Assessment of EGFR mutation status in Tunisian patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances, non-small cell lung cancer carries a grim prognosis. For appropriate treatment selection, the updated guidelines recommend broad molecular profiling for all patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Precise histological subtyping and targeted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) testing are mandatory. METHODS: Herein, we assessed the EGFR mutation status of 26 formalin fixed-paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples of lung adenocarcinoma. Mutational analysis concerned exons 18-21 of EGFR by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real time-PCR) using the Therascreen EGFR RGQ PCR mutation kit. ALK status was established on 22 among 26 patients using D5F3 antibody with a fully automated Ventana CDx technique. RESULTS: Activating EGFR mutations were found in 3 men among 26 patients (11.5%). Positive ALK expression was found in 2 cases among 22 patients (9.09%). CONCLUSION: Frequency of EGFR mutations in pulmonary adenocarcinomas of our series is similar to that found in the European ones with some particularities. The mutations detected are uncommon. Whereas, we found a high frequency of positive ALK expression in our series compared to frequency reported in literature. Further studies with larger Tunisian series are required to obtain more conclusive results.

Unilateral orbital mass as an unusual presentation of IgG4-related disease.

IgG4-related diseases are a recently recognized systemic syndrome characterized by mass-forming lesions, in mainly exocrine tissue, that consist of lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates and sclerosis, which may mimic malignant neoplasm due to clinical and imaging features. We report an unusual case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with a left orbital mass, which histologically revealed to be an IgG4-sclerosing disease.

[Cervical node fine needle aspiration: factors influencing the failure rate]. / Cytoponction ganglionnaire cervicale : facteurs influençant le taux d'échec.

INTRODUCTION: We had for aim to study the factors influencing the rate of non satisfactory (NS) cervical node fine needle aspirations (CNFNA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively included 272 CNFNA, performed over 2 years (2010-2012). NS results were studied according to the following criteria: age, size and location of the node, number of punctures performed, and the operating physician's experience. RESULTS: Fifty-six (20.6%) of the 272 CNFNA were NS because they were acellular or paucicellular. The rate of NS CNFNA was not correlated with the patient's age: 63.6% for small lymph nodes (≤1 cm: P=0.01). Submandibular and jugulodigastric locations were observed in 28% of NS CNFNA and in 5% of satisfactory ones (P=0.001). The rate of NS CNFNA was 67% if 1 or 2 punctures were performed; it decreased to 18% for 3 or more punctures (P=0.01). This rate was 77% for the first study semester, and 8% for the fourth semester (P=0.001). CNFNA has been repeated for 19 patients. The second CNFNA was contributive for 14 patients. Repeating the CNFNA increased its efficiency by 73.7% (14/19). DISCUSSION: The rate of NS CNFNA depends on the size and location of the lymph node, and the operating physician's experience. Repeating the CNFNA significantly improves its efficiency.

[Osteoclast-type giant cell tumor of the parotid gland]. / Tumeur à cellules géantes de type ostéoclastique de la parotide.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoclast-type giant cell tumors of the salivary gland are extremely rare; only 23 cases have been reported. Two presentations were observed: isolated tumor or tumor associated with a carcinomatous contingent. CASE REPORT: A 51-year-old female patient consulted for a painless left retro-angulo-mandibular swelling having appeared 2 years before. This was a 2 cm parotid mass without facial nerve palsy or cervical lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent a superficial parotidectomy to remove the nodule. The direct microscopic examination revealed an osteoclastic giant cell tumor without any carcinomatous contingent. At immunohistochemistry, mononuclear cells were diffusely and intensely stained by anti-pancytokeratin, while multinucleated cells were totally negative and CD68 positive. The patient was not given any complementary treatment. She was followed-up 23 months later and did not present any signs of recurrence or metastasis. DISCUSSION: The histogenesis and nosology of osteoclastic giant cell are currently unknown. Although this entity was not integrated into the latest WHO classification, most authors consider it as a variant of carcinoma. Published data on the epithelial or histiocytic nature of multinucleated cells is not consensual. Our case presentation supports the hypothesis of a histiocytic differentiation of giant cells and epithelial mononuclear cells.

[An exceptional carotid tumor]. / Une tumeur rare du glomus carotidien.

Carotid paraganglioma (CP) is a relatively rare neoplasm, most commonly located in the head and neck. It is a slow-growing tumor and there has been some debate on the optimal techniques of excision. We report herein the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with an asymptomatic mass in the right side of the neck. The diagnosis of CP was confirmed by computed tomography and carotid angiography. This tumor was successfully removed surgically without complication. Throughout the description of this case, we analyze the clinical, radiological, pathological and therapeutic particularities of this entity.

[Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the nasal cavity]. / Carcinome épithélial-myoépithélial de la cavité nasale.

OBJECTIVES: Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare tumor of the salivary glands with an incidence of less than 1%. Most cases arise in the parotid gland. Extraoral location is exceptional. The purpose of this study was to describe a case with nasal location, which is exceptionally reported in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report a case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma arising in the nasal cavity of a 54-year-old woman. RESULTS: The woman presented with right recurrent epistaxis and on nasal endoscopic examination was found to have a polypoid tumor in the right nasal cavity. The CT-scan demonstrated a soft tissue mass without extension to the rhinopharynx or bony destruction. Histopathologic examination revealed the tumor to consist of a mixture of a solid, tubular, and trabecular structures with a double-layered arrangement of inner eosinophilic cells and outer clear cells. Dual differentiation toward myoepithelial and epithelial cells was confirmed immunohistochemically. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma in the nasal cavity is possible. In published cases, no recurrence or metastasis has been reported in this location.

[Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung: a rare lesion with a difficult diagnosis]. / L'hémangiome sclérosant du poumon: une lésion rare et de diagnostic difficile.

Sclerosing hemangioma of the lung is a rare lesion described for the first time in 1956 by Liebow. We report a case in a 45 year-old woman who was admitted for exploration of chronic cough. The chest x-ray revealed a round opacity, well delimited in the left pulmonary parenchyma. Surgical resection enabled the histopathological diagnosis of sclerosing hemangioma. We review progress in our knowledge of the histogenesis and diagnosis of this tumor. Immunohistochemistry has been highly contributory although numerous points remain controversial.