Ehsen Ben Brahim

Thymomas are typically located in the anterior mediastinum. Primary ectopic intrathyroidal thymoma are exceedingly rare, with only nine cases reported in t

Since the advent of immunohistochemistry for the diagnosis of stromal tumours, the incidence of leiomyosarcomas has significantly decreased. Nowadays, gastric leiomyosarcoma is an exceptionally rare tumour. We report the second case in the English literature of gastric leiomyosarcoma revealed with massive bleeding and hemodynamic instability and diagnostic pitfalls that we encountered. A 63-year-old woman, with 2 years’ history of dizziness and weakness probably related to an anaemic syndrome, presented to the emergency room with hematemesis, melena and hemodynamic instability. On examination, she had conjunctival pallor with reduced general condition, blood pressure of 90/45 mmHg and a pulse between 110 and 120 beats per minute. On digital rectal examination, she had melena. Laboratory blood tests revealed a haemoglobin level at 38 g/L. The patient was admitted to the intensive care department. After initial resuscitation, transfusion and intravenous Omeprazole continuous infusion, her condition was stabilized. She underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showing a tumour of the cardia, protruding in the lumen with mucosal ulceration and clots in the stomach. Biopsies were taken. Histological examination showed interlacing bundles of spindle cells, ill-defined cell borders, elongated hyperchromatic nuclei with marked pleomorphism and paranuclear vacuolization. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for Vimentine, a strong and diffuse immunoreactivity for smooth muscle actin (SMA). Immunoreactivities for KIT and DOG1 were doubtful. Computed tomography scan revealed a seven-cm tumour of the cardia, without adenopathy or liver metastasis. The patient underwent laparotomy. A total gastrectomy was performed without lymphadenectomy. Post-operative course was uneventful. Histological examination of the tumour specimen found the same features as preoperative biopsies with negative margins. We solicited a second opinion of an expert in a reference centre for sarcomas in France, who confirmed the diagnosis of a high grade gastric leiomyosarcoma. Gastric leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumour. Diagnosis is based on histological examination with immunohistochemistry, which could be sometimes confusing like in our case. The validation of a pathological expert is recommended.

Malignant eccrine spiradenoma is an extremely rare skin tumor of sweat gland origin. In most cases, it arises in pre‐existing benign eccrine spiradenoma.We report an additional case of malignant eccrine spiradenoma. The present case is of a 75‐year‐old man with malignant eccrine spiradenoma developed in the right shoulder. He had a 6‐year history of a recurrent mass that was removed 2 years ago. The patient then underwent a complete excision. The gross pathologic specimen showed a large cutaneous and subcutaneous multinodular tumor, measuring 6 cm in maximal dimension. Microscopically, there were two distