SAEM Clinical Images Series: Not Your Usual Irritated Eye

eye irritation

In July 2022, a 32-year-old male with a past medical history of HIV (on antiretroviral therapy, CD4 390, viral load undetectable) presented to the emergency department with constitutional symptoms and a rash for 4-5 days. His symptoms included malaise, body aches, subjective fevers, a sore throat, tender, swollen neck glands, body rash, and irritation of his left eye. He also noticed fluid-filled vesicles on his face, neck, trunk, and extremities. He denied travel outside the U.S. but reported a recent trip to New Orleans. He denied any new sexual partners or known exposure to individuals with similar symptoms.

Vitals: BP 135/83; Pulse 104; Temp 100.2 °F (37.9 °C); Resp 22; SpO2 99%

Constitutional: Alert, no acute distress

HEENT: 1×1 mm raised lesion to the left medial canthus/caruncle. No appreciated LAD. Oropharynx is clear and moist, and mucous membranes are normal.

Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, regular rhythm, and normal heart sounds.

Pulmonary: Breath sounds normal, unlabored respirations.

Abdominal: Soft. Non-tender.

Skin: Numerous 5-6 mm erythematous macules, bland fluid-filled vesicles, and umbilicated lesions throughout the face, neck, trunk, and extremities.

Complete Blood Count (CBC): WBC: 19.5 10^3/mcL, Hemoglobin: 15.2 gm/dL, Hematocrit: 43.6%, Platelet count: 325 10^3/mcL

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP): Within normal limits

RPR titer: Reactive, 1:4

Syphilis antibody IgG and IgM: Positive

Orthopoxvirus DNA: Pending

HIV RNA: Pending

The patient has Monkeypox with involvement of the caruncle of the left eye. The patient tested positive for non-variola orthopoxvirus DNA. Ophthalmology was consulted and did not find any other signs of compromise to the eye and recommended treatment with artificial tears. The patient received 14 days of Tpoxx. The patient’s eye lesion and symptoms resolved and he was discharged on hospital day eight.

Ocular lesions are a rare presentation of the monkeypox virus. There is limited literature documenting eye involvement and pictographic examples of its presentation. During the current outbreak, ocular involvement has been used as a criteria for hospital admission. The most commonly seen ophthalmologic lesions include a vesicular rash of the orbital and periorbital skin (25%), focal conjunctiva lesions, blepharitis, and conjunctivitis. Rarely, lesions can process to corneal ulcerations, keratitis, and vision loss. Given the late risk of vision loss in cases of ocular manifestations, clinicians should be aware of the varied presentation of ocular lesions associated with the monkeypox virus.

Take-Home Points

  • While rare, ocular involvement of Monkeypox is associated with vision loss, and should be promptly identified and addressed by a clinician.
  • If there is ocular involvement of primarily cutaneous pathology, a thorough eye exam is indicated in the initial assessment of the patient.
  • Abdelaal A, Serhan HA, Mahmoud MA, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Sah R. Ophthalmic manifestations of monkeypox virus. Eye (Lond). 2023 Feb;37(3):383-385. doi: 10.1038/s41433-022-02195-z. Epub 2022 Jul 27. PMID: 35896700; PMCID: PMC9905463.
  • Kumar N, Acharya A, Gendelman HE, Byrareddy SN. The 2022 outbreak and the pathobiology of the monkeypox virus. J Autoimmun. 2022 Jul;131:102855. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102855. Epub 2022 Jun 25. PMID: 35760647; PMCID: PMC9534147.
  • Thornhill, John P., et al. “Monkeypox virus infection in humans across 16 countries—April–June 2022.” N Engl J Med. 2022 Aug 25;387(8):679-691. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2207323. Epub 2022 Jul 21. PMID: 35866746.

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Two Pupils for the Price of One

pupil

A 24-year-old female with no pertinent PMHx presents to the ED with a chief complaint of eye pain. She reported a 10-day history of worsening right eye pain following being punched in that eye. She had been managing her pain with ice and had not taken any OTC medications. Her mom convinced her to go to the ED and she first went to an outside hospital, but was referred to come to our institution. She endorsed photophobia and blurry vision but denied double vision. She further noted occasional left-sided headaches.

Vitals: Within normal limits

General: The patient is alert and conversant. No apparent distress.

