Yolk sac tumor of vagina: a rare cause of vaginal bleeding in adolescents - a case report.

Yolk sac tumor (YST) is one of the malignant germ-cell tumors (MGCT) that usually occurs in the ovaries and testes of young patients. Its occurrence in the vagina is extremely rare. We present a rare case of extragonadal YST occurring in the vaginal region. A 12-year-old girl, presented with vaginal bleeding and pain in the perineal region. Physical exam identified a limited pelvic mass, 5 x 4cm in size. Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a heterogeneous mass in cervico-vaginal region. The patient was taken to the surgery, where an excisional biopsy was obtained. The diagnosis of YST is confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry studies. However, the tumor marker (alpha fetoprotein and BHCG) was normal. The patient was treated according to the French TGM-95 protocol. Surgery was done after chemotherapy, hysterectomy in front of the cervical invasion, with a good decline at 2 years of end of treatment.

Management of pediatric tumor lysis syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a serious complication of malignancies and can result in renal failure or death. REVIEW: In tumors with a high proliferative rate with a relatively large mass and a high sensitivity to cytotoxic agents, the initiation of therapy often results in the rapid release of intracellular anions, cations and the metabolic products of proteins and nucleic acids into the bloodstream. The increased concentrations of uric acid, phosphates, potassium and urea can overwhelm the body's homeostatic mechanisms to process and excrete these materials and result in the clinical spectrum associated with TLS. Typical clinical sequelae include gastrointestinal disturbances, neuromuscular effects, cardiovascular complications, acute renal failure and death. Tumor lysis syndrome can also compromise the efficacy or administration of curative therapies. Available evidence suggests that the incidence of clinical TLS is approximately 3-7% for acute leukemias and 4-11% for lymphomas. Pediatric cancers are the leading cause of death by disease in children. The most common pediatric cancers include the leukemias, lymphomas, central nervous system tumors and neuroblastoma. Thus, TLS is a major concern to practitioners caring for pediatric oncology patients. Given the complexity of TLS prevention and treatment, a multidisciplinary approach involving the collaboration of medical oncologists/ hematologists and nephrologists has the greatest potential of ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Rehydration is fundamental in the management of TLS in addition to the current standard therapy for hyperuricemia which include rasburicase and allopurinol. CONCLUSION: The early recognition and treatment of metabolic abnormalities often prevents the severe and life-threatening complications associated with tumor lysis syndrome.

Congenital chylothorax.

Although pleural effusion is a rare cause of respiratory distress in newborns, being familiar with this disease is very important because of the generally favorable prognosis when the diagnosis is done early and therapy is prompt. We report a case of a full-term baby diagnosed with respiratory distress after 1 week of life. An X-ray of his chest showed a left pleural effusion. Moreover, a thoracentesis combined with a biochemical study of the pleural fluid confirmed the diagnosis of chylothorax. In our case, the conservative therapy was successful. The baby was followed up for a period of 6 months, with no evidence of recurrence. We have concluded, therefore, that conservative management should be the first line of treatment in chylothorax cases. If it does not work, a surgical approach might be considered.