Drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction three months after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND A 70-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma was admitted for further diagnosis of a 1 cm iso-hyperechoic nodule in segment(S)5.CASE SUMMARY Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(EOB-MRI)revealed the nodule in S5 with a defect at the hepatobiliary phase,hyperintensity on diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and hypointensity on apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)map.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed hypervascularity at the early phase,and delayed contrast-enhancement was observed at the late phase.Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(US)revealed incomplete defect at the late vascular phase.Inflammatory liver tumor,lymphoproliferative disease,intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(small duct type)and bile duct adenoma were suspected through the imaging studies.US guided biopsy,however,showed a noncaseating hepatic sarcoid-like epithelioid granuloma(HSEG),and histopathological analysis disclosed spindle shaped epithelioid cells harboring Langhans-type multinucleated giant cells.One month after admission,EOB-MRI signaled the disappearance of the defect at the hepatobiliary phase,of hyperintensity on DWI,of hypointensity on ADC map,and no stain at the early phase.CONCLUSION That the patient had received BNT162b2 messenger RNA(mRNA)coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination 3 mo before the occurrence of HSEG,and that its disappearance was confirmed 4 mo after mRNA vaccination suggested that the drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction(DISR)might be induced by the mRNA vaccination.Fortunately,rechallenge of drug-induced DISR with the third mRNA vaccination was not confirmed.

Scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma displaying atypical findings on imaging studies

We describe a 15-mm scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in a 60-year-old man with B-type cirrhosis.Ultrasound disclosed a 15-mm hypoechoic nodule in segment 7.Contrast-enhanced US revealed heterogeneous,not diffuse,hypervascularity in the early phase and a defect in the Kupffer phase.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) revealed a heterogeneous hypervascular nodule in the early phase and a low-density area in the late phase.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed iso-to hypointensity at T1 and high intensity at T2-weighted sequences.Contrast-enhanced MRI also revealed a heterogeneous hypervascular nodule in the early phase and washout in the late phase.Super-paramagnetic iron oxide-MRI revealed a hyperintense nodule.CT during hepatic arteriography and CT during arterial portography revealed heterogeneous hyperattenuation and a perfusion defect,respectively.Based on these imaging findings the nodule was diagnosed as a mixed well-differentiated and moderately-differentiated HCC.Histologically,the nodule was moderately-differentiated HCC characterized by typical cytological and structural atypia with dense fibrosis.Immunohistochemically,the nodule was positive for heterochromatin protein 1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin,and negative for cytokeratin 19.From the above findings,the nodule was diagnosed as scirrhous HCC.Clinicians engaged in hepatology should exercise caution with suspected scirrhous HCC when imaging studies reveal atypical findings,as shown in our case on the basis of chronic liver disease.

Local advanced rectal cancer perforation in the midst of preoperative chemoradiotherapy:A case report and literature review

Standard chemoradiotherapy(CRT) for local advanced rectal cancer(LARC) rarely induce rectal perforation. Here we report a rare case of rectal perforation in a patient with LARC in the midst of preoperative CRT. A 56-year-old male was conveyed to our hospital exhibiting general malaise. Colonoscopy and imaging tests resulted in a clinical diagnosis of LARC with direct invasion to adjacent organs and regional lymphadenopathy. Preoperative 5-fluorouracil-based CRT was started. At 25 d after the start of CRT, the patient developed a typical fever. Computed tomography revealed rectal perforation, and he underwent emergency sigmoid colostomy. At 12 d after the surgery, the remaining CRT was completed according to the original plan. The histopathological findings after radical operation revealed a wide field of tumor necrosis and fibrosis without lymph node metastasis. We share this case as important evidence for the treatment of LARC perforation in the midst of preoperative CRT.

Distant metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma to Meckel’s cave and cranial nerves:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Metastasis occurs as a late event in the natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and most patients die of liver failure attributed to the tumor supplanting the liver.Conversely,the brain is a less common metastatic site.CASE SUMMARY We describe a rare case of hepatitis C virus-related multiple HCC metastasizing to the cavernous sinus,Meckel’s cave,and the petrous bone involving multiple cranial nerves in an 82-year-old woman.At admission imaging studies including Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)revealed multiple HCC nodules in both right and left lobes.Ultrasound guided biopsy of the left lobe revealed moderately differentiated HCC.Molecular targeted therapy with Lenvatinib(8 mg/d for 94 d,per os)and Ramucirumab(340 mg/d and 320 mg/d,two times by intravenous injection)were administered for 4 mo,resulting in progression of the disease.Three months after the start of molecular target therapy,the patient presented with symptoms of hyperalgesia of the right face and limited abduction of the right eye,indicating disturbances in the right trigeminal and abducens nerves.Brain MRI disclosed a mass involving the cavernous sinus,Meckel’s cave and the petrous bone.Contrast-enhanced MRI with gadolinium-chelated contrast medium revealed a well-defined mass with abnormal enhancement around the right cavernous sinus and the right Meckel’s cave.CONCLUSION The diagnosis of metastatic HCC to the cavernous sinus,Meckel’s cave,and the petrous bone was made based on neurological findings and imaging studies including MRI,but not on histological examinations.Further studies may provide insights into various methods for diagnosing HCC metastasizing to the craniospinal area.