1/312. fever of unknown origin due to inflammatory pseudotumour of lymph nodes.The clinical features of inflammatory pseudotumour of lymph nodes, a distinct non-malignant histopathological entity firstly described in 1988, are summarized based upon a detailed analysis of 4 personal cases and 47 cases reported in the literature. The mean age of the patients is 38 years (range 8 to 82 years) and there is no gender predilection. One third present with asymptomatic lymphadenopathy and 47% present with fever, nearly all meeting the criteria of fever of unknown origin. Abdominal complaints are occasionally present. Intermittence of symptoms is common. Hepatosplenomegaly is unusual. All lymph node areas may be involved but abnormalities are mostly confined to one or two anatomic regions. No extranodal involvement has been reported although inflammatory pseudotumour may occur in several organs with similar morphological features and identical signs of inflammations. Routine blood tests are normal except for signs of inflammation. The lesions are gallium-avid. diagnosis is based upon typical histopathological features. The prognosis is favorable and surgical resection frequently leads to cure. Spontaneous resolution of symptoms has been reported and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may suppress the clinical manifestations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/312. pneumonia in febrile neutropenic patients and in bone marrow and blood stem-cell transplant recipients: use of high-resolution computed tomography.PURPOSE: To obtain statistical data on the use of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for early detection of pneumonia in febrile neutropenic patients with unknown focus of infection. MATERIALS AND methods: One hundred eighty-eight HRCT studies were performed prospectively in 112 neutropenic patients with fever of unknown origin persisting for more than 48 hours despite empiric antibiotic treatment. Fifty-four of these studies were performed in transplant recipients. All patients had normal chest roentgenograms. If pneumonia was detected by HRCT, guided bronchoalveolar lavage was recommended. Evidence of pneumonia on chest roentgenograms during follow-up and micro-organisms detected during follow-up were regarded as documentation of pneumonia. RESULTS: Of the 188 HRCT studies, 112 (60%) showed pneumonia and 76 were normal. documentation of pneumonia was possible in 61 cases by chest roentgenography or micro-organism detection (54%) (P < 10(-6)). Sensitivity of HRCT was 87% (88% in transplant recipients), specificity was 57% (67%), and the negative predictive value was 88% (97%). A time gain of 5 days was achieved by the additional use of HRCT compared to an exclusive use of chest roentgenography. CONCLUSION: The high frequency of inflammatory pulmonary disease after a suspicious HRCT scan (> 50%) proves that pneumonia is not excluded by a normal chest roentgenogram. Given the significantly longer duration of febrile episodes in transplant recipients, HRCT findings are particularly relevant in this subgroup. patients with normal HRCT scans, particularly transplant recipients, have a low risk of pneumonia during follow-up. All neutropenic patients with fever of unknown origin and normal chest roentgenograms should undergo HRCT.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/312. Takayasu's arteritis presenting as fever of unknown origin: report of two cases and literature review.OBJECTIVES: This study reports two patients with Takayasu's arteritis presenting with a fever of unknown origin (FUO) and reviews the literature on that association. methods: We describe the clinical presentation, course, and outcome of the two patients, and reviewed the medical literature from 1968 till 1997 using medline and the key words fever, diagnosis, and Takayasu's arteritis. RESULTS: Takayasu's arteritis is rarely reported as a cause of FUO. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scanning, gallium-67 scintigraphy, and ultrasonography may help in the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis in the prepulseless stage. CONCLUSION: Takayasu's arteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of FUO, especially in young women.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/312. Angiotropic large cell lymphoma presenting as fever of unknown origin.BACKGROUND: Fever has never before been described as the chief complaint and major finding in angiotropic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). ALCL is a rare and usually fatal intravascular tumor characterized by a widespread proliferation of malignant mononuclear cells within vessels of small caliber, causing their blockage. The majority present as high-grade, B-cell lymphomas with a predilection for the central nervous system and the skin. CASE REPORT: We report a 61-year-old woman who presented with a fever of unknown origin (FUO) that lasted 9 weeks from onset to death. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ALCL to present solely as a FUO, and the second case of ALCL to be diagnosed by muscle biopsy. CONCLUSION: We suggest that this rare malignancy (ALCL) be considered in the differential diagnosis of FUO.