Vol. 3 No. 1

Vol. 3 No. 1
  • Joana Cochicho, João Madaleno, Emília Louro, Adélia Simão, Armando Carvalho
    Views: 3262 HTML: 1409 PDF: 557 Figure 1: 0

    Polymyositis (PM) is usually associated to other autoimmune or connective tissue diseases. The authors report the case of a 59-year-old man with pulmonary fibrosis, who presented with constitutional symptoms and gradually developed proximal muscle weakness, Raynaud phenomenon, and dysphagia. Besides creatine kinase (CK) elevation, he had positive anti-Polymyositis-Scleromyositis (PM-Scl) and anti-Sjögren's-syndrome A (SSA) antibodies. Nailfold capillaroscopy showed a scleroderma pattern and muscle biopsy revealed necrosis, regeneration of muscle fibers, and inflammatory infiltrate. Prednisolone was started, with great improvement. Taking into account the overlap features between PM and systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma, it is important to closely monitor the patient for signs of pulmonary and cardiac decompensation.

  • Eunice Silva Oliveira, Sofia Marques Santos, Nuno Ferreira Monteiro, Maria Manuela Soares, Alberto Mello e Silva
    Views: 1132 HTML: 913 PDF: 398 Figure 1: 0 Figure 2: 0 Figure 3: 0 Figure 4: 0 Figure 5: 0 Copyright owners and conflicts of interest: 0 Tabel 1: 0 Tabel 2: 0

    Yellow Nail Syndrome (YNS) is a rare, and probably misdiagnosed, condition. It must be considered in middle-aged patients with unexplained chronic respiratory manifestations, lymphedema and nail abnormalities.
    We present two cases of undiagnosed YNS until the current admissions, despite several years of investigation. The authors wish to draw attention to this syndrome, of which diagnosis is clinical and of exclusion.

  • Sofia Marques Santos, Eunice Oliveira, Nuno Ferreira Monteiro, Maria Manuela Soares, Alberto Mello e Silva
    Views: 2291 HTML: 677 PDF: 755 Large Morgagni hernia in an asymptomatic adult patient: 0 Cover letter: 0 Figure 1: 0 Figure 2: 0 Figure 3: 0 Figure 4: 0

    A 70-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with symptoms of a lower respiratory infection. A chest x-ray showed enlargement of the mediastinal space. The patient was admitted with a respiratory tract infection and started on antibiotic treatment. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax revealed a large diaphragmatic hernia with stomach, large intestine and caudal pancreas lodged in the thoracic cavity. After the antibiotic treatment, the patient became asymptomatic and surgery repair was declined.
    Morgagni hernia is an uncommon type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which may be asymptomatic until late in life or may be present acutely with life threatening conditions.

  • Vikram G Arella, Emily T Mudenha, Andrew Okpe, Devaka J Fernando
    Views: 4425 HTML: 652 PDF: 488

    Objectives: Adrenal gland hypertrophy can be related to acute stress with abnormal adrenal function tests. It may not always need treatment.
    Material and methods: An acute presentation of adrenal gland hypertrophy following an abdominal emergency, with subsequent hypoadrenalism was investigated.
    Results: Adrenal medullary and cortical function fully recovered without treatment.
    Conclusions: We postulate that the adrenal glands became enlarged and hypertrophied during an acute stress event, possibly caused by acute adrenal medullary hypersecretion and subsequent cortical hyposecretion. A wait and watch policy should be followed if no other clinical symptoms and signs of adrenal disease are present. CT scan remains an important diagnostic tool.

  • Isuru Induruwa, Chloe Bentham, Kayvan Khadjooi, Nikhil Sharma
    Views: 2082 HTML: 296 PDF: 345 Untitled: 0 Figure 1: 0 Figure 2: 0

    Carotid artery dissection (CAD) is a major cause of stroke in those under age 45, accounting for around 20% of ischaemic events[1,2]. In the absence of known connective tissue disorders, most dissections are traumatic[2]. First-line management is comprised of antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy, but many traumatic dissections progress despite this and carry the risk of long-term complications from embolism or stenosis[3].
    We report a case of traumatic bilateral carotid dissection leading to progressive neurological symptoms and hypoperfusion on computed tomography perfusion (CTP), despite escalation in anticoagulation, which led to emergency carotid stenting.

  • Marco Vacante, Innocenza Alessandria, Emanuela Cataudella, Rosangela Fichera, Lorenzo Malatino
    Views: 1043 HTML: 1125 PDF: 377 manuscript w/abstract: 0

    Objectives: We present the case of an edentulous 47-year-old farmer referred to our Department of Internal Medicine because of postprandial vomiting, hyporexia, asthenia and weight loss. He ate a mostly vegetarian diet.

    Materials and methods: An oesophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed the presence of a phytobezoar at the level of the fundus and body of the stomach. Endoscopic fragmentation and removal of the phytobezoar were unsuccessful and the patient had to undergo open surgery.

    Results: Recovery was uneventful and free of complications.

    Conclusion: Phytobezoars should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of unexplained vomiting and weight loss.