Der Nervenarzt
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Case Reports
[Differential diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and depression. A case report of Addison's disease in a female patient].
Similar symptoms make the differential diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and Addison's disease difficult at times: vomiting, weight loss, hypotension, depressed mood, reduced drive, and increased irritability can occur in both disorders. Psychological factors are then frequently presumed to be causative, so that the diagnosis of Addison's disease is made only years after the onset of the disease. Against this background, our case report presents important differential features, particularly with regard to consultative psychiatry.
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Idiopathic giant cell myocarditis is a rare and frequently fatal inflammatory heart disease which leads to congestive heart failure or ventricular arrhythmias. It is often associated with other autoimmune disorders. ⋯ Autopsy confirmed both disorders. This case report underlines the importance of early and repeated monitoring of cardiac function, if orbital myositis is suspected, in order to consider cardiac transplantation, the only efficacious treatment of giant cell myocarditis, in time.
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Hypoglossal nerve palsy following intubation is a rare complication that can be reversible depending on the extent of nerve damage. A 63-year-old male with a sigma carcinoma was repeatedly intubated orotracheally due to postoperative complications. After the fourth intubation, bilateral, complete hypoglossal nerve palsy with severe dysarthria and swallowing disability was observed. ⋯ Nevertheless, complete clinical and electromyographical recovery occurred within 7 months. The bilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy in our patient was probably due to mechanical alteration during intubation, leading to axonotmesis. Hypoglossal nerve palsy following intubation might have a favourable prognosis as long as continuity of the nerve sheath is maintained.
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The comfort of heated car seats has gained popularity worldwide. We present a rare case of severe second- and third-degree burn in the lower back and sacral region of a 42-year-old post-traumatic paraplegic patient while using a heated car seat. ⋯ Inadvertent thermal injury is a constant potential hazard for individuals with impaired sensibility such as paraplegics and other neurologically impaired patients. Early education of patients, manufacturers, and health care personnel is of eminent importance to prevent severe burn injuries in this risk population.
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In the last 10 years 22 patients with lesions of the superficial branch of the radial nerve have been treated surgically in our neurosurgical department. The patients' main complaints were burning pain and paraesthesia in the region supplied by the superficial branch of the radial nerve. In most cases the lesion was due to tendolysis performed earlier to treat de Quervain tendovaginitis stenosans. ⋯ Satisfactory results (complete or partial pain relief in 75% of cases) was found to have been achieved in the subgroup of patients treated by resection of the neuroma of the superficial branch of the radial nerve and transposition of the nerve stump. In conclusion, we recommend caution when surgical interventions are considered for traumatic lesions of the superficial radial nerve, because the prospects of success are limited. In addition, we do not consider nerve reconstruction desirable in these circumstances.