Case Challenge
answer below the break, lots of correct answers, chocolate goes to the intern brando(e)ns
Hi all, welcome to a new blog format. The basics- an interesting case is presented once a month on the blog. Basic information will be provided, you can request additional testing and imaging via the survey link provided. Additional testing you request will be updated twice during the week. Answer and explanations will be posted the following week. When you feel comfortable making a diagnosis, provide it with your name in the same survey link (or if feeling confident comment on the blog itself) for a chance at reducing your EROC burden (kidding, but seriously chocolate for correct answers).
Without further ado
85yo white male with a history of prostate cancer (1990s, s/p radiation and chemo), CAD, HTN, HLD, CHF (NICM, previously reduced EF, now in 50s), AVR (5 years ago, bioprosthetic, not on AC) presents with severe back pain.
3 months prior to admission patient seen in OSF ED for new onset, severe left inguinal pain which was much worse with movement and hip flexion, the pain radiated towards the back with movement but not at rest. He described the pain as a muscle pull, he had not had similar pain previously. Workup for hernia was negative, patient unclear on what was performed but believes he received blood products. He was discharged from the ED with gradual resolution of the pain over 3 weeks.
From ED visit until 2 weeks ago he had no significant complaints other than mild fatigue. Starting 2 weeks prior to admission patient presented to a local ED 6 times for minor cuts on hands that would not stop. Bleeding was stopped with dermabond and he was discharged home each time.
2 days PTA he was feeling well and went for “a long walk”. on the morning of admission he awoke with significant pain in his right inguinal area, similar in quality and intensity to previous left inguinal pain. At this point he came into our ED for evaluation.
ROS notable for bleeding as described, easy bruising starting 4 months ago, mild fatigue, moderate nausea with pain, no NS/chills/v/d.
Past Medical Hx:
- Prostate CA- diagnosed in mid 1990s, s/p surgery radiaton and chemotherapy.
- CAD- s/p CABG 10 years ago
- CHF- apparently had reduced EF in past, now normalized. Per patient EF “in 50s” recently, AICD in place
- Aortic valve replacement- 5 years ago, bioprosthetic, no AC, followed closely
- HTN- controlled
- HLD
- Do not know if he has had c-scope
Past Surgical Hx:
- CABG- no issues with post-op bleeding
- SAVR
- prostatectomy
Family Hx:
- Hypertension mom, DM2 dad
Social Hx:
- Lives in abilene w/ wife, no bad habits
Outpatient Medications:
- Lasix 20mg BID
- Metformin 500mg BID
- Metop XL 25mg qday
- Methocarbamol prn
- Diazepam 5mg prn
- lyrica 75mg qhs
On arrival he was found to be tachycardic to the 120s, BP 95/65, RR 20, SaO2 98% on ambient air with T of 36.8 C. He appeared uncomfortable though not in significant distress. His HEENT exam was normal including no gingival/mucosal findings, he was tachycardic but regular w/o m/r/g. Lung exam was normal. Abdominal exam was notable for tenderness in the lower right quadrant that was referring to groin. GU revealed no hernia, no swelling, no erythema, no TTP. Extremities notable for 10cm resolving ecchymoses on RUE. Flexion of right hip caused significant pain in groin area. Palpation of lower right back caused moderate pain in right groin. No dermatologic changes were found other than ecchymoses previously descried and healing wounds on b/l hands which had previously been dermabonded. No petechiae seen.
- BMP 145/3.4/106/25 (gap 16)/ 16/.88
- CBC 10/6.1/18/151
- INR 1.1
- LDH 568
- T bili 3.5 (no fractionation in ED). AST 25 ALT 45 alk phos 100
- PTT 105
- D dimer 6
- Haptoglobin <10
- Retic ct 8.2
- fibrinogen 368
- mixing study: PTT 85 pre, 65 after mixing (did not correct)
- DAT negative
- Factor VIII activity: <1
- Factor VIII inhibitor: 58 (high titer identified)
- Factor IX activity: normal
- Factor X activity: normal
- vWF activity: normal
- ANA 1:160 homogenous
- RF negative
- CCP negative
- SSA/ SSB negative
Imaging:
- CT head no abnormalities
- CT abd/pelvis with contrast: There is mild rotatory scoliosis of the lumbar spine, associated with multilevel degenerative changes of the endplates and facet joints. No worrisome lytic or blastic skeletal lesions are seen. Subcutaneous edema is present within the right flank.
- The right psoas muscle is enlarged with ill-defined intramuscular hemorrhage. As the right psoas muscle measures approximately 6.2 x 7.2 cm in axial cross-section on axial image 38, and comparison to the left psoas muscle, which measures 2.4 x 4.3 cm at the same level.
