Medical news on May 11: Recommendations for regular health check-ups and modern imaging diagnostic methods

Rare Adrenal Tumor Discovered During Routine Health Checkup

Without any unusual signs, an 18-year-old female student in Hanoi was unexpectedly diagnosed with an adrenal tumor during a routine health check. Although benign, this type of tumor is very rare and can be missed if not diagnosed using modern imaging methods.

The patient is NLGH (18 years old, residing in Hanoi), with no functional symptoms or special medical history. During a recent routine health check-up, an ultrasound image detected an abnormally sized tumor in the left adrenal gland. Given the suspicious signs, the doctor ordered the patient to undergo an abdominal CT scan with contrast injection at Medlatec Tay Ho General Clinic to clarify the nature of the lesion.

CT scan results showed a tumor located in the left adrenal gland, measuring up to 39x56x47mm. Notably, when injected with contrast agent, the tumor absorbed the drug strongly and excreted the drug quickly, indicating that it was most likely a benign tumor.

The patient was also subjected to endocrine and biochemical tests, which were within normal limits, with no evidence of adrenal dysfunction.

Based on the imaging and test results, the doctor diagnosed this as a left adrenal adenoma - a common benign tumor. However, due to its large size and complex histological characteristics, the patient was advised to have surgery to completely remove the tumor to prevent the risk of complications.

After surgery, the pathology results confirmed that the patient had a left adrenal cortical eosinophilic tumor (Adrenal Cortical Oncocytoma) - a rare variant of adrenal adenoma. Although it is a benign tumor and does not secrete hormones, if not detected early, the tumor can grow large, compress neighboring organs or cause endocrine disorders in special cases.

BSCKI Kieu Tri Loc, Medlatec Diagnostic Imaging Center said that the adrenal gland is a small endocrine gland but plays an important role in regulating hormones, blood pressure, sugar and mineral metabolism.

Tumors here often do not show obvious symptoms and are easily overlooked. This case once again affirms the vital role of regular health check-ups and specialized imaging techniques in screening for dangerous diseases.

Currently, the patient has recovered well after surgery, with no signs of residual damage or recurrence on ultrasound and CT scans after treatment.

In the process of diagnosing adrenal gland diseases, computed tomography (CT) plays a particularly important role. This technique allows for precise observation of the location, shape, and structure of the tumor and assessment of its relationship with neighboring organs such as the liver, kidneys, large blood vessels, etc.

A special feature is that when combined with contrast agents, CT can evaluate the rate of tumor absorption and excretion - an important indicator to distinguish benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors often have strong absorption and excretion, while malignant lesions often have atypical absorption and excretion.

Not only helping with initial diagnosis, CT is also a tool to monitor recurrence, postoperative complications and evaluate long-term treatment effectiveness.

From a “silent” but meaningful case, experts advise people, especially young people, not to be subjective with their “seemingly normal” health. Many dangerous diseases such as adrenal tumors can progress silently for a long time before causing serious complications.

Regular health check-ups, combined with modern imaging diagnostic methods, not only help detect diseases early, but also open up opportunities for thorough, safe and effective treatment.

Increasing rate of infertility in Vietnam

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), our country is among the countries with high infertility rates, of which 50% of cases occur in people under 30 years old - the age considered the "golden" age for fertility.

On the occasion of Mother's Day May 11 this year, together we wish the best things to come to mothers around the world .

Statistics show that out of every 100 people of reproductive age, 7-8 people experience infertility. However, while modern medicine has opened many doors of hope, not everyone has the conditions to embark on the journey of finding children - a long, arduous and costly journey.

In fact, the cost of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle in Vietnam ranges from 70 to 100 million VND, not to mention tens of millions of VND for tests, medications and supporting procedures. It is worth mentioning that most of the current assisted reproductive techniques are not yet included in the health insurance coverage. This leaves couples in a “lonely” position on their journey to childbirth, both financially and mentally.

The story of Phung Van Ba (born in 1991, Muong ethnic group) and H Dla Buon Ya (born in 1996, E De ethnic group) in Phu Tho is a typical example. Married since 2016, they put all their faith in a home filled with children's laughter. But after many years of hopeless waiting, they decided to go to the doctor and were told that the reason for the delay in having children was because Ba was male infertility.

Not only do they bear economic pressure, they also endure heavy prejudice from the community. Malicious words made her want to give up many times, but the love and understanding from her family, especially the sympathy from her husband's parents, helped her to persevere through it.

Hope unexpectedly came to them in 2022, when Mr. Ba learned about the program "Golden Week - Nurturing Happiness" of the Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital. This is an annual activity to support free examination and treatment for infertile couples in difficult circumstances.

After examination, the doctor determined that Mr. Ba had sperm but had a blocked vas deferens – a case that could be treated with IVF. Even more fortunately, the couple’s application was approved for 100% free IVF, including all examination, medication and procedure costs at the hospital.

Despite the difficult pregnancy due to morning sickness, the dedication of the medical team at the Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital has always accompanied and supported her. In June 2023, the twin babies - the sweet fruit after a long journey - were born healthy in overwhelming happiness.

According to MSc. Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien, Professional Director of Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital, many couples today delay examination and treatment due to fear, lack of understanding and especially financial pressure.

Since 2015, the Hospital has organized the program "Golden Week - Nurturing Happiness" as a bridge for people to easily access modern medicine, early detection of infertility causes and timely treatment.

In 2025, the program will continue to be implemented from May 12 to May 25 with the theme "Golden opportunity for the dream of finding a beloved child". Dr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Head of the Examination Department, said that the cost of assisted reproductive treatment is a heavy burden, so we want to accompany, share and extend our helping hand to more families. Hopefully, from today's small support, there will be more children's laughter in Vietnamese homes.

Melanoma detected from a dark patch on the foot

The Central Dermatology Hospital has just received a rare case of melanoma on the sole of a 68-year-old female patient. The initial lesion was just a patch of black pigment on the outside of the left foot, which had existed for many years without causing pain or itching. Therefore, the patient and her family were subjective, thinking it was just a normal mole and did not go to the doctor.

About a year ago, the patient noticed that the lesion was getting bigger but there were no obvious symptoms. She then went to a private clinic and had the entire lesion removed without any further diagnostic tests. After only three months, a new black spot appeared in the same area, growing rapidly, with an ulcerated and bleeding center.

At the Central Dermatology Hospital, through clinical examination, doctors recorded a lesion measuring 4x3cm, with irregular edges, clear boundaries with surrounding healthy skin, and a dirty crusty surface. The patient also had a history of diseases such as high blood pressure and kidney stones.

Dr. Vu Nguyen Binh, Department of Plastic Surgery and Rehabilitation, ordered a Dermoscopy. This is a modern paraclinical technique in dermatology that gives results consistent with the clinical diagnosis: melanoma.

After a specialist consultation, the patient was admitted to the hospital and underwent surgery to widen the lesion, ensuring at least 2cm from the edge of the lesion according to the principles of skin cancer treatment. Because the lesion was located close to the little toe, in order to completely remove the cancerous tissue and prevent the risk of recurrence, the doctor had to amputate the little toe of the left foot.

Post-operative tissue samples were sent for pathology to assess the extent of invasion, and the patient was screened for metastasis through sentinel lymph node biopsy - a modern method with high accuracy in detecting initial lymph node metastasis.

Fortunately, the results showed that the tumor had not invaded deeply and there were no signs of lymph node metastasis, the patient's treatment prognosis was assessed as relatively good. Afterwards, the patient received a skin graft to cover the damaged area, restore function and facilitate monitoring for future recurrence risk.

Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery, Central Dermatology Hospital, said that every year the hospital receives many similar cases with initial lesions being pigmented patches on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands or under the nails. However, due to the lack of obvious symptoms, many people are often subjective, self-treat or go to non-specialized facilities for examination, leading to late diagnosis, making treatment difficult.

Melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer that progresses rapidly and can easily metastasize if not detected early. In particular, hyperpigmented lesions on the palms, soles, nails, or mucous membranes, which are easily overlooked, are at high risk of malignancy.

Therefore, when detecting abnormal signs such as uneven black or brown pigment spots, rapid growth, uneven edges, bleeding or ulcers, people need to immediately go to specialized dermatological medical facilities for timely examination, diagnosis and treatment.

The above case is a clear warning that seemingly “harmless” lesions on the skin, especially in less noticeable locations, can be a sign of dangerous cancer. Regular skin checks and not being subjective to any changes in the body are the keys to early detection, improving treatment effectiveness and protecting long-term health.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-115-khuyen-cao-kham-suc-khoe-dinh-ky-va-chan-doan-hinh-anh-phuong-phap-hien-dai-d281815.html