[Sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: what management?]. / Que faut-il faire devant une métastase sternale d'un cancer différencié de la thyroïde?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate results of surgical management for sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study has been completed on patients treated in our department for sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma. RESULTS: Among the 235 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, seven (3%) had sternal metastasis during follow-up. These sternal metastasis were metachronous with an average delay of 10 years. Treatment corresponded to an excision of the upper half of the sternum including internal parts of the clavicle and the adjacent ribs (four cases), a reduction of the metastatic tumour mass (two cases) and one biopsy with no resection (one case). After sternal excision, reconstruction of the chest wall was obtained with the use of polyester prosthesis covered with pectoral muscle flap. Radioiodine was assigned to all patients as a complementary therapy. With an average follow-up of 58 months, no local or distant recurrence was observed in five patients (71%). Two patients had local and/or distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: Incidence of sternal metastasis is rare but does not preclude a large surgical resection. When possible, an aggressive management (surgical resection and radioiodine therapy) allows more than 70% relapse-free survival at 5 years.

[Desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall: three cases]. / Les tumeurs desmoïdes de la paroi abdominale. A propos de trois cas.

Desmoids tumors are rare. They often develop from the fascia and muscles of the abdominal wall. They are considered as benign, but endowed with local aggressiveness. Treatment is primarily surgical. Complete resection with large safety margins and sometimes complex reconstruction is necessary to reduce the risk of local reccurrence. WE report three cases of histology proven desmoids tumors of the abdominal wall treated between 2000 and 2007. Etiologic factors, diagnosis, surgical management and adjuvant therapy in case of incomplete resection or reccurrence are discussed.

[Thyroid cancer in patients with Grave's Disease]. / Maladie de Basedow et cancers différenciés de la thyroïde.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients operated on for Graves' disease, to identify criteria which may predict malignancy, and to develop a practical approach to determine the extensiveness of thyroidectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: 547 patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease during this period. Post-operative pathology examination revealed six cases of thyroid cancer (1.1%). All six cases had differentiated thyroid carcinoma (papillary carcinoma in 3 cases, follicular carcinoma in 2 cases and papillo-follicular carcinoma in 1 case). The indication for initial thyroidectomy was a palpable thyroid nodule in 3 cases (50%), failure of medical treatment for Grave's disease in 2 cases (33%), and signs of goiter compression in 1 case (17%). Five patients underwent re-operative total thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that while malignancy in Grave's disease is uncommon, the presence of thyroid nodule(s) in patients with Grave's disease may be considered as an indication for radical surgery. The most adequate radical surgery in this situation is to perform a total thyroidectomy.

[Not Available]. / Maladie de Basedow et cancers différenciés de la thyroïde.

UNLABELLED: R. Mssrouri, S. Benamr, A. Essadel, J. Mdaghri, El H. Mohammadine, M.-K. Lahlou, A. Taghy, A. Belmahi, B. Chad Objective: To evaluate the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients operated on for Graves' disease, to identify criteria which may predict malignancy, and to develop a practical approach to determine the extensiveness of thyroidectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: 547 patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease during this period. Post-operative pathology examination revealed six cases of thyroid cancer (1.1%). All six cases had differentiated thyroid carcinoma (papillary carcinoma in 3 cases, follicular carcinoma in 2 cases and papillo-follicular carcinoma in 1 case). The indication for initial thyroidectomy was a palpable thyroid nodule in 3 cases (50%), failure of medical treatment for Grave's disease in 2 cases (33%), and signs of goiter compression in 1 case (17%). Five patients underwent re-operative total thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: This study shows that while malignancy in Grave's disease is uncommon, the presence of thyroid nodule(s) in patients with Grave's disease may be considered as an indication for radical surgery. The most adequate radical surgery in this situation is to perform a total thyroidectomy.

[Splenomegaly and splenic pseudotumor due to tuberculosis: six new cases]. / Splénomégalie et pseudo-tumeur splénique d'origine tuberculeuse: six nouvelles observations.

