Hepatic Involvement in Systemic Sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that can affect any organ, including the liver. It is manifested by the presence of non-caseating granulomas within involved organs, most commonly the pulmonary, lymphatic, and hepatic system. Unlike pulmonary or lymphatic involvement, hepatic involvement is usually asymptomatic and it is underdiagnosed. Here, we report a case of a patient with a history of pulmonary sarcoidosis who developed hepatic sarcoidosis. CASE REPORT 68-year-old female with pulmonary sarcoidosis with a 2-week history of severe abdominal pain and epigastric tenderness presented to our center. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated mild hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. A thorough workup was performed including a liver biopsy which showed chronic non-necrotizing granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. She was started on prednisone and subsequently improved. The patient was symptom-free on follow-up 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients with hepatic sarcoidosis are usually asymptomatic, with only 5-30% presenting with abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and hepatosplenomegaly. In rare cases, hepatic sarcoidosis can lead to cholestasis, portal hypertension, cirrhosis, or Budd-Chiari syndrome. Treatment with steroids is the mainstay of therapy; however, in severe cases, patients may require liver transplantation. This case report demonstrates that hepatic sarcoidosis is a serious condition, and if not treated, can lead to portal hypertension and cirrhosis. In patients with sarcoidosis, early detection and longitudinal follow-up is important in preventing overt liver failure.

A Case of Synchronous Bone Marrow Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) and Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma (NMZL).

BACKGROUND Leukemias and lymphomas can arise from myeloid or lymphoid stem cells. Combined myeloid leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), either synchronous or metachronous, rarely occur in the same patient. This report is of a 67-year-old man with a synchronous diagnosis of both bone marrow chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL), which a peripheral low-grade B-cell NHL. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old Caucasian man, who was a long-term cigarette smoker, presented with a five-year history of leukocytosis and cervical lymphadenopathy. He had no symptoms of night sweats, fever, or weight loss. Review of his medical records showed a progressively increasing leukocytosis with a peak of 58×109/L. Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest and abdomen showed lymphadenopathy, including enlarged cervical, axillary, mediastinal, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Bone marrow biopsy and histology showed CMML. Lymph node biopsy and histology showed NMZL. The patient was treated for NMZL with weekly intravenous rituximab infusions. Although his CMML was stable, the patient requested an evaluation for treatment with hematopoietic allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). At the time of this report, the patient remains asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS The synchronous occurrence of bone marrow CMML and NMZL in a single patient is rare and may be attributed to a genetic mutation common to both. There are no current treatment guidelines for this group of patients, and treatment strategies should be individualized to provide an optimum outcome or symptomatic improvement.

Rhabdomyolysis Associated with Influenza A Virus Infection.

Influenza A associated with rhabdomyolysis has become more commonly recognized in recent years. It requires prompt recognition and treatment in order to prevent heme pigment-induced acute kidney injury. Here we report a 50-year-old female without a significant past medical history who presented with a one-week history of fevers, chills, fatigue, and generalized body aches. She was on no prior medication. Laboratory studies were significant for leukocytosis and elevated creatinine kinase up to a peak of 28,216 IU/L. Rapid influenza antigen testing was positive for influenza A virus. The patient was diagnosed with influenza A-induced rhabdomyolysis. According to our literature review, we are the first to report a case of influenza A-induced rhabdomyolysis in the 2017-2018 flu season. This case highlights the importance of considering rhabdomyolysis as a manifestation of an influenza infection.

H. capsulatum: A Not-So-Benign Cause of Pericarditis.

The common causes of pericarditis and its course are benign in the majority of cases. Thus, further testing is usually not pursued and treatment for a presumptive viral etiology with nonsteroidal agents and steroids has been an accepted strategy. We present a patient with pericarditis who was unresponsive to first-line therapy and was subsequently found to have necrotizing granulomas of the pericardium with extensive adhesions and fungal elements seen on tissue biopsy. Serologic testing confirms active H. capsulatum infection, and he responded well to Itraconazole treatment. In patients with pericarditis who fail standard therapy with NSAIDs and steroids, it is suggested that they undergo thorough evaluation and that histoplasmosis be considered as an etiology, especially in endemic regions.

Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor Presenting with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.

BACKGROUND Primary mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs) are aggressive and carry a poor five-year disease free survival rate even with aggressive treatment. We describe a young adult male with primary mediastinal NSGCT presenting with airway obstruction and superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). CASE REPORT The patient presented with four weeks of nonproductive cough, weight loss, and right-sided pleuritic chest pain. Chest computed topography (CT) imaging demonstrated a right-sided mediastinal mass determined as a yolk sac tumor on biopsy. The patient underwent induction chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin for stage III NSGCT. In the interim, he developed SVCS warranting a second cycle of chemotherapy along with intravenous steroids, with notable improvement in symptoms. However, serial alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) measurements showed progressively increasing levels up to a maximum of 18,781 ng/mL indicating treatment failure. He is currently on salvage chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Obstruction of the SVC by external compression is often a manifestation of a malignant process in the thorax. SVCS is a medical emergency and occurs in 6% of patients with mediastinal GCTs. Historically, irradiation was initiated without a histologic diagnosis to relieve the life-threatening obstruction. However, newer data suggest that it is acceptable to defer therapy until a full diagnostic workup is completed. This case highlights the malignant nature of primary mediastinal NSGCTs. In addition, inasmuch as SVCS is dramatic in presentation, it is important to recognize that symptomatic obstruction often develops over weeks or longer. In a hemodynamically stable patient, an accurate histologic diagnosis prior to starting treatment is essential in guiding therapy.

A Case of Trigger-Point Injection-Induced Hypokalemic Paralysis.

BACKGROUND Trigger-point injection (TPI) therapy is an effective modality for symptomatic treatment of myofascial pain. Serious adverse effects are rarely observed. In this report, we present the case of a 39-year-old man who experienced severe, transient hypokalemic paralysis in the context of TPI therapy with methylprednisolone, bupivacaine, and epinephrine. He was successfully treated with electrolyte replacement in a closely monitored setting. CASE REPORT A 39-year-old man with no past medical history except for chronic left hip pain from a work-related injury received a TPI with methylprednisolone and bupivacaine. The TPI targeted the left iliopsoas tendon and was administered using ultrasound guidance. There were no immediately perceived complications, but within 12 h he presented with severe hypokalemic paralysis with a serum potassium 1.7 mmol/L. Judicious potassium repletion was initiated. Repeated tests after 6 h consistently showed normal potassium levels of 4.5 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS Severe hypokalemic paralysis in the context of trigger-point injection is an incredibly rare occurrence and this is the first case report in English literature. A high index of clinical suspicion and a systematic approach are therefore required for prompt diagnosis and management of this obscure iatrogenic entity. Clinicians can enhance patient safety by allowing the primary pathology to guide them.