Hematemesis on an esophageal foreign body revealing a double aortic arch: a case study.

A double aortic arch is a rare abnormality of the aortic arch caused by the persistence of the distal part of the right dorsal aorta. It can be manifested by respiratory and/or digestive symptoms. We report a case of double aortic arch revealed by an esophageal foreign body complicated by haematemesis in a 13-year-old boy having required multidisciplinary care.

[Oto-rhino-laryngological and cervico-maxillofacial pathologies among hospitalized older patients: epidemiological, diagnostical and therapeutical aspects in Lomé, Togo]. / Pathologies ORL et cervico-maxillo-faciales du sujet âgé en hospitalisation : aspects épidémiologiques, diagnostiques et thérapeutiques à Lomé, Togo.

Introduction: In developing countries, 10% of the population is over 60 years old and this proportion is increasing rapidly. The general objective of this study was to describe the profile and management of the elderly subject aged 60 and over, hospitalized in the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) and Head/Neck surgery department of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital in Lomé, from 2012 to 2021. Method: Retrospective descriptive study. After reviewing the files, selection of patients aged 60 and over, regardless of sex, and hospitalized for an ENT pathology from January 2012 to December 2021. Not included in our study were files of elderly subjects hospitalized but whose age was imprecise, or empty or very incomplete files. Results: A total of 296 cases were included, representing 6.7% of the department's activities. The mean age of the patients was 72 ± 7.3 years with extremes of 60 and 95 years. The age group 6069 years represented 59.5%. The sex ratio M/F was 0.92. Infectious/inflammatory lesions were found in 138 patients (46.6%) including 38.9% of acute cellulitis of dental origin, and tumors were found in 135 patients (45.6%). Tumors were malignant in 59 patients (43.7%) and benign in 76 patients (56.3%). Thyroid was the site of 46 (60.5%) benign lesions and larynx of 29 (49.2%) malignant lesions. Poor oral hygiene, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diabetes and the combination of smoking and alcohol were the factors favoring the occurrence of acute cellulitis of dental origin in 89.6%, 80.9%, 20.0% and 2.6% of cases respectively (p<0.001). The combination of smoking and alcohol was a factor favoring the occurrence of malignancy in 39% (p<0.001). Surgical treatment was performed in 234 patients (79.1%). With a case lethality rate of 21%, acute cellulitis of dental origin was the leading cause of death (p<0.001). Conclusion: The most frequent pathologies of the ENT sphere in the elderly in our tropical context were infectious and tumoral, largely dominated by acute cellulitis of dental origin, thyroid adenoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Despite the tendency to balance infectious and tumoral pathologies, the proportion of acute cellulitis of dental origin remains twice as high as that of malignant tumors. It contrasts with data from other sub-Saharan series where tumoral pathology remains predominant in the elderly. It is important to provide dental care assistance to the elderly and to advocate for the development of geriatrics and access to universal health coverage for the elderly in Togo.

Papillary carcinoma on thyroglossal tract cyst: our attitude toward a rare pathology whose management is often controversial.

Malignant degeneration on remnants of the thyroglossal tract is a very rare phenomenon. In our practice setting, we report the management of papillary carcinoma on a thyroglossal tract cyst. This was a 44-year-old female patient with a postoperative diagnosis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroglossal tract with an atypical clinical and ultrasound presentation. She subsequently underwent total thyroidectomy and bilateral recurrent lymph node dissection, with resection of fibrous scar tissue in the previously operated hyoid region. We have discussed our therapeutic attitude to this rare pathology, the management of which is the subject of controversy.

