Necrotizing Granulomatous Pneumocystis Infection Presenting as a Solitary Pulmonary Nodule: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungus that is classically associated with pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). However, this infection is now more commonly seen in those with malignancy, particularly lymphoproliferative disorders. Classic image findings with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) include bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without cyst formation. Up to 5% of patients with PJP may present with atypical image findings, specifically nodular opacities or masses thought to represent granulomatous inflammation. The differential diagnosis for a new solitary pulmonary nodule in an immunocompromised patient is broad. One must first rule out a recurrence of malignancy or new primary malignancy. In our patient's case, two nondiagnostic bronchoscopies with EBUS-TBNA eventually led to a surgical resection, which revealed a diagnosis of nodular necrotizing granulomatous Pneumocystis jirovecii. The diagnostic yield from EBUS is not well established, and most cases require surgical biopsy for definitive diagnosis. Further data regarding the use of EBUS-TBNA in diagnosing granulomatous PJP is needed.

Endobronchial Metastasis From Endometrial Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Primary endometrial carcinoma presenting with endobronchial metastasis is quite rare. Little is known about predisposing risk factors, and the exact pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear. The clinical presentation is non-specific, and symptoms likely vary depending on the disease burden. Proper tissue acquisition is necessary in order to differentiate between primary pulmonary malignancy and extra-thoracic malignancy presenting as metastatic disease. Although no formal guidelines regarding a standard diagnostic approach exist, flexible bronchoscopy with biopsy is generally regarded as having a high diagnostic yield depending on the extent of disease burden.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Central Nervous System Involvement Following Routine Surgical Procedures: A Bridge Between Surgical, Medical, and Neurological Critical Care.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare and aggressive malignancy that can present with a broad range of clinical manifestations. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rarely documented and may alter the treatment course and overall prognosis. Although several etiologies have been suggested, the exact mechanism of CNS involvement remains unclear. Furthermore, little is known about the impact of surgical stress on the development of AML. Surgeons should be aware of this potential outcome following surgery, particularly if a leukemoid reaction develops post-operatively, as early detection can prevent delays in appropriate treatment. Further data are needed to better understand the pathogenesis and underlying inflammatory cascades following surgical trauma that possibly contribute to the development of AML.

Utilization Trends and Predictors of Non-invasive and Invasive Ventilation During Hospitalization Due to Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are most important interventions for patients with severe CAP associated with respiratory failure. We analysed utilization trends and predictors of non-invasive and invasive ventilation in patients hospitalized with CAP. METHODS:  Nationwide Inpatient Sample and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data for years 2008-2017 were analysed. Adult hospitalizations due to CAP were identified by previously validated International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes. We then utilized the Cochran-Armitage trend test and multivariate survey logistic regression models to analyse temporal incidence trends, predictors, and outcomes. We used SAS 9.4 software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) for analysing data. RESULTS: Out of a total of 8,385,861 hospitalizations due to CAP, ventilation assistance was required in 552,395 (6.6%). The overall ventilation use increased slightly; however, IMV utilization decreased, while NIV utilization increased. In multivariable regression analysis, males, Asian/others and weekend admissions were associated with higher odds of any ventilation utilization. Concurrent diagnoses of septicemia, congestive heart failure, alcoholism, chronic lung diseases, pulmonary circulatory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity and cancer were associated with increased odds of requiring ventilation assistance. Ventilation requirement was associated with high odds of in-hospital mortality and discharge to facility. CONCLUSION: The use of NIV among CAP patients has increased while IMV use has decreased over the years. We observed numerous factors linked with a higher use of ventilation support. The requirement of ventilation support is also associated with very high chances of mortality and morbidity.

A case report of recurrent pneumothoraces as a presentation of Birt Hogg Dube syndrome.

Birt Hogg Dube (BHD) syndrome, also called as Hornstein Knickenburg syndrome is a rare syndrome caused by germline mutation in the folliculin (FLCN) gene and transmitted via autosomal dominant pattern. Different phenotypes with different manifestations have been reported including, skin manifestations as fibrofolliculoma, lung manifestations as pulmonary cysts and spontaneous pneumothorax, renal manifestations as renal neoplasia and rarely colon polyps and colon cancer. We presented a case of 35-year-old female with Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Synchronous Peritoneal Adenocarcinoma: A Rare Independent Combination.

