Scintigraphic findings in hungry bone syndrome following parathyroidectomy.

Prolonged hypocalcemia following parathyroidectomy, called hungry bone syndrome, is a common complication of parathyroid surgery seen in 13-30% of cases. In this article, we report the case of a 48-year-old woman with bone pain and multiple brown tumors as the first manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism due to a large parathyroid adenoma. After parathyroidectomy, the patient presented clinical signs of hypocalcemia consistent with hungry bone syndrome. Scintigraphic and radiographic modifications following parathyroidectomy are described.

Captopril renography as a prognostic factor in obstructive hydronephrosis with preserved renal function.

Hydronephrotic kidney with a differential renal function greater than 55% is defined as supranormal. The signification of this finding remains controversial. In this article, the authors reported a case of supranormal function in obstructive hydronephrosis. Differential renal functions were evaluated after administration of captopril and after pyeloplasty. The role of captopril renography as a prognostic factor for surgery is discussed.

Role of the peritoneopleural pressure gradient in the genesis of hepatic hydrothorax. An isotopic study.

SUMMARY: Hepatic hydrothorax is defined as the development of significant pleural effusion in a patient with cirrhosis without primary pulmonary or cardiac disease. This complication is seen in 4-10% of patients with cirrhosis. The pleural effusion is a result of a direct passage of ascitic fluid into the pleural cavity through a defect in the diaphragm. We report two patients with posthepatitis cirrhosis presenting with a significant pleural effusion. The peritoneopleural communication was demonstrated by peritoneal scintigraphy. The role of the peritoneopleural pressure gradient is discussed.

[Immunohistochemical study of endometrial stromal sarcoma and smooth-muscle tumors of the uterus]. / Etude immunohistochimique des sarcomes du stroma endométrial et des tumeurs musculaires lisses de l'utérus.

OBJECTIVES: Positive and differential diagnoses of mesenchymal tumors of the uterus may be sometimes problematic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of a panel of antibodies in this diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of AML, desmin, h-caldesmon and CD10 was studied in nine endometrial stromal sarcomas (SSE), two leiomyosarcomas (LMS) and 10 highly-cellular leiomyoma (HCL). RESULTS: AML positivity was found in five SSE, in all HCL and in only one LMS. Desmin expression was found in two SSE, in all HCL and LMS. H-caldesmon was negative in all SSE, positive in all HCL and in one case of LMS. CD10 was expressed in two-third of SSE. However, neither HCL nor LMS was marqued. CONCLUSION: CD10 is the most specific antibody of SSE. It seems to have the best value in the diagnosis of mesenchymal tumors in association with desmin and h-caldesmon, specific markers of smooth-muscle differentiation.

[What are the alternative criteria for fine needle aspiration biopsy of a thyroid nodule?]. / Quels critères alternatifs à la cytoponction d'un nodule thyroïdien ?

OBJECTIVES: To identify the clinical and paraclinical factors of thyroid nodule malignancy (in absence of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy data). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of 282 patients admitted for management of a thyroid nodule disease. All patients had undergone surgery and the specimen had been analyzed anatomically and pathologically. Forty-four patients had malignant disease. Epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical data, as well as the anatomical and pathological characteristics of the specimen were collected for each patient. RESULTS: We showed that the epidemiological data (sex and age), the nodule's characteristics (consistency, irregularities of the edges and fixity to underlying structures, and size), the presence of adenopathies, signs of compression, and the presence of calcifications were the predictability criteria of malignant disease. However, the scintigraphic aspect, the echostructure, and the hormonal status were not significant. CONCLUSION: This study underscores that a relevant clinical and paraclinical analysis remains highly contributive in the presurgical identification of factors predictive of malignancy of a thyroid nodule, notably in countries where technological tools are not always available.

[Severe maternal morbidity]. / La morbidité maternelle grave.

OBJECTIVES: Severe maternal morbidity remains a public health issue in developing countries. We report in this retrospective study, patients' characteristics and frequency of pathologies responsible of severe maternal morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2003, 119 cases of severe maternal pathologies of pregnancy and delivery occurred among 19,736 live births. RESULTS: Severe maternal morbidity was 602.95 per 100,000 live births and obstetrical haemorrhages were the most frequent cause (39%) followed by hypertensive disease (25%). Maternal mortality rate was 30.4 per 100,000 live births, and hypertensive disease represents the first cause of mortality in our study, contrary to all Tunisian data where haemorrhage remains the first one. CONCLUSION: Improvement of prognostic of high risk pregnancies has allowed diminution of maternal mortality. Instead of this diminution, efforts must be done in the management of severe obstetrical pathologies responsible of high maternal morbidity notably complications of hypertensive disease.

[Endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix associated with mucinous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma]. / Association d'un adénocarcinome du col de type endométrioïde à un cystadénocarcinome mucineux de l'ovaire.

The authors report the case of a 40-year-old woman, who was operated for an ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The pathologic findings of the hysterectomy specimen with bilateral salpingoophorectomy showed an ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma associated with an endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. The mucinous cystadenocarcinoma represents the third most common type of ovarian carcinoma. In the literature, this tumor had been found in association with endocervical adenocarcinoma or with minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (adenoma malignum) of the uterine cervix. However, its association with an endometrioid adenocarcinoma, to our knowledge, has not been reported.

[Subperiosteal hematoma in delivery]. / L'hématome sous-périosté de l'orbite au cours de l'accouchement.

Spontaneous subperiosteal hematoma of the orbit is uncommon and only five cases have been reported in literature. The aim is to report a new case of this exceptional complication of labour and delivery. A 28-year-old woman developed immediately after delivery exophthalmia, chemosis and diplopia. CT scan showed a subperiosteal hematoma of the orbit. Spontaneous evolution was good. For her second pregnancy, caesarean section was decided because of the risk of recurrence. Since no etiology is found, venous hyperpression occurring during labor could be the lone origin.

[Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis. Interest of tetrofosmin scintigraphy and lymph node thyroglobulin measurement]. / Microcarcinome papillaire de la thyroide révélé par des métastases ganglionnaires cervicales. Intérêt de la scintigraphie à la tétrofosmine et le dosage de la thyroglobuline ganglionnaire.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Thyroid microcarcinoma presenting as cervical lymph node metastasis is common and it is associated in most cases with the papillary variety. Diagnosis of lymph node metastases from a thyroid microcarcinoma is not always easy, because a thyroid nodule may not be palpable. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this work, the authors report two cases of papillary microcarcinoma presenting as cervical lymph adenopathy. RESULTS: The diagnosis was made preoperatively by Tetrofosmin scintigraphy and thyroglobulin measurement in the lymph node. CONCLUSION: Tetrofosmine scintigraphy is a performing exam but with a poor specificity. Lymph node thyroglobulin is a simple exam which is very sensitive and specific.

[Compared course of clinical, biologic, echographic and speedometric parameters in retroplancetal hematoma]. / Evolution comparée des paramètres cliniques, biologiques, échographiques et vélocimétriques en cas d'hématome rétroplacentaire.

The authors have studied 27 cases of Abruptio Placentae (A.P.) (for an observation time of 15 months). These 27 patients where divided into 3 groups: 6 patients without pregnancy follow-up, 5 with a regular follow-up and 16 with an intensive pregnancy follow-up. In this last group following parameters were studied: blood pressure, proteinuria, uricemia, hematocrit, platelet count, FDP, plasma volume, Fetal (umbilical artery) and Maternal (uterine artery velocities with doppler reclude Fetal heart Rate. The total number of intra uterine death and post natal death remained very high: 15 over 27 cases. However this rate was lower in the intensive group, where 10 fetuses with were delivered safely. Studying the evolution of clinical, biological and ultrasonic parameters during the last month before the AP we tried to establish curves of their mean value (every week for the last 4 weeks and every day for the last week). Almost all parameters showed a late significant variation (in the last week). Two of them were modified in the last two days: (FDP and Fetal heart rate acceleration). Two of them were "positive" (in 60 p. 100 of cases) 3 of 4 weeks before the AP: Maternal Plasma volume decrease, Presence of a Notch on the uterine artery doppler curve. In conclusion fetal or neonatal death after AB remains high and even with an intensive follow-up 30 p. 100 of the cases cannot be predicted.

[Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and corticosteroid therapy]. / Dysplasie broncho-pulmonaire et corticothérapie.

Inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia of preterm infants. Having a strong anti-inflammatory effect, corticosteroids have been proposed in the management of this disease. Antenatal steroids protect the newborn against its development. Postnatal systemic administration of steroids reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, but is associated with short term and long term adverse effects. Early administration of dexamethasone (before 7 days of life) reduces the incidence and the severity of chronic lung disease at 28 days of life and 36 weeks of post-conceptional age. Inhaled steroids are associated with less adverse effects than dexamethasone administration, but they are also less effective.

