Screening for childhood lead poisoning in the industrial region of Fez, Morocco.

The study objectives were to estimate lead poisoning prevalence among children living next to an industrial area, to compare it to that in a control population, and to establish clinical and biological follow-up of the poisoned children. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study including 150 children (exposed and unexposed) performed between January 2012 and April 2013. It was meant to determine blood lead levels (BLLs) in children considered to be an exposed population (EP N 90), living in the industrial area Ain Nokb Fez compared with BLLs of children of other areas belonging to the same city supposed to be unexposed [UP (N = 60)]. A sociodemographic questionnaire was obtained, and a blood lead analysis was performed. Clinical and biological follow-up has been performed of poisoned children. The sample consisted of 90 EP children with an average age of 6.82 ± 3.32 years and male-to-female sex ratio (SR) of 1.5 and 60 UP children with an average age of 6.45 ± 3.29 years and an SR of 1.2. Among the 150 children recruited, the average of BLLs was 58.21 ± 36 µg/L (18-202.3 µg/L). The average of BLLs in EP children (71 ± 40 µg/L) was statistically greater (p < 0.0001) than that registered in UP children (38 ± 13 µg/L). All poisoned children belonged to the EP group at a prevalence of 21.1 %. The clinical and biological examinations of poisoned children showed a few perturbations such as anemia, hypocalcaemia, and deficiencies in magnesium and iron. No renal disease or objective neurological disorders were observed. In the follow-up of the children with BLL ≥100 µg/L (19 cases). BLL monitoring showed a significant decrease in average of blood concentration ranging from 136.75 ± 32.59 to 104.58 ± 32.73 µg/L (p < 0.0001) and in lead poisoning prevalence (p < 0.001), which decreased to 7.8 % from 21.1. Our study showed a high prevalence of lead poisoning (21.1 %) in EP children. The relocation of the industrial site associated with corrective and preventive measures has contributed to a decrease of exposure and lead poisoning prevalence in the aforementioned population.

[Eosinophilic fasciitis, morphea and vitiligo in a single patient]. / Association fasciite avec éosinophilie, morphées et vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: Fasciitis with eosinophilia (FE), or Shulman syndrome, is a rare disease of unknown origin for which the nosological profile has not been clearly defined. It is clinically characterised by oedema and induration of the limbs with hypereosinophilia. It may be associated with morphea, in which case it carries a poor prognosis, or other diseases, particularly autoimmune conditions. Herein, we report a case of fasciitis associated with eosinophilia, morphea and vitiligo. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 45-year-old male patient followed up for vitiligo for 20 years had been presenting swelling and induration of the skin on all 4 limbs for the previous 7 months associated with morphea on the trunk. Treatment consisting of systemic corticosteroids and methotrexate was initiated and displayed a certain degree of efficacy. DISCUSSION: The association of morphea/fasciitis with eosinophilia is a classical finding; the presence of vitiligo raises the question of possible association between these different disorders.

[Overdose or hypersensitivity to vitamin D?]. / Surdosage ou hypersensibilité à la vitamine D ?

Vitamin D intoxication with severe hypercalcemia is rare in the neonatal and infancy period. Through nine cases of hypercalcemia, secondary to taking 600,000 units of vitamin D (Sterogyl(®)), a review of vitamin D requirements and possible mechanisms of toxicity including hypersensitivity to this vitamin will be discussed. We report nine cases of babies admitted to our department between the ages of 25 and 105 days for treatment of severe dehydration. The pregnancies were normal, with no incidents at delivery. Clinical signs were dominated by weight loss, vomiting, and fever. Examination on admission revealed dehydration whose degree ranged from 8 to 15% with preserved diuresis and loss weight between 100 and 1100 g. Laboratory tests objectified hypercalcemia between 113 and 235mg/L, hypercalciuria (urinary calcium/creatinine mmol/mmol >0.5), and a low-level of parathyroid hormone. The vitamin D values in nine patients were toxic (344-749 nmol/L; normal >50 nmol/L; toxicity if >250 nmol/L). Abdominal ultrasound objectified renal nephrocalcinosis in seven patients. The DNA study, performed in eight patients, did not reveal a mutation of the vitamin D 24-hydroxylase gene (CYP24A1). The treatment consisted of intravenous rehydration with treatment of hypercalcemia (diuretics and corticosteroids). Serum calcium returned to the normal range within 4-50 days, with weight gain progressively over the following weeks. The follow-up (2 years for the oldest case) showed the persistence of images of nephrocalcinosis. Genetic susceptibility and metabolic differences appear to modulate the threshold of vitamin D toxicity. However, respect for recommended doses, recognized as safe in a large study population, reduces the risk of toxicity.

[Choriocarcinoma: a hidden face of pemphigoid gestationis]. / Le choriocarcinome: une face cachée de la pemphigoïde gestationnelle.

Gestationis pemphigoid is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering dermatosis occurring predominantly in pregnancy, more seldom in early puerperium, and exceptionally in post-abortion. The association of gestationis pemphigoid with choriocarcinoma is extremely rare. We report this association in a patient of 35 years in which the diagnosis of gestationis pemphigoid was made on clinical, histological and immunological criteria, and the one of choriocarcinoma was made on clinical, biological radiological and histological criteria. Through this article, we put the item on this association reported for the first time in post-abortion.

[Breast cancer in young patient in Morocco]. / Cancer du sein chez la femme jeune dans le Nord-Est du Maroc.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer occurring in young women is rare with epidemiological, diagnostic and prognostic characteristics of their own. It is more often linked to genetic predisposition and especially correlated with a lower survival and higher rates of recidivism. The aim of the study was to analyze epidemiological, clinicopathological, biological and evolutionary characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective study concerning 74 patients aged 35 and younger, in whom a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer was made between September 2004 and December 2009. RESULTS: Incidence of breast cancer in women aged under 35 in our series was 18.6%, mean age was 30.62years and five patients (6.75%) had a family history of breast cancer. The mean tumor size was 3.9±2.6cm; 45.4% of tumors were locally advanced. It was an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of grade III of Scarff-Bloom and Richardson (SBR) in 45.7% cases and half the time it was accompanied by an axillary lymph node involvement. Negative hormone receptor (HR-) was found in only 28.7% of cases and 13 cases overexpressed Her2. Eighteen percent of the tumors were classified as triple negative. The overall survival at 3years was 87.8%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The incidence of breast cancer in young Moroccan patients is high. In our context, it is distinguished by a delayed diagnosis explaining the advanced stage at diagnosis. Biological characteristics are often more aggressive, including high histological grade, lack of hormone receptors and the higher rate of triple negative tumours significantly reducing treatment options.

[Epidemiological and pathological features of cancer in Fez Boulemane region, Morocco]. / Aspects épidémiologiques et anatomopathologiques des cancers dans la région de Fès-Boulemane (Maroc).

In Fez-Boulemane, Morocco, there is no cancer registry so there is a lack of information about the incidence and characteristics of cancer in the region. In this retrospective study we examined the epidemiological and pathological features of 5532 cases of cancer collected from the Department of Pathology in Hassan II University Hospital of Fes from 2004 to 2010. The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years and 52% were male. Digestive cancers and skin cancers were the most common. Digestive cancers were predominantly colorectal and stomach. Cancers of the urinary bladder and colorectal cancers were the leading cancers in men accounting respectively for 9% and 8% of all male cancers. In women, cancers of the breast (62%) and uterine cervix (22.6%) predominated. As a first step in cancer control in our area, establishment of a regional cancer registry is recommended.

Post-menopausal endometrial tuberculosis mimicking carcinoma: An important differential diagnosis to consider.

We report the case of a menopausal 74-year-old patient who presents pyorrhoea for 6months. We suspect initially a carcinoma process, but the anatomopathological examination takings obtained by biopsy curettage of the endometrial under hysteroscopy is in favor of an inflammatory infiltrate with epithelioid and giant cells of type Langhans and type Muller without caseous necrosis. The bacteriological direct examination after coloring of Gram, Ziehl-Neelsen and Sabouraud was negative. The bacteriological culture in the Löewenstein and Coletsos environment identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The searches for another source of the infection was negative both at the pulmonary and urinary levels. An antituberculous quadritherapy allows the fast clinical improvement. The tuberculosis remains frequent but rarely genital. It is especially the case of young women, from non industrialized countries, consulting for infertility. It is necessary to know how to evoke it front in pelvic symptoms, whatever the age is and to realize easily mycobacteriological examinations.

Primary breast leiomyosarcoma.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast is an extremely rare neoplasm. Only few cases have been reported in the literature. We report here a case of breast leiomyosarcoma in a 44-years-old female and we discuss the data of the existing literature.

