Clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment outcome and prognostic factors in adult rhabdomyosarcoma: a monocentric retrospective study.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is rare in adults. Our study is the first in Tunisia to report outcomes of adult RMS. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of adult RMS patients. We collected data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment outcome and prognostic factors. Survival was assessed using the Kaplan Meier method. Forty-seven patients were included. Median age was 39. Twenty-five patients were young adults (53%). Sex ratio (M/F) was 1.9. RMS was localized in 33 patients (70%) and metastatic in 14 patients (30%). Extremities were the most frequent tumor site (40%) followed by trunk (23%). Median tumor size was 9 cm. Pleomorphic RMS was the major subtype (36%). Twenty seven of 33 patients with localized RMS underwent surgery (82%). Relapse free survival (RFS) was 38%. Young adults had a significantly worse RFS than adults aged ≥40 (p = 0.045). Surgery was associated with a significantly better RFS (p = 0.023). Five year overall survival (OS) was 35% and 27% in localized and metastatic RMS respectively. RMS localized in the extremities had significantly poorer OS (p = 0.041), same as non-operated patients (p = 0.025). OS for metastatic RMS was significantly worse after surgery of the primary tumor (p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, surgery (HR = 0.108; 95%CI (0.023-0.519); p = 0.005) and non-extremity localization (HR = 0.238; 95%CI (0.075-0.751); p = 0.014) were independent prognostic factors for OS in localized RMS. Adults with RMS have poor 5 year OS. Surgery and non-extremity localization were independent prognostic factors for OS in localized RMS.

Skin toxicity after Filgrastim treatment for an Ewing's sarcoma patient.

INTRODUCTION: Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GSCF) used in some chemotherapy regimen to prevent febrile neutropenia. Most common reaction of filgrastim are aches and pain including headaches, nausea and skin rash. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a patient who developed unusual, non-commonly reported adverse toxidermy to filgrastim. At first the eruption was limited to the lower members and genetics organs. Then it slowly spread across the whole body presenting as a polymorphic exanthematous-pustulosis lesions. MANAGEMENT & OUTCOME: A cutaneous biopsy was done, identifying a toxidermy modified by systemic treatment. A pharmacological study linked the role of filgrastim to these lesions. After switching from filgrastim to lénograstim, his lesions are completely gone and haven't flared up again. Thus, clearly imputing the use of filgrastim. DISCUSSION: The cutaneous reaction that has reported with use of GSCF are sweet syndrome, erythema nodosum, pyoderma nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum. As far as we know, no acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis due to GSCF has been reported.

Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine use among Tunisian cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients is prevalent worldwide as cancer patient are perpetually seeking for a way to improve their quality of life and to cure their disease. Unfortunately, the majority ignore the danger that can resort when they use CAM currently with conventional therapies. The purpose of this study is to assess prevalence and predictors of CAM use in cancer patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire administered to cancer patients, who were attending Salah Azaiz institute, Tunis, Tunisia. The study took place from September to December 2018. RESULTS: In 222 cancer patients, the overall prevalence of CAM use was 40.54%. On univariate analysis, patients who had university education level were less likely to use CAM (p = 0.05). Based on multivariate analysis, CAM users had more likely metastatic tumor (p = 0.047; OR = 1.913).It is reported that the majority of the population used herbal medicine. The most common herbal products consuming by patients, included Ephedra foeminea (51.8%), Annona muricata (12%) and Curcuma longa L. (10.84%).The main source of information was entourage (family, friends, hospital entourage) (74.44%).The majority of CAM users (61.11%) reported to consume CAM currently with conventional therapies. CONCLUSION: This survey revealed a high prevalence of CAM use. The most common type of CAM use is herbal products. Some of the used herbal products are known to interact with conventional anticancer medication. This emphasizes the importance of patients disclosure of CAM use to health professionals in order to avoid herb-medications interactions.

Prognostic factors in High-Grade Localized Osteosarcoma of the Extremities: The Tunisian Experience.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most frequent bone cancer occurring in children and adolescents aged 10-20 years. Several prognostic factors have been identified by studies done at western centers. The aim of our study was to identify the prognostic factors in Tunisian patients in order to improve their management. METHODS: We reviewed the data of localized limb osteosarcoma patients treated in Salah Azaïz Institute from January 1980 to December 2018. Patient's treatment and survival variables were assessed. Patients received a neoadjuvant chemotherapy and underwent surgery in an expert center. They received afterward an adjuvant chemotherapy depending on the tumor necrosis assessed by Huvos. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were enrolled. Mean duration of follow-up was 30 months (range 1-297 months). Males were 1.6 times more frequent, median age was 17 (from 1 to 62 years). Conventional osteoblastic osteosarcoma was the most frequent histological subtype (77%). Median tumor size was 10 cm. Femoral location was the most frequent (60%). The overall average history of symptoms was 103 days (4 to 423 days). The 5-year overall-survival was 38% and the event free survival 32%. Tumor site, lactate dehydrogenase levels, high methotrexate levels at 24 h, clinical evaluation of the tumor perimeter, surgery type and delay of relapse were found to affect overall survival. Tumor site, Lactate dehydrogenase levels and clinical evaluation of the tumor perimeter affected the progression free survival. CONCLUSION: Demographic characteristics of Tunisian patients are mainly the same than worldwide. Femoral site, normal level of lactate dehydrogenase, a clinical response during neoadjuvant treatment, an R0 surgery, a delay of relapse over 2 years and Median H24 Methotrexate level superior to 4.4 µmol/l were associated with a better prognosis in our study.

