This case report describes a rare occurrence of pyogenic granuloma (PG) in the hard palate deviating from its typical gingival location that led to the formation of an alveolar cleft. The aggressive growth pattern of the lesion, with atypical progression from a pedunculated nodule to an alveolar cleft, raised concern. The diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings, which revealed a tadpole-shaped lesion originating from the midline hard palate. The differential diagnosis included a minor salivary gland tumor. Surgical excision was performed under general anesthesia and resulted in a mucosal defect without nasolabial fistula formation or bone exposure. The palatal defect was packed with oxidized regenerated cellulose and closed with Vicryl Rapide sutures, both of which contributed to the patient\'s successful outcomes. Our comprehensive approach, extending across the stages of surgical planning, execution, and postoperative care, demonstrated the advantages of a multidisciplinary strategy for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of palatal PGs. This report makes a meaningful contribution to the existing literature on common oral lesions by emphasizing the importance of a broad differential diagnosis and a systematic approach to oral pathologies. It also raises clinical awareness of PGs with atypical presentations and the diagnostic challenge that they pose.

Primary amyloidosis of the conjunctiva and eyelid is a rare and often misdiagnosed condition. It is characterized by the deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils, which are misfolded proteins, in the body. Amyloidosis can be systemic or localized with different types of amyloid fibril proteins identified using mass spectrometry. Ocular involvement in amyloidosis can lead to corneal dystrophies, glaucoma, vitreous opacities, and other symptoms. Diagnosis involves clinical examination and histopathological assessment. Treatment options depend on the extent of involvement and may include surgical excision, glaucoma management, vitrectomy, or liver transplantation in rare cases. We present a rare case of localized conjunctival amyloidosis initially misdiagnosed as pyogenic granuloma, with clinical symptoms of ptosis, periorbital swelling, and conjunctival lesions. The patient underwent excision of the lesions, and subsequent evaluation did not reveal systemic amyloidosis. Ocular amyloidosis requires careful diagnosis and consideration of systemic involvement for appropriate management.

Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC), which is most commonly seen in Asian populations, is characterized by strictures and dilatation of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, along with the formation of pigmented stones inside the ducts. The most common symptoms are recurrent right upper quadrant pain, jaundice, and fever. Additionally, leukocytosis and elevated alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels may also be present. We report the case of a 43-year-old Bangladeshi male patient with a medical background of chronic hepatitis B infection and recurrent liver abscesses who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and fever lasting for two days. Given the clinical context of our patient, a diagnosis of RPC was made, and the patient was referred to a higher-level center for further management. Our case highlights the importance of considering RPC as part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with recurrent liver abscesses and features of ascending cholangitis.

Aims Spondylodiscitis (SpD), a debilitating infective condition of the spine, mandates early diagnosis and institution of appropriate therapy, for which accurate microbiology and histological evaluation of the affected tissue is vital. The objectives of the study were to assess the correlation between clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with histopathology (HPE) and microbiology (MB) in clinically diagnosed spondylodiscitis. Settings and design This was a prospective study of 34 consecutive patients reporting at the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital with clinical and imaging features of SpD, who underwent image-guided/surgical biopsy of lesions. Methods and material The provisional diagnosis of SpD in all patients was made on the combined basis of clinical profile and MRI Spine findings. Tissue samples in all patients, obtained by either open surgery or CT-guided biopsy, were subjected to HPE and MB analysis.  Results SpD has a bimodal age distribution with the majority of patients being males in the fourth to fifth decades. Only raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was consistently seen amongst laboratory parameters, with leucocytosis being added pointer towards pyogenic etiology. MRI remained the imaging modality of choice for SpD but was not dependable for etiologic differentiation. On HPE and MB evaluations, 24 patients (71%) had findings consistent with infective SpD, while combined results augmented etiologic confirmation for 28 patients (82.4%). HPE was more sensitive than traditional MB methods to determine etiology in SpD, but the addition of the GeneXpert (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, United States) technique improved the MB positivity rate, especially in patients with tubercular SpD. Six patients (17.6%) with both negative HPE and MB results were categorized as \'Non-specific\' SpD. Conclusions SpD poses a challenge to determine the etiology for the administration of specific antimicrobial therapy. A stratified standard institutional approach needs adoption to systematically evaluate SpD patients by having a high index of clinical suspicion, early imaging, followed by tissue biopsy for HPE and MB. Despite efforts to reach a diagnosis, a subset of patients without conclusive etiologic agent identification would remain as \'Non-specific\', needing empiric antibiotic treatment based on clinico-radiologic profile.

