Children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), usually present with symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infection without developing any significant complications. However, this observation has been rendered incautious by hundreds of clinical cases from around the world that have depicted a less benign multisystem inflammatory illness mimicking Kawasaki disease in COVID-positive pediatric patients. Our study aimed at retrospectively reviewing the different features of Kawasaki disease-like illness in children suffering from COVID-19, including the complications, laboratory investigations, treatment strategies used during their hospital stay, and outcomes. We searched the electronic database of the two pediatric units of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, for children who had been admitted to the ward between April 2020 and July 2020 and were diagnosed with COVID-19. A total of 10 such pediatric cases were found, whose clinical details were then reviewed and the obtained data were presented in the form of tables and percentages. The median age was between 4 months to 11 years (mean: 6 years). Of the 10 patients, 8 (80%) were boys. Criteria for Kawasaki disease were met in all of them (100%), with a complete presentation in five (50%). Fever (100%), conjunctival and oral cavity changes (90%), and rash (80%) were the most common features. Seven (70%) patients required admission to a critical care unit, but no mortality occurred. This article can assist in understanding and dealing with Kawasaki disease-like manifestation of pediatric COVID-19 infection, especially in critical care settings, and its possible complications. It will help in a timely and appropriate decision-making regarding treatment and management of such cases.

Dural venous sinus thrombosis (DVST) leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is rarely reported in the literature. A 25-year-old primigravida with a history of pre-eclampsia presented with sudden onset headache, confusion, and loss of consciousness. examination revealed bilateral equivocal planters and bilateral papillary edema. MRI and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) showed the right sinus thrombosis with elements of SAH. The coagulation profile was unremarkable. She was commenced on low molecular weight heparin with periodic monitoring of her Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Her condition started improving gradually. Repeat MRI and MRV after 10 days showed resolution of thrombosis and SAH. She was discharged with follow-up, and she was doing well on her recent visit two weeks later.

Bertolotti's syndrome is a congenital condition characterized by the sacralization of the lower lumbar vertebrae or the lumbarization of the sacral vertebrae. The cause of pain in Bertolotti’s syndrome is multifactorial. This lumbosacral transitional vertebra has a prevalence of 4% to 30%. Rarely, it is considered in the differential diagnosis of low back pain in young people. Therefore, every aspect of Bertolotti’s syndrome needs to be meticulously addressed, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic back pain. Herein, we present a case of Bertolotti’s syndrome presented with chronic lower back pain, confirmed on X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He was managed with analgesics and steroids injection with regular follow-up.

Introduction: The impact of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial and a part of the scientific community believes it as a biased interpretation of data. Many studies have reported an aggressive pattern of HCC after DAA use. In this study, we attempted to assess the changes in the pattern of HCC after treatment with DAAs or PI (PEG, pegylated-interferon). Methods: A total of 37 HCC patients after DAA treatment and 21 HCC patients after PI treatment were included. The diagnosis of HCC was made and information about demographics, HCC infiltrative pattern, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), time at initial presentation, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage were compared in the two groups. Results: The total number of male patients in the DAA group was 62% while either gender was almost equal in PI. The age group of 40-60 was more prevalent in the DAA group while the PI group comprised more patients who were above 60 years. Patients in the DAA group presented after 3.35 years on average while patients in the PI group presented after about seven years. Most of the patients presented with the CTP stage of A. That is true for both groups. For BCLC staging, most of the patients had stage C, which means multiple lesions. At the initial presentation, most of the patients presented with multifocal lesions. Conclusion: Our study found no significant difference in the initial presentation between both groups. However, HCC patients with prior DAA therapy presented early than those with PI therapy.

From the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers

From the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers