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Biomedical subjects

J C Rivero

Publications and source records attributed to J C Rivero.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

A fatal case of community acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus brain abscess in a previously healthy adolescent.

A 16-year-old adolescent presented with fever, lethargy and vomiting associated with mild dehydration. This was followed less than 24-hours later by loss of consciousness, seizures and clinical brain death. She had no prior medical illness, no hospital or frequent antibiotic exposure. There was no evidence of soft tissue or skin infection. Management included intravenous fluids, ampicillin and cefotaxime parenterally, dexamethasone, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Her neurologic examination remained unchanged with areflexia, flaccid paralysis and fixed pupils. Post-mortem examination revealed an eight-centimetre right fronto-parietal lobe brain abscess. Cultures were positive for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Although formerly a nosocomial pathogen affecting debilitated patients in the hospital setting, S aureus that is methicillin resistant is emerging as a community acquired pathogen affecting previously well patients.

Adolescent↗

[Adrenocortical macronodular hyperplasia with massive enlargement of the gland. A rare variant of autonomous hypercortisolism].

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of Cushing's syndrome due to massive adrenocortical macronodular hyperplasia that gave the gland the appearance of a pseudotumor. METHODS: In a review of the surgical pathology of the adrenal gland recently performed in our hospital, 82 adrenalectomy specimens obtained from 1978-1998 were found. Of these 82 surgical specimens, 44 (53.6%) were cortical pathologies and 10 of these (12.1%) were hyperplasia. There was only one with massive adrenocortical macronodular hyperplasia. A 53-year-old male, chronic alcoholic with cushingoid obesity and hypercortisolism is described. RESULTS: Ultrasound and CT assessment showed enlarged, asymmetrical adrenal glands and macronodules. The analytical and MRI study of the sella turcica showed primary adrenal hypercortisolism. Adrenalectomy of the dominant gland (the left adrenal whose activity was demonstrated on the 131Iodine scintiscan) was performed. The postoperative cortisol levels returned to normal and remain normal up to the present time, 18 months after surgery. The surgical specimen weighed 104 gms and was completely macronodular. CONCLUSIONS: Massive adrenocortical macronodular hyperplasia is a rare cause of pituitary-independent autonomous primary adrenal hypercortisolism. It is always bilateral. Adrenal weight is significantly increased (total weight of both adrenals 60-180 gms) and present yellow or golden, non-encapsulated nodules of a few millimeters to up to 4 cms, comprised of cells with scanty activity, therefore massive enlargement of the glands is necessary to produce Cushing's syndrome. The clinical, biochemical and surgical aspects can cause confusion and can be suggestive of an adrenocortical neoplasm. Treatment is by adrenalectomy.

Adrenal Cortex↗