Description

A 53 year-old lady presented for a wire-guided
wide local excision of left breast microcalcification
and sentinel lymph node biopsy. She had an
extensive history including left breast ductal cell
cancer (Grade II), CREST (Calcinosis, Raynauds
disease, Esophageal motility disorder, Sclerodactyly
and Telangiectasia) syndrome, hypothyroidism,
atrial fibrillation, primary pulmonary hypertension
and renal impairment. A request for pre-operative
urea, electrolytes and liver function tests was sent to
biochemistry. Following centrifugation of her postoperative
sample for urea and electrolytes, it was
noted that the serum was a striking emerald green
colour (Figure 1). A urine specimen was also
requested, which was also green. Repeat serum
specimens received 2 and 4 hours later were
unchanged in appearance. Initial biochemical
investigations were in keeping with the patients
history, despite the green colour of the sample.