Objective: We aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in a Spanish region. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study in all patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Lleida health region from 1 March to 30 November 2020. Reinfections were classified as patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests separated by at least 90 days plus a negative test result between both infection episodes. Primary and secondary outcomes: The primary outcome was the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections among all SARS-CoV-2 infections detected during our study period. Secondary outcomes were the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with SARS-CoV-2 reinfections. Results: Of the 27,758 patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the study period, 14 were identified as coronavirus reinfection (0.050%). Of the reinfected sample, 12 patients (85.7%) were women. The median age was 41.5 years. Two patients died in the second coronavirus episode. Conclusion: The reinfection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in the Spanish region Lleida was relatively low during the observational period in 2020 (less than 1%). These data are in line with the notion that previous SARS-CoV-2 infections may offer a significant protection by so called natural immunity.
BACKGROUND
Spontaneous rhinorrhea may be the initial manifestation of ecchordosis physaliphora (EP). There are currently 47 published cases of symptomatic EP, with spontaneous rhinorrhea being one of the most prevalent symptoms. The authors report 1 case as a cause of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula.
OBSERVATIONS
A 46-year-old woman presented to the authors’ clinic with meningitis secondary to nasal CSF leakage. The computed tomography (CT) scan indicated an imperceptibly thin/dehiscent focus along the posterior wall of the sphenoid air cell’s midline. A tumor was identified during endoscopic endonasal CSF repair surgery. EP was diagnosed in the frozen and final pathology.
LESSONS
EP should be considered as a potential cause of spontaneous rhinorrhea. This initial clinical manifestation accounts for 35% of symptomatic EP cases. The prepontine and posterior sphenoid sinus wall appear to be the locations with the highest susceptibility. Surgical therapy of the fistula without excision of the lesion may result in insufficient issue resolution and recurrence.
BACKGROUND
Silent corticotroph adenomas (SCAs) are the only pituitary adenomas thought to originate from the pars intermedia. This case report presents the rare finding of a multimicrocystic corticotroph macroadenoma displacing the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This finding supports the hypothesis that silent corticotroph adenomas may originate from the pars intermedia and should be considered in the differential for tumors arising from this location.
OBSERVATIONS
A 55-year-old man presented with an episode of confusion and blurred vision. MRI demonstrated separation of the anterior and posterior glands by a solid-cystic lesion located within the pars intermedia that superiorly displaced the optic chiasm. Endocrinologic evaluation was unremarkable. The differential diagnosis included pituitary adenoma, Rathke cleft cyst, and craniopharyngioma. The tumor was confirmed to be an SCA on pathology and was completely removed through the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach.
LESSONS
The case highlights the importance of preoperative screening for subclinical hypercortisolism for tumors arising from this location. Knowledge of a patient’s preoperative functional status is critical and dictates their postoperative biochemical assessment to determine remission. The case also illustrates surgical strategies for resecting pars intermedia lesions without injuring the gland.
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