Alobar holoprosencephaly in mining-related areas of the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Recent case reports described three cases of holoprosencephaly (HPE) in the area with high mining-related pollution of the southern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We reported two male neonates with clinically diagnosed HPE in the localities of Fizi and Kitutu, two mineral areas in the Eastern region of the same country (DRC), where artisanal surface mining is predominant with high exposure to radiation and heavy metals from mining. CASES' PRESENTATIONS: Two newborns from adult and multigravida mothers without pregnancy complication. The birth weights were 3,200 g and 2,500 g, respectively, and the malformations noticed were essentially the single median eye, the absent nose, polydactyly for one case, and proboscis for the other case. They both died a few minutes later after birth. CONCLUSION: The etiologic factors of HPE remain unknown but seem to be multifactorial from both genetic and environmental factors. We hypothesize under reserve for these two cases that mining and radiation expositions were likely potential environmental associated factors to the occurrence of these malformations.

Giant true aneurysm of superficial femoral artery in patient with multiple atherosclerotic aneurysms: A case report.

True atherosclerotic aneurysms of superficial femoral artery (SFA) are rare and often associated with other peripheral or aortic aneurysms. We report the case of a 84-year-old patient presenting a giant degenerative ruptured aneurysm of the superficial femoral artery. The patient underwent successful aneurysm resection and bypass grafting, with a satisfying long-term follow-up and patency of the graft. The patient was also operated one year before, for a ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. This case report is rare, because we described a case of patient with multiple atherosclerotic aneurysms, who present, for the second time, a life threating ruptured aneurysm. In this report, we see extreme and rapid evolution of SFA Aneurysm before being symptomatic. Degenerative aneurysms of the lower extremity most commonly involve the popliteal artery, while they are rarely detected in the femoral region (Leon et al., 2008). In this region, aneurysms most frequently involve the common femoral artery (CFA), whereas true aneurysms of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) represent only 15% to 25% of femoral arterial aneurysms [1-5]. Degenerative aneurysms of the SFA display peculiar characteristics (in terms of clinical onset, diagnostic timing, and clinical behavior) so that they differ from other peripheral aneurysms. Because the relative rarity of this location, our case report can be useful to participate to increase the number of reported cases, and define the therapeutic approach for this rare location.