Internal medicine
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We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease (PD) who developed acute dysphagia, dysarthria, and hoarseness. A neurological examination and nasopharyngeal fiberscopy revealed paralysis of the left glossopharyngeal, vagus, and hypoglossal nerves. ⋯ She was diagnosed with zoster sine herpete unilaterally affecting multiple lower cranial nerves. Although dysphagia is common in patients with PD, acute exacerbations of dysphagia require careful investigation of various potential causes, including VZV infection.
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Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum and is prevalent in areas of the world where H. capsulatum is endemic. We herein report a patient diagnosed with HIV-1 who developed histoplasmosis from a non-H. capsulatum endemic area who experienced severe hemophagocytic syndrome due to a delayed diagnosis. ⋯ The unrestricted administration of antifungal medication for oral candidiasis delayed the diagnosis because it improved the patient's condition. This case underscores the importance of prudent antifungal drug use in undiagnosed disseminated conditions and evaluating the travel history going back several years to facilitate a diagnosis.
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Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma B-cell malignancy characterized by immune dysfunction, with infection representing a major complication. Bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, are common pathogens in patients with MM, but reports on infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been limited. ⋯ At the diagnosis, the patient showed lymphocytopenia and was treated with clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol; however, culture positivity persisted, and the patient died. The possibility of NTM infection should be considered in cases of unexplained deterioration of the MM patient's general condition.
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Acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to lateral medullary infarction (LMI) can be a fatal condition, although its details remain unclarified. To clarify clinical aspects of ARF due to LMI, we reviewed eight applicable cases treated in a tertiary hospital. ⋯ We clarified that even patients with a serious clinical course may have no apparent magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in respiratory control centers at the initial examination. We should be mindful that respiratory monitoring is necessary even without infarction of regions responsible for respiratory control at the initial presentation.
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Angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy that can arise from chronic pyothorax. We herein report a 75-year-old Japanese man with a history of tuberculosis who presented with left-sided chest pain that had persisted for 4 months. ⋯ Chemotherapy with paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 weekly) was ineffective and was discontinued after 3 months. Our findings emphasize that physicians should inform patients with chronic tuberculous pyothorax about malignant complications for which chest pain is the initial symptom, in addition to highlighting the need for careful follow-up.