Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) with testicular seminoma.

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) is characteristically associated with unilateral or bilateral cryptoorchidism. Like other undescended testis, these gonads are at an increased risk of malignant transformation. We report a case of intra abdominal seminoma in cryptorchid testis of a patient with the Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome, hitherto uncommonly reported in India.

Vincristine (Vinca-alkaloid) as a sclerosing agent for malignant pleural effusions.

Vincristine, extracted from Vinca rosea Linn., is an effective antineoplastic chemotherapeutic drug used in oncology practice. This drug has never been used as a sclerosing agent for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion for reasons unknown. A study was conducted to examine the use of Vinca-Alkaloid as a sclerosing agent (pleurodesis) for the palliative treatment of malignant pleural effusions. The study included 15 patients, all diagnosed to have cytology-proven malignant pleural effusions. Intercostal tube drainage followed by chemical sclerotherapy with 2 mg vincristine was performed on all patients and a high success rate was noted. Twelve procedures out of 15 (12/15) achieved complete resolution of pleural fluid with a success rate of 80%. In two procedures the pleural effusion was reduced and then recurred but did not require re-aspiration. One procedure failed and repeated pleural aspiration was required. In this study, with adequate pleural drainage and the proper technique, vincristine was found to be an effective sclerosing agent for malignant pleural effusion. Further randomized trials are necessary in order to establish the role of this drug.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast in a young woman--a case report and review of literature.

A thirty-four years old woman presented with pure squamous cell carcinoma of the breast, a very rare occurrence in the younger age group. A simple mastectomy with axillary clearance was performed, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy & chemotherapy. The patient is doing well, with no evidence of recurrence thirty months (2 1/2 years after the treatment. Primary pure squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a very rare disease. The exact histogenesis still remains obscure. There seems to be no specific prognostic correlation with the morphological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma of the breast. The clinical behaviour of this tumor is also uncertain. Thus, further study is required to determine whether primary pure squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is to be treated as a separate entity or as the common type of breast cancer (i.e. adenocarcinoma or adenocarcinoma with squamous metaplasia.)

A rare case of primary Ewings sarcoma of the nasal bone.

Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the nasal bone has not been previously described. This case presented as a mass in the left ala of the nose in a five year old female child. The clinical, radiological, microscopic features are described and a review of literature is presented. The case was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and local electron beam radiation therapy. The child was free of disease when she reported for follow up in July 1997. Although wide excision is part of the treatment approach in Ewing's sarcoma, in sites where surgery is not suitable local radiotherapy and chemotherapy adequately controls primary disease.