Vietnamese Student Diagnosed with Rare Disease, Faces Challenges in Treatment Process

A 19-year-old male student from Thanh Hoa, Vietnam was diagnosed with a rare disease that had not been previously recorded in Vietnamese medical literature. The patient began experiencing erosive ulcers on the oral mucosa and purple-red patches and scalds on his body in November of the previous year. After being initially examined at a local hospital, he was transferred to the Central Dermatology Hospital and then to Bach Mai Hospital for further treatment.

Following a skin biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with toxic epidermal necrolysis in January of 2024. Subsequently, he was also diagnosed with paraneoplastic pemphigus, bilateral ureteral stones, and a weakened physical condition. Despite being scheduled for surgery, his weakened state forced him to be discharged from the hospital for nutritional supplementation. However, he experienced new outbreaks of symptoms in April, leading to more treatment including plasma replacement and antibiotics. In May, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor, resulting in a successful recovery and discharge from the hospital.

Throughout the treatment process, medical professionals faced challenges due to the patient’s inconsistent symptoms and histopathological results. Despite these difficulties, the doctors continuously consulted and researched to provide the most accurate diagnosis and care. The patient’s poor response to conventional immunotherapy made the treatment process even more challenging due to his young age and lack of experience with similar diseases. However, with the efforts of