Kawasaki disease is primarily a condition that affects young children and it is associated with cardiac morbidity and mortality. This disease has been known to cause coronary artery aneurysms which occurs as a sequelae of vasculitis. The progression of triple vessel disease in adult which results from cardiac complications from Kawasaki disease is rare. We report a case of a young man with history of Kawasaki disease at infancy presenting with triple vessel disease requiring cardiac bypass surgery at the age of 20 years old.
Cholesterol granuloma is a histological term used to describe the foreign body reaction towards cholesterol crystals causing granuloma. We report a case of cholesterol granuloma in a patient who presented with a mass in her ear after 6 years of mastoidectomy. The diagnosis has been confirmed by MRI and postoperative findings. The difference between cholesterol granuloma and the other entities especially cholesteatoma and meningoencephalic herniation must be made in view of its implications and surgical management of each lesion.
CNS toxoplasmosis presenting as hydrocephalus is a very rare entity. We present three cases of HIV positive patients whose brain imaging revealed hydrocephalus and who improved with anti toxoplasma medication along with intravenous steroids and did not require any CSF shunting procedures. The mechanism of hydrocephalus in CNS toxoplasmosis is usually due to compression of CSF outflow pathway by ring enhancing lesions but even in their absence hydrocephalus can be rarely seen due to ventriculitis. Hence in HIV positive patients with unexplained hydrocephalus CNS toxoplasmosis should be considered and such patients if started on treatment early have a good prognosis without requiring neurosurgical intervention.
Mixed-genotypes hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are normally ignored in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of mixed-genotypes infections among hemodialysis patients in Pahang province, Malaysia. Reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction methods were performed using two different sets of primers, targeting the 5' untranslated region and nonstructural 5B region. Target region base sequences were obtained by direct sequencing. Discrepancy in outcomes from phylogenetic analysis of both regions suggests double infections. Of 40 subjects in eight hemodialysis centres, evidence of mixed-genotypes infections was found in 5 subjects (12.5%) from three different centres. Four patients were infected with mixed genotypes 3 and 1 and one with genotypes 3 and 4. Cases of mixed HCV genotypes infection were considered high among hemodialysis patients in Pahang. However, further investigation is needed to confirm whether they are true mixed infections or perhaps infection with recombinant virus and also to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics of the infection.
A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore clincians' baseline knowledge, practice beliefs and acceptance of intravenous (IV)-to-oral antibiotic switching practice in Hospital Pulau Pinang. The factors most highly rated for antibiotic conversion were the ability to maintain oral intake (85.6%) and microbiology etiology (85.0%). Majority of the clinicians (76%) agreed with the traditional clinical rule that "patient should be afebrile for 24 hours before IV-to-oral switch". Specialists and consultants had the highest knowledge score among the clinicians. However, they were generally less positive about a guideline being integrated into practice.
Primary intramedullary germinoma arising in the cervical spinal cord is a very rare entity. We present one such case arising in a young man who presented with radiculopathy and myelopathy, which was partially excised. Upon histological confirmation, he was treated successfully with radiotherapy alone. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case worldwide which is histologically confirmed. Although extremely rare, differential diagnosis for intramedullary spinal cord tumor should include germinoma.
INTRODUCTION: Patients with asthma-like symptoms pose a diagnostic dilemma when physical examination is normal. The usual practice in Malaysia would be to give empirical asthma treatment. Bronchial challenge test (BCT) is widely used in many countries to diagnose asthma objectively but it is not widely available in Malaysia.
OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with BCT using methacholine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a supporting tool in the investigation of patients with asthma-like symptoms.
METHODOLOGY: Review of case notes of patients who underwent BCT from July 2008 till April 2009. BCT was performed via dosimeter technique. Results were classified as high hyper responsiveness if the provocative dose of methacholine required to achieve 20% fall in FEV1 (PD20) was less than or equal to 0.125 micromol, moderate hyper responsiveness if PD20 was between 0.125 to 1.99 micromol or mild hyper responsiveness if PD20 was between 2.00 to 6.6 micromol. PD20 of more than 6.6 micromol constitutes a negative MCT.
RESULTS: 29 patients had BCT during the study period. 19 cases were included in this review. The age ranged from 13 to 70 years old. There were 12 males and 7 females. Duration of symptoms ranged from 2 weeks to 23 years. BCT was positive (mild or moderate hyper responsiveness) in 10 out of 19 patients. No patient had high bronchial hyper responsiveness.
CONCLUSIONS: BCT is a useful adjunctive tool in the investigation of patients presenting with asthma-like symptoms. This test obviates empirical asthma treatment. BCT should be made available in all major hospitals in Malaysia.
Decreased salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA), a component of mucosal immunity, is associated with intensive physical activity: suggesting that sIgA may be used for the monitoring of mucosal immunity with footballers. We investigated changes in sIgA in elite footballers, in response to training and match-play. There was a decrease in sIgA following training, with a return to pre-training levels after 18 hours of rest. This return to resting levels was not observed following competitive match-play. Overnight rest was sufficient for mucosal IgA recovery following training but not following two successive matches, suggesting that sIgA may be used to monitor training in multi-sprint sports.
