When guidelines face reality - Lynch syndrome screening in the setting of public health system in a developing country.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC); however, it is still underrecognized and underdiagnosed. While international guidelines gravitate towards universal screening, the underuse of screening methods has been reported in real-world scenarios. This study aims to evaluate screening for LS among patients diagnosed with CRC in a public cancer center in Brazil and evaluate access to genetic counseling and testing for abnormal screens. For that purpose, all patients with CRC registered in our institution from July 2012 to December 2018 had their charts reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics were noted, as well as immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability analysis results, when available. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 1234 charts were reviewed. Among these, 257 patients were screened for LS, making up a 20.8% screening rate; when considering Jerusalem criteria, screening rate was 24.5%; for Bethesda criteria, it was 35.1%. Almost 80% of patients fulfilling Amsterdam criteria I/II were screened. There were 64 abnormal screens, from which 40 (62.5%) underwent genetic counseling and 12 (18.7%) underwent genetic testing. We concluded that overall screening rates for LS among CRC patients in a public cancer center in Brazil are low, and still very guided by stringent clinical criteria. Referral to genetic counseling and access to testing is limited, calling the whole process into question. Public policies aiming to raise awareness on hereditary cancer and include genetic testing in the public health system could help improve this scenario.

Giant Cell tumor of the Zygomatic Arch in a Pediatric Patient: Rare Case Report / Tumor de Células Gigantes do Arco Zigomático em um Paciente Pediátrico: Relato de Caso Raro / Tumor de Células Gigantes del Arco Cigomático en un Paciente Pediátrico: Informe de un Caso Raro

Introduction: A giant cell tumor (GCT) is a rare tumor, usually benign, which can be locally aggressive, with an almost unknown incidence in the skull. Case report: Case report of a pediatric patient diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma (ES) and later GCT when sought medical care for an increased volume in the zygomatic arch and the right preauricular region. Imaging exams showed an expansive lesion in the zygomatic and squamous portion of the right temporal bone, with an extradural intracranial component in the middle fossa, with no evidence of infiltration. From the anatomopathological view, fusocelullar neoplasia was seen. The CD68 marker was positive and the S100 marker was negative. Tumor resection by microsurgery was performed. The patient remains in follow-up, with imaging exams at neurosurgery and orthopedics, the latest magnetic resonances of the skull showing a reduction in the size of the lesion. In addition, the patient did not submit to adjuvant therapy and is currently without complaints. Conclusion: This is an important case due to its rarity and clinical data that contributes for the understanding of the pathologies presented, allowing that, in the future, new studies are able to optimize the treatment, and the prognosis for these patients

Introdução: O tumor de células gigantes (TCG) é raro, geralmente benigno, e pode ser localmente agressivo, com incidência quase desconhecida no crânio. Relato do caso: Paciente pediátrico com diagnóstico de sarcoma de Ewing (SE) e posteriormente de TCG, quando procurou atendimento médico por conta do aumento de volume em arco zigomático e região préauricular à direita. Os exames de imagem evidenciaram lesão expansiva em porção zigomática e escamosa do osso temporal à direita, com componente intracraniano extradural em fossa média, sem evidências de infiltração. Do ponto de vista anatomopatológico, observou-se neoplasia fusocelular. O marcador CD68 foi positivo e o marcador S100, negativo. Realizouse microcirurgia para ressecção do tumor. O paciente permanece em acompanhamento com exames de imagem nos serviços de neurocirurgia e ortopedia, com as últimas ressonâncias magnéticas de crânio mostrando redução no tamanho da lesão. Além disso, não realiza terapia adjuvante e atualmente não apresenta queixas. Conclusão: Este é um caso importante em razão da sua raridade e dos dados clínicos que agregam informações sobre as patologias apresentadas, permitindo que, no futuro, novas pesquisas possam otimizar o tratamento da referida neoplasia e o prognóstico desses pacientes

Introducción: El tumor de células gigantes (TCG) es un tumor raro, generalmente benigno, que puede ser localmente agresivo, con una incidencia casi desconocida en el cráneo. Relato del caso: Paciente pediátrico diagnosticado con sarcoma de Ewing (SE) y posteriormente con TCG, cuando procuró atención médica por aumento de volumen en arco cigomático y región preauricular derecha. Los exámenes de imagen mostraron una lesión expansiva en la porción cigomática y escamosa del temporal derecho, con componente intracraneal extradural en la fosa media, sin evidencias de infiltración. Desde el punto de vista anatomopatológico, se observó neoplasia fusocelular. El marcador CD68 fue positivo y el marcador S100 negativo. Se realizó microcirugía para resecar el tumor. El paciente permanece en seguimiento con exámenes de imagen en los servicios de neurocirugía y ortopedia, con las últimas resonancias magnéticas de cráneo mostrando una reducción en el tamaño de la lesión. Además, no se somete a terapia adyuvante y actualmente no tiene quejas. Conclusión: Este es un caso importante por su rareza y datos clínicos que agregan informaciones sobre las patologías presentadas, permitiendo, en el futuro, nuevas investigaciones para optimizar el tratamiento de la neoplasia referida, y el pronóstico de estos pacientes

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in patient admission to a high-complexity cancer center in Southern Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate whether there has been a reduction in patient admission to a high-complexity cancer care center in Brasil during the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to what was reported in Europe. METHODS: We reviewed the cancer tracking database of the largest cancer center in southern Brasil and performed statistical tests to compare first-time appointments from the onset of the outbreak until the end of June to those of the equivalent period in 2019. RESULTS: We observed a dramatic reduction (-42%) in first-time appointments during the pandemic compared to the same period in the previous year (P <0.001). This reduction was observed among all medical specialties (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The onset of COVID-19 was correlated with a reduction in admission to a high-complexity cancer care center in Brasil. Since a delay in diagnosis and treatment may influence prognosis, it is important that cancer centers and public health strategies reinforce care for non-COVID-19 patients to prevent potentially unnecessary deaths.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in patient admission to a high-complexity cancer center in Southern Brasil

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate whether there has been a reduction in patient admission to a high-complexity cancer care center in Brasil during the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to what was reported in Europe. METHODS: We reviewed the cancer tracking database of the largest cancer center in southern Brasil and performed statistical tests to compare first-time appointments from the onset of the outbreak until the end of June to those of the equivalent period in 2019. RESULTS: We observed a dramatic reduction (-42%) in first-time appointments during the pandemic compared to the same period in the previous year (P <0.001). This reduction was observed among all medical specialties (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The onset of COVID-19 was correlated with a reduction in admission to a high-complexity cancer care center in Brasil. Since a delay in diagnosis and treatment may influence prognosis, it is important that cancer centers and public health strategies reinforce care for non-COVID-19 patients to prevent potentially unnecessary deaths.