Gastric EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer: A rare pathological entity.

The gastric location of EBVMCU is extremely rare. The pathology examination and immunochemistry are mandatory for the diagnosis. It is essential that physicians be aware of this new entity to accurately diagnose and handle this disease.

The Consumption of Red and Processed Meat and The Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study among the Tunisian Population.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is at present the third most common malignancy in the world. With changes in lifestyle its incidence and mortality have increased during last decades. AIM: To explore the association between red meat, processed meat and risk of colorectal cancer. METHODS: We performed a case-control study, conducted from February to March 2019 at Salah Azaiez institute. One hundred and two subjects were enrolled. RESULTS: The case group included 52.9% males and 47.1% females. The control group enrolled 49%males and 51% females. The median age was 56 years old in the two groups. 63% of patients were stage I-III disease and 37% have a metastatic disease. The mean Body mass index was 24,76 Kg/m2 in CRC group was 27,39Kg/m2 in controls. CRC cases were more likely than controls to have a family history of CRC and a lower education level. There was a significant difference between cases and controls for socio-economic level and geographic origin. Ninety point two percent of cases and 76.5% of controls consume red meats, no significant association was observed between moderate red meat intake and colorectal cancer risk (p 0,063). However, a high total day meat consumption (> 100 g) was significantly associated with a high risk of CRC compared to low consumption ( <50 g) ( p=0.023). In contrast no significant association was observed when comparing all cooking methods of meet. 51% of cases and 23,5% of controls intake processed meats. Processed meat was positively associated with CRC (p 0,004). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that higher consumptions of red meat, the consumption of industrially processed meat increased the risk of CRC.

[Endometrial carcinoma: An histopathological and histoprognotic study about 62 patients in a center in the Tunisian north]. / Les carcinomes de l'endomètre : étude anatomopathologique et histopronostique à propos de 62 cas dans un centre du Nord tunisien.

Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent genital tract cancer in occident and the third most common cancer among women in Tunisia. It is dominated by carcinoma. The identification of prognostic factors allows a better understanding of its outcome and guides its therapeutic approach. We propose to describe the clinicopathological features and identify the histoprognostic factors of this cancer. It is a retrospective analysis of a series of 62 total hysterectomy specimens with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy from women with primary carcinoma of the endometrium, colligated in Anatomy Laboratory and Pathology Salah Azaiz Institute of Tunis over a period of 5 years, from January 2003 to December 2007. The median age was 60 years. At the time of diagnosis, 25% of patients were nulliparous and 86% were menopaused. The endometrioid adenocarcinoma was the most common, accounting for 84% of cases (5% of them were grade 3). A myometrial invasion superior or equal to 50% was observed in 40% of cases. 42% of cases were classified as stage IA, 14% in stage IB, 16% in stage II, 18% stage III and 10% in stage IV. 22% of patients had nodal involvement. Overall survival at 5 years was 81%. In multivariate analysis, stage IV, nodal involvement and brachytherapy have influenced this rate. Event-free survival at 5 years was 71%. It was directly related to stage and nodal involvement. Stage, histological type, tumor grade, invasion of more than half of the myometrium and lymph node involvement were the most important adverse prognostic factors, dictating an appropriate management of these tumors.

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma on the trunk: An unusual presentation with an aggressive course - Case report and review of literature.

Primary cutaneous leiomyosarcoma (PCL) are soft-tissue sarcoma, arising in the dermis, with or without extension into the subcutis. They are thought to have an indolent course compared to their subcutaneous counterparts, they may recur but rarely metastases. We report the case of a patient with a PCL arising in the anterior trunk wall who developed pulmonary, bone and retroperitoneal metastases 6 years after wide surgical excision of the primary tumor.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of thyroid gland: the youngest case.

Primary leiomyosarcomas of the thyroid gland are extremely rare. We report a case of a 32 year-old women with a multinodular goiter. She underwent total thyroidectomy. The tumor histology showed spindle-shaped cells that expressed desmine, caldesmone and smooth muscle actine but were negative cytokeratins.

Clinico-pathological and prognostic findings on 27 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare tumor accounting for less than 10% of thyroid neoplasm. This tumor is characterized by important histological polymorphism which makes morphological diagnosis difficult and immunohistochemical study often necessary. OBJECTIVE: We aim to perform a retrospective review of clinical and pathological characteristics of medullary carcinoma. We will discuss the place of immunohistochemistry in the positive diagnosis and as a prognostic factor. METHODS: patients with thyroid medullary carcinoma diagnosed in department of pathology at carcinologic institute between 1998 and 2013 were retrospectively included. Clinic, radiologic and prognostic variables were assessed. Slides were reviewed for all the patients with confirmed tumors. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with CMT were identified. The average age was 55 years with predominance of males. The average consultation time was 16 months. The most common presentation symptom was a cervical lymph node. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 23 patients. Tumor was nodular and unique in 22 cases. The average size was 2.1 cm. CMT was of mixed type containing both medullary and papillary compound in four cases. Amyloid substance was present and abundant in 21cases. Positive staining for calcitonin was observed in 16 cases. Distant metastasis or metastatic lymph nodes was observed in eight cases with an average period of 42 months. Radiotherapy was performed in fifteen cases and two patients received chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: In the absence of amyloid deposits, immunohistochemical staining with calcitonin is useful to confirm the diagnosis. The prognosis of this entity is more pejorative than papillary thyroid carcinoma.