Prevalence of severe adverse events among health professionals after receiving the first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine (Covishield) in Togo, March 2021.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines can cause adverse events that can lead to vaccine hesitancy. This study aims at estimating the prevalence of severe adverse events (SAEs) and their associated factors among health professionals vaccinated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in Togo. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 13th to 19th, 2021 in Togo among health professionals who received the first dose of the vaccine. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and vaccination data. SAEs were defined as one resulting in hospitalization, medical consultation, or inability to work the day following the administration of the vaccine. Data analysis were performed using R© 4.0.1 software, and a 5% significance level was considered. RESULTS: A total of 1,639 health professionals (70.2% male) with a median age of 32 (interquartile range: 27-40) were enrolled. At least one adverse event was reported among 71.6% of participants (95% CI = [69.3-73.8]). The most commonly reported adverse events were injection site pain (91.0%), asthenia (74.3%), headache (68.7%), soreness (55.0%), and fever (47.5%). An increased libido was also reported in 3.0% of participants. Of the participants who experienced adverse events, 18.2% were unable to go to work the day after vaccination, 10.5% consulted a medical doctor, and 1.0% were hospitalized. The SAEs' prevalence was 23.8% (95% CI = [21.8-25.9]). Being <30 years (AOR = 5.54; p<0.001), or 30-49 years (AOR = 3.62; p<0.001) and being female (AOR = 1.97; p<0.001) were associated with SAEs. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of SAEs have been observed in health professionals in Togo after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination especially in young people and females. However, these data are reassuring as they inform on COVID-19 vaccines' SAE management. Systematic prescription of antalgics or antipyretics could be proposed to young people who get vaccinated.

[Primitive oto-rhino-laryngology and cervico-maxillofacial tumors: epidemiological and histological aspects]. / Cancers primitifs oto-rhino-laryngologiques et cervico-maxillo-faciaux: aspects épidémiologiques et histopathologiques.

INTRODUCTION: Establish the panorama of primitive oto-rhino-laryngology and cervico-maxillofacial tumors diagnosed at a reference center in Togo. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of cancers diagnosed at the ORL and cervico-maxillofacial surgery department of the CHU Sylvanus Olympio of Lomé. It was conducted over a period of 10 years (1 January 2005 - 31 December 2014). RESULTS: ORL and cervico-maxillofacial tumors account for 0.48% of consultations and 15.3% of all ORL tumors. The average age of patients was 47 years, ranging from 3 months to 86 years. We noted a male predominance; the sex ratio was 1.45. Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco prevailed in the cancer of the larynx. Upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) tumors accounted for 64,8%, with a prevalence of cancers of the oral cavity (36,2% of UAT), followed by cancers of the oropharynx (18,5% of UAT) and finally by cancers of the larynx (18,1% of UAT). Primary malignant cervical adenopathies accounted for 18%. The rarest lesions were cancers of the ear and of maxillomandibular bone tissue (2.24% each). Histology was dominated by squamous cell carcinoma (61.4%) followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (23.2%). CONCLUSION: ORL and cervico-maxillofacial tumors are frequent in Togo and can be diagnosed at any age. The predominant tumor types reported are those of the oral cavity, pharynx and primary malignant cervical adenopathies.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Thyroid Cancers in Togo.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide epidemiological and histological data of thyroid cancers in Togo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of cases of thyroid cancers diagnosed from 2000 to 2014 (15 years) at the pathology laboratory of the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of Lome. All cases of review of a thyroid sample (biopsies, surgical specimens) were collected from the data records of that laboratory. RESULTS: Thyroid cancers represented 1.1% (7930 cases) of all cancers registered during the study period. Mean age was 45.4±0.3 years and the proportion of females was 78.3%. We identified 92.4% carcinomas and 7.6% lymphomas. Carcinomas were well differentiated in 80 cases and were dominated by the papillary type (47 cases). Metastasis was observed in 13% of patients. The pTNM classification evaluated in 18 cases showed a predominance of grade I (13 cases). Lymphomas were dominated by lymphoma diffuse large B-cell (5 cases). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first global standard for thyroid cancer pathology in Togo. The high frequency of follicular form suggests an unrecognized iodine deficiency. The improvement of the technical platform of the LAP (immunohistochemistry) will increase the diagnosis of rare forms of thyroid cancer.