[Squamous cell carcinoma of the pelvis presenting as pyonephrosis. A case report and review of the literature]

Squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis, mainly occurring in patients with neglected and secondarily infected pyelocalyceal stones. We report a new case of a 45-year old man who presented with features of pyonephrosis and was subjected to nephrectomy. Post-operative histological evaluation revealed an unsuspected squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The patient died 3 months after the operation. Based on our observation and a review of the literature, we discuss the etiopathogenesis, histological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this pathology

[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