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/312. Disseminated Bartonella infection with granulomatous hepatitis in a liver transplant recipient.Disseminated infection with Bartonella spp with granulomatous hepatitis was diagnosed in a liver transplant recipient presenting with fever of unknown origin. Pathological findings on liver biopsy were atypical, with scant granulomas seen only after a second biopsy. The patient responded promptly to antibiotic therapy. Infections caused by Bartonella spp should be considered in transplant recipients with fever of unknown origin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/312. Tick-borne relapsing fever imported from West africa: diagnosis by quantitative buffy coat analysis and in vitro culture of borrelia crocidurae.West African tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is difficult to diagnose due to the low number of spirochetes in the bloodstream of patients. Previously, the causative microorganism, borrelia crocidurae, had never been cultured in vitro. TBRF was rapidly diagnosed for two patients returning from western africa with fever of unknown origin by quantitative buffy coat (QBC) analysis. diagnosis was confirmed by intraperitoneal inoculation of blood specimens from patients into laboratory mice. in vitro experiments showed that QBC analysis may be as much as 100-fold more sensitive than thick smear. Spirochetes were also cultured from blood samples from both patients in modified Kelly's medium and were identified as B. crocidurae by partial sequencing of the PCR-amplified rrs gene.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/312. Mesenteric lipodystrophy with fever of unknown origin and mesenteric calcifications.Mesenteric lipodystrophy (ML) is a rare condition characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory process that involves the root of the mesentery in a lipoma-like lesion. Presenting features of ML include abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. This case illustrates that ML should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with fever of unknown origin and mesenteric calcifications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/312. A case of fever following antiepileptic treatment.A 23-year-old female patient treated with 900 mg oxcarbazepine for complex partial seizures is presented. Good seizure control and slight fever were noted a few weeks after drug administration. Reduction of oxcarbazepine and replacement with valproate resulted in a transient normothermia. Because of fever reappearance, vigabatrin was added and valproate was gradually reduced. seizures reappeared, but the body temperature fell below 37 degrees C. Substitution of valproate for lamotrigine resulted in seizure control but abnormal body temperature (37- 37.6 degrees C) was noted again. Repeated hospital admission for clinical and laboratory investigation before any change of treatment revealed no other abnormal findings. The patient's abnormal temperature possibly reflects a derangement of high-level temperature control.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/312. Clinical and laboratory findings in immunocompetent patients with persistent parvovirus B19 dna in bone marrow.The clinical relevance of parvovirus B19 dna persistence in bone marrow was examined in 10 immunocompetent individuals undergoing examinations for unexplained fever, arthralgia or chronic leukopenia. Common causes of these symptoms had been ruled out and bone marrow aspiration was indicated at this stage of investigation. In addition to morphological analysis of the bone marrow, a test for B19 dna was performed with 2 nested PCRs. Five of these 10 selected patients had detectable B19 dna in their bone marrow, whereas no viraemia was observed. Additional bone marrow samples were collected at least 6 months after the first sample from the B19 dna-positive patients, of whom 3 were found to be still positive. Indeed, 2 of the patients have been positive for more than 5 y of follow-up. Sera from all patients with persistent B19 dna in bone marrow could neutralize the virus. One patient responded to treatment with immunoglobulin but later relapsed. No other cause of the symptoms was found, despite extensive investigations, and at least some of the prolonged disease manifestations may be due to parvovirus B19.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/312. Systemic bartonella henselae infection with hepatosplenic involvement.BACKGROUND: Systemic manifestations of bartonella henselae infection are rare in the immunocompetent host. The infection generally has initial symptoms of prolonged fever and multiple granulomatous lesions in liver and spleen. methods: Retrospective analysis of the records of all patients with hypoechogenic lesions in the liver and/or spleen diagnosed from 1990 through 1996 in three pediatric clinics in northern italy. RESULTS: Among the 13 patients reviewed, 9 had evidence of B. henselae infection and hepatosplenic involvement: five had prolonged and unexplained fever lasting from 3 to 16 weeks, and four had typical cat-scratch disease and peripheral lymphadenitis. All patients had increased sedimentation rate and normal aminotransferase serum activity. Five children had a liver biopsy, by laparotomy in three and by needle in two. In all, the predominant liver lesion was a necrotizing granuloma. All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Fever lasted from 3 to 16 weeks, and hepatic and splenic lesions resolved in all with residual splenic calcification in one. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic B. henselae infection represents an important cause of inflammatory hypoechogenic hepatosplenic lesions in children. serology provides rapid diagnosis, avoiding multiple and invasive investigations. Hepatosplenic involvement can be found even in children with typical cat-scratch disease without apparent systemic manifestations. The frequency of liver and/or splenic involvement in cat-scratch disease is probably underestimated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fever (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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