Isolated bilateral adrenal metastasis from renal cancer. Case report

The authors report an uncommon case of bilateral synchronous adrenal gland metastases from left renal cell carcinoma. The diagnosis was established by abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography. The surgical approach initially consisted of left radical nephrectomy and ipsilateral adrenalectomy. Histologically, the tumor of the left adrenal gland was identical to the left renal cell carcinoma. Subsequent contralateral adrenalectomy showed an adrenal metastasis identical to the left renal cell carcinoma. Patient follow-up was good with no recurrence of the disease after one year. This is an uncommon case for renal cancer. The treatment and prognosis are discussed.     

Should ipsilateral adrenalectomy be performed systematically during radical nephrectomy for renal cancer?

The authors present a retrospective study of 46 patients with renal cell carcinoma treated by radical nephrectomy including ipsilateral adrenalectomy. CT scan showed a normal adrenal gland in all patients. Histology revealed the absence of adrenal metastasis in all patients. Ipsilateral adrenalectomy is not systematically required in radical nephrectomy.     

Pheochromocytoma. Report of 10 cases

We report 10 cases of adrenal pheochromocytoma seen over a period 15-years. A female predominance was noted (8 women/2 men). Patients were aged between 16-46 years with a mean of 34 years. Clinical manifestations consisted of hypertension observed in all cases, with vasomotor symptoms (90%). Time to consultation was prolonged (mean: 23 months). CT scan performed in 7 cases showed pheochromocytoma in all cases, located on the right side in 6 cases, while one pheochromocytoma was located in Zukerkandal organ. All patients were operated via anterior approach and adrenalectomy was performed. A favourable course was observed in 90% of cases with normalisation blood pressure. One death was noted. Histological examination showed no malignancy in all cases.     

Isolated testicular tuberculosis: report of a case

In this study, a case has been reported involving a 66-year old male who was admitted for scrotal pain on the right side with possible testicular involvement, but with no associated urinary disorder. At physical examination, the right testicle was found to have increased in volume: this was further confirmed by ultrasonography, but the findings were insufficient to exclude the hypothesis of testicular cancer. An exploratory orchidectomy by upper inguinal route was therefore carried out, and histopathological examination showed the destruction of testicular tissue by several granulomas, and caseous necrosis with giant cells. Antibacterial chemotherapy was administered after an i.v. urography found no evidence of abnormality or urinary disorder, thereby eliminating an active site of genitourinary tuberculosis. This case shows the importance of considering testicular tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of testicular enlargement in a region where this disease is endemic, despite the absence of systemic pulmonary and urinary signs of tuberculosis.     

Phenotype B primitive adrenal lymphoma, diagnosed by percutaneous aspiration biopsy

The authors report a case of primary adrenal lymphoma in a 30-year old-female who complained of lumbar pain and was in poor general condition. Ultrasonography and CT scan revealed a heterogeneous mass with necrosis in the left adrenal gland. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell origin was determined by ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy of the adrenal mass. Taking this case and the findings in the literature into consideration, the features of this disease have been reviewed and the problem of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis have been examined.     

Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma discovered peroperatively

In this study, an uncommon case has been reported of an ectopic pheochromocytoma without the presence of any clinical symptoms. The radiological investigations showed a right retroperitoneal tumor without any kidney involvement. The diagnosis was established by biopsy and subsequent histological findings. In the course of surgery as the large tumor mass was being removed, tachycardia was observed which caused the resection to be performed as rapidly as possible. Once the tumor had been removed, bradycardia occurred, followed by cardiac arrest: although the latter was stabilized after cardiac massage, the patient died one hour after the operative field had been closed. In addition to this case report, the diagnosis, therapeutic strategy and prognosis regarding an ectopically located pheochromocytoma have been discussed.     

Emphysematous pyelonephritis: a case report

Diabetic patients with urinary tract infections had a certain risk of developping emphysematous pyelonephritis with gas producting bacteria. This disease was accompagned with high mortalité. We will report one case who was treated successfully by high dose antibiotic regim and emergency nephrectomy.     

Hématome spontané de la surrénale (à propos de 2 cas)

Spontaneous hematoma of the adrenal glands is a very rare condition and may have multiple etiologies. It is usually asymptomatic and may easily be confused with a malignant tumor of the adrenal glands. We herein report two cases: the first patient was a 77-year-old male patient with an uneventful medical history who was admitted for abdominal pain. Ultrasonography and CT-scan revealed a heterogeneous mass of the right adrenal gland. The second patient, a 31-year-old woman presented with intermittent left lumbar pain. Ultrasonography and CT-scan revealed a cystic tumor of the left adrenal gland. In both cases laboratory tests were normal and adrenalectomy was performed. Histopathological evaluation revealed an isolated hematoma without adrenal abnormalities. The clinical, diagnostic and therapeutical aspects are discussed     

Laparoscopic treatment for renal hydatid cyst

A multivesicular hydatid cyst was removed from the left kidney of a 26-year-old woman by retroperitoneal laparoscopy to avoid contamination of the abdominal cavity. A scolicidal agent (20% hypertonic saline) was injected around the kidney initially and then instilled into the cyst after the contents had been evacuated. There were no complications and no anaphylactic shock. This appears to be the first reported case of treatment of renal hydatid cyst by laparoscopy.     

Primary hyperoxaluria in children in central Tunisia

AIM: The goal of this work is to analyze clinical and therapeutics particularities of primary hyperoxaluria in children in Tunisian centre. METHODS: We studied retrospectively 15 cases of primary hyperoxaluria enrolled during 9 years period (1994-2002). RESULTS: It is about 2 boys and 13 girls (sex - ratio = 4.5) aged 2 month to 13 years (mean age: 4 years). Six patients presented the infantile form and nine the juvenile form of HP. At the moment of diagnosis, renal function was normal in one patient, moderately altered in another and severely altered in the other patients. All patients had nephrocalcinosis and 6 among them radio-opaque renal calculi associated. Diagnosis of HP was established in 11 cases by hyperoxaluria and/or important hyperoxalemia or on the data of the renal biopsy and biochemical analysis of renal calculi in 4 cases. The so-called "maghrebin" mutation (Ile244Thr) sought-after in 9 children, has cannot be identified that in 2 among them. Eight patients died of the continuations of their illness. The seven other patients again in life present a terminal renal insufficiency treated by haemodialysis. No patient could benefit from organ transplantation. CONCLUSION: Primary hyperoxaluria is a very heterogeneous disease on the plan clinic that genetic. In Tunisia where it constitutes a frequent cause of end stage renal failure, prenatal diagnosis of this disease is of a big interest.