Factors Associated With Esophagus Cancers in Togo, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Esophagus cancer is cancer of poor prognosis, of often late diagnosis. The objective of this study was to describe the factors associated with esophagus cancers in the Togolese population. Methods: It was a retrospective descriptive, cross-sectional study, on esophagus cancers histologically diagnosed at the Pathological Laboratory of Lomé over a period of 31 years (1990-2021). Results: We have collected 144 cases of esophagus cancer. The average age of patients was 57 ± 12 years, and the sex ratio was 2.34. The most applicant service was the service of Hepato Gastroenterology of CHU Campus (30.6%). Alcohol (57.6%), tobacco (45.8%) were the most present risk factors. Biopsies were the most addressed (97.2%). The average duration of symptom evolution was 6.42 months and the main symptom at the time of diagnosis was dysphagia (36.8%). The location of cancer was the lower third for 71.5% of cases. At histology, epidermoid carcinoma was the dominant type (90.3%). Male sex was statistically associated with the occurrence of epidermoid carcinoma and female sex with the occurrence of adenocarcinoma (P < .001). Alcohol, smoking, and consumption of hot foods were statistically associated with the occurrence of epidermoid carcinoma in this study (P < .05). Conclusion: Esophagus cancer remains a serious condition for late diagnosis. These are mainly epidermoid carcinomas and having alcohol and tobacco as risk factors. The awareness of the population on the main risk factors would reduce the incidence of oesophagus cancers within the Togolese population.

The place of presumptive diagnosis in the management of peritoneal tuberculosis: A case report from rural Togo.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in developing countries. Its main abdominal form is peritoneal. The diagnosis of this peritoneal form is complex and difficult. We describe the role of presumptive diagnosis in the management of this condition in Togo, based on a case study. CASE PRESENTATION: A security guard with no previous pathological history was seen in consultation with febrile ascites. Investigations revealed the exudative and lymphocytic nature of the ascites. The other investigations did not reveal any other organic lesion, particularly hepatic, or the germ. This typical ascites picture had for us a strong diagnostic value in favour of a tubercular origin. The patient was treated with antituberculosis drugs for 6 months. The evolution was satisfactory. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis is difficult. Biological explorations are rather disappointing in this approach. Laparoscopy coupled with histological examination represents the best means of diagnosing peritoneal tuberculosis to date. However, in developing countries, the absence of these resources poses a real problem. Clinical and biological arguments are always at the forefront of the diagnosis in endemic countries. The latter is based on the demonstration of febrile, exudative and lymphocytic ascites. CONCLUSION: The difficult diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis coupled with the lack of technical facilities gives the presumptive diagnosis an important place in the management of this condition in endemic countries.

Giant abdominopelvic desmoid tumour herniated trough perineum: a case report.

Desmoid tumours are deep aggressive fibromatoses that usually arise in the soft tissues of the limbs or the abdominal wall. Intra-abdominal localisation, rarely occurs and their treatment may be challenging. When necessary, surgery must be personalized to what is achievable in terms of margins while preserving functional outcomes. This condition is illustrated herein with the case of a 40-year-old female presenting an unusually large sporadic desmoid tumour with abdominal, pelvic and perineal involvement. Resection was performed without organ involvement through a combined perineal approach. Tumour resection was macroscopically completed except in the perineum, where the tumour was left (R2 resection) to preserve anal sphincter. Adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen was given to achieve local control. The hormonal treatment was well tolerated, and no recurrence was observed after 36 months of follow-up.

Miliary abscess of the liver: unusual complication of intestinal perforation.

Miliary abscess of the liver represents a rare presentation of multiple liver abscesses. They often occur in immunosuppressed patients, or those with underlying liver disease. We report the case of a 22-year-old patient, without known immunodeficiency factors, surgical history or notion of tuberculous contacts, who was admitted for generalized peritonitis and ileal perforation. An ileostomy was performed. The infectious syndrome persisted in post-operative period, associated with painful hepatomegaly. An contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan led to the diagnosis of miliary abscess of the liver. A blood culture isolated Escherichia coli. The treatment included antibiotics and the clinical evolution was favorable. The follow-up abdominal CT scan was normal. Intestinal continuity was restored without complications. Miliary abscess of the liver is rare and requires rapid diagnosis. The treatment is based on antibiotic therapy.

Duodenocolic fistula by nail ingestion in a child.

