BACKGROUND VIPomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors typically located in the pancreas. The majority of cases autonomously secret vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which can result in profuse, refractory, watery diarrhea. The fluid and electrolyte imbalance can progress to dehydration and profound hypokalemia, resulting in the watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, achlorhydria (WDHA) syndrome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND Lymphangiomas represent the focal proliferation of benign, well-differentiated lymphatic tissue. They are most likely congenital, thus more commonly diagnosed at birth and before the age of 2 years. When they are found in adults, they favor the head, neck and axillary region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular malignancy that occurs in multiple organs and tissues with a predilection for the extremities, bone, liver, and lung. It is often characterized by a clinically indolent course, delayed diagnosis, and unestablished standardized treatment options. CASE REPORT A 46-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of right shoulder and arm pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state is a life-threatening endocrine disorder that most commonly affects adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The condition results from an osmotic diuresis-induced loss of water exceeding that of sodium. Altered mental status, hypernatremia and hyperglycemia are characteristic features at presentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOvarian clear-cell carcinoma is an uncommon subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. It carries a generally poor prognosis because of its resistance to standard treatment and metastatic spread to vital organs. Metastasis to the breast is rare and bilateral breast metastasis is unreported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Acute esophageal necrosis is an uncommon clinical disorder diagnosed on endoscopy as a black esophagus. It has a multifactorial etiology that probably represents a combination of poor nutritional status, gastric outlet obstruction, and ischemia secondary to hypoperfusion of the distal esophagus. It typically occurs in older males with comorbidities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND Right-sided infective endocarditis is a classic complication of intravenous drug abuse. Without timely bactericidal antibiotics, the disease process can progress to septic pulmonary emboli. Rarely, a pneumothorax can occur as a result of the emboli, and progressive persistent valvular disease may require a valve replacement.
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