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Gastric schwannomas (GS) are rare mesenchymal tumors from Schwann cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, representing 2-6% of such tumors. We report a 52-year-old woman who experienced abdominal pain, hematemesis, and melena, initially suspected of having a GI stromal tumor through ultrasound and computed tomography abdomen. Despite no active bleeding found during an upper endoscopy, she underwent a successful open subtotal gastrectomy, with histopathology confirming GS. The diagnosis of GS, which may mimic other GI conditions, relies heavily on imaging and histopathological analysis due to its nonspecific symptomatology, including the potential for both upper and lower GI bleeding. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of GS and highlights surgical resection as the preferred treatment, generally leading to a favorable prognosis., Competing Interests: None declared., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2024.)

Undifferentiated carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) is a rare tumor type of pancreatic cancer. Paraneoplastic syndromes, an idiopathic inflammatory myositis characterized by various skin manifestations (such as dermatomyositis (DM)), cannot be attributed to the primary tumor itself. Here, we report an unusual case of UC-OGC presenting as a paraneoplastic syndrome, the first reported from Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf states. A 49-year-old Eritrean woman with known DM was referred to our hospital with a left-sided pleural effusion. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a large necrotic splenic mass (~17 × 12.9 × 18.2 cm). The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with en bloc resection of the mass (splenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, and partial excision of the left hemidiaphragm). Following a histopathological examination of the mass, UG-OGC of the pancreas, presenting as a paraneoplastic syndrome, was diagnosed. To our knowledge, this case is the first to present a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with UC-OGC. The identification of an exceedingly rare tumor presenting atypically as a paraneoplastic syndrome shows the importance of conducting comprehensive examinations of patients with malignancies, emphasizing the need for more reports of similar cases., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, AlAli et al.)

Appendicular diverticulitis (AD) is a rare entity characterized by the inflammation of the arising diverticulum of the appendix. It has been reported to carry a high risk of perioperative complications, such as bleeding and perforation. Furthermore, multiple articles have highlighted the importance of diagnosing AD early due to its strong association with malignancies. Limited published cases concerning AD in our country and globally are available in the literature. Hence, we present in this article a case series of five exciting cases of incidental findings of AD that were initially diagnosed as acute appendicitis based on clinical evaluation and imaging findings. In our series, we performed a retrograde evaluation of the computed tomography scans of all five cases that showed diverticula. In conclusion, histopathological evaluation remains the method of choice to reach the definitive diagnosis; however, it is essential to highlight the relevance of imaging in diagnosing AD preoperatively in the early stages to reduce morbidity and mortality., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, AlAli et al.)

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs. Although TB can affect many organs, involvement of the head and neck is extremely rare and involvement of the salivary glands is even rarer. Clinical diagnosis is challenging and may be misdiagnosed, as it mimics neoplasms on physical exams and imaging. In this paper, we present a case of parotid tuberculosis in a 28-year-old man who presented with a painful left parotid mass, loss of appetite, fever, and weight loss for six months. Suspicion of infection arose, and treatment began with intravenous antibiotics, followed by oral antibiotics, with no improvement. A biopsy of the patient's left parotid gland was performed, and a diagnosis of parotid TB with jaw osteomyelitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was made. The patient was started on isoniazid for one week, followed by isoniazid, ethambutol, and rifampicin for six months. Follow-up after six months showed full resolution of the swelling., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Bakir et al.)

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical presentations seen in the emergency department, usually presenting as a case of fever, anorexia, and abdominal pain. Curative treatment is an appendectomy with histological examination of the surgical specimen to diagnose the subtypes or causes of appendicitis. One of these subtypes, granulomatous appendicitis, is an uncommon form of appendicitis. This condition can be caused by a multitude of mechanisms, including tuberculosis infections, parasitic infections, fungal infections, mechanical obstruction, or systemic diseases such as Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, among others. Investigations and management should be tailored according to the histologic findings, and patient follow-up should be advised., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Abedalqader et al.)

Basidiobolomycosis is an infrequent fungal infection. It is largely a subcutaneous infection and its gastrointestinal involvement is an uncommon phenomenon. Herein, we report the case of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in a 45-year-old Saudi woman who presented to the clinic with a three-week history of abdominal pain. Although infrequent, however, gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis should be contemplated in patients presenting with abdominal pain, hematologic eosinophilia, and inflammatory gastrointestinal mass., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Alabdan et al.)