Concurrent anaplastic bronchial cancer in identical twin brothers.

After having observed homozygotic identical twin brothers who simultaneously suffered from anaplastic bronchial cancer which rapidly led to death in both cases, the authors assess the frequency of such cases. Review of the available literature failed to produce identical observations, although 4 cases of twins suffering from bronchial cancer with differing histologies (3 epidermoidal and 1 bronchiolar-alveolar) were noted. Statistics show that in the area where the observed twins were living, anaplastic cancer occurs each year in 0.39 of 53-year-old men. The cases of these twins therefore support the notion of the role of genetic factors in the determination of bronchial cancer.

High-dose chemotherapy, total abdomen irradiation and autologous bone marrow infusion in ovarian cancer: an observation.

A case of treatment of an ovarian adenocarcinoma (stage IIIc of the IFGO) is reported. The patient underwent a maximal tumor reduction followed by polychemotherapy. After this treatment, a 'second-look' laparotomy shows an incomplete remission. An intensive chemotherapy with total abdomen irradiation and protection of medullary toxicity by an autologous bone marrow infusion is performed, with a satisfactory result, without relapse, 16 months after this treatment (or 25 months after the first laparotomy). Reasons which led the authors to perform an autograft and the conditions under which this treatment may be offered are then presented.

Gastric carcinoid tumour and parathyroid adenoma.

A case involving a gastric carcinoid in association with parathyroid adenoma is reported and the question of a possible link between these two ailments is discussed.

[A case of hepatic sarcoidosis. Review of the literature]. / Un cas de sarcoïdose hépatique. Revue de la littérature.

In this paper, the authors discuss an occurrence of hepatic sarcoidosis in a female patient from the French Antilles which was unique in how it was detected (during cholecystectomy), its presence in two organs (bronchus and liver) as evidenced histologically, as well as marked immunological disorders and disturbances of liver function tests. With corticosteroid therapy, the liver function tests were normalized, but histological lesions persisted.

[Treatment of advanced cancer of the ovary using intensive chemotherapy with autograft of bone marrow. From a case, discussion and review of the literature]. / Le traitement du cancer de l'ovaire évolué par chimiothérapie intensive avec autogreffe de moelle osseuse. A partir d'un cas, discussion et revue de la littérature.

A case of treatment of an advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma (Stage IIIc of the FIGO) is reported. The patient underwent a maximal tumor reduction followed with polychemotherapy. After this treatment, a "second look" laparotomy shows an incomplete remission. An intensive chemotherapy with abdomini-pelvic radiotherapy and protection of medullary toxicity by a bone marrow autograft is performed, with a satisfactory result, without relapse, 16 months after this treatment (or 25 months after the first laparotomy). A review of the literature concerning the treatment to be undertaken following the "second look" operation, is briefly exposed. Reasons which led the authors to perform an autograft and mostly the conditions under which this treatment may be offered, are then presented.

[Genetic factors in the development of bronchial cancer. Apropos of a pair of identical twins]. / Facteurs génétiques dans le déterminisme du cancer bronchique. A propos d'une paire de jumeaux univitellins.

An anaplastic bronchial cancer was observed to occur simultaneously in identical twin brothers, with a rapidly fatal outcome. This led to authors to appraise the prevalence of such cases and to study the role of genetic factors in the determining bronchial cancer. A review of the literature has not revealed an identical case, on the other hand 4 twin pairs suffered from a bronchial cancer with a different histology (3 epidermoid and 1 bronchoalveolar) were reported. Familial cases of bronchial cancer were also recorded. The authors go on to allude to the intervention of genetic factors in the defense mechanisms of the lung: mucociliary clearance, immunological defense and the role of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. The precise identification of these factors remains difficult on account of their interaction with environmental factors.

[Sideroblastic anemia, lead poisoning and wine from Bordeaux]. / Anémie sidéroblastique, saturnisme et vin du Bordelais.

The detection of progressive sideroblastic anaemia over a period of weeks in a 58 year old woman led to the diagnosis of chronic lead poisoning confirmed by serum lead levels of 2 mg/l. The alimentary origin of the lead poisoning was proved by the finding of high lead levels in the wine which the patient drank excessively. An inquiry at the wine merchant's showed that the local wine was not responsible but that the foreign wine used to fortify the blend had been contaminated. Chronic lead poisoning in alcoholics which has already been widely reported and the demonstration of abnormally high lead levels in wine, rise the problem of regular statutory surveillance of lead levels in alcoholic beverages.