Abuzar A. Asif

Intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL), a rare subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), presents with non- specific symptoms and is an extremely difficult diagnosis to make despite extensive workup. It very rarely presents with endocrinological abnormalities. We present a case of an 81-year-old woman whose predominant presenting manifestation was endocrinopathy, who passed away from multiorgan failure, and was diagnosed to have IVLBCL on post mortem autopsy.

Type 1 interferons, especially interferon-beta, has been reported to be effective in COVID-19 patients in multiple randomized controlled trials. The aim of our meta-analysis and systematic review is to assess efficacy of subcutaneous IFN-beta in regards to mortality and discharge rate. Prospective, retrospective and randomized controlled trials were included. Primary outcomes measured were 28-day mortality and discharge rate. Secondary outcomes measured were mean hospital stay and post-intervention intubation rate. A thorough literature search was conducted in Medline, PubMed, Ovid journals, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials & Database of Systematic Reviews from 1 April 2020 to 28 February 2021. Relative risk was calculated using both the Mantel–Haenszel method (fixed-effects model) and DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). The heterogeneity among studies was tested using Cochran’s Q test, based upon inverse variance weights. 7 studies were included in the meta-analysis and systematic review. The IFN-beta group did not improve the 28-day mortality (RR = 1.276; 95% CI: 1.106–1.472, p = 0.001) or the discharge rate (RR = 0.906; 95% CI = 0.85–0.95, p = < 0.001). The mean hospital stay was 11.95± 2.5 days in the interferon-beta group and 11.43 ± 3.74 days in the traditional treatment group. Likewise, interferon-beta did not add any advantage to post-intervention intubation rate (RR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.7841–1.0816, p = 0.3154). Our findings revealed that use of subcutaneous interferon-beta is futile in COVID-19.

Blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis. While blastomycosis can cause systemic infection affecting multiple organs, localized blastomycosis of the breast is uncommon. Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old female with a localized left breast growth which started as a nodule and later ulcerated extensively. Although her clinical picture raised concerns for breast malignancy, workup revealed cutaneous blastomycosis with superimposed methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella oxytoca infection. Interestingly, there was no evidence of pulmonary disease on CT chest imaging. She was treated with Amphotericin B for seven days and discharged on oral Itraconazole for nine months. Additionally, she received amoxicillin-clavulanate for her bacterial superinfection. On the six-month follow-up, the patient showed significant improvement. Blastomycosis can mimic several diseases including malignancy, pyoderma gangrenosum, and mycobacterial and bacterial infections leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and pulmonary actinomycosis are unheard of as co-pathogens. Infection with these organisms on their own can mimic lung cancer, thus presenting a diagnostic challenge. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman presenting with haemoptysis with a chest CT chest finding of a lung mass suggestive of lung cancer. A diagnosis of concomitant infection by Coccidioides posadasii/immitis and Actinomyces odontolyticus was made based on culture and histopathology results. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of antifungal and antibacterial therapy. This is the first reported case of co-infection by these two microorganisms.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS- CPN) has been reported to be an effective way to help with pain in pancreatic cancer patient. The aim of our updated meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy of pain relief in patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent EUS guided neurolysis. Methods: Pooled proportions were calculated using both Mantel-Haenszel method (fixed effects model) and DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). The heterogeneity among studies was tested using Cochran’s Q test based upon inverse variance weights. Results: Initial search identified 176 reference articles, of which 34 were selected and reviewed in detail. Sixteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. The mean age of patients undergoing neurolysis was 56.31 ± 19.72 years. Number of males, N = 563 (57.4%), was higher than the number of females, N = 417 (42.5%). The pooled proportion of patients who showed pain relief with EUS-guided neurolysis was 71% (95% CI = 68–74). Bias calculated using Begg–Mazumdar was not significant (p = 0.8). In a subgroup analysis, when comparing the central and bilateral techniques, the pooled proportion of patients with pain relief was 66% (95% CI = 61–71) and 57% (95% CI = 48–67), respectively. Conclusions: Our results show that EUS guided CPN could provide relief in as much as 70% of patients with central neurolysis technique having some edge over peripheral neurolysis. Further larger scale randomized controlled trials may further help to elaborate the efficacy of central vs peripheral neurolysis.

Cardiac angiosarcomas are the most common malignant primary cardiac tumors accounting for 31% of all primary cardiac tumors. However, primary pericardial angiosarcomas are extremely rare and are associated with high mortality. A 41-year-old male with a past medical history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis, follicular thyroid carcinoma, hypertension, and asthma presented with recurrent pericardial effusions. Previously, different imaging modalities had shown small hemodynamically stable pericardial effusions with pericardial thickening. His pericardial effusion was attributed to his ESRD until this presentation. However, during the current admission, chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly with lobulated left heart border. Computed tomography (CT) and transthoracic echocardiogram showed an increased posterior complex pericardial effusion when compared to previous imaging. A pericardial window was created and the space was evacuated. Pericardial fluid cytology reported rare atypical cells, which were indeterminate for malignancy. Histopathology from the pericardial biopsy revealed fibrous tissue with cellular proliferation, consistent with an angiosarcoma. A positron emission tomography revealed findings of angiosarcoma (hypermetabolic pericardial soft tissue nodularity and complex pericardial fluid) limited only to the pericardium. Unfortunately, the angiosarcoma was deemed unresectable, and the patient underwent one cycle of chemotherapy with paclitaxel. The patient’s hospital course was further complicated by myelosuppression from chemotherapy and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Therefore, no further chemotherapy was pursued. A repeat echocardiogram showed constriction of both ventricles with loculated pericardial effusion. The patient eventually transitioned to comfort care and passed away. Through this case report, we would like to highlight that multiple confounders can be present when considering the etiology of persistent pericardial effusions. We suggest contemplating alternate diagnosis, such as malignancy, and initiate aggressive work-up especially in young individuals with recurrent, unexplained pericarditis.