Description of multiple myeloma cases and assessment of survival and mortality factors in Madagascar.

INTRODUCTION: In Madagascar, the epidemiologic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of multiple myeloma remain poorly understood. Our objectives were to describe the cases, report factors associated with mortality, and estimate patient survival. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study conducted in five teaching hospitals in Madagascar: HJRA and CENHOSOA (Antananarivo), CHUPZAGA (Mahajanga), CHUAT (Toamasina) and CHUT (Fianarantsoa). The study included patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2021. RESULTS: Of the 11,374 cancer patients, 75 (0.66%) had multiple myeloma. The mean age of the patients was 59.9 years (±8.9) and the sex ratio was 1.5. Arterial hypertension was observed in 32% of the patients. The most common symptom of myeloma was bone pain (n = 48; 64%). Forty-six patients (61%) were diagnosed with stage III myeloma and 28 patients (37.3%) with stage IIIA myeloma according to the Durie-Salmon classification. Anemia, renal failure, hypercalcemia and fractures were present in 53%, 37%, 21% and 28% of cases, respectively. Fifty-four patients received specific treatment. The combination of melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide was used in 79.63% of cases, and one patient had received autologous stem cell transplantation. Eleven patients (14.67%) died. Chronic kidney disease (p = 0.009), smoking (p = 0.028) and two associated comorbidities (p = 0.035) were associated with mortality. The median overall survival was 45.5 months. CONCLUSION: Patient survival is shorter than reported in the literature. The high mortality rate is due to comorbidities and limited access to recommended therapies.

Melanoma of unknown primary origin with skeletal muscle metastasis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is usually discovered from an irregular skin patch or a modification of a preexisting patch. Cutaneous and lymph node metastases are common. Muscle metastases are rare. We report a case of melanoma with infiltration of the gluteus maximus, which had normal dermatological examination. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old Malagasy man with no history of skin surgery was admitted with progressively worsening dyspnea. On admission, he presented with superior vena cava syndrome, painless cervical lymphadenopathy, and a painful swelling in the right buttock. Skin and mucous membrane examination did not reveal any abnormal or suspicious lesions. The biology was limited to a C-reactive protein of 40 mg/L, a white blood cell count of 23 G/L, and a lactate dehydrogenase level of 1705 U/L. The computed tomography scan showed several lymphadenopathies, compression of the superior vena cava, and a tissue mass at the expense of the gluteus maximus. Cervical lymph node biopsy and cytopuncture of the gluteus maximus were consistent with a secondary melanoma location. A stage IV melanoma of unknown primary origin, and with stage TxN3M1c associated with lymph node metastases and extension to the right gluteus maximus, was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma of unknown primary origin accounts for 3% of diagnosed melanomas. Diagnosis is difficult in the absence of a skin lesion. Patients are diagnosed with multiple metastases. Muscle involvement is unusual and may suggest a benign pathology. In this context, biopsy remains essential for diagnosis.

[Chemotherapy for breast cancer during pregnancy: about a case]. / Chimiothérapie du cancer du sein au cours de la grossesse: à propos d´un cas.

The management of breast cancer during pregnancy is a challenge for physicians due to mother´s desire to carry the pregnancy to term despite the need for chemotherapy. This study reports the case of a 37-year-old multiparous woman at 20 weeks and 4 days of amenorrhea (WA). She was hospitalized for dyspnoea (stage IV according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification). The patient had a syndrome of heavy left pleural effusion and bilateral mastitis. The diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer was retained based on cytological examination of pleural fluid and breast cytoponction revealing galactophoric carcinoma. The patient underwent pleural drainage with improvement of dyspnea but pleural fluid continued. After multidisciplinary consultation (MC), specific treatment of cancer was necessary. Five cycles of epirubicin- cyclophosphamide-5-FU-based chemotherapy was performed after the couple provided consent. Pleural fluid diminished significantly after the second cycle of treatment. After consultation with the obstetrician, chemotherapy was interrupted one month before the 37th week of amenorrhea. Pregnancy evolved favorable, vaginal birth was managed following rupture of membranes at term with good neonatal adaptation. After one-year follow-up, the mother was still on chemotherapy and the baby was in good health. Several parameters should be considered before the administration of antineoplastic agents, hence the role of early fetal and maternal monitoring. Multidisciplinary approach is recommended to support therapeutic decision and follow-up.

[Chronic papulosquamous lesion: papilloma should be suspected]. / Lésion papulo-squameuse chronique: penser au papillome.

Papilloma is a benign tumor of the malpighian layer, usualy affecting the skin. Thickened epithelium doesn't show cytological or architectural abnormalities; the epithelial proliferation is still clearly separated from the dermis by the basal membrane, that is to say absence of tumor infiltration. We here report the case of a 15-year-old boy presenting with oozing plague in his left elbow that had evolved over the previous two months. The patient had no particular previous history. Physical examination showed good general condition and a papular, squamous, itchy, oozing lesion measuring 4 cm along its longer axis. The remainder of the physical examination was normal. He was treated with topical emollient, antimycotics and quinolone antibiotics. Drying of the purulent oozing was observed, but no improvement in the general appearance of the lesion. Laboratory tests, including glucose tolerance test, were normal. A biopsy of the lesion was performed. Anatomo-pathological examination of skin biopsy specimen showed no abnormal cells, rather an elongation of the epidermal ridges as well as of the connective papillae, extensive keratinization of the surface and thickening of the malpighian layer. The diagnosis of papilloma was retained. Surgical excision of the tumor resulted in complete healing.

[Giant subcutaneous metastasis originating from vesicular thyroid carcinoma: about a case]. / Métastase géante sous cutanée d'un carcinome vésiculaire de la thyroïde: à propos d'un cas.

Secondary subcutaneous metastasis originating from vesicular thyroid carcinoma is unusual. It accounts for more than 5.8% of most common sites of metastasis for thyroid carcinoma. We here report the case of a 60-year old woman presenting with slowly evolving giant hypervascular lesion in the subcutaneous tissue of the skull occurred 7 years after right thyroid lobectomy. Anatomopathological examination enabled the diagnosis of vesicular thyroid carcinoma. Surgery was based on reduction of the skull lesion as well as on thyroidectomy. Currently, the patient is waiting for radioactive iodine treatment. Metastasis from vesicular carcinoma of the scalp, even though rare, can occur. However, this stage is associated with unfavorable prognosis.