Challenges and Management of Capillary Intraosseous Hemangioma in the Mandibular Symphysis: A Case Report.

Capillary intraosseous hemangioma is a benign vascular neoplasm that affects bone tissue, yet its occurrence in the jaw bones has been seldom reported in the literature. We present a case of a capillary intraosseous hemangioma located in the mandibular symphysis of a 28-year-old male. Initially addressed by the patient's dentist as an infectious lesion of endodontic origin, the sudden worsening of the condition, marked by the development of a rapidly expanding exophytic mandibular lesion and tooth mobility, led to the consideration of various potential diagnoses. Subsequently, an incisional biopsy was performed, triggering multiple episodes of recurrent bleeding, leading to several visits to the emergency department, and prompting an urgent status upgrade for the patient. Upon the histological diagnosis of vascular neoplasm, the patient underwent the excision of the lesion, with a favorable and uneventful evolution, although with expected sequelae. As a result, a temporary prosthetic solution, comprising a Maryland Bridge, was implemented, with plans for guided bone regeneration and implant-supported fixed dental prostheses currently in progress. This case underscores the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with this rare condition. Consequently, achieving the optimal outcome for the patient largely depends on a multidisciplinary approach, emphasizing the critical importance of thorough preoperative assessment, along with a well-devised treatment plan and rapid intervention.

Endobronchial solitary fibrous tumors: An enigma for diagnosis.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms constituting less than 2% of all soft tissue tumors. They typically originate in the thoracic cavity, mainly in the pleura, but can also occur in other various sites such as lung parenchyma, pericardium, and bronchus. In this study, a 49-year-old non-smoking female with a history of allergies presented to our pulmonary clinic with a chronic cough. An explorative bronchoscopy revealed an intrabronchial mass in the left superior bronchi, and a 68 Ga-DOTATOC positron emission computed tomography suggested a carcinoid tumor. Subsequent pulmonary segmentectomy unveiled a well-circumscribed polypoid lesion diagnosed as a low-grade bronchus SFT through histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments. The patient was asymptomatic after surgical excision and showed no other lesion during the 6-month follow-up. The endobronchial location of SFT is uncommon, with only a few reported cases in the literature, underscoring the necessity of considering various differential diagnoses, including carcinoid, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, endobronchial pleomorphic adenoma, hamartoma, leiomyoma, and metastasis, depending on location and imaging features. This report underscores the importance of careful histological and immunohistochemical evaluation in understanding and appropriately stratifying the risk associated with polypoid lesions.

Oral Gastric Heterotopia: First Reported Case in the Hard Palate.

Gastric heterotopia is characterized by the presence of mature gastric tissue outside the stomach, yet its occurrence in the palate has not been previously documented. We describe a case of gastric heterotopia in the hard palate of an elderly female patient, presenting as a swollen mass with associated secretion. Given the patient's age and clinical symptoms, a presumptive diagnosis of a malignant tumor originating from the minor salivary glands was made. An incisional biopsy of the mass revealed gastric heterotopia. Subsequently, the extended excision of the lesion was performed, leading to the full resolution of the patient's symptoms. After a two-year follow-up period, no evidence of recurrence was observed. The importance of this case, underscored by the unprecedented location of gastric heterotopia, emphasizes the critical need for thorough evaluation to avert misdiagnosis, as well as the complete surgical excision of the lesion to prevent recurrence.

Late-Onset Masseteric Metastasis of Malignant Melanoma in a Patient With Neurofibromatosis and Lipomatosis: A Diagnostic Challenge and Case Report.

Melanoma and neurofibromatosis (NF) are distinctly separate conditions, each characterized by unique pathophysiological processes. Nevertheless, their clinical presentations can share overlapping similarities. This report highlights a unique case involving a 68-year-old male with NF1 and lipomatosis, whose unwavering belief that a developing mass in the masseter region was benign and linked to the pre-existing diagnoses contributed to a significant delay in seeking healthcare. Consequently, this postponement resulted in the late diagnosis of disseminated malignant melanoma (stage IV, T4N0M1c). Given the patient's prognosis and poor general health, a palliative treatment plan was devised, entailing the complete excision of the masseteric mass and vertebral radiotherapy. Following a rapid and extensive progression of the cancerous lesions, the patient passed away in a palliative care infirmary four months after surgery. The significance of this case, justified not only by its uncommon presentation and atypical differential diagnosis, highlights the critical necessity of regular follow-up protocols for melanoma patients, particularly those prone to metastasis, while ensuring patient attendance. Furthermore, it underscores the necessity of patient education, particularly in recognizing early signs and symptoms, and timely intervention in cases with complex comorbidities.

Clinicopathological prognostic factors for gallbladder carcinoma: a retrospective study.

Background: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is an uncommon neoplasm with poor long-term survival. Worldwide the incidence rates vary according to geographic area. The multifactorial aetiology and the rarity of the disease limits the studies to improve outcomes in patients, since the treatment remains mostly surgical. The aim of this study was to identify clinicopathological prognostic factors for survival in patients with GBC submitted to surgery in our institution-a tertiary centre in Portugal. Also, to assess the expression of possible biomarkers (HER2, CD44 and ALDH1) in GBC, as well as the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) tumours. Methods: Clinicopathological characteristics of 41 consecutive patients that underwent surgical resection for GBC (2008-2019) at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological factors were assessed and an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was done. Microsatellite stability (MSS) was considered if there was maintenance of nuclear expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression was evaluated according to the rules applied for gastric cancer and expression of CD44 and ALH1 was evaluated in order to detect cancer stem cells (CSC). Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression was used to find prognostic factors. Results: Incidence of GBC in our cohort of patients was 0.45%, most commonly affecting females. Median overall survival (OS) was 23 months with a 39.6% 5-year survival rate. Stage > II [hazard ratios (HR) =8.58; P=0.007], lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (HR =4.06; P=0.045) and hepatic resection (HR =0.288; P=0.034) independently influenced survival. HER2 positivity and high expression of CD44 or ADLH1 did not show significant influence in survival (P=0.649, P=0.868 and P=0.914, respectively), although HER2 and ALDH1 positive patients showed a tendency to a shorter OS, compared to negative patients. We found no relation between these biomarkers expression and disease stage. All analysed samples had MSS. Conclusions: GBC patients with a worse prognosis can be identified. The overexpression of HER2 could select patients for targeted therapy and prompt tissue sampling in unresectable patients.

Pancreatic microcystic serous cystadenoma: a lethal disease? Rare case of a life-threatening haemorrhage.

Serous pancreatic cystadenomas are benign tumours and most cases are detected incidentally. Complications are unusual. A patient with a history of a large pancreatic serous cystadenoma (SCA) presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and haemodynamic shock. After haemodynamic stabilisation, an urgent abdominal CT scan revealed a large hemoperitoneum but the origin of the bleeding was not found. The patient was submitted to an angiography that revealed a bleeding hypervascular pancreatic mass and an embolisation was done successfully. After 3 weeks, the patient underwent a laparotomic left pancreatectomy with en bloc splenectomy. The anatomopathological results were consistent with a microcystic SCA of the pancreas. Despite the high vascularity of pancreatic SCA, haemorrhage is a very rare but life-threatening complication.