Mola invasiva en adolescente de 13 años. Aspectos fundamentales del diagnóstico y tratamiento / Invasive mola in 13-year-old girl. Fundamental aspects in diagnosis and treatment

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: La neoplasia gestacional trofoblástica es un tumor raro, derivado de la gestación que procede de un desarrollo anormal del tejido trofoblástico. Incluye cuatro variedades, entre las que se encuentra la mola invasiva y el coriocarcinoma. Puede tener diferentes grados de proliferación; el diagnóstico diferencial es decisivo porque influye directamente en el tratamiento. Las molas premalignas suelen tratarse con legrado uterino, las malignas requieren tratamiento sistémico con mono o poliquimioterapia. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 13 años, hospitalizada debido a un cuadro de vómitos y dolor abdominal. Durante el internamiento se le practicaron estudios complementarios: determinación de la fracción β de la gonadotropina coriónica humana (β-hCG) y tomografía axial computada para plantear el diagnóstico diferencial. El diagnóstico definitivo lo aportó la biopsia obtenida mediante legrado. El tratamiento se basó en la poliquimioterapia. En la actualidad está en remisión completa de la enfermedad. CONCLUSIONES: Resulta imprescindible detectar lo más temprano posible la gestación anómala, entender perfectamente su evolución e importancia de la anticoncepción mientras se trata y la enfermedad desaparece y minimizar la cantidad de pacientes que deben recibir quimioterapia.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is a rare tumor that originates from pregnancy and it develop from anormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. It includes four varieties, including invasive mole and choriocarcinoma. They can present different degrees of proliferation, being essential differential diagnosis since it directly influences the treatment. Premalignant moles are usually treated by suction curettage while malignant forms require systemic therapy with mono or polychemotherapy. OBJECTIVE: Report the case, paying special attention to the differential diagnosis and treatment used, analyzing the reasons why polychemotherapy is established and describing the different possible options, based on current scientific evidence. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of an invasive mola in a 13-year-old patient hospitalized by vomiting and abdominal pain. During this period, complementary techniques such as the determination of the β fraction of the human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) or computed tomography (CT) are required to establish the differential diagnosis. Finally, the definitive diagnosis is provided by the biopsy obtained by curettage. Treatment is instituted with the pattern of polychemotherapy being, currently, with complete remission of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it is essential to detect anomalous gestation early, to understand perfectly the evolution of this entity, the importance of contraception during its resolution, and to minimize patients susceptible to chemotherapy.

Plasmocitoma de cuello uterino. Informe de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía / Plasmacytoma of uterine cervix. A case report and literature review

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: La incidencia de plasmocitoma extramedular es baja y su localización ginecológica es excepcional. Hasta la fecha se han reportado 27 casos de plasmocitomas ginecológicos (11 correspondientes a localización cervical). CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 37 años, sin antecedentes médicos de interés, que acudió a consulta por sangrado uterino anormal y postcoito. En la especuloscopia se apreció el cuello uterino hipertrófico y friable. Con la biopsia cervical se estableció el diagnóstico de plasmocitoma. Posteriormente, un estudio de extensión descartó la afectación en otras localizaciones. El tratamiento consistió en histerectomía y linfadenectomía pélvica, sin tratamiento coadyuvante. Los estudios de anatomía patológica e inmunohistoquímica confirmaron el diagnóstico. En la actualidad, la paciente se encuentra en seguimiento y libre de enfermedad. CONCLUSIONES: Debido a los pocos casos reportados de plasmocitoma cervical, no existe un tratamiento de referencia. A pesar de ello, no parece haber diferencias entre las pacientes tratadas con radioterapia o cirugía. La tasa de evolución a mieloma múltiple varía de 14 a 36%. La quimioterapia no disminuye la tasa de evolución a mieloma múltiple, por lo que está contraindicada.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The incidence of extramedullary plasmacytoma is low and, specifically, the gynecological location is exceptional. To date, 27 cases of gynecological plasmacytomas have been published (11 corresponding to cervical location). CLINICAL CASE: 37-year-old patient, with no relevant medical history, who came to a consultation for abnormal uterine bleeding and bleeding. By spectroscopy, the hypertrophic and friable cervix was appreciated. Cervical biopsy verifies the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. Subsequently, an extension study ruled out involvement in other locations. Treatment consists of hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, without adjuvant chemotherapy. The pathological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis. Currently, the patient is in follow-up and free of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the scarcity of published cases of cervical plasmacytoma, there is no reference treatment. Despite this, there do not appear to be any differences between the patients treated with radiotherapy or surgery. The rate of progression to multiple myeloma varies from 14-36%. The adjuvant therapy does not change the rate of progression to multiple myeloma, so it is contraindicated.

