Analysis of 7 cases of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with DEK-NUP214 fusion gene / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, treatment regime, and outcome of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with DEK-NUP214 fusion gene. Methods: The clinical data, genetic and molecular results, treatment process and survival status of 7 cases of DEK-NUP214 fusion gene positive AML children admitted to the Pediatric Blood Diseases Center of Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from May 2015 to February 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: DEK-NUP214 fusion gene positive AML accounted for 1.02% (7/683) of pediatric AML diagnosed in the same period, with 4 males and 3 females. The age of disease onset was 8.2 (7.5, 9.5) years. The blast percentage in bone marrow was 0.275 (0.225, 0.480), and 6 cases were M5 by FAB classification. Pathological hematopoiesis was observed in all cases except for one whose bone marrow morphology was unknown. Three cases carried FLT3-ITD mutations, 4 cases carried NRAS mutations, and 2 cases carried KRAS mutations. After diagnosis, 4 cases received IAE induction regimen (idarubicin, cytarabine and etoposide), 1 case received MAE induction regimen (mitoxantrone, cytarabine and etoposide), 1 case received DAH induction regimen (daunorubicin, cytarabine and homoharringtonine) and 1 case received DAE induction regimen (daunorubicin, cytarabine and etoposide). Complete remission was achieved in 3 cases after one course of induction. Four cases who did not achieved complete remission received CAG (aclarubicin, cytarabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor), IAH (idarubicin, cytarabine and homoharringtonine), CAG combined with cladribine, and HAG (homoharringtonine, cytarabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) combined with cladribine reinduction therapy, respectively, all 4 cases reached complete remission. Six patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after 1-2 sessions of intensive consolidation treatment, except that one case was lost to follow-up after complete remission. The time from diagnosis to HSCT was 143 (121, 174) days. Before HSCT, one case was positive for flow cytometry minimal residual disease and 3 cases were positive for DEK-NUP214 fusion gene. Three cases accepted haploid donors, 2 cases accepted unrelated cord blood donors, and 1 case accepted matched sibling donor. The follow-up time was 20.4 (12.9, 53.1) months, the overall survival and event free survival rates were all 100%. Conclusions: Pediatric AML with DEK-NUP214 fusion gene is a unique and rare subtype, often diagnosed in relatively older children. The disease is characterized with a low blast percentage in bone marrow, significant pathological hematopoiesis and a high mutation rate in FLT3-ITD and RAS genes. Low remission rate by chemotherapy only and very high recurrence rate indicate its high malignancy and poor prognosis. Early HSCT after the first complete remission can improve its prognosis.

Dose-adjusted EPOCH-R vs. R-CHOP in frontline management of Waldeyer's ring diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a retrospective study from a single institution / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#To compare the efficacy and safety of dose-adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin plus rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) with standard rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in Waldeyer's ring diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (WR-DLBCL) at a single institution.@*METHODS@#This retrospective study included 115 newly diagnosed patients with WR-DLBCL, of whom 68 patients received R-CHOP, and 47 patients received DA-EPOCH-R as their first-line treatment. The baseline features of the two groups were well balanced using a 1:1 propensity score matching method, and a total of 84 cases were obtained, including respective 42 cases in the R-CHOP and DA-EPOCH-R groups, for further survival and prognosis analysis. The primary objectives included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).@*RESULTS@#During a median follow-up of 45 months, there were nine (21.4%) deaths in the R-CHOP group and two (4.8%) in the DA-EPOCH-R group. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed statistically significant improvements in PFS and OS in patients with DA-EPOCH-R compared with those treated with R-CHOP (log-rank test, P  = 0.025 and P  = 0.035, respectively). The 2-year PFS and OS rates in the DA-EPOCH-R group were 90.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 81.4-99.8%) and 95.2% (95% CI: 89.0-100.0%), respectively, and 80.5% (95% CI: 69.3-93.6%) and 90.5% (95% CI: 52.8-99.8%) in the R-CHOP group. Patients without B symptoms and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels had a higher PFS in the DA-EPOCH-R group, with P values of 0.038 (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01-0.88) and 0.042 (HR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.94), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical responses and treatment-related toxicities between the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Compared with patients received R-CHOP, those treated by DA-EPOCH-R had superior PFS, OS, and controlled toxicity in patients with WR-DLBCL.

Pathological characteristics and clinical prognosis of nodular sclerosis grade 2 of classic Hodgkin's lymphoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To investigate the pathological characteristics and clinical prognosis of nodular sclerosis grade 2 of classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL-NS2) in our cancer center. Methods: A retrospective collection of 23 cases of cHL-NS2 admitted in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from July 2008 to April 2019 was performed. Fifty-five cases of nodular sclerosis grade 1 of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL-NS1) during the same period were selected as control group. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors for survival. Results: The median age of 23 cases of cHL-NS2 was 30 years old. Five cases had extra nodal invasion, and 19 cases were Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage based on Ann Arbor system. The pathological morphology of cHL-NS2 showed that the lymph node structure was completely destroyed and was divided into nodules by thick collagen. The tumor cells in the nodules were abundant and proliferated in sheets. The boundaries between the tumor cells were not clear. The incidence of tumor necrosis in cHL-NS2 was 43.5% (10/23), which was significantly higher than 18.2% (10/55) in cHL-NS1 (P=0.040). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of patients in the cHL-NS2 group was 58.1%, which was significantly lower than 89.7% in the cHL-NS1 group (P=0.002). In all of 78 cases, the 3-year PFS rate of patients who did not obtain complete response (CR) was 67.1%, which was significantly lower than 92.2% in patients who achieved CR (P=0.030). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that both cHL-NS2 and failure to obtain CR by first-line treatment were independent indicators for short PFS time (P<0.05). Conclusions: In cHL-NS2, the morphology of tumor cells are diverse, and tumor necrosis can be easily found. Under the current first-line treatments of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) or bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP), cHL-NS2 is an independent indicator for worse PFS.

Uterine rescue in high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia treated with ema-co by uterine arteries embolization due to arteriovenous malformations / Resgate uterino em neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional de alto risco tratada com EMA-CO por embolização de artérias uterinas devido a malformações arteriovenosas

Abstract Complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is a rare type of pregnancy, in which 15 to 20% of the cases may develop into gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). The diagnostic of GTN must be done as early as possible through weekly surveillance of serum hCG after uterine evacuation.We report the case of 23-year-old primigravida, with CHM but without surveillance of hCG after uterine evacuation. Two months later, the patient presented to the emergency with vaginal bleeding and was referred to the Centro de Doenças Trofoblásticas do Hospital São Paulo. She was diagnosed with high risk GTN stage/score III:7 as per The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics/World Health Organization (FIGO/WHO). The sonographic examination revealed enlarged uterus with a heterogeneous mass constituted of multiple large vessels invading and causing disarrangement of the myometrium. The patient evolved with progressive worsening of vaginal bleeding after chemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO) regimen. She underwent blood transfusion and embolization of uterine arteries due to severe vaginal hemorrhage episodes, with complete control of bleeding. The hCG reached a negative value after the third cycle, and there was a complete regression of the anomalous vascularization of the uterus as well as full recovery of the uterine anatomy. The treatment in a reference center was essential for the appropriate management, especially regarding the uterine arteries embolization trough percutaneous femoral

Resumo Mola hidatiforme completa (MHC) é um tipo raro de gravidez, na qual 15 a 20% dos casos podem desenvolver neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional (NTG). O diagnóstico de NTG deve ser feito o mais cedo possível, pelo monitoramento semanal do hCG sérico após esvaziamento uterino. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente primigesta, de 23 anos de idade, com MHC, sem vigilância de hCG após esvaziamento uterino. Dois meses depois, a paciente compareceu na emergência com sangramento vaginal, sendo encaminhada ao Centro de Doenças Trofoblásticas do Hospital São Paulo, onde foi diagnosticada com NTG de alto risco, estádio e score de risco III:7 de acordo com a The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics/Organização Mundial de Saúde (FIGO/OMS). O exame ultrassonográfico revelou útero aumentado com uma massa heterogênea constituída pormúltiplos vasos volumosos invadindo e desestruturando o miométrio. A paciente evoluiu com piora progressiva do sangramento vaginal após quimioterapia com o regime etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO). Ela foi submetida a transfusão de sangue e embolização das artérias uterinas devido aos episódios graves de hemorragia vaginal, com completo controle do sangramento. O hCG atingiu valor negativo após o terceiro ciclo, havendo regressão completa da vascularização uterina anômala, assim como recuperação da anatomia uterina. O tratamento em um centro de referência permitiu o manejo adequado, principalmente no que se refere à embolização das artérias uterinas através da punção percutânea da artéria femoral, que foi crucial para evitar a histerectomia, permitindo a cura da NTG e a manutenção da vida reprodutiva.

Linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica secundaria a infección crónica activa por virus de Epstein-Barr en un hospital pediátrico en México: series de casos y revisión de la literatura / Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection in a pediatric hospital in Mexico: case series and literature review

INTRODUCCIÓN: La linfohistiocitosis hemofagocitica (HLH) secundario está asociada a enfermedades malignas, genéticas o autoinmunes, pero también a infecciones principalmente EBV hasta en un 70%, sin embargo hay poca información. Esta entidad se caracteriza por un curso variable y recurrente que conlleva a una alta morbimortalidad con complicaciones potencialmente mortales. OBJETIVO: Describir las características clínicas y evolución de los pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de HLH secundario a CAEBV. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 7 pacientes, edad media al diagnóstico fue 52 meses con predilección al sexo masculino. Todos los pacientes fueron tratados con un régimen quimioterapéutico multiagente, que incluye corticosteroide, etopósido y Ciclosporina. Después del tratamiento 6 pacientes presentaron remisión y uno de ellos reactivación. La media de seguimiento fue 19 meses y la supervivencia libre de enfermedad (SLE) 16 meses. CONCLUSIÓN: Podemos observar que el curso clínico es variable en ocasiones fulminantes y con pobre respuesta al tratamiento. Un diagnóstico temprano, así como detectar los factores pronóstico podría ayudar a adaptar estrategias de tratamiento que cambiaría la evolución clínica.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is associated with malignant, genetic or autoimmune diseases but also with infections mainly EBV in up to 70%, however there is little information. This entity is characterized by a variable and recurrent course that leads to high morbidty and mortality with life-threatening complications. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of pediatric patients with a diagnosis of HLH secondary to CAEBV. RESULTS: 7 patients were included, mean age at diagnosis was 52 months with a predilection for males. All patients were treated with a multiagent chemotherapeutic regimen, including corticosteroid, etoposide, and cyclosporine. After treatment, 6 patients presented remission and one of them had reactivation. The mean follow-up was 19 months and disease-free survival (DFS) 16 months. CONCLUSION: We can observe that the clinical course is variable, sometimes fulminant and with poor response to treatment. An early diagnosis as well as detecting prognostic factors could help to adapt treatment strategies that would change the clinical course.

Informe diário de evidências COVID-19: busca realizada em 4 de agosto de 2020 / COVID-19 daily evidence report: search conducted on August 4, 2020

O Informe Diário de Evidências é uma produção do Ministério da Saúde que tem como objetivo acompanhar diariamente as publicações científicas sobre tratamento farmacológico e vacinas para a COVID-19. Dessa forma, são realizadas buscas estruturadas em bases de dados biomédicas, referentes ao dia anterior desse informe. Não são incluídos estudos pré-clínicos (in vitro, in vivo, in silico). A frequência dos estudos é demonstrada de acordo com a sua classificação metodológica (revisões sistemáticas, ensaios clínicos randomizados, coortes, entre outros). Para cada estudo é apresentado um resumo com avaliação da qualidade metodológica. Essa avaliação tem por finalidade identificar o grau de certeza/confiança ou o risco de viés de cada estudo. Para tal, são utilizadas ferramentas já validadas e consagradas na literatura científica, na área de saúde baseada em evidências. Cabe ressaltar que o documento tem caráter informativo e não representa uma recomendação oficial do Ministério da Saúde sobre a temática. Foram encontrados 16 artigos e 13 protocolos.

