Descriptive analysis of molecular subtypes in Tunisian breast cancer.

AIM: The objective is to report the correlation between pathology and molecular subtype classifications of breast cancer in Tunisian women. METHODS: This retrospective study concerned data of 966 breast cancer cases collected from 2007 to 2009 at Salah Azaiz Institute of Tunis. These cases were classified by an immunohistochemistry test for estrogen and progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status in the four molecular subtypes, namely luminal A, luminal B, HER2+ and triple negative. The molecular classifications were correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors. RESULTS: Luminal A (50.7% of cases) was the most common subtype, with triple negative subtype 22.5%, luminal B 13.4% and HER2+ 13.4%. Triple negative and HER2+ subtypes were significantly associated with large tumor size (>5 cm, P < 0.001), younger age (<40 years, P < 0.03) and high grade (P < 0.001). Conversely, there was no correlation with the lymph node status. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that the luminal A subtype, associated with a favorable prognosis, was the most frequent subtype in the Tunisian population; however the triple negative subtype occurred at a high incidence in Tunisia compared to Western countries. The molecular subtypes are correlated to the tumor size, histological grade and patient's age.

[Epidemiological profile, etiological diagnosis and prognosis of uterine synechias: report of 86 cases]. / Epidemiological profile, etiological diagnosis and prognosis of uterine synechias: report of 86 cases

BACKGROUND: Uterine synechias may pose real problems for fertility prognosis. It depends mainly on its etiology. AIM: To study the epidemiological profile of patients, describe the circumstances of discovery of uterine synechias, specify the diagnostic procedures for pelvic ultrasound, hysterography and hysteroscopy and estimate the benefits on fertility. METHODS: A retrospective study over a period of 10 years from 1 January 2000 to December 31, 2009 in the department of obstetrics gynecology B Charles Nicolle's Hospital in Tunis. RESULTS: We collected 86 patients. The age average was 35.42 years, gestit average of 1.36 with 37.2% of nulligeste and an average parity of 0.67. The uterine revision was the main etiology (55.8%). The main circumstance of discovery was the exploration of infertility (60%). Hysterosalpingography showed a luminal filling defect in 79% of patients mostly fundic location (37.3%). Faced with data from the hysteroscopy sensitivity of HSG was 78% and positive predictive value was 100%. For the seat of the synechia its sensitivity is only 40%. The surgical procedure took place in one time in 74 cases. Our complication rate is 8.14%: 2 uterine perforations, 2 falseroads and 3 cases of hemorrhage stopping surgery. CONCLUSION: The main etiology is a history of uterus revision. The main circumstance of discovery is the exploration of infertility. Anatomic results were generally good as testified hysteroscopy control.

[Neonatal respiratory morbidity after elective cesarean section at term]. / Morbidité respiratoire néonatale après césarienne elective a terme.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of elective caesareans at term is increasing these last decades with an associated increase of neonatal respiratory morbidity. AIM: To analyse the influence of elective Caesarean delivery at term on the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress in order to propose an effective strategy of prevention. METHODS: It is an analytical study compiling all births resulting from elective Caesarean at term (gestational age ranging between 37 and 41+6 GA), reported over two years period at the Charles Nicolle hospital (Tunis-Tunisia). We compared 250 live births, without maternal risk factors, delivered by elective Caesarean to 250 births delivered by vaginal way. RESULTS: Frequency of the elective Caesarean at term was of 3.6% live births; it was mainly indicated in the presence of a cicatricial uterus. The incidence of respiratory morbidity was 6% (15/250) in the group exposed to the elective caesarean versus 1.6% (4/250 cas) in the reference group, OR=3.9; 95%CI: [1, 28-11, 99] p<0.01. Before the term of 39 GA, OR=5.22; 95%CI: [1.14-23.87] p=0.01. After 39 GA, the risk of respiratory distress decreased: OR=1.86 95%CI: [0.30, 11.35] NS. The principal etiology of respiratory distress in the exposed group was the transitory tachypnea of the newborn. CONCLUSION: Incidence of respiratory distress was higher at newborn babies born from elective Caesarean with a significant reduction in this incidence after the term of 39 GA.

Pallister-Killian syndrome with additional manifestations of cleft palate and sacral appendage.