Epidemiological and pathological features of cancer in Fez Boulemane region, Morocco

In Fez-Boulemane, Morocco, there is no cancer registry so there is a lack of information about the incidence and characteristics of cancer in the region. In this retrospective study we examined the epidemiological and pathological features of 5532 cases of cancer collected from the Department of Pathology in Hassan II University Hospital of Fez from 2004 to 2010. The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years and 52% were male. Digestive cancers and skin cancers were the most common. Digestive cancers were predominantly colorectal and stomach. Cancers of the urinary bladder and colorectal cancers were the leading cancers in men accounting respectively for 9% and 8% of all male cancers. In women, cancers of the breast [62%] and uterine cervix [22.6%] predominated. As a first step in cancer control in our area, establishment of a regional cancer registry is recommended

Giant pelvic retroperitoneal epidermoid cyst: a rare case report.

Epidermoid cyst is a frequent benign cutaneous tumor. The pelvic localization does not occur very often. The literature that taps into such cases is very limited in scope. Here is a report of a 27-year-old woman with a giant pelvic retroperitoneal epidermoid cyst. The use of ultrasound exploration and computed tomography has indicated ovarian origins. The surgery also revealed a retroperitoneal epidermoid cyst, uterus and ovaries were all intact. The evacuation of a cyst was found to contain lamellas of keratin. Histology permitted us to confirm the diagnosis. The patient was faring well after two years of followup.

A Case of a Metastatic Disease to the Pancreas from a Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma Documented by a CT-Scan-Guided Trucut Biopsy: The Diagnostic Role of Cytomorphology and Immunohistochemistry.

Unlike primary pancreatic carcinoma, metastatic lesions of the pancreas are uncommon and account for approximately 2% of pancreatic malignancies. Small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) represents a group of highly malignant tumors giving rise to early and widespread metastasis at the time of diagnosis. However, the pancreas is a relatively infrequent site of metastasis by this neoplasm, and reports on metastatic small-cell carcinoma (SCC) in the pancreas, either of pulmonary or extrapulmonary origin, to be diagnosed by CT-scan-guided trucut biopsy (CT-TCB) are very rare. A 56-year-old man presented with a laterocervical lymphadenopathy associated to a mixed-density lung mass and a mass in the pancreatic body. CT-TCB slides from the pancreatic mass contained small, round tumor cells with extensive nuclear molding. The cytomorphological and histological diagnosis was metastatic SCC. Immunocytochemical staining showed that a variable number of neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin 7, TTF1, chromogranin A, and synaptophysin but negative for leukocyte common antigen and cytokeratin 20 with a very high expression of KI67. The transbronchial needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of an SCC. This case represents a rare metastatic lesion in the pancreas from SCLC, diagnosed by CT-TCB histological and immunohistochemical studies.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the thyroid gland.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the thyroid gland is an uncommon condition. Up to date, its clinical pathological features are not fully understood. We present a case of an extramedullary nonmucosal plasmacytoma of the thyroid gland which is the first case with regional metastatic lymph nodes. This condition requires a scrupulous survey to rule out a metastatic multiple myeloma. Although localized forms management is still controversial, authors require combined approach for regional metastatic forms. The prognosis is favorable compared to solitary bone plasmacytomas or multiple myeloma.

Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Vater's Ampulla: A Very Rare Malignancy.

Most tumors affecting Vater's ampulla are adenocarcinomas, and other histological variants are less frequent. Signet ring cell carcinoma is more commonly found in the stomach than at other sites of the digestive system. Signet ring cell carcinoma of the Vater's ampulla is extremely rare, and only 15 cases have previously been described in the literature. It mainly occurs in elderly patients (median age = 57 years). We report a case of advanced signet ring cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater, with invasion of the duodenum (D3) admitted in the Medical Oncology Unit of HASSAN II University Hospital.

[Desmoid tumor of mediastinum revealed by superior vena cava syndrome and tamponade]. / Syndrome cave supérieur et tamponnade révélant une tumeur desmoïde du médiastin.

Desmoid tumors are rare forms of low grade malignancies. They are characterized by a strong potential of local invasion. Although they are considered histologically benign they behave aggressive locally. They typically occur in the abdominal wall or within the abdomen. Mediastinal localisation is very rare. The only curative treatment is wide surgical excision but the surgery is difficult and the risk of local recurrence is high.

[Buschke-Lowenstein tumor associated with scrotal melanoma. A case report]. / Tumeur de Buschke-lowenstein associé à un mélanome scrotal. À propos d'un cas.

Buschke-Lowenstein tumour (BLT) is a giant condyloma acumina, which is rare entity and represents only 1% of all populace. It is a rare viral disease, essentially transmitted by sexual intercourse, characterized by a potential for malignant transformation, invasion and recurrence after treatment. We report a case of BLT associated with perinea-scrotal melanoma. This association was never described in the literature. The purpose of our case report is to discuss the clinical and pathological appearances of these two entities and to outline the recent studies of molecular biology, which can explain this association.