Abstract: Bronchogenic cysts are uncommon mediastinal masses that usually evolve unsuspected and are incidentally found. They have origin from the primitive tracheobronchial tube before 40 days of gestation. Their clinical features are often related to size, location, and complications. Progressive pain and regional compressive symptoms may occur. Surgical resection is the first option for definitive treatment, which propitiates the discard of differential hypotheses with several benign and malignant conditions to establish the correct definitive diagnosis. The purpose of the case study herein reported is to enhance the suspicion index of non-specialists about this scarcely described entity.

Resumen: Los quistes broncogénicos son masas mediastínicas poco comunes que generalmente evolucionan de manera insospechada y se encuentran incidentalmente. Tienen su origen en el tubo traqueobronquial primitivo antes de los 40 días de gestación. Sus características clínicas a menudo están relacionadas con el tamaño, la ubicación y las complicaciones. Puede haber dolor progresivo y síntomas compresivos regionales. La resección quirúrgica es la primera opción para el tratamiento definitivo, que propicia el descarte de hipótesis diferenciales con diversas afecciones benignas y malignas para establecer el diagnóstico definitivo correcto. El propósito del estudio de caso aquí presentado es mejorar el índice de sospecha de no especialistas sobre esta entidad pocas veces descrita.

Abstract: A previously healthy 18-year-old man was admitted with asthenia, fever, shivering, oppressive chest pain, and orthopnea of three-day duration. He had an infected finger wound and lymphangitis on his forearm, self-medicated with topical ointments unsuccessfully. He was febrile (39 oC), hypotensive, with low SpO2 and oliguria, without peripheral edema, hepatojugular reflux or pericardial friction rub. He suddenly had jugular distention, muffled heart sounds and paradoxical pulse, indicating cardiac tamponade, further confirmed. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin) were elevated. Despite of intensive care he had irreversible cardiac arrest. Autopsy revealed hemopericardium causing death by cardiac tamponade and pulmonary edema, in addition to fibrinous pericarditis, hepatic abscess, and acute tubular necrosis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found in tissue and blood samples. Eventual tuberculosis coinfection and pericardial involvement by malignancy were ruled out. The role of autopsy to better understand mechanisms of cardiac tamponade is commented.

Resumen: Un hombre previamente sano de 18 años ingresó al hospital con astenia, fiebre, temblores, dolor torácico opresivo y ortopnea, con duración de tres días. Presentaba una herida infectada en un dedo de la mano y linfangitis en el antebrazo, automedicadas con ungüentos tópicos sin mejora. Estaba febril (39 oC), con hipotensión, baja SpO2 y oliguria, sin edema periférico, reflujo hepatoyugular o frote pericárdico. De súbito tuvo distensión yugular, sonidos amortiguados del corazón y pulso paradójico, indicando un taponamiento cardíaco, que fue confirmado. La velocidad de sedimentación de eritrocitos, la proporción de recuento de neutrófilos y linfocitos, la proteína C reactiva y la procalcitonina fueron elevados. A pesar de los cuidados intensivos tuvo paro cardíaco irreversible. La autopsia reveló hemopericardio causando muerte por taponamiento cardíaco y edema pulmonar, además de pericarditis fibrinosa, absceso hepático y necrosis tubular aguda. Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (MRSA) se encontró en muestras de tejido y sangre. Eventual coinfección por tuberculosis o invasión pericárdica por malignidad fueron descartadas. Se comenta el papel de la autopsia para comprender mejor los mecanismos del taponamiento cardíaco.

