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BACKGROUND Despite having many benefits, frequently-used medications may still have potential risks and can cause harm. Hemopericardium is a lethal pathology with a high risk of mortality and a lower differential diagnosis consideration. When adding both mentioned elements, their consideration as a differential diagnosis would require a higher threshold. This report presents a 66-year-old man with atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and aortic stenosis status post transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) 1 year ago with hemopericardium while treated with apixaban. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 66-year-old man with multiple medical conditions, including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and aortic stenosis post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement 1 year before admission, who presented with 2 weeks of dyspnea and lower-limb swelling. Initial assessments revealed atrial fibrillation, elevated brain natriuretic peptide, and a chest X-ray indicating possible left pleural effusion and cardiomegaly. On day 4, an echocardiogram identified a large hemopericardium and tamponade, prompting urgent surgery. A pericardial window was performed, draining 1700 cc of bloody fluid. The postoperative improvement included normalized hemodynamics and echocardiographic findings. Pathology confirmed hemopericardium. The follow-up echocardiogram showed improved cardiac function, and the patient was transferred to the general medical floor. CONCLUSIONS This case sheds light on the uncommon but critical complications associated with direct oral anticoagulant therapy. With only a handful of reported cases, the rarity of this condition underscores the need for heightened awareness among clinicians. The patient's intricate medical history accentuates the challenges in managing anticoagulation in individuals with multiple comorbidities.

BACKGROUND Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) agents, such as rivaroxaban, treat and prevent venous thrombosis. Although adrenal hemorrhage due to DOACs has previously been reported, this is a rare condition that can present as an emergency. In this case report, we present a 65-year-old man who recently had bilateral knee arthroplasty and was started on rivaroxaban 10 mg daily for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis following the surgery. CASE REPORT Ten days after bilateral knee arthroplasty and starting rivaroxaban, the patient presented to the Emergency Department with severe, sudden abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography detected significantly enlarged bilateral adrenals, with ill-defined heterogeneous density extending to the upper part of perinephric and paranephric spaces, suggesting bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. A cosyntropin stimulation test was used to confirm the suspicion of adrenal insufficiency. Cortisol levels were 66 nmol/L before stimulation and 83 nmol/L 60 min after cosyntropin administration. Hydrocortisone was started intravenously at a dose of 50 mg every 8 h. After his symptoms improved, he was discharged on oral hydrocortisone at 10 mg in the morning and 5 mg in the evening. Seven weeks after discharge, follow-up abdominal ultrasonography showed that the bilateral adrenal hemorrhage had resolved. CONCLUSIONS This case supports previous cases of adrenal hemorrhage as a rare but serious association with rivaroxaban and highlights the importance of rapid diagnosis using imaging and monitoring of patients for this possible adverse effect. Practitioners must remain vigilant when prescribing anticoagulation therapy, especially in patients who are at an increased risk for adrenal hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Severe hyperthyroidism, including thyroid storm, can be precipitated by acute events, such as surgery, trauma, infection, medications, parturition, and noncompliance or stoppage of antithyroid drugs. Thyroid storm is one of the serious endocrinal emergencies that prompts early diagnosis and treatment. Early occurrence of multiorgan failure is an ominous sign that requires aggressive treatment, including the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support as a bridge to stability and definitive surgical treatment. Most adverse events occur after failure of medical therapy. CASE REPORT We described 4 cases of fulminating thyroid storm that were complicated with multiple organ failure and cardiac arrest. The patients, 3 female and 1 male, were between 39 and 46 years old. All patients underwent ECMO support, with planned thyroidectomy. Three survived to discharge and 1 died after prolonged cardiac arrest and sepsis. All patients underwent peripheral, percutaneous, intensivist-led cannulation for VA-ECMO with no complications. CONCLUSIONS Early recognition of thyroid storm, identification of the cause, and proper treatment and support in the intensive care unit is essential. Patients with thyroid storm and cardiovascular collapse, who failed to improve with conventional supportive measures, had the worst prognosis, and ECMO support should be considered as a bridge until the effective therapy takes effect. Our case series showed that, in patients with life-threatening thyroid storm, VA-ECMO can be used as bridge to stabilization, definitive surgical intervention, and postoperative endocrine management. Interprofessional team management is essential, and early implantation of VA-ECMO is likely beneficial in patients with thyroid storm after failure of conventional management.

BACKGROUND Cubital tunnel syndrome results from pressure or stretching of the ulnar nerve, and carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve. Elastofibroma is a rare, benign, slow-growing soft-tissue tumor that commonly occurs as a bilateral infrascapular tumor in elderly women. This report is of a 60-year-old woman who presented with combined carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome due to an elastofibroma causing compression of the median and ulnar nerves. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 66-year-old woman with left-hand numbness, tingling along the fingers, sleep disturbance, and weakness in pinching or holding objects for an extended period. The clinical examination and nerve conduction studies established the diagnosis of combined carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTs) complicated by intrinsic muscle wasting. The patient underwent left carpal and cubital tunnels release surgery and end-to-side anterior interosseous nerve transfer to the motor component of the ulnar nerve. Pathologic evaluation of the entire specimen showed collagen bundles alternating with refractive cylinders stained with Verfoeff-van Gieson elastic stain. CONCLUSIONS This report is of a rare case of a histologically-confirmed single, peripheral, benign elastofibroma involving compression of the ulnar and median nerves. This case highlights the importance of histopathology in diagnosing rare soft-tissue tumors arising at an uncommon site and presenting with rare symptoms.

BACKGROUND Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a disease that results in systemic amyloid deposition, which may present with multi-organ dysfunction. It carries a poor prognosis at the time of diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 37-year-old patient with a history of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and thyroiditis presented with syncope and hypovolemia. ECG showed non-specific T wave inversions in the lateral leads with no signs of ischemia. Laboratory investigations revealed deranged coagulation parameters with prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and follow-up factor assays revealed severe factor X deficiency. A transthoracic echocardiogram and subsequent cardiac MRI showed signs of cardiac amyloidosis. Bone marrow biopsy was consistent with AL amyloidosis, demonstrating period acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive adipose deposits and interstitial infiltration by clusters of lambda restricted plasma cells with aberrant expression of CD 56 and CD 117.The patient was treated with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone, but died early during his treatment due to cardiac arrest, suspected to be secondary to conduction abnormalities caused by cardiac infiltration. CONCLUSIONS This case represents a novel pattern of disease in AL amyloidosis with cardiac, thyroid, and hematological involvement as a result of systemic amyloid deposition.Our report highlights the need for physicians to be aware of cardiac amyloidosis-related complications and the morbidity and mortality associated with concurrent hematological involvement in these cases.

BACKGROUND In most cases, esophageal perforation is caused by ingested foreign bodies which can migrate through the esophageal wall, damaging nearby vital organs like the aorta or pericardium, thereby having potentially fatal outcomes. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to decreasing morbidity and mortality. Appropriate treatment involves extracting the foreign body, repairing the esophagus and other injured organs (aorta, trachea, or pericardium), and draining and cleaning the mediastinum. CASE REPORT A 31-year-old man presented with a 2-h history of severe chest pain radiating to the back and associated with profuse sweating after eating. The patient had ingested a sharp metal object that injured the thoracic esophageal wall close to the aorta and the left atrium, causing hemopericardium. The presence of pericardial effusion on echocardiogram examination raised a high suspicion of cardiac and/or aortic injury. Left thoracotomy was done because the injury was in the distal third of the esophagus. Therefore, exploration of the pericardium and drainage of the mediastinum was essential, along with the use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to control the proximal aorta while exploring the thoracic aorta. CONCLUSIONS In cases of esophageal injury when aortic involvement is suspected, we suggest using REBOA in selected cases, when an expert team is available, as a mean of gaining better proximal control over the aorta to safely explore and repair any possible injuries. This is an unusual case management scenario that needs further literature and clinical support.

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the lungs but can involve any organ. The medical community is struggling to cope with the critical illness associated with the disease. On top of that, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have presented with complications such as thrombotic episodes in various organs both during and after being infected with SARS-CoV-2. A COVID-19-associated prothrombotic state has been mentioned in multiple recent research articles. The role of anticoagulants is debatable, because even after receiving them prophylactically, many patients have experienced thrombotic episodes. The situation, therefore, represents a challenge to the medical community. CASE REPORT We report on a COVID-19-associated prothrombotic state in a 65-year-old man with no history of comorbid illness. Initially, he presented with right-sided weakness and was found to have had an acute ischemic stroke. Urgent imaging after the stroke revealed changes on electrocardiography that were remarkable for left bundle branch block. The patient's elevated cardiac enzyme levels correlated with a silent acute myocardial infarction (MI). His echocardiogram revealed a left ventricular (LV) thrombus. He was managed with a multidisciplinary approach involving Neurology, Cardiology, and Medicine. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19-associated prothrombotic episodes involving arterial and venous systems have been reported in the literature. But concomitant stroke, acute MI, and LV thrombus rarely have been documented. The role of prophylactic or therapeutic anticoagulation is still unclear because even when patients are on these drugs, they continue to develop thrombotic episodes. Indeed, further studies are required to develop a standard management plan for what can be a fatal situation.

BACKGROUND Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus found primarily in children and was first identified in 2005. It usually causes mild upper- and lower-respiratory tract infections. HBoV infection seems to be rare during adulthood, probably due to high antibody titers resulting from childhood infection and seroconversion. The clinical significance, possible complications, and consequences of an adulthood infection are still unclear. Furthermore, the consequences of HBoV infection during pregnancy are seldom reported in the literature. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 22-year-old pregnant woman in her third trimester who presented with a 1-week history of fever and cough followed by progressive shortness of breath. She was treated initially as a case of severe pneumonia; however, her condition deteriorated rapidly, resulting in hypoxic respiratory failure that required intensive care support. The patient was found to have dilated cardiomyopathy on echocardiography, and her fetal ultrasound showed no fetal heart activity; subsequently, labor induction for stillbirth was performed. An extensive workup for an underlying cause was unrevealing apart from positive respiratory viral PCR assay for human bocavirus, performed twice. A provisional diagnosis of HBoV pneumonia complicated by dilated cardiomyopathy, stillbirth, and multiorgan failure was made. Fortunately, the patient had a good recovery and was discharged home in good clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS In addition to severe pneumonia, HBoV infection may result in other life-threatening complications. Although the infection is rare during adulthood, infection in a pregnant woman should be taken seriously and close monitoring of such patients is advised.

BACKGROUND Fibrosing mediastinitis is a rarely seen, progressive disease. It results from an excessive fibrotic reaction in the mediastinum. We describe a presentation of fibrosing mediastinitis that, to our knowledge, has never been seen before. CASE REPORT A 30-year-old female Colombian flight attendant presented with a right eyelid droop. Examination revealed partial right-sided ptosis and miosis but no anhidrosis. An ill-defined firm swelling was palpable at the root of the neck. Chest radiography revealed a widened mediastinum, and computerized tomography (CT) showed a right paratracheal mass without calcification extending to the thoracic inlet, encasing multiple blood vessels. All basic blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging of the head, and ultrasound Doppler of the neck vessels were normal. History and work up for infections including fungal diseases, granulomatous diseases, vasculitis, and autoimmune diseases were negative. Positron emission tomography (PET) showed significant FDG uptake in the mediastinum. Mediastinal biopsy was histologically consistent with fibrosing mediastinitis. All relevant immunohistochemistry and microbiological studies were negative. Subsequently, the patient developed signs of superior vena cava compression; this was managed by balloon angioplasty, which resulted in improvement of symptoms. However, over time, her symptoms worsened progressively, resulting in a left-sided ptosis and radiological progression of the mass on CT. She received treatment with rituximab and concomitant steroids, which yielded excellent results: the treatment led to both resolution of her symptoms and regression of the mass and its metabolic activity on PET scan. CONCLUSIONS Fibrosing mediastinitis can present with an incomplete Horner's syndrome. Treatment with rituximab and steroids shows promising results in select cases of metabolically active idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis.

BACKGROUND Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCC) is a rare clinical and radiological syndrome that has been associated with various infectious etiologies. CLOCC are among the recently described neurological associations with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report a case of CLOCC in a man with SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented with auditory hallucinations and rapidly developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). CASE REPORT A 23-year-old man with no past medical and psychiatric history presented with auditory hallucinations, restlessness, and suicidal ideations. A nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was positive for SARS-CoV-2. A brain MRI revealed an isolated oval-shaped lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum, with hyperintense signal on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and hypointense on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, suggestive of CLOCC. After a dramatic hospital course associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and severe intra-abdominal and cerebral bleeding, he developed cardiac arrest and died on hospital day 15. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the need for increased vigilance for the atypical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, it suggests that CLOCC can be considered as a differential diagnosis by clinicians in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who present with unexplained neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms, leading to poor outcome.

