Two novel families with RUNX1 variants indicate glycine 168 as a new mutational hotspot: Implications for FPD/AML diagnosis.

Correct interpretation of the pathogenicity of germline RUNX1 variants is essential for FPD/AML diagnosis, clinical management and leukaemia surveillance. We report two families with clear FPD/AML phenotypic features harbouring missense variants at RHD critical residue Gly168. Although classified as of unknown significance (VUS) by RUNX1-specific curation guidelines, these variants should rather be considered likely pathogenic, as supported by computational tools, structural modelling and dysregulated platelet expression of RUNX1-targets, adding Gly168 among amino acids currently recognised as mutational hotspots. Our data could help reduce the number of variants classified as VUS, providing evidence for updating RUNX1 guidelines, thus improving FPD/AML diagnosis.

Neoplasia de células dendríticas plasmocitoides blásticas. Reporte de un caso / Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasia. Report of a case

RESUMEN La neoplasia de células dendríticas plasmocitoides blásticas (NCDPB) es una malignidad hematológica poco frecuente y generalmente agresiva, por lo cual se requiere su reconocimiento precoz. A continuación, se describe el curso clínico de una paciente de 72 años con NCDPB, en cuyos hallazgos más relevantes destacó la presencia de lesiones cutáneas, organomegalias, infiltración de la médula ósea. Posterior al diagnóstico se indicó quimioterapia sistémica, con buena respuesta, no obstante, a los 2 meses presentó recidiva de lesiones y la paciente falleció. En esta enfermedad es necesario establecer el diagnóstico diferencial con trastornos linfoproliferativos, leucemias linfoides y mieloides agudas, constituyendo el análisis morfológico de las células neoplásicas un aspecto importante para una adecuada orientación diagnóstica.

ABSTRACT Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasia (BCDPN) is a rare and generally aggressive hematological malignancy, which requires early recognition. Below, the clinical course of a 72-year-old patient with NCDPB is described, whose most relevant findings included the presence of skin lesions, organomegaly, and bone marrow infiltration. After the diagnosis, systemic chemotherapy was indicated, with a good response; however, after 2 months the lesions recurred and the patient died. In this disease it is necessary to establish the differential diagnosis with lymphoproliferative disorders, lymphoid and acute myeloid leukemias, with the morphological analysis of the neoplastic cells being an important aspect for adequate diagnostic guidance.

Impact of payment source, referral site, and place of residence on outcomes after allogeneic transplantation in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The impact of social determinants of health in allogeneic transplant recipients in low- and middle-income countries is poorly described. This observational study analyzes the impact of place of residence, referring institution, and transplant cost coverage (out-of-pocket vs government-funded vs private insurance) on outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) in two of Mexico's largest public and private institutions. AIM: To evaluate the impact of social determinants of health and their relationship with outcomes among allogeneic transplant recipients in Mexico. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we included adolescents and adults ≥ 16 years who received a matched sibling or haploidentical transplant from 2015-2022. Participants were selected without regard to their diagnosis and were sourced from both a private clinic and a public University Hospital in Mexico. Three payment groups were compared: Out-of-pocket (OOP), private insurance, and a federal Universal healthcare program "Seguro Popular". Outcomes were compared between referred and institution-diagnosed patients, and between residents of Nuevo Leon and out-of-state. Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), categorized by residence, referral, and payment source. Secondary outcomes encompassed early mortality, event-free-survival, graft-versus-host-relapse-free survival, and non-relapse-mortality (NRM). Statistical analyses employed appropriate tests, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard regression modeling. Statistical software included SPSS and R with tidycmprsk library. RESULTS: Our primary outcome was overall survival. We included 287 patients, n = 164 who lived out of state (57.1%), and n = 129 referred from another institution (44.9%). The most frequent payment source was OOP (n = 139, 48.4%), followed by private insurance (n = 75, 26.1%) and universal coverage (n = 73, 25.4%). No differences in OS, event-free-survival, NRM, or graft-versus-host-relapse-free survival were observed for patients diagnosed locally vs in another institution, nor patients who lived in-state vs out-of-state. Patients who covered transplant costs through private insurance had the best outcomes with improved OS (median not reached) and 2-year cumulative incidence of NRM of 14% than patients who covered costs OOP (Median OS and 2-year NRM of 32%) or through a universal healthcare program active during the study period (OS and 2-year NRM of 19%) (P = 0.024 and P = 0.002, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, payment source and disease risk index were the only factors associated with overall survival. CONCLUSION: In this Latin-American multicenter study, the site of residence or referral for alloHSCT did not impact outcomes. However, access to healthcare coverage for alloHSCT was associated with improved OS and reduced NRM.

