Kaposi's Sarcoma Presenting as Acute Small Bowel Obstruction Diagnosed on Multidetector Computed Tomography with Histopathological Correlation.

Kaposi's sarcoma was originally described by Moritz Kaposi in 1872 as a rare form of multiple hemorrhagic skin lesions. Today it is well documented as a systemic, multifocal, steadily progressive reticuloendothelial system tumor with a predilection for skin and visceral involvement. It occasionally presents as a visceral disease without skin manifestations. We report a case of Kaposi's sarcoma of the small bowel in a seropositive patient who presented with acute right lower quadrant pain and was diagnosed with intestinal obstruction with perforation on contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). The diagnosis was confirmed as Kaposi's sarcoma on postoperative histopathological analysis.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of orbital gas gangrene.

Clostridial gas gangrene (myonecrosis) is a rapidly progressive, life-threatening infection. The occurrence of clostridial gas gangrene in the orbit is uncommon. We present a case of gas gangrene in the orbit of a child, with Clostridium perfringens isolated from the wound. Our patient was successfully treated with extensive surgical débridement, anti-microbial therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen is established as an adjuvant therapy of clostridial gas gangrene and has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of using hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of orbital gas gangrene.

Congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle--diagnosis and management.

BACKGROUND: Congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle is a rare cause of apparent inferior rectus palsy especially in the absence of associated cranial facial anomalies. METHODS: We report three cases of isolated congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle and its successful surgical management. RESULTS: Failure of the normal embryologic development of the mesodermal complex around the eye can lead to agenesis of the extraocular muscles. In apparent palsies of the inferior rectus muscle and no definite cause, a high index of suspicion and orbital imaging can confirm the diagnosis of congenitally absent inferior rectus preoperatively. Surgical correction may involve inferior transposition of the horizontal rectus muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, congenital absence of the inferior rectus muscle is a possible cause of apparent inferior rectus muscle palsy particularly in the absence of another identifiable cause. Strabismus surgery in conjunction with intramuscular botulinum toxin injection can offer significant improvement in function and cosmesis of these patients.