In a 56-year-old lady, a carcinoid tumor of the terminal ileum metastasized to regional lymph nodes, and the liver was removed by hemicolectomy in 2002. Following a history of cutaneous flushing, diarrhea, and bronchoconstriction 3 years later, a somatostatin therapy was instituted. As flushing and diarrhea resolved and levels of urinary excretion of 5-hydoxyindoleacetic acid decreased, shortness of breath was progressive and prompted a cardiac exam. Despite poor resolution, echocardiography revealed a thickening of the tricuspid valves (TK) with reduced mobility along with right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) dilatation. The pulmonary valve was unobtrusive. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed extensive fibrous tissue extending from the valvular base to the tip of the tricuspid leaflets. Retraction and immobilization of the TK caused a mild stenosis and a large regurgitant flow. Because medical treatment of tricuspid regurgitation was ineffective, the TK was excised and a Hancock 25-mm bioprosthetic valve was implanted. The postoperative course was uncomplicated, and the patient recuperated and resumed normal daily activities.

A 24-year old woman with a history of Crohn's disease developed bloody diarrhea and multiple abdominal abscesses, daily fever, leukocytosis, and elevated CRP several months after her immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine was stopped. Recurrent abscess punctures did not detect any pathogenic germs and neither clinical nor serological response was achieved by administration of different antimicrobial therapies. Additionally, new splenic abscesses arose despite ongoing therapy. Under the suspicion of the rare aseptic abscess syndrome, representing an auto-inflammatory, extra-intestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease, the antimicrobial therapy was stopped and an intravenous therapy with prednisolone was initiated. As soon as therapeutic response was achieved, an additional anti-TNF therapy with Infliximab was started and subsequently the intraabdominal and splenic abscesses disappeared.The knowledge of the aseptic abscess syndrome, which is characterized by (a) sterile abscesses with neutrophilic granulocytes, (b) negative blood cultures, (c) lack of response to antimicrobial treatment, and (d) rapid clinical improvement after initiation of prednisolone therapy with subsequent response in imaging, may avoid unnecessary operations like splenectomy in the present case. The exact pathophysiology of the aseptic abscess syndrome is unknown but, with regard to the sterile aspirates, an auto-inflammatory cause has been suggested. Data of a French case collection demonstrate that this syndrome may be present more frequently than expected in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Up to now, this syndrome has not been described in German literature.

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Question: A 74-year-elderly woman was presented to the clinic to be treated for dysphagia, which had persisted for more than 5 years. Previously, repetitive botulinum injections for suspected hypercontractile esophagus had been implemented in an external clinic without any success. The present esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an elongated esophagus with tertiary contractions and reflux stage A according to the Los Angeles classification. Eosinophilic esophagitis was excluded histologically, and laboratory results showed no relevant pathologies. Oral endosonography was unsuspicious. However, barium swallow demonstrated a left-sided deviation and impression of the lower esophagus (Figure A).What may be the reason for the left-sided deviation of the lower esophagus causing dysphagia in this woman?See the Gastroenterology web site (www.gastrojournal.org) for more information on submitting your favorite image to Clinical Challenges and Images in GI.