Unintentional foreign body ingestion is common among children. Normally, these ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously. Only few of them may lead to complications such as fistula, which requires surgical intervention. We are reporting a case of accidental construction nail ingestion in a 3-year-old male child, for 30 days, without any symptoms. Diagnosis of duodenocolic fistula by construction nail was made on clinical examination and abdominal radiography features. He underwent surgical intervention, with nail removal, dudenal and colic primary closure. The follow-up was uneventful. We recommend emergently retrieval of sharp-pointed and long-ingested foreign bodies like a construction nail. Conservative outpatient management by clinical observation is not appropriate for this kind of foreign bodies. It may lead to complications such as perforation and fistula.

Severe snakebite envenomation revealed by an acute abdomen.

Acute abdomens are common conditions, with many aetiologies in developing countries. Abdominal bleeding due to snake envenomation is an extremely rare aetiology. A 11-year-old girl was admitted for acute abdominal pains. She had a history of foot bite of unknown origin. Physical examination revealed palor and abdominal tenderness. At laparotomy, there were peritoneal and retroperitoneal diffuse hematomas. Laboratory studies revealed abnormal coagulation profile. Retroperitoneal and peritoneal hematomas' diagnosis, by consumptive coagulopathy, due to snakebite envenomation, was made. Polyvalent antivenom administration permitted a normalization of coagulation profile, however, with persistent surgical site bleeding. Whole blood transfusion was administered with bleeding stop. Sudden abdominal pain, palor and signs of peritonism suggest an acute abdomen. However, abdominal bleeding due to snakebite envenomation should be considered, especially in child with unidentified bite history. Imaging modalities may helpful to confirm the abdominal bleeding. Antivenom is the mainstay of the treatment.

[Spontaneous idiopathic pneumoperitoneum: about a case]. / Pneumopéritoine spontané idiopathique: à propos d'une observation.

Pneumoperitoneum, in the majority of cases, is caused by a perforation of the gastrointestinal tract whose treatment is usually surgical. It rarely occurs spontaneously. This study reports an unusual presentation of pneumoperitoneum which has put the surgeon in a massive diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We report the case of a 77-year old patient with spontaneous pneumoperitoneum evolving during non-operative treatment. We here discuss the management procedure for this uncommon disease.

Difficult Causality Relationship between Colorectal Cancer and Schistosomiasis.

The purpose of the study was to determine the nature of the association between colorectal cancer and schistosomiasis infection. This was a retrospective and descriptive study of colorectal cancers and to identify cases associated with schistosomiasis. A total of 814 cases of rectal colorectal cancer were collected and 3 cases were associated with schistosomiasis. These are 2 cases of Liberkunian adenocarcinoma and one case of malt lymphoma. The patients were all farmers and from rural areas. A co-infection with HIV was found in his 3 patients. Our data show an extreme rarity of the association colorectal cancer and schistosomiasis; it seems difficult to conceive of a causal relationship.

Paraneoplastic pyoderma gangrenosum associated with adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid junction: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare, idiopathic, inflammatory, neutrophilic dermatitis characterized by sterile skin ulceration. It can be associated with an underlying pathology, especially inflammatory bowel disease and hematological malignancies. Its association with a malignant pathology in the context of a paraneoplastic syndrome is more commonly described in hematological malignancies, with solid tumors being rare. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 39-year-old West African man with pyoderma gangrenosum that developed 6 months before the clinical expression of rectosigmoid junction cancer. The removal of the cancer resulted in the patient's recovery. CONCLUSION: Recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum lesions may be the expression of colonic adenocarcinoma in paraneoplastic syndrome and require colonoscopy, especially in at-risk patients.

Excision of a Large Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour Following 16 Months of Neoadjuvant Therapy with Imatinib (Case Report).

INTRODUCTION: Although the standard treatment for stromal tumours is surgery, in locally advanced forms, it is often necessary to achieve tumour downstaging to improve surgical outcomes. Neoadjuvant treatment in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including imatinib, has been shown to be effective in several studies, but the duration of this treatment is still a subject of debate. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a large GIST of the stomach in a 51-year-old patient with atypical presentation that was initially unresectable. Neoadjuvant treatment with imatinib for 16 months resulted in a good response, allowing secondary surgical excision. CONCLUSION: Imatinib in neoadjuvant therapy should be continued as long as there is a good response and tolerance to the medication to obtain tumour downsizing compatible with carcinologic excision.

Unusual Complication following a Myomectomy: Colic Migration of a Forgotten Abdominal Swab.

Surgical sponges are the most common retained foreign bodies following surgery. The morbidity of this condition is illustrated herein with the case of a 36-year-old female patient with a history of myomectomy 5 months before her admission into our unit for enterocutaneous fistula. Although imaging and etiological investigations were made, diagnosis was carried out only by laparotomy. The foreign body found was an abdominal swab that migrated from abdominal cavity to the colon causing several intestinal injuries. The lack of specific clinical signs and the death of the patient raise the necessity of preventing these complications that involve the surgeon liability.