Paraneoplastic polymyositis associated with breast cancer: a therapeutic emergency.

The association of polymyositis and cancer was first described in 1916, the most frequent cancers being mammary and gynecological for women, bronchopulmonary for men and digestive for both. This article reports a severe paraneoplastic polymyositis associated with breast cancer. The authors discuss its clinical, pathological and therapeutic particularities.

[Pregnancies associated with valvular prosthesis at Dakar Teaching Hospital: prognosis, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical aspects]. / Prothèse valvulaire cardiaque et grossesse au CHU de Dakar: aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, pronostiques et modalités thérapeutiques.

OBJECTIVE: The persistence of the rheumatic valvular cardiopathie and the access to cardiac surgery make this association frequent. This work will deal with a description of the epidemiological and clinic profile and the evaluation of the cares to the pregnancies with cardiac valvular prostheses. METHODOLOGY: We took a retrospective study beginning from 1987 to 2006 about 14 cases, which had benefited from collaboration between the Gynaecologic and Obstetric Clinic and the Cardiological Clinic of the University Hospital Center of Dakar. RESULTS: The frequency of pregnancies with valvular prosthesis was of 0.12 per thousand. The average age of our patients was of 27.7 years. The average pregnancy was of 2.3 gestures with extremes of 1st to 12th gestures. The pregnancies were not, in any case, planned. An auricular fibrillation was noticed in four patients. The fraction of ejection of the left ventricle was superior or equal to 60% in 10 cases, the prosthesis was lightly blocked in two cases. Despite the use of anti-vitamin K during the first trimester with 42.86% of the patients, the anticoagulation was effective with the entire cases excepted one who died by lung embolism. The delivery was, in seven cases, realized by caesarean and in two cases by natural way. Two cases of premature and foetal hypotrophy have been noticed. There was no case of malformed children. CONCLUSION: With a multidisciplinary care, the carry of valvular prosthesis can be compatible with pregnancy. The lack of embryopathy and malformed children could incite to propose the oral anticoagulation during the whole sequence of pregnancy.

[Breast cancer screening in Dakar: knowledge and practice of breast self examination among a female population in Senegal]. / Dépistage du cancer du sein: connaissance et pratique de l'auto-examen des seins au sein d'une population féminine au Sénégal.

In front of the absence of a mammographic screening program and the late diagnosis of the breast cancers in Senegal, we wanted to evaluate the knowledge and the practice of the breast self examination (BSE) by feminine population in Senegal. During the period between July 10th to August 25th 2006, through five big hospitals in Dakar, we interviewed 300 patients coming from a medical or surgical consultation. For every patient we studied the social and demographic characteristics, the antecedents and arguments about the knowledge and practice of BSE. We found, in majority, a young population (the average age was 34 years), no sent to school (26.7%), without any financial income (58.7%), with a brief knowledge about BSE (42.7%) and a regular practice of BSE (29%). The information about BSE originated essentially from educational television (52.9%). This knowledge and practice were significantly influenced by the study level (p = 0.000) and the level of financial income (p = 0.02). Among these who presented certain factors of breast cancer risk, the knowledge and the practice of the BSE were however low. The authors insist on the need to encourage the women schooling and their socioprofessional insertion so to improve the knowledge and practice of the breast self-examination in our developing countries.

[Sexual abuse: epidemiological, clinical aspects and management at gynaecological and obstetrical department of Dakar University Hospital]. / Profil épidémioclinique et prise en charge des victimes d'abus sexuels à la clinique gynécologique et obstétricale du CHU de Dakar.

OBJECTIVES: To carry out the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of supposed victims of sexual abuse and to evaluate case management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted about cases of presumed sexual abuse received at the gynaecological and obstetrical clinic department of Aristide-le-Dantec hospital from January 2003 to May 2005. RESULTS: A total of 55 cases were reported and represented 0.4% of admissions in the clinic during the period of study. Twenty percent of them (20%) were referred on judicial requisition. The mean time between sexual abuse and consultation was 15 days. Victims were 14 years old in average, nulligeste in 96.5% of cases and living in the suburban area of Dakar. The presumed "violenter" was a man of 32 years, belonging to the environment of the victim in 70% of cases (spiritual guide, joint-tenant, friend of the family...). The type of sexual assault was an unprotected genito-genital intercourse in 67.3% of cases. On the clinical plan, 70.9% of patients suffered recent genital traumatism, 54.5% genital examination showed hymeneal lesions. The HIV test was positive in two cases. During the follow-up of the patients, three pregnancies occurred and for only 9.1%, a psychological assistance was proposed. CONCLUSION: Sexual abuses represent a current sociocultural issue. Prevention required large information campaign. Early management is necessary in order to prevent the sexual transmitted diseases and psychological side effects.

[Advantages of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy in surgery of endometrial carcinoma]. / Avantages de la voie vaginale coelio-assistée dans la chirurgie des cancers de l'endomètre.

INTRODUCTION: In to respect the principles of oncological surgery and to reduce the operative morbidity, the authors of this study propose to find the proper place of the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy in the surgery of endometrial carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between the 1st of June 2002 and 31 of May 2005, we realize a retrospective and comparative study for 36 laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and 20 laparotomies concerning 56 patients. RESULTS: In primary stages (stages I and II of FIGO), laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy is as powerful as the laparotomy whereas in more advanced stages, laparotomy was more complete and effective (p=0,07). One conversion case was observed (2.8%) in a context of peritoneal carcinosis (stage IIIc). There was not statistically significant difference about the operatives complications (p = 0.51). On the other hand, the postoperative comfort was so far better in the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy group (p=0.0002). The average delay of followed without relapses was 22,3 months in the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy group versus 23 months in the laparotomy group (p=0.51). CONCLUSION: Considering these results, the authors retain that, in primary stages (I-II, FIGO), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy represents a real option in the surgery of endometrial carcinoma. On the other hand, the advanced stages should be reserved for laparotomy.

[Trancesarean intra-uterine device. Pilot study performed at Dakar teaching hospital]. / Dispositif intra-utérin mis en place en cours de césarienne. Étude pilote réalisée au centre hospitalier universitaire de Dakar.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the feasibility of copper IUD insertion following cesarean deliveries and assess its safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective pilot study at Pikine national hospital from February 15 to November 15, 2012. Were evaluated the efficacy, incidence and spectrum of complications and continuation rates. RESULTS: Fifty-nine subjects were enrolled and 46 received an IUD. The average age of patients was 28 years. No patient had previously used IUDs. Forty-four patients (97.5%) were returned to the first follow-up visit at the first month, 41 patients (89.1%) at the second visit and 39 patients (86.9%) at the third visit. The rate of lost sight was 8.7%. Pain and bleeding were reported rarely: 2.3% at the first month, 4.9% at the third month and 7.7% at the sixth month for the bleeding and 6.8% at the first month, 2.4% at the third month and 2% at the sixth month for pain. The rate of expulsion was 2.2%. CONCLUSION: The insertion of the IUD following cesarean delivery has an acceptable rate of expulsion and no increased rate of adverse effects. This technique should be popularized.

[Breast cancer on a scar of excision of ectopic breast tissue: a case report]. / Cancer du sein sur la cicatrice d'exérèse d'un tissu mammaire ectopique: à propos d'un cas.

The cancerization of supernumerary breast is uncommon. So when this situation occurs, the diagnosis is often late. Cancers of ectopic breast tissue have been reported in the international literature, but to our knowledge, no cancer after excision of accessory breast gland has been published. This article describes a case of ectopic breast tissue cancer in axillary situation occurring several years after excision and details its specific diagnostic, therapeutic and prognosis.