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Goals and backgroundThe utility of routine head CT (HCT) in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) evaluation is unclear. We investigated HCT yield in detecting acute intracranial abnormalities in cirrhotic patients presenting with HE.StudyRetrospective review of cirrhotic patient encounters with HE between 2016 and 2018 at Beaumont Health, in Michigan was performed. A low-risk (LR) indication for HCT was defined as altered mental status (AMS), which included dizziness and generalised weakness. A high-risk (HR) indication was defined as trauma/fall, syncope, focal neurological deficits (FNDs) or headache. Descriptive statistics and univariate/multivariate analyses by logistic regression were performed using SPSS to identify HCT abnormality correlates.ResultsFive hundred twenty unique encounters were reviewed. Mean age was 63.4 (12.1) years, 162 (37.5%) had alcoholic cirrhosis and median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)-score was 17 (13–23). LR indication was reported in 408 (78.5%) patients and FNDs reported in 24 (4.6%) patients. Only 13 (2.5%) patients were found to have an acute intracranial pathology (seven haemorrhagic stroke, two ischaemic stroke, four subdural haematoma). Aspirin use prior to presentation (aOR 4.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 19.2), and HR indication (aOR 7.3, 95% CI 2.3 to 23.8) were independent correlates of acute intracranial pathology on HCT. Age, sex, MELD-score, haemoglobin, platelet count, race and cirrhosis aetiology did not correlate with HCT abnormalities. Number needed to screen to identify one acute pathology was 14 in HR indications versus 82 for LR indications.ConclusionRoutine HCTs in cirrhotic patients presenting with HE with AMS in the absence of history of trauma, headache, syncope, FNDs or aspirin use is of low diagnostic yield.

A 65-year-old woman, status-post cholecystectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (circumstances unknown, 2017), was admitted (2020) for right upper quadrant abdominal pain and pyrexia for 3 days. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 39.1°C; no jaundice; soft, nondistended abdomen; and right upper quadrant tenderness.

Cholestatic hepatitis is a rare presentation of thyrotoxicosis potentially confused as an adverse effect of antithyroid therapy. We report a 37-year-old man with cholestatic hepatitis as an initial presentation of Graves' disease. Diagnostic evaluation demonstrated (i) elevated transaminases and alkaline phosphatase (R-factor value: 2.6), and marked cholestasis (total bilirubin: 17.3 mg/dL, direct bilirubin: 9.4 mg/dL); (ii) negative hepatitis, viral, and autoimmune serologies; (iii) normal magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; (iv) liver biopsy with marked cholestasis and no fibrosis; (v) thyroid-stimulating hormone <0.01, fT4 (free thyroxine): 1.5, fT4 (free triiodothyronine): 4.3 and positive thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins. Radioiodine uptake scan confirmed Graves' disease. Clinical resolution was achieved with propranolol, prednisone, methimazole, and thyroidectomy.

Objectives Hypercalcemia of malignancy confers a poor prognosis. This systematic review evaluated published cases of hypercalcemia of malignancy presenting with acute pancreatitis (AP), in terms of clinical presentation and outcomes. Methods A comprehensive review of PubMed and Embase until March 18, 2020, was conducted. Studies were included if they reported on patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy and AP with attempts to exclude other etiologies of hypercalcemia and AP. Two independent reviewers selected and appraised studies using the Murad tool. Results Thirty-seven cases were identified. Mean (standard deviation) age was 44.8 (2.46) years. Mean (standard deviation) presenting corrected calcium was 14.5 (0.46) mg/dL. Parathyroid carcinoma (21.6%) and multiple myeloma (21.6%) were the most common malignancies. Cases were classified as severe (37.8%), mild (21.6%), and moderately severe (18.9%), whereas 21.6% did not report severity. Necrotizing pancreatitis developed in 21.6% of cases. Most cases were treated with intravenous hydration and bisphosphonates or calcitonin/calcitonin analogues. Mortality was 32.4% during the same presentation of AP. Among mortality cases, 10 of 12 had severe AP, and 5 of 12 had necrotizing pancreatitis. Degree of hypercalcemia did not influence mortality. Conclusion Acute pancreatitis associated with hypercalcemia of malignancy is rare. One in 3 patients with this presentation may not survive AP.