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.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei induced by a well-differentiated appendicular mucinous adenocarcinoma: An uncommon cause of isolated ascites in a young man patient.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) remains difficult to diagnose and has a reserved prognosis. Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare entity, of appendicular origin in the majority of cases. Its clinical symptomatology is not specific, and the diagnosis is evoked by imaging and surgery and confirmed by histology.

[Epidemiology and clinical features of patients with breast cancers hospitalized in the Department of Oncology in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar from 2011 to 2018]. / Aspects épidémio-cliniques des cancers du sein au Service d´Oncologie de Fianarantsoa, Madagascar de 2011 à 2018.

INTRODUCTION: we conducted the first epidemiological study of patients with breast cancers living in Fianarantsoa. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of these patients in the Department of Oncology Fianarantsoa. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective and descriptive study in the Department of Oncology at the University Hospital Center of Tambohobe over a period of 8 years (2011-2018). All patients with breast cancer diagnosed based on cytological and/or histological examination were included. The parameters studied were: age, occupation, a family history of breast cancer, menarche, menopause, parity, use of oral contraceptives, smoking, circumstances leading to detection, breast symptoms, signs of locoregional and distant spread, tumour site and stage of the disease. RESULTS: the study included 62 patients with an average age of 52.83 ± 10.47 years. Housewives accounted for 39% (n = 24) of cases. No patient had an early menarche. Late menopause had occurred in 6.45% (n = 4) of patients and a family history of breast cancer was found in 8.06% (n = 5) of patients. Chewing tobacco was used by 17.74% (n = 11) of patients. Patients reporting breast symptoms accounted for 95.2% (n = 59). Breast cancers had affected the upper outer quadrant in 53.23% (n = 33) of cases. Stage III breast cancer was diagnosed in 55% (n = 34) of cases and stage IV in 32% (n = 20) of cases. CONCLUSION: in patients diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage, risk factors for breast cancer were little observed.

[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.

ABO blood group in Malagasy patients with cancer: which group predominates?

The blood group of Malagasy patients with cancer have never been the subject of previous publications. Our objective was to determine the blood group of Malagasy patients with cancer followed in the Medical Oncology Unit of the Soavinandriana Teaching Hospital, Antananarivo. This was a one-year retrospective study (November 2012 to October 2013) in patients over the age of 15 with histological or pathological evidence of their cancer. One hundred and thirty of the 258 patients identified had an ABO blood group determination (50.39%). Among these 130 patients, 114 patients (87.69%) had solid tumors and 16 patients (12.31%) had hematologic malignancies. Thirty seven (28.49%) patients were transfused and 93 (71.54%) not transfused. There were 57 men and 73 women (sex ratio = 0.78), the average age was 55.11 +/- 14.76 years. With regard to their blood group, 52 patients (40%) were blood group B, 44 (33.84%) group O, 27 (20.76%) group A and 7 (5.38%) group AB. The order of blood group frequency of cancer patients in our series differs from other studies. This study has allowed us to know the proportion of each blood group in our Unit and thus help us in the management of stocks of labile blood products in our hospital.

[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.

[Thymic neuroendocrine tumor: about a case and review of the literature]. / Carcinome neuroendocrine thymique: à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Thymic neuroendocrine tumors (TNET) are rare, with little-known prognosis. This study aims to report a case of TNET and to highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties in low-resource settings. A 60-year-old man presented with chest pain, greasy cough and recent weight loss. Chest CT scan showed anterior mediastinal tissue mass. Histologic evaluation of a 4 months-biopsy specimen obtained from anterior mediastinotomy showed a well differentiated TNET, labeled intensely positive for chromogranin and synaptophysin. The search for other neuroendocrine tumors and the extent of extension were negative. The tumor was immediately inextricable and radiation therapy was unavailable. The patient underwent two lines of first line chemotherapy. At 16 months follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic but showed tumor progression. The diagnosis of TNET may be delayed when immunohistochemistry is not routinely performed. Chemotherapy is associated with symptoms improvement in palliative care situation.

First results of hormone receptors' status in Malagasy women with invasive breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy tumor amongst Malagasy women registered at the pathology unit of the "Institut Pasteur de Madagascar". In Madagascar, there is no laboratory practicing hormone receptors' status on these tumors. Until now no study about hormone receptors' status of Malagasy women with invasive breast cancer was performed. So it will be the first study talking about this topic. The aim of this study was to determine hormone receptors' status in Malagasy women with invasive breast cancer. METHODS: This retrospective and descriptive study was based on patients' medical files from 2009 to 2011. It included all invasive breast cancer diagnosed in Malagasy women at the pathology laboratory located at the "Institut Pasteur de Madagascar", in Antananarivo. Along this period this laboratory has sent paraffin blocks of invasive breast carcinoma in two pathological laboratories in France. RESULTS: We collected 77 cases of invasive breast cancer along this period. The mean age was 48.8 +/- 10.7, ranging from 26 years to 70 years. There were 46.8 % (n = 36) women with progesterone receptor positive (PR+), 53.2 % (n = 41) with progesterone receptor negative (PR-). For the estrogen receptor, 61.0 % (n = 47) were positive and 36.4 % (n = 28) were negative. ER+/PR+ represented 44.2 % (n = 34); ER-/PR- 33.8 % (n = 26); ER +/ PR- 16.8 % (n = 13); ER-/PR+ and ER-/PR- represented respectively 2.6 % (n = 2). CONCLUSION: Patients in our study had more important rate of ER-, PR- and a less important rate of ER+/PR+, PR+. These results suggest that more study related to Hormone Receptor profile should be conducted in Malagasy women with breast cancer.