Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of squamous cell carcinoma. BSCC in the larynx is an extremely rare occurrence, with only a few cases reported in the medical literature. This case report aims to shed light on the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, histopathological features, and therapeutic considerations associated with this rare entity.

CASE PRESENTATION

This case report describes a 65-year-old male patient who presented with hoarseness and dyspnea. Laryngoscopy revealed a 2.5 cm pedunculated lesion on the left vocal cord. The patient underwent a laryngectomy, and the histopathological examination of the excised specimen confirmed the diagnosis of BSCC.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

BSCC of the larynx is a rare malignancy comprising less than 1 % of laryngeal cancers. Clinical features often overlap those of squamous cell carcinoma, such as hoarseness, progressive breathing difficulties, and swallowing issues. Treatment approaches vary, with some opting for neo-adjuvant radiotherapy before surgery, like in this case, while others favor surgical excision as the primary treatment, supplemented by adjuvant chemo- or radiotherapy in certain cases.

CONCLUSION

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the distinctive characteristics of BSCC and its potential clinical aggressiveness. While rare, early recognition and appropriate management are essential for achieving favorable outcomes in patients with this challenging condition.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis presenting with severe hydronephrosis: A rare case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is a rare malignancy, accounting for fewer than 1 % of all kidney tumors. This form of cancer normally develops in the urinary tract's transitional epithelium, and its presence in the renal pelvis is extremely rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this report, we discuss the clinical and pathological aspects of a patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The patient, a 58-year-old man, had flank discomfort associated with burning micturition. A right nephrectomy was done after imaging investigations indicated right kidney hydronephrosis. The diagnosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed by pathological investigation of the specimen. The patient has received 4cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine. One month later, the patient was referred for a metastatic mass in the chest wall.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Because of the tumor's rarity, diagnosis and therapy are difficult. This case report emphasizes the significance of including primary squamous cell carcinoma in the differential diagnosis of renal pelvic tumors, especially in individuals with risk factors such as smoking and chronic renal calculi.

CONCLUSION

Renal pelvis squamous cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive, high-grade tumor with a poor prognosis. Chronic irritation plays a substantial role in the process. Thus, patients with a history of urolithiasis should be monitored closely.

Effects of different Familial Mediterranean Fever gene mutations and in vitro Colchicine treatment on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells production of IL-6

Rationale: We wanted to study the effects of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) genetic mutations in Northern Jordan population and in vitro Colchicine treatment on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMN) production of IL-6 as a marker of disease activity. Methods: - 17 FMF patients and 9 controls were studied. (4 patients had exon 10 mutations only (M680I and V726A), 5 patients had exon 2 mutations (R202Q and E148Q) only and 8 patients with both exon mutations (compound homozygous or heterozygous M694V and R202Q). PBMN cells were incubated with Lipopolysaccharide at 100ng/ml or colchicine 10 ng/ml alone or both. Results: The results showed higher IL-6 levels in the FMF group than control for all treatment modalities, (108.97 vs. 56.49 ng/ml for unstimulated cells) with the highest levels when both exons are involved. Exon 10 mutations were associated with a higher IL-6 level than exon 2 mutations only. Exon 2 mutations alone also were associated with a higher than control IL-6 levels suggesting that it is not a polymorphism phenomenon and is involved in the pathogenesis. In vitro Colchicine treatment caused an increase in the production of IL-6 - although not as high as with LPS - for all groups. Conclusions: Mutations occurring in exon 10 are more significant than mutations occurring in exon 2, although both are contributing to the disease. However colchicine was associated with a paradoxical increase in IL-6 levels. This observation needs confirmation with different colchicine levels in the culture medium and warrants thinking about its exact mechanism of action. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v12i4.16659Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 04 October ’13 Page 370-377

Quality assessment of roof-harvested rainwater in the West Bank, Palestinian Authority

Rain harvesting is becoming more common in the Palestinian Territories as a result of drinking water scarcity. Although it might pose serious human health risk, this water is being consumed without treatment in many areas of the West Bank. The present study evaluates the physicochemical and microbial quality of harvested rainwater that is used as potable water in the West Bank. Samples from roof-harvested rainwater storage tanks (n = 42) were collected in summer (SS) 2006/winter (WS) 2007. Physicochemical parameters measured were: temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, nitrate, copper and lead. With few exceptions, all these parameters were within WHO guideline values. All samples (100%) were found to contain coliforms and to be heavily contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria. About 67% of all samples were contaminated with fecal coliforms. Specific PCR technique confirmed the presence of five pathogenic microorganisms that can be ordered according to their prevalence as: Citrobacter (83%) > Acinetobacter (78%) > Aeromonas (52%) > Pseudomonas and Campylobacter (7%). Prevalence of microorganisms in SS was higher than in WS. Although the physicochemical quality of most harvested rainwater samples was in accordance with WHO guidelines for drinking water, stored rainwater was significantly contaminated with bacteria resulting in significant human health risk from infectious diseases.

Effects of diabetes mellitus vs. in vitro hyperglycemia on select immune cell functions

Diabetes mellitus (DM), one of the commonest metabolic disorders, can impair the function of cells involved in cellular and/or humoral immunity. This study sought to define potential effects upon cell-mediated immune cells due to an acute hyperglycemic state (in vitro) for comparison against those that might be attributable to a diabetic phenotype itself. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from ten diabetic patients (5 with Type I disease and 5 with Type II) and 10 healthy controls. The cells were then challenged with 1 of 3 different mitogens (concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen) in the presence of differing glucose concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, or 800 mg/dl), and proliferative responses assessed. Neutrophils (PMNC) from the blood samples, exposed to the same experimental conditions, were analyzed for respiratory burst activity using nitroblue tetrazolium. The results indicated that there was significant inhibition of the proliferative responses to mitogens among the stimulated PBMC and in respiratory burst activity among the PMNC obtained from the diabetic patients. However, these effects were not affected by either the added presence of increasing amounts of exogenous glucose, the type of diabetes the patients had, the length of time the patient had had the disease, or whether or not the patients had been receiving insulin treatments. In contrast, the PBMC from healthy individuals appeared to display dose-trend decreases in responsiveness to mitogens; interestingly, similar effects on their PMNC were not evident. It was thus concluded that in situ ongoing repeated hyperglycemic states caused changes in cells of the immune system that could have been caused by repeated "continuous" exposures to excess sugar. Further studies are needed to more clearly identify hyperglycemia (sugar)-sensitive targets on/in these cells that could contribute to the appearance of the diabetic immunodeficiency in these types of patients.