Ewing's sarcoma of the parotid gland: A rare entity with review of the literature.

Background: Ewing's sarcoma is a rare malignant entity. Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma (EES) of the head and neck region is a rare occurrence, and Ewing's sarcoma of the parotid gland is even rarer. To the best of our knowledge, we reported the first case of extraskeletal ES originating from the parotid gland in the Tunisian literature. Case report: We report a rare case of EES of the parotid gland in a 35-year-old female. She presented with left parotid tumefaction. Physical examination revealed solid and fixed mass associated with facial paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging illustrated a left intra-parotid process occupying the entire gland measuring 42 mm infiltrating the masseter and pterygoid muscles. The patient had a total left parotidectomy with ipsilateral triangular lymph node dissection. The definitive pathological examination and the immunohistochemical staining confirmed a primary peripheral neuroectodermal tumor or PNET with the presence of a specific EWING/PNET-type translocation in 60% of the tumor cells. She had an adjuvant chemotherapy (four cycles of vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide) followed by external radiotherapy. Conclusion: A clinical and radiological follow-up by cervical MRI was done every 3 months and The 10-month follow-up showed no locoregional and distant recurrence.

Introduction: Le sarcome d'Ewing est une entité maligne rare. La localisation extra osseuse en particulier la région de la tête et du cou est caractérisée par son agressivité locorégionale. Nous rapportons le cas d'un sarcome d'Ewing de la parotide. A notre connaissance, il s'agit du premier cas rapporté dans la littérature tunisienne. Presentation du cas: Il s'agit d'une femme âgée de 35 ans qui a consulté initialement pour une tuméfaction au niveau de la glande parotide gauche. L'examen clinique a révélé une masse sous angulomandibulaire associée à une paralysie faciale périphérique gauche. Une IRM parotidienne a objectivé un processus intra-parotidien gauche occupant l'entièreté de la glande mesurant 42 mm mal limitée infiltrant modérément le muscle masséter et ptérygoïdiens. Le bilan d'extension était sans anomalie. La patiente a eu une parotidectomie gauche large avec un curage triangulaire homolatéral. L'examen anatomopathologique définitif et l'étude par hybridation in situ en fluorescence (FISH) ont confirmé la présence d'une translocation spécifique type EWING/PNET dans 60% des cellules tumorales. La patiente a été traitée par une chimiothérapie type VDC/IE (vincristine, doxorubicine, cyclophosphamide en alternance avec ifosfamide, et etoposide) suivie d'une radiothérapie externe. Un suivi clinique et radiologique trimestrielle n'a montré aucune récidive locorégionale ni à distance à ce jour soit à 10 mois de recul. Conclusion: Une surveillance clinique et radiologique trimestrielle a été faite et le contrôle à 10 mois n'a pas montré de récidive locorégionale ou à distance.

Spindle cell carcinomaof the larynx: A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Spindle cell carcinoma (SCC), also called sarcomatoid carcinoma or carcinosarcoma, represents a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma that may involve multiple organs, including the larynx. It is a mixed tumor, composed of both malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements. As the larynx appears to be an unusual site, we report a case of treated SCC laryngeal as well as a literature review of such tumor. Observation: A 72-year-old male, with 2 months' history of a progressive worsening dysphonia, was examined. The patient examination showed no cervical adenopathy, while direct laryngoscopy detected a voluminous budding formation of the anterior commissure. A biopsy was performed, in which an undifferentiated carcinoma was identified. The computed tomography (CT) confirmed the existence of a glottic tumor, which completely obstructs the lumen of the larynx. No metastasis were noticed elsewhere on the PET-CT. The tumor was then classified as T3 N0 M0. The patient underwent a total laryngectomy, thyroidectomy and neck dissection. The definitive histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of SCC of the larynx with negative surgical margins. Afterward, the patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) on the tumor bed. Conclusion: Primary laryngeal SCC is a very rare malignancy with a tendency to occur with controlateral lymph node metastasis at an early stage of the disease. Combining surgery and postoperative RT is recommended due to its aggressive profile.

Spontaneous regression of an orbital Langerhans cell histiocytosis after biopsy: A case report. Spontaneous regression of an orbital Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans histiocytosis or Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare benign pathology representing less than 1% of orbital tumors. It can cause either localized or generalized lesions, leading to the destruction of hard and soft tissues. Eosinophilic granuloma is the most benign form and the predominant clinical presentation of LCH. We report a case of eosinophilic granuloma with orbital involvement in an 18-year-old male patient. Orbital radiotherapy was initially planned, but finally it was not performed due to a spontaneous regression of the lesion after the incisional biopsy. The presented case supports an expectant attitude given the possibility of a spontaneous regression after the biopsy, especially in small lesions. However, long-term follow-up is essential given the risk of recurrence.

Survival and prognostic factors in adult medulloblastoma: the Salah Azaiz Institute experience.

BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. This entity in adulthood is rare. The aim of our study is to evaluate therapeutic results and prognostic factors of adult medulloblastoma treated at our institute with post-operative radiotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 55 patients with medulloblastoma who underwent radiation in the department of radiation oncology of institute Salah Azaiz (Tunis) over a 18-year period (1994-2012). RESULTS: The surgery was total or subtotal resection in 73% of cases. Forty-eight patients received radiotherapy to the entire craniospinal axis as part of the curative treatment. The median interval from surgery to the initiation of radiotherapy was 83 days. Etoposide-cisplatin chemotherapy was only performed in metastatic patients (n = 4). The 5-years and 10-years overall survival rates were respectively 53 and 34%. The dose of radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis was a prognostic factor. The 5-years and 10-years event-free-survival rates were 64 and 41%. Reduction in the dose of radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis and fourth ventricular floor involvement were correlated with a worse event-free survival. CONCLUSION: Our results, compared to those of the literature, conclude that the reduction in the dose of radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis (<34 Gy) in the standard risk group of adult medulloblastoma could not be done without chemotherapy. In the high-risk group of adult medulloblastoma, radiotherapy to the cerebrospinal axis at the dose of 36 Gy with chemotherapy, is required for disease control.