A man with a prosthetic ear and multiple pulmonary nodules. (33/6119)

Basal cell carcinoma is generally regarded as a relatively indolent tumor easily controlled with local therapy. When neglected or inadequately treated this tumor can become locally aggressive and in rare circumstances metastasize. This report documents a case of basal cell carcinoma metastatic to the lung that resulted in rapidly progressive respiratory failure and death.  (+info)

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia. (34/6119)

We describe the case of a 53-year-old Philadelphia-chromosome-positive woman with chronic myelogenous leukemia, who developed pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). The possible mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of PAP are discussed based on the clinical and laboratory data for this patient as well as on experimental and clinical data reported in the literature.  (+info)

Localised upper airway obstruction in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. (35/6119)

We describe a case of rapidly progressive upper airway obstruction due to tracheal Pseudomonas abscesses in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The case highlights the aggressive nature of Pseudomonas infections and the difficulty of eradicating this organism in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.  (+info)

Gastric rupture secondary to successful Heimlich manoeuvre. (36/6119)

A fatal case of gastric rupture following the Heimlich manoeuvre is reported. This life-threatening complication has only been reported previously in seven patients with a high mortality rate. All patients should be assessed immediately following this manoeuvre for any potentially life-threatening complications.  (+info)

Death due to air embolism during sexual intercourse in the puerperium. (37/6119)

We describe the cases of two young women who died due to air embolism during sexual intercourse early in the puerperium.  (+info)

Three ventriculoplasty techniques applied to three left-ventricular pseudoaneurysms in the same patient. (38/6119)

A 59-year-old male patient underwent surgery for triple-vessel coronary artery disease and left-ventricular aneurysm in 1994. Four months after coronary artery bypass grafting and classical left-ventricular aneurysmectomy (with Teflon felt strips), a left-ventricular pseudoaneurysm developed due to infection, and this was treated surgically with an autologous glutaraldehyde-treated pericardium patch over which an omental pedicle graft was placed. Two months later, under emergent conditions, re-repair was performed with a diaphragmatic pericardial pedicle graft due to pseudoaneurysm reformation and rupture. A 3rd repair was required in a 3rd episode 8 months later. Sternocostal resection enabled implantation of the left pectoralis major muscle into the ventricular defect. Six months after the last surgical intervention, the patient died of cerebral malignancy. Pseudoaneurysm reformation, however, had not been observed. To our knowledge, our case is the 1st reported in the literature in which there have been 3 or more different operative techniques applied to 3 or more distinct episodes of pseudoaneurysm formation secondary to post-aneurysmectomy infection. We propose that pectoral muscle flaps be strongly considered as a material for re-repair of left-ventricular aneurysms.  (+info)

A fatal case of autoimmune thrombocytopenia with an IgM anti-GPIb/IX following one antigen mismatched unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation. (39/6119)

We report the case of a 32-year-old patient with ALL who developed autoimmune thrombocytopenia 2 months following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. An IgM autoantibody against the platelet glycoprotein Ib/IX complex was observed. Treatment with high-dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin G failed to produce any benefit and the thrombocytopenia led to fatal gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The possible factors contributing to post-allograft thrombocytopenia and potential management strategies are discussed.  (+info)

Neurocutaneous melanosis presenting with intracranial amelanotic melanoma. (40/6119)

We describe imaging findings in a 2-year-old girl with neurocutaneous melanosis and malignant cerebral melanoma. Because the cerebral melanoma in this child was of the amelanotic type, high-signal intensity on unenhanced T1-weighted images was not present. The cutaneous lesions played a crucial role in establishing a correct (presumed) histopathologic diagnosis on the basis of the imaging findings. To our knowledge this is the first report describing an intracranial amelanotic malignant melanoma in association with neurocutaneous melanosis.  (+info)