Relata-se caso de nódulo tireoidiano parasítico em mulher branca, 53 anos, assintomática, sem antecedentes de trauma ou cirurgia, usando irregularmente L-tiroxina para hipotireoidismo decorrente de tireoidite de Hashimoto. O nódulo, situado na região pré-laríngea direita, media 1,6 x 0,7 x 0,5cm, estando separado da tireóide, conforme ultra-sonografia. Os níveis de TSH, anticorpos antitireóide peroxidase e antitiroglobulina estavam elevados, com T4-livre normal. Cintilografia da tireóide e corpo total com 99mTc isonitrila mostrou glândula tópica, sem captação no nódulo. Punção biópsia aspirativa com agulha fina demonstrou atipias nucleares e alterações oncocíticas nas células epiteliais e acentuado infiltrado linfocitário formando centros germinativos, simulando metástase linfática de carcinoma papilífero. Biópsia convencional revelou nódulo parasítico com tireoidite crônica de Hashimoto. Tratando-se de metástase de carcinoma papilífero de tireóide, tireoidectomia total e dissecção de linfonodos do grupo VI estariam indicadas. Para evitar procedimentos cirúrgicos desnecessários e seqüelas indesejáveis, deve-se sempre considerar a possibilidade de nódulo tireoidiano parasítico.

A case of parasitic thyroid nodule is presented. The patient was a non symptomatic 53-year-old white woman, on irregular course of L-thyroxine to treat hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Without a history of thyroid trauma or surgery, she presented a 1.6 x 0.7 x 0.5cm right pre-laryngeal lymph node-like mass which, on ultrasonography, appeared distinct from the gland. TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody serum levels were elevated and T4-free level was normal. Thyroid and total body 99mTc isonitrile scintiscan showed a topic thyroid without radionuclide uptake in the nodule. Fine-needle aspiration of the nodule showed epithelial cells with nuclear atypia and oncocytic changes plus intense lymphoid infiltration and germinative center formation, simulating lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conventional biopsy revealed a parasitic thyroid nodule with Hashimoto's chronic thyroiditis. Parasitic thyroid nodule must always be remembered so that unnecessary surgical assessment and undesirable sequels may be avoided.

Estudo retrospectivo de 647 mulheres com idade340 anos, atendidas no Hospital-Escola da FMTM, Uberaba-MG. As três sorologias para a doença de Chagas foram negativas nas controles (n = 285) e positivas nas chagásicas (n = 362), que foram classificadas nas formas indeterminada (n = 125), megas (n = 58) e cardíaca (n = 179). Diabetes mellitus foi definido por duas glicemias em jejum3140mg/dl e hiperglicemia por glicemia em jejum > 110mg/dl. Os grupos foram comparados pelos testes do c2, análise de variância, "t" de Student, Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney, considerando-se significativo p < 0,05. chagásicas e controles estavam pareadas quanto à idade, o índice de massa corporal e a cor. Diabetes mellitus foi mais freqüente na forma cardíaca (15,1%), comparada com as controles (7,4%), megas (7,4%) e assintomáticas (5,6%), o mesmo ocorrendo com a hiperglicemia (37,4%, 26,7%, 25,9% e 27,2%, respectivamente), achados que estão de acordo com possível desnervação parassimpática causada pelo Trypanosoma cruzi e conseqüente predomínio da atividade simpática.

Medical records of340 years old female seen at University Hospital from June/93 to July/95 were submitted to a cross-sectional study. According to Chagas' disease tests, patients were divided into chagasic (n = 362) and controls (n = 285). Diabetes mellitus was defined on the basis of two fasting blood glucose levels3140mg/dl and hyperglycemia as fasting blood glucose > 110mg/dl. Chagasic patients were divided into groups with the cardiac form of the disease (n = 179), with megas (n = 58), and asymptomatic (n = 125). Groups were compared by the c2 test, analysis of variance, Student's "t" test, and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. A significant difference was assumed when p < 0.05. Chagasic and control groups were matched for age, white color and body mass index. Diabetes mellitus was more prevalent in patients with the cardiac form of Chagas' disease than in controls, or patients with the megas or the asymptomatic form (15.1%, 7.4%, 7.4%, and 5.6%, respectively); the same was observed for hyperglycemia (37.4%, 26.7%, 25.9%, 27.2%), in agreement with the hypothesis that the reduced parasympathetic activity caused by Trypanosoma cruzi leads to relative sympathetic hyperactivity.

