Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: Two case reports

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare and progressively debilitating disorder affecting 1 in 2 million individuals. It is characterized by the progressive ossification of soft tissues into ectopic bone and congenital malformations of the great toes. FOP leads to significant disability and can result in death due to thoracic insufficiency syndrome. These case reports examine the presentation, diagnosis, and management of FOP, highlighting the diagnostic challenges inherent in managing such rare conditions because of their unique clinical features. They underscore the need for increased awareness among healthcare practitioners to ensure early diagnosis and the implementation of effective management strategies.

Unusual Configuration of a Giant Trans-Spatial Pancreatic Pseudocyst with Spontaneous Shrinkage: A Rare Case Report

Pancreatic pseudocysts are benign lesions that typically originate within the pancreatic parenchyma, or peripancreatic tissue. They commonly occur following recurrent episodes of pancreatitis or trauma. In this article, we present a case of a giant pancreatic pseudocyst with unusual trans-spatial extensions and spontaneous size decrement in a 40-year-old male patient with a history of alcohol abuse. He presented with chronic epigastric pain, and a physical examination showed only mild abdominal tenderness. Initial computed tomography showed a giant (18.4cm in its largest axis) pancreatic pseudocyst with left subdiaphragmatic and gastrohepatic extensions and concurrent splenic cysts. On follow-up ultrasound, the pseudocyst showed a significant spontaneous size decrement to less than half of its initial size. The giant size and trans-spatial characteristics of the pseudocyst, along with a relatively benign symptomatology and subsequent spontaneous shrinkage, constitute unique aspects of this case.