Hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal primary and gastrointestinal carcinomatoses

Peritoneal carcinomatosis should no longer be considered as an automatically terminal disease in abdominal cancer patients. The aim of this comprehensive review of the literature was to evaluate the indications and contraindications of intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy with extensive cytoreduction surgery. Several aspects of the procedure are detailed. Feasibility, short-term and survival results are analysed owing to a comprehensive review of published studies.     

Hemangioma of the spleen. A case report

We report a case of hemangioma of the spleen in an 18-old-years female patient. Clinical presentation was abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant. Physical examination founding was normal. The hemangioma was presented as hyperechogenic mass on ultra sound imaging. On the computed tomography scan with contrast it became progressively hyperdense. Splenectomy is often indicated because of the risk of rupture and the doubt about malignant form in histological examination.     

Effect of triple antiretroviral therapy on Tunisian AIDS profile: study of 139 cases

We report a retrospective study to estimate highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) effect in 139 HIV infected patients. Four criteria are studied: prevalence of opportunistic infections, CD4 cell count evolution, viral load progression and mortality. Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common clinical adverse reaction (61.1 percent), and hematological side effects are the most common biological adverse reaction (61.2 percent). During the 22.8 months (3 months to 6 years) follow-up average period, CD4 cell counts remained above 500 per cubic millimeter in only 25.8 percent of cases, while 63.5 percent of patients had a viral load below 400 copies per milliliter. During the study on patients receiving HAART, opportunistic infections appeared in 17.3 percent of cases (24 cases) and mortality in 6.4 percent of cases.     

MRI findings in pituitary-hypothalamic axis Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Pituitary-hypothalamic axis Langerhans cell histiocytosis is an uncommon entity. It is a rare disease in adults. The CT and MR study provides us the best anatomo-topographic evaluation and determine the precise size of the lesion which are necessary to the treatment. We report a case of hypothalamic involvement by Langerhans cell histiocytosis accompanied by lesions in bone affecting a 31-year-old woman. The clinical, histiotological and CT/MR findings of histiocytosis X are described in this article.     

Pulmonary aspergillosis in a child with chronic granulomatous disease

The chronic granulomatous disease is characterised by the occurence of multiple bacterial and fungal infections since the early childhood. This susceptibility to infections must be prevented by a primary prophlylaxis against the opportunistic germs like pneumocystis and aspergillus. Our case is about a twelve-year-old boy who had a prophylaxis since his fourth month of life. At 10 years he presented a pleuro-pneumonia refractory to a large spectrum antibiotherapy. The aspergillar etiology was established on clinical, radiological and serological arguments. An amphotericine B treatment allowed a good clinical and radiological outcome of this pleuro-pulmonary affection. However, a dorsal spondylodiscitis complicated the course of the disease. A secondary vertebral aspergillosis or a Pott's disease were suspected. The vertebral bipsy was'nt conclusive. The association of antituberculous and antifungal agents with adjuvant molecules (IFN, granulotic transfusions and GM-CSF) permitted a good clinical outcome and the stabilisation of the radiological lesions.     

Cardiopericardial Hydatid Cysts

apd: 18 December 2000