Coexistence of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and gallbladder adenocarcinoma: a fortuitous association?

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is a relatively uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis, characterized by marked thickening of the gallbladder wall and dense local adhesions. Not only does xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis mimic malignancy, it can also be infrequently associated with gallbladder carcinoma in 0.2% to 35.4% of cases. Herein, the authors report a new case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis concomitant with gallbladder adenocarcinoma in a 65-year-old female patient. Because of its overlapping clinical, radiological and macroscopic findings with gallbladder cancer, definitive diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis relies on extensive sampling and thorough microscopic examination of the surgical specimen to exclude the possibility of coexisting tumour. It is still a matter of debate whether xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is truly a precursor of gallbladder carcinoma or if it is just an incidental finding. This aspect needs to be explored in the future with further studies.

[Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome with malignant development in a hamartomatous polyp: report of one case and review of the literature]. / Dégénérescence inaugurale d'un polype hamartomateux au cours du syndrome de Peutz-Jeghers: à propos d'un cas avec revue de la littérature.

The malignant potential of hamartomatous polyps in Peutz-Jeghers' (PPJ) syndrome has been debated. Although it is a very rare event, these polyps can become malignant, as demonstrated by this report. One case of colonic adenocarcinoma associated with Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome is described in a 62-year-old woman. The patient had colonic carcinoma which developed in a hamartomatous polyp. The malignant development of this colonic hamartomatous polyp arising in Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome was pathologically confirmed at surgery. This case also shows a sequence of hamartoma-dysplasia-carcinoma in a hamartomatous polyp without adenomatous changes. This suggests that hamartomatous polyps in Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome may develop into adenocarcinoma and may be a precursor of gastrointestinal carcinomas. STK 11 is a tumor suppressor gene regulating the development of hamartomas, and this somatic mutation promotes gastrointestinal cancer at later stages in Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the broad ligament.

AIMS: Sarcomas of the broad ligament are exceptionally rare. To our knowledge, the present case is the first description of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) occurring in the broad ligament. Herein, we report this unusual case, and discuss differential diagnoses and treatment. RESULTS: A 55-year-old postmenopausal woman was admitted for lower abdominal pain and vaginal spotting. Radiological examination revealed a latero-uterine mass that was independent of the surrounding organs. Treatment consisted in a total resection of the mass in addition to total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Based on histological examination, immunohistochemical study and quantitative PCR, a diagnosis of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) was made. The patient was lost to follow-up for 6 months, and then presented with a local recurrence of the tumour in addition to secondary pulmonary and vertebral localizations. The patient died less than one year after the first diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of UPS of the broad ligament is based on exclusion using a large panel of antibodies. There is no consensus for treatment. The prognosis of this disease cannot be assessed due to its rarity, but it can be hypothesized that early recurrence is indicative of poor prognosis.

[Duodenal metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the uterus. A case report]. / Métastase duodénale d'un leiomyosarcome utérin. A propos d'une observation.

The digestive metastases of uterine leiomyosarcoma are rare. We report a case of a duodenal tumor detected in a 50 year-old woman, 3 years after she underwent a total hysterectomy for uterine leiomyosarcoma. The stenosing duodenal mass was thought to be a mesenchymal tumor. A pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. The resected lesion was morphologically similar to the uterine leiomyosarcoma. In fact, the histopathological study confirmed a submucosal tumor with typical features of the uterine leiomyosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed and it showed negative CD117 and CD 34. Markers displayed positivity for actin smooth muscle and desmin. Considering the patient history and the immunohistochemical observations, we diagnosed a duodenal metastasis of uterine leiomysarcoma. Through this exceptional observation we want to emphasize the epidemiological and the pathological features of the metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma. We will also point out the progress of tumoral cells and the histopathological distinctive criteria with a primitive digestive mesenchymal tumor.

[Unilocular macrocystic serous cystadenoma of the pancreas: a morphologic variant to be considered]. / Le cystadénome séreux macrokystique uniloculaire du pancréas: une variante morphologique à connaître.

Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas is a benign cystic tumor, which radiological diagnosis is easy in its typical microcystic variant. The macrocystic variant is uncommon and raises diagnostic problems with other macrocystic lesions of the pancreas such as pseudocysts and mucinous cystadenomas. We report the case of a young woman with a unilocular macrocystic serous cystadenoma of the pancreas which was identified on pathologic examination of the surgical specimen, after unconclusive abdominal ultrasound and CT-scan. This case describes an unusual clinical presentation of this cystic tumor and emphasizes that the diagnosis of such an entity is still based on pathological examination after cyst removal.

[Basal cell carcinoma arising in a seborrheic keratosis: a case report]. / Carcinome basocellulaire developpe sur une kératose séborrhéique: á propos d'une observation.

Seborrheic keratosis are one of the most common benign epidermic tumors in clinical practice. Malignant transformation is exceptional and occurs by the involvement of human papilloma virus. We report a case of seborrheic keratosis of the armpit in a 55 year-old woman whose biopsy revealed the presence of a basal cell carcinoma.

[Buschke-Loewenstein giant condyloma in the perianal region with inguinal invasion: a case report]. / Condylome géant de Buschke-Loewenstein de la région périanale avec envahissement inguinal: a propos d'un cas.

The giant condyloma acuminatum of the perianal region is a tumor characterised by its large size with the propensity to infiltrate into deeper tissues, contrasting with a microscopically benign pattern. The evolution after malignant transformation of condyloma and lymph node invasion is rare. However it is exceptionally observed a lymph node invasion of microscopically benign condyloma acuminatum. The authors report a case of microscopically benign giant condyloma acuminatum of the perianal region associated with inguinal invasion, discovered in a 47 year-old man. Treatment consists in extensive surgery of the tumor and inguinal nodes, followed by a radiation therapy.

[Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the accessory salivary glands--a case report]. / Adénocarcinome polymorphe de faible malignité des glandes salivaires accessoires--une observation.

A case of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland is reported. This tumor was first described in two clinical case series in 1983. Before that time most of these neoplasms were diagnosed as benign salivary gland neoplasms (pleomorphic adenomas) or salivary malignant conditions (malignant pleomorphic adenomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, papillary adenocarcinomas and adenocarcinoma not otherwise stated). This neoplasm, with few exceptions, originates in minor salivary gland tissues of the palates or buccal mucosa. It is characteristically slow to enlarge. Clinical reports show the neoplasm present for many years before diagnosis. The tumor have a variety of morphological patterns, a cytological uniformity and an infiltration into adjacent structures. The treatment is a wide local excision. Recurrences and lymph node metastases are rare.

[Hoffmann-Zurhelle superficial cutaneous lipomatous nevus. Apropos of a case]. / Le naevus lipomateux cutané superficiel d'Hoffmann et Zurhelle. A propos d'une observation.

The authors report a case of lipomatous naevus present for 35 years, and therefore probably congenital, in a 48 year old female patient. This bulging lesion was 2.5 cm in diameter with a slightly encephaloid appearance. The authors reviewed the limited literature on the subject in order to more clearly define this hamartomatous lesion which has a constant histological appearance, but very variable clinical and macroscopic features.

[Bronchial cytology in the diagnosis of broncho-pulmonary cancer in Tunisia]. / Apport de la cytologie bronchique dans le diagnostic du cancer broncho-pulmonaire en Tunisie.

The authors present a retrospective study of 287 pulmonary cytologic exams censed in Pasteur Institute - Tunis between 1970 and 1986. These 287 exams consist of 145 bronchic aspiration liquids and 142 spittles. A systematic exam was practiced in patients presenting a pulmonary symptomatology suggesting little or not at all broncho pulmonary cancer. 40 of these exams present cancerous cells (15 cases) or suspected cancerous cells (25 cases). The biopsy confirms a malignant tumor in 25 patients (5%). These results should urge us toward a cytologic exam not only in adults presenting any respiratory symptomatology, but also in subjects at high risk, especially smokers. Localising the tumor is necessary for the biopsy. This biopsy will lead us to determine the histologic type and consequently the adequate therapy.