Unsuspected Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastasis Detected by FDG PET/CT

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (SCMs) are extremely rare. Here, we report a case of a 60-year-old man with a history of right nonsmall cell lung cancer treated by concomitant radiochemotherapy who complained, 9 months after treatment completion, of chest pain, breath shortness, and more recently back pain. An ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT was performed as part of the restaging process and showed a hypermetabolic mass of the right lung in addition to ipsilateral mediastinal hypermetabolic lymph nodes. There was also an FDG avid lesion of thoracic spinal cord at the T11-T12 level consistent with SCM as confirmed by MRI.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis in a female with metastatic breast cancer treated with vinorelbine

Vinorelbine is an anticancer agent with high clinical efficacy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare but serious cutaneous adverse reaction associated with drug therapy. We hereby present a case report of a patient with metastatic breast cancer, treated with vinorelbine, who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the second case report describing this exceptional dermatologic emergency associated with vinorelbine. In June 2014, a 33-year-old female was treated for localized breast cancer. In December 2016, a brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral and cerebellar recurrence of the breast cancer. Whole brain radiation therapy was administered and treatment with vinorelbine was subsequently initiated. On day 3 of the first cycle of chemotherapy, she presented a general malaise and an itchy rash with conjunctivitis, oral ulcers and diffuse alopecia. The clinical diagnosis was toxic epidermal necrolysis due to vinorelbine. The patient was transferred to the burn unit. Treatment with intravenous steroids, topical steroids and desloratadine was initiated. She subsequently developed Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and died of multi-organ failure. Toxic epidermal necrolysis is an extremely rare, acute hypersensitivity reaction involving the skin and mucous membranes. Features more suggestive of toxic epidermal necrolysis are acute onset and rapid worsening of painful lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. Specific treatment with active interventions should be practiced in the context of an international and multicentre clinical study in order to give sufficient power for such trials in this rare disease.

An Uncommon Case of Renal Metastasis from Cervical Cancer

Metastases to the kidney are a rare entity. Among solid tumors, it is known that lung and colorectal cancers can metastasize to the kidney. Renal metastases from cervical cancer are exceptional; only 12 cases were previously reported. We report a case of a right renal metastasis from a cervical squamous cell carcinoma, occurring in the context of a metastatic relapse two years after completing primary treatment.

Diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of cervical cancer in Department of Radiotherapy, Mohamed V Military Hospital - Rabat in Morocco

Background

Cancer of uterine cervix is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths among women. The aim of this study is to report the experience of Military Hospital Mohamed V in the management of cervical cancer and their results.

Methods

All cervical cancer managed at the radiotherapy department of Military Hospital Mohamed V between January 2005 and February 2010, were included for investigation of their demographic, histological, therapeutic and follow-up characteristics. Of the 162 cases managed, 151 (93.2 %) cases were treated in our department.

Results

In our study the median age was 51.5 years (33–82). The median duration of symptoms before diagnosis was four [3, 7] months. The major presenting complaints were abnormal vaginal bleeding (89.8 %). Squamous cell carcinoma cervix was seen in 86.2 % (n = 137), adenocarcinoma in 11.3 % (n = 18) and adenosquamous carcinoma in 2.4 % (n = 4). One hundred seventeen (84.8 %) cases were seen at late stage. An abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan was performed in 34.6 % (n = 56) of cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 62.9 % (n = 102). The pelvic lymph nodes were achieved in 16.6 % of cases.

Over half of patients 58.3 % (n = 88) were treated with a combination of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and a concurrent cisplatin based chemotherapy (40 mg /m2 weekly).

With a mean of 51.6 months (2 to 109), we recorded 19 (12.6 %) pelvic relapse and 15 (9.9 %) metastases. The median time to onset was 19.4 months (2–84 months). The local control rate was 63.6 % (n = 96) and 21 (13.9 %) patients were lost to follow-up. The overall survival (OS) at 3 years and 5 years was respectively 78.3 % and 73.6 % and the relapse-free survival (RFS) was respectively 80 % and 77.2 %.