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and metastasis occurs in more than one-third of cases. Common sites of metastatic disease are the brain, spine, nerve, adrenal glands, bone, liver, and pleura. Peritoneal involvement, however, is rare, and peritoneal involvement found in lung cancer is presumed to be metastatic until proven otherwise. This is due to the fact that primary peritoneal adenocarcinoma is uncommon and difficult to distinguish from the metastatic spread.  Here, we report on a case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with ascites. Evaluation of ascitic fluid was consistent with adenocarcinoma. Subsequent CT of the chest revealed a 4.3-cm mass in the lower lobe of the left lung, which was determined to be poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma on histopathology. This is a rare case of two synchronous primary cancers: adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.  To conclude, physicians should be familiar with an independent presentation of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and peritoneal carcinomatosis in the same patient, as the outcome of independent tumors is poor in most cases.

Oxygen Indications and Utilization in a Diverse, Urban Community Setting.

PURPOSE: Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is widely used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other conditions with severe hypoxemia, imposing a large financial burden on the American health care system. METHODS: To better understand oxygen prescription and its use in a multiethnic community hospital, we completed a prospective, observational study with a survey design in our multicultural population to better recognize patient understanding of oxygen indications and utilization. RESULTS: The survey was conducted at three outpatient pulmonary clinics. Among the 94 respondents (42% men and 58% women; age 71.8 ± 13 yr), 64% were current or former smokers. Sixty-one percent had primary diagnoses other than COPD, most commonly interstitial lung disease and congestive heart failure. One-third used oxygen for <12 hr daily. Oxygen use was variable among those to whom it was prescribed. Thirty-two percent of patients described themselves as noncompliant with their prescribed therapy due to poor equipment ergonomics, burdensome machine weight, and negative self-image and social stigma when using oxygen. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease represented <50% of LTOT patients who were surveyed. Our data suggest that more structured prescribing practices and patient education should be studied if compliance is to be increased.

Lung Compliance in a Case Series of Four COVID-19 Patients at a Rural Institution.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic has generated a plethora of scientific articles. One interesting aspect of the virus is the binary phenotypic presentation in patients. While patients might meet the Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), not all patients experience the same decrease in lung compliance as typically seen with ARDS. We have observed patients meeting ARDS criteria with higher lung compliance as measured through peak pressures at our institution. This phenotype difference is important with regard to how the patients are managed. Lower positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and higher tidal volumes can be used in this phenotype.

Incidental intrathorcic schwannoma post upper respiratory tract infection associated with Horner's syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Schwannomas may remain asymptomatic, and may be discovered incidentally. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we describe a case of a young female complaining of upper respiratory tract symptoms who was incidentally found to have an intrathoracic neurogenic tumor consistent with schwannoma associated with Horner's syndrome. Biopsy of the tumor revealed S100, BCL-2 and CD 99+ compatible with schwannoma. Patient had brachial plexus exploration and dissection of thoracic inlet tumor resected through video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Patient did exceptionally well afterwards with no documented Horner's symptoms. CONCLUSION: Characterized as a rare case, this patient presented post viral infection and found to have a rare tumor. Successful surgical treatment alleviated her symptoms.

Neuroborreliosis with Unusual Presentation: A Case Report.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. Neurological complications usually manifest in patients who do not receive treatment for Lyme disease. Neurological involvement may be early or late, depending on the duration of the symptoms. Early neuroborreliosis presents with symptoms such as headache and meningism; late neuroborreliosis can present with signs and symptoms of encephalopathy and stroke-like symptoms. The diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations and lumbar puncture finding. Treatment consists of intravenous antibiotics for a period of three to four weeks. Patients who receive early treatment usually have an excellent prognosis, with very few patients developing post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. Here, we report an unusual case of Lyme disease with extremely high cerebrospinal fluid protein level and devastating neurological sequelae. The diagnosis of neuroborreliosis is based on neurological symptoms and lumbar puncture findings.

Pulmonary Spindle Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report.

Spindle cell carcinoma is a rare pulmonary malignancy. The prognosis and treatments are unclear, with limited literature available. Here, we report a man who underwent bronchoscopy with an endobronchial biopsy after complaining of dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomography (CT) chest showed a 10 x 3 cm mass in the right upper lobe. Biopsy revealed spindle cell carcinoma, and he was referred to hematology for chemotherapy. He was lost to follow-up recently.

Calcium Channel Blocker Overdose Treated with Calcium Resulting in Pancreatitis: A Case Report.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are a mainstay for the treatment of hypertension. Here we report a case of a male who after intentionally ingesting amlodipine presented with overdose symptomology. His QTc (corrected QT) was 525 ms (millisecond) on admission, he was treated with calcium intravenous infusion and subsequently his QTc narrowed to 393 ms, but he also developed iatrogenic pancreatitis. His serum calcium levels were not checked during the infusion. He was treated with supportive care, which led to the normalization of serum calcium levels and a favorable outcome. Further studies are required regarding how frequently calcium levels should be checked during infusions.

Obstetric and gynecologic causes of pleural effusions.

Obstetric and gynecologic pleural effusions may occur in the setting of different diseases and conditions, early and appropriate recognition of the different etiologies of these effusions will aid in appropriate treatment management. In this paper we will give an overview of the different pleural effusion etiologies that may be encountered including catamenial hemothorax, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, the different Meigs' syndromes and benign peripartum pleural effusion.

Paraneoplastic syndrome associate with solitary fibrous tumor of pleura.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal tumor and several paraneoplastic syndromes have been related to it. We report the case of a 60-year-old male initially admitted to rule out cerebral vascular accident with the final diagnosis of SFT associated with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and hypoglycemia. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography-guided lung biopsy.

Experience with ceftaroline for treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in a community hospital.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an organism causing significant mortality and morbidity with nosocomial infections. Ceftaroline is a new cephalosporin antibiotic that has activity against MRSA. In the USA, this antibiotic has not been approved for use in pneumonia caused by MRSA. Objectives: To review the use of ceftaroline in MRSA pneumonia in a US hospital and evaluate its clinical success. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in an urban community hospital assessing the use of ceftaroline for MRSA pneumonia. Results: The clinical success was comparable to the currently approved treatment for MRSA pneumonia. Conclusion: The results of our study showed a favorable result for the treatment of MRSA pneumonia. Well-designed studies need to be performed for further validation of these results.

Multiple pulmonary nodules in malignancy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Multiple pulmonary nodules are a common finding especially with the implementation of lung cancer screening. Available guidelines address the management of solitary pulmonary nodules. The management of the multiple pulmonary nodules would differ based on the characteristic of the nodules, their distribution, and the history of the patients as well. RECENT FINDINGS: Most of the recent publications on multiple pulmonary nodules consist of individual case reports or case series. Robust population studies are lacking. SUMMARY: In this article, we propose an approach for management of multiple pulmonary nodules which needs to be validated.

ST segment elevation myocardial infarction of a rare aetiology: an unexpected diagnosis.

A 43-year-old man presenting with acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction underwent urgent coronary angiography. During the intervention, the patient was found to have several multiple filling defects with dynamic obstruction in the left coronary circulation. Thrombectomy was performed on distal left anterior descending artery and 2nd diagonal artery lesions with balloon angioplasty, which was unsuccessful. Considering the dynamic obstruction in the angiogram, immediate imaging was performed for structural evaluation of the heart. Cardiac CT revealed a circumferential groove on the heart, suggesting an external compression leading to dynamic obstruction of the coronary arteries on angiogram. Cardiac hernia, a very rare aetiology, was suspected to be the culprit for the ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Thoracoscopy was performed, which revealed congenital cardiac hernia and a fibrous pericardial band encircling the apex. A left mini thoracotomy was performed to release the constriction imposed over the heart, with improvement in circulation.