INTRODUCTION: Splenic tuberculosis is rare. The aim of this study was to remind diagnostic problems in this disease, and to evaluate the value of surgery in its management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of data of six patients (three male and three female, whose mean age was 50 years) admitted in surgical department from 1980 to 2000 for splenic tuberculosis. RESULTS: In six cases, symptoms were poorly specific; splenomegaly and anemia were constant. In imaging studies, splenomegaly was homogeneous in four cases and heterogeneous in two. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was done without need for splenectomy in four patients. Five patients were operated on: two had diagnostic laparotomy without splenectomy, two underwent diagnostic splenectomy and one had splenectomy indicated for splenic abcess refractory to medical treatment. Four of the five operated patients recovered. The two other patients were lost of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, surgery is useful in diagnosis and treatment of splenic tuberculosis.

[Hibernoma: a rare case of massive weight loss]. / L'hibernome: une cause rare d'amaigrissement massif.

Hibernoma is a rare soft tissue benign tumor composed of cells similar to those of brown fat observed in fetus and hibernating animals. Brown fat has thermogenous properties, by the way of carbohydrates and lipid catabolism, and can be of an important mean in thermoregulation. A massive weight loss is a rarely reported sign in patients with hibernoma. We report herein the case of a 47 man with a history of isolated weight loss, of 16 kg over 4 months. Clinical examination has shown a swelling of the right flank. Surgical resection has been made and histopathological examination has shown hibernoma. The post-operative weight gain confirmed the relationship between hibernoma and weight loss.

[A rare complication of ileal pouch anal anastomosis: superior mesenteric artery syndrome]. / Une complication rare de l'anastomose iléoanale avec réservoir: le syndrome de la pince mésentérique.

The aim of this study was to report a new case of superior mesenteric artery syndrome following total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis. Diagnosis was made following a prolonged gastric stasis and was based on upper gastrointestinal X-ray series. Medical treatment was unefficient and gastro-jejunostomy was performed. The early outcome was good.

[Apropos of a case of gas gangrene of the abdominal wall after cholecystectomy]. / A propos d'une observation de gangrène gazeuse de la paroi abdominale après cholécystectomie.

The authors report a new case of gas gangrene following cholecystectomy with a fatal outcome. Mode of infection and principles of diagnosis and therapy are discussed together with a review of the literature.

[Carcinoid liver tumors. Apropos of a case]. / Les tumeurs carcinoïdes hépatiques. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report here a case of a young 35 years-woman presenting a probably primitive liver carcinoid tumor, surgically managed by hepatectomy followed by a complete disappearance of the carcinoidal syndrome. Through this case, the authors discuss the diagnostic difficulties, actuality of primitive hepatic carcinoids, their course, prognosis elements and the therapeutical management means.

[Cancer of the stomach: an epidemiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic study]. / Les cancers de l'estomac. Etude épidémiologique, diagnostique et thérapeutique.

The authors report 203 cases of gastric cancer collected between 1974 and 1987 without prior selection. Analysis of these records provided the following information: From an epidemiological viewpoint, there was no predominance of blood group A; a certain number of gastric lesions preceded or coexisted with the cancer. From a clinical viewpoint epigastric pain and general physical deterioration were the most frequent presenting signs. Physical examination was normal in 32.5% of patients, while 34.4% presented a palpable epigastric mass. Diagnosis was confirmed by a combination of radiology (transit studies of oesophagus, stomach and duodenum) and endoscopy with multiple biopsies. These procedures were carried out in 88% and 72% of patients respectively. 87% of patients were operable and resection was possible in 50%. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed in 61% of cases where resection was possible. The overall operative mortality was 8.5% and 20% for extended total gastrectomy. Actuarial survival was only correctly evaluated in 42% of operated patients. It was estimated to be 5%.

[Elephantiasis of the external genital organs in the male. Apropos of 18 cases]. / L'éléphantiasis des organes génitaux externes chez l'homme. A propos de 18 observations.

Based on a series of 18 cases of elephantiasis of male genital organs and a literature review, the principal features of this lymphatic system disease are described.