Acontractile detrusor as an initial presentation of sacral spinal cord lesion: Case series

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate cases of acontractile bladder as the initial presentation of benign and malignant spinal conditions. The focus is on the challenges in making a diagnosis and the importance of a thorough neurological evaluation.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective case series involving three patients who exhibited symptoms of acontractile bladder. Detailed clinical histories, urodynamic studies, and imaging techniques such as lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were analyzed. Histopathological findings from relevant biopsies were also taken into account.

RESULTS

Case 1: A 14-year-old female presented with urinary retention, back pain, and an acontractile bladder on urodynamic study. Further examination, including lumbosacral MRI and histopathology, confirmed a diagnosis of metastatic Ewing's Sarcoma. Case 2: A 39-year-old female with urinary incontinence and elevated post-void residual exhibited delayed bladder sensation. Lumbar spine MRI revealed a grade I Schwannoma after surgical resection. Case 3: A 15-year-old male with lower urinary tract symptoms and an acontractile detrusor on urodynamic study was found to have a Tarlov cyst on lumbosacral MRI.

CONCLUSION

Atonic or Underactive bladder syndrome may be the initial presentation of a serious spinal condition. Complete neurological evaluation is mandatory if no obvious clinical cause.

Extraosseous Ewing Sarcoma Manifesting as an Acute Abdomen in a Young Adult Male: a Case Report

Ewing sarcoma is a tumor primarily affecting children and young adults, and usually affects long bones. Extraosseous Ewing sarcoma (EES) is a rare primary tumor of soft tissues. We present a case of abdominal EES with metastasis to thoracic cavity, which presented as abdominal pain and vomiting in a 21-year-old previously healthy gentleman.

Primary extraskeletal intradural Ewing sarcoma with acute hemorrhage: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Spinal cord tumors present a challenge in diagnosis and treatment due to their varied histopathological characteristics. While Ewing sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor typically originating from skeletal bone, cases of primary intradural extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma are exceptionally rare. The similarity of its presentation to other spinal tumors further complicates its identification and management.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 58-year-old Palestinian male with intradural extraskeletal lumbar Ewing sarcoma. The patient initially presented with lower back pain and bilateral S1 radiculopathy, with more severe symptoms on the left side. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 7 cm oval-shaped mass with homogeneous contrast enhancement, obstructing the spinal canal from L3/L4 to L5/S1 levels. Initially, a myxopapillary ependymoma was suspected, but the patient's sensory and motor functions suddenly deteriorated during hospitalization. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging indicated heterogeneous contrast enhancement, indicating acute intratumoral hemorrhage. Consequently, the patient underwent emergent L3-L5 laminotomy, with successful gross total resection of the tumor. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the diagnosis of intradural extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma. Adjuvant therapy was administered to minimize the risk of local recurrence or distant metastasis. A systematic review of relevant literature, along with retrospective analysis of medical records, operative reports, radiological studies, and histopathological findings of similar cases, was also conducted.

CONCLUSIONS

Intradural extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma is an infrequently encountered condition in adult patients, emphasizing the importance of considering it in the differential diagnosis of spinal tumors. Surgeons must possess a comprehensive understanding of this rare entity to ensure accurate staging and optimal management, particularly in the early stages when prompt intervention may improve prognosis.

A 13-Year-Old Boy with Chest Wall Actinomycosis Mimicking Ewing Sarcoma on Imaging

BACKGROUND Actinomyces, a filamentous, branching, anaerobic gram-positive bacillus, typically found as a commensal organism in the oral cavity, can lead to rare chronic bacterial infections in various anatomical regions. Chest wall involvement represents an uncommon presentation, posing significant diagnostic challenges. This report focuses on the case of a 13-year-old boy presenting with chest wall actinomycetoma that closely resembled Ewing sarcoma on imaging. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 13-year-old male with no previous medical history who presented to the Emergency Department with progressive left-sided chest pain following a sports-related fall. Physical examination revealed mild swelling and tenderness on the left anterior chest wall. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large tumor involving the lower left chest wall, suggesting Ewing sarcoma. However, a histopathological examination unexpectedly confirmed actinomycosis of the chest wall. Intravenous penicillin G was promptly initiated for 4 weeks. A follow-up CT scan after 4 weeks of therapy demonstrated a significant response with notable reduction in the size of the chest wall mass. The patient then continued with maintenance therapy using oral amoxicillin for 12 months. Throughout this period, complete resolution of the chest wall mass occurred, with no significant adverse events or complications observed. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the importance of considering uncommon differential diagnoses like chest wall actinomycosis in patients presenting with chest wall masses. The diagnostic complexities associated with this rare condition emphasize the need for a comprehensive evaluation strategy, incorporating histopathological examination and imaging.

Successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy in a child with coronavirus 2019 disease-associated ARDS and chemotherapy for Ewing's sarcoma

Most children and adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection show no or mild symptoms, but those with medical histories can be susceptible to more severe forms of disease. There are few reported cases of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We present a previously healthy 13-year-old male diagnosed with metastatic Ewing's sarcoma at the same time as catastrophic acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19, who was successfully supported by venovenous-ECMO while he received the corresponding chemotherapy protocol.ECMO can be used as salvage therapy in oncology pediatric patients with respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19. In addition, successful chemotherapy can be administered while patients are supported on ECMO.

Patient-reported neurocognitive function in adult survivors of childhood and adolescent osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma

PURPOSE

Little is known regarding long-term neurocognitive outcomes in osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma (EWS) survivors despite potential risk factors. We evaluated associations among treatment exposures, chronic health conditions, and patient-reported neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood osteosarcoma and EWS.

METHODS

Five-year survivors of osteosarcoma (N = 604; median age 37.0 years) and EWS (N = 356; median age 35.0 years) diagnosed at < 21 years from 1970 to 1999, and 697 siblings completed the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Neurocognitive Questionnaire and reported chronic health conditions, education, and employment. Prevalence of reported neurocognitive difficulties were compared between diagnostic groups and siblings. Modified Poisson regression identified factors associated with neurocognitive difficulties.

RESULTS

Osteosarcoma and EWS survivors, vs. siblings, reported higher prevalences of difficulties with task efficiency (15.4% [P = 0.03] and 14.0% [P = 0.04] vs. 9.6%, respectively) and emotional regulation (18.0% [P < 0.0001] and 15.2% [P = 0.03] vs. 11.3%, respectively), adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity/race. Osteosarcoma survivors reported greater memory difficulties vs. siblings (23.5% vs. 16.4% [P = 0.01]). Comorbid impairment (i.e., ≥ 2 neurocognitive domains) was more prevalent in osteosarcoma (20.0% [P < 0.001]) and EWS survivors (16.3% [P = 0.02]) vs. siblings (10.9%). Neurological conditions were associated with worse task efficiency (RR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.21-3.88) and emotional regulation (RR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.01-3.52), and respiratory conditions were associated with worse organization (RR = 2.60; 95% CI = 1.05-6.39) for EWS. Hearing impairment was associated with emotional regulation difficulties for osteosarcoma (RR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.22-3.20). Patient report of cognitive difficulties was associated with employment but not educational attainment.

CONCLUSIONS

Survivors of childhood osteosarcoma and EWS are at increased risk for reporting neurocognitive difficulties, which are associated with employment status and appear related to chronic health conditions that develop over time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Early screening, prevention, and treatment of chronic health conditions may improve/prevent long-term neurocognitive outcomes.

Primary epidural lumbar Ewing sarcoma presenting as cauda equina syndrome in an adult patient who underwent surgical decompression: A case report

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare primary neoplasm in the lumbar adult spine and may mimic a benign tumor. In this case, after a patient's three-month history of lower back pain and rapidly progressing leg numbness and weakness, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a mass in the third lumbar vertebra. At a two-month follow-up, imaging showed a fracture, compression and lesion enlargement. Decompression and fixation confirmed ES, and the patient began combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Two months postoperatively, residual ES was suspected on MRI. The patient underwent a second surgery, and histopathology confirmed necrosis. A six-month follow-up after the first surgery showed no tumor recurrence. This case supports the inclusion of ES in the differential diagnosis of pathologic spinal fracture. Early decompression and spinal fixation are critical for preserving neurologic and spinal functions in ES complicated by a compression fracture. Combined adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the standard therapeutic strategy.

Subsequent malignant neoplasms in the pediatric age in retinoblastoma survivors in Argentina

BACKGROUND

Retinoblastoma survivors in low- and middle-income countries are exposed to high-intensity treatments that potentially place them at higher risk of early subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs).

METHODS

We followed 714 (403 [56.4%] nonhereditary and 311 [43.5%] hereditary) retinoblastoma survivors diagnosed from August 1987 to December 2016, up to the age of 16 years. We quantified risk of SMNs with cumulative incidence (CI) and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) analysis. Multivariate regression Cox model was used to determine the association of treatments and risk of SMNs.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was of 9 years (range: 0.18-16.9) and 24 survivors (3.36%) developed 25 SMNs (n = 22 hereditary, n = 2 nonhereditary). SMNs included sarcomas (osteosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas; n = 12), leukemias (n = 5), and central nervous system tumors (CNS; n = 3). All cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and most of Ewing sarcomas occurred within 5 years of retinoblastoma diagnosis. The type of SMN was the main indicator of mortality (five of five patients with leukemias, six of 12 with sarcomas, and zero of three with CNS tumors died). Compared to the general population, radiation increased the risk of Ewing sarcoma in hereditary survivors by 700-fold (95% CI = 252-2422.6) and chemotherapy increased the risk of AML by 140-fold (95% CI = 45.3-436). The CI of SMNs for hereditary survivors was 13.7% (95% CI = 8.4-22.1) at 15 years.

CONCLUSION

Retinoblastoma survivors from Argentina are at higher risk of developing SMNs early in life compared to the general Argentinean population, especially those treated with radiation plus chemotherapy. AML and Ewing sarcoma presented within 5 years of retinoblastoma diagnosis are associated with chemotherapy and radiation exposure.

Rare case of renal Ewing sarcoma presenting as ectopic Cushing syndrome in a 12-year-old girl

We present a 12-year-old girl with recent onset weight gain and purple striae over the abdomen. Examination revealed her to be hypertensive. On evaluation for Cushing syndrome (CS), her cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were found to be high. MRI brain showed a suspicious lesion (thought to be pituitary microadenoma). Inferior petrosal sinus sampling was not conclusive of pituitary source of ACTH. High dose dexamethasone suppression test confirmed an ectopic source of ACTH secretion and CT scan revealed a mass in the right kidney which was laparoscopically excised. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed Ewing sarcoma. Our case highlights the rare presentation of renal Ewing sarcoma (RES) as CS. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case report of RES/primitive neuroectodermal tumour of the kidney presenting as CS in paediatric age group and first with a concomitant pituitary incidentaloma.

A 22-Year-Old Man With Back Pain, Dilated Veins Over Chest, and Mass in Right Atrium

CASE PRESENTATION

A 22-year-old nonsmoker male, without any previous comorbidity, presented with 4 months' history of right upper back pain. Pain was constant dull aching type, nonpleuritic, aggravated by lying on the right lateral side and partially relieved on taking analgesics. He then developed progressive dyspnea over 2 months and noticed dilated veins over his neck and front of chest. There was associated unintentional weight loss of 6 kg. There was no history of cough, expectoration, wheeze, or hemoptysis, nor any episodes of night sweats or fever.

Primary vaginal Ewing sarcoma with uterine fibroid: A case report

RATIONALE

Extra osseous Ewing sarcoma (ES), an uncommon malignant neoplasm, accounts for about 15% of Ewing sarcoma, which mainly affects paravertebral region, lower extremity, chest wall, retroperitoneum, pelvis, and hip. Here is a 54-year-old woman of primary vaginal Ewing sarcoma with uterine fibroid, which has been fewly known or reported.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient was admitted to our hospital because of vaginal pain. Her uterus showed as parallel position and enlarged as about 3 months of pregnancy size.

DIAGNOSIS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) demonstrated 2 heterogeneous masses in the vagina and uterus, respectively. Ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy revealed a malignant tumor in the right lateral vaginal wall.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was treated by hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and tumors excision, with the subsequent treatment of chemotherapy.

OUTCOMES

The patient recovered well without local recurrence for >1 year.

LESSONS

Primary vaginal Ewing sarcoma is extremely rare. The treatments of uterine fibroid include uterine artery embolization and surgical options, While wide local excision followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy should be recommended for the vaginal ES.

Multilevel Pedicular Osteotomies for En Bloc Resection of a Primary Ewing Sarcoma of the Subaxial Cervical Spine with Pedicle Screw Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Primary Ewing sarcoma of the mobile spine is a rare disease. Its management requires careful surgical planning, because radical, margin-free excision is directly correlated with prognosis. Extensive bone removal in the cervical spine can lead to instability and cause postoperative iatrogenic cervical deformity. Thus, spinal instrumentation plays an important role in restoring postresection spinal stability and improving quality of life.

METHODS

We present a novel technique that allows successful removal of a large Ewing sarcoma of the subaxial cervical spine, infiltrating and traversing the posterior bone elements, and extending into the paraspinal muscles. This technique involves radical en bloc resection of posteriorly located cervical tumors via multilevel pediculotomy, with terminal vertebrae pedicle screw reconstruction.

RESULTS

Terminal vertebrae cervical pedicle screw reconstruction allowed wide surgical excision with satisfactory oncologic and mechanical results.

