Supportive care in an intensive care unit, including rapid correction of metabolic acidosis and adequate maintenance of hemodynamic parameters, will lead to a rapid recovery. Warning labels should be made mandatory on all products that contain eucalyptus oil.