[A thyroid pathology: The great simulator]

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Thyroid localization is very rare, and often the cause of misdiagnosis. Pathological anatomy plays an important role in the diagnosis of certainty. The authors report a case of primary thyroid tuberculosis in a 22-year-old patient. We highlight the epidemiological particularities of this case, and discuss diagnostic methods and the contribution of pathological anatomy.

OBSERVATION

A 22 year-old male patient, with no reported pathological history, was seen in the clinic for the management of an isolated anterior cervical swelling that had been evolving for two months. Clinical examination revealed only a small thyroid nodule, with no inflammatory or vascular features. Biological tests were unremarkable. Ultrasound revealed a 2.4cm hypoechoic, homogeneous, poorly vascularized tissue mass in the left lobe, classified as EU-TIRADS 3. Fine needle aspiration with cytopathological study revealed a necrotizing granulomatous lesion suggestive of tuberculosis. A lobo-isthmectomy was performed, and histopathology revealed thyroid parenchyma destroyed by tubercular granulomas. The postoperative course was straightforward, with an exeat on postoperative day 6. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was instituted for 6 months. Three- and six-month follow-up examinations were unremarkable. The evolution was favorable, with recovery after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Primary thyroid tuberculosis is rare. Cytology is important for orientation, and often helps to avoid misdiagnosis. The diagnosis should be considered in the presence of any thyroid mass in a patient from a tuberculosis-endemic region.

[Epidemiological and anatomopathological profile of endometriosis in Dakar: retrospective study over a period of 20 years]

INTRODUCTION

Endometriosis is a gynecological pathology defined by the presence and abnormal development of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Our objective was to draw up an epidemiological profile and to describe the anatomical clinical forms of endometriosis in Dakar.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study of all cases of external and internal endometriosis diagnosed in an anatomy and pathology laboratory in Dakar over a period of twenty (20) years. The study parameters were collected from anonymous data sheets. Data entry and analysis were performed using version 22 of the EPI INFO and SPSS software.

RESULTS

Our study involved 104 female patients. The mean age was 47.3±10.0. Among the patients with an adenomyosis condition, the mean age was 49.8 years. Patients with an external endometriosis condition had a mean age of 37.6 years. The location of the endometriosis was statistically correlated with the age of patients and with parity. Anatomically and pathologically, the surgical specimen 89.4% (n=93) was the main type of sampling that was found. The uterine body was the main location of the pathology, with 78.9% (n=82), followed by the umbilical location with 9.6% (n=10). Leiomyomas 44.07% (n=26) were the main associated lesions.

CONCLUSION

Endometriosis is a gynecological pathology that is unfortunately not well known, and which is under diagnosed in Senegal.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the kidney in southern Senegal (Ziguinchor): case report and review of the literature

The kidney's primary squamous cell carcinoma is a rare tumor, representing 0.5-0.8% of malignant renal tumors and 4% of upper urinary tract tumors. This pathology often occurs after a long past history of renal lithiasis and repeated untreated or poorly treated urinary tract infections. The delay in diagnosis resulting from an insidious symptomatology, without specific signs, often leads to a pejorative development, especially in poor countries. A seventy-nine-year-old Senegalese woman, with no past history of lithiasis nor recurrent urinary tract infection and urinary schistosomiasis, was received for a recurrent total hematuria associated with left lumbar pain. Clinical examination revealed a mobile tender left lumbar mass, with lumbar contact and renal sloshing. The left renal tumor´s diagnosis was retained on clinical and scannographic arguments, justifying an enlarged left total nephrectomy, by laparotomy. The anatomopathological examination of the surgical sample made it possible to make the diagnosis of primary invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the left kidney and to find foci of carcinoma in-situ on squamous metaplasia in the calyxes. Unlike the typical case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the kidney, our patient did not have a long past history of renal lithiasis nor untreated or poorly treated recurrent urinary tract infections and urinary schistosomiasis. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the kidney may not be related to a past history of recurrent urinary tract infections and lithiasis, but to any other cause of squamous metaplasia of the urothelium. Surgery remains the best option for this entity.

Ewing’s Sarcoma of the Cranial Vault Revealed by Macrocrania

Ewing’s sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of aggressive tumors affecting mostly children and young adults. They account for 10% of primary malignancies of the bones and 3% of all malignancies in children. They mainly affect the long bones, pelvis, and ribs. Cranial vault localization is extremely rare and indeed account for less than 1% of all localizations in the body. We are reporting the unusual case of a 3-year-old child who presented to our unit with a macrocrania which had been evolving for 2 months prior to his admission, associated with sporadic vomiting and a right frontal swelling that was gradually installed. The cerebral computed tomography scan showed a right frontoparietal lytic tissular process, heterogeneously enhanced after injection of contrast material; with dural invasion and intraparenchymal extension. The child was biopsied and the pathological examination concluded Ewing’s sarcoma. The evolution was fatal with the passing of the child 2 weeks after the biopsy.

Capillary hemangioma of the sphenoid sinus excision through the endonasal endoscopic approach

Background: Sinonasal hemangiomas are rare, especially hemangiomas of the sphenoid sinus, for which very few cases have been reported. Observation: We report the case of a 20-year-old patient who had consulted for epistaxis associated with headache. A CT scan of the nose and sinuses revealed a heterogeneous tumor process filling the sphenoid sinus. A minimally invasive endonasal surgery under endoscopic guidance allowed complete removal of the tumor. The histological study of the surgical specimen had revealed capillary hemangioma. After 27 months of decline, no recurrence was noted. Conclusion: Capillary hemangioma is very rare in its sphenoidal location. Endonasal endoscopic excision allows optimal control, after a good pre-operative evaluation.

[Pseudotumoral tuberculosis of the cervix]

La localisation cervicale de la tuberculose est rare et peut prendre l'apparence d'un cancer du col utérin. La présentation pauci-symptomatique et l'évolution insidieuse sont à l'origine d'un retard diagnostique. Les symptômes communément rencontrés sont non spécifiques, ce qui contribue au retard thérapeutique et majore le risque d'infertilité qui reste la séquelle quasi inéluctable. Nous rapportons un cas de tuberculose du col utérin dont le diagnostic de prime abord n'a pas été évident. En effet une patiente a été adressée à notre département pour suspicion de cancer du col utérin. Le diagnostic de suspicion de cancer a été alors retenu devant un col qui saignait au contact avec une tomodensitométrie abdominopelvienne en faveur d'une tumeur du col utérin. Une biopsie de confirmation histologique a été indiquée. On a retrouvé à l'examen anatomopathologique, un granulome épithélio-giganto-cellulaire avec nécrose caséeuse, compatible avec une tuberculose cervicale. La recherche d'un terrain était négative. Un traitement antituberculeux instauré a conduit à la guérison. Retenue souvent sur la base d'éléments présomptifs, la décision diagnostique et thérapeutique de tuberculose du col cervicale reconnait la place de l'examen anatomopathologique.

[A no scarring persistent skin lesion for 3 years pyoderma gangrenosum]

Le pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) est une dermatose neutrophilique non infectieuse rare souvent méconnue. Il se présente généralement par des ulcérations cutanées inflammatoires, très douloureuses et d'évolution rapide. Il est fréquemment retrouvé dans un contexte de néoplasie, de pathologies inflammatoires digestives, rhumatologiques et/ou hématologiques. Son diagnostic est très souvent tardif après de multiples échecs thérapeutiques. Nous rapportons un cas de pyoderma gangrenosum dont le diagnostic n'a pas été criant. Un patient a été admis dans notre service pour une lésion dermatologique persistante et d'évolution défavorable malgré les débridements et l'administration d'antibiotiques. Il était suivi pour un cancer de la prostate, une hypertension artérielle et un asthme. Du fait des anomalies biologiques observées telles qu'une hyperleucocytose à polynucléaires neutrophiles avec myélémie à myélocytes et métamyélocytes, sans blastose sanguine et une anémie normochrome normocytaire, une leucémie myéloïde chronique a été évoquée chez ce patient. Elle a par la suite été infirmée devant les différents examens complémentaires non concluants. C'est ainsi que le diagnostic de PG a été évoqué et confirmé à l'examen anatomopathologique montrant un aspect histopathologique d'un tissu de granulation concordant avec un pyoderma gangrenosum et une absence de signe histologique de malignité. L'institution d'un traitement à base de corticothérapie a abouti à la guérison.