Introduction. Primitive malignant heart tumours are rare, specific cases. The presence of cardiac metastases, often in the pericardium, besides indicating disseminated oncological disease, represents a diagnostic challenge since they tend to be asymptomatic. Malignant cutaneous melanoma (MCM) is the neoplasm that most often affects the heart. Patients and Methods. The authors describe a case report of a 59-year-old female patient with a history of non-insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and remitting cutaneous malignant melanoma who underwent skin excision, lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy in 1996. In April 2014, she resorted to emergency service due to epigastric pain and progressive tiredness. Due to the persistence of the complaints, abdominal ultrasound was performed, which showed a large pericardial effusion, corroborated later by teleradiography and echocardiography. The patient underwent pericardiocentesis, which isolated neoplastic cells. A computed tomography study of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed bilateral and pericardial pleural effusion, as well as alterations suggestive of pericardial and pulmonary metastasis. Later, fine-needle aspiration puncture of the left posterior cervical nodule confirmed histologically malignant melanoma metastasis. Discussion. Given the natural history of melanoma that when metastasized has an overall survival of 15–20% for 5 years, its metastatic spread may occur several years after its surgical excision. Thus, patients with a history of melanoma and heart failure who develop new cardiac symptoms of unknown aetiology should undergo imaging studies such as echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Background. Iatrogenic agranulocytosis (IA), by nonchemotherapeutic drugs, is a rare adverse event, resulting in a neutrophil count under 0.5 × 109 cells/L with fever or other suggestive signs of infection. Methods. This paper discusses the possible mechanisms responsible for agranulocytosis induced by nonchemotherapeutic drugs. It also describes three cases as well as potential ways to handle such iatrogenic situations. Conclusion. Neutropenia under 0.1 × 109 cells/L predispose patients to potentially fatal infections. Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic and hematopoietic growth factors may be helpful in shortening hospitalization and prevent further infectious complications. Not all drugs associated with IA require frequent hematological monitoring, except medications such as clozapine, ticlopidine, and antithyroids.

Introduction: Adjuvant-Induced Autoimmune / Auto-inflammatory Syndrome (ASIA) is an immune-mediated condition by the exposure of material previously considered inert, such as silicone, aluminum salts, mineral oils, hyaluronic acid and metallic implants. In addition to a genetic component, there is a risk of development of an undifferentiated connective tissue disease, which varies clinically and laboratorially depending on the adjuvant material used. Patients and methods: This paper addresses two cases reported, in caucasian subjects, born and residents in Madeira Island, Portugal. In this article are described two different histological patterns occurring in ASIA patients, due to mammoplasty with silicone. Conclusion: Although ASIA does not meet the diagnostic requirements for connective tissue disease, there is a close relationship with the development of autoimmune conditions. These cases aim to alert the medical community to the existence of this entity, encourage the notification of situations arising from exposure to adjuvants and investigate the presence of a genetic predisposition and a suggestive histological pattern in excisional biopsies of satellite adenomegalies.

Introduction: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, benign, necrotizing lymphadenitis of unknown aetiology with good prognosis. It is characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy, nocturnal diaphoresis and fever. Surgical excision of the adenopathy, histopathological study and immunophenotyping are crucial for diagnosis. Patients and methods: This paper describes five patients with three different histological subtypes of KFD, including an atypical presentation masquerading as pyelonephritis and two other cases where physicians mistakenly started chemotherapy. In one other case cytomegalovirus was identified as the responsible aetiological agent, while in the remaining patient, KFD evolved into an autoimmune condition. Discussion: KFD, although rare, may mimic infectious, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. It also poses a risk for the subsequent development of an autoimmune disorder.

Introduction: The authors present a clinical case of an ischemic stroke that presented with anomic aphasia. Case report: A 75-year old woman was brought to the emergency department with an anomic aphasia that had started that day. The neurological exam confirmed the anomic aphasia with no other associated findings. The Head-CT Scan showed focal points of ischemic gliosis without any other acute changes that could suggest vascular lesions particularly in the middle cerebral artery territory. The patient was hospitalized in the cerebrovascular disease unit with the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. During her stay at the unit, the patient developed a decreased nasolabial fold prominence on the right side, motor aphasia, dysmetria and a lack of balance while walking. On the fourth day, the patient underwent an MRI that revealed a sub-acute infarction in a partial territory of the left middle cerebral artery with a partially re-canalized thrombus in the inferior M2 branch of this artery. Blood work showed a dyslipidemia. The echocardiogram detected a type 1 diastolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 55%. Patient was discharged after 8 days. Currently, the patient is followed in the cerebrovascular diseases department. The neurological evaluation demonstrates aphasia with some impairment of comprehension and naming, the speech has fluency loss showing occasional anomic pauses and paraphasias. Conclusion: The authors alert to the fact that a stroke can present itself in multiple ways, stressing the role of the clinical symptoms in its diagnosis.