Thyroid Cancer Incidence and Tumor Size in New Mexico American Indians, Hispanics, and Non-Hispanic Whites, 1992 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States has risen dramatically since the 1970s, driven by an increase in the diagnosis of small tumors. There is a paucity of published New Mexico (NM) specific data regarding thyroid cancer. We hypothesized that due to New Mexico's unique geographic and cultural makeup, the incidence of thyroid cancer and tumor size at diagnosis in this state would differ from that demonstrated on a national level. METHODS: The New Mexico Tumor Registry (NMTR) was queried to include all NM residents diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1992 and 2019. For 2010 to 2019, age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated via direct method using the 2000 United States population as the adjustment standard. Differences in incidence rate and tumor size by race/ethnicity and residence (metropolitan vs non-metropolitan) were assessed with rate ratios between groups. For 1992 to 2019, temporal trends in age-adjusted incidence rates for major race/ethnic groups in NM [Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Hispanic, and American Indian (AI)] were assessed by joinpoint regression using National Cancer Institute software. RESULTS: Our study included 3,161 patients for the time period 2010 to 2019, including NHW (1518), Hispanic (1425), and AI (218) cases. The overall incidence rates for NM AIs were lower than those for Hispanics and NHWs because of a decreased incidence of very small tumors (<1.1 cm). The incidence rates for large tumors (>5.1 cm) was equivalent among groups. In the early 2000s, Hispanics also had lower rates of small tumors when compared to NHWs but this trend disappeared over time. CONCLUSION: AIs in New Mexico have been left out of the nationwide increase in incidental diagnosis of small thyroid tumors. This same pattern was noted for Hispanics in the early 2000s but changed over time to mirror incidence rates for NHWs. These data are illustrative of the health care disparities that exist among New Mexico's population and how these disparities have changed over time.

Molecular and Clinical Insights in the Increasing Detection of BCR::ABL1 p190+ in Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm marked by abnormal clonal expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells, displaying karyotypic aberrations and genetic mutations as prognostic indicators. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European LeukemiaNet guidelines categorize BCR::ABL1 p190+ AML as high risk. This study explored the identification of the increased incidence of BCR::ABL1 p190+ in our AML population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 96 AML patients stratified according to WHO guidelines. Subsequently, patients were screened for genetic abnormalities, such as BCR::ABL1 p 190+, PML::RARA, RUNX1::RUNX1T1, and CBFB::MYH11 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. RESULTS: Among 96 AML patients, 36 displayed BCR::ABL1 p190+, overcoming the expected global incidence. Age variations (19 to 78 years) showed no significant laboratory differences between BCR::ABL1 p190+ and non-BCR::ABL p190+ cases. The overall survival analysis revealed no statistically significant differences among the patients (p=0.786). CONCLUSION: The analyzed population presented a higher frequency of BCR::ABL1 p190+ detection in adult AML patients when compared to what is described in the worldwide literature. Therefore, more studies are needed to establish the reason why this incidence is higher and what the best treatment approach should be in these cases.

ST2 and Reg3α: Can they predict aGvHD, steroid refractoriness and transplant-related mortality in pediatric patients after HSCT?

BACKGROUND/AIM: There are several complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Without any doubt, most important of these is aGvHD that increases transplant-related mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ST-2 and Reg3α levels measured at an early stage in pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be individual biomarkers identifying future GvHD and predicting treatment response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2019 to January 2021, 27 patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for primary immunodeficiency or hematopoietic diseases formed the study group. During their follow-up, the patients were classified into two groups as those developing and those not developing aGvHD. Nineteen healthy volunteers from a similar age group who needed their blood samples drawn for other reasons and who did not have any history of chronic disease, infection or medication use formed the control group. Blood samples of patients scheduled to have allogeneic HSCT were obtained before the administration of the preparative regimen, on Day +7 post-transplant and on the day of diagnosis if they developed aGvHD. Serum samples were stored at -20ºC until the day of processing. ST2 and Reg3α levels were measured using the ELISA method. RESULTS: For patients who developed aGvHD (n = 13), ST2 levels obtained before the transplantation, on Day +7 post-transplant and on the day of aGvHD diagnosis (in patients developing GvHD) were significantly higher compared to the healthy Control Group (p-value <0.05). As regards to the samples obtained on the same days, ST2 levels did not differ significantly among patients who developed and those who did not develop GvHD (n = 14; p-value >0.05). ST2 levels of samples obtained on the days that acute skin and gastrointestinal tract GvHD developed did not differ significantly between these two groups (p-value >0.05). Reg3α levels of the pre-transplant samples, on Day +7 after the transplantation and on the day of aGvHD diagnosis did not show any difference between any of the groups (p-value >0.05). As only two patients died after transplantation, thus correlation of ST2 and Reg3α levels with transplant-related mortality could not be proven. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that ST2 and Reg3α levels are neither diagnostic nor prognostic or predictive biomarkers of aGvHD, steroid resistance or transplant-related mortality in pediatric patients. This study can be regarded as a pilot study because of the small patient population; more research involving a larger patient population is required.

