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M Horger

Publications and source records attributed to M Horger.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Steroid profile in an adrenocortical carcinoma producing aldosterone.

We report a rare case of primary aldosteronism due to an adrenocortical carcinoma. A 61-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and hypokalemia was referred for evaluation of a 4.2 cm measuring adrenal mass without secondary signs of malignancy. Endocrinological testing was consistent with primary aldosteronism. The patient underwent surgical resection of the adrenal mass; histology revealed an adrenocortical carcinoma. Postoperatively blood pressure, serum potassium, and aldosterone returned to normal. Four months after adrenalectomy, the patient presented again with hypokalemic hypertension and was found to have metastatic disease. Endocrinological investigation revealed primary aldosteronism and subclinical autonomous glucocorticoid hypersecretion. Careful hormonal investigation should be obtained in patients with adrenal masses causing excessive aldosterone secretion. In uncertain cases of primary aldosteronism, we would suggest to measure 18-hydroxycortisol levels, as excessive amounts may indicate adrenocortical carcinoma.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: frequency and meaning of the "hypodense sign" on unenhanced CT.

The purpose of this study was to establish the diagnostic value of central hypointensity ("hypodense sign") in lung consolidations or nodules, in severely immunocompromised or neutropenic patients, suspected of having invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), and to assess its recognition on unenhanced CT scans. Serial CT scans of the lung were retrospectively reviewed in 43 consecutive immunosuppressed patients with IPA, and assessed for the presence of the hypodense sign using standard mediastinal and lung windowing settings, as well as a special, narrower window setting (width 110-140 HU; level 15-40 HU). The temporal relationship between the occurrence of the first CT-finding suspicious of IPA and the appearance of the hypodense sign, as well as between this and the occurrence of the crescent sign, cavitation or reduction in lesion size, was evaluated. Additionally, CT-scans from 89 immunocompromised patients with viral (n=45) or bacterial (n=44) pneumonia, investigated in the same time period at our institution were reviewed, with respect to the presence of the "hypodense" sign. Unenhanced CT scans revealed the hypodense sign in 11 neutropenic patients and 2 severely immunocompromised patients, out of a total of 43 patients with IPA evaluated in this study (30.2%). The mean time between the appearance of the first CT-findings of IPA (large nodule or consolidation +/- positive halo sign) and the hypodense sign was 7.8 days, while the time interval between the hypodense sign and the occurrence of crescent sign, cavitation, or decrease of the lesion's size was 8.3 days. The hypodense sign did not occur in any of the patients with viral or bacterial pneumonia, in the control series. We consider the hypodense sign to be a supplementary tool in the diagnosis of IPA. Its sensitivity was low in our series, but the high specificity makes it valuable in predicting IPA, anticipating the occurrence of cavitation or crescent sign, which are considered specific, but late findings of IPA. The hypodense sign is recognizable also on unenhanced CT, when a narrower lung window setting is used.

Adolescent↗

Extensive peritoneal and omental lymphomatosis with raised CA 125 mimicking carcinomatosis: CT and intraoperative findings.

Diffuse peritoneal and omental seeding are well-known forms of dissemination of metastatic carcinoma. A wide variety of primary neoplasms may cause peritoneal and omental carcinomatosis, most commonly carcinomas of the ovary, gastrointestinal tract and breast. Extensive involvement of the peritoneal cavity with lymphoma is, however, rare. The association of peritoneal lymphoma with a raised CA 125, a tumour marker which is commonly raised in ovarian carcinoma, is a highly challenging clinical situation, which to our knowledge has not been published before in the medical literature. Not being aware of the possibility of this unusual combination of clinical, laboratory and imaging findings can lead to an erroneous diagnosis, as in our case.

Adult↗

One case of gram-negative anaerobic spondylodiscitis with Prevotella intermedia.

We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with spondylodiscitis at L1/L2, communicating with paravertebral, intravertebral and bilateral psoas abscesses. Percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided abscess drainage and an intravenous antibiotic therapy with Imipenem were performed. After removing the drainage at 2 weeks, the patient was discharged at 4 weeks with normalized blood parameters, normal temperature, and without need for analgesics. The underlying bacterium in the case was a very rare gram-negative anaerobic bacterium: Prevotella intermedia.

Abscess↗