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S Fraitag

Publications and source records attributed to S Fraitag.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Gliomas of the uterus. Apropos of 3 cases and review of the literature].

We report three cases of uterine gliomas in young women with a past history of pregnancies and abortions. A survey of the literature revealed that the published cases also concerned young women with the identical gynecological history. The general belief is that the cause of uterine gliomas is the transplanting of fetal nervous tissue during local manipulations in early abortions. Increased numbers of abortions should lead to a higher frequency of such tumors. Transplanted embryonic glial tissue is viable at the beginning of pregnancy and provokes only a weak immunologic rejection. These tumors are benign and no case of transformation into glioblastomas has been reported.

Abortion, Induced↗

[Melanotic neurofibroma].

BACKGROUND: Melanotic neurofibromas are rare tumours. The clinical and histological diagnosis is often difficult to make. CASE REPORT: A 41 year-old woman with type-1 neurofibromatosis presented with an old, large (16 cm by 6 cm) pigmented tumour on her left arm. It was initially considered to be a congenital naevus. Partial surgical resection was performed. Histological examination showed a loose proliferation of spindle-cells within the dermis and subcutaneous layers, with multiple foci of melanin-laden cells but no mitotic figures or atypical cells. There was no melanocytic theca. The tumour had immunoreactivity for the S-100 protein, neuron-specific-enolase, neurofilaments, synaptophysin, A-103 and HMB-45. The association of a benign pigmented tumour producing melanin and the presence of Schwann cells and nervous cells, led to the diagnosis of diffuse melanotic neurofibroma. DISCUSSION: Melanotic neurofibromas can occur on their own or be associated with neurofibromatosis. They must be distinguished from classical neurofibromas when pigmentation occurs in the latter. Melanotic neurofibromas usually appear in the second or third decade of life and rarely in childhood. It is worth noting that hairs may overlie a melanotic neurofibroma, mimicking a giant naevus or a neurocristic cutaneous hamartoma. These are the two main differential diagnoses among children. Among adults, the main difficulty is to distinguish melanotic neurofibroma from pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma, because of the clinical and histological similarities between these two.

Adult↗

[Granuloma with lymphocytic hyperplasia following vaccination: 10 cases. Presence of aluminium in the biopsies].

BACKGROUND: Few cases of cutaneous lymphocytic hyperplasia secondary to vaccination have been published, although such lesions are not rare. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a series of 10 cases registered between 1993 and 2003. RESULTS: Mean age was 25. The clinical aspect was solitary or multiple subcutaneous nodules, located on the arm, developing after a delay of 1 to 18 months after vaccination. Histologic examination showed a lymphocytic infiltration of the subcutaneous fat, with diffuse and/or follicular pattern, without nuclear atypia, the morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of which revealed the benign nature. In all cases, there was fibrosis and granuloma composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and macrophages with basophilic cytoplasm. Morin stain showed intralesional aluminium in the 6 investigated cases. Evolution was always benign, with no relapse following exeresis. DISCUSSION: Cutaneous lymphocytic hyperplasia secondary to vaccination has to be suspected in a young patient with subcutaneous nodules appearing at a vaccination site. Evidence of aluminium in the lesions supports the diagnosis and the hypothesis that aluminium in the vaccine excipient might have a role in the onset of such lesions.

Adolescent↗

[Continued complete remission of Merkel cell carcinoma with in-transit metastasis after treatment with isolated limb perfusion regional chemotherapy].

BACKGROUND: Primitive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma or Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumor. It may be large since diagnosis is frequently delayed. The usual treatment is extensive surgical removal and radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 69-year-old woman presented with a large Merkel cell carcinoma of the right leg. MRI showed a tumor invading the deep layers together with several satellite lesions. There was no regional nodal or visceral metastasis. Regional chemotherapy involving isolated limb perfusion with melphalan was performed in order to avoid amputation. Complete response was achieved a few months later and continues 5 and a half years later with minor sequelae comprising cutaneous sclerosis, pigmentation and mild ankle stiffness. DISCUSSION: Only five cases of Merkel cell carcinoma treated with isolated limb perfusion are reported in the literature: four of these involved local relapse and one was a primary tumor with regional lymph node involvement. Only one patient was still in complete remission 18 months after treatment. Isolated limb perfusion chemotherapy could thus be indicated in the treatment of advanced Merkel cell carcinoma of a limb in the absence of bone or regional lymph node involvement.

Aged↗

[Aleukemic monoblastic leukemia cutis].

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic and prognostic value of specific cutaneous lesions in acute leukemia is well-known. Paradoxically, these lesions may initially develop without peripheral blood or bone marrow involvement. We report the case of a patient with cutaneous lesions of acute monoblastic leukemia whereas peripheral blood was normal and massive infiltration of dermis was demonstrated. OBSERVATION: A 49 year-old man had papules and nodules of the back and upper arms evolving for several months. Histological examination with appropriate immunostaining led to the diagnosis of specific cutaneous lesions of acute monoblastic leukemia. Several hemograms with peripheral blood smears were normal, bone marrow smear demonstrated an important blastic infiltration on one site and a discrete infiltration on another. Cutaneous lesions disappeared with chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: Specific cutaneous lesions may be isolated during acute leukemia, and called aleukemic leukemia cutis. These are a rare form, the underlying mechanism of which relies on the accumulation of small quantities of myeloblasts in bone narrow and with high tropism for the dermis.

Acute Disease↗