[Cochlear implantation in Senegal: challenges, limits and perspectives]. / Implantation cochléaire au Sénégal: enjeux, limites et perspectives.

A cochlear implant is an electronic prosthesis used in the rehabilitation of profound bilateral hearing loss. It directly stimulates cochlear nerve fibers by bypassing the hair cells. This high-performance technology, which appeared 60 years ago, has spread widely throughout the world and is regularly used in hearing rehabilitation. In developing countries, the adoption and development of this tool are still lagging behind. The authors analyze factors delaying the penetration of cochlear implants in Senegal.

Childhood Hearing Impairment in Senegal.

We recently showed that variants in GJB2 explained Hearing Impairment (HI) in 34.1% (n = 15/44) of multiplex families in Senegal. The present study aimed to use community-based nationwide recruitment to determine the etiologies and the clinical profiles of childhood HI in Senegal. Participants with early onset HI were included after clinical examination, including audiological assessment by pure tone audiometry and/or auditory brainstem response. We investigated a total of 406 participants from 295 families, recruited from 13/14 administrative regions of Senegal. Male/female ratio was 1.33 (232/174). Prelingual HI was the most common type of HI and accounted for 80% (n = 325 individuals). The mean age at medical diagnosis for congenital HI was computed at 3.59 ± 2.27 years. Audiological evaluation showed sensorineural HI as the most frequently observed HI (89.16%; n = 362 individuals). Pedigree analysis suggested autosomal recessive inheritance in 61.2% (63/103) of multiplex families and sporadic cases in 27 families (26.2%; 27/103), with a consanguinity rate estimated at 93% (84/90 families). Genetic factors were likely involved in 52.7% (214/406) of the cases, followed by environmental causes (29.57%; 120/406). In 72 cases (17.73%), the etiology was unknown. Clinically, non-syndromic HI was the most common type of HI (90.6%; n = 194/214 individuals). Among families segregating syndromic cases, type 2 Waardenburg syndrome was the most common (36.3%; 4/11 families). This study revealed putative genetic factors, mostly associated with high consanguinity rate, as the leading causes of early-onset HI in Senegal. The high consanguinity could provide a good opportunity to identify variants in known and novel genes involved in childhood HI.

Gingival metastasis of a breast carcinoma.

We report a case of metastasis to the gingiva of breast carcinoma. The breast tumor was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by a radical mastectomy associated with axillary dissection. The gingival lesion occurred 7 months after surgery; the metastasis was confirmed by a biopsy.

[Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia: about six cases]. / Dysplasie fibreuse osseuse crânio-faciale: à propos de six observations.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of bone is a benign, congenital and rare disease in which normal bone is replaced by fibrous bone tissue, resulting in bone deformities. It can affect any bone in the body, however craniofacial fibrous dysplasia is characterized by specific clinical manifestations, progression and therapeutic issues. The purpose of our study was to describe the diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary features of craniofacial FD. This study involved six patients with craniofacial FD followed up in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Principal Hospital of Dakar. The average age of patients was 26.16 years, ranging from 11 to 58 years. Sex ratio favoured women (83% of the cases). Bone deformity was the main feature of craniofacial FD leading to diagnosis. One patient presented with unilateral nasal obstruction with epistaxis. In all cases, scanner enabled diagnosis and topographic balance. Two female patients underwent surgery. One case of recurrence was reported. Craniofacial FD is a rare bone disease that can manifest as serious sensory and functional disorders. It poses real therapeutic issues; hence adequate interdisciplinar management is essential.

[Iatrogenic common carotid artery injury secondary to an internal jugular venous catheterization]. / Plaie iatrogène de l'artère carotide commune secondaire a un cathétérisme veineux jugulaire interne.

Carotid injury occurring during venous jugular catheterization is a rare but potentially dramatic event. We report a case of compressive cervical hematoma associated with haemothorax occurred after common carotid artery injury during internal jugular venous catheterization. The diagnosis and management of this type of complication are discussed.