Sternal or parasternal involvement from breast cancer: a misleading clinical sign.

BACKGROUND: Sternal arch is a nonspecific clinical signs wich may arise during following of breast cancer, this sign reveals an involvement of internal mammary nodes secondary to breast cancer. AIM: To report a rare event such as a loco-regional sternal or parasternal invasion secondary to locally advanced cases of breast cancer (BC) about a Tunisian series. METHODS: We collected retrospectively from 1988 to 2012, 11 cases of BC treated at the Institut Salah Azaiez (ISA) of Tunis, with presence during the disease evolution (initial or at relapse) of a sternal or parasternal swelling. We analyzed their clinical history, clinical and imaging data (CT-scan and/or MRI), stage, time of occurrence, treatment and evolution RESULTS: All patients were females and their mean age was 46 years varying from 24 to 75 years. The sternal or parasternal swelling was found at diagnosis in 5 cases and on recurrence in 6 patients after a mean free interval of 24 months, > 12 months in 5 cases. The mean clinical tumor size of the primitive BC was 38 mm (24-75 mm) and lesions located in external quadrants in 3 cases and internal or central in 6 cases. Sternal involvement related to large Intrammmary Chain (IMC) adenopathies was diagnosed by CT-scan. 7 patients had synchronous metastases. 9 out of the 11 patients received a locoregional RT and two received chemotherapy (CT). CONCLUSION: Sternal or parasternal swelling is a clinical apparent symptom of advanced internal mammary lymph nodes in breast cancer. The first etiologic diagnosis in this context is an advanced internal mammary chain (IMC) node involvement from breast cancer.

[Atypical presentations of internal mammary chain involvement in breast cancer]. / Les aspects trompeurs de l'atteinte de la chaîne mammaire interne dans les cancers du sein.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the first cancer in women. Lymphatic involvement in breast cancer is common, especially in our patients because of the frequency of locally advanced forms. This contrast with a weak rate of diagnosed internal mammary chain invasion. METHODS: We present observations of patients presenting atypical forms of internal mammary chain involvement. AIM: To clarify the atypical presentations of internal mammary chain involvement in breast cancer. RESULTS: The invasion of internal mammary chain is often underestimated. Indeed, this site of lymphatic spread is not accessible to the clinical exam and its radiological exploration is not systematic. Otherwise, different clinical, pathological and radiological presentations have to attract our attention to a potential internal mammary chain invasion. CONCLUSION: Our misrecognition of this site of spread and its different presentations can partly explain the lack of diagnosis.

[Superior vena cava syndrome and internal mammary nodes in breast cancer: two cases]. / Syndrome cave superieur avec atteinte de la chaine mammaire interne au cours d'un cancer du sein: a propos de deux observations.

BACKGROUND: The association of superior vena cava syndrome with involvement of the internal mammary lymph nodes in breast cancer has not been reported in the literature. AIM: To report two cases of association of superior vena cava with involvement of the internal mammary lymph nodes in breast cancer. CASES REPORT: We report two observations in two patients 45 and 52 years with breast cancer classified T4N2M0 and T3N2M0 treated. Both patients had clinical features compatible with the diagnosis of superior vena cava confirmed by the initial clinical appearance (observation 1) and after treatment (observation 2) to the CT scan. CONCLUSION: The combination of superior vena cava with the achievement of the internal mammary chain in breast cancer worse prognosis.

[Tumors of the pineal region: retrospective study of 40 cases]. / Les tumeurs de la région pinéale: étude rétrospective à propos de 40 cas.