Conclusion

Most of cervical cancer patients in Morocco are seen at late stage necessitating referral for radiotherapy, chemotherapy or palliative care. This may reflect lack of cervical screening in order to early detect and treat pre-malignant disease stage.

[Primary central nervous lymphoma: what is the role for radiotherapy?]

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare extranodal form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with an aggressive course and unsatisfactory outcome. Historically, whole-brain radiotherapy was the sole treatment for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma, with high response rates but typically, this did not result in long-lasting remissions. The addition of high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy regimens to whole-brain radiotherapy has significantly improved patients' outcome, but has resulted in a higher incidence of late neurotoxicity, particularly in elderly patients. To date, the role of consolidation radiotherapy is controversial, and some investigators have developed alternative strategies aiming at avoiding immediate irradiation or using a reduced radiotherapy dose to the whole-brain with promising results.

[Complete radiological response of meningeal hemangiopericytoma after adjuvant radiotherapy to incomplete excision]

L'hémangiopéricytome méningé (HM) est une tumeur vasculaire rare qui représente moins de 1% des tumeurs intracrâniennes. Son traitement reste à ce jour mal codifié et n'est basé que sur des données rétrospectives. La place de la radiothérapie adjuvante après chirurgie d'exérèse n'est pas bien établie. Ce présent travail décrit un cas d'HM chez une patiente de 42 ans, traité par chirurgie incomplète et radiothérapie adjuvante, avec réponse radiologique complète notée 1 an après la fin du traitement.

[Atypical scalp and adrenal metastasis of a urothelial carcinoma of the bladder]

Les métastases du cuir chevelu et surrénaliennes d'un carcinome urothélial de la vessie sont rares, peu de cas ont été rapportés dans la littérature, et la chimiothérapie est le traitement de choix. Nous rapportons le cas d'une femme de 60 ans qui présente un carcinome urothélial stade IV avec métastases surrénaliennes, pulmonaire et osseuses (cotes et scapula). Deux lignes de chimiothérapies ont été instaurées et la patiente bénéficia d'une radiothérapie palliative antalgique sur la scapula. Après la première ligne de chimiothérapie, une masse du cuir chevelu augmentant progressivement de volume apparue, une biopsie fut faite et le diagnostic de métastase d'un carcinome urothélial de la vessie fut confirmé par l'histologie.

Uterine cervix metastasis from a sigmoid adenocarcinoma: a rare presentation of an uncommon tumor

Metastatic carcinoma to the uterine cervix from colorectal cancer, through haematogenous or lymphatic spread, is extremely rare. We report the case of a 59 year old woman in whom cervical metastasis was diagnosed after 13 months of follow-up for a sigmoid adenocarcinoma, confirmed by immunohistochemical study, with a review of the literature. This case illustrates that abnormal gynecologic symptoms can reveal a disease progression on patients who suffer colorectal cancer.

[Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: report of 38 cases]

Le dermatofibrosarcome protubérans de Darier et Ferrand est une tumeur cutanée rare. Le but de cette étude est de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, histologiques, thérapeutiques et évolutifs avec comparaison aux données de la littérature. Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective sur 10 ans à propos de 38 cas de dermatofibrosarcome de Darier et Ferrand pris en charge à l'Institut National d'Oncologie. Les données épidémiologiques, diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et évolutives ont été recueillies à partir des dossiers cliniques des patients et rapportées sur une fiche préétablie. L’âge médian des patients était de 41,5 ans. Tous les patients avaient une preuve histologique de dermatofibrosarcome. Seulement 30 patients ont été traités à l'Institut National d'Oncologie. L'exérèse chirurgicale de la tumeur était large, avec des marges de sécurité de 6-10 cm chez 6 patients (20%), 5 cm chez 16 patients (53%), 2-3 cm chez 4 patients (13%). En profondeur, l'exérèse emportait une barrière anatomique saine. 5 malades ont bénéficié d'une radiothérapie externe avec une dose médiane de 59,5 Gy. Le recul médian était de 64,4 mois (28- 138 mois). Le dermatofibrosarcome protubérans de Darier et Ferrand est une tumeur se distinguant par son évolution lente, son agressivité locale, son haut pouvoir de récidive et la rareté des métastases. Le traitement consiste en une exérèse large et profonde. Le pronostic dépend essentiellement de la qualité de l'exérèse initiale chirurgicale. La série étudiée présente des similitudes épidémiologiques, cliniques, et thérapeutiques avec les données de la littérature.