NT157 exhibits antineoplastic effects by targeting IRS and STAT3/5 signaling in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a prevalent hematological malignancy with high recurrence and no definitive cure. The current study revisits the role of the IGF1/IGF1R axis in MM, introducing a novel inhibitor, NT157. The IGF1/IGF1R pathway is pivotal in MM, influencing cell survival, proliferation, and migration and impacting patient survival outcomes. NT157 targets intracellular proteins such as IRS and STAT proteins and demonstrates antineoplastic potential in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. In the present study, we assessed IGF1R signaling-related gene expression in MM patients and healthy donors, unveiling significant distinctions. MM cell lines displayed varying expression patterns of IGF1R-related proteins. A gene dependence analysis indicated the importance of targeting receptor and intracellular elements over autocrine IGF1. NT157 exhibited inhibitory effects on MM cell viability, clonal growth, cell cycle progression, and survival. Moreover, NT157 reduced IRS2 expression and STAT3, STAT5, and RPS6 activation and modulated oncogenes and tumor suppressors, fostering a tumor-suppressive molecular profile. In summary, our study demonstrates that the IGF1/IGF1R/IRS signaling axis is differentially activated in MM cells and the NT157's capacity to modulate crucial molecular targets, promoting antiproliferative effects and apoptosis in MM cells. NT157 may offer a multifaceted approach to enhance MM therapy.

The course of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies and risk factors affecting mortality: A cross-sectional study

Objective This study aimed to determine the clinical outcomes and risk factors affecting mortality in patients with COVID-19 following hematological malignancy (HM). Methods Patients diagnosed with HM and hospitalized for COVID-19 were included in this retrospective study. The age, demographic and clinical characteristics, prognosis and treatment of surviving and non-surviving patients were compared. Results A total of 49 patients were included in this study, 17 (34.6%) of whom died within 28 days of being diagnosed with COVID-19. Older age (p = 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.002), secondary infection (p < 0.001) and secondary bacterial infection (p = 0.005) were statistically significantly higher in non-survivors. The remission status of HM was higher in surviving patients (p < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, age (OR: 1.102, p = 0.035) and secondary infection (OR: 16.677, p = 0.024) were risk factors increasing mortality, the remission status of HM (OR: 0.093, p = 0.047) was a protective factor from mortality. Conclusion The older age, the remission status of HM and secondary infection due to COVID-19 were determined as prognostic factors predicting mortality in HM patients with following COVID-19.

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and malignancy: a nationwide multicentre series review.

BACKGROUND: Increased malignancy frequency is well documented in adult-systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but with limited reports in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) series. We explored the frequency of malignancy associated with cSLE, describing clinical and demographic characteristics, disease activity and cumulative damage, by the time of malignancy diagnosis. METHOD: A retrospective case-notes review, in a nationwide cohort from 27 Pediatric Rheumatology centres, with descriptive biopsy-proven malignancy, disease activity/damage accrual, and immunosuppressive treatment were compiled in each participating centre, using a standard protocol. RESULTS: Of the 1757 cSLE cases in the updated cohort, 12 (0.7%) developed malignancy with median time 10 years after cSLE diagnosis. There were 91% females, median age at cSLE diagnosis 12 years, median age at malignancy diagnosis 23 years. Of all diagnosed malignancies, 11 were single-site, and a single case with concomitant multiple sites; four had haematological (0.22%) and 8 solid malignancy (0.45%). Median (min-max) SLEDAI-2 K scores were 9 (0-38), median (min-max) SLICC/ACR-DI (SDI) score were 1 (1-5) Histopathology defined 1 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; 4 gastrointestinal carcinoma, 1 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and 1 anal carcinoma; 1 had sigmoid adenocarcinoma and 1 stomach carcinoid; 3 had genital malignancy, being 1 vulvae, 1 cervix and 1 vulvae and cervix carcinomas; 1 had central nervous system oligodendroglioma; and 1 testicle germ cell teratoma. CONCLUSION: Estimated malignancy frequency of 0.7% was reported during cSLE follow up in a multicentric series. Median disease activity and cumulative damage scores, by the time of malignancy diagnoses, were high; considering that reported in adult series.