UNASSIGNED: Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the formation of space-occupying lesions within the liver parenchyma. Despite advancements in diagnostic imaging and antibiotic therapies, complications such as biliary fistula formation can arise, posing challenges in management.
METHODS: This case study presents a 23-year-old male patient with PLA complicated by a biliary fistula. Diagnostic imaging via CT scan and MRI confirmed a liver abscess and biliary dilation. The patient underwent a second drainage for ascitic fluid following the initial percutaneous liver catheter drainage.
UNASSIGNED: The patient responded positively to the treatment, with reduced abscess size and fistula resolution. While endoscopic interventions offer promising results, their limited availability necessitates alternative treatment strategies, such as percutaneous drainage and appropriate antibiotics.
CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasises the importance of individualized management approaches for PLA complicated by biliary fistulas. Despite the challenges, successful outcomes can be achieved through careful management and appropriate treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND: Liver abscesses, particularly pyogenic and amoebic types, pose a significant healthcare challenge, especially in developing countries. Accurate differentiation and effective treatment of these abscess types are crucial in emergency medical settings. This study aims to analyze the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of pyogenic and amoebic liver abscesses in a trauma and emergency department setting.
METHODS: Conducted at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna, this one-year observational study involved 100 patients diagnosed with liver abscesses. The study employed a comprehensive approach, examining incidence rates, demographic trends, clinical presentations, treatment modalities, and outcomes, including recurrence rates.
RESULTS: The study observed a higher incidence of pyogenic liver abscesses, accounting for 60% of cases (n=60), compared to amoebic liver abscesses, which constituted 40% (n=40). In terms of demographics, pyogenic liver abscesses were more prevalent among older males, with the average age being 48 years, and 70% (n=42) of the patients were male. In contrast, amoebic liver abscess patients had an average age of 42 years, with 60% (n=24) being male. Key clinical findings revealed that pyogenic liver abscess cases (n=60) had higher white blood cell counts and elevated liver enzyme levels than those with amoebic liver abscesses (n=40). The treatment outcomes indicated high success rates for both types of liver abscesses. Pyogenic liver abscesses had a success rate of 90% (n=54), while amoebic liver abscesses showed a slightly higher success rate at 95% (n=38). However, there was a notable difference in recurrence rates: pyogenic liver abscesses had a recurrence rate of 8.3% (n=5), whereas amoebic liver abscesses had a lower recurrence rate of 2.5% (n=1). The logistic regression analysis conducted to identify potential predictors of treatment success did not reveal any statistically significant factors across both types of liver abscesses.
CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights a higher incidence of pyogenic liver abscesses in an urban Indian healthcare setting and the complexity of predicting treatment outcomes based on demographic and clinical factors. The findings emphasize the need for nuanced clinical approaches and vigilant post-treatment monitoring, especially for pyogenic liver abscesses. They also underscore the importance of further research to explore additional variables influencing liver abscess treatment outcomes.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer that can present with various clinical manifestations. An 80-year-old male, known to have chronic lymphocytic leukaemia presented with a lesion on his left thumb, initially thought to be a pyogenic granuloma. The lesion was cauterized with silver nitrate but remained persistent. A curettage biopsy was performed, and a histopathological examination revealed MCC. The patient was subsequently referred to dermatology and plastic surgery for further management. The lesion was excised; a full-thickness skin graft was used to close the defect. This case highlights the importance of considering MCC in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions, even if they present with a benign appearance.