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has radically changed the world, and promising vaccine trials are currently underway. The immune responses in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are still under investigation, and data are evolving. While it is known that humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 are elicited, it is uncertain whether these responses protect against reinfection or that they provide definitive evidence of viral clearance. Very few cases have been reported in the literature regarding reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. CASE REPORT We present a case of a middle-aged man with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection who later developed mild symptomatic COVID-19 after a period of 3 months. The source of reinfection was likely from the community, which had a soaring burden of infection with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per million in the world at that time. The patient had 2 negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests 2 weeks after the initial infection. During the second infection, a nasopharyngeal reverse-transcription PCR test and tests for the presence of COVID-19 immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies were all positive. CONCLUSIONS Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is a strong possibility. This case raises concerns that asymptomatic infections may not provide long-term protective immunity to all patients, which could make them susceptible to reinfection. Possible explanations for reinfection include an interval decrease in protective antibodies titers after SARS-CoV-2 infection that may be more prevalent in patients who had an asymptomatic infection. Other possibilities include viral reactivation after a prolonged carriage of the virus or delayed immune response.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a newly emerging disease that is not yet fully understood. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel virus that is easily transmitted from human to human through the respiratory route. Usually, it presents with fever, headache, fatigue accompanied by respiratory symptoms like cough and dyspnea, and other systemic involvements. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common lymphoproliferative neoplasm characterized by absolute lymphocytosis and demonstration of clonality unlike other causes of lymphocytosis. Patients with CLL are considered immunocompromised because of impaired humoral immunity (mainly) and cellular immunity. Therefore, they are vulnerable to various infections including COVID-19. Little is known about the COVID-19 infection when it unmasks CLL. CASE REPORT A 49-year-old man with no significant previous illnesses, and an unremarkable family history, presented with a moderate COVID-19 infection. He initially presented to the emergency department with fever and mild shortness of breath. A complete blood count showed a high white blood cell count with absolute lymphocytosis. Flow cytometry revealed the clonality of the lymphocytes confirming the diagnosis of CLL. Despite having CLL, he developed a moderate COVID-19 infection and recovered in a few days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CLL, which presented with a COVID-19 infection as the initial presentation. CONCLUSIONS Lymphocytosis is an unexpected finding in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and the elevated lymphocytes may be indicative of other conditions. Secondary causes of lymphocytosis like malignancy or other infections should be considered in these cases.

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging disease that is still not fully characterized. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel virus that can be transmitted easily from human to human mainly by the respiratory route. Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 or a vaccine for prevention. The disease has various degrees of severity. It often presents with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue, accompanied by respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough and dyspnea) and other systemic involvement. Severe disease is associated with hemophagocytic syndrome and cytokine storm due to altered immune response. Patients with severe disease are more likely to have increased liver enzymes. The disease can affect the liver through various mechanisms. CASE REPORT We report an unusual case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a 24-year-old man with no previous medical illness, who presented with mild respiratory involvement. He had no serious lung injury during the disease course. However, he experienced acute fulminant hepatitis B infection and cytokine release syndrome that led to multiorgan failure and death. CONCLUSIONS It is uncommon for SARS-CoV-2 infection with mild respiratory symptoms to result in severe systemic disease and organ failure. We report an unusual case of acute hepatitis B infection with concomitant SARS-CoV-2 leading to fulminant hepatitis, multiorgan failure, and death.

BACKGROUND Bartter syndrome is a rare genetic disease characterized by hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism. Five different subtypes have been described based on the genetic defect identified. Bartter syndrome type II is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the KCNJ1 gene encoding ROMK. This subtype is typically described as a severe antenatal form of the disease, often presenting with polyhydramnios before childbirth. CASE REPORT Here, we describe the case of a 26-year-old man who presented with generalized body weakness and hypokalemia and was ultimately diagnosed with Bartter syndrome type II based on his clinical features coupled with the identification of a homozygous missense mutation in KCNJ1. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the fifth case of late-onset Bartter syndrome type II. Interestingly, the mutation identified in our patient has been previously described in patients with antenatal Bartter's Syndrome. The late presentation in our patient suggests a surprising degree of phenotypic variability, even in patients carrying the identical disease-causing mutation.

BACKGROUND Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a rare cause of postural headache. In most patients, the site of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is at the cervical or thoracic spinal level. The imaging modalities to establish the diagnosis of SIH include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, CT, and MRI myelography, and radionuclide cisternography. Treatment usually consists of conservative measures, but patients unresponsive to these treatments can be treated by epidural blood patch (EBP) administration at the site of CSF leak. CASE REPORT A 25-year-old-man presented with headache aggravated upon sitting or standing and relieved by lying supine or consuming coffee. There was no history of recent trauma, lumbar puncture, or spinal anesthesia. His neurological examination was unremarkable. MRI of his head and entire spine showed features of intracranial hypotension with no obvious CSF leak. He was treated conservatively but his symptoms persisted. CT spinal myelography showed significant leakage of contrast medium at the retrospinal region between C1 and C2 spinous processes. The patient underwent cervical EBP administration under fluoroscopic guidance. His symptoms resolved completely and he remains asymptomatic more than 6 months later. CONCLUSIONS SIH is an important cause of postural headache. In patients with non-resolving symptoms, further investigations are warranted to identify potential CSF leak. Patients found to have a CSF leak at the level of the cervical spine can be safely and effectively treated by cervical EBP administration.

BACKGROUND Rifampicin-induced pneumonitis is an infrequent occurrence, with only a few cases reported in the literature. Furthermore, this condition constitutes a diagnostic challenge, particularly in the era of COVID-19 infection. Here, we report a case of rifampicin-induced pneumonitis with clinical, imaging, and histological features of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which required severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing to exclude a diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. CASE REPORT A 43-year-old man on anti-TB treatment for TB meningitis developed new-onset fever, fatigue, hypoxemic respiratory failure, and bilateral pulmonary opacities. His clinical, chest X-ray, and CT thorax findings of ARDS were similar to both rifampicin-induced pneumonitis and severe COVID-19 pneumonia. However, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing from a nasopharyngeal swab and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) via the GeneXpert system was negative for SARS-CoV-2. A detailed workup, including lung biopsy, revealed drug-induced pneumonitis as the cause of his presentation. His pneumonitis improved after discontinuation of rifampicin and recurred following the rifampicin challenge. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the importance of early, rapid, and accurate testing for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients presenting with acute respiratory symptoms, so that accurate diagnosis and early patient management are not delayed for patients with treatable causes of acute and severe lung diseases. Timely identification of rifampicin-induced pneumonitis via a high clinical suspicion, detailed workup, and histopathological analysis is required to avoid permanent damage to the lungs.

