Malignant carcinoid of the gallbladder: Third reported case and review of the literature

The case of a 26-year-old male with malignant carcinoid of the gallbladder is presented. Extensive review of the literature reveals this patient to be the third case of a metastasizing gall bladder carcinoid and the twelfth reported case in the literature.     

Surgery Plus Targeted Therapy for Renal Cell Carcinoma With Isolated Spermatic Cord Metastasis

We present a case of renal cell carcinoma with metastasis to the ipsilateral spermatic cord. We report the clinical presentation and management of this case and review the scientific literature of this unusual case presentation.     

Simultaneous occurrence of colonic adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma: A series of three cases

Simultaneous development of adenocarcinoma and primary B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma of the colon is rare;only one case has so far been reported out of 13 cases with the coexistence of colonic adenocarcinoma with involvement of the colon by lymphoma.We hereby present three more cases,two females(aged 75 and 71 years) and a male(aged 72 years).All three underwent colectomy based on a preoperative biopsy revealing colonic carcinoma.Histological examination of the resection specimens disclosed a colonic adenocarcinoma in two cases,whereas a tubulovillous adenoma with superficial foci of intraepithelial adenocarcinoma was seen in the thirdcase.Moreover,in all three cases,a coexisting MALT lymphoma was diagnosed in the colon(1 case),in both colon and adjacent lymph nodes(1 case) or in colonic lymph nodes and omentum(1 case).In the last case,a post-operative bone marrow biopsy revealed extensive infiltration of the bone marrow,due to which the patient received postoperative chemotherapy.Diagnostic and treatment issues are briefly discussed.     

Inaugural intra-atrial neoplastic thrombosis in stage II Hodgkin's disease

We report the first case of intra-atrial neoplastic thrombosis discovered in the initial stage of Hodgkin's disease. Considering the course of the case and the recurrence after 18 months we emphasize the necessity of screening cardiac cavities by CT Scan with a bolus, and of treating such a case as an initial stage IV Hodgkin's disease.     

Bile,bacteria, and gallbladder carcinogenesis

Recently we resected and reconstructed the sternum in two female patients with thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the sternum. Histological diagnosis of the metastatic lesion was follicular carcinoma in the first case and papillary carcinoma in the second case. Reconstruction of the sternum was accomplished by using an acrylic resin plate alone in the first case and an acrylic resin plate sandwiched between layers of Marlex® mesh (Marlex sandwich procedure) in the second case. In the first case the acrylic resin plate was directly fixed to the ribs with metallic wires, most of which snapped off later, and a small amount of exudate accumulated around the plate for a short period of time. In contrast, the postoperative course in the second case was uneventful and the Marlex® sandwich procedure seemed superior in chest wall reconstruction following resection of the sternum. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma with lymph node metastasis in a 17-year-old boy

A case of duodenal gangliocytic paraganglioma (DGP) in a 17-year-old boy is presented. In this case a lymph node in the peripancreatic region was involved by a metastatic tumor. A review of the literature on DGP indicates that this case represents the youngest patient and is the second case of DGP with metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament (NF), pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin showed positive results for epithelioid and ganglion-like cells, whereas spindle cells showed immunoreactivities for S-100 protein, NSE, and NF. The histogenesis of DGP is discussed.     

Obesity as a risk factor for triple-negative breast cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast tumor with unique characteristics in terms of clinical?pathological presentation, prognosis, and response to therapy. Epidemiological investigations focusing on the identification of risk factors involved in the onset and progression of TNBCs have identified unique demographic, anthropometric, and reproductive characteristics involved in the etiopathogenesis of this subtype of breast tumors. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the association between TNBCs and obesity and menopause status. Eligible articles were identified through three databases and secondary reference analysis. The search was conducted from the first record to February 2012. Eleven original articles meeting a priori established inclusion criteria were incorporated in the quantitative analysis. Case?case and case–control comparisons were performed. In addition, a case–case comparison was conducted before and after stratification according to menopausal status. Based on the level of between-study heterogeneity, pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval were calculated using fixed or random models. The case?case comparison showed a significant association between TNBC and obesity (OR: 1.20; 95 % CI: 1.03?1.40). These results were confirmed by the case–control comparison (OR: 1.24; 95 % CI: 1.06?1.46). Once stratification based on menopausal status was applied to the case–case analysis, significant results were observed only in the pre-menopausal group (OR: 1.43; 95 % CI: 1.23?1.65). According to this analysis, obese women are at a greater risk of presenting with a TNBC than non-obese women, and menopause status may be a mitigating factor. If validated, these findings should be taken into consideration for the development of targeted preventive programs.     

Mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome

We report the use of Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) as salvage treatment in three patients with advanced mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome who had previously been treated with conventional chemotherapy. Two patients (case 1 and case 2), aged 42 and 68 yr, respectively, were heavily pretreated (more than three prior therapy regimens, including autologous transplant in case 2) and refractory to conventional chemotherapy, and the third patient (case 3), aged 80 yr, who had refused any chemotherapy, had been resistant to treatment with cyclosporine and steroids. Campath-1H was administered intravenously, after an escalating dose from 3 to 10 mg, at the dose of 30 mg, three times weekly, to a total dose of 1080, 223, and 480 mg, respectively. The patients with Sézary syndrome (case 2 and case 3) showed clearance of circulating Sézary cells and clinical improvement of the skin lesions after 2 wk of treatment. Two patients (case 1 and case 3) completed the treatment (12 and 6 wk) without significant toxicity, the former achieving a partial response and the latter a clinical complete response. The patient (case 2), who suffered from ischemic cardiopathy and diabetes, quickly achieved a clinical improvement of the Sézary syndrome, but he died because of a myocardial infarction after 3 wk of treatment. Our report shows that the treatment with Campath-1H is active even in patients with advanced refractory mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome. Further clinical observations on a larger cohort of patients are needed to establish if Campath-1H may have a role as first line therapy in addition to conventional therapy including chemotherapy.     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗血液肿瘤5例

目的；探讨基因造血干细胞移植对血液肿瘤的疗效。方法：采用异基因造血干细胞移植治疗血液肿瘤５例，包括２例第一次完全缓解（ＣＲ１）急性粒细胞白血病，１例ＣＲ１急性淋巴细胞白血病，１例急性粒细胞白血产现任昨发和１例非霍奇金氏淋巴瘤Ⅳ期ＣＲ１。其中异基因骨髓移植４例，异基因外周血造血干细胞移植１例。所有病例均采用ＴＢＩ＋ＣＹ＋ＣＣＮＵ作预处理。结果：所有病例均移植成功。２例发生急性移植抗宿主病，２例发生慢     

Umbilical metastasis: a case series of four Sister Joseph nodules from four different visceral malignancies

Sister Joseph nodule is a metastatic umbilical lesion secondary to a primary malignancy of any viscera. It can be a presenting symptom (a sign of undiagnosed malignancy) or a symptom or sign of progression or recurrence in a known case. Its incidence is 1%-3% of all intra-abdominal or pelvic malignancies. Here, we present 4 such cases, with Sister Joseph nodule as a finding ofpresentation in a case of gallbladder carcinoma,progression in a case of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumour,recurrence in a case of ovarian carcinoma, andpresentation in a case of rectal carcinoma.The clinicopathologic features of all 4 patients are discussed, and the related literature is briefly reviewed.     

X;6 translocation in a child with congenital acute lymphocytic leukemia.

A case of congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) displayed an X;6 translocation. This is the third reported case of ALL with an X;6 translocation. In addition, two of the three ALL cases occurred during infancy, at ages 2 months and newborn, and both translocations involved the band q15-16 region of chromosome 6. Anomalies of the long arm of chromosome 6, mainly interstitial and terminal deletions, have been reported as a recurrent karyotypic event in a significant number of ALL cases. The molecular basis and propensity of an X;6 rearrangement in this case of congenital ALL is unclear and merits further investigation. The similarities in this case and the other infant ALL case cited suggest that an X;6 rearrangement with a breakpoint in bands q15-16 of chromosome 6 is characteristic of a form of congenital ALL.     

A treatment for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer by pre-operative CPT-11/5'-DFUR combination therapy

There is no standardized consensus at each institution about a treatment for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer. A case of pulmonary radical resection can expect a good result. However, a result of a nonoperative case is extremely poor. A focal control until the time of operation to a metastatic lesion is very important. We want to have a safe and effective chemotherapy. We experienced a resectable case by CPT-11/5'-DFUR combination therapy.     

Rhinocerebral zygomycosis caused by Saksenae vasiformis in a diabetic patient

We report a rare case of invasive rhinocerebral Saksenae vasiformis infection in a 71-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus ketoacidosis. Combined histological and microbiological examination of two biopsy specimens taken at four days' intervals showed broad non-septate hyphae on direct smears of biopsies and necrosis and angioinvasion by hyphae were seen in the tissue. S. vasiformis was cultured from both biopsies. The patient had a fatal outcome even though partial debridement, liposomal amphotericin B treatment and control of diabetes were instituted. Permission for necropsy was denied. Clinical, epidemiological and pathological features of the case and manifestations of S. vasiformis infections are discussed. Most cases involve cutaneous sites and only two cases of rhinocerebral infections (both with fatal outcome) have been described. The present case is the third documented case of involvement of the sinuses and the second case of S. vasiformis infection documented in Europe.     

