Carcinoma linfoepitelial de cuello uterino con recurrencia a distancia / Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the cervix with distant recurrence

Resumen El carcinoma similar al linfoepitelioma (LELC) del cuello uterino es una variante infrecuente del carcinoma de células escamosas. Se presenta el caso de una mujer con un tumor exofítico en el cuello uterino de consistencia aumentada, sangrado al tacto y parametrios libres de tumor clasificándose como etapa clínica IBI; el estudio histopatológico reportó LELC con recurrencia a distancia al año de seguimiento. Debido a su buen pronóstico existen pocos casos reportados de recurrencia posterior al tratamiento inicial.

Abstract Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the cervix is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma. We present the case of a woman with an exophytic tumor on the cervix of increased consistency, bleeding to the touch and tumor-free parametriums classified as clinical stage IBI; the histopathological study reported LELC with distant recurrence at one year of follow-up. Due to its good prognosis, there are few reported cases of recurrence after initial treatment.

Valor de la gammagrafía con Tc-99m-tetrofosmín en el diagnóstico del cáncer bien diferenciado de tiroides / Value of (99m)Tc tetrofosmin scan in well-differentiated thyroid cancer

Introducción: Los pacientes con nódulos tiroideos hipocaptantes sin sospecha ultrasonográfica y con citología benigna o indeterminada pueden ser vigilados. El gammagrama con Tc- 99m-tetrofosmín (Tc-99m-TS) identifica pacientes en los que la vigilancia es más segura. La ausencia de captación nunca ocurre en pacientes con carcinoma. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el valor predictivo negativo del Tc-99m-TS en pacientes con nódulo tiroideo. Material y métodos: Evaluación preoperatoria con Tc-99m-TS de pacientes con nódulo tiroideo candidatos a cirugía. Tiroidectomía de acuerdo con el diagnóstico en todos. Evaluación de valor predictivo negativo y sensibilidad al comparar con el resultado histopatológico. Se administraron 296-370 MBq (8-10 mCi) de Tc-99m-TS; evaluación de imágenes a los 120 minutos. Resultado reportado con actividad metabólica aumentada (AMA) o sin actividad metabólica aumentada (SAMA). Resultados: Se incluyeron 86 pacientes consecutivos. Sesenta (69.7 %) tuvieron AMA, 20/60 con carcinoma (33 %), en 67 % el diagnóstico fue de nódulo benigno. En 26 (30.2 %) SAMA, 11.5 % tuvo carcinoma y 88.4 % neoplasia benigna. Sensibilidad de 91.43 % (IC 95 % = 80.73-100 %), especificidad de 45.10 % (IC 95 % = 30.46-59.73), valor predictivo positivo de 53.33 % (IC 95 % = 39.8-66.79), valor predictivo negativo de 88.46 % (IC 95 % = 74.26-100). Razón de verosimilitud negativa = 0.19. Conclusiones: Tc-99m-TS con AMA es poco específico en cáncer tiroideo; en pacientes SAMA 13 % tiene carcinoma. La mayoría de los pacientes (70 %) mostró AMA, 33 % con carcinoma. Valor predictivo negativo en grupo SAMA = 88 %. Tc-99m-TS podría ser útil en la decisión terapéutica de pacientes con nódulo tiroideo en los que existe duda de cirugía; su utilidad radica en el valor predictivo negativo.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cold thyroid nodules without ultrasound malignant suspicion and with benign/undetermined cytology may be subjected to follow-up surveillance. 99mTc-tetrofosmin scan (99mTc-TS) may identify patients where this observation can be performed with more certainty. Absence of uptake never occurs in carcinoma patients. Our objective was to determine the 99mTc-TS negative predictive value (NPV) in patients with cold thyroid nodules. METHODS: An evaluation with 99mTc-TS was conducted prior to surgery in patients with thyroid gland tumor who were candidates for surgery. All patients underwent thyroidectomy according to histology; NPV and test sensitivity were evaluated when compared with the histopathological result. Then, 296-370 MBq (8-10 mCi) of 99mTc-tetrofosmin was administered, and scan images were evaluated after 120 min. Scan result was reported as a) with increased metabolic activity (IMA) or b) without increased metabolic activity (WIMA). RESULTS: Included in the study were 86 consecutive patients. In 60 patients the scan showed IMA, 20/60 (33%) with carcinoma, 67% with benign nodule. In 26 (30.2%) the scan was WIMA. In this group, 3/26 (11.5%) had carcinoma and (88.4%) had a benign neoplasia. Sensitivity = 91.43 (95% CI = 80.73-100), specificity = 45.10 (95% CI = 30.46-59.73), positive predictive value = 53.33 (95% CI = 39.8-66.79) and NPV = 88.46 (95% CI 74.26-100). Negative probability ratio = 0.19. CONCLUSIONS: IMA-99mTc-TS is less specific in thyroid cancer; nevertheless, in WIMA patients the possibility of carcinoma is 13%. Most patients (70%) showed IMA, 33% with carcinoma. WIMA-NPV = 30%. 99mTc-TS may be useful in the therapeutic decision of patients with thyroid nodule with concerns about surgery. Its usefulness lies in the NPV.