BACKGROUND There are few reports of crotaline envenomation in Qatar, where clinically significant snakebite is infrequently encountered. This report presents a case that resulted in significant hematotoxicity. The report introduces the concept that there may be a role for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as an Emergency Department (ED) bedside imaging tool in the early evaluation of crotaline snakebites. CASE REPORT A 53-year-old Bangladeshi male without any prior medical history or allergies presented to the ED at the Hamad General Hospital stating that a sand-colored snake with a large head had bitten him on an uncovered part of his distal right leg leading to moderate swelling. Baseline laboratory testing showed a single laboratory suggestion of hematotoxicity (borderline elevation in prothrombin time) and moderately elevated lactate, indicating the potential for localized tissue destruction. POCUS demonstration of subcutaneous edema extending proximal to the knee was interpreted as suggesting the bite may be sufficiently serious to warrant administration of antivenom as the swelling crosses a major joint. CONCLUSIONS The presentation of the current case provides useful information for crotaline envenomation evaluation and management in Qatar and surrounding Middle Eastern countries. The mainstays of therapy are early suspicion of hematotoxicity, close observation for soft tissue, and timely treatment with appropriate antivenom. The case presented also provides a suggestion that ED ultrasound (POCUS) may be of assistance in assessing and predicting subcutaneous edema extent in patients with crotaline envenomation.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is a great mimic of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. This mimicry may pose a challenge, as the management of both diseases is quite different. Furthermore, the temporal association of initiating treatment affects prognosis. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly infects the pulmonary system. However, in a patient with concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis, it can be a diagnostic challenge. CASE REPORT A 28-year-old man of Indian origin presented with headache and vomiting. He had a brain mass on imaging suggestive of a glioma. He also had lung infiltrates and was diagnosed with a co-infection by SARS-CoV-2, by a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using the GeneXpert system. The mass was excised and was found to be a tuberculoma, diagnosed by Xpert MTB. He received first-line anti-TB and treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia based on local guidelines. CONCLUSIONS This report highlights that COVID-19 can co-exist with other infectious diseases, such as TB. A high degree of clinical suspicion is required to detect TB with atypical presentation. A co-infection of pulmonary and CNS TB with COVID-19 can present a diagnostic challenge, and appropriate patient management relies on an accurate and rapid diagnosis. Surgery may be necessary if there are compressive signs and symptoms secondary to CNS TB. A diagnosis of COVID-19 should not delay urgent surgeries. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of COVID-19 on the clinical course of TB.

BACKGROUND Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma is a rare condition that can lead to devastating neurologic deficits, usually caused by coagulation abnormalities, trauma, underlying neoplasm, or arteriovenous malformation. The patient presents with local and/or radicular pain, followed by loss of sensory, motor, bladder, and bowel function. CASE REPORT A 25-year-old patient presented with left-sided weakness preceded by nontraumatic upper back pain. He denied any past medical illness and being on any regular medications. He had decreased strength in the left lower limb, left upper limb, and right lower limb, with intact strength in the right upper limb. The patient exhibited decreased sensation of pain and touch on the right side of the lower limb, bilateral loss of proprioception, and intact reflexes and anal tone. He had weakness on the left side of the body and contralateral decreased sensation of pain and touch on the right side. These symptoms were suggestive of Brown-Sequard syndrome, while the bilateral loss of proprioception suggested posterior cord syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute spinal subdural canal hematoma producing cord compression. The patient had an urgent laminectomy and hematoma evacuation. Afterward, his neurological function improved. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma can occur without any known pathology or remarkable trauma. It can compress the spinal cord and produce cerebral stroke-like symptoms. Hence, spinal hematoma should be ruled out in any patient presenting with a neurological deficit.

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasing all over the world. During the pandemic, a variety of presentations have been described. Nevertheless, some patients remain asymptomatic. Respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms are often reported among these patients. CASE REPORT Here, we report a case with flank pain. Radiological images were significant for bilateral consolidation, which raised a high suspicion of COVID-19. Hence, on further investigation, he was diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. CONCLUSIONS In the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with multiple comorbidities may present atypically. Flank pain, which is not a usual presentation, may raise the suspicion of COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND Beta-hemoglobinopathies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency are genetic disorders that cause hemolytic anemia when exposed to oxidative stress. Their co-existence is, however, not proven to enhance the severity of anemia. CASE REPORT We report the case of a young man with no known co-morbidities, who came with fever and cough and was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. He was found to have hemoglobin D thalassemia and G6PD deficiency during further evaluation. Hydroxychloroquine therapy started initially, was discontinued after 3 doses once the G6PD deficiency was diagnosed. His hospital course showed a mild drop in hemoglobin with evidence of hemolysis on peripheral smear. However, the hemoglobin improved without any need for transfusion. CONCLUSIONS Hydroxychloroquine therapy can induce hemolytic crises in patients with underlying G6PD deficiency or hemoglobinopathies and should be avoided or closely monitored. Immediate intervention to stop hydroxychloroquine after 3 doses saved our patient from a major hemolytic crisis. The significance of this case report is that it is the first report that outlines the clinic course of COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient with underlying hemoglobin D disease and G6PD deficiency.

BACKGROUND Single or multiple cell line dysplasia is a characteristic feature of myelodysplastic syndrome. However, significant dysgranulopoiesis is not a feature of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Systemic mastocytosis (SM) with an associated hematologic neoplasm (SM-AHN) comprises 5% to 40% of cases of SM. All types of hematologic neoplasms have been previously reported, although CML has been rarely encountered. CASE REPORT A 28-year-old male presented with a 3-month-history of weight loss and massive splenomegaly. Peripheral blood revealed marked leukocytosis, shift to left with 13% blasts. There was evident dysgranulopoiesis that raised a provisional diagnosis of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm. Bone marrow (BM) examination revealed granulocytic hyperplasia with 10% blasts and significant dysgranulopoiesis. Unexpectedly, cytogenetic analysis revealed t(9;22) with BCR/ABL1 rearrangement, diagnostic of chronic myeloid leukemia in an accelerated phase. The patient was started on dasatinib 100 mg upfront, however, he failed to respond, with increasing leukocytosis. Repeat BM examination showed persistence of the findings with 8% blasts. At this time, aggregates of mast cells with aberrant expression of CD25 were elicited, thus concluding the diagnosis of SM-AHN. The patient failed multiple lines of treatment (dasatinib, nilotinib, hydroxyurea, cytarabine subcutaneous, 6-mercaptopurine and interferon) and progressed to the blast phase a few months later. CONCLUSIONS We report an unusual case of CML, presented with significant dysgranulopoiesis with an aggressive clinical course including SM uncovered during the disease course with subsequent transformation to the blast phase. The different biological behavior of this case underscores the need for studies on a larger number of cases to explore the significance of the aforementioned coexistent features.