HEENT: NC, AT. Mucous membranes moist. Neck supple. Minimal pain with EOM. No double vision in right eye. Right eye discoloration at superior portion. Divided abnormal pupil. Mild superior periorbital swelling. Visual acuity: Right – 20/400, Left – 20/25

CV: Regular rate and rhythm.

Resp: Clear to auscultation bilaterally.

Abd: Soft, non-tender, non-distended.

Neuro: Alert. Motor and sensation grossly intact.

MSK: Moves all extremities, no joint pain or tenderness.

Skin: No obvious rashes or skin lesions.

Non-contributory

This is traumatic iridodialysis. It is typically related to significant blunt trauma to the eye that pulls the iris away from the ciliary body at the scleral spur [1]. That is what causes the split appearance or “two pupil” phenomenon.

Take-Home Points

  • Whenever you have a two-pupil phenomenon consistent with traumatic iridodialysis, the differential should always include penetrating injury to the globe, globe rupture, scleral rupture, hyphema, and lens dislocation. These additional findings may warrant urgent surgical repair or close monitoring of IOP. [2]
  • Consider bedside ultrasound to rule out posterior pathology (retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, etc.).
  • Always refer to Ophthalmology, more urgently if the trauma was recent vs multiple days out (as in this case).
  • Knoop KJ, Palma JK. Iridodialysis. In: Knoop KJ, Stack LB, Storrow AB, Thurman R. eds. The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e. McGraw Hill; 2021. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=2969&sectionid=250455915
  • Gurwood AS. Cut at the root. Review of Optometry. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/cut-at-the-root. Published November 19, 2012. Accessed January 2023.

By |2024-02-25T20:54:51-08:00Mar 1, 2024|Ophthalmology, SAEM Clinical Images|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Neonatal Rash

An 18-day-old male presented for a rash on his face for two days. The patient was born via spontaneous vaginal delivery full term without complications to a mom who has a history of genital HSV but without active lesions at delivery and on acyclovir. The patient presented with a vesicular rash on his face including around his eyes. He had conjunctival discharge noted by mom. Otherwise, he was well-appearing, acting normally, and eating/voiding/stooling normally.

General: Well appearing, acting appropriately for age

HEENT: Scalp normal. Anterior fontanelle soft and flat. Vesicular appearing rash with erythematous base in clusters noted around eyes, cheek, and chin. Fluorescein staining with corneal abrasion noted at 4 o’clock region on right eye, no dendritic pattern. Scant yellow discharge noted from left eye. TM normal bilaterally. Oropharynx clear.

Neuro: Normal tone, moving all extremities

Skin: Flaky skin, no rash noted elsewhere except as listed above (Photos taken after fluorescein)

CBC: Normal

LFTs: Normal

BMP: Unremarkable

CRP: Negative

Lab results for HSV were negative:

HSV 1 and 2 (chin): negative

HSV 1 and 2 (near eye): negative

HSV 1 and 2 (nose, mouth, rectum): negative

HSV 1 blood Igg: negative

HSV 2 blood Igg: positive (reflective of maternal antibody status)

What was once called “neonatal acne” now known as neonatal cephalic pustulosis is usually seen in the first three weeks of life. Usually, it appears as pustulo-papules on the face, around the eyes, on the cheeks, and chin. Some studies have suggested that neonatal cephalic pustulosis is caused by Malassezia species. As the rash is self-limiting, treatment is not necessary.

Take-Home Points

  • When a vesicular rash is in a neonate < 1 month and all over the face, consider benign neonatal pustular lesions such as neonatal cephalic pustulosis.

  • Antoniou C, Dessinioti C, Stratigos AJ, Katsambas AD. Clinical and therapeutic approach to childhood acne: an update. Pediatr Dermatol. 2009 Jul-Aug;26(4):373-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2009.00932.x. PMID: 19689511.
  • Ghosh S. Neonatal pustular dermatosis: an overview. Indian J Dermatol. 2015 Mar-Apr;60(2):211. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.152558. PMID: 25814724; PMCID: PMC4372928.

By |2024-02-25T20:47:08-08:00Feb 26, 2024|Dermatology, Pediatrics, SAEM Clinical Images|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: An Ultrasonographic Rabbit Hole

hole

An 86-year-old man with a past medical history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, COPD, choledocholithiasis requiring ERCP and sphincterotomy 2 years ago presented with five days of feeling unwell. History was limited due to cognitive impairment. His daughter had reported to staff he had been feeling unwell for five days, intermittently having nausea and generalized abdominal pain, subjective fevers, chest pain, and shortness of breath. His daughter also reported a history of intermittent lower abdominal cramping which was chronic for him. He denied changes to urination or bowel movements.

