BMJ case reports
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The authors report the case of a 50-year-old alcoholic man with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, who presented to the emergency department with fever and exuberant ecchymoses and petechiae on both legs. After a careful examination and laboratory assessment, the not-so-obvious hypothesis of scurvy was disclosed. ⋯ In modern societies, a generalised access to food renders scurvy as a rare disease, often misdiagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach is emphasised as the key to a more simple differential diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary exams and preventing serious complications, or even death, if left untreated.
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Case Reports
A novel false-positive cause in testis scintigraphy in the diagnosis of testis torsion.
Testis scintigraphy is the most reliable modality in the diagnosis of testis torsion since it directly reflects the vascularity of the testis. The 'rim sign' is considered as the pathognomonic sign of the missed torsion. However, there are some possible false-positive cases. In this case report, we would like to present an unexpected false-positive cause of the 'rim sign' in testis scintigraphy in an 18-year-old male patient.
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Acquired fistulas between the tracheobronchial tree and the gastrointestinal tract are rare but serious complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies with significant morbidity and mortality. With the rising popularity and widespread acceptance of bariatric surgery techniques, the occurrence of gastrobronchial fistulas is being increasingly recognised. ⋯ Upper gastrointestinal series showed the presence of a communicating fistula between the stomach and the lung, with extravasation of contrast into the lung. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of a gastrobronchial fistula in cases of persistent respiratory infections in the postoperative period following bariatric surgery and to review its incidence, clinical manifestations and treatment.
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The authors present the case of a 45-year-old lady who presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of right hemiparesis, numbness, dysarthria, dysmetria, left upper motor neuron facial palsy and left extensor plantar. Initial laboratory investigations, ECG and MR angiography were normal. ⋯ Transthoracic echocardiography revealed large mobile mass in left atrium which was resected and the patient remained well postoperatively. Anticoagulants do not play any protective role making resection as the only effective treatment.