Seeking 'energy' vs. pain relief in spas in Brazil (Caldas da Imperatriz) and Portugal (Termas da Sulfurea).

This paper is a comparative ethnography of the therapeutic practices at two different spa locations: Caldas da Imperatriz, SC, Brazil, and Termas da Sulfurea in Cabeco de Vide, Portugal. The comparison reveals the existence of contrasting 'explanatory models' held by the spa-goers as well as by the official medical systems. In the Portuguese context this model is highly medicalized; in the Brazilian case, spa treatments are viewed as 'alternative' or 'complementary' therapy and are also related to religious philosophies. Each model corresponds to a different idiom expressing certain experiences and world views, one focusing on 'pains' (dores) and the other on 'energy' (energia), the former leading to the rationale of 'curing', the latter to the notion of 'energizing'. In this paper the author intends to analyze and contrast the categories found in these models, which originate from different conceptions of health, illness and healing for Brazilian and Portuguese spa-goers.

[Thermal knowledge and therapies: a comparative view of Portugal (São Pedro do Sul hot springs) and Brazil (Caldas da Imperatriz hot springs)]. / Saberes e práticas termais: uma perspectiva comparada em Portugal (Termas de S. Pedro do Sul) e no Brasil (Caldas da Imperatriz).

Based on nineteenth - and twentieth-century texts, the article discusses how medicine legitimized the therapeutic practice of thermalism as so-called 'scientific' knowledge, with the creation of therapeutic establishments and hot-springs resort. My research began in Portugal in 1996, where I produced an ethnography of experiences at the São Pedro do Sul hot springs. My research at Brazil's Caldas da Imperatriz, initiated in August 2001, is still underway.

Saberes e práticas termais: uma perspectiva comparada em Portugal (Termas de S. Pedro do Sul) e no Brasil (Caldas da Imperatriz) / Thermal knowledge and therapies: a comparative view of Portugal (São Pedro do Sul hot springs) and Brazil (Caldas da Imperatriz hot springs)

Pretende-se neste artigo discutir como o termalismo, como prática terapêutica, se constituiu como um saber dito 'científico' legitimado pela medicina, que criou estabelecimentos terapêuticos e estâncias termais. Tomaremos como fontes textos dos séculos XIX e XX. A pesquisa foi iniciada em Portugal, em 1996, sendo efetuada uma etnografia das experiências termais nas Termas de S. Pedro do Sul. No Brasil, a pesquisa nas Caldas da Imperatriz foi iniciada em agosto de 2001 e encontra-se ainda em curso.

Saberes e práticas termais: uma perspectiva comparada em Portugal (Termas de S. Pedro do Sul) e no Brasil (Caldas da Imperatriz) / Thermal knowledge and therapies: a comparataive view of Portugal (Säo Pedro do Sul hot springs) and Brazil (Caldas da Imperatriz hot springs)

Pretende discutir como o termalismo, como prática terapêutica, se constituiu como um saber dito `científico` legitimado pela medicina, que criou estabelecimentos terapêuticos e estâncias termais. Toma como fontes textos dos séculos XIX e XX.(AU)