Vitals: BP 106/67, Temp 36.2°C, Pulse 115, Resp 20, SpO2 95%

General: Nontoxic appearing, no distress

Heart: Regular, no murmurs

Lungs: Clear bilaterally, normal work of breathing

Abdomen: Diffusely tender, greatest in left upper quadrant

CBC with differential: WBC 14.1, Neutrophil 12% (high)

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): Total bilirubin 2.7 (high), AlkP 328 (high), AST/ALT normal

Lipase: Normal

Troponin x2: Negative

Chest x-ray: No acute abnormality

This patient has sonographic evidence of perforated gangrenous cholecystitis which was confirmed on subsequent CT scan. Gallbladder perforation is a complication of cholecystitis and has a reported incidence of 5-10%. It has been reported as early as two days after the onset of symptoms to as late as several weeks afterward. The most common site of perforation is the fundus due to relatively poor blood supply. In this case, the culprit perforation was in the proximal body adjacent to the stone which is suspected to have eroded through the wall.

Figure 1 depicts a minimally thickened gallbladder wall measured at 3.5 mm with a large shadowing stone-in-neck and associated perihepatic fluid collection (arrow) with a subtle intraluminal membrane and wall irregularity consistent with gangrenous cholecystitis. Figure 2 doppler images show no flow within the fluid collection and a suspiciously thin gallbladder wall (arrow). Figure 3 again highlights an irregular wall with small “hole sign” (arrow) signifying perforation of the gallbladder into the adjacent fluid collection. This patient was admitted to the hospital’s general surgical service and treated with IV broad-spectrum antibiotics and a percutaneous cholecystostomy tube placed by interventional radiology.

Take-Home Points

  • Look out for “hole signs” with adjacent fluid collection on your gallbladder ultrasounds which would suggest perforation.
  • Intraluminal membranes or wall irregularities suggest gangrenous cholecystitis.
  • Initial treatment includes broad-spectrum antibiotics and cholecystostomy tube decompression.

  • Indiran, V., Prabakaran, N. & Kannan, K. “Hole sign” of the gallbladder. Indian J Gastroenterol 36, 66–67 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-016-0723-3
  • Jeffrey RB, Laing FC, Wong W, Callen PW. Gangrenous cholecystitis: diagnosis by ultrasound. Radiology. 1983 Jul;148(1):219-21. doi: 10.1148/radiology.148.1.6856839. PMID: 6856839.
  • Sood, B.P., Kalra, N., Gupta, S., Sidhu, R., Gulati, M., Khandelwal, N. and Suri, S. (2002), Role of sonography in the diagnosis of gallbladder perforation. J. Clin. Ultrasound, 30: 270-274.

SAEM Clinical Images Series: One Month of Vaginal Bleeding

heterogenous uterus

A 28-year-old female G3P2002 presented to the emergency department for one month of vaginal bleeding. The patient was seen in the emergency department one month earlier for vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy. Her estimated gestational age was six weeks by last menstrual period. At the time her beta-hCG was 7225 mlU/mL with no intrauterine pregnancy demonstrated on transvaginal ultrasound. Three days later, the patient had declining b-hCG and transvaginal ultrasound again with no intrauterine pregnancy. The patient was discharged home with a diagnosis of miscarriage. Since discharge, she endorsed an initial slowing of vaginal bleeding but over the last two weeks bleeding had become heavier and continuous; soaking up to eight pads a day. She endorsed worsening nausea and vomiting over the past two weeks. She has been sexually active since her last encounter. She denied abdominal pain, pelvic pain, cramping, dizziness, shortness of breath, or fevers.

Vitals: BP 136/70; Pulse 96; Temp 97.8°F; Resp 16; SpO2 100%

Constitutional: No distress

Cardiovascular: Normal rate, regular rhythm, normal heart sounds

Abdomen: Soft and non-tender; Gravid uterus approximately 10 weeks

Pelvic exam: Active vaginal bleeding of dark red blood originating from the cervical os. Cervical os is closed and otherwise normal in appearance. Multiple clots are seen in the vaginal canal and posterior fornix. Vaginal canal and external genitals are normal in appearance.

