Probable hypersensitivity reaction to vancomycin associating rash, fever and neutropenia.

We describe the case of a 54-year old woman with breast cancer who was treated by vancomycin for febrile neutropenia due to a methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus epidermidis infection of a surgically implanted catheter. She developed an hypersensitivity reaction to vancomycin associating neutropenia, fever, skin rash and elevated liver enzymes following re-challenge with vancomycin after having been misdiagnosed with septic thrombophlebitis. Following this re-challenge, neutrophils count fell dramatically but promptly resolved after cessation of vancomycin.

Natural killer-like T-cell lymphoma of the stomach.

We report the case of a 69-year-old white woman who developed a natural killer (NK)-like T-cell lymphoma involving primarily the stomach. The tumour consisted of large and pleomorphic lymphocytes infiltrating the gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemistry performed on paraffin sections showed the neoplastic cells to be CD3+, CD5-, CD8-, CD43+, CD45RO+, and CD57+. In addition, these cells also expressed HLA-DR, granzyme B, and, to a lesser extent, the CD30 activation marker. No pathologic features suggesting Helicobacter pylori, Epstein-Barr virus infection, or lymphocytic gastritis were found within adjacent normal mucosa. The patient had no previous history of coeliac disease, and her serology for H. pylori was negative. Since lymphomas are usually considered the neoplastic counterpart of normal lymphocytic subsets, it is possible that in this case the tumour cells originate from a distinct cytotoxic T-cell population normally present within the gastric mucosa. The pathogenesis of this highly unusual neoplasm, however, remains a mystery.

Combined therapeutic approach for extraorbital sebaceous carcinoma in a Torre's syndrome.

Extraocular sebaceous carcinomas are extremely uncommon neoplasms. More exceptional is their association with an internal malignancy as first described separately by Torre and Muir in 1967. We report the first use of combined adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy in a sebaceous carcinoma of the anal margin in a Torre's syndrome. An interesting partial response was attained before the patient died from general debility. The therapeutic approach is discussed.

[Cancer following treatment of Hodgkin disease]. / Cancers après traitement de la maladie de Hodgkin.

The rate of long lasting complete remissions in Hodgkin's disease is high and relapses are rare. Complications after treatment of the disease may be either non oncologic or oncologic. The second cancers observed are acute leukaemias, non Hodgkin's lymphomas and solid tumors. Details are given about these complications and new strategies in the treatment modalities are now proposed according to the observed cancers.