BACKGROUND: the tumours of the pineal region are rare brain tumours, most common in children and characterized by a large clinical and histologic polymorphism. AIM: to assess the outcome and prognostic factors of 40 patients with primitive pineal region tumours treated at the department of radiotherapy of Salah Azaiz institute. METHODS: between January 1977 and December 2000, 40 patients received radiotherapy. There were 22 adults and 18 children (age < 16 years). The mean age was 20.4 years and sex ratio was 2.07. Histologic diagnosis was confirmed in 11 cases; 16 patients had a CT evaluation after 20 Gy radiotherapy and in 13 cases diagnosis was performed with CT aspects ± germinal tumour markers. Target volume varied; 10 had craniospinal irradiation, 16 had local irradiation and 14 had whole brain irradiation with a boost at the tumour bed. Chemotherapy was proposed for metastases and recurrent diseases. RESULTS: survival rates were 87% at 2 years and 74, 5% at 5 years. For children, survival rates were 88% at 2 and 4 years. Eight patients (20%) failed locally and 5 patients (12.5%) had metastasis. Age, performance status and large fields of radiotherapy seem to be associated with prognosis and survival. CONCLUSION: Pineal tumours and especially germinal tumours are chemosensitive and radiosensitive, care of these tumours is multidisciplinary involving surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. From our study and a review of the literature, we tried to find a therapeutic strategy for tumours of the pineal region.

[Internal mammary lymph node invasion in breast cancer: myth or reality?]. / L'atteinte de la chaîne mammaire interne dans le cancer du sein: mythe ou réalite?

The internal mammary nodes are often underestimated as breast cancer lymphatic pathway spread. It is yet the first site of lymphatic invasion in central or internal tumors and the second site in external tumors. The intra-thoracic situation of internal mammary nodes explains partly, the difficulty of its exploration. To evaluate the risk of internal mammary node invasion, some predictive factors are established (tumor size, internal or central tumor location, axillary node invasion and young age). Prognostic and therapeutic impact of invasion justifies its systematic research. Without exploring internal mammary nodes status, TNM classification remains, incomplete. CT scanner, magnetic resonnance imaging, positron emission tomography scanner and sentinel node exploration technique are helpful to explore this region and to adapt its irradiation.

[Total body irradiation: techniques and main indications]. / Irradiation corporelle totale: techniques et indications.

The radiotherapy department at Salah Azaïz institute had started, in March 2000, a new sophisticated technique of irradiation consisting in total body irradiation (TBI). TBI is used in many preparative regimens before bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of haematological malignancies. TBI aims to destroy immunocompetent tissues in order to avoid graft rejection and to eradicate residual tumor cells. In this article, we review different TBI techniques and its main indications. We also describe the acute and late effects of TBI.

Radio-induced malignancies of the scalp about 98 patients with 150 lesions and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: - The induction of malignant diseases is one of the most concerning late effects of ionizing radiation. The topic of this study deals with skin tumors developed in the irradiated areas in children given X-ray therapy for tinea capitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: - All patients with malignant tumors of the scalp referred to Salah Azaiz Institute between 1970 and 2001 have been questioned in order to determine if there had been a prior X-ray irradiation for tinea capitis, its modality, and its consequences. The first scalp irradiation goes back to 1922 and the last was performed in 1963. RESULTS: - Ninety-eight patients with 150 radio-induced cancers of the scalp following irradiation for tinea capitis are reported (1.5 lesion per patient). The patients were irradiated in various hospitals and dispensaries throughout the country. Eighty-one patients (82%) had only one session of radiation. The average age at irradiation was 12 (+/-6) years, the latent period for radiation-induced skin cancers was 36 (+/-14) years. In 61 patients (62%), the scalp appeared normal and in 38% radiodermatitis was noted. Patient age at diagnosis of malignancy varied from 20 to 83 years with an average of 47 years. Basal cell carcinomas (125 cases) and spinocellular carcinomas (16 cases) were the most common, three other cases of annexial tumors, two malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and four melanoma lesions are also present. Radiotherapy was used for the treatment of 74 patients (alone in 42 and associated with surgery in 32 patients); 14 patients had exclusive surgical excision. CONCLUSIONS: - Basal cell carcinomas are the most frequent tumors arising on chronic radiodermatitis. In spite of the long latency period, patients' young age at irradiation explained the occurrence of these cancers at a relatively young age. Literature review is suggesting recessive mutation of tumor-suppressor genes as the characteristic abnormality in radio-induced cancer.