Pancreatitis aguda en carcinoma de célula pequeña de pulmón (CPCP) resuelta con quimioterapia / Acute pancreatitis in small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) resolved with chemotherapy

Resumen El carcinoma de célula pequeña (CPCP) o microcítico de pulmón es un subtipo de cáncer de pulmón que típicamente se ha asociado al tabaquismo y que se caracteriza por su agresividad y mal pronóstico a corto plazo. Como entidad, puede metastatizar en cualquier órgano, siendo las metástasis pancreáticas raras y la mayoría de las veces asintomáticas. Por ello, la presencia de una pancreatitis neoplásica, como en el caso presentado, es excepcional, y aún más cuando presenta refractariedad al tratamiento médico convencional y responde al tratamiento citotóxico sistémico. Por todo ello, se expone esta experiencia clínica y se debate la presencia de esta rara entidad y su manejo.

Abstract Small-cell lung carcinoma is a subtype of neoplasm that has been typically associated with smoking; it is characterized by its aggressiveness and poor prognosis in the short term. As an entity, it can metastasize in any organ, but pancreatic metastases are rare and most of the time asymptomatic. Therefore, the presence of neoplastic pancreatitis as in our case is exceptional; even more when it presents refractoriness to conventional medical treatment, responding instead to systemic cytotoxic treatment. Therefore, we expose our clinical experience and discuss the presence of this rare entity and its management.

Evolución de un linfoma no Hodgkin "triple expresor" en un paciente trasplantado renal con quimioterapia DA-R-EPOCH. Caso clínico / Triple expressor lymphoma in a kidney transplant patient

Patients transplanted from solid organs have an increased risk of cancer, especially lymphomas. Lymphomas correspond to 4 to 5% of malignant neoplasms in the general population and in solid organ transplant patients it reaches an incidence of 21%. The incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is 10 times higher than in the non-transplanted population. We report the case of a 68-year-old man with a kidney transplant who 6 years after transplantation, developed a non-Hodgkin diffuse large cells B lymphoma with lymph node and pulmonary involvement, with markers of very poor prognosis (triple MYC expressor, BCL2 and BCL6). and its evolution with chemotherapy with DA R EPOCH.

Unknown primary large-cell neuroendocrine tumor

Large-cell neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are poorly differentiated malignancies of rare incidence and aggressive nature. NETs mostly arise in the lung followed by the gastrointestinal tract, although they are potentially ubiquitous throughout the body. Primary unknown NET has a worse prognosis and shorter survival comparing with other NETs, with limited available data in the literature concerning this subgroup. The authors report the case of large-cell NET with supraclavicular lymph node presentation. Total excisional biopsy revealed an enlarged adenopathy 18 × 15 × 10 mm, which was extensively infiltrated by a solid malignant neoplasm composed of large cells with granular chromatin, nuclear pseudo-inclusions, high mitotic index, and focal necrosis, with a Ki 67 index 25-30% and positive immunohistochemical study for the expression of cytokeratin 8/18, chromogranin, synaptophysin, and thyroid transcriptional factor-1 (TTF-1). There was no evidence of primary location apart from two infracentimetric lung lesions that could not be accessed for biopsy and were negative at both somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and positron emission tomography. The NET relapsed with three mediastinal masses, so the patient was started on chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide with initial total response. Early progression showed no response to further chemotherapy regimens (temozolomide, oral etoposide); therefore, the patient was treated with local radiotherapy. This patient has an atypical long survival (54 months) compared to the literature data. In fact, there are few long-term survivors of large-cell NET and they are all related to complete surgical resection.

