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In 2001, 11 US residents contracted inhalation anthrax as a result of the deliberate mailing of 4 letters containing anthrax spores. Five died as a result. Several of these patients presented to physicians before becoming fatally ill, but their illness was misdiagnosed as influenza.1

Clinical Consultation: Could your patient's flu-like illness really be inhalation anthrax?

Acromegaly was diagnosed in a 36-year-old woman who presented with loss of vision in the right eye that had initially involved the peripheral field. MRI scans of the brain revealed a 6 × 6 × 4-cm sellar mass with suprasellar and parasellar extension encasing the right cavernous sinus and carotid artery.

A. Excess growth hormone production from the pituitary gland as a result of a functional adenoma is the most common cause.

B. It remains undiagnosed for up to 10 years on average.

C. The diagnostic test of choice is an oral glucose tolerance test.

D. End-organ manifestations (eg, arthropathy, cranial nerve palsies, diabetes) contribute to overall mortality increase.

Acromegaly was diagnosed in a 36-year-old woman who presented with loss of vision in the right eye that had initially involved the peripheral field. Which statement about acromegaly is NOT true?

Clinical Topics

Acromegaly: A Pop Quiz

A 64-year-old woman with a history of basal cell carcinoma presents to the dermatologist for skin cancer surveillance. She is incidentally noted to have bruising on her upper eyelids (above). On questioning, she reports experiencing recurrent intermittent eyelid bruising for several years. She denies a history of trauma to her face, pain, or other associated symptoms.

Her medical history is significant for hyperlipidemia, hepatitis C (diagnosed >30 years earlier), osteoporosis, celiac disease, and idiopathic proteinuria for several years. Her surgical history includes appendectomy and carpal tunnel repair.

Pertinent family history includes her mother dying of multiple myeloma and her father of complications of diabetes.

Review of systems is significant for vague symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort. On more directed questioning, she reports the eyelid purpura is temporally related to the Valsalva maneuver/ strained bowel movements. Her medications include atorvastatin, risedronate sodium, a daily multivitamin, calcium, vitamin D, and aspirin.

Her examination reveals no bruising elsewhere and no findings of interest on skin or mucous membranes.

B. Allergic contact dermatitis, purpuric type

Eyelid bruising was observed on a 64-year-old woman during routine skin cancer follow-up. She denied trauma or pain. What does this look like to you? 

Image IQ: Recurrent Eyelid Purpura 

This image of the dorsum of the tongue of a 42-year-old African American woman shows parallel linear black coatings.

After a “swig” of  Kaopectate, this patient noticed tongue discoloration. Is this coincidental, or is there a clinical connection? 

Black Coating on a Woman’s Tongue

A 5-year-old boy with a history of atopic dermatitis since 6 weeks of age, presents with a rash around his mouth that has been present for approximately 1 year. The patient’s mother reports that desonide topical cream was applied to the affected area for about 5 days, which initially resulted in improvement, however the rash returned after this medication was discontinued. The rash also recently improved after the patient took amoxicillin for an infection. She also notes that the patient has been licking his lips more frequently.

On examination there is an erythematous papulopustular eruption restricted to the perioral region, with sparing of the vermillion border. Mild hyperpigmentation is noted on the patient’s neck. There is no active involvement of other areas of the body.

The eruption has been present for 1 year and is restricted to the perioral region. What is included in your differential? 

Rash Around the Mouth of a 5-year-old Child

This 15-year-old has a pruritic, flat-topped, monomorphic papular rash on his face and arms for the past 6 days. He takes no medications, has not been sick recently, and has not been exposed to poison oak.

A.  Papular acrodermatitis of childhood (Gianotti-Crosti)

This monomorphic papular rash is unrelated to medications, recent sickness, or exposure to poison oak. It developed about 6 days earlier. 

Teen With Itchy Papular Rash on Face and Arms

A 76-year-old woman seeks your attention for an asymptomatic “red spot” on her neck. She has a history of multiple non-melanoma skin cancers.

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen  disease)

Lichenoid keratosis (an inflammatory variant of seborrheic keratosis)

A 76-year-old woman seeks your attention for an asymptomatic “red spot” on her neck. What does this look like to you?

What's This "Red Spot"?

Michael Waters, MD

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