ABSTRACT
Lemierre's syndrome is a rare disease of the head and neck, characterized by an initial infection, usually within the oropharynx, which can develop into a septic thrombophlebitis. It can involve the jugular vein, facial veins and respiratory tract. A 7-year-old child attended our institution with a 1-week history of fever and cough. Initial imaging demonstrated a large left sided empyema with multiple cavitating lung lesions and persisting pneumothoraces secondary to the development of a bronchopleural fistula. There was no clinical improvement, despite an initial course of antibiotics. A contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the head and neck revealed left mastoiditis, multiple cerebral abscesses and thrombus within the left internal jugular vein. Antibiotic therapy was modified. The empyema was surgically drained and bronchopleural fistula repaired. This case illustrates an atypical presentation of Lemierre's syndrome in a child, with respiratory complications secondary to septic emboli.
ABSTRACT
Histiocytic sarcoma is an extremely rare malignant neoplastic proliferation of the haematopoietic cells. Very few cases have been reported in the paediatric age group. Imaging features have been rarely described in the literature. It can involve any region of the body; however, it most commonly involves the lymph nodes. Its imaging appearance can mimic lymphoproliferative disorders; however, with the advent of new immunohistochemical markers, the diagnosis of HS has become more reliable. We report an unusual case of primary bone involvement by HS with multiple lesions in the facial bones of a 2-year-old female who presented with tooth and mandibular tenderness.
ABSTRACT
The sinuses are common sites of infection in children, and if clinical presentation is delayed, there is a high risk of complications including intracranial spread. We present a case of a 5-year-old boy who presented with non-specific symptoms of sinusitis. He went on to develop osteomyelitis of the frontal bone and a subperiosteal abscess known as Pott's puffy tumour. Whilst computed tomography provides an excellent initial imaging, this case report emphasizes the advantages of magnetic resonance imaging, especially when there is extensive involvement of the sinuses with an absence of ionizing radiation. Prompt surgical treatment is imperative as there is a potential for significant morbidity if not quickly diagnosed and treated.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the disease characteristics and outcome of children with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1990 and 2000, 81 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated at the Tata Memorial Hospital. The median age was 14 years. The male/female ratio was 2.8:1. Of the 81 patients, 32 (39%), 21 (26%), and 28 (35%) had T1-T2, T3, and T4 (TNM International Union Against Cancer staging system, 1997), respectively. Ninety-one percent presented with nodal metastasis. Thirty patients (37%) had lymph nodes >6 cm, and 45 (56%) had bilateral nodes at presentation. Histologically, 77 patients (95%) had undifferentiated carcinoma. Eighty-five percent received neoadjuvant multiagent chemotherapy containing bleomycin, methotrexate, and cisplatin, followed by radiotherapy (RT). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 50 months, the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rate for the entire group was 45% and 54%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for evaluation of prognostic factors and were compared using the log-rank test. Nodal status had a significant impact on DFS (p = 0.021) and OS (p = 0.006). Complete responders to chemotherapy had superior DFS (p = 0.000) and OS (p = 0.000). RT doses >60 Gy resulted in better DFS (p = 0.020) and OS (p = 0.012). Combined chemotherapy plus RT resulted in improved DFS (p = 0.457) and OS (p = 0.296), although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Combined modality management using chemotherapy and RT resulted in satisfactory locoregional control and OS in pediatric patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nodal involvement, response to chemotherapy, and RT dose were important prognostic factors.
