[Polymorphism of human platelet antigens in Tunisian population: Clinical and anthropological interests]. / Polymorphisme des antigènes plaquettaires humains dans la population tunisienne : intérêt clinique et anthropologique.

OBJECTIVES: Human Platelet Antigens (HPA) are of considerable interest in obstetric transfusion medicine and anthropological genetics. This study aims to provide clinicians with a detailed database of HPA antigenic variants, which allows them to estimate the probability of allo-immunisation of each antigen. In addition, it aims to make an interethnic comparison of the Tunisian population with other populations. METHODS: The target population consists of 324 healthy and unrelated Tunisian blood donors recruited from the National Blood Transfusion Center in Tunis. DNA extraction was performed by the Salting Out method and molecular genotyping was performed by the PCR-SSP technique. The statistical analysis was performed using two approaches: manual calculation and computerized calculation. Phylogenetic trees were constructed through the use of Standard Genetic Distances that were calculated from allelic frequencies. RESULTS: With the exception of the HPA-4 system, statistical analysis showed that all HPA systems are polymorphic especially the two systems HPA-3 and HPA-15. The inter-ethnic analysis showed that Tunisians are closer to North Africans and Caucasians than Sub-Saharan and Asian populations, which shows genetic mixing between Tunisians, Arabs, Europeans and Africans. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could be exploited to prepare a ready-to-use genotyping plate dedicated to HPA antigens, with the aim of ensuring better management, especially for polytransfused patients.

[Primary breast lymphoma: a case report]. / Lymphome primitif du sein: à propos d'un cas infraclinique.

BACKGROUND: Non-hodgkinian's lymphoma (NHL) represents 0.04 to 0.53% of all breast cancers. The clinical aspects and therapeutic models of the disease are a subject of debate. AIM: The purpose of this paper is to report the clinical, imaging (sonographic, mammographic and MRI) and pathological features of breast lymphoma, a rare but aggressive tumor, based on a case report review. CASE REPORT: We report a case of primary non-hodgkinian's lymphoma of the breast in one patient aged of 52 years. The patient went to a systematic screening of breast cancer. Physical examen was normal. Mammography showed breast with transitional density, BIRADS type 2, micro-calcifications behind the.... but sometimes it had linear...., neither not distorsion were identified. Ultrasonography did not show a tumor. The disease was revealed by breast MRI. The additional value of MRI in diagnosis is validated in our patient. In fact, when cancer is occult, size evaluation is difficult at standard imaging (7 mm). The diagnosis of non-hodgkinian's lymphoma was confirmed on histological examination of tumor biopsies. It was a B-cell non-Hodgkins-type lymphoma. The clinical features have been reviewed and the tumor have been evaluated both on a morphologic and an immunohistochemical basis. With chemotherapy, the course was favourable. CONCLUSION: The breast is an uncommon site of development of malignant lymphomas. Secondary disease is more common than the primitive form. Primary breast lymphoma is a difficult diagnosis because it is very rare. The diagnosis is mainly histological. Chemotherapy is the principal therapeutic mean. Treatment combines radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Prognosis is generally bad.

[MRI of knee tuberculous arthritis]. / IRM de l'arthrite tuberculeuse du genou.

Tuberculous arthritis is rare and the diagnosis may be confused with inflammatory arthritis. Only few cases, explored by MRI, have been reported in the literature. We report 3 cases of tuberculous arthritis of the knee revealed by insidious pain. The abnormalities revealed by MRI suggested tuberculosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology.

[Ectopic thyroid]. / Thyroïde ectopique.

PURPOSE OF STUDY: Ectopic thyroid is defined as thyroid tissue not located anterolaterally between the second and the fourth tracheal cartilage. This anomalous localization results from abnormal embryologic development and/or migration of the gland. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the role of imaging in the preoperative evaluation of ectopic thyroid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 13-year-old girl with no other significant medical history, consulted for dysphonia, fullness in the throat and breathing difficulties. Examination of the oral cavity and oropharynx showed a large mass attached to the base of the tongue, the mass was evaluated by ultrasanography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy. RESULTS: Ultrasound sonography showed a well-defined hypoechogenic mass in the posterior end of the tongue. Scintigraphy showed hyperfixation at the base of the tongue with no fixation in the normal thyroid site. Computed tomography scan revealed a spontaneously hyperdense spherical basilingual mass with a high enhancement after contrast injection. In MRI, the mass was isointense with the muscle in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2 weighted images. CONCLUSION: Ectopic thyroid must be evoked in the presence of any basilangual mass. Scintigraphy and ultrasanography are gold standard in demonstration the ectopic thyroid tissue. But computed tomography and MRI playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, in determination of the malignant transformation and planning the surgical approach.

[Eagle's syndrome]. / Le syndrome de Eagle.

OBJECTIVES: Elongated styloid process also known as Eagle's syndrome is an entity that may be the source of craniofacial and cervical pain. It is frequently reported but is probably more common than generally considered. The symptoms related to Eagle's syndrome can be confused with those attributed to a wide variety of oropharyngeal and maxillofacial diseases. From four observations of Eagle's syndrome, we recall the clinical and radiological findings of this affection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of four patients examined during a 2-year period. These patients presented cervical pain associated with headache, vertigo, otalgia and dysphagia. All patients were explored by conventional radiographs and three-dimensional computer tomography reconstruction. RESULTS: Digital palpation of the fossa reproduced and exacerbated the pain. Neck radiographic examination showed a bilateral elongation of the styloid process in both cases. The cervical scanner showed a bilateral elongation of the styloid process in all cases. CONCLUSION: Eagle's syndrome is a frequent entity that remains vaguely known by physicians. Three-dimensional computer tomography is useful for the diagnosis of this entity.