Manifestaciones clínicas inusuales del hiperparatiroidismo primario / Unsual clinical signs of primary hyperparathroidism

Introducción: Un creciente número de pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo primario son diagnosticados en la ausencia de síntomas, gracias a la determinación rutinaria de calcio sérico. Sin embargo, en algunos países las manifestaciones típicas continúan dominando la presentación del hiperparatiroidismo primario. Métodos: Estudiamos retrospectivamente las manifestaciones clínicas y bioquímicas de 47 pacientes consecutivos con hiperparatiroidismo primario, tratados con paratiroidectomía entre octubre de 1993 y junio de 2005. Resultados: La edad media fue de 51.3 años. Se incluyeron 40 mujeres (85%) y siete varones (15%). El 63% de los pacientes fue referido por la sospecha de neoplasia maligna. En 78% de los casos se identificaron lesiones radiológicas compatibles con osteítis fibrosa quística, resorción subperóstica, lesiones líticas múltiples, osteopenia y osteoporosis. La presencia de fractura en terreno patológico se observó en 19.1%. Quince pacientes (32%) tenían tumores pardos, con localización más frecuentemente en la mandíbula y la maxila. Conclusiones: En esta serie, la osteítis fibrosa quística sintomática y la severa disminución de la densidad mineral ósea fueron las manifestaciones dominantes del hiperparatiroidismo primario. En su mayoría, los pacientes fueron referidos a una unidad oncológica para su tratamiento debido a la sospecha de alguna neoplasia maligna. Una adecuada evaluación clínica, bioquímica, radiológica e histológica es necesaria para establecer el posible diagnóstico de hiperparatiroidismo.

BACKGROUND: A growing number of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are diagnosed in the absence of symptoms following routine biochemical screening. However, in some countries, overt manifestations and osteitis fibrosa cystica (OFC) still dominate the clinical profile of PHPT patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied clinical and biochemical manifestations of 47 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who were treated with parathyroidectomy from October 1993 to June 2005. RESULTS: Mean age was of 51.3 years. Our sample included 40 women (85%) and 7 men (15%). Seventy eight percent of cases had radiological features of OFC, namely subperiosteal bone resorption, cortical cysts and osteopenia. Pathological fracture occurred in nine patients (19.1%). Fifteen (32%) patients had clinically evident bony deformities or brown tumors mostly located in the mandible and maxilla. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that symptomatic osteitis fibrosa cystica and severe decrease of bone mineral density were the primary manifestations of primary hyperparathyroidism. Most patients were referred to an oncology hospital for treatment due to a suspected malignant neoplasm. A comprehensive clinical evaluation with biochemical markers, imaging studies and histological results is needed to establish a possible diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Faringo-laringectomías parciales para el tratamiento del cáncer faringolaríngeo / Partial pharyngolaryngectomies for treatment of pharyngolaryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to evaluate the results obtained with conservation therapy of the larynx in patients with laryngopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with stages I and II epidermoid cancer of the larynx and pharynx were included. All patients were evaluated endoscopically, functionally, and with cervical tomography. Results of the procedures were evaluated on the basis of oncological control and laryngeal function (voice, swallowing and ventilation). RESULTS: There were 41 male patients with a median age of 55 years. In 32 patients, surgery was the initial treatment and in nine patients as rescue treatment after radiotherapy. In 58.5% the location was glottic, in 22% supraglottic, in 12% glotto-supraglottic and in 7% vallecular and hypopharynx. Subtotal laryngectomy was performed with cricohyoidepiglottopexy in 18 patients, frontolateral in 11, supraglottic in 5, subglottic-epiglottectomy in 3, hemipharyngolaryngectomy in 3, and in one hemiglottectomy. The time until decannulation and removal of nasogastric catheter depended on the type of surgery. One patient (2%) had to be subjected to a rescue laryngectomy due to constant aspiration. This patient demonstrated residual tumor in the sample. Nine patients had some type of complication, the most frequent being wound infection (7.3%). One patient died postoperatively due to sepsis (2.4%), and another patient died due to systemic causes 4 months after the intervention. Median follow-up time is 25 months and no patient has presented tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Voice conservation surgery is an alternative to mutilation of the larynx in patients with locally advanced neoplasms of the larynx with a high risk of recurrence if treated with radiotherapy.