O propósito do estudo foi comparar a freqüência de cefaléia entre mulheres Chagásicas e Não-chagásicas. O estudo retrospectivo compreendeu 647 mulheres com idade <FONT FACE="Symbol">³</font> 40 anos, Chagásicas (n = 362) e Controles (n = 285) atendidas em um Hospital Universitário brasileiro. As Chagásicas foram classificadas nas formas clínicas: Cardíacas (n = 179), Megas (n = 58) e Indeterminada (n = 125). Cefaléia foi definida de acordo com os critérios da Headache International Society. A idade (57,0 ± 11,3 versus 57,3 ± 10,4 anos) e a percentagem de mulheres de cor branca (75,8% versus 77,1%) foram semelhantes entre Chagásicas e Controles, respectivamente. Cefaléia foi mais freqüente entre Chagásicas (32,9%) que nas Controles (16,1%), principalmente na forma Cardíaca (odds ratio, 2,41; intervalo de confiança 1,38-4,23), fenômeno possivelmente relacionado com desnervação parassimpática e alterações vasculares cerebrais.

The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of headache between Chagasic and Non-chagasic women. The cross-sectional study comprised 647 female <FONT FACE="Symbol">³</font>40 years old, Chagasic (n = 362) and Controls (n = 285) at a Brazilian University Hospital. Chagasic were classified as Cardiac (n = 179), Megas (n = 58) or Indeterminate (n = 125) clinical forms. Headache was ascertained according to Headache International Society diagnostic criteria. The age (57.0 ± 11.3 versus 57.3 ± 10.4 years), and the percentage of white women (75.8% versus 77.1%) were similar between Chagasic and Controls, respectively. Headache was more prevalent among Chagasic (32.9%) than Controls (16.1%), mainly in Cardiac form (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-4.23), phenomenon possibly related to parasympathetic denervation and cerebral vessels changes.

O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a freqüência de precordialgia em mulheres chagásicas com grupo de não-chagásicas. Realizou-se estudo retrospectivo, amostral, do tipo corte transversal, com mulheres (n = 647), de idade 340 anos, chagásicas (n = 362) e controles (n = 285). Precordialgia foi definida por queixa de dor retroesternal relacionada ou não a esforço físico. As chagásicas foram classificadas nas formas indeterminada (n = 125), megas (n = 58) e cardíaca (n = 179). A idade (57,0 ± 11,3 vs 57,3 ± 10,4 anos) e porcentagem de brancas (75,8% vs 77,1%) foram similares entre chagásicas e controles, respectivamente. Precordialgia foi mais freqüente (p < 0,01) entre chagásicas (14,6%) que entre controles (5,6%), com maior prevalência na forma cardíaca (risco relativo = 2,41; variação: 1,38-4,23), fenômeno possivelmente relacionado com distúrbios de inervação autonômica cardíaca ou esofágica, ou da inflamação em território da microcirculação coronariana.

The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of precordialgia between chagasic and non-chagasic women. A cross-sectional study comprised 647 female aged 340, chagasic (n = 362) and controls (n = 285) was done at a Brazilian university hospital. Chagasic were classified as cardiac (n = 179), megas (n = 58) or indeterminate (n = 125) clinical forms. Chest pain was ascertained by typical or atypical retrosternal pain. Age (57.0 ± 11.3 vs 57.3 ± 10.4 years), and percentage of white women (75.8% vs 77.1%) were similar between chagasic and controls, respectively. Chest pain was more prevalent (p < 0.01) among chagasic (14.6%) than controls (5.6%), mainly in the cardiac form (relative risk = 2.41; range: 1.38-4.23), a phenomenon possibly related to cardiac parasympathetic denervation and myocardial microvascular changes.