BACKGROUND Most patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are asymptomatic at diagnosis, but 10% present with B symptoms. Most patients have palpable lymphadenopathy, while 20-50% of the patients have hepatosplenomegaly. Cutaneous infiltrations in patients with CLL can be localized or generalized in the form of erythematous papules, plaques, nodules and, ulceration, which is uncommon. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 71-year-old man diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) with atypical immunophenotype and increased prolymphocytes (CLL/PLL), which was treated initially after white blood counts (WBC) doubling with Bendamustine and Rituximab for 6 cycles, and achieved complete remission. The patient relapsed after 6 months of completion of treatment, with multiple large subcutaneous masses, proved to be infiltration with the same atypical CLL/SLL on tissue biopsy, with pathologic features indicating disease progression. The lack of similar reported cases, and the aggressiveness of the tumor clinically and histopathologically, resulted in the decision to treat with Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisolone (R-CHOP) as a case of aggressive lymphoma, with complete remission clinically and radiologically. CONCLUSIONS We present a rare case of subcutaneous extramedullary masses of atypical CLL/SLL. The high proliferation index (Ki-67) and the increase of large cells are suggestive of aggressive progression of the disease; however, no frank features of Richter's transformation were noted. Based on this and because of the unusual aggressive-looking skin masses, the panel decided to treat the patient with R-CHOP. The impact of this presentation on the prognosis of the disease is not clear. To date, our patient has responded well to treatment with R-CHOP, with complete remission of the subcutaneous masses and on PET scan, but further follow-up is needed.

BACKGROUND Plasma cell myeloma is a neoplastic plasma cell disorder that usually presents after the fifth decade of life; it is rarely described in younger population especially under 30 years of age. However, there are conflicting reports in the literature about the clinical behavior and overall survival in younger age groups. In approximately 2% of plasma cell myeloma, the morphology of the neoplastic cells is highly pleomorphic, quite anaplastic, and may resemble metastatic tumor cells. While this poses a challenge for morphological interpretation during diagnosis, it has been demonstrated that bone marrow morphologic features (including diffuse sheet growth pattern, immature cell morphology and high mitotic index) significantly correlates with high risk disease. Moreover, there is limited description available about the morphology of the neoplastic cells when correlating the age at presentation with the clinical outcome/biological behavior; hence, the need to report and collect such cases. CASE REPORT We report a case of plasma cell myeloma in a 22-year-old male who presented with non-specific clinical features and posed a diagnostic challenge during clinical, radiological, and laboratory examination. The pathology specimens showed anaplastic morphology. Unfortunately, after diagnosis, despite treatment with brotezomib, his disease had an aggressive clinical course and he passed away 4 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Although plasma cell myeloma is rare in patients younger than 30 years, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis and investigated properly especially in patients with clinical suspicion of a metastatic non-hematological tumor. The anaplastic variant in a young patient is a diagnostic challenge and is associated with bizarre morphology, aggressive presentation, adverse cytogenetics, resistance to chemotherapy, and poor, short-term, survival.

BACKGROUND Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) both have a common origin arising from mature CD5+ B-lymphocytes. Their distinction is crucial since MCL is a considerably more aggressive disease. Composite lymphoma consisting of CLL/SLL and MCL has been rarely reported. This type of composite lymphoma may be under-diagnosed as the 2 neoplasms have many features in common, both morphologically and immunophenotypically. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 57-year-old male patient who presented with a 4-month history of recurrent abdominal pain and distention with hepatosplenomegaly. Peripheral blood showed a high leukocytes count (46.7×10³/uL) with marked lymphocytosis of 35.0×10³/uL, mostly small mature-looking, with some showing nuclear irregularities, with approximately 3% prolymphocytes. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry revealed 2 immunophenotypically distinct abnormal CD5+monotypic B-cell populations. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on peripheral blood demonstrated IGH/CCND1 rearrangement consistent with t(11;14) in 65% of cells analyzed. Accordingly, based on compilation of findings from morphology, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and FISH, A diagnosis of composite lymphoma consisting of MCL; small cell variant and CLL/SLL was concluded. CONCLUSIONS We describe a case of composite lymphoma of MCL (small cell variant) and CLL/SLL that emphasizes the crucial role of the multiparametric approach, including vigilant cyto-histopathologic examination, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, as well as genetic testing, to achieve the correct diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a diagnosis that requires a demanding workup from physicians before confirming a diagnosis. Thyroid diseases are a rare cause of FUO. Subacute thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease that can lead to a wide spectrum of presentations. CASE REPORT We report a case of a previously healthy male who presented with persistent fever of 4 weeks following an upper respiratory tract infection associated with constitutional symptoms. His laboratory workup included complete blood counts (CBC), complete metabolic panel (blood urea and creatinine, liver function tests, and serum electrolytes), blood cultures, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, and computed tomography abdomen and pelvis that were inconclusive. His thyroid function tests showed a hyperthyroid state and a thyroid scan confirmed a picture of thyroiditis. The patient was treated with Ibuprofen and then with prednisolone; he showed significant improvement over a few days and was discharged with treatment of tapering doses of prednisolone over 6 weeks. Two weeks after discharge the patient had a follow-up at an outpatient clinic and was found to be in good health with resolution of his symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Thyroid disorders are not a common cause of FUO, and even if the clinical assessment of the patient is not suggestive of thyroid disease, we should consider it a possible cause. and thyroid function test should be performed to exclude thyroid problems.

BACKGROUND Numb chin syndrome is a rare and under diagnosed neuropathy of the inferior alveolar branch of the trigeminal nerve usually causing a lower lip and chin anesthesia or paresthesia. The syndrome is commonly associated with broad-spectrum malignant and non-malignant conditions. CASE REPORT Here we report a case of a 30-year-old male who presented with numb chin syndrome in the form of jaw pain, paresthesia, and hypoesthesia of the mental area as the presenting symptoms of acute of myeloid leukemia with t(8;21) treated with (3+7) protocol (3 days anthracycline+7 days cytarabine). The pain and paresthesia improved but hypothesia persisted. CONCLUSIONS Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the most serious causes of numb chin syndrome which should not be overlooked.