Pneumatosis intestinalis after etoposide-based chemotherapy in a patient with metastatic small cell lung cancer: successful conservative management of a rare condition / Pneumatose intestinal após quimioterapia com etoposídeo em paciente com câncer de pulmão de pequenas células: sucesso com conduta conservadora em uma condição rara

ABSTRACT A 69-year-old male patient, smoker, was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer metastatic to lung, liver and central nervous system. He received chemotherapy with carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1 and etoposide 100mg/m2 on days 1, 2 and 3. During the first cycle, the patient presented with febrile neutropenia and abdominal distension. Chest, abdomen and pelvis computed tomography scan was performed and detected gas dissecting the wall of sigmoid colon extending to the mesosigmoid. Patient had no abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and on physical examination he had no peritoneal irritation, tachycardia or hemodynamic instability compatible with perforation or acute abdomen. Therefore, the radiological finding was interpreted as pneumatosis intestinalis caused by chemotherapy with etoposide. Pneumatosis resolved after continuous oxygen therapy. The second cycle was administered after a complete resolution of the clinical condition and etoposide dose was reduced by 30%. The patient experienced a remarkable evolution.

RESUMO Paciente do gênero masculino, 69 anos, fumante, diagnosticado com câncer de pulmão de pequenas células, metastático para pulmão, fígado e sistema nervoso central. Foi administrada quimioterapia com carboplatina AUC 5 no dia 1 e etoposídeo 100mg/m2 nos dias 1, 2 e 3. Durante o primeiro ciclo, o paciente apresentou neutropenia febril e distensão abdominal. Tomografias de tórax, abdome e pelve detectaram gás dissecando a parede do cólon sigmoide, com extensão para o mesossigmoide. O paciente não apresentava dor abdominal, náusea, vômito e não tinha sinais de irritação peritoneal, taquicardia ou instabilidade hemodinâmica compatíveis com perfuração ou abdome agudo. O achado radiológico foi interpretado como pneumatose intestinal causada por etoposídeo. A resolução do quadro ocorreu após suplementação de oxigênio. O segundo ciclo foi administrado após resolução completa do quadro, com redução da dose do quimioterápico em 30%. O paciente evoluiu de forma bastante satisfatória.

Neutropenia febril postquimioterapia, Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología / Febrile neutropenia after cytostatic therapy observed in the Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology

Objetivo: caracterizar a los pacientes oncológicos que presenten episodios de neutropenia febril postquimioterapia ingresados en el Instituto de Oncología y Radiobiología en el periodo de enero a mayo del 2015. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal a una muestra de 36 pacientes. Se revisaron las historias clínicas donde se tomaron las variables analizadas. Resultados: predominaron los pacientes del sexo femenino (61,1 por ciento). Dentro de las enfermedades oncológicas predominaron los pacientes con Linfomas no Hodgkin (25,0 por ciento) y los medicamentos citostáticos vinculados a la neutropenia fueron el carboplatino, paclitaxel, ifosfamida y etopósido. La recuperación hematológica se logró en la mayoría de los casos antes de las 72 horas y el mayor número de pacientes (72,2 por ciento) fueron clasificados como una neutropenia de bajo riesgo, según los criterios de la Multinational Association for Supportive Care. Conclusiones: en la muestra estudiada la neutropenia febril presenta un incremento proporcional con la edad y las enfermedades de origen hematopoyéticos, cuyos esquemas quimioterápicos consisten en altas dosis de agentes citostáticos(AU)

Objective: to characterize the oncological patients who present with post chemotherapy febrile neutropenia and were admitted to the Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology in the period of January to May, 2015. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study of a sample of 36 patients. Their medical histories were checked from which the analyzed variables were taken. Results: females predominated in the study (61,1 percent). Among the oncological diseases, non-Hodgkin lymphomas (25,0 percent) prevailed whereas the cytostatic drugs found related to neutropenia were carboplatin, paclitaxel, ifosfamide and etoposide. The hematological recovery was reached in most cases before 72 hours and a lot of patients (72, 2 percent) were classified as low risk neutropenia according to the Multinational Association for Supportive Care criteria. Conclusions: in the study sample, the febrile neutropenia increases with the age and with hematopoietic diseases whereas chemotherapy schemes are based on high dose cytostatic agents(AU)

Síndrome hemofagocítico adquirido: reporte de casos de cuatro pacientes adultos tratados con protocolo HLH 94-04 y revisión de la literatura / Acquired hemophagocytic syndrome treated with HLH 94-04 chemotherapy protocol: Report of four cases

Hemophagocytic syndrome is a severe condition of excessive immune activation that has a high mortality in the absence of treatment. The syndrome is classified as primary if associated with congenital or hereditary problems, or secondary/acquired if associated with infectious, autoimmune or oncology diseases. We report four adult cases of the syndrome, one with viral, two with autoimmune and one with idiopathic causes who were successfully treated with HLH 94-04 chemotherapy protocol. Our experience shows that a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and an opportune therapy are essential in the treatment of this disease.