UNASSIGNED: Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) are the most common causes of liver abscess in developing and developed countries, respectively. Although incidence of liver abscess is low, but mortality is high amongst the patients due to delayed diagnosis. The study was done to find out the prevalence of amoebic and PLA among patients of liver abscess. The clinical, personal, and demographical details were also evaluated to find out the risk factor(s) associated with ALA and PLA, respectively.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective study was conducted to find the prevalence of amoebic and PLA. Clinical, demographic, personal details were evaluated from hospital records. Laboratory parameters such as total leucocyte count, platelets, bilirubin, ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), alkaline phosphate (ALP), Aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT/AST), Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT/ALT), serum albumin, bilirubin levels, and procalcitonin were recorded. The Ultrasonography (USG) findings regarding the size, location, volume, and number of abscesses were also analyzed.
UNASSIGNED: Total of 107 patients of liver abscess were evaluated, and 61.6% of patients were of amoebic etiology, and 25.3% were of pyogenic etiology. Males of 20-60 years of age were predominantly affected with right upper quadrant pain and fever as the most common presentations. ALA patients were found to have solitary abscess in the right lobe involving 6th and 7th segments, with decreased hemoglobin, hyperbilirubinemia, elevated ALP and SGOT, with normal SGPT, and addiction to alcohol. PLA patients had increased HbA1c, increased PCT values, low serum albumin levels, and low platelet-to-white blood cell values. The most common bacteria causing PLA was Escherichia coli (n = 8) followed by Enterobacter cloacae (n = 5). Mortality was seen in 6 patients.
UNASSIGNED: Liver abscess is found to have relatively high mortality and morbidity. Therefore, early diagnosis is the only method to prevent mortality and morbidity in these patients. Since the presentation is very nonspecific, evaluation of certain risk factors and laboratory parameters can aid in the diagnosis.

A halo phenomenon describes a skin neoplasm that is surrounded by a hypopigmented or white halo. Halo lesions have been observed in association with an epithelial neoplasm (seborrheic keratosis), a fibrous lesion (surgical scar), a keratinocyte malignancy (basal cell carcinoma), melanocytic neoplasms, and vascular lesions. Benign lesions (café au lait macules and nevi) and malignant tumors (primary and metastatic melanoma) are melanocytic neoplasms that have developed perilesional halos. Halo nevi are a commonly occurring manifestation of a halo phenomenon; however, perilesional hypopigmented halos have also been observed around nevi in patients following treatment with antineoplastic drugs, acquisition of COVID-19 (infection and vaccine), the occurrence of a visceral tumor (including not only melanoma, but also papillary thyroid carcinoma and neuroendocrine cancer of the lung), surgery (such as the excision of a primary melanoma), and Turner syndrome. A halo phenomenon has also been observed in patients with congenital (capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation and congenital hemangioma) or acquired (angioma, eruptive pseudoangiomatosis, infantile hemangioma, and lobular capillary hemangioma) vascular lesions. In summary, a halo phenomenon can occur in association with primary lesions of various embryologic derivations. Most commonly, they have been observed in around nevi and vascular tumors. Halo lobular capillary hemangioma can be added to the list of acquired vascular lesions with the potential to develop a halo phenomenon. The preservation of melanocytes with loss of melanin pigment expression in the reported patient suggests the possibility that a post-inflammatory etiology may be responsible for the genesis of her halo lobular capillary hemangioma.

UNASSIGNED: Spondylodiscitis is a potentially life-threatening infection of the intervertebral disk and adjacent vertebral bodies, with a mortality rate of 2-20%. Given the aging population, the increase in immunosuppression, and intravenous drug use in England, the incidence of spondylodiscitis is postulated to be increasing; however, the exact epidemiological trend in England remains unknown.
UNASSIGNED: The Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database contains details of all secondary care admissions across NHS hospitals in England. This study aimed to use HES data to characterise the annual activity and longitudinal change of spondylodiscitis in England.
UNASSIGNED: The HES database was interrogated for all cases of spondylodiscitis between 2012 and 2019. Data for the length of stay, waiting time, age-stratified admissions, and \'Finished Consultant Episodes\' (FCEs), which correspond to a patient\'s hospital care under a lead clinician, were analysed.
UNASSIGNED: In total, 43135 FCEs for spondylodiscitis were identified between 2012 and 2022, of which 97.1% were adults. Overall admissions for spondylodiscitis have risen from 3 per 100,000 population in 2012/13 to 4.4 per 100,000 population in 2020/21. Similarly, FCEs have increased from 5.8 to 10.3 per 100,000 population, in 2012-2013 and 2020/21 respectively. The highest increase in admissions from 2012 to 2021 was recorded for those aged 70-74 (117% increase) and aged 75-59 (133% increase), among those of working age for those aged 60-64 years (91% increase).
UNASSIGNED: Population-adjusted admissions for spondylodiscitis in England have risen by 44% between 2012 and 2021. Healthcare policymakers and providers must acknowledge the increasing burden of spondylodiscitis and make spondylodiscitis a research priority.