Spontaneous regression of malignant lymphoma. Case report and review of the literature.

This article reports on an exceptional case of spontaneous regression of a malignant lymphoma of intermediate type with three localizations in the same patient. A review of the literature concerning the immunologic approaches to cancer have been considered and attempts to explain the host response to neoplasms and its defense mechanisms against them, were considered.

[Incidentally discovered adrenal tumor: myelolipoma]. / Tumeur surrénalienne de découverte fortuite: le myélolipome.

The wider application of increasingly sensitive ultrasonography and CT scanning has created a new problem for clinical management: the incidental discovery of asymptomatic adrenal lesions. These lesions, also called "incidentalomas" may be due to a large variety of etiologies, and although most of them prove to be benign cortical adenomas, diagnostic confirmation is frequently impossible preoperatively. For this reason, a general approach, based on the relative prevalence of benign and malignant, clinically silent adrenal masses, has been defined. This same approach is usually needed in the case of myelolipoma, a rare form of benign and silent adrenal neoplasms, containing hematopoietic and fatty elements. Actually, computed tomographic aspect of such tumors is very evocative but not pathognomonic, so it doesn't eliminate the possibility of malignant lesions, especially in the presence of heterogeneities. Because of these limitations and awaiting the development of more specific diagnostic procedures, it seems cautious to approach these tumors like incidentalomas in general.

[Alveolar hemorrhage after cocaine inhalation]. / Hémorragie alvéolaire après inhalation de cocaïne.

Following inhalation of cocaine two young men developed haemoptysis associated with dyspnoea. One of these patients had severe clinical symptoms. There was blood eosinophilia, and haemosiderin was found in the macrophages that were present in the fibroscopic alveolar lavage fluid. X-ray films of the chest showed bilateral micronodular opacities. The outcome was favourable after treatment with parenteral dexamethasone, oxygen therapy and mask-administered continuous positive pressure ventilation. The frequency of cocaine-induced alveolar haemorrhage is probably underestimated; the condition must be suspected in subjects who inhale cocaine and have haemoptysis, no matter how small.

[Fibroma of the tunica albuginea. Apropos of a case]. / Fibrome de la tunique albuginée. A propos d'un cas.

Fibroma of the tunica albuginea is a rare, benign lesion. Only twenty cases have been published. We have observed one case a solitary testis of a 40 years old patient. The treatment performed was enucleation. The interest of this case consists in the rarity of the case and the operative solution proposed. After a review of the literature, we summarise the characteristics of this disease.

[The cancer registry at the Hôtel Dieu de France Hospital]. / Registre du cancer à l'Hôtel Dieu de France.

Between January and December 1989, 541 new cases of cancer have been diagnosed at Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital at Beirut. These cases were among 5400 histopathologic or hemato-cytologic examinations performed during the same period. There were 311 men (57.5%) and 230 women (42.5%). In men lung cancer was the most common site (19%) followed by bladder cancer (16.7%) and prostate cancer (11.6%). In women the most frequent cancer reported was breast cancer (36.1%) followed by uterine (body and cervix) cancer (15.2%) and digestive tract tumors (12.3%). Hematologic malignancies were more frequent between children and young patients. We have noted a progressive frequency of breast, lung, digestive tract, bladder and genito-urinary cancers with age. The establishment of a national tumor registry covering all diagnosed patients in different Lebanese Institutions is warranted.

[Virilizing tumor in a woman. Management]. / Tumeur masculinisante chez la femme. Conduite a tenir.

Androgen secreting ovarian or adrenal neoplasms represent a rare cause of hirsutism in women. Because of their small volume and episodic secretion, a number of these tumors may be difficult to diagnose and treat. The authors report a case of lipoid cell tumor of the ovary, which was only detected, because of its small volume, by catheterization of adrenal and ovarian veins. This latter procedure should be performed when strong clinical and biological suspicion is faced by the negativity of other imaging techniques.

[Familial paroxysmal polyserositis. Previously unpublished peritoneal complications. A case]. / Polysérite paroxystique familiale. Complications péritonéales inédites. Une observation.

A young unmarried Lebanese woman presenting with periodic disease (familial paroxysmal polyserositis) since she was 3 months old developed recurrent abundant ascites at the age of 21 years. Several hundred millilitres of strongly eosinophilic fluid were evacuated. Exploratory laparotomy unexpectedly disclosed an encapsulating peritonitis with adhesions involving the small bowel and the ascending colon; there were masses of lipid-laden cells, clusters of cholesterol/crystals and marked mesoepithelial reaction. In view of the patient's dramatic response to colchicine 2 mg/day, these findings were regarded as being related to the periodic disease.