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and malignancy: a nationwide multicentre series review

Abstract Background Increased malignancy frequency is well documented in adult-systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but with limited reports in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) series. We explored the frequency of malignancy associated with cSLE, describing clinical and demographic characteristics, disease activity and cumulative damage, by the time of malignancy diagnosis. Method A retrospective case-notes review, in a nationwide cohort from 27 Pediatric Rheumatology centres, with descriptive biopsy-proven malignancy, disease activity/damage accrual, and immunosuppressive treatment were compiled in each participating centre, using a standard protocol. Results Of the 1757 cSLE cases in the updated cohort, 12 (0.7%) developed malignancy with median time 10 years after cSLE diagnosis. There were 91% females, median age at cSLE diagnosis 12 years, median age at malignancy diagnosis 23 years. Of all diagnosed malignancies, 11 were single-site, and a single case with concomitant multiple sites; four had haematological (0.22%) and 8 solid malignancy (0.45%). Median (min-max) SLEDAI-2 K scores were 9 (0-38), median (min-max) SLICC/ACR-DI (SDI) score were 1 (1-5) Histopathology defined 1 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; 4 gastrointestinal carcinoma, 1 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and 1 anal carcinoma; 1 had sigmoid adenocarcinoma and 1 stomach carcinoid; 3 had genital malignancy, being 1 vulvae, 1 cervix and 1 vulvae and cervix carcinomas; 1 had central nervous system oligodendroglioma; and 1 testicle germ cell teratoma. Conclusion Estimated malignancy frequency of 0.7% was reported during cSLE follow up in a multicentric series. Median disease activity and cumulative damage scores, by the time of malignancy diagnoses, were high; considering that reported in adult series.

Galería de imágenes de tumores malignos como herramienta didáctica en oncología / Gallery of malignancies images as didactic tool in oncology i: en

Introducción: Los tumores malignos son afecciones prevalentes que exigen un diagnóstico temprano para un tratamiento oportuno. La confección de una galería de imágenes como medio de enseñanza con la tecnología digital constituye una herramienta de aprendizaje de incuestionable valor en la especialidad de oncología. Objetivo: Confeccionar una galería de imágenes digitales de tumores malignos como medio de enseñanza alternativo para la docencia de residentes y profesionales de enfermería. Métodos: Se realizó una innovación tecnológica en el Hospital Oncológico Docente Provincial Conrado Benítez García de Santiago de Cuba, durante el bimestre enero-febrero del 2023. El objeto de estudio y el campo de acción fueron los recursos del aprendizaje y las imágenes digitalizadas sobre tumores malignos, respectivamente. Se combinaron los métodos de investigación teóricos (sistematización, vivencial y analítico sintético) y empíricos (análisis documental y encuesta en forma de cuestionario a informantes clave). Resultados: Como medio de enseñanza alternativo para la docencia médica y de enfermería, manualmente se confeccionó una galería digital con 164 imágenes de tumores malignos que incluían casi todas las localizaciones. Los expertos en informática, especialistas, residentes y enfermeras valoraron de muy adecuado el producto informático, basado en la cientificidad y la didáctica tecnológica para la formación académica integral. Conclusiones: La galería de imágenes digitales constituye una herramienta didáctica, motivacional, atractiva e interesante para el aprendizaje de las neoplasias malignas; es un recurso ilustrativo y utilitario para la docencia médica y del profesional de enfermería.

Introduction: Malignancies are prevalent affections that demand an early diagnosis for an opportune treatment. The making of an images gallery as teaching means with digital technology constitutes a learning tool of unquestionable value in the oncology specialty. Objective: To make a gallery of malignancies digital images as alternative teaching means for the residents and nursing professionals. Methods: A technological innovation was carried out in Conrado Benítez García Provincial Teaching Oncological Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, during the January-February two-month period, 2023. The study object and action field were the learning resources and the digital images on malignancies, respectively. The theoretical investigation methods (systematizing, experiential and analytic synthetic) and empiric (documental analysis and interviews in questionnaire form to key informants) were combined. Results: As alternative teaching means for medical and nursing teaching, a digital gallery was manually made with 164 malignancies images that included almost all the localizations. Computer science experts, specialists, residents and nurses valued as very appropriate the computer product, based on the scientificity and the technological didactics for the integral academic training. Conclusions: The gallery of digital images constitutes a didactic, motivational, attractive and interesting tool for learning of malignancies; it is an illustrative and utilitarian resource for medical and nursing professional teaching.