CONCLUSIONS

This technique enables 1-stage total tumor resection and stabilization and may be a viable alternative to radical en bloc resection of posteriorly located epidural malignant lesions of the cervical spine in selected cases.

Compressive optic neuropathy secondary to Ewing sarcoma in the paranasal sinus: A case report

RATIONALE

Ewing sarcoma localized in the paranasal sinuses, compressing the optic nerve, is very rare, with no prior case reports PATIENT CONCERNS:: A 68-year-old woman presented with decreased visual acuity in her left eye and paresthesia of the left face. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed heterogeneously enhancing mass in the left paranasal sinuses with adjacent bone destruction, extending to the extraocular muscles and optic nerve of the left orbit. A biopsy of the nasal cavity confirmed Ewing sarcoma.

DIAGNOSIS

Compressive optic neuropathy secondary to Ewing sarcoma in the paranasal sinuses.

INTERVENTION

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were performed.

OUTCOMES

Resolution of the tumor and increased visual acuity and field of the left eye.

LESSONS

Primary head and neck Ewing sarcoma can lead to compressive optic neuropathy, but the tumor responded well to the chemotherapy. Early diagnosis and immediate treatment by close cooperation between the ophthalmologist and oncologist can prevent from permanent visual loss.

[LAPAROSCOPICALLY-ASSISTED ULTRASOUND-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS TRANSABDOMINAL OOCYTE COLLECTION: FERTILITY PRESERVATION IN A 17-YEARS-OLD GIRL WITH VAGINAL EWING SARCOMA]

Options for preserving fertility in children and adolescents with cancer depend on patient age, the available time frame, and the treatment regimen. Ovarian stimulation with mature oocyte preservation is often the optimal method in post-menarcheal adolescents. We describe a case of a 17-year-old girl with vaginal soft-tissue Ewing sarcoma in whom transvaginal oocyte collection for fertility preservation was ruled out by the large tumor. To overcome the limitations of the transabdominal approach, we applied a novel method of laparoscopically-assisted ultrasound-guided percutaneous transabdominal oocyte collection. In this manner, we were able to both perform oophorectomy and obtain superficial and deep ovarian follicles for cryopreservation.

Exome array analysis identifies GPR35 as a novel susceptibility gene for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer

OBJECTIVES

Pediatric cancer survivors are a steadily growing population; however, chronic anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) is a serious long-term complication leading to considerable morbidity. We aimed to identify new genes and low-frequency variants influencing the susceptibility to AIC for pediatric cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We studied the association of variants on the Illumina HumanExome BeadChip array in 83 anthracycline-treated pediatric cancer patients. In addition to single-variant association tests, we carried out a gene-based analysis to investigate the combined effects of common and low-frequency variants to chronic AIC.

RESULTS

Although no single-variant showed an association with chronic AIC that was statistically significant after correction for multiple testing, we identified a novel significant association for G protein-coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) by gene-based testing, a gene with potential roles in cardiac physiology and pathology (P=7.0×10), which remained statistically significant after correction for multiple testing (PFDR=0.03). The greatest contribution to this observed association was made by rs12468485, a missense variant (p.Thr253Met, c.758C>T, minor allele frequency=0.04), with the T allele associated with an increased risk of chronic AIC and more severe symptomatic cardiac manifestations at low anthracycline doses.

CONCLUSION

Using exome array data, we identified GPR35 as a novel susceptibility gene associated with chronic AIC in pediatric cancer patients.

Renal Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a case report and literature review

Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (EWS/PNET) in the kidney is a rare but high-grade malignant tumor that affects predominantly elder children and adolescents. Patients mostly present with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal pain and gross hematuria. Since EWS/PNET has a rapid clinical progression with early metastasis and death, it is essential to make an accurate and early diagnosis. Once diagnosed, multimodality treatment, including radical surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiotherapy if necessary, is recommended. Unfortunately, there are no characteristic signsthat have been described in ultrasonography or any other imaging modalities so far. The diagnosis of EWS/PNET is now based on a classical histological and immunohistochemical investigation complemented by a demonstration of specific chromosomal changes. Strong immunoreactivity to CD99 is ubiquitous, and t(11;22) translocation is seen in approximately 90% of EWS/PNET. Herein, we report a patient with such condition. The patient was a young woman, and she presented with sudden right flank pain clinically. Ultrasonography revealed a large heterogeneous mass in the lower pole of her right kidney. The tumor compressed the renal pelvis and led to upper pole caliectasis. Color Doppler demonstrated blood flow with a pulsatile arterialized waveform within the mass. The patient received radical nephrectomy with right renal vein and vena cava thrombectomy. A search for other sites of tumor involvement yielded negative results. And six cycles of chemotherapy were sequentially performed. The diagnosis of EWS/PNET was confirmed based on primitive small round cell histology and characteristic immunohistochemical results. She was still alive with no evidence of recurrence five years after initial diagnosis. We would like to point out that ultrasound is still a useful method for initial assessment, and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration may play an important role in determining preoperative diagnosis.

