[Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease in Senegal: an autopsy series of 116 african patients at Aristide Le Dantec Hospital (Dakar-Senegal)]. / Athérosclérose aortique et coronarienne au Sénégal : à propos d'une série autopsique de 116 patients d'origine africaine au CHNU Aristide Le Dantec (Dakar-Sénégal).

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of atherosclerosis (aortic and coronary lesions) in Senegalese people, to determine main risks factors and morphological patterns. METHODS: A prospective autopsy study was conducted in the pathology department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital (Dakar-Senegal) where 116 specimens aged over 5 years old were studied. RESULTS: Autopsy study of 116 Senegalese specimens for atherosclerotic lesions revealed aortic lesions in 100 cases (86%), aortic and coronary lesions both in 48 cases. There were 88 men versus 12 women. The median age was 37.1 years comprised 5 to 77 years old. Hypertensive, smoking and abdominal obesity were detected respectively in 5 cases, 37 cases and 33 cases. In aortic vessel, the main lesions detected were severe fibrous plaques detected in 40 cases. In coronary arteries, fibrous plaques were detected in 18 cases, severe fibrous plaques in 17 cases. CONCLUSION: Our study in Senegalese population showed existence of atherosclerotic lesions. These lesions were more responsible for complications as myocardial infarction.

Obstructive Primary Cardiac T-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report from Senegal.

BACKGROUND Cardiac lymphoma is a rare entity, defined by the non-extra cardiac location at diagnosis. CASE REPORT Our patient was a 32-year-old female with no particular medical history, who presented with right heart failure with recurrent ascites and pleural effusion. There was a progressive worsening exertional dyspnea. On admission, examination revealed an irregular tachycardia at 170 beats per minute (bpm) and congestive heart failure. The electrocardiogram scored full tachyarrhythmia by atrial fibrillation with an average ventricular rate of 179 cycles per minute. Doppler echocardiography showed dilatation and systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. There were dilated atria. We noted a large mass in the right atrium, which was less mobile, heterogeneous, integral with the wall, and filling three quarters of the cavity. It clogged the tricuspid valve in diastole. CT scan showed a tissue process enhanced after contrast injection, occupying the predominant cavities in the right atrium and filling it. Its borders were irregular. The lesion was extended to the posterior mediastinum, in front of the vertebral axis. In addition, there was a thrombosis of the jugular vein and the inferior vena cava. There was no other tumor site noted. The patient died after presenting with cardiovascular shock associated with refractory right heart failure. Pathology examination confirmed T-cell lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS The primitive cardiac lymphoma is an entity of intra-cardiac masses. It is therefore to be considered even if the diagnosis is challenging.