Survey on infectious disease telephone hotlines in primary care: General practitioners' satisfaction and compliance with advice.

OBJECTIVES: Infectious disease (ID) advice is a major part of antimicrobial stewardship programs. The objective of this study was to assess general practitioners' (GPs)' opinions and compliance with advice given by ID hotlines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicenter survey was based on the 7-day assessment of initial advice requested by GPs to a hotline set up by volunteer hospital ID teams to record advice for 3 years. The primary endpoint was the GPs' satisfaction with the advice given by ID specialists. RESULTS: Ten ID teams participated in the study and recorded 4138 requests for advice, of which 1325 requests included a proposal for antibiotic therapy and justified a follow-up call at seven days. Only 398 follow-up calls (30%) were carried out because many GPs were not reachable. GPs were very satisfied with ID hotlines: 58% considered them indispensable and 38% very useful. The recommendations provided by ID specialists were followed by GPs in more than 80% of cases. The two main motivations for GPs to call the hotline were to get quick advice (86%) and to receive help in managing a patient (76%). CONCLUSIONS: The ID telephone consultations and advice systems for GPs are highly appreciated and are effective in terms of following the recommendations.

Voice outcomes after laser cordectomies: subjective evaluation using the voice handicap index

INTRODUCTION: A multitude of treatment modalities have been proposed in management of early laryngeal squamous cell cancers(SCC). With the improvement of survival rates of these tumours, the degree of voice impairment after treatment became a deciding parameter in the choice of treatment modality. Many reports based on objective tools showed acceptable voice outcomes in patients treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). This is a single centre study representing voice outcomes in patients treated with TLM using a patient-self assessment tool.PATIENTS AND METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed medical data of patients treated with TLM between 2012 and 2017. Voice outcomes were evaluated using the Arabic version of the voice handicap index (VHI). Thirty patients participated in the questionnaire.Scores were collected then studied following type of cordectomy, resection of one or both vocal cords, number of laser sessions and age.RESULTS: The mean age was 62 years. Sex ratio was 14:1. We performed 3 type III cordectomies, 10 type IV and 17 type Va (extended to the Anterior commissure). Local control was achieved since the first cordectomy in 27 cases, after 2 laser sessions in 2 cases and after 1 laser session in 1 case. The VHI score was realized in a mean delay of 29 months after surgery. The overall mean VHI was 47 (VHI-F= 15, VHI-P= 17 and VHI-E= 15). The handicap severity was considered mild in 2 cases (overall VHI<30), severe in 2 other cases (overall VHI> 60) and moderate in the remaining cases .The mean VHI following type of cordectomy was 26 ±6, 43 ±5 and 53 ±4 respectively in type III, IV and Va cordectomies. The mean overall VHI was 60 ±10 when the resection was extended to controlateral vocal cord (VC). However, it was 45 ±12 when the resection was limited to a single vocal cord. The mean overall VHI increased from 44 ±11 when a unique laser session was performed to 62 ±8 when extra laser sessions were needed. Older patients had a mean VHI equals to 46 ±14. In younger patients it was 48 ±10.CONCLUSION: The VHI is a reliable self assessment tool based on subjective perception of the quality of voice. TLM in well trained hands offers acceptable functional outcomes

Voice outcomes after laser cordectomies: subjective evaluation using the voice handicap index

INTRODUCTION: A multitude of treatment modalities have been proposed in management of early laryngeal squamous cell cancers (SCC). With the improvement of survival rates of these tumours, the degree of voice impairment after treatment became a deciding parameter in the choice of treatment modality. Many reports based on objective tools showed acceptable voice outcomes in patients treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). This is a single centre study representing voice outcomes in patients treated with TLM using a patient-self assessment tool.PATIENTS AND METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed medical data of patients treated with TLM between 2012 and 2017. Voice outcomes were evaluated using the Arabic version of the voice handicap index (VHI). Thirty patients participated in the questionnaire. Scores were collected then studied following type of cordectomy, resection of one or both vocal cords, number of laser sessions and age.RESULTS: The mean age was 62 years. Sex ratio was 14:1. We performed 3 type III cordectomies, 10 type IV and 17 type Va (extended to the Anterior commissure). Local control was achieved since the rst cordectomy in 27 cases, after 2 laser sessions in 2 cases and after 1 laser session in 1 case. The VHI score was realized in a mean delay of 29 months after surgery. The overall mean VHI was 47 (VHI-F= 15, VHI-P= 17 and VHI-E= 15). The handicap severity was considered mild in 2 cases (overall VHI<30), severe in 2 other cases (overall VHI> 60) and moderate in the remaining cases .The mean VHI following type of cordectomy was 26 ±6, 43 ±5 and 53 ±4 respectively in type III, IV and Va cordectomies. The mean overall VHI was 60 ±10 when the resection was extended to controlateral vocal cord (VC). However, it was 45 ±12 when the resection was limited to a single vocal cord. The mean overall VHI increased from 44 ±11 when a unique laser session was performed to 62 ±8 when extra laser sessions were needed. Older patients had a mean VHI equals to 46 ±14. In younger patients it was 48 ±10. CONCLUSION: The VHI is a reliable self-assessment tool based on subjective perception of the quality of voice. TLM in well trained hands offers acceptable functional outcomes

Adenopathies cervicales metastatiques d'un carcinome non retrouve

Introduction : Les adenopathies cervicales metastatiques d'un carcinome non retrouve representaient 3 a 5 des cancers de la tete et du cou. Cette entite pose un probleme de prise en charge. But : Soulever les difficultes diagnostiques et therapeutiques et degager les principaux facteurs pronostiques regissant le controle local de la pathologie et surtout la survie. Materiels et methodes: Cette etude retrospective a ete portee sur une serie de 80 cas d'adenopathies cervicales metastatiques primitives colliges entre 1980 et 2007. Resultats : Tous les malades ont eu un examen clinique complet; une panendoscopie des VADS avec des biopsies systematiques. Une cytoponction a l'aiguille fine a ete realisee chez 65 de nos malades. Tous les patients ont eu une cervicotomie avec examen histologique. Le carcinome epidermoide etait retrouve dans 70 des cas; alors que 11 des malades avaient un adenocarcinome et 1;5 avaient un melanome. La chirurgie a ete indiquee pour 25 malades. Une radiotherapie post operatoire aete appliquee pour 21 malades. Le protocole associant a la radiotherapie; une chimiotherapie neo adjuvante etait indique chez 27 malades. La survie globale moyenne etait de 2;5 ans. Conclusion : Le pronostic etait significativement aggrave par : l'age superieur a 65 ans; le stade N3 et l'envahissement ganglionnaire avec rupture capsulaire

Carcinome epidermoide du larynx chez la femme

Le cancer du larynx est assez rare chez la femme. Cependant; il risque d'etre en recrudescence a cause de l'augmentation du tabagisme feminin. Peu de travaux se sont consacres a rechercher les specificites du cancer du larynx chez la femme. But: Analyser le profil epidemiologique et clinique des femmes porteuses d'un carcinome epidermoide du larynx et degager les caracteristiques therapeutiques; evolutives et les facteurs pronostiques chez cette population. Methodes: etude retrospective portant sur 50 femmes prises en charge pour un carcinome epidermoide du larynx sur une periode de treize ans (1994-2006). Resultats : L'age moyen de nos patientes etait de 63;5 ans. L'intoxication tabagique etait retrouvee chez 32;6 des patientes. Chez 30 de nos patientes aucun facteur de risque n'a ete retrouve. Les signes cliniques etaient domines par la dysphonie suivie de la dyspnee et la dysphagie. Les tumeurs prenaient naissanceau depend de l'etage glottique dans 55;8 des cas. Nous avons releve que 60;4 des tumeurs etaient vus a un stade evolue T3-T4 et que 95;3des tumeurs etaient initialement classees N0. La chirurgie a ete pratiquee chez 47;5 des patientes tandis que 16;2 ont recu une radio-chimiotherapie. La survie globale cumulee etait de 78;8 a 3 ans et de 73;5 a 5 ans. Conclusion : L'absence des facteurs de risque classiques chez un grand nombre de nos patientes laisse supposer le role d'autres facteurs etiopathogeniques dans la genese du cancer du larynx chez la femme. Toute dysphonie chez la femme doit etre exploree meme en l'absence de facteurs de risque. La prise en charge et le pronostic semblent superposables a celui de l'homme

