Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Clinical Problem Solving: A 68-Year-Old Woman With Acute Apraxic Agraphia, Constructional Apraxia, and Finger Agnosia.
Giff A, et al
This case report from The Neurohospitalist describes a 68-year-old left-handed woman who presented with progressive writing difficulties, ultimately diagnosed with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. The patient experienced an unusual constellation of symptoms including apraxic agraphia (inability to properly form written letters and numbers), constructional apraxia (difficulty drawing spatial figures such as cubes), and finger agnosia (inability to identify her own fingers), while speech, reading, and comprehension remained largely intact. Brain MRI revealed multiple enhancing lesions in the corpus callosum and left inferior frontal lobe, and a subsequent biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of primary CNS lymphoma. The case highlights that multifocal brain lesions can disrupt the complex visuospatial-motor integration networks responsible for writing and praxis, producing isolated neurological deficits that may initially appear unrelated to a serious underlying malignancy. For clinicians, this report underscores the importance of thorough neurological examination and prompt imaging when patients present with subtle but progressive writing or coordination difficulties, as these symptoms can be the first sign of brain cancer.
The Neurohospitalist
Source →Metastatic Kaposi Sarcoma Masquerading as Tuberculosis: A Case Report.
Vasudevan B, et al
This case report from the Indian Journal of Dermatology describes a patient with metastatic Kaposi sarcoma whose clinical presentation closely mimicked tuberculosis, a well-known infectious disease prevalent in regions like India. Kaposi sarcoma is a vascular tumor most commonly associated with HIV/AIDS and human herpesvirus 8 infection, and its metastatic form can affect multiple organ systems, producing symptoms that overlap with other serious conditions. The report highlights how the patient's symptoms — such as respiratory complaints, lymphadenopathy, and systemic signs — led clinicians to initially suspect tuberculosis before a definitive diagnosis of Kaposi sarcoma was established. This diagnostic confusion underscores the significant clinical challenge of differentiating between infectious diseases and malignancies in settings where both conditions are endemic. The case serves as an important reminder for dermatologists and clinicians to consider Kaposi sarcoma in the differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with tuberculosis-like presentations, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for initiating appropriate treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Indian journal of dermatology
Source →A Massive Cavernous Mediastinal Haemangioma Causing Superior Vena Cava Obstruction and Extending to the Supraclavicular Space: A Case Report.
Charokopos A, et al
Researchers report a rare case of a massive cavernous mediastinal haemangioma in a 24-year-old man whose benign vascular tumour grew to span three interconnected regions measuring up to 9 cm, extending from the anterior mediastinum into the supraclavicular and axillary spaces. The tumour caused dangerous obstruction and aneurysmal dilatation of the superior vena cava (SVC), a major blood vessel returning blood to the heart, along with the development of an extensive network of collateral veins. Diagnosis was achieved through a combination of CT angiography, MRI — which strongly suggested haemangioma — and histological confirmation via needle biopsy, illustrating the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing bulky benign tumours from aggressive cancers. Because the tumour involved critical vascular structures, a multidisciplinary team recommended embolisation rather than standard surgical removal. This case underscores the importance of thorough imaging and specialist collaboration when managing rare mediastinal masses that mimic malignancy, and highlights that treatment must be individualised when standard surgical options carry unacceptable risk.
Cureus
Source →Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Septic Pulmonary Embolism Presumed to Originate From Anal Canal Cancer With a Cutaneous Fistula: A Case Report.
Nishimura H, et al
Researchers from Japan report a rare and complex case of a 49-year-old man undergoing chemotherapy for anal canal cancer who developed septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant bacterial pathogen. CT imaging revealed multiple bilateral lung nodules with cavitation, consistent with lung abscesses, while blood and sputum cultures confirmed MRSA as the causative organism. Importantly, no evidence of infective endocarditis or other typical sources of SPE was found, leading clinicians to identify a cutaneous fistula adjacent to the anal canal tumor as the likely entry point for the bacteria. The patient was successfully treated with an extended course of anti-MRSA antibiotics, including linezolid, resulting in clinical and radiological improvement. This case highlights that cancer-associated fistulas can serve as hidden portals of entry for dangerous pathogens, even in the absence of obvious local infection signs. Clinicians should consider malignancy-associated fistulas as a potential source of SPE in cancer patients, particularly when more common causes cannot be identified.
Cureus
Source →Vegetarian diets and cancer risk: pooled analysis of 1.8 million women and men in nine prospective studies on three continents.
Dunneram Y, et al
A large-scale pooled analysis published in the British Journal of Cancer examined the relationship between plant-based diets and cancer risk across nearly 1.8 million participants from nine prospective cohort studies conducted in the UK, US, Taiwan, and India, with a median follow-up of 16 years. Researchers compared cancer incidence among meat eaters, poultry eaters, pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans across 17 cancer types. The findings revealed that vegetarian and fish-based diets were associated with lower risks of several cancers, including breast, prostate, kidney, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer, while vegetarians showed a nearly two-fold higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus and vegans had a 40% higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to meat eaters. These results suggest that diet composition meaningfully influences cancer risk profiles, though the direction of effect varies by cancer type and dietary pattern. Clinicians and patients should interpret these findings cautiously, as the study's generalisability across different populations and lifestyles requires careful consideration.
British journal of cancer
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