BACKGROUND Lemierre's syndrome is a potential life-threatening disease commonly occurring in young, healthy individuals. It is often preceded by an oropharyngeal infection causing bacteremia. This may rapidly progress into thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular venous system, its branches, and septic embolization and often fulminant organ failure. CASE REPORT A previously healthy 31-year-old male with recent history of facial herpes zoster infection, presented with 1-week history of increasingly painful nasal, and periorbital swelling. Imaging confirmed superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in blood cultures and had an uncomplicated hospital course with full recovery. CONCLUSIONS Early recognition of Lemierre's syndrome contributes significantly in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with it. Staphylococcus aureus skin infection is a very rare cause of Lemierre's syndrome, and its association with superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis has not yet been reported in literature.

BACKGROUND Chordoma is a primary bone tumor that most commonly arises in the sacrococcygeal vertebrae and the spheno-occipital areas. Chordoma is a malignant tumor that should be distinguished from benign notochordal cell tumor (BNCT) of the spine. This report is of a rare case of axial chordoma and describes the challenging approach to diagnosis and management. CASE REPORT A 50-year-old woman presented with a one-year history of a slowly growing swelling in the sacral region. She complained of numbness and progressive weakness in both lower limbs, and urinary incontinence. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed a large destructive lesion involving the sacrum and coccyx with cranial extension to level S2 and invasion of the right and left S2-S3 neural foramina, sacral nerves, left gluteus maximums muscle, and adjacent subcutaneous tissue. The management approach included the early involvement of a multidisciplinary clinical team. En bloc resection of the tumor through an anterior and posterior approach was performed, and the defect was reconstructed later using bilateral rotational gluteal fascial flaps. CONCLUSIONS Axial chordoma is a very rare, locally aggressive, and highly recurrent primary tumor of bone. The clinical management is challenging and requires early involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Following surgical resection, careful selection from limited available reconstructive surgical options is necessary to ensure that the surgical defect is repaired.

BACKGROUND Statins are effective in reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and are generally safe, but can rarely result in devastating adverse effects. With the increasing indications and prescriptions of statins, rare adverse effects are more likely to be seen and reported. Unfortunately, there are no accurate predictive tools to estimate the risk of developing these adverse effects. Post-marketing surveillance helps in collecting data on adverse effects and assists in developing better prognostic tools that can help physicians make better therapeutic decisions. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with generalized body aches, muscle weakness, jaundice, dark urine, and decreased urine output. He was started on atorvastatin 4 months prior to presentation after having an episode of myocardial infarction, and he was diagnosed as having statin-induced hepatitis, rhabdomyolysis, and acute kidney injury. A basic workup excluded other possible causes. The patient, unfortunately, died of unknown causes on day 6 after admission, and an autopsy was not performed. CONCLUSIONS Statins are effective and safe but can result in rare and dangerous adverse effects. Physicians should counsel their patients on proper identification and timely reporting of such adverse effects. Physicians also should be encouraged to report any adverse drug reactions and help in promoting post-marketing surveillance studies. The present case is an excellent example of the importance of these studies, especially for commonly-used drugs.

BACKGROUND Pseudomonal infection is the most common cause of malignant otitis externa (MOE), which typically affects elderly diabetic patients. Fungi are a rare cause of MOE. MOE can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated promptly. It can result in a wide spectrum of complications, including skull-base osteomyelitis, cranial nerve palsy, cerebral venous thrombosis, and brain abscess. Pseudoaneurysm formation of the intracranial vessels is a life-threatening complication of MOE that is seldom reported in the literature. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 66-year-old diabetic man with MOE who was initially treated with antipseudomonal antibiotics after negative initial culture results. His MOE resulted in a cascade of complications, including facial nerve palsy, skull base osteomyelitis, and sigmoid sinus thrombosis, and culminated in left maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm formation resulting in massive epistaxis and hemodynamic instability. Endovascular embolization resulted in a successful obliteration of the pseudoaneurysm. A subsequent functional endoscopic sinus surgical (FESS) tissue biopsy confirmed Candida glabrata as the etiological agent. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and antifungal and anticoagulation therapy, and was discharged home in good condition. CONCLUSIONS A high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of fungal MOE, particularly in intractable cases of MOE with negative initial cultures, should be maintained. Pseudoaneurysm formation is a life-threatening complication of MOE that is seldom reported in the literature and should be suspected in any patient with MOE who presents with epistaxis or intracranial bleeding.

BACKGROUND Beriberi due to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency has two clinical presentations. Patients with dry beriberi present with neuropathy, and patients with wet beriberi present with heart failure, with or without neuropathy. Dry beriberi can mimic the most common form of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP). Severe thiamine deficiency results in Wernicke's encephalopathy. This report of a case of dry beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy due to thiamine deficiency includes a review of the literature. CASE REPORT A 56-year old woman with a history of gallstone pancreatitis and protein-calorie malnutrition was treated six months previously with total parenteral nutrition (TPN). She initially presented at another hospital with paresthesia of the lower limbs, arms, and neck, and symptoms of encephalopathy. Initial diagnosis of GBS was made, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings. Despite five days of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, her encephalopathy worsened, requiring transfer to our hospital, where she required intubation and treatment with vasopressors. A repeat MRI of her brain showed changes consistent with Wernicke's encephalopathy. Following treatment with high-dose intravenous thiamine, her mental status improved within 48 hours, and by the third hospital day, she no longer required intubation. CONCLUSIONS Symptoms and signs of dry beriberi due to thiamine deficiency can mimic those of acute or chronic GBS. However, thiamine repletion leads to rapid clinical improvement and can prevent irreversible neurologic sequelae, including Korsakoff syndrome. Clinicians should consider thiamine deficiency in malnourished patients presenting with symptoms and signs of GBS.

BACKGROUND The clinical presentation in acromegaly is usually insidious, with headaches or visual disturbances being the most common symptoms. Previous studies have shown higher fibrinogen levels, lower protein C and S activity values, and enhanced platelet function in patients with acromegaly compared to a normal population. Nevertheless, the link between hypercoagulability and acromegaly is often overlooked and rarely reported in the literature. CASE REPORT We report a case of a young man with a massive pulmonary embolism as the initial presentation of acromegaly. Extensive workup excluded other causes of thrombophilia. Furthermore, the diagnosis of acromegaly was confirmed by the patient's clinical features as well as laboratory and radiological testing. A literature review on the link between hypercoagulability and acromegaly was performed. CONCLUSIONS This case report shed light on hypercoagulability as an under-recognized serious complication of acromegaly and paves the road for future studies on this topic.

BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine is a sedating agent approved for use in non-intubated patients and procedural sedation due to its efficacy in conscious sedation and minimal risks of respiratory depression. Previous reports proved the effectiveness of clonidine in treatment of withdrawal symptoms, but none have discussed cases with co-existing non-controlled psychiatric illness and prolonged duration of dexmedetomidine exposure. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with viral meningitis. Due to her complicated psychiatric illness and viral meningitis, she developed severe agitation unresponsive to standard therapy. The patient had to be placed on dexmedetomidine, to which she developed dependence. There were several attempts to gradually withdraw dexmedetomidine but these were unsuccessful despite adding multiple antipsychotic medications. Withdrawal was manifested in multiple symptoms, including severe agitation, sweating, and tachycardia. Clonidine was used and was an effective treatment option to successfully withdraw the patient from dexmedetomidine. A smaller initial dose was used due to low baseline systolic blood pressure, which was successful. CONCLUSIONS This report proves that clonidine is an effective option for treatment of dexmedetomidine dependence compared to other antipsychotic agents. The present report is the first to discuss severe psychiatric illness and prolonged dexmedetomidine duration (>7 days) in a non-intubated patient. Dexmedetomidine withdrawal must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with psychiatric illness, which can be easily treated with clonidine.

BACKGROUND Peritoneal loose bodies, also known as peritoneal mice, are rare findings and they present either with nonspecific symptoms or are found incidentally during exploration and autopsy. Usually, they have no clinical significance and require no specific treatment. We report a case of a giant peritoneal loose body found incidentally in the abdominal cavity of a patient who presented with abdominal pain and hematuria. CASE REPORT Our patient was a 58-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain and hematuria. Abdominal non-contrast computed tomography (CT) and subsequent CT abdomen and pelvis with intravenous and oral rectal contrast were performed preoperatively, showing a well-circumscribed and calcified lesion of undetermined etiology in the abdominal cavity. The lesion was removed laparoscopically with no complications. Histopathologically, the lesion was reported as calcified tissue with fat necrosis, most likely an infarcted appendix epiploicae. CONCLUSIONS Loose peritoneal bodies can present a challenging diagnostic problem to the surgeon, with confusing findings that can point towards malignancy. It often requires a number of investigations; however even with these investigations, operative exploration, either open or laparoscopic, can be the ultimate diagnostic and therapeutic modality, and the mobility of these calcified lesions may give a preoperative clue to the etiology. It is important to distinguish peritoneal loose bodies from neoplastic or metastatic lesions and to consider it in the differential diagnosis of a calcified mobile pelvic mass. Laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective in the retrieval of symptomatic peritoneal loose bodies.

BACKGROUND Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently an important targeted drug class in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib was the first approved TKI for CML in 2001. Nilotinib is a second-generation TKI, approved in 2007; it inhibits BCR-ABL, PDGFR, and c-KIT, and is 30 times more potent than imatinib. Tyrosine kinase enzymes are expressed in multiple tissues and are involved in several signaling pathways; they have been shown to have several off-target side effects. CASE REPORT We report a case of an elderly male with CML and no history of gastrointestinal diseases, treated with nilotinib, and developed recurrent gastric polyps after three years of treatment. We excluded common causes of gastric polyps and therefore considered nilotinib as a probable cause of recurrent gastric polyps. CONCLUSIONS Recurrent gastric polyps could be a potential side effect of nilotinib treatment. Careful long-term monitoring of patients on TKI therapy is necessary and further long-term studies of TKI side effects are needed.

BACKGROUND Extranodal lymphoma of the paranasal sinuses is a rare clinical entity seen in only 5-8% of extranodal lymphomas of the head and neck. Nasal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (Nasal NKTCL), which is a subtype of peripheral T cell lymphoma, constitutes about 1.4% of all lymphomas. NKTCL is usually diagnosed at a late stage because it presents with nonspecific symptoms in the early stages. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 25-year-old male patient who presented with periorbital swelling treated as fungal sinusitis but proven to have NKTCL. We review the literature and discuss the clinical manifestations of the disease, its relation to EBV virus, the histological and radiological characteristics, the prognostic indicators, and treatment options. This case report shows physicians that NKTCL lymphoma can present as periorbital cellulitis, although few similar cases are found in the literature. CONCLUSIONS NKTCL is a destructive midline tumor that should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis of paranasal sinus lesions to help in early diagnosis, which can improve the prognosis., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared Conflict(s) of Interest None.

BACKGROUND Purulent pericardial tamponade is a very rare occurrence in the current era of widespread antibiotic use. It is even rarer when caused by Streptococcus constellatus: a microorganism usually classified among the normal flora of the human body. It is occasionally diagnosed with certain predisposing factors. CASE REPORT We present the third case of Streptococcus constellatus cardiac tamponade reported in the current medical literature, occurring in a previously healthy young man who was initially admitted and treated for possible community-acquired pneumonia. The patient required immediate subxyphoid pericardiocentesis. He was also treated successfully with a lengthy course of both intravenous and oral antibiotics. Two months post-hospitalization, he was confirmed clinically stable with complete resolution of his purulent effusion. We also conducted a review of the literature for all Streptococcus milleri group purulent pericardial infections between 1984 and 2015. CONCLUSIONS Purulent cardiac tamponade caused by Streptococcus constellatus is extremely rare. It can be life threatening, however. Early appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are critical for a good outcome., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared Conflict of interests The author has no conflict of interests regarding publishing this paper.

BACKGROUND Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) has been reported in the literature as a serious complication after tonsillectomy that has high morbidity and can be life threatening. In cases of recurrent secondary PTH, one should consider coagulopathies as the hidden pathology. Factor XIII deficiency is very rare, suggested to be present 1 in 2 million people. Patients with undiagnosed factor XIII deficiency with secondary PTH are extremely rare.  CASE REPORT We report on the cases of six patients (four adults and two children) who presented with recurrent attacks of secondary PTH. CONCLUSIONS Recurrent, severe PTH could be related to undiagnosed hematological disorders., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared Conflict of interests The authors of this study have no conflict of interests or financial interest, real or perceived, to disclose.

BACKGROUND Pituitary macroadenoma is a common benign tumor that usually presents with visual field defects or hormonal abnormalities. Cerebral infarction can be a complication of a large pituitary adenoma. We report a rare case of bilateral anterior cerebral arteries infarcts by a large pituitary macroadenoma with apoplexy. CASE REPORT A 48-year-old male patient presented with altered conscious level and sudden loss of vision for one-day duration. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a large seller and suprasellar hemorrhagic mass of pituitary origin, with associated bilateral areas of diffusion restriction in the frontal parasagittal regions, consistent with infarctions. Magnetic resonance angiography showed elevation and compression of A1 segment of both anterior cerebral arteries by the hemorrhagic pituitary macroadenoma. The patient underwent trans-sphenoidal resection of the pituitary adenoma, but unfortunately, ischemia was irreversible. Computed tomography (CT) done post-operatively showed hypodensity in the frontal and parietal parasagittal areas, which was also persistent in the follow up CT scans. The patient's neurological function remained poor, with GCS of 8/15, in vegetative state. CONCLUSIONS Vascular complications of the pituitary apoplexy, although uncommon, can be very severe and life threatening. Early detection of vascular compromise caused by hemorrhagic pituitary macroadenoma can prevent delay in intervention. Clinicians should also consider pituitary adenoma as a possible cause of stroke., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an infrequent clinical condition usually associated with multiple etiological factors and diseases. In some cases, PVT remains undiagnosed and is incidentally detected during routine examination for a known etiology., Case Report: Here, we present a rare case of portal vein thrombosis associated with acute cholecystitis in a 31-year-old man., Conclusions: Conservative treatment may be a feasible and safe approach for the management of PVT with acute cholecystitis, if treated at an early stage. Moreover, initial diagnosis based on radiological evaluation is possible only if the surgeons are familiar with this unusual condition. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and management of patients with acute cholecystitis-associated PVT.

Background: Neurologic complications can occur with varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, usually after vesicular exanthem. A review of the literature revealed 3 cases of viral meningitis associated with 6th nerve palsy but without significantly increased intracranial pressure., Case Report: We report a case of a previously healthy 15-year-old girl with aseptic meningitis as a result of reactivated-VZV infection with symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and reversible 6th cranial nerve palsy but without exanthema. Diagnosis was made by detection of VZV-DNA in cerebrospinal fluid using polymerase chain reaction and documented high intracranial pressure. Full recovery was achieved after a course of acyclovir and acetazolamide., Conclusions: This case demonstrates that VZV may be considered in cases of aseptic meningitis in immunocompetent individuals, even without exanthema, and it may increase the intracranial pressure, leading to symptoms, and causing reversible neurological deficit.

Background: Vein thrombosis is mainly determined by 3 factors, which constitute a triad called Virchow's triad: hypercoagulability, stasis, and endothelial injury. Venous thrombosis commonly occurs in the lower extremities since most of the blood resides there and flows against gravity. The veins of the lower extremities are dependent on intact valves and fully functional leg muscles. However, in case of valvular incompetency or muscular weakness, thrombosis and blood stasis will occur as a result. In contrast, the veins of the neck, specially the jugulars, have distensible walls which allow flexibility during respiration. In addition, the blood directly flows downward towards the heart. Nevertheless, many case reports mentioned the thrombosis of internal jugular veins and external jugular veins with identified risk factors. Jugular vein thrombosis has previously been associated in the literature with a variety of medical conditions, including malignancy., Case Report: This report is of a case of idiopathic bilateral external jugular vein thrombosis in a 21 year-old male construction worker of Southeast Asian origin with no previous medical history who presented with bilateral facial puffiness of gradual onset over 1 month. Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography were used in the diagnosis. Further work-up showed no evidence of infection or neoplasia. The patient was eventually discharged on warfarin. The patient was assessed after 6 months and his symptoms had resolved completely., Conclusions: Bilateral idiopathic external jugular veins thrombosis is extremely rare and can be an indicator of early malignancy or hidden infection. While previous reports in the literature have associated jugular vein thrombosis with malignancy, the present case shows that external jugular vein thrombosis can also be found in persons without malignancy.

Patient: Male, 66., Final Diagnosis: Hepatocellular carcinoma., Symptoms: Abdominal distension • painful right facial swelling • weight loss., Medication: -., Clinical Procedure: -., Specialty: -., Objective: Rare disease., Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common cancer, but it rarely metastasizes to the salivary glands. A review of the literature revealed only 5 reported cases of hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic to parotid glands. We here report an additional case of this rare association., Case Report: A 66-year-old male with a background of type 2 diabetes mellitus and post-alcoholic decompensated liver cirrhosis presented with a progressively enlarging painful right facial swelling for 2 months that was eventually found to be due to hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic to the right parotid gland. Fine needle aspiration from the right parotid showed sheets and single malignant cells that were interpreted as carcinoma not otherwise specific. However, biopsy showed metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma into the right parotid gland., Conclusions: We report an additional case of the rare metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma to the parotid glands. It should therefore be considered in a patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis presenting with a parotid swelling. Furthermore, the present case demonstrates the importance of the tissue biopsy for obtaining an accurate final diagnosis.

Patient: Female, 75 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Hypertensive crisis with multi organ failure Symptoms: Anemia • general weakness • hypokalemia • nausea • tachycardia, Medication: - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Cardiology., Objective: Unexpected drug reaction., Background: Skin reactions are common adverse drug reactions and may include angioedema, erythroderma, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). TEN is a rare but serious reaction characterized by widespread erythema, necrosis, and bullous detachment of the epidermis and mucous membranes., Case Report: An elderly woman presented with generalized weakness and nausea, associated with a hypertensive crisis. Following the initiation of hydralazine, well-demarcated erythematous maculopapular rashes appeared on her right forearm and left leg, which transformed into a bullous rash. Subsequently, a similar patch appeared on her left forearm, with a similar progression and associated with generalized edema of the extremities. A clinical diagnosis of drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis was made and hydralazine was discontinued. Following this, the skin lesions improved, with complete subsequent resolution. Skin biopsy was not performed due to the rapid resolution of the lesions. A negative screen for autoantibodies ruled out systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and other undifferentiated connective tissue disorders. After re-administration of hydralazine, the same lesions appeared again, which again resolved after its discontinuation, thus confirming our initial clinical suspicion. Treatment is immediate discontinuation of the offending drug and supportive care., Conclusions: Clinical awareness with close monitoring is important for the identification of a rare adverse drug reaction, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.