Prise en charge des cancers primitifs des glandes submandibulaires

Introduction :Les tumeurs malignes de la glande submandibulaire se caracterisent par une grande diversite histologique. de ce travail est de rapporter notre experience dans la prise en charge de ces tumeurs et de suggerer une attitude therapeutique apres revue de la litterature. Patients et methode : Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective a propos de 20 patients colliges sur 17 ans. La decision therapeutique etait prise au sein d'un comite multidisciplinaire. Les moyens therapeutiques etaient la chirurgie tumorale et ganglionnaire; la radiotherapie et la chimiotherapie. Les pieces operatoires ont ete adressees pour examen anatomopathologique extemporane et definitif. Une surveillance clinique et radiologique a ete realisee. Le recul moyen etait de 35 mois. Resultats: L'age moyen etait de 60;75 ans. Le delai moyen de consultation etait de 6;15 mois. La tumefaction submandibulaire etait le motif de consultation chez tous les patients. Des adenopathies cervicales etaient notees chez 8 patients (40). Seize patients avaient beneficie d'une tomodensitometrie cervicale et du massif facial et un autre d'une Irm. La radiographie du thorax montrait un aspect de lacher de ballon chez un patient et une opacite mediastinale chez un autre. L'abstention chirurgicale avait ete decidee pour 2 patients. Les patients metastatiques ont ete operes uniquement dans un but diagnostique. Dix-huit patients (85) ont eu une submandibulectomie; dont une elargie a la mandibule. Pour le geste ganglionnaire; 11 patients ont eu un curage selectif triangulaire et 3 un curage fonctionnel complet. Une radiotherapie postoperatoire a ete realisee chez 14 patients (70). Une radiotherapie palliative isolee a ete realisee chez 2 patients. Une chimiotherapie palliative a ete indiquee chez les 2 patients presentant des metastases a distance lors du diagnostic; mais n'a ete administree que dans un cas. La remission complete etait notee dans 11 cas (55). Un seul patient avait presente une poursuite evolutive. Une recidive loco-regionale avait ete decelee chez 2 patients. Deux patients avaient developpe secondairement des metastases a distance. Le taux de mortalite dans notre serie etait de 25. Conclusion: Les cancers de la glande submandibulaire representent une pathologie peu frequente. Le diagnostic a grandement beneficie de l'apport de l'imagerie. La strategie therapeutique depend du stade tumoral au moment du diagnostic et de l'etat general du patient. Le pronostic de ces tumeurs reste toujours reserve; surtout pour les tumeurs de haut grade diagnostiquees a un stade avance

[Solitary and extramedullary plasmocytoma in the head and neck region: five cases report]. / Plasmocytome solitaire extramédullaire de la tête et du cou: à propos de cinq cas.

PURPOSE: To assess the outcome and the management of solitary extramedullary plasmocytoma in the head and neck region. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2008, five cases of solitary extramedullary plasmocytoma were treated in the department of radiotherapy at Salah-Azaiz Institute. Three patients had a solitary plasmocytoma of the nasal fossa; the others were ethmoidal and submandibular node. All patients received irradiation of 40 to 45 Gy in the primary site associated to surgery in four cases. Among the five patients, two had radiotherapy after recurrence. RESULTS: Four complete responses were noted with a follow-up of 12, 36, 52 and 72 months. Multiple myeloma occurred in one patient 8 years after treatment. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy is the best effective local treatment. Local control of extramedullary plasmocytoma in the head and neck region seems to be improved when the dose is at least 45 Gy. Predictive parameters of unfavourable outcome and conversion of extramedullary plasmocytoma to multiple myeloma should be better defined.

[Prognostic value of parapharyngeal extension in nasopharyngeal carcinoma]. / Valeur pronostique de l'extension parapharyngéee dans les carcinomes nasopharyngés.

