Frontal sinus osteoma in a skull found in the archeological excavations at the old Louvre

A skeleton dating 8th-9th centuries exhumed from the Napoleon square at the Louvre, presents a voluminous ivory or benign osteomata at its frontal sinus. Anthropological and pathological studies give matter to introduce this osteomata on the morphological and demographic problematica ot the benign tumours.     

Assessment of “squamous cell carcinoma antigen” (SCC) as a marker of epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal

We measured squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) in epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal in 66 patients. Samples were taken at diagnosis, before treatment, and during follow-up; 353 samples were analyzed. The positive threshold was taken as 2 ng/ml. At diagnosis, the sensitivity of the marker was 44 percent and its specificity 92 percent. In our series, the pretherapeutic level of SCC does not correlate with T as in Papillons' Clinical Staging System, but it does correlate with nodal invasion (P<0.05). It is of no prognostic value at the time of diagnosis. During follow-up, at relapse the level of SCC is 20.3 ±43 ng/ml. This increase is significant (P<0.01); the sensitivity of the marker is 77 percent. In patients who have relapsed, development of the illness correlates with the level of SCC, which is of prognostic value (P<0.01). In conclusion, the level of SCC should be associated with the clinical follow-up of patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal.     

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma

Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumor. We present a case of intimal sarcoma arising from right pulmonary artery and left lower pulmonary vein observed in a 44-year-old man with a non-productive cough. Computed tomographic scans and magnetic resonance imaging showing filling defect enhancement contributed early, suggesting the diagnosis of primary vascular tumor, hypothesis confirmed by pathologist findings.     

Critical study of the methods available for detecting hepatic metastases (author's transl)

Based on a review of data in the published literature, and the results of their personal experience in the Antoine-Lacassagne Centre in Nice, the authors discuss the different techniques employed for the detection of hepatic metastases: biological tests, liver needle biopsy, laparoscopy, laparotomy, hepatic angiography, scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and computed tomography. In 90 p. cent of cases liver biological tests and ultrasonography were sufficient to eliminate or confirm the presence of hepatic metastases. When there is no correlation between the results of the different non-traumatic techniques, one is justified in proposing a liver biopsy under laparoscopy.     

West Nile Virus in horses, sub-Saharan Africa

To evaluate the presence and extension of West Nile virus where French soldiers are stationed in Africa, specific antibody prevalence was determined by using ELISA and Western blot. Among 245 horses living in close proximity to the soldiers, seroprevalence was particularly high in Chad (97%) and Senegal (92%).     

Interventional radiology in chemotherapy. Percutaneous arterial route and and embolization with microspheres

The authors present their experience with interventional radiological techniques employed for chemotherapy: 205 intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) cycles were administered to 67 patients (lesion sites were: liver 20, pelvis 35, unknown 12). Catheters were left in place for 5 days in 89% of cases. The positions of the end of the catheter was checked by CT scan, with concomitant arterial opacification in the case of pelvic pathologies; this allowed evaluation of the tumor volume treated. Serious radiological complications of IAC included: 2 surgical thrombectomies and 2 surgical removals of broken catheters (2% complication rate for IAC). 15 embolizations with microcapsules of mitomycin were performed for 11 patients, using the technique of Kato. Venous blood samples revealed the persistence of mitomycinemia for up to four hours. three instances of pain were noted in the 24 hours following embolization. These two techniques have a low rate of serious complications; the therapeutic efficacy observed in certain cases warrants the use of these methods for cancers impossible to treat by radical procedures.     

Relationship between systemic 5-FU passage and response in colorectal cancer patients treated with intrahepatic chemotherapy

Summary The study described herein was conducted to analyze the relationship between tumor exposure to 5-FU and clinical response. Six patients were placed on continuous 5-day intrahepatic 5-FU chemotherapy for colorectal cancer metastasized to the liver. The starting dose was 600–800 mg/m² per day; cycles were repeated at 4-week intervals. The 5-FU dose was increased by 250 mg/day at each cycle. All six patients received 3 or more cycles, for a total of 37 cycles. Response was evaluated after each cycle by ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT). Pharmacokinetic data revealed a high individual cycle-to-cycle variability for all six patients in the 5-FU area under the curve (AUC day 1 to day 5) corrected for the dose. These variations in drug biodisposition, reflecting hepatic 5-FU uptake, were significantly related to measurable modifications in the tumor mass in 71% of cycles. The correlation between the reduction in local drug exposure and tumor regrowth was better than that between the increase in local drug exposure and tumor reduction. These findings constitute an original illustration in humans of the experimental concept of the drug exposure/tumor response relationship for 5-FU.