Gastrointestinal stromal tumors. A study of 5 cases

GI stromal tumors are mesenchymatal tumors arising primarily from the digestive tract or from the omentum. Despite their rarity (less than 1% of digestive tumors). These tumors have become of current interest since the discovery of a treatment for metastatic and locally advanced tumors, the imatinib (Glivec). In this study we report 5 cases of stromal tumors. Patients were 42 years old an average. Abdominal mass was the revealing signal in 80% of cases, localisation- was obtained by endoscopy and ultrasonography in 60% cases. Total resection of the tumor was performed in all patients. Immuno-histochemical examination confirmed the diagnosis of stromal tumors. Based on these cases and on a review of literature, we insist on the diagnostic difficulties of this rare pathology, while trying to determine the histological prognostic parameters and the latest therapeutic methods.     

Chondroid syringoma

This is a retrospective monocentric stydy of all the cases diagnosed at our department over a period of 10 years. The study included seven male patients. All patients presented with a single painless skin lesion of about 1,5 cm on the face, lasting for 14 months on average. In all cases, treatment was surgical and the outcome satisfactory. Chondroid syringoma is a benign sweat gland tumor. This lesion is electively located in the craniofacial area, made of a subcutaneous painless tumor measuring from 0.5 to 3 cm. Diagnosis can always be confirmed by histology which shows tubuloalveolar and gland like structures with two or more cuboidal cell lines in a fibroadipoid or chondroid stroma that is positively stained for Alcian blue. Mixed tumors have a slow course; their progress to malignancy is rare but possible. The best treatment remains surgical allowing a histological diagnosis with a control of the lesion edges.     

Elaboration of PLLA-based superparamagnetic nanoparticles: characterization, magnetic behaviour study and in vitro relaxivity evaluation

Oleic acid-coated magnetite has been encapsulated in biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) by a simple emulsion evaporation method. The different parameters influencing the particles size were studied. Between these parameters, the stirring speed and the polymer concentration were found to influence positively or negatively, respectively, the MNP size which varied between 320 and 1500nm. The magnetite encapsulation efficacy was about than 90% yielding a high magnetite loading of up to 30% (w/w). X-ray diffraction showed that magnetite crystalline pattern was not modified after emulsification and solvent evaporation. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated the presence of less than 0.1% of iron atoms at the nanoparticles surface. Vibration simple magnetometer (VSM) showed a superparamagnetic behaviour of the MNP and a saturation magnetization increasing with the increased magnetite amount used in formulation. Moreover, T(1) and T(2) relaxivities of MNP (4.7T, 20 degrees C) were 1.7+/-0.1 and 228.3+/-13.1s(-1)mM(-1), respectively, rendering them in the same category of known negative contrast agents which shorten the T(2) relaxation time. Therefore, by using an appropriate anticancer drug in their formulation, these magnetic nanoparticles can present a promising mean for simultaneous tumor imaging, drug delivery and real time monitoring of therapeutic effect.     

Mucormycose parotidienne : une nouvelle observation et revue de la littérature

Introduction

Mucormycosis is a rare, devastating, fungal infection, which disproportionately affects non-controlled diabetic patients, notably during ketoacidosis. The authors report the case of cervical mucormycoses with a particularly favorable evolution in diabetic woman.

Report

A 54-year-old woman, type 2 diabetic, had presented a left lateral cervical mass. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. She was treated with Amphotericin B with favorable evolution.

Conclusion

The mucormycose is a rare infection. The treatment is medical and surgical. The prognosis is severe with an overall mortality rate of 40%.