Focus: Rare Disease: Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis – A Review

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare genetic disorder causing widespread deposition of calcium-phosphate crystals in the alveolar space. A hallmark of the disease is the discrepancy between perceived symptoms upon diagnosis compared with the extensive, sandstorm-like appearance of the microliths on chest X-ray or HRCT. Caused by a defective sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein due to loss-of-function variants of the SLC34A2 gene, PAM is an autosomal recessive transmitted disorder, and as such has a high correlation to consanguinity. The most common variants of the SLC34A2 gene are single nucleotide biallelic changes, but larger deletions are described. Initial suspicion of PAM on radiological examination should be followed by genetic testing to verify the diagnosis and identify the disease-causing variant. When not available, the diagnosis can be made by means of invasive techniques, such as transbronchial forceps or cryobiopsy, or a surgical lung biopsy. In families with a history of PAM, genetic counseling should be offered, as well as preimplantation/prenatal testing if necessary. As of writing this review, no definitive treatment exists, and PAM may in some cases progress to severe pulmonary disease with respiratory failure and potential death. Patients with PAM should be offered preventative and symptomatic treatments such as vaccinations and oxygen therapy when needed. In some cases, lung transplantation may be required.     

肺放线菌病1 例报告并文献复习

目的：分析肺放线菌病的临床表现、诊断及治疗,提高对肺放线菌病的认识。方法：回顾性分析我科收治的1 例肺放线菌病 患者的临床资料,并对相关文献进行复习。结果：本例患者,43 岁,男性,以咳嗽、咳血性痰为主要临床表现,胸部CT 提示右肺上 叶结节,经皮肺穿刺活检结果确诊肺放线菌病,青霉素治疗效果好。结论：肺放线菌病是放线菌感染引起的一种少见的呼吸系统 疾病,起病隐匿,呈渐进性过程,临床表现及影像学检查均无特异性,放线菌可在肺部引起化脓性肺炎,并经叶间隙、胸膜侵犯胸 壁、肋骨,形成窦道及破坏骨质。确诊有赖于病理学或微生物学证据,主要可采用青霉素抗感染治疗,在疑似肿瘤的情况下,需通 过外科手术治疗,既可以明确诊断也避免病变进一步引起肺、胸壁等组织的不可逆性破坏。     

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis—Review of the Literature with Follow-up Studies and Report of Two New Cases

In the period from 1958, when Rosen and coworkers first reported a condition in which the pulmonary alveoli are filled with an eosinophilic material, to the beginning of 1964, reports of 93 cases had accumulated in the world literature, including two cases included herein. The cause of this disease, which Rosen called “pulmonary alveolar proteinosis,” is not known, nor is there a known means of cure.The usual patient is a white man between 30 and 50 years of age who may do any kind of work. The first symptoms may be those of pulmonary infection or pulmonary insufficiency. Patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis are prone to nocardiosis and infection with other fungi. Diagnosis is made by lung biopsy.Twenty of the 93 patients reported upon were alive at the time of this review, 37 were dead and 36 had been lost to follow-up.     

Xanthoma Disseminatum: Case Report and Literature Review

ObjectiveTo report a case of a young normolipidemic woman with mucocutaneous xanthomas who developed neurogenic diabetes insipidus and hyperprolactinemia because of an inflammatory pituitary stalk lesion.MethodsThe clinical features, laboratory results, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathology findings are presented. In addition, the pertinent literature is reviewed.ResultsA 23-year-old woman presented with a 9-month history of polydipsia, polyuria, galactorrhea, secondary amenorrhea, and weight gain. Her previous medical history included chronic anemia and widespread mucocutaneous xanthomas. Laboratory tests showed hyperprolactinemia, normal electrolytes, and a normal lipid profile. The results of a water deprivation test were compatible with neurogenic diabetes insipidus, and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed pituitary stalk thickening. Histologic findings on a skin biopsy specimen supported the diagnosis of non-Langerhans histiocytosis. Treatment was initiated with cabergoline, nasally administered desmopressin, radio-frequency ablation of facial skin lesions, and surgical excision of other accessible lesions.ConclusionXanthoma disseminatum is a rare, benign proliferative disorder characterized by extensive cutaneous and mucous membrane xanthomas in normolipidemic patients. Central nervous system involvement is rare and usually occurs in the systemic variety. Pituitary stalk disease commonly causes hyperprolactinemia, diabetes insipidus, and various degrees of hypopituitarism. The natural history of xanthoma disseminatum usually is benign, but lesions in critical anatomic sites may result in morbidity and mortality. (Endocr Pract. 2010;16:1003-1006)     

Familial Paragangliomas: Case Report and Literature Review

ObjectiveTo report a case of a woman with poorly controlled hypertension who was found to have multiple paragangliomas and mutation in the B subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondrial complex II).MethodsThe pathogenesis of familial paragangliomas and case management are discussed, and the relevant literature is reviewed.ResultsIn a 68-year-old woman with a long-term history of hypertension, bilateral carotid body paragangliomas had been resected at 24 and 57 years of age. Current laboratory studies showed an elevated plasma normetanephrine level. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed 3 paragangliomas—1 in the middle mediastinum and 2 intra-abdominally. Surgical excision involved a 2-stage procedure with the patient under the same general anesthesia: (1) a median sternotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass and (2) a midline celiotomy for removal of the retroperitoneal paragangliomas. All 3 tumors were focally adherent to adjacent structures (the left atrium, the uncinate process of the pancreas, and the left renal vessels). All tumors were completely excised without complication, and frozen section analysis confirmed that they were paragangliomas. Genetic testing disclosed a germline mutation in SDHB.ConclusionFamilial paraganglioma is a rare autosomal dominant, tumorigenic disorder affecting sympathetic and parasympathetic paraganglia. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:603-606)     

Auricular Chromoblastomycosis: A Case Report and Review of Published Literature

Subcutaneous chromoblastomycosis is an infection commonly seen in tropical and subtropical climates, usually caused by trauma with vegetables and often affects the host’s lower limbs. We report a case of auricular chromoblastomycosis in a 67-year-old man and discuss the rarity of this clinical manifestation of chromoblastomycosis in the medical literature. In the present case, the etiologic agent was Fonsecaea pedrosoi, the most common agent found in Brazil.     

