RAPIDLY FATAL SPINAL CARIES

Rapidly Fatal Radiation-induced Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) typically occurs as a primary tumour (i.e., primary GBM) and predominantly affects elderly patients. The remaining ~10% occur as a result of malignant progression from lower grade astrocytic tumours (i.e., secondary GBM). Although there are no certain causative environmental agents, prior radiation exposure may play a role. We report on a patient who had been treated six year...

Citrullinaemia with rapidly fatal neonatal course.

a deficiency of argininosuccinate synthetase in liver and brain developed rapidly increasing apathy, respiratory insufficiency, and convulsions from the fourth day of life, and died on the seventh day. There was a profound derangement of amino acid concentrations in blood, CSF, and urine, with very high citrulline levels. This patient differs from other cases reported previously, both in her fu...

Rapidly fatal infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis.

Rapidly Progressive Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Abscess

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare disease which is often rapidly progressive. Delayed diagnosis of SEA may lead to serious complications and the clinical findings of SEA are generally nonspecific. Paraspinal abscess should be considered in the presence of local low back tenderness, redness, and pain with fever, particularly in children. In case of delayed diagnosis and treatment, SEA may ...

Rapidly Fatal Acanthamoeba Encephalitis and Treatment of Cryoglobulinemia

We describe a 66-year-old woman with therapy-refractory cryoglobulinemia treated with rituximab, plasmapheresis, and steroids; a case of fatal meningoencephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba spp. then developed. Such infections are rare and show an unusually rapid course (possibly related to rituximab).