AIM: This study evaluated the prognostic value of the Para pharyngeal space involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma T 2 disease (UICC 1997 classification). METHODS: From January 1997 and December2001; 32 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were examined by CT scan and according to the 1997 International Union Against Cancer (UICC) staging system, 15 had stage T2a M0 (G1) and 17 T2bM0(G2). The median age was 47 years. The male to female ratio was 1.81 (G1); 4.3 (G2). All patients were pathologically confirmed by biopsy from the nasopharynx as having UCNT in 100% (G1) and 94% (G2). The node involvement was 52% for the G1 (N2: 26%, N3: 26%) and 80% for the G2 (N2: 47%, N3: 41%). Both neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were performed for advanced N disease and only radiotherapy for NO. RESULTS: Examination and CT scan were performed for the evaluation of the treatement. The completely clinical remission after chemotherapy was 12.5% (G1) and 53% (G2), partial remission was 25% (G1) and 35% (G2). The CT scan control wasn't performed for all patients. The complete response was 69% (G1) and 53% (G2); partial response was 6% for both two groups. The median follow up was 79 months. Disease free survival rates were 70% for G1 (T2a) and 48% for G2 (T2b). Distant metastasis rates were 26% (G1) vs 6% (G2) and more likely in the presence of advanced N disease. Five years overall survival was 78% (G1) T2a vs. 55% (G2) T2b.The N disease was correlated to metastasis as overall survival was 66.7% for N3 disease vs 85.7% for N0. CONCLUSION: Parapharyngeal tumor involvement affects local and regional tumor failure. Subclassification of T2 disease into T2a/T2b should have an impact on treatment strategies.

[Sarcomatoid carcinomas of the upper airways]. / Carcinomes sarcomatoïdes des voies aéro-digestives supérieures.

INTRODUCTION: The sarcomatoid carcinoma of the superior aerodigestive tracts is a rare malignant tumour which presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We report 11 cases of spindle cell carcinomas of the upper airways. RESULTS: Sex-ratio was 10:1 and the mean age was 57.3 years (30 - 75 years). Nine patients were smokers and 4 presented with a history of radiation exposure. Tumoral locations were as follows: larynx: 6, hypopharynx: 1, oropharynx: 1, nasopharynx: 1, oral cavity: 2. Histological diagnosis in 3 cases required the use of immunohistochemical studies. Four patients were first seen at an advanced stage. This left 9 patients and among them 7 received a curative treatment: 5 by surgery alone, 1 by surgery and radiotherapy, 1 by radiotherapy, 1 by chemo-radiotherapy for the nasopharyngeal lesion and 1 by chemotherapy alone. Two patients died from their disease before treatment. With an average delay of 15.4 months, the rates of global survival and disease-free were 5/9 and 4/9 respectively. CONCLUSION: The sarcomatoid carcinoma of the upper airways is rare, but not unusual. Its diagnosis benefits from progresses in immunohistochemistry, but also from advances in the field of molecular biology. Its treatment and natural evolution remain controversial.

Place du prelevement ganglionnaire dans le traitement des cancers differencies de la thyroide n0 clinique

Objectif : Demontrer l'interet du prelevement ganglionnaire sus-claviculaire et jugulaire inferieur dans la prise en charge des cancers differenties de la thyroide (CDT) N0 clinique. Materiel et methodes : Nous rapportons une etude retrospective a propos de 170 patients colliges sur 12 ans 2005). Tous les patients ont eu une thyroidectomie totale en 1 ou 2 temps. Le curage mediastino-recurrentiel a ete pratique soit systematiquement soit en cas de decouverte d'adenopathies en peroperatoire. Le curage lateral a ete realise soit de principe soit apres un prelevement ganglionnaire sus-claviculaire et jugulaire inferieur positif a l'examen extemporane. Des doses ablatives d'iode radioactif ont ete administrees en cas d'elevation du taux de la thyroglobuline ou d'une fixation d'iode lors du balayage cervico-thoracique. Resultats : L'examen anatomopathologique trouvait un carcinome papillaire (74;1); vesiculaire (16;5) ou papillaire a composante vesiculaire (9;4). Trente patients ont eu un curage fonctionnel systematique uni ou bilateral; une metastase ganglionnaire a ete notee chez 9 d'entre eux. Cent quarante patients ont eu un prelevement ganglionnaire uni ou bilateral; un curage fonctionnel a ete pratique chez 6 d'entre eux devant un examen extemporane positif. Les taux de remission; de recidive et de metastases etaient respectivement de 83;3; 6;7et 10dans le premier groupe; et de 89;3; 4;3et 6;4dans le deuxieme groupe. Par ailleurs; un deces a ete observe chez deux patients du deuxieme groupe (1;4) . Aucune difference statistiquement significative n'a ete retrouvee entre les differents taux. Conclusion : Les resultats de notre serie mettent en evidence l'interet du prelevement sus-claviculaire et jugulaire inferieur permettant d'eviter le curage fonctionnel systematique

Carcinome a petites cellules du sinus piriforme : a propos d'une observation

Les auteurs rapportent un cas de localisation au sinus piriforme d'un carcinome a petites cellules. Ce type histologique a ete souvent decrit dans la pathologie tumorale pulmonaire. Sa localisation au sinus piriforme etant exceptionnelle. Nous presentons dans ce document les aspects endoscopiques; radiologiques; anatomopathologiques et therapeutiques de cette tumeur qui a ete diagnostiquee chez un patient de 56 ans

Evaluation et prise en charge de l'envahissement mandibulaire dans les carcinomes epidermoides de la cavite orale et de l'oropharynx

Objectif : Le but de notre etude est l'evaluation de l'atteinte mandibulaire dans les carcinomes epidermoides de la cavite orale et de l'oropharynx. Materiel et methodes : Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective a propos de 34 patients colliges sur 6 ans (1999-2004) et ayantun carcinome epidermoide de la cavite orale et/ou de l'oropharynx avec envahisse- ment mandibulaire confirme a l'anatomopathologie.L'atteinte mandibulaire a ete evaluee par l'examen clinique; l'orthopantomographie; la tomodensitometrie; et par les constata- tions peroperatoires du chirurgien. Tous les patients ont eu un evidement ganglionnaire; une exerese tumorale associee a une mandibulectomie segmentaire interruptrice ou conservatrice. Resultats : L'envahissement mandibulaire a ete suspecte cliniquement chez 70;5des patients devant l'adherence de la tumeur a l'os. Apres examen clinique et imagerie; cette atteinte a ete diagnostiquee chez 88;2des patients. Dans 11;8des cas; l'atteinte n'a ete suspectee qu'en peroperatoire. L'examen histologique a confirme l'atteinte osseuse chez tous les patients. La mandibulectomie segmentaire a ete pratiquee chez 17 patients devant l'atteinte du canal mandibulaire. Vingt-huit patients ont eu une radiotherapie postoperatoire a la dose moyenne de 64 Gy. Les taux de recidive; de metastase et de deces etaient respectivement de 11;7; 17;6et 17;6pour les patients qui ont eu une mandibulectomie segmentaire; et de 23;5; 17;6et 23;5pour ceux qui ont eu une mandibulectomie conservatrice. Par ailleurs; 76;5et 29;5 des patients ayant eu respectivement une mandibulectomie segmentaire et une mandibulectomie conservatrice avaient une gene fonctionnelle importante lors de l'alimentation.Conclusion : L'examen clinique; l'imagerie et l'examen peroperatoire sont d'un apport capital dans l'evaluation de l'atteinte mandibulaire. Une atteinte epargnant le canal mandibulaire justifie une mandibulectomie conservatrice permettant d'avoir de meilleurs resultats esthetiques et fonctionnels tout en assurant un controle carcinologiquement satisfaisant

