Adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary ductal adenocarcinomas of the lacrimal gland are very rare. This neoplasm shares some histological and immunohistochemical similarities with salivary duct carcinoma. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we present a case of a 55-year-old Moroccan man with lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma. He underwent orbital exenteration with lymph nodes dissection and ipsilateral parotidectomy. After surgery, he was lost to follow-up and died 13 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Lacrimal gland tumors are rare but highly aggressive salivary gland tumors. Complete excision with adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended.

Associated factors with psychological distress in Moroccan breast cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of psychological distress (PD) in Moroccan breast cancer patients, and to determine clinical and social demographic factors associated with PD. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study where we included all female breast cancer patients that did not have other malignancies. Judgment criteria were based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Distress Thermometer (DT). Threshold values of 15 and 3 were fixed to detect patients on PD by the HADS and the DT, respectively. We analyzed data by calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the reliability of measurements, and by simple and multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: 446 women were enrolled. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.801, 0.669 and 0.639 respectively for the HADS, HAD-A and HAD-D questionnaires. 120 patients (26.9%) had a HADS global score ≥15. HAD-A and HAD-D sub-scores were ≥11 in 25 (5.6%) and 30 (6.7%) patients respectively. In multivariate analysis, adjusted for the education level, marital status, taking analgesic and/or anxiolytic treatment, and current treatment type; we found that the occurrence of a distant metastasis [OR = 14.427 p < 0.001], lack of social family support [OR = 4.631 p < 0.001], living a difficult emotional [OR = 2533 p = 0.034] and/or financial [OR = 2.09 p = 0.037] situation, and younger (<50 years) age [OR = 2.398 p = 0.002], were independent associated factors with PD as assessed by the HADS. CONCLUSIONS: Social family support, emotional and financial difficulties should be investigated in all Moroccan breast cancer patients, especially among younger ones, in order to detect those at risk of PD and offer them appropriate support.

Radiation-induced osteosarcoma of the skull base after radiation therapy in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced osteosarcomas are a recognized complication of radiation therapy. Owing to the fact that it is rare, publications on radiation-induced osteosarcoma of the skull base are limited to a small series and some case reports. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a rare case of a patient with a skull base radiation-induced osteosarcoma treated 11 years before with ionizing radiation for an undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx. The patient was treated with chemotherapy alone, but he died after the third cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation-induced osteosarcoma of the skull base after treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a very rare but very aggressive complication with a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy gives bad results, and regular follow-up of treated patients should be considered.

Sebaceous carcinoma of the parotid gland: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Sebaceous carcinoma is a rare malignancy primarily with aggressive growth affecting the cutaneous tissues of the periocular region. Sebaceous carcinoma of the parotid gland is exceedingly rare, with only 32 cases reported in the literature. Our case brings this total to 33. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 57-year-old Moroccan woman with a firm, painless, slowly enlarging swelling at her left parotid area, with normal overlying skin and no palpable neck nodes. Parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation was performed, and microscopic examination showed sebaceous carcinoma. Then, she underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. With a follow up of 20 months, head and neck computed tomography revealed no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal treatment is unclear. With more cases reported, clinicopathological characteristics and histogenesis are increasingly understood. Therefore the treatment for this rare tumor continues to evolve.

Uterine cervix metastasis from a sigmoid adenocarcinoma: a rare presentation of an uncommon tumor.

Metastatic carcinoma to the uterine cervix from colorectal cancer, through haematogenous or lymphatic spread, is extremely rare. We report the case of a 59 year old woman in whom cervical metastasis was diagnosed after 13 months of follow-up for a sigmoid adenocarcinoma, confirmed by immunohistochemical study, with a review of the literature. This case illustrates that abnormal gynecologic symptoms can reveal a disease progression on patients who suffer colorectal cancer.