Pattern of illnesses presenting as acute abdomen: surgical study in 118 patients

MELAS syndrome presenting as an acute surgical abdomen

MELAS (mitochondrial cytopathy, encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) is a syndrome in which signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disease are uncommon if not rare. We describe the case of a young woman who presented as an acute surgical emergency, diagnosed as toxic megacolon necessitating an emergency total colectomy. MELAS syndrome was suspected postoperatively owing ...

Hypothyroidism presenting as acute abdomen.

4 Lattes R, Pachter R. Benign lymphoid masses of probable hamartomatous nature. Analysis of 12 cases. Cancer 1962; 15: 197-214. 5 Daley M, Comog J. Pelvic retroperitoneal lymphoid hamartoma. _7 Urol 1967; 97: 235 9. 6 Giaretta M, Hyun J, Gibbons J, Facog MD. Angiomatous lymphoid hamartoma as a pelvic mass. Obstet Gynecol 1971; 38: 391 -4. 7 Bainbridge E. Angiomatous lymphoid hamartoma of the pe...

Hepatoblastoma presenting as an acute abdomen.

ROWLAND, L.P., HOEFER, P.F.A., ARANOW, H., JR. & MERRITr, H.H. (1956) Fatalities in myasthenia gravis. Neurology (Minneap.), 6, 307. SAHAY, B.M., BLENDIS, L.M. & GREENE, R. (1965) Relation between myasthenia gravis and thyroid disease. Brit. med. J. i, 762. SIMPSON, J.A. (1960) Myasthenia gravis: a new hypothesis. Scott. med. J. 5, 419. SIMPSON, J.A. (1964) Immunological disturbances in myasthe...

Chilaiditi's syndrome presenting as acute abdomen.

Polycythaemia vera presenting as an acute abdomen.

A patient who presented with severe abdominal pain was found to have an intrahepatic haematoma complicating previously undiagnosed polycythaemia vera (PV). Full recovery followed treatment with bed rest, control of hypertension, daily venesection and 32P. The hazards of surgery in uncontrolled PV are discussed and re-emphasized.