A destructive sinonasal organizing hematoma mimicking malignancy.

Sinonasal organizing hematomas (SOH) are rare, benign lesions that can be mistaken for malignancies due to their unfamiliarity among clinicians and aggressive appearance on imaging, which can lead to aggressive and unnecessary therapeutic interventions. Herein, we report an unusual case of SOH in an 87-year-old female patient who sought care at a maxillofacial surgery service due to persistent right nasal obstruction and imaging findings that suggested the possibility of sinonasal malignancy. We highlight the importance of recognizing these lesions to ensure adequate treatment through a conservative approach.

Validation of venous thromboembolism predictive model in hematologic malignancies.

Although several scores stratify venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in solid tumors, hematologic malignancies (HM) are underrepresented. To develop an internal and external validation of a logistic regression model to predict VTE risk in hospitalized HM patients. Validation of the existing VTE predictive model was performed through a prospective case-control study in 496 hospitalized HM patients between December 2010 and 2020 at the Arnaldo Milián University Hospital, Cuba. The predictive model designed with data from 285 patients includes 5 predictive factors: hypercholesterolemia, tumoral activity, use of thrombogenic drugs, diabetes mellitus, and immobilization. The model was internally validated using bootstrap analysis. External validation was realized in a prospective cohort of 211 HM patients. The predictive model had a 76.4% negative predictive value (NPV) and an 81.7% positive predictive value (PPV) in the bootstrapping validation. The area under curve (AUC) in the bootstrapping set was 0.838. Accuracy was 80.1% and 82.9% in the internal and external validation, respectively. In the external validation, the model produced 89.7% of NPV, 67.7% of PPV, 74.6% of sensitivity, and 86.2% of specificity. The AUC in the external validation was 0.900. VTE predictive model is a reproducible and simple tool with good accuracy and discrimination.

Challenges in diagnosis and treatment: a case report on a mixed malignant Müllerian tumor.

Mixed malignant Müllerian tumors (MMMTs) are rare and aggressive neoplasms made up of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components that primarily appear in the female reproductive tract. The cellular origin of this malignancy has eluded advancements in molecular and immunohistochemical techniques contributing to the limited diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This case report presents a 41-year-old female with a history of abnormal uterine bleeding and dysmenorrhea who was later diagnosed with an MMMT. This case highlights the importance of considering MMMTs in patients with a long-standing history of abnormal uterine bleeding because the prompt recognition and diagnosis of this condition may lead to an improved overall survival for these patients.

Current treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease patients at the risk of developing cancer: a comprehensive review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that affects the digestive tract and can lead to inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. IBD patients with cancer encounter difficulties since cancer treatment weakens their immune systems. A multidisciplinary strategy that strikes a balance between the requirement to manage IBD symptoms and the potential effects of treatment on cancer is necessary for effective care of IBD in cancer patients. To reduce inflammation and avoid problems, IBD in cancer patients is often managed by closely monitoring IBD symptoms in conjunction with the necessary medication and surgical intervention. Anti-inflammatory medications, immunomodulators, and biologic therapies may be used for medical care, and surgical options may include resection of the diseased intestine or removal of the entire colon. The current study provides a paradigm for shared decision-making involving the patient, gastroenterologist, and oncologist while considering recent findings on the safety of IBD medicines, cancer, and recurrent cancer risk in individuals with IBD. We hope to summarize the pertinent research in this review and offer useful advice. (AU)

Risk of malignancy and diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in thyroid nodules with diameters greater than 4 centimeters.