A catheter-related bloodstream infection caused by Chryseobacterium indologenes successfully treated with antibiotic-lock rescue therapy

We report the case of a catheter-related bloodstream infection caused by Chryseobacterium indologenes, an uncommon and multi-resistant pathogen, in a pediatric patient with a long-term vascular access device placed for chemotherapy treatment. The infection was successfully treated with ciprofloxacin antibiotic-lock therapy. This is the first report on successful salvage of a long-term device colonized by multi-resistant Chryseobacterium indologenes.

Patient Specific Instruments for Complex Tumor Resection-Reconstruction Surgery within the Pelvis: A Series of 4 Cases

The pelvis bone resection-reconstruction surgery is one of the most challenging fields in orthopedics. Being applied for tumors, as for other complex reconstruction cases, this type of surgery needs careful planning and is time consuming, in order to obtain proper accuracy. Unfortunately not all the time the expected accuracy is met, with consequences for the patients. PSI proved to provide good cutting accuracy during simulated tumor surgery within the pelvis. This article present a series of 4 patients operated in our department between June 2014 and Mars 2015 for tumors resectionreconstructions. The patients were imaged using a CT and an MRI scan and the images were reconstructed in 3D. According to the bone bank stock, the most similar allograft was chosen and the stored CT scan was reconstructed in 3D. Patient specific instruments (PSI) were designed and manufactured using rapid-prototyping technology for the resection of the native tissues as for the resection of the careful selected hemipelvic allografts. Allografts fitting to the pelvis of the patients was excellent and allowed stable osteosynthesis.

Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the sphenoid sinus with orbital and intracranial extension: a case report

Ewing's sarcoma is a high-grade neuroectodermal primary bone tumor. This is the second primary bone tumor in children afterosteosarcoma and represents 4 to10% of cases. It can occur in all skeletal bones. However, the location at the facial bones is uncommon (1to2%) and extremely rare at the sphenoid sinus. We report the clinical results of a rare case of Ewing's sarcoma of the sphenoid with intraorbitaland intracranial extension.

Severe gonadotoxic insult manifests early in young girls treated for Ewing sarcoma

We prospectively investigated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as a measure of ovarian insult in young females during and after treatment for Wilms tumor (WT), osteosarcoma (OS), and Ewing sarcoma (ES).Twenty-one female childhood cancer patients, with a mean age of 7.9 years (range 0.6-17), entered the study. Levels of AMH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone were monitored at diagnosis and every 3 to 4 months during, and regularly for a mean of 2.6 years after treatment.A profound decline in AMH was seen in the majority of the 21 study patients 3 to 4 months after the beginning of treatment, the exception being patients with WT, of whom 60% showed no such decline. During the remaining treatment, all patients except those with WT not treated with whole abdominal radiotherapy or stem cell transplantation (SCT) had AMH below detection limit.After completion of treatment, patients with OS and WT (without whole abdominal radiotherapy and SCT) recovered in AMH and had FSH in the normal range. In contrast, ES patients showed no AMH recovery and highly fluctuating FSH in the first years of follow-up, except for the 2 youngest patients, who had a late, slow AMH recovery.In conclusion, young female ES patients already showed signs of severe ovarian dysfunction during the first years after cancer treatment similar to patients treated with SCT and abdominal radiotherapy, in contrast to females with WT and OS. Fertility counseling and information concerning fertility preservation procedures should be considered before starting to treat young females with ES.

Primary intestinal mold infection in children with solid tumors: a case report in an adolescent with Ewing sarcoma, and literature review

We report a case of primary intestinal infection due to filamentous fungi in an adolescent with Ewing sarcoma. The clinical picture was that of peritonitis secondary to intestinal perforation and the diagnosis was established only on histopathological bases. This condition is very rare, and only one case of primary intestinal mold infection in children with solid tumors has been reported in the literature, although more records can be found describing similar conditions in other cancer patient populations (i.e. adults with solid tumors or children with hematological malignancies or patients receiving hemopoietic stem cell transplant). Clinicians must be aware of this possibility since only an aggressive medical and surgical approach can improve patients' prognosis.