Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type.

We report a case of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, which is rare in the United States and Europe. It is more prevalent in Asians and Native Americans of Mexico, Central America, and South America. A 30-year-old Southeast Asian man with facial swelling, fever, and unintentional weight loss was found to have leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

Comparison of serum immunofixation electrophoresis and free light chain assays in the detection of monoclonal gammopathies.

Background: Diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathies (MGs) is determined by demonstration of a monoclonal immunoglobulin molecule or chain in serum and/or urine. Previous results on immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and quantitative free light chain (FLC) measurements have been conflicting.

Patients And Methods: The purpose of this study was to compare IFE with serum FLC assays in the detection of MG.

Diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis clinically without tissue confirmation.

A 52-year-old woman is described in whom cardiac sarcoidosis was diagnosed clinically on the basis of high-grade heart block, recurring ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and acute cardiac decompensation. Confirmation of sarcoidosis was not determined until necropsy. When it causes cardiac dysfunction, sarcoidosis rarely causes dysfunction of another body organ, although small sarcoid granulomas may also be present in noncardiac organs or tissues.