Objective: The risk of malignancy and diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid nodules (TN) with diameters ≥ 3-4 cm remains controversial. However, some groups have indicated surgical treatment in these patients regardless of the FNAB results. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the FNAB in systematically resected ≥4 cm TN and if the risk of malignancy is higher in these patients. Subjects and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 138 patients (142 nodules) with TN with diameters ≥4 cm who underwent thyroidectomy. Results: The FNAB results were nondiagnostic/unsatisfactory (ND/UNS) in 2.1% of the cases and benign in 51.4%. They indicated atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) in 23.9% of cases, follicular neoplasia/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (FN/SFN) in 9.2%, suspicion of malignancy (SUS) in 8.5%, and malignant in 4.9%. The histopathological analysis after thyroidectomy revealed a thyroid cancer rate of 100% in the FNABs classified as malignant, 33.3% in SUS cases, 7.7% in FN/SFN, 17.6% in AUS/FLUS, and 4.1% in benign FNABs. None of the ND/UNS FNABs were malignant. The global malignancy diagnosis was 14.8% (n = 21). However, the rate of false negatives for FNAB was low (4.1%). Conclusion: We showed that the risk of malignancy in nodules with diameters ≥4 cm was higher compared to the risk of thyroid cancer in TN in general. However, we found a low rate of false-negative cytological results; therefore, our data do not justify the orientation of routine resection for these larger nodules.

Esophageal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Presenting After Definitive Chemoradiation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Same Location.

Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma is very rare and highly aggressive. An 85-year-old man with a history of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in remission presented 4 years after definitive chemoradiation with new-onset dysphagia. Endoscopy with biopsy revealed high-grade malignancy consistent with neuroendocrine carcinoma. Treatment options were limited to chemotherapy because of his metastatic disease, and he unfortunately died 14 months after diagnosis. The occurrence of esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma in a site of prior squamous cell carcinoma is very uncommon, and this likely represents a case of radiation-induced malignancy. Therefore, when undergoing radiotherapy, patients and providers should discuss the possibility of this life-threatening complication.

Thyroid malignancy in children: where does it locate?

Objective: As far as we know, in English literature, a limited number of studies has examined the relationship between the location of the nodule and malignancy risk. The studies were performed with adults and their results were mainly inconsistent. We aim to evaluate the potential association between the location of the thyroid nodules and risk for malignancy in the pediatric population. Materials and methods: Patients younger than 18 years old with a pathological diagnosis were included. Nodules were divided into 5 categories according to the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) algorithm. The location of the nodules was recorded: Right lobe, left lobe, isthmus, upper pole, lower pole, and middle. Thyroid glands were divided into 3 equal longitudinal areas to define upper, lower, and middle portions. Results: Ninety-seven nodules of 103 children were included. The mean age of the population was 14.9 ± 2.51 years (7-18 years). Eighty-one participants were female (83.5%) and 16 male (16.5%). Fifty nodules were benign (51.5%) and 47 nodules were malignant (48.5%). We did not detect a significant correlation between the risk of malignancy and location of the nodule as right or left lobes or isthmus (P = 0.38). Rate of malignant nodules were significantly higher in middle lobe (23%, P = 0.002). Being located at middle part of thyroid gland increases the possibility of malignancy 11.3 times (OR = 11.3, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Nodule location can be used as a predictor for thyroid malignancy in pediatric patients, similar to adults. Middle lobe location increases the risk of malignancy. Using nodule location along with TI-RADS categorization can increase the efficacy of malignancy prediction.

Fungemia in Hospitalized Adult Patients with Hematological Malignancies: Epidemiology and Risk Factors.

Fungemia in hematologic malignancies (HM) has high mortality. This is a retrospective cohort of adult patients with HM and fungemia between 2012 and 2019 in institutions of Bogotá, Colombia. The epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics are described, and risk factors related to mortality are analyzed. One hundred five patients with a mean age of 48 years (SD 19.0) were identified, 45% with acute leukemia and 37% with lymphomas. In 42%, the HM was relapsed/refractory, 82% ECOG > 3, and 35% received antifungal prophylaxis; 57% were in neutropenia, with an average duration of 21.8 days. In 86 (82%) patients, Candida spp. was identified, and other yeasts in 18%. The most frequent of the isolates were non-albicans Candida (61%), C. tropicalis (28%), C. parapsilosis (17%), and C. krusei (12%). The overall 30-day mortality was 50%. The survival probability at day 30 in patients with leukemia vs. lymphoma/multiple myeloma (MM0 group was 59% (95% CI 46-76) and 41% (95% CI 29-58), p = 0.03, respectively. Patients with lymphoma or MM (HR 1.72; 95% CI 0.58-2.03) and ICU admission (HR 3.08; 95% CI 1.12-3.74) were associated with mortality. In conclusion, in patients with HM, non-albicans Candida species are the most frequent, and high mortality was identified; moreover, lymphoma or MM and ICU admission were predictors of mortality.