Mimicry of Rhabdomyosarcoma by Tonsillar Actinomycosis: Case Report.

Actinomycosis is a rare infectious disease characterized by slowly progressive, chronic suppurative lesions, often mistaken for malignancies due to its ability to mimic them. It is caused by Actinomyces bacteria, which are part of the normal flora of the human oropharynx, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts. This case report describes a 51-year-old male with a history of mandibular rhabdomyosarcoma presenting with severe shoulder and hip pain, dysphagia, and headaches, initially suspected to be a cancer recurrence. However, after further investigation, including a PET-CT and tonsillectomy, the diagnosis of actinomycosis was confirmed through histopathological examination. The case highlights the diagnostic challenges of actinomycosis, especially in patients with complex clinical histories, emphasizing the importance of considering it as a differential diagnosis in similar presentations. The patient was treated with long-term antibiotic therapy, predominantly beta-lactams, demonstrating the necessity of a comprehensive diagnostic approach and the implications of a delayed diagnosis. This case underscores the critical need for high clinical suspicion and awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the potential for actinomycosis to mimic more common diseases, ensuring timely and accurate treatment.

Identification and Application of Emerging Biomarkers in Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Systematic Review.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases, often diagnosed at advanced stages, which diminishes the effective treatment options and survival rates. This systematic review assesses the utility of emerging biomarkers-circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNAs (miRNAs), and the blood tumor mutational burden (bTMB)-enhanced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) to improve the diagnostic accuracy, prognostic evaluation, and treatment strategies in NSCLC. Analyzing data from 37 studies involving 10,332 patients from 2020 to 2024, the review highlights how biomarkers like ctDNA and PD-L1 expression critically inform the selection of personalized therapies, particularly beneficial in the advanced stages of NSCLC. These biomarkers are critical for prognostic assessments and in dynamically adapting treatment plans, where high PD-L1 expression and specific genetic mutations (e.g., ALK fusions, EGFR mutations) significantly guide the use of targeted therapies and immunotherapies. The findings recommend integrating these biomarkers into standardized clinical pathways to maximize their potential in enhancing the treatment precision, ultimately fostering significant advancements in oncology and improving patient outcomes and quality of life. This review substantiates the prognostic and predictive value of these biomarkers and emphasizes the need for ongoing innovation in biomarker research.