When a rare simultaneous infection simulates a local extension of a rectal cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Actinomycosis is a rare chronic infection caused by Actinomyces. The abdominopelvic localization of this pathology makes preoperative diagnosis extremely exceptional. The following report is the case of a patient treated for adenocarcinoma of the middle rectum associated with mesorectal actinomycosis. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was made postoperatively. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old Caucasian male patient was admitted for rectal bleeding. Clinical and paraclinical assessment revealed a middle rectum adenocarcinoma with local extension in the mesorectum. The patient underwent an anterior resection of the rectum by laparotomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Postoperative follow-up was simple. Pathological study of the specimen noted complete sterilization of the rectal adenocarcinoma and the presence of large foci of suppurative necrosis containing actinomycotic grains in the mesorectum. CONCLUSION: Abdominopelvic actinomycosis is a rare pathology and has therefore rarely been dealt with. This issue can lead to unnecessary and mutilating surgery. We report an exceptional coincidence of rectal adenocarcinoma and mesorectal actinomycosis mistaken for mesorectal extension of the cancer.

Splenic abscess in cancer chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Splenic abcess is an uncommon complication for cancer treatment. It occurs more frequently in immunocompromised patients. They are characterized by high mortality. The classic triad (fever, pain of the left hypochondrium, and sensitive mass left) is only present in one-third of cases the clinical spectrum ranging from no symptoms to events such as fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain left, splenomegaly. Treatment options are limited, but must be discussed and adapted to the patient profile. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 62-year-old Arabic male, diagnosed with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, who, after several cycles of chemotherapy, presented symptoms and signs of splenic abcess. CONCLUSION: Splenic abcess is rare situation, which must be actively researched, to have access to an optimal therapeutic approach.

[Multinodular diving goiters: 100 cases in Morocco]. / Les goitres multihétéronodulaires plongeants: à propos de 100 cas marocains.

OBJECTIVE: To assess 100 cases of multinodular diving goiters, the authors review the literature to compare the epidemiology, clinical pictures, additional required work-up, treatments, complications, and sequelae. METHOD: Records of 100 cases of multinodular diving goiters were collected in the surgical department of the Military Hospital of Marrakesh in Morocco from 1991 through 2004. They accounted for 6% of all goiters. The sex ratio was clearly female, and the mean age 50 years. The clinical symptoms of diving goiters involves mainly signs of compression, with dyspnea seen in 50% of cases. Thyroid dysfunction was found in only 25% of our patients. A diagnosis of diving goiter must be suspected when there are signs of mediastinal compression and a palpable cervical goiter, as seen in all our patients. The diagnosis can often be confirmed with thoracic radiography and thyroid scintigraphy. Treatment is mainly surgical and depends on disease course. Cervicotomy was performed in 97% of our patients and was sufficient to extract even most voluminous goiters and those deepest in the mediastinum. RESULTS: Immediate operative results were satisfactory. More long-term results were also generally satisfactory, except for 4 cases of recurrent paralysis and 5 cases of hypoparathyroidism. Both have been reported by several authors. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of multinodular diving goiters is necessary. In general, cervicotomy is sufficient, and the results generally satisfactory, except some complications and neoplasms.