Radiotherapy on hidradenocarcinoma

Context:

Clear cell Hidradenocarcinoma is a rare carcinoma arising from sweat glands. It is an aggressive tumor that most metastasizes to regional lymph nodes and distant viscera; surgery with safe margins is the mainstay of treatment.

Case Report:

We report a case of 68-year-old woman who presented with an invasive clear cell hidradenocarcinoma situated in the left parotid area which recurred 5 months after surgery, this recurrence was managed successfully by high-dose irradiation of the tumor bed (66 Gy) and regional lymphatic chains (50 Gy), after a follow-up of more than 15 months, the patient is in good local control without significant toxicity.

Conclusion:

Post operative radiotherapy allows better local control and should be mandatory when histological features predictive of recurrence are present: positive margins, histology poorly differentiated, perineural invasion, vascular and lymphatic invasion, lymph node involvement, and extracapsular spread.

Endometrial stromal sarcoma: prognostic factors and impact of adjuvant therapy in early stages

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS) are rare uterine neoplasms. surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment for early stages and consists of an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy. Despite appropriate surgical treatment, relapse rates are high (18% to 45%) and the value of adjuvant therapies is not clear. We evaluated prognostic factors and the impact of adjuvant treatment on localized ESS (stages I and II).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective, case-control study conducted at the National Institute Of Oncology in Rabat, Morocco over 10 years from 2000 to 2009.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

twenty-one cases of localized ESS were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

standard surgery was performed in 71.4% of our patients. Myometrial invasion was noted in 57.1% of cases. Mitotic activity was considered high in five patients. Adjuvant treatment was given to 52.3% of patients: endocrine therapy in five patients and radiotherapy in six. Survival was significantly longer in the group of patients who underwent standard surgical treatment (P=.0007), in the absence of deep myometrial invasion (P=.0248) in cases with a low mitotic index (P<.0001) and in patients who received adjuvant therapy (hormone or radiotherapy) (P=.0048). In a multivariate analysis independent risk factors for monitoring were inadequate surgical treatment and absence of adjuvant treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Myometrial invasion and mitotic index appear to be important prognostic factors. the reference surgery is hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy. Lymph node dissection does not appear to provide a benefit. finally adjuvant treatment may carry a significant survival benefit.

[Cardiac safety of trastuzumab in adjuvant: a review across 53 observations]

Trastuzumab has been a revolution in the treatment of breast cancer overexpressing HER. Its use as an adjuvant for a period of 1 year is currently an international standard. Its major toxicity is cardiac, where the systematic monitoring of the LVEF before and during treatment. To evaluate the cardiac safety for our patients, we conducted this retrospective case-control study. The average in LVEF before the start of trastuzumab was 62.5% (51-80), and at the end of treatment 60.55 (40-77), a decrease in absolute value by 2%. This difference is statistically significant with P<0.001. Eighty-three percent of our patients have completed treatment, of whom 26.4% with a provisional arrest because of a regressive fall in LVEF. A final arrest has been made in 17% cases due to either a nonregressive reduction in LVEF or the appearance of symptomatic heart failure found in two patients. Analysis of risk factors toxicity found in this group of patients with a cardiotoxicity persisting an average age and average number of treatments received anthracyclines higher than the rest of our sample, and diminished baseline LVEF. But all these differences were not statistically significants. During the period of monitoring of these patients, six (67%) had spontaneous recovery of their LFEV 5 months ± 2.01 after discontinuation of trastuzumab. For two cases of symptomatic heart failure, they had a clinical improvement under medical treatment in February but is still less than 40%. The cardiac safety in our study seems comparable with the literature data but located in the upper range of levels of toxicity. The lack of statistical power of our study does not exclude a greater cardiac toxicity of trastuzumab among Moroccan women and should prompt a more cautious use of this drug and the achievement of larger studies that could answer this question.