Internal medicine
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A Japanese man in his 60s on medication for chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented with progressive, multifocal neurological manifestations. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a small, solitary region of brainstem involvement. ⋯ The small PML lesion may have caused multifocal neurological symptoms because of its focal brainstem involvement. This case contributes to knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of brainstem PML in the context of hematologic malignancies and other underlying diseases.
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An 86-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital due to the sudden onset of abdominal pain. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed no signs of ischemic bowel; however, laboratory investigations revealed metabolic lactic acidosis, elevation of inflammatory markers, and a remarkable elevation in the serum phosphate level. A prompt surgical evaluation revealed non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI). Elevated serum phosphate levels may suggest extensive bowel ischemia or infarction, which can lead to a prompt surgical evaluation, even in the absence of specific radiological findings.
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A 56-year-old man with a 2.5-month history of anorexia developed sweating, weakness, and left hemiplegia and hemispatial neglect. Brain magnetic resonance imaging detected no abnormalities, but magnetic resonance angiography revealed narrowing of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA). ⋯ Hemiplegia is a rare but important neurological manifestation of hypoglycemia, although the mechanisms involved remain unknown. Combined hypoglycemia and decreased MCA blood flow associated with vasospasm probably induced regionally severe neuroglycopenia with ischemia, which presented as focal neurological symptoms.