Factores pronósticos en carcinoma mucoepidermoide de cabeza y cuello / Prognostic factors in head and neck mucoepidermoid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: In patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) originating in salivary glands, because of the relative rarity of these tumors and the remarkable variability in their biological behavior, opinions differ about appropriate classification, grading, and treatment. OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to analyze clinical and histological prognostic factors in a series of patients with MEC using univariate and multivariate survival analyses. METHODS: We reviewed 47 patients with MEC treated at our institution from 1985 to 2000. Clinical, epidemiological, treatment and follow-up data were obtained from medical records. All cases were histologically reviewed. The influence of prognostic factors on 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier actuarial method and log-rank test. Cox regression tests were used to analyze the impact of the prognostic factors on survival. RESULTS: Females represented 59.6% of the patients. The major salivary glands were affected in 74.5%. Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 78.3% and 69.3%, respectively. Disease-free survival at 5 years was 73.9% and at 10 years was 67.5%. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that tumor size (T4) (p = 0.0008), regional metastasis (p = 0.000), high histological grade (p = 0.0002), perineural invasion (p = 0.000), positive margin (p = 0.000), necrosis (p = 0.005), and intracystic component <20% (p = 0.0002) were all correlated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical stage and histological grade are the main prognostic factors in mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Nevertheless, our univariate and multivariate analyses showed that other clinical and histological prognostic factors are independent significant indicators.

Múltiples tumores pardos maxilofaciales como manifestación de hiperparatiroidismo primario / Multiple maxillofacial brown tumors as primary hyperparathyroidism manifestation

Objetivo: Con el fin de analizar el diagnóstico diferencial de las lesiones óseas con células gigantes en los huesos faciales, presentamos un caso con hiperparatiroidismo primario no diagnosticado previamente, que presentó múltiples tumores pardos maxilofaciales como primera manifestación clínica de la enfermedad. Caso clínico: Mujer de 70 años de edad con tumor en el arco anterior de la mandíbula de un año de evolución. Una biopsia confirmó la presencia de una lesión con células gigantes. Radiológicamente se corroboró la presencia de otras dos lesiones líticas en la región maxilofacial. Durante la evaluación bioquímica previa a la cirugía se consideró la posibilidad de hiperparatiroidismo. Por tomografía computarizada se localizó tumor de paratiroides en una posición atípica. La resección quirúrgica confirmó adenoma de paratiroides. La paciente cursó con hipocalcemia sintomática, siendo manejada con suplementos de calcio y calcitriol. Al cuarto mes de la cirugía, persistía con cifras normales de calcio sérico y el tumor mandibular se había reducido parcialmente. Conclusiones: La detección de una lesión ósea con células gigantes en la región maxilofacial es un elemento diagnóstico primordial puesto que varias entidades, entre ellas el tumor pardo del hiperparatiroidismo, pueden tener una imagen histológica similar. Sólo una evaluación clínica, radiológica y bioquímica sistemática puede permitir un diagnóstico definitivo. La presencia de múltiples tumores pardos maxilofaciales simultáneos en el hiperparatiroidismo primario es poco común, y en raras ocasiones puede ser el primer signo de la enfermedad.

