Posts by JETem

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An Unusual Case of Pharyngitis: Herpes Zoster of Cranial Nerves 9, 10, C2, C3 Mimicking a Tumor

Jason Cheng, DO*, Gregory Reinhold, DO* and Rahmon Zuckerman, DO*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8B05K Issue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
On exam, the patient was sitting upright while holding an emesis basin filled with saliva. His voice was noticeably hoarse. Examination of the head and neck revealed vesicular eruptions on the left scalp in the V1 dermatome and on the left mastoid process (Images 1 and 2). Physical exam also shows vesicular eruptions on the left posterior oropharynx that did not cross midline (Image 3).
ENTVisual EM
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Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

John Costumbrado, MD, MPH* and Ryan Brenchley, MD*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J85S7QIssue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
Left-sided cranial nerve VII palsy with flattened forehead creases, inability to keep the left eye open, and drooping of the corner of mouth. Vesicular lesions were found in and posterior to the left ear in a unilateral, dermatomal distribution.
ENTVisual EM
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Retinal Detachment

Adnan Riaz, MD*, Chirag Shah, MD* and Grant Wei, MD*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8204QIssue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
Bedside ocular ultrasound revealed a serpentine, hyperechoic membrane that appeared tethered to the optic disc posteriorly with hyperechoic material underneath. These findings are consistent with retinal detachment (RD) and associated retinal hemorrhage.
OphthalmologyUltrasoundVisual EM
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Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection

Sahil Aggarwal, BS* and Jonathan Peña, MD*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8X92TIssue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
Computed tomography (CT) of the abdominal and pelvis with intravenous (IV) contrast revealed inflammatory changes, including gas and fluid collections within the ventral abdominal wall extending to the vulva, consistent with a necrotizing soft tissue infection.
Infectious DiseaseVisual EM
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Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum: Hamman Syndrome

Tushank Chadha, BS* and Ethan Kunstadt, MD*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8NS72 Issue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
The initial CT scans showed extraluminal gas surrounding the distal esophagus as it traversed the posterior mediastinum, concerning for possible distal esophageal perforation that prompted surgery and GI consultations. There was no evidence of a drainable collection or significant fat stranding. The image also showed an intraluminal stent traversing the gastric antrum and gastric pylorus with no indication of obstruction. Circumferential mural thickening of the gastric antrum and body were consistent with the patient’s history of gastric adenocarcinoma. The shotty perigastric lymph nodes with associated fat stranding, along the greater curvature of the distal gastric body suggested local regional nodal metastases and possible peritoneal carcinomatosis. The thoracic CT scans showed extensive pneumomediastinum that tracked into the soft tissues of the neck, which given the history of vomiting also raised concern for esophageal perforation. There was still no evidence of mediastinal abscess or fat stranding. Additionally, a left subclavian vein port catheter, which terminates with tip at the cavoatrial junction of the superior vena cava can also be seen on the image.
RespiratoryVisual EM
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Intussusception

Julian Jakubowski, DO*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8SH0WIssue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
A segment of bowel within the right abdomen that measured approximately 1.6 x 1.5 cm transaxially. It demonstrated a hypoechoic edematous outer loop of bowel (blue arrow) and hyperechoic compressed loop of bowel telescoping within (red star), this is known as the "target sign."
Abdominal/GastroenterologyVisual EM
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Lateral Epicondyle Fracture

Valerie Lew, BS*, John Costumbrado, MD, MPH* and Curtis Knight, MD*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8J05F Issue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
Radiographs of the right elbow revealed an acute fracture through the lateral epicondyle with dislocation of the radial head inferiorly. Radiographs of the left elbow revealed a slightly angulated fracture through the lateral epicondyle.
OrthopedicsVisual EM
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Propafenone Overdose-induced Arrhythmia and Subsequent Correction After Administration of Sodium Bicarbonate

Patrick Bruss, MD* and Peter Fuller, MD^

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8D925Issue 3:2[mrp_rating_result]
The first ECG in this case showed sinus tachycardia with a widened QRS (black arrow), a rightward axis, prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc), and terminal R wave in AVR (white arrow). There are several potential causes for these ECG findings, but put together with the patient’s history, we were suspicious of sodium channel blockers being the most likely cause. The second ECG, after sodium bicarbonate was administered, demonstrated a normal QRS (black arrow) and no rightward axis deviation, reduction of the QTC and resolution of the terminal R wave (white arrow).  We later learned that the patient’s cardiologist recently increased her propafenone dose.
ToxicologyVisual EM