Fatal colchicine intoxication

Colchicine is an alkaloid extracted from autumnal Colchicum plant which is used primarily for its anti-inflammatory therapy effect. Acute intoxication with colchicine is uncommon but often severe and results in multiple visceral organ dysfunctions. The intoxication severity and mortality are directly depending on the ingested dose. The treatment is manly symptomatic. However, the development of specific anti-colchicine immunotherapy would offer a new therapeutic perspective. Authors report a case of a young patient that ingested 40 tablets colchicine, which caused a multiple organ failure and with fatal outcome

Primary melanotic progonoma of skull

Melanotic progonoma is a rare tumour that generally arises in the maxilla during the first year of life. The involvement of cranial vault bones is extremely rare. The authors report the case of a 7-month-old female infant admitted for a congenital right parieto-occipital bone tumour. The radiological examination showed a spicular opacity pattern. The surgical resection was complete. We highlight the rarity of this neoplasm and discuss epidemiological, clinical, radiological and therapeutical characteristics of this pathology

Tuberculous osteitis of the skull in a child

Tuberculosis is endemic in developing countries. However, skull tuberculosis is uncommon with few cases reported in the literature. We report a 10-year-old boy admitted for a left parietal painless swelling. A CT scan demonstrated a left parietal bony defect, destroying both inner and outer tables. This was associated with an enhanced epidural collection and scalp swelling. The patient was operated, and the microscopic examination revealed typical tuberculosis granuloma. The clinical presentation and management of this rare location of tuberculosis are discussed