AIM: Reppor of a rare congenital abnormalities. OBSERVATION: We report a rare case of Pallister-Killian syndrome in a 33 weeks gestation infant. In addition to the characteristic phenotype, this patient had a cleft palate, diaphragmatic hernia and sacral appendage. These additional manifestations are not among the Pallister-Killian syndrome's features. The diagnosis was made in antenatal period by cytogenetic studies and showed mosaic 47, XY+i (12p). Presence of diaphragmatic hernia makes this syndrome, prenatally letal, similar to the Fryns syndrome and then requires skin biopsy and fibroblast chromosome examination for cytogenetic diagnosis.

[Neonatal screening of congenital toxoplasmosis. Prospective study]. / Depistage neonatal de la toxoplasmose congenitale: etude prospective.

BACKGROUND: While toxoplasmosis infection in women is often benign, transmission of maternal infection to the fetus can lead to severe sequelae. Because the majority of patients with acute toxoplasmosis are asymptomayic, a systematic serologic screening program will needed with monthly serologic screening of all seronegative pregnant women until delivery. The aim of this study was to identify cases of congenital toxoplasmosis among all live births of women found to be seronegative in pregnancy once at least. METHODS: During a prospective study period of 16 months (from 07/02/2003 to 30/06/2004) we conduct a neonatal screening of all live births of women found to be seronegative in pregnancy once at least. Peripheral samples were obtained from every couple mother/infant. Serological methods performed for diagnosis of toxoplasma specific IgM and IgG antibodies were Hemaglutination and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Four cases of congenital toxoplasmosis were diagnosed after birth. All cases were asymptomatic and a specific treatment was started soon after diagnosis. The clinical and serologic evolution was normal in three cases. A serologic rebound at two years was reported in one case with a chorioretinitis in the examination of the ocular fundus. CONCLUSION: Neonatal as well maternal screening during pregnancy and at birth should be systematic to prevent, diagnose and treat early the affected neonates usually asymptomatic.

[Early-onset neonatal bacterial infections: a retrospective series of 144 cases]. / L'infection materno-foetale bactérienne: etude rétrospective a propos de 144 cas.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset neonatal bacterial infections continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the newborn. THE AIM of this study was to determine the incidene, the risk factors and bacterial epidemiology of these infections. METHODS: All cases of early-onset neonatal bacterial infections were identified for the years 2001-2003 using data from obstetric and neonatal reports at the neonatal unit of Charles Nicolle Hospital. RESULTS: 144 cases were identified over 11,201 live births, that is an incidence of 12.85 per thousand, of which 22 cases of sepsis infections. 22.9% of all newborns were premature and 18% had a low birth weight. Membrane rupture occurred more than 12 hours before delivery in 63.2% of cases and an intra-partum fever in 57.7% of cases. Half of newborns were symptomatic with a mean age of 7.5 hours at onset of symptomatology. The principal etiologic agents were Group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli (E.coli), responsible respectively of 50% and 29.1% of proved infections. GBS had been recognised as the most prevalent agent in term newborn (58.9%) and the E.coli in premature newborn (38.5%). The neonatal mortality before discharge was 2.77% of all cases. CONCLUSION: Neonatal bacterial infections continue to be a major cause of morbidity in the newborn. The most common etiologic agents remain GBS and E. coli.

[Accuracy of frozen section diagnosis: an analysis of 1695 consecutive cases]. / Fiabilite de l'examen extemporane: analyse de 1695 examens consecutifs.

BACKGROUND: The intraoperative frozen section is a well established procedure for rapid diagnosis that helps in making therapeutic decisions. AIM: Assessment of the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis and analysis of the causes of its discordance. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1695 surgical specimens performed in 1207 patients between January 2002 and April 2005. Frozen section results were compared with the final diagnoses in paraffin sections. RESULTS: The frozen section diagnosis was benign in 84.2%, malignant in 10.2% and borderline in 0.4% of all cases. The frozen section result was deffered to permanent section in 5.2%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 84.6%, 99.8%, 98.2% and 97.8% respectively. Overall diagnostic agreement was 97.5% (Kappa=0.88). Frozen section diagnosis was incorrect in 2.5% of cases. Most of the discrepancies were false negative cases frequently due to sampling errors and misinterpretation. False positive cases were always related with misinterpretation. CONCLUSION: The frozen section evaluation is highly accurate and reliable. However, the surgeon and the pathologist must be aware of its limitations.