OBJECTIVE: In order to analyze the differential diagnosis of giant-cell lesion in facial bones, we present a case of a patient without a previously diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism that displayed multiple maxillofacial brown tumors as the initial clinical manifestation of the disease. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 70 year-old female with amandible tumor and one year of disease progression. Tumor biopsy confirmed the presence of a giant-cell lesion. Radiologically, we confirmed the presence of another two lytic lesions in the maxillofacial region. During biochemical evaluation prior to surgery, the possibility of hyperparathyroidism was considered. Using computed tomography, we noted a parathyroid tumor in an atypical location. Surgical resection confirmed the presence of an adenoma. Postoperatively, the patient developed symptomatic hypocalcemia and was managed with calcium supplementation in addition to calcitriol. At 4 months after surgery mandibular swelling had regressed partially and serum calcium levels returned to normal levels. CONCLUSION: The detection of giant-cell bone lesions in the maxillofacial region is a strategic diagnostic finding as several entities, among these brown tumor hyperparathyroidism can display similar histologic imaging findings. Only systematic clinical, radiologic, and biochemical evaluation can allow for a definitive diagnosis. The presence of multiple simultaneous maxillofacial brown tumors in primary hyperparathyroidism is an infrequent ocurrence, and only on rare occasions can this be the first sign of the disease.

Mapeo linfático y biopsia del ganglio centinela en pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide cutáneo de alto riesgo / Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with high risk squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Introducción: Un subgrupo de pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide cutáneo (CEC) tiene alto riesgo de presentar metástasis ganglionares regionales. El mapeo linfático y biopsia del ganglio centinela (MLBGC) ha sido exitosamente utilizado para evaluar la presencia de metástasis ganglionares subclínicas en diversos tumores. bjetivo: Evaluar la utilidad de la técnica del MLBGC en los pacientes con CEC de alto riesgo para detectar la presencia de metástasis ganglionares regionales subclínicas. Material y métodos: De enero 2002 a marzo 2004, un total de 20 pacientes con CEC de alto riesgo con ganglios linfáticos regionales clínicamente no palpables fue evaluado con linfografía preoperatoria y MLBGC. Resultados: En 1 de cada 5 pacientes (20 %), el ganglio centinela reveló la presencia de micrometástasis. Ningún paciente con GC negativo manifestó progresión tumoral ganglionar regional durante un seguimiento medio de 23.5 meses (rango de 7 a 44 meses). Conclusiones: El MLBGC fue técnicamente posible con baja morbilidad. El MLBGC puede tener un importante papel en el tratamiento de los pacientes con CEC de alto riesgo con ganglios linfáticos regionales no palpables. Esta técnica puede ayudar a identificar los pacientes con metástasis en los ganglios linfáticos regionales que pueden beneficiarse de una disección ganglionar radical. Además provee importante información para utilizar terapias adyuvantes a la cirugía.

BACKGROUND: Some sub-groups of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) display a higher risk for regional metastasis. Sentinel lymph node staging has been used successfully to evaluate nodal metastasis in selective tumors. OBJECTIVE: Assess the feasibility of sentinel node to detect occult regional lymph node metastasis in high-risk CSCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and March 2004, a total of 20 patients received pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymphadenectomy for high-risk CSCC with clinically non-palpable regional lymph nodes. RESULTS: In one of each 5 patients (20%), sentinel lymph node showed histological evidence of microinvolvement. No patients with negative sentinel node showed tumor dissemination during follow-up, with a mean of 23.5 months (range 7-44). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is technically feasible with low morbidity. Sentinel lymphadenectomy may play an important role in the management of high-risk CSCC with clinically non-palpable regional lymph nodes. This technique can help identify patients with regional lymph node metastases who may benefit from complete lymphadenectomy. This improved staging may allow clinicians to better stratify patients who might benefit from adjuvant therapy.