Rhinosporodium: case report

This is the first reported case of rhinosporidiosis in Ibadan, Nigeria. A review of literature shows that the patient came from northern Nigeria where the first case was reported in the country. The organism is difficult to culture and the diagnosis was based on microscopy and histological examination of the polyp. We present the case of recurrent rhinosporidiosis in a 16 year old girl a year after polypectomy in Zaria, northern Nigeria.     

Primary cutaneous nocardiosis

A 37-year-old patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, who had been treated with oral corticosteroids for 10 years, developed primary cutaneous nocardiosis. Brown-violaceous, suppurative nodules and plaques arose on her right leg. Cultures of multiple biopsies on blood agar medium grew Nocardia. The patient received 500 mg of imipenem three times a day which resulted in complete regression of the lesions within two months. No relapse was observed 6 months later.     

Pseudopneumoperitoneum: a case report

A case of post-traumatic pseudocyst of the pancreas is presented. The elevated and compressed stomach showed an appearance on X-ray film which might be interpreted as free peritoneal air. The term pseudopneumoperitoneum is defined and other causes of this condition are mentioned.     

Hemangiopericytoma: a case report

We describe one case of hemangiopericytoma touching a 44-year-old man. It is a rare vascular tumor originating from pericytes surrounding capillaries. The main typical features of it are the difficulty in doing an histologic diagnosis and the impossibility to make out a reliable prognosis. The therapy of choice is a surgical procedure sometimes in combination with radio- and/or chemotherapy.     

Munchausen's syndrome: case report

A case report of a 31-year old butcher with haemorrhagica histrionica is presented. The patient went to great lengths to induce haematemesis and fake its symptoms to gain admission to hospital. The alarming frequency of admissions and dramatic behaviour of the patient prompted this report.     

Suprasellar osteolipoma: case report

BACKGROUND: Osteolipomas are distinguished from other intracranial lipomas by their arrangement of central adipose and peripheral osseous tissues and by characteristically arising in the suprasellar/interpeduncular region. METHODS: We report computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pathology findings from this 34-year-old man who underwent surgical removal of this benign lesion. RESULTS: This case displays the distinctive histopathology that has been reported in 13 of 31 (42%) lipomas in this region. In contrast, ossification of lipomas at other intracranial sites is relatively rare. CONCLUSIONS: Ossification should be expected in many suprasellar/interpeduncular lipomas, and osteolipoma should be included in the radiologic differential diagnosis of fat-intensity masses with calcification in this region.     

Bilateral twinning: report of case

Twinning is an anomaly in which one tooth has combined with another or enlarged itself to the point of doubling its substance. A discussion of the nomenclature and a report of bilateral twinning are presented. A possible cause of the twinning events in this case include gemination of the maxillary right and mandibular left canines and fusion of the maxillary left and mandibular right canines with supernumerary teeth.     

Enchondroma protuberans: a case report

Epidemiologic studies suggest that moderate amounts of ethanol may reduce cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms of the alcohol-associated risk reduction are not known exactly. Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation represents an important phenomenon in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Recently, it was suggested that metabolic changes during the postprandial phase may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of postprandial plasma with and without ethanol on the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Identical meals containing 1 g fat/kg body wt were given with and without ethanol (38 +/- 0.5 g) to eight healthy young men. Blood was drawn hourly during an 8-h postprandial period; the plasma was separated and added to the cell cultures (0.3%, by vol). The proliferative response (DNA synthesis) of these cells was assessed by measuring the incorporation of [methyl-3H]thymidine. The maximal blood ethanol concentration of 11.5 +/- 0.6 mmol/L (mean +/- SEM) was attained within the first hour. The ingestion of the meal with ethanol led to a 20% reduction in the capacity of postprandial plasma to induce thymidine incorporation into smooth muscle cells compared with the meal without ethanol (P < 0.05). These results suggest that ethanol may reduce cardiovascular risk by modulating vascular muscle cell growth during the postprandial period. Considering the amount of time humans spend in the postprandial state during their lifetimes, these findings may be of great importance in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.     

Lymphoma lymphoplasmocytoides: a case report

Clinical symptoms and haematological disorders in patients suffering from lymphoplasmatic/lymphoplasmocytoidal lymphoma were presented, 82 patients were examined (median age of 63), all of the in clinical stage IV (ANN Arbor scale). In all of the patients bone marrow was invaded. The most common symptom was enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes (86%) less often abdominal ones (21%). Splenomegalia was found in 55% and hepatomegalia in 49% of patients 35% of patients had anaemia and 38% thrombocytopenia. Close to 1/3 of patients dermatoses were found, in most cases allergic ones. In 7% another cancer was found.     

Autoerotic asphyxia: a case report

Autoerotic asphyxia is the induction of a state of oxygen deficiency to enhance sexual excitement and orgasm. It has been practiced for centuries, and there are many reports of fatalities. The authors report a case of a living participant that shows a number of characteristics different from those of fatalities. The case study also raises doubt about the conventional view that participants have no wish to die. We feel that further case studies of living participants will lead to a greater understanding of the practice and will facilitate treatment.     

Staphylococcal vertebral osteomyelitis: case report

A 65-year old male Saudi patient presented with rapidly progressive quadriparesis. Lower cervical myelopathy was associated with radiological features of bone destruction, inflammatory disease of the spine and a paravertebral mass. Although tuberculosis and brucellosis are more commonly responsible for this clinical picture in our practice, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from tissue recovered at surgery. He has been followed up for 12 months and has made an almost complete recovery after surgical decompression of spinal cord and a 2-month course of intravenous flucloxacillin. This case underscores the need for tissue diagnosis in patients presenting with inflammatory paravertebral swellings even in areas endemic for tuberculosis and brucellosis.     

Drug induced rhabdomyolysis: case report

Rhabdomyolysis results from skeletal muscle injury leading to the release of intracellular contents into blood and urine. Its diverse aetiology includes severe exercise, muscle trauma or ischaemia, metabolic disorders, infections and exposure to drugs and toxins. Known risk factors include heredity disorders of glycogen and lipid metabolism as well as a history of substance abuse. A case of rhabdomyolysis associated with exposure to opiates and benzodiazepines is described and the pathogenesis and treatment are reviewed. The rhabdomyolysis was complicated by acute renal failure; the patient fully recovered. It is suggested that rhabdomyolysis should be borne in mind in patients presenting with altered mental status, or fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, in particular, if they also give a history of substance abuse.