[Robert's uterus with menstrual retention in the blind cavity]. / Utérus de Robert avec rétention menstruelle dans la cavité borgne.

Robert's uterus or asymmetric septate uterus is a rare malformation. It presents with two cavities, one of which is blind. The authors report an original case: the blind cavity, on the right side of the septum, contained retained secretions. The embryologic and physiopathologic mechanism of this anomaly still are to be discussed.

[Placenta accreta. Ten cases]. / Le placenta accreta. A propos de 10 cas.

A retrospective analysis of 10 cases of placenta accreta observed from 1983 to 1993, all confirmed histologically, were reviewed at the Gynaecology-Obstetric B ward of the Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis. The incidence of this placental anomaly is 1 for 7,139 births. The condition is usually discovered due to excessive bleeding at delivery. In 10 cases, hysterectomy was required for haemostasis. There were 3 maternal deaths. The insertion of the placenta on a uterin scar is highly suggestive of placenta accreta. The increase in the incidence of this pathology over the last years is probably related to the increase in the number of cesarean sections. When observed, hysterectomy provides the best chances of survival.

[Obstetrical prognosis of gestational pemphigoid. Study of a series of 13 cases and review of the literature]. / Pronostic obstétrical de la pemphigoïde gestationnelle. Etude d'une série de 13 cas et revue de la littérature.

Pemphigoid gestationis (PG) Herpes Gestationis (HG) is an auto-immune bullous dermatosis which usually occurs in pregnancy. We have studied the maternal and fetal prognosis of this pathological condition. Thirteen cases were reported at the same time by the departments of dermatology and obstetrics of the Charles-Nicolle Hospital between 1980 and 1990. Two women were not followed up. In the remaining eleven there was one intrauterine fetal death and one intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR). One case was delivered prematurely because of obstetric indications. Four infants were delivered by Caesarean section on purely obstetrical indications. The other cases were delivered normally. There were no dermatological lesions or other malformations in the infants. Immediately after delivery ten women showed exacerbation of the skin lesions and most of these were treated by general corticotherapy. Our results were compared with those found in the literature. The prognosis differs according to different authors but in order to avoid any risks the condition must be followed carefully by obstetricians and dermatologists and laboratories working together.

[Entero-mesenteric venous infarction and pregnancy. A recent case]. / Infarctus entéro-mésentérique veineux et grossesse. Une observation récente.

The authors report a case of mesenteric venous infarction in a pregnant woman. After having studied the clinical characteristics of this accident, they discuss the role of pregnancy in its accuracy and also the therapy that has to be adopted.

[Surveillance system of maternal mortality in the Tunis region]. / Le système de surveillance des décès maternels dans la région de Tunis.

In the framework of a national strategy of reduction of the maternal mortality rate. Tunisia has set up a follow up system of maternal deaths occurring in public facilities to analyse their causes, the levels of deficiency and to propose solutions for preventing them. This note aims at describing the system, its results, its efficiency and its limitations in the Tunis region for the years 1999 and 2000. The results show a maternal mortality rate estimated at 80 for 100,000 births in public facilities of the region: the main causes being haemorrhage (42.1%) followed by infection (13.2%). The proportion of avoidable deaths is 87%:74% possibly avoidable and 13% certainly avoidable, factors related to women behaviour have also contributed to 45% of cases. The system flows are however intricated, and related to organization: an underestimation of risk by the patient (33%), an inadequate watch during the postpartum period (25%), a late hospitalisation (22%) and not enough reanimation equipment. Nevertheless, this control system has achieved part of its objective by starting up a quality approach to obstetrical cares and by warning health professionals such as obstetricians, anaesthetists, blood banks in charge, hospital managers and other medical teams. The limitations of the system are tied to the follow up of the real implementation of recommendations stated in reports at a local as well as central levels.

[Hydatic cyst of the fallopian tube]. / Kyste hydatique tubaire unilatéral: à propos d'un cas.

Hydatic cyst of the Fallopian tube is an exceptional localization, the diagnosis of which is frequently confirmed preoperatively. A 44-year-old woman was addressed for pelvic mass with fortuitous discovery. The diagnosis preoperatively confirmed by the extemporaneous histological study was hydatic cyst of the Fallopian tube. Salpingectomy was required. The pelvic hydatic cyst, particularly in the Fallopian tube, is a rare complaint. Clinics and biology were very important for diagnosis but only anatomopathology can confirm diagnosis of hydatic cyst. The treatment of Fallopian tube hydatic cyst is surgival and often radical (salpingectomy).