Giant pilomatrix carcinoma of the scalp with intracranial extension: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: A very rare skin cancer. Malignant variant of pilomatricoma. It is unique because of its highly aggressive behavior. Responds poorly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Treated with a wide surgical excision with safe margins. Abstract: Pilomatrix carcinoma is uncommon and locally aggressive tumor of the hair follicle matrix. It is a malignant variant of pilomatricoma. If left untreated for a long time may attain massive size and has the potential for distant spread. Only few cases with brain extension have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of these tumors is established by histopathology. Although pilomatrixoma and pilomatrix carcinoma are well-recognized lesions, clinically they are frequently misdiagnosed as other skin conditions. The tumors respond poorly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, recommended treatment is a wide surgical excision with safe margins. Herein, we report the case of a 39-year-old African woman with pilomatrix carcinoma of the scalp eroding the skull bone with intracranial extension.

Congenital hyporhinia with associated malformations: Case report of a rare congenital anomaly.

Congenital hyporhinia, also known as partial arhinia, is a very rare congenital abnormality of nasal embryogenesis with unknown etiology. It is commonly associated with other craniofacial anomalies which are thought to be caused by an absent or rudimentary nose. A 3-h-old neonate presented to our facility with hypoplastic nasal pyramid, hypertelorism, microcephaly, and micrognathia, a case of congenital hyporhinia with associated anomalies is presented and the embryology and literature review are discussed.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a diabetes type 2 patient: A fatal case report from northern Tanzania.

Mucormycosis is an acute and aggressive fungal infection usually, but not exclusively, occurring in immunocompromised individuals. Lack of knowledge and awareness in developing countries hinders timely management. This case highlights the importance of a prompt index of suspicion for the timely and aggressive intervention of mucormycosis to the Tanzanian community. We report a case of fatal rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis in a diabetic patient presenting at a tertiary hospital in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Nasal deformity, proptosis, chemosis and left-sided hemiplegia were evident on physical examination. Nasoendoscopy revealed extensive necrosis of the nasal septum, inferior turbinate and involvement of the frontal recess. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the paranasal sinuses and head revealed necrosis and ischemic changes due to fungal invasion. The patient deceased due to intracranial complications of advanced fungal invasion. Late presentation and unacquainted with mucormycosis our patient had an unfavourable outcome. Early diagnosis, extensive surgical debridement and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment are of the essence in favour of a better prognosis.

Prevalence of Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Manifestations Among HIV Seropositive Patients at a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Tanzania: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: To date, HIV/AIDS remains a threat of the 21st century. The overall rate of new HIV infection continues to decline in several countries, but there is still a remarkable burden of disease seen in sub-Saharan Africa. Several studies observed that 70% to 90% of HIV-infected patients present with ear, nose and throat symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify the magnitude of ENT manifestations among HIV-infected patients attended HIV clinics at KCMC based on age, sex, and CD4 count. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at KCMC hospital involving HIV-infected patients who attended HIV clinics from February to July 2018. Convenient sampling was employed to get study participants, and 200 patients were recruited in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire from patients, and results were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Sixty-eight (34%) of 200 HIV-infected patients had ENT manifestations. The most affected age group was 0-9 years. ENT manifestations were more prevalent in females (23.5%) than in males (10.5%). Those with CD4 count less than 200cells/µL also it was a high prevalence (56.3%). CONCLUSION: This study observed that one-third of the studied population had ENT manifestations. All medical practitioners should be aware of ENT manifestations in HIV-infected patients in order to assure early and appropriate intervention.