Lasiodiplodia theobromae Keratitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

A case report and review of literature is reported of a rare case of fungal keratitis from eastern India. A 32-year-old woman with a history of vegetative trauma presented with keratitis in left eye. Microbiological examination of corneal scraping showed refractile hyphae with aseptate branching filaments and black pigmented colonies on multiple solid agar medium. Organism was identified from culture using D1/D2 region of LSU (Large Sub Unit: 28S rDNA)-based molecular technique. PCR amplified a band with a sequence that was 100?% homologous with Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The organism was susceptible to amphotericin B and voriconazole and demonstrated resistance to itraconazole and fluconazole. A therapeutic keratoplasty was performed following non-responsiveness to initial topical voriconazole (2?%) therapy. Recurrence in graft was controlled with topical voriconazole and intracameral amphotericin B. However, the graft failed at the end of 3?months. L. theobromae is a rare cause of fungal keratitis. Management of these cases is difficult, often involving surgical procedures.     

骨髓增生异常综合征合并非霍奇金淋巴瘤一例病例报道并文献复习

目的:探讨骨髓增生异常综合征合并非霍奇金淋巴瘤的发病机制、诊断及治疗,并判断其预后情况。方法:回顾我院收治的一例骨髓增生异常综合征(MDS)患者同时诊断间变大细胞淋巴瘤(ALCL)患者的临床资料,总结其诊断及治疗经过,对其预后进行评价。结果:该患者诊断间变大细胞淋巴瘤后,经化疗对症治疗病情无显著改善,且患者ALK阳性,考虑预后较差,建议造血干细胞移植。结论:骨髓增生异常综合征合并非霍奇金淋巴瘤的病例在国内外十分罕见,治疗方法目前尚需进一步研究。     

Aspergillus tubingensis Endocarditis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mycopathologia - Aspergillus endocarditis is a rare infection that may affect immunocompetent patients following heart valve replacement or heart surgery. We report the case of a 39 year...     

Mycetoma in China: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mycopathologia - Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease that can affect the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia and bone. It can be caused by filamentous bacteria or fungi and usually...     

Candida glabrata-Induced Refractory Infectious Arthritis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Mycopathologia - The incidence of deep fungal infection due to non-albicans Candida species (especially Candida glabrata) has significantly increased in recent decades. Candida glabrata is an...     

输尿管子宫内膜异位症伴肾积水1 例报告并文献复习

目的:探讨子宫内膜异位症累及输尿管的诊断和治疗方法。方法:术前诊断为右侧输尿管下段占位病变伴右肾积水的42岁女性患者,行下腹正中切口,探查右侧输尿管开口处可见淡黄色息肉样病变,突入膀胱,输尿管下段增粗并全程扩张积水,行输尿管下段并膀胱袖式切除,输尿管膀胱再植术。术后病理报告为输尿管子宫内膜异位症。结果:术后复查B超示右肾积水较术前恢复,术后予抑那通3.75mg/28d,随访6个月未见复发。结论:对于输尿管占位并上尿路积水的女性患者,除考虑肿瘤外还应考虑子宫内膜异位症可能。手术联合内分泌治疗是治疗输尿管子宫内膜异位伴肾积水的有效方法。     

B型尼曼-匹克病一例附文献复习

目的:报道一例B型尼曼-匹克病患者的病例资料,提高对该病的认识。方法:观察1例B型尼曼-匹克病患者的临床表现、骨髓涂片及骨髓活检结果,并进行相关的文献复习。结果:B型尼曼-匹克为自幼发病,无神经系统受损表现,伴有肝脾肿大、外周血三系降低,骨髓涂片及活检结果可见尼曼-匹克细胞。结论:尼曼-匹克病是一种罕见的鞘磷脂沉积性遗传性疾病,临床表现多样,骨髓、肝脾淋巴结病理及基因检测是确诊的关键方法,此病预后差,无特效治疗药物。     

特发性腹膜后纤维化一例并文献复习

目的:分析腹膜后纤维化(RPF)的诊断以及治疗情况,以提高对RPF的认识。方法:回顾性分析我科18F-FDGPET/CT诊断的1例RPF患者的临床资料,并对相关文献进行复习。结果:本例患者以腹胀及右下腹部隐痛不适就诊,腹部CT表现为腹主动脉周围肿块,18F-FDGPET/CT显示腹膜后间隙中线大血管周围糖代谢增高肿块,经CT引导下穿刺及手术病理确诊为特发性腹膜后纤维化。结论:腹膜后纤维化属罕见病,CT、MRI在诊断中有较重要作用,PET/CT在IRPF的诊断及治疗随访中有比较重要的价值,在治疗方面,糖皮质激素治疗效果较好,晚期常需要手术治疗。