Les cancers de l'orbite et l'etude retrospective : a propos de 31 cas

Introduction : Les cancers de l'orbite sont rares. Ils sont caracterises par leur diversite histologique et leur agressivite locoregionale rendant le traitement difficile et mutilant. Dans ce travail; nous rapportons notre experience dans la prise en charge diagnostique et therapeutique de ces tumeurs. Materiels et methodes : Notre etude retrospective a concerne 31 cas de cancers de l'orbite colliges sur 13 ans (1993- 2005). Tous les patients ont beneficie d'un examen clinique complet; d'une imagerie du massif facial (TDM et/ou IRM) et d'une biopsie de la tumeur. Le traitement a ete base sur la chirurgie; la radiotherapie et/ou la chimiotherapie. Resultats : La symptomatologie clinique etait dominee par les signes ophtalmologiques et les algies faciales. L'imagerie a montre dans tous les cas un processus expansif tissulaire a point de depart orbitaire; avec lyse osseuse orbitaire chez 16 patients (51;6); une extension au massif facial chez 7 patients (22;6); endocraniennes chez 6 patients (19;4) et des formes bilaterales atteignant les deux orbites dans 3 cas (9;7) L'anatomopathologie montrait une predominance des lymphomes malins non hodgkiniens (32;3) et des carcinomes epidermoides (32;3); suivis des rhabdomyosarcomes embryonnaires (19;4). Douze patients ont ete traites par chirurgie et radiotherapie postoperatoire; dix patients par une association radio-chimiotherapie; et neuf autres par une chimiotherapie neo-adjuvante. La survie globale etait de 67;8 a 3 ans; 48;4 a 5 ans et 22;6a 10 ans

[Epidemiology of nasal and paranasal sinus cancer in Tunisia]. / Epidémiologie des cancers du massif facial en Tunisie.

OBJECTIVE: To report the epidemiological and clinical features of nasal and paranasal sinus cancers collected during a period of 35 years at the Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study concerned patients with histologically confirmed nasal and paranasal sinus cancers treated at our institute from 1969 to 2004. We collected the following data: age, sex, residence (rural or urban), site, occupation and professional exposure, histological type and tumor extension. RESULTS: We identified 265 cases (163 M; 102 F; Sex-ratio=1.65) with a mean age of 60 years (3 months - 91 years). Epidermoid carcinoma (47%) and adenocarcinoma (16%) predominated followed by sarcoma (14%) and melanoma (6%). We observed only 2 cases (0.7%) of ethmoidal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: Nasal and paranasal cancers in Tunisia are linked more to chronic rhino-sinusal inflammation than professional exposition (wood).

[Hodgkin disease of the nasopharynx: report of three cases]. / Maladie de Hodgkin du cavum: à propos de trois cas.

We report three cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) involving the nasopharynx. Their clinical presentations, morphological and immunohistochimical features and their therapy modalities are discussed. The patients were aged 36, 41 and 77, presenting with increasing bilateral nasal obstruction in one case and a cervical mass in the two others. Histological study showed mixed cellularity type of HD in all cases. The Reed Sternberg cells expressed both of CD15 and CD30 in one case, and only one of them in the other cases. In one case, LMP1 was detected, CD20 and CD3 were not. HD of nasopharynx should be differentiated from EBV-associated lymphoproliferations. The treatment is based on radiotherapy that can be associated to neoadjuvant chemotherapy if nodes are involved.

[Regional failure of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma]. / Echecs ganglionnaires du carcinome épidermoïde de l'hypopharynx.

PURPOSE: Lymph nodes and distant metastases contribute to the poor prognosis of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The purpose of this study is to estimate the frequency, mode and prognosis factors related to regional and distant metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The authors' report is based on a retrospective study concerning 271 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, compiled in the service of Surgery of Head and Neck Cancers of the Salah-Azaïz Institute (1977-2002). Frequency and histoclinical characters of cervical and distant metastases have been assessed, as well as their prognosis factors among 155 patients treated in a curative purpose. RESULTS: 39.1% of the tumours were classified N0, 24.4% N1, 10.7% N2 and 25.8% N3 (UICC 2002). The cervical nodal invasion was significantly more frequent for the classified tumors T3T4 than for the T1T2 (for pyriform sinus, postcricoid esophagus, posterior wall, and total hypopharynx, respectively : P =0.001, P =0.007, P =0.047 and P =0.0005). A cervical lymphatic evidement was preferred in thirty two patients. Among N0, 46.9% were N+; The frequencies of the capsular effraction were not significantly different for the N0N1 from for the N2N3 (P =0.11). The two and five years survival rates were respectively 32.5 and 20.5% for N0, and 10.9% and zero for N3. The survival differences after two and five years between the N0N1 and the N2N3 were significant (P =0.04). A regional failure was noticed for 18.5% of the patients. The tumoral site did not influence significantly the rate of nodal failure (P =0.98), neither the clinical status N (P =0.34). Capsular effraction was a significant factor for the regional failure (P =0.007). Distant metastasis significantly occurred more frequently among the patients initially classified N2N3 than those classified N0N1 (P =0.03), and in case of capsular effraction (P =0.0009). CONCLUSION: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has a high rate of lymph nodes metastasis, correlated to the local extension, and a high rate of occult nodal metastasis. Lymph node clinical status does not seem to have influenced the patients survival; however, capsular effraction constitutes a major prognosis factor of regional failure and distant metastasis. Distant metastases are frequent, particularly in case of wide local and regional tumoral extension.

[Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: retrospective study of 149 patients]. / Carcinome épidermoïde de l'hypopharynx: étude rétrospective de 149 traitements à visée curative.

PURPOSE: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is associated to one of the most unfavorable prognosis among the cancers of the head and neck. The purpose of this study is to analyze its therapeutic modalities in the Salah-Azaïz Institute (Tunis) and to compare their results. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This retrospective study concerns 271 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, compiled in the Carcinologic Surgery Department of Head and Neck of the Salah-Azaïz Institute over a period of 25 years (from 1977 to 2002). The average age of the patients was of 56 years; sex-ratio was on average of 1.2 (man/woman). The indication of a curative treatment was initially retained for 149 (55%) patients, who were the only ones retained for the analysis of results. RESULTS: We retained the indication of a protocol including surgery and postoperating radiotherapy for 26.2% of the patients. Postoperation mortality rate was 5.1%; the operating rate of morbidity was 46.2%. For 13.5% of the patients, postoperating radiotherapy was permanently interrupted because of a gradual deterioration of the patients' health in the course of treatment. We retained the indication of exclusive radiotherapy for 59.7% of the patients. The average age was of 56 years and the sex-ratio of 1.2. The external radiotherapy was conventional. Radiotherapy had to be permanently interrupted in progress in 32.6% of cases on account of an deterioration of the patients' health; the rate of morbidity of the radiotherapy was 33.3%. We indicated a protocol of conservation of organ with induction chemotherapy for 21 patients (14.1%). The average age was of 53 years (28-65 years) and sex-ratio (man/woman) of 0.5. The global survival was 25.5% at one year, 18.1% at two years, 11.4% at three years and 7.4% at five years. All the patients selected for chemotherapy died in the course of treatment. The rates of survival in two and five years according to protocols surgery-radiotherapy and exclusive radiotherapy were respectively: 21.5 and 12%, and 18.3 and 10%. The difference between the rates of survival of this two protocols is not significant (P =0.08). CONCLUSION: Although the induction chemotherapy entails a particularly high death rate in our series, the association surgery-radiotherapy and the exclusive radiotherapy seem to be similarly efficient for the treatment of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

[Morbidity diagnosed in the general medicine public structures in Tunisia]. / La morbidité diagnostiquée dans les structures publiques de médecine générale en Tunisie.

The study of morbidity in general medicine is very useful in order to adapt training curricula to the reality of medical practice in the first degree. The objective of this work was to describe the morbidity charted in general medicine in Tunisia's Sousse region. It consisted of a prospective and descriptive study involving six basic health centres in Sousse and was conducted over the course of 30 randomly selected days during the year 2000. There were 4022 consultations included in the study which were described according to the SOAP plan. The coding of the charted diagnoses was carried out according to the International Classification of Primary Care (CISP). There were 98% of the consultants who were self-referred and 84% of the consultations corresponded to new cases. The consultants' sex-ratio was 0.5 in favour of females with an average age of 27 years. There were 4,597 diagnoses noted utilising 336 codes from the CISP classification system. The "Respiratory" chapter took the first place on the list (39.6%) followed by the "Circulatory" chapter. The "Top 30" list of the most often charted diagnoses totaled 72% of the consultations among which the three most frequent health problems were pharyngitis (14.4%), acute bronchitis (8.3%) and arterial hypertension (7.4%). This study demonstrates that the practice of general medicine is characterised by instinctive first solutions and versatility. The predominance of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses illustrates the double burden of morbidity which is faced by Tunisian general medicine practitioners. The "Top 30" list should serve as basis for planning pregraduate and continuing medical training.