Two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma: Preoperative cytological findings were useful in determining treatment strategy

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare variant of breast malignancy and is known to have an excellent prognosis. We report two cases of ACC diagnosed by preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), which proved to be very useful in determining the appropriate treatment. The patients were a 57-year-old woman (case 1) and a 71-year-old woman (case 2). On physical examinations and imaging studies both tumors were recognized as lobulated tumors that measured 3.0 x 2.3 cm (case 1) and 3.9 x 3.4 cm (case 2) respectively. FNAC materials showed clusters of malignant cells surrounding globules of mucus, therefore, ACC was diagnosed. Considering the characteristics of ACC, breast-conserving surgeries with axillary dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy were performed instead of primary chemotherapy or mastectomy. Histologically, a distinctive biphasic pattern was observed that consisted of true laminae and pseudocystic spaces. Tumor sizes were 4.0 x 3.3 cm (case 1) and 4.6 x 3.8 cm (case 2), respectively, and surgical margins were negative on microscopic examination. Lymph node metastasis was not present in either case. Even though ACC is very rare, preoperative diagnosis can be made based on its characteristic features. Preoperative diagnosis is extremely useful for determining appropriate treatment.     

Clival chordomas

Three cases of clival chordomas are reviewed and the findings are compared to those in the recent literature. In the first case the tumour arose from the basion, spreading downwards to invade the upper cervical canal and the paravertebral fascial planes. The second case is a rare case since it affects a 12 year old pre-adolescent boy. The third case showed the characteristic features of petro-clival erosion and a large extracranial component in the nasopharynx. In all three cases, computed tomography was an excellent modality for demonstrating bone destruction, sequestra and calcification but inferior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in demonstrating the soft tissue extent of the tumour. The multiplanar capability of MRI was found to be particularly useful for planning treatment. Vertebral angiography can demonstrate the tumours by vessel displacement, encasement and vascular staining. Two cases had angiography and demonstrated tumour blush. Pre-operative embolization was helpful in one case.     

Irreversible sensorineural hearing loss due to Imatinib

OBJECTIVE: We report probably the first case of bilateral irreversible sensorineural hearing loss caused by Imatinib. METHOD: A review of the world literature, concerning Imatinib toxicity is presented. RESULTS: We report a case of bilateral irreversible sensorineural hearing loss, in a 19-year-old male patient of chronic myeloid leukemia after 3 months of Imatinib therapy. Audiometric evaluation documented the findings. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of Imatinib induced sensorineural hearing loss. This case indicates that treating oncologists should keep in mind that this drug too can produce ototoxicity.     

Clinical Features and Mid-Term and Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical Treatment of 8 Patients with Primary Ventricular Tumors

OBJECTIVE To summarize the clinical features and surgical treatment of primary ventricular tumors. METHODS Eight patients with primary ventricular tumor, aged 3 to 52 years, underwent surgical treatment. There were 6 males and 2 females. The pathological diagnoses were as follows: multiple left ventricular myxomas in 2 cases; left ventricular rhabclomyoma, fibroma and malignant neurolemmoma in 1 case for each; right ventricular myxoma and malignant neurolemmoma in 1 case for each; intraseptal fibroma in 1 case. The operations were performed through median sternotomy with moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in 7 cases; via left anterolateral thoracotomy without extracorporeal circulation in 1 case. Tumors were totally removed in 7 cases and subtotally resectecl in 1 case. RESULTS Cardiac arrest after anaesthetization occurred in 1 case with postoperative coma for 10 days. One case died of massive gastro-intestinal hemorrhage postoperatively. Seven cases survived, During a follow-up period of 1 to 21 years, there was no recurrence or metastasis in the 6 cases who received complete tumor resection including 2 cases with malignant tumor. One case of partial tumor removal had a mild heart murmur without tumor progression. All patients were asymptomatic with cardiac functiongrade I. CONCLUSION Primary ventricular tumors showed diversity in their histological characteristics. The mid- and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment for primary ventricular tumors appear to be satisfactory.     

Case report. Onychomycosis due to Chaetomium globosum successfully treated with itraconazole

We have experienced a case of toenail infection caused by Chaetomium globosum which we treated with itraconazole 100 mg day-1 for 6 months, after which time the nail lesions were almost cured. Our case is the first reported case of onychomycosis caused by Ch. globosum in Japan, and the seventh in the world.     

Two cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma involving the terminal ileum

We describe two cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) with terminal ileal involvement. The first case, a 71-year-old man with lymphoma subtype of ATLL, had a polypoid lesion in the terminal ileum, in addition to a duodenal mass. The second case, a 58-year-old woman with lymphoma subtype of ATLL, had an irregular ulcerative lesion in the terminal ileum and multiple ulcers throughout the stomach. Biopsies from these lesions revealed mucosal invasion of ATLL cells in each case. In the second case, combination chemotherapy was transiently effective, resulting in the disappearance of gastric and terminal ileal lesions. Prospective and careful examination of additional cases should further characterize the clinicopathological features of terminal ileal involvement in ATLL.