Syphilis, along with the recent increase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, has also been on the rise. It has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, among which cerebral gumma is, a kind of neurosyphilis, however, it is rare and can be cured by penicillin. Thus, cerebral gumma needs to be differentially diagnosed from other brain masses that may be present in syphilis patients. We have experienced a case where the patient was first suspected of brain tumor, but confirmed by surgery to be cerebral gumma due to neurosyphilis. This is the first such case encountered in Korea, therefore, we report it here in. A 40-year old woman complaining of headaches was found to have a brain mass on her CT scans and MRI. Suspecting a brain Tumor, a resection was performed on the patient, and histological results revealed that the central portion of the mass contained necrotic material and the peripheral region was infiltrated with plasma cells. Warthin-Starry staining of the region revealed spirochetes, and the patient was thus diagnosed as brain gumma. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was reactive. After an operation, penicillin-G at a daily dose of 24x10(6) U was given for 10 days from post-operative day 10, and thereafter, the mass disappeared.
Adult ; Brain Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Female ; HIV Infections/*diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurosyphilis/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We report an extremely rare case of metastatic common bile duct cancer from pulmonary adenocarcinoma presenting as obstructive jaundice. The patient was a 76-year-old male, who presented with generalized weakness and right upper quadrant pain. Plain chest X-ray noted multiple small nodules in both lung fields. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a stricture of the mid common bile duct along with ductal wall enhancement. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed a concentric, abrupt narrowing of the mid-common bile duct suggestive of primary bile duct cancer. However, pathology comfirmed metastatic common bile duct cancer arising from pulmonary adenocarcinoma with immunohistochemical study with thyroid transcriptional factor-1 (TTF-1).
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms/radiography/secondary ; Bronchoscopy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/secondary ; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Jaundice, Obstructive/*etiology ; Lung Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Male ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare malignant plasma cell tumour. We report an extremely aggressive case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the right maxillary sinus, which had metastasised to the brain and rib. A 56-year-old man presented with recurrent epistaxis and acute anaemia. Nasendoscopy revealed a medialised medial wall of the right maxilla and a mass occupying the whole nasopharynx. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right maxillary tumour with extension to the ipsilateral nasal cavity, nasopharynx, right sphenoid and ethmoidal sinuses. There was an extra-axial brain metastasis. There were metastases to the right parietal region and left eighth rib. Histopathology examination of the maxillary mass revealed abundant plasma cells with kappa-chain restriction. He was planned for four cycles of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, in view of the advanced stage of disease, he succumbed to his disease during the first cycle of chemotherapy.
Anemia ; complications ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharynx ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Plasmacytoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography