A pleuropulmonary blastoma type III in a 4-month-old infant: First case report in Syria.

INTRODUCTION: Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare, aggressive intrathoracic neoplasm of early childhood. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 4-month-old male baby who has presented with recurrent respiratory infections since birth. A surgical team was consulted due to abnormal opacification observed on a chest X-ray. An enhanced-contrast CT scan of the chest revealed a heterogenous, well-delineated mass measuring about 3,8 × 6 cm in the posterior mediastinum. A left posterolateral thoracotomy was performed. The mass was separated from the lung parenchyma, located behind the parietal pleura, and adherent to the chest wall and superior ribs. The lesion was totally removed. Histologically, the lesion was a pleuropulmonary blastoma type III. Currently, the patient is on a 6-month course of chemotherapy. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The aggressive, insidious behavior of PPB requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. The clinical manifestations and imaging modalities are atypical and nonspecific. However, PPB should be kept in mind when a huge solid or cystic mass is observed in the lung field on imaging. CONCLUSION: Extrapulmonary pleuropulmonary blastoma is a very rare entity characterized by highly aggressive behavior and a poor prognosis. Early excision of thoracic cystic lesions in children is warranted regardless of the symptoms to avoid future mishaps.

A guide through conventional and modern cancer treatment modalities: A specific focus on glioblastoma cancer therapy (Review).

Cancer still ranks as one of the top causes of morbidity and mortality despite recent improvements in standard chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. This underlines some of the difficulties in creating successful therapeutic strategies, but it also highlights the shortcomings of conventional methods. In order to enhance the standard treatment of cancer patients, biology­driven therapies are emerging towards more specific and effective clinical options. In the present review, both conventional and novel methods for cancer treatment were addressed, with a particular focus on Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) therapies. GBM is one of the most challenging cancers for conventional treatments, and survival rates of patients remain very low. In the present review, focus was addressed on employed chemo­ and radiotherapies along with developing novel targeted and immunotherapies assessed in clinical trials on patients with GBM or yet to be evaluated clinically. It was aimed to evaluate efficiency of treatments in suppressing GBMs, roadblocks and challenges. A brief discussion of a few promising delivery methods for targeted drug and gene therapy for cancer was also provided. Increment advancements in this field emphasizes the significance of combining different treatment strategies for improved survival and quality of patients' lives.