[Squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder]

Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] of the gallbladder is responsible for 0 to 12,7% of malignant neoplasms of this organ. The histogenesis and the mechanism of involved are controversial and prognosis is not clearly established. We report four cases of epidermoid carcinoma, three women and one man that the mean age was 62 year. The diagnosis of malignancy was suspected in preoperative period in three patients. Two tumours were localised in the gallbladder [T2] without metastasis and treated with cholecystectomy and irradiation in one patient. The last is alive without recurrence with a follow up of 7 years. The former had a recurrence after 8 months. The others patients were in stage T4 with invasion of adjacent organs without metastasis. The treatment consisted of cholecystectomy and resection of involved organs with regional lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy in one patient. Those patients were died 4 months and 6 months after surgery

[Ungual melanoma: a case report]

Ungual melanoma is a relatively rare disease with reported incidence between 0,7% to 3,5% of all melanoma cases in the general population. Diagnosis is often delayed, due to the difficulty caused by the misleading clinical symptoms. Achromic ungual melanoma remains a exceptional entity. We report the observation of a 70 years old patient who presented a ungual melanoma of the fifth finger revealed by metastasis axillary nodes. Amputation of the last phalanx was carried out and an adjuvant hormonotherapy containing Tamoxifene 20 mg/j was prescribed for 36 months. The patient is in control of her disease with a 5 years passing. Delayed diagnosis and locally advanced stage of the disease at presentation contributed to the poor prognosis in ungual melanoma. Surgery is the basi of the treatement: amputation of the distal phalanx of the hand preserve function and do not compromise survival or local control

Leiomyome renal

Renal leiomyoma is a benign tumour arising from the smooth muscle cells of different kidney structures. We demonstrate here by this observation, the preoperative diagnostic difficulties and the necesity to consider this entity when confronted with a renal mass case, through reporting a case of a female patient aged 54 years, who consulted for a left loin pain since two years. Clinical examination was normal. Ultrasound examination showed a hyperechogenic nodular formation of 30 mm diameter. The abdomenopelvic C.T scan revealed a superior pole tissue mass of 32 / 28 mm radiological data, a total nephrectomy was done. The anatomopathological examination of surgeical sepcimen showed a subcapsular nodular tumour, confirmation of renal leiomyoma was done by a histological examination. Diagnosis of renal leiomyoma is extremely difficult due to the variability of its radiological findings, so we should put in consideration this benign tumour when dealing with, the differential diagnosis of renal tumours

Malignant paraganglioma of the organ of Zukerkandl

The authors report the case of a patient operated on 1999 because of a paraganglioma of the Zukerkandl's organ. The diagnosis of the paraganglioma has been based on the analysis of the resected piece. Thirty-one months later, she developed medullar compression. The diagnosis of the malignant paraganglioma is confirmed in front of the presence on cromaffin tissue at the level of the affected vertebra. This case illustrates the diagnostic difficulty of this type of tumour before surgery as well as to establish immediate prognosis of this affection. The authors emphasise in this occasion the necessity of a prolonged supervision in order to screen the superview of recurrence or metastases in this localisation known to be malignant in more than the half of the cases

Atheroma and atherogenesis in Morocco

Based on necropsic materiel this study try to evaluate the frequency of atheromatic lesions in Moslems Moroccans. They question the theory according to which such lesions predominate in industrialized countries and notice an inversion of the socio-economic categories exposed. They put forward a theory of atherogenesis, insisting on the numerous etiological factors which have a recognized geographic variability. It seems to them to be of fundamental importance to search out these factors in order to prevent atheroma in a given population. The problem of screening is brought forward by the study of skin elastolysis and its correlation with atherosclerosis. The authors verify the value of skin biopsy in evaluating the vascular system. They conclude it to be of value in the Moroccan population, recommending that only those areas of skin not exposed to the sun be studied

Cherubism: a study of two cases

The authors present two cases of cherubism. In one of the two cases, the patient had been submitted to an irrelevant and heavy treatment, the disease being not identified. The authors take advantage of this opportunity to recall the most important features of the disease, insisting on the positive elements of the diagnosis

Oxalosis: a familial case report

A case of "familial oxalosis" discovered after routine necropsy, is reported. The discovery of two other cases in the same family brought us to review the main features of the disease