In-centre intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD), a decade-old modality commonly associated with acute (stab) PD, continues to play an undeniably important role of providing "temporary" renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Malaysia. In our center, IPD is commenced after insertion of Tenckhoff catheter by interventional nephrologists as an interim option until a definitive RRT is established. This study aims to describe our experience and evaluate the viability of this modality as a bridging therapy. We retrospectively analyzed 39 IPD patients from January 2007 to December 2009; looking at demographics, cause of end-stage renal disease, duration on the program, length of hospitalization, PD-related infection profile, biochemical parameters and clinical outcomes. We accumulated a total experience of 169 patient-months, the average age of patients was 54.6 +/- 11.6 years, 84.6% of them diabetics. The median duration of a patient in the program was 88 days with accumulated in-hospital stay of 45 days. Eventually 48.7% of the patients secured placement for long-term haemodialysis while 20.5% were converted to CAPD. The mortality rate was 7.7% while the peritonitis rate was at 1 per 18.8 patient months. Our study shows that IPD is a viable interim option with a low infection rate and good clinical outcome.
We present a series of four cases of chest wall tumor, which underwent sternum resection. The methods of resection and reconstruction chest wall defect are discussed and the final outcome highlighted.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)--tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) like erlotinib and gefitinib have been approved as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. The use of EGFR-TKI is associated with unique and dramatic dermatologic side effects. We report 2 patients with NSCLC developing a typical acneiform (papulo-pustular) eruption shortly after initiation of EGFR-TKI.
Superglue in the ear as a foreign body is an uncommon presentation. We report the case of a lady who accidentally instilled superglue directly onto her tympanic membrane and presented five days later. We successfully removed the glue with acetone and managed to preserve the integrity of the tympanic membrane.
Pancreatic metastases are very uncommon and originate most commonly from lung, colon, breast and kidney cancer. Ovarian adenocarcinoma has been reported as a primary site of pancreatic metastasis, but its diagnosis has rarely being reported by endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). We report a case of multiple metastases to the pancreas from ovarian carcinoma occurring four years after original resection of the primary tumour. Our patient presented with severe epigastric pain which was initially treated as acute pancreatitis. Further imaging modalities showed multiple large pseudocystic lesions in the pancreatic head and body. Subsequent EUS-FNA confirmed that the lesions were metastatic disease from an advanced ovarian carcinoma. She underwent palliative chemotherapy and the pancreatic lesion showed receding size.
End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have a much higher rate of cardiac disease and cardiac mortality as compared with the general population. Revascularisation such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) may also carry a higher rate of complications and morbidity. We compared our ESRD patients who underwent CABG with the general population and ESRD population.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of PET/CT in diagnosing and evaluating patients with suspected gynaecological tumour recurrence and persistent disease following treatment. This cross-sectional study involving 26 patients with gynaecological malignancies was carried out at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah between 2006 and 2008. The standard imaging modalities disclosed possible tumour recurrence or persistent disease in 24 of the 26 patients (92.3%). Two patients with negative CT were subjected to PET/CT due to persistently elevated serum tumour markers. PET/CT confirmed tumour recurrence in 9 (34.6%) patients and was inconclusive in 2 (7.7%) patients. No abnormal uptake was observed in 15 (57.7%) patients. Of the 9 patients with positive PET/CT, 7 (77.8%) had a repeat PET/CT and 2 (22.2%) had a CT following subsequent treatment which confirmed no further evidence of disease. Patients with negative or inconclusive PET/CT were either continued with routine follow-up or had a close monitoring by either CT or serum tumour markers. With the availability of PET/CT, almost two-third of patients did not have to undergo unnecessary chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Integrated PET/CT imaging offers beneficial effects in both diagnosing and evaluating suspected tumour recurrence and persistent disease in gynaecological malignancies.
The concept of diastolic heart failure (DHF) is not new. However awareness and understanding on this subject may remains uncertain among medical practitioners. We wished to examine the extent of awareness of such entity among doctors in Malaysia. A questionnaire was designed and distributed randomly during hospital Continuous Professional Development (CPD/CME) sessions and also in the respective outpatient departments (OPD) between July to October 2008. This cross-sectional survey in three urban-based general hospitals showed that there are a significant proportion of doctors who are lack of understanding and awareness of diastolic heart failure.
Study site: Hospital Pulau Pinang, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban, Bukit Rasah, Seremban, Hospital Ampuan Najihah Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.
Stereotactic radiosurgery uses a single fraction high dose radiation while stereotactic radiotherapy uses multifractionated lower dose focused radiation.
Paraparesis can occur as a primary presentation of brain pathology at the motor strip along the parasagittal region. It could also occur as a neurological complication especially following resection of parasagittal meningioma with infiltration of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). We report a case of a complete paraparesis immediately following resection of bilateral parasagittal meningioma with infiltration of the middle third of the SSS. A gradual improvement in neurological recovery and functional outcome was observed over a period of one year after undergoing an intensive neurorehabilitation program beginning from the acute inpatient phase post surgery.
We report the first case of Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) who successfully underwent surgery in Malaysia following a grade 4 (severe) chemical injury in both eyes in 2006. The patient's left eye was eviscerated and his right eye underwent penetrating keratoplasty. However, the corneal graft failed and became opaque. His right eye could only perceive light. The OOKP was offered to him hoping to recover some functional vision. He underwent a 2-stage surgery to implant the OOKP into his right eye. However, 2 months post-operation, he developed vitreous haemorrhage. A successful pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed via the limited view through the lens. He attained a final visual acuity of 6/60 (N36). He was able to mobilize more independently, feed, dress himself and read large print.