Li-Fraumeni syndrome: Multiple distinct brain tumours in two brothers

Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant cancer-prone condition characterized by the occurrence of a large set of different types of cancer in a patient and their family. A germline disease-causing mutation of the gene encoding the p53 protein is associated with the syndrome. We report on a family in which segregation of a TP53 mutation in two generations was associated with two brain tumours, a leiomyosarcoma and a thyroid carcinoma in four male patients. The main patient presented with seizures revealing several primary brain tumours. We review recent views on its molecular basis and discuss management of the condition as well as a review of the literature.     

Lymph node supraclavicular metastasis of thymic carcinoma: an inaugural and unusual feature of a rare disease

Among the epithelial tumours of the thymus, thymic carcinomas are rare, involving more aggressive locoregional behaviour and a poor prognosis. More than one-third of cases present lymph node metastasis during an evaluation of the extension of a primitive mediastinal tumour of thymic origin. The authors report an unusual case in a 46-year-old woman presenting a metastatic form. The diagnosis of epidermoid thymic carcinoma was based on the histopathological examination of a right supraclavicular lymph node, associated with an anterior radiological mediastinal tumoral syndrome, raising the delicate problem of its diagnosis and treatment.     

Arthrites réactionnelles secondaires à la BCG-thérapie. Deux observations et revue de la littérature

Introduction

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy-associated articular complications are uncommon, occurring in only 0.5 to 1% of the patients.

Observations

We report two patients who were given intravesical BCG therapy for superficial bladder cancer. Both patients developed polyarthritis and fever related to intravesical BCG instillation. The outcome of articular manifestations was favorable after administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy.

Conclusion

Intravesical BCG therapy-associated articular complications should not be overlooked, as they may result in high morbidity. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of intravesical BCG therapy-related reactive arthritis should be discussed after excluding infectious arthritis due to Mycobacterium bovis. Therefore, joint fluid microbiological tests (cultures, PCR) are required in the patients receiving intravesical BCG who develop arthritis.     

The chondrosarcoma of the hand: review of the literature about a case and a proposition of a decision-making therapeutic tree

We report a case of chondrosarcoma of the hand initially treated as a chondroma. Through a review of the literature, we review the clinical, radiological and histological diagnostic difficulties of this lesion. We propose a decision-making tree for the surgical coverage of the chondrosarcoma of the hand.