Moulay Abdelilah Melhouf

Distribution of Carcinogenic Human Papillomavirus Genotypes and Association to Cervical Lesions among Women in Fez (Morocco)

Objectives To determine the distribution of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes and their association to cellular abnormalities in women from Fez and its neighborhood. Methods Women attending the Hassan II University Hospital for cervical pap smears were recruited after an informed consent. Interviews and two cervical samples were performed for each woman. Cervical samples were used for cytological analysis and HPV DNA detection. HPV was typed using a method based on multiplex PCR with fluorescently labeled specific primers followed by capillary electrophoresis. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez. Results The HPV prevalence in the studied population was 43.1% and the most prevalent types were HPV 53 (23 cases); HPV 16 (20 cases); HPV 35 (18 cases); HPV 51 (10 cases) and HPV 56 (7 cases). From the 619 confirmed pap smears, 20% were abnormal. The cytological abnormalities were significantly associated to HPV infection, women age, number of pregnancies and parity (p < 0.05). Conclusion More attention should be given to HPV in Morocco because it represents an important public health concern. The distribution of carcinogenic HPV types in the studied population is different from the data in other regions but epidemiological studies in other Moroccan regions are required.

An aggressive vertebral hemangioma in pregnancy: a case report

IntroductionPregnancy-related compressive myelopathy secondary to vertebral hemangioma is a rare occurrence and its treatment antepartum is rare.Case presentationA 19-year-old North African woman in her 38th week of pregnancy presented with paraplegia that progressed within 2 days after a rapidly progressive weakness of her lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging studies showed compression of her spinal cord in front of the fourth thoracic vertebra for suspected tuberculous spondylitis. A Caesarean section was done followed by corpectomy with a bone graft because we intraoperatively discovered a vertebral hemangioma. Pathology showed an aggressive hemangioma.ConclusionAt any term of pregnancy, extensive neurological involvement which is rapidly progressive due to compression should be considered for immediate decompression.

Granular cell tumor of the breast: a case report

IntroductionA granular cell tumor involving the breast parenchyma was first described by Abrikossoff in 1931. Localization of this lesion to the breast is very rare, accounting for between 5% and 15% of all granular cell tumor cases. We present this case because of the rarity of this tumor. It is frequently confused with breast carcinoma on clinical and radiological examination, and its diagnosis can therefore be challenging for clinicians, radiologists and pathologists.Case presentationWe report the case of a 32-year-old Moroccan woman who presented with a palpable mass in her right breast. Mammography and ultrasound examination revealed a heterogeneous, irregular and poorly limited mass, located at the union of the outer quadrants of her right breast. The mass was in contact with her latissimus dorsi and suspicious for malignancy. A histological examination combined with immunohistochemical study revealed it to be a granular cell tumor.ConclusionAlthough a granular cell tumor of the breast is a rare breast neoplasm, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions. Pathologists should bear in mind a granular cell tumor when examining material containing cells with abundant granular cytoplasm to avoid misdiagnosing breast carcinoma, which could lead to unnecessary surgery.

Tératome immature de l’ovaire: à propos d’un cas

Ovarian teratomas are tumors resulting from pluripotent germ cells. We here describe 3 different types of teratomas: mature, immature and monodermal teratomas. Immature teratoma accounts for less than 1% of ovarian cancers and mainly affects young subjects. We report the case of a 25 year female patient, admitted with abdomino pelvic mass. She underwent ultrasound and a pelvic CT scan followed by conservative treatment based on left annexectomy associated with multiple biopsies. Anatomopathological examination showed immature ovarian teratoma. Patients treatment was supplemented by a hysterectomy with lumbo-aortic curage and omentectomy. We highlight, through this study and review of the literature, the predisposing factors for this type of rare and severe tumor and the radiological features suggesting these rare histological types of ovarian tumors, in order to improve the prognosis and multidisciplinary management of patients.