[Combination chemotherapy of [vip] [ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide] for advanced hodgkin's lymphoma [relapse and resistant]]

Hodgkin's lymphoma [HL] is a disease of good response on initial radio-chemotherapy, but there is a ratio of 5-35% does not respond, and some relapses after initial chemotherapy [CT] appear to have a poor prognosis, especially if the duration of the first complete remission [CR] was short. So the aim was to improve the survival by use the combination of VIP. Prospective Study of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, of age more than 13 years, who had relapses after combination of ABVD, and the resistant cases. Diagnosed in Almouassat hospital, within 1/2004- 1/2oo9. Then the patients were treated with the combination of VIP. Evaluation of relapse and resistant depended on CT-scan, biopsy, and Gallium scanning. 32 patients were in first relapse or resistance. they were divided into 3 groups, group-1: included 15 patients [47%] without bad prognosis, the interval of end treatment- relapse is about 4,5 years, Treated with ABVD. result was complete remission in 12 patients [80%]. Group- 2; included nine relapsed patients with bad prognosis; the interval of end treatment- relapse is about 1 year, treated with combination of VIP and Radiation Therapy if It is necessary. Result was complete remission in 3 patients, partial remission in 3 patients, and resistance in 2 patients. The whole response is 78%. Group- 3; included 6 resistant patients, treated with combination of VIP combination CT followed by radiotherapy [RT], result was complete remission in 4 patients [78%], partial remission in 2 patients. There was a significant difference, especially in group-3. The protocol ABVD is still the treatment of choice in patients with far relapse and without bad prognosis. while The combination of VIP, followed by radiotherapy or no, is useful and efficacy in resistant and relapse Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Successful Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma without Irradiation in Children: Single Center Experience

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a very uncommon disease in children, and usually treated by chemotherapy, combined with focal or craniospinal radiotherapy (RT). However, adverse effects of RT are a concern. We evaluated the outcomes of childhood PCNSL, treated with systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy, but without RT. For fifteen years, six patients among 175 of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were diagnosed as PCNSL in Seoul National University Children's Hospital and we analyzed their medical records retrospectively. Their male:female ratio was 5:1, and median age was 10.1 yr. The primary sites were the sellar area in three patients, parietal area in one, cerebellum in one, and multiple areas in one. Their pathologic diagnoses were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in three patients, Burkitt lymphoma in two, and undifferentiated B-cell lymphoma in one. Five were treated with the LMB96 treatment protocol, and one was treated with the CCG-106B protocol. None had RT as a first-line treatment. One patient had a local relapse and received RT and salvage chemotherapy, without success. No patient had treatment-related mortality. Their estimated 5-yr event-free and overall survival rates were both 83.3%. In conclusion, PCNSL is a rare disease in childhood, but successfully treated by chemotherapy without RT.

Successful Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma without Irradiation in Children: Single Center Experience

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a very uncommon disease in children, and usually treated by chemotherapy, combined with focal or craniospinal radiotherapy (RT). However, adverse effects of RT are a concern. We evaluated the outcomes of childhood PCNSL, treated with systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy, but without RT. For fifteen years, six patients among 175 of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were diagnosed as PCNSL in Seoul National University Children's Hospital and we analyzed their medical records retrospectively. Their male:female ratio was 5:1, and median age was 10.1 yr. The primary sites were the sellar area in three patients, parietal area in one, cerebellum in one, and multiple areas in one. Their pathologic diagnoses were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in three patients, Burkitt lymphoma in two, and undifferentiated B-cell lymphoma in one. Five were treated with the LMB96 treatment protocol, and one was treated with the CCG-106B protocol. None had RT as a first-line treatment. One patient had a local relapse and received RT and salvage chemotherapy, without success. No patient had treatment-related mortality. Their estimated 5-yr event-free and overall survival rates were both 83.3%. In conclusion, PCNSL is a rare disease in childhood, but successfully treated by chemotherapy without RT.

[Desmoplastic small round cell tumor]

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a recently recognized and rare clinicopathologic entity with distinctive morphologic and immuno histochemical features .Moreover, specific cytogenetics abnormalities and molecular characteristics have been described and confirmed its identity. It is often located at the abdominal cavity, but can exceptionally be located at the cerebral level or some soft tissue and the bones of the members. We report a case of Desmoplastic small round cell involving gluteal muscle and iliac bone at a 25-year-old girl. Our patient had been treated by chemotherapy based on ifosfamide, doxorubicine, etoposide and cis platine. The evolution was marked by the tumoral progress and the death of the patient 18 months after the discovery of the disease. The second case is a 27-year old man .He had a retro peritoneal desmoplastic small round cell tumor treated by surgery alone. The evolution was marked by metastasis and the patient died 10 months after diagnosis. The prognosis of these tumors remains unclear in spite of the mulitidisciplinary treatment. Hence the necessity of new lines of therapeutic research

Gestational choriocarcinoma presenting as hemothorax.

Choriocarcinoma include a spectrum of chorionic neoplasms that may be gestational or non-gestational. By virtue of their high vascularity and affinity of trophoblast for blood vessels, metastases often occur early, and the most common site of such metastases is the lung. Metastatic pleural effusions from choriocarcinoma are infrequent. Pleural seeding usually results from extension of a sub-pleural peripheral nodule. We describe a case of gestational choriocarcinoma whose clinical presentation was medical like hemothorax as in our case rather than gynecologic.

A Successful Treatment of Relapsed Primary CNS Lymphoma Patient with Intraventricular Rituximab Followed by High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Stem Cell Rescue

The prognosis for patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) who relapse after the initial response is usually poor. A standard treatment for relapsed PCNSL has not yet been identified because of the heterogeneity of the therapies employed and the lack of large, prospective clinical trials. We describe a 46-year-old relapsed PCNSL patient who was successfully treated with intraventricular applications of rituximab to minimize neurotoxicity, 2 cycles of salvage chemotherapy with etoposide, ifosfamide, and cytarabine (VIA) regimen and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. The high-dose chemotherapy consisted of bischloroethylnitrosourea, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) regimen. Partial remission was detected after intraventricular rituximab therapy and the patient has been in complete remission without evidence of neurotoxicity for 28 months after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue. This case indicates a new appropriate treatment guideline in relapsed PCNSL patient after initial intensive chemo-radiotherapy.

Hemophagoctic lymphohistiocytosis--recent concept.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare condition characterized by highly stimulated but inactive immune response. The disease may be inherited or acquired due to infections, collagen vascular diseases and malignancies. The pathological hallmark of the syndrome is aggressive proliferation of macrophages and histiocytes. Decreased NK cell activity results in increased T cell activation resulting production of large quantities of interferon gamma (IFN gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). This causes sustained macrophage activation and tissue infiltration as well as production of interleukin 1 (IL1) and interleukin 6 (IL6).The resulting inflammatory reaction causes extensive damage and associated symptoms. Patients with HLH commonly present with high fever, anemia and splenomegaly. Minimal diagnostic parameters are a complete hemogram, liver function test, serum triglycerides and ferritin, coagulation profile including fibrinogen and bone marrow aspiration. Two highly sensitive diagnostic marker are an increased plasma concentration of the alpha chain of soluble IL2 receptor (CD25) and impaired NK cell activity. Hyperinflammation can be treated with steroid, Cyclosporine prevents T lymphocytes and immunoglobulin infusion helps to control the infection. Etoposide may be life saving specially in case of HLH with Ebstein Barr Viruses infection. The Histiocyte Society in 1994 developed a common treatment protocol (HLH-94). In January 2004 a revised HLH treatment protocol was opened entitled HLH-2004, which is based on HLH-94 with minor modifications. There is a high remission rate on the HLH-94 and HLH-2004 treatment protocols.