Impact of the time interval between lymph node recurrence and lymphadenectomy on melanoma patient survival.

Lymphadenectomy is currently the standard treatment for melanoma patients with palpable lymph node (LN) metastasis. There is no recommendation as to the time when surgery should be performed in France. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of the time interval preceding lymphadenectomy on patient outcomes. Patients who underwent lymphadenectomy for LN macrometastasis (Stage IIIB/C AJCC) between 2005 and 2012 were included. Both the time interval between the first suspicion of LN recurrence (physical examination and imaging) and lymphadenectomy and the time interval between the multidisciplinary team meeting and lymphadenectomy were recorded. The impact of these time intervals on patient relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analysed. The regression optimized (ROP) model was used to identify ghost factors for the Cox model. A total of 154 patients were included. The median time interval between the multidisciplinary team meeting and lymphadenectomy was 22 days (IQR: 6 to 66). The median time interval between the first suspicion of LN recurrence and lymphadenectomy was 59 days (IQR: 15 to 676). Taking into account the effect identified by the regression optimized (ROP) model, these times were associated with an increased risk of recurrence and mortality (p<0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). Our study demonstrates that increasing the time interval preceding lymphadenectomy significantly reduces patient RFS and OS.

Life-threatening hemorrhaging in neonatal ulcerated congenital hemangioma: two case reports.

IMPORTANCE: Congenital hemangiomas (CHs) are rare benign vascular tumors that differ from common infantile hemangiomas in that they grow in utero and are fully developed at birth. While ulceration is a common, predominantly benign complication in infantile hemangioma, little is known about the prognosis of ulcerated CH. However, it has been observed that ulcerated CH may be complicated by life-threatening bleeding episodes. OBSERVATIONS: We report 2 cases of ulcerated rapidly involuting congenital hemangiomas (RICH) that were complicated by life-threatening bleeding episodes in the neonatal period. In both cases, the CHs were fed by high-flow vessels and the ensuing massive bleeding was due to superficial vessel wall erosion induced by the ulceration. Both patients were successfully treated with intravascular embolization; one patient underwent additional hemostatic surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These 2 cases highlight the importance of closely monitoring children with ulcerated CH because of the risk of severe bleeding. Embolization is the treatment of choice in the case of severe bleeding, as the natural history of RICH is to spontaneously regress.

An unexpected etiology of priapism: infection-related anti-protein s antibodies.

INTRODUCTION: In adolescents, the occurrence of priapism is commonly related to sickle cell disease and rarely to other causes. We hereby report a case of priapism due to an acquired protein S (PS) deficiency. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe a young man who developed a priapism with a thrombosis of the corpora cavernosa associated with an anti-PS antibody (anti-PS Ab). METHODS: One week after the onset of an influenza-like illness, a young male developed multiple extensive venous thromboses including a thrombosis of the corpora cavernosa causing painful partial priapism. These thromboses along with purpuric lesions with necrotic vesicles of the feet skin were linked to an acquired PS deficiency due to an anti-PS Ab. The optimal treatment of anti-PS Ab-associated thrombosis is debated but we chose to initiate (i) heparin; (ii) corticosteroids; and (iii) plasmapheresis. RESULTS: Even if priapism lasted more than 4 days, a full recovery of erectile function was observed within 3 months. As compared with priapism due to sickle cell disease, which is commonly associated with definitive erectile dysfunction, this favorable outcome is noteworthy. The skin healing was complete only 6 months later. CONCLUSION: Acquired PS deficiency complicating an infectious disease is a rare, life-threatening condition, associated with substantial morbidity related to amputations of limbs or digits. This is the first report of priapism due to acquired PS deficiency.