Beta-HCG: 91,401 mlU/mL

Hemoglobin: 12.8 g/dL

Our patient’s case is convoluted by reporting a miscarriage the month prior, with declining beta-HCG and transvaginal ultrasounds with no intrauterine pregnancy. While her symptoms never fully resolved she endorsed that her vaginal bleeding slowed and only started getting worse after resuming intercourse.

Her physical exam of a gravid uterus of approximately 10 weeks (despite reporting a miscarriage four weeks prior), persistent vaginal bleeding, and intractable nausea and vomiting are concerning for molar pregnancy [1]. Molar pregnancies typically present as abnormal uterine bleeding in the first or second trimester and are accompanied by symptoms of hyperemesis gravida secondary to the increase in beta-hCG [2]. The two main risk factors for gestational trophoblastic disease are the extremes of maternal age and prior molar pregnancy. However, there is an increased risk for molar pregnancy in patients with a history of prior spontaneous abortions and infertility [4]. Beta-hCG are typically greater than > 100,000 mlU/mL signifying excessive trophoblastic growth, however a value < 100,000 mlU/mL does not exclude the diagnosis of molar pregnancy as partial moles tend not to produce as much beta-HCG [3].

These images, taken by point of care ultrasound, show a heterogenic mass with mixed echogenicities within the uterine cavity consistent with gestational trophoblastic disease or molar pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology was consulted for definitive management. The patient was taken to the operating room for dilation and curettage and was discharged the following day.

Take-Home Points

  • Physical exam findings of an enlarged uterus inconsistent with gestational age, vaginal bleeding, and intractable nausea and vomiting should clue you into a possible molar pregnancy.
  • Point-of-care ultrasound is an invaluable tool when assessing vaginal bleeding and will often help the clinician in the management or diagnostic pathway.
  • Beta-hCG < 100,000 mlU/mL does not rule out molar pregnancy. Obtain a good history, perform a thorough physical exam, and pick up your ultrasound probe.

  • Soper, John T. “Gestational Trophoblastic Disease.” Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 137, no. 2, 2021, pp. 355–370., https://doi.org/10.1097/aog.0000000000004240.
  • Cline, David, et al. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. McGraw-Hill Education, 2020.
  • Berkowitz, Ross S., and Donald P. Goldstein. “Molar Pregnancy.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 360, no. 16, 2009, pp. 1639–1645., https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmcp0900696.
  • Acaia, Barbara, et al. “Increased Frequency of Complete Hydatidiform Mole in Women with Repeated Abortion.” Gynecologic Oncology, vol. 31, no. 2, 1988, pp. 310–314., https://doi.org/10.1016/s0090-8258(88)80009-x.

By |2024-02-11T20:06:03-08:00Feb 12, 2024|Ob/Gyn, SAEM Clinical Images|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Back Lesion

skin lesion

An 18-year-old-female with no known past medical history presented with a lesion on her back that had been present and enlarging for five months. It was not painful unless she touched it, and then only mildly tender. She denied any known cause, wound, prior rash, or other lesions. Her review of systems and past medical history were negative.

Vitals: Normal

Skin: An erythematous lenticular, or biconvex, lesion with distinct borders is noted at the left posterior thorax below the scapula. It is soft with some slight nodularity on palpation, and only mild tenderness noted. There is no fluctuance. No other skin lesions are present. The rest of the examination is normal.

Ultrasound reveals a 1.7 x 0.8 x 1.1 cm superficial soft tissue mass inferior to the scapula on the left thorax.

CT scan of the chest confirms no intrathoracic extension or other lesions.

Biopsy is the next appropriate step. The lesion does not appear to be infectious, either viral, bacterial, or fungal. Furthermore, it has no appearance of an inflammatory reaction that would benefit from topical steroids. The differential includes a cystic structure, neurofibroma, or malignancy. Because of the concern for malignancy, a biopsy was performed in the emergency department after the ultrasound and CT scan confirmed there was no extension into the thorax. The biopsy revealed a pilomatrixoma, or pilomatricoma. Pilomatrixoma is a superficial benign skin tumor that arises from hair follicle matrix cells. They commonly occur in the first two decades of life with a mean age of 17 years. The most common presentation is an asymptomatic, firm, slowly growing mobile nodule. However, only 16% are accurately diagnosed on clinical examination. This case reveals the wide variation in visual presentation and confirms the inability to diagnose the lesion at the bedside. Complete surgical excision is curative.

Take-Home Points

  • Unknown skin lesions, with concern for malignancy, should be diagnosed by biopsy.
  • Pilomatrixoma is rarely diagnosed at the bedside.
  • Jones CD, Ho W, Robertson BF, Gunn E, Morley S. Pilomatrixoma: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Am J Dermatopathol. 2018 Sep;40(9):631-641. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0000000000001118. PMID: 30119102.

By |2024-01-28T21:32:23-08:00Feb 2, 2024|Dermatology, SAEM Clinical Images|

SAEM Clinical Images Series: Retrobulbar Spot Sign

vision

A 59-year-old male with no known past medical history other than an incidental abdominal aortic aneurysm presented with sudden onset, painless vision loss in his left eye. The patient was watching TV two days prior when he saw a “brightness” in his left eye and then progressive blurriness until his vision faded away, all occurring within the span of a minute. At the time of presentation, he only sees a speck of light from that eye. He denied associated pain, flashes, floaters, jaw claudication, the sensation of a “curtain falling”, prior vision problems, or a history of blood clots.

Eyes: Eyelids and lashes normal. Visual acuity: 20/30 OD, Light Perception OS. EOMI. PERRL. OD visual fields intact. Afferent Pupillary Defect OD. Normal conjunctiva. IOP 16 OD, 14 OS. Otherwise CN 3-12 intact.

Complete blood count (CBC): Within normal limits

Basic metabolic panel: Creatine 1.3 (unknown baseline)

ESR: Unmarkable

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) is an ocular emergency that presents as acute painless monocular vision, caused by ischemia and infarction to the retina via thromboembolic disease to the central retinal artery. It requires immediate consultation with ophthalmology as well as neurology as it is considered a stroke equivalent.

The case described above and several previously published case studies highlight the utility of POCUS in identifying CRAO via the retrobulbar spot sign (RBSS) within the optic nerve in a rapid, non-invasive manner that can be done prior to waiting for dilation for a fundoscopy exam. This has the potential to expedite consultations with specialty teams and treatment.

Several studies also reveal the potential of POCUS to predict the etiology of CRAO (arterio-arterial embolization vs cardio-embolic vs vasculitis) and thus to predict the success of thrombolytic treatment in CRAO. In a prospective monocenter study of 46 patients with ophthalmologically confirmed CRAO, embolism from large artery atherosclerosis (LAA, i.e. carotids or aortic arch) was the etiology in 27 patients, cardioembolic in 10 patients, vasculitis in 5 patients, and unknown in 4 patients. Out of the LAA patients, 59% had RBSS compared with only 20% in cardioembolic and 0% in the vasculitis patients. Within the 11 patients that underwent thrombolysis, statistically significant visual improvement occurred in all 4 patients with RBSS negative CRAO, while the 7 patients with RBSS positive CRAO had persistent visual impairment with persistent occlusion of their arteries. This study concludes that their results support the hypothesis that RBSS is seen due to calcium deposits that will not be dissolved with thrombolysis. Another small single-center German study points out the utility of seeing RBSS as 100% specific for an embolic cause of CRA, excluding temporal arteritis from the differential.

Take-Home Points

  • POCUS can guide us in diagnosing a patient with painless vision loss prior to more time-consuming fundoscopy exam.
  • Stroke workup for CRAO is necessary, and don’t forget about secondary prevention/risk stratification which must be part of the management.
  • RBSS may predict poor response to systemic thrombolysis.

  • Ertl M, Altmann M, Torka E, Helbig H, Bogdahn U, Gamulescu A, Schlachetzki F. The retrobulbar “spot sign” as a discriminator between vasculitic and thrombo-embolic affections of the retinal blood supply. Ultraschall Med. 2012 Dec;33(7):E263-E267. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1312925. Epub 2012 Sep 21. PMID: 23023446.
  • Nedelmann, Matt et al. “Retrobulbar Spot Sign Predicts Thrombolytic Treatment Effects and Etiology in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion” American Heart Association (AHA). Stroke. 2015;46:2322–2324 https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.009839
  • Smith, Austin T et al. “Using the Retrobulbar Spot Sign to Assist in Diagnosis and Management of Central Retinal Artery Occlusions.” Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine vol. 39,1 (2020): 197-202. doi:10.1002/jum.15073

By |2024-01-28T21:19:20-08:00Jan 29, 2024|Ophthalmology, SAEM Clinical Images, Ultrasound|
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