Jihane Khalil

Venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: an underestimated major health problem

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major health problem among patients with cancer, its incidence in this particular population is widely increasing. Although VTE is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity in cancer patients, its severity is still underestimated by many oncologists. Thromboprophylaxis of VTE now considered as a standard of care is still not prescribed in many institutions; the appropriate treatment of an established VTE is not yet well known by many physicians and nurses in the cancer field. Patients are also not well informed about VTE and its consequences. Many studies and meta-analyses have addressed this question so have many guidelines that dedicated a whole chapter to clarify and expose different treatment strategies adapted to this particular population. There is a general belief that the prevention and treatment of VTE cannot be optimized without a complete awareness by oncologists and patients. The aim of this article is to make VTE a more clear and understood subject.

Breast cancer associated with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case series and review of the literature

IntroductionNeurofibromatosis type 1, also known as Von Recklinghausen’s disease, is a rare neuroectodermal disease that mainly affects the skin and the nervous system. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 have a higher risk of developing various types of cancers, especially tumors derived from the embryogenic neural crest. However, its association with breast cancer has seldom been reported.Case presentationWe report the cases of three white Arabic women diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1, with a median age of 40-years-old (range: 39 to 43), who sought treatment at our centre for breast cancer.ConclusionsThe association between neurofibromatosis type 1 and breast cancer is uncommon. In our case series we readdress this association through a literature review.

Isolated thyroid metastasis revealed an unknown lung adenocarcinoma: a case report

IntroductionCancer metastasis to the thyroid is extremely rare. The most common sites that have been reported to metastasize to the thyroid gland are breast and kidney. As to primary lung cancer metastasizing to the thyroid gland, only a few cases have been described in the literature.Case presentationWe report a case of a 37-year-old white Arabian woman who had never smoked tobacco products for whom a malignant thyroid mass revealed a primary lung tumor. She had a surgical excision for both the thyroid and the pulmonary tumors, and received adjuvant chemotherapy. At 1 year, she is still in remission.ConclusionsOur case is rare as it describes a case where the thyroid lesion was the revealing sign of an unknown lung carcinoma. Management of thyroid metastases should depend on the individual situation and surgical excision should be proposed whenever a patient’s condition is favorable.

A Rare Case of a Massive Carotid Body Tumor in a 3-Year-Old Infant: Case Presentation and a Literature Review

BACKGROUND Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors derived from the extra-adrenal paraganglia of the autonomic nervous system. Only 3% of all paragangliomas are reported to occur in the head and neck region. The most common paraganglioma of the head and neck is the carotid body tumor. Only few cases have been described in the literature regarding the pediatric age group less than aged 14 years, mostly as case reports. CASE REPORT Our case describes a massive paraganglioma in the head and neck region occurring in a 3-year-old Arabic boy, for which surgical excision was not possible and radiotherapy resulted in a good clinical and radiologic response. CONCLUSIONS Paragangliomas a rare in children and mostly diagnosed in a locally advanced stage. Surgery in most cases is difficult especially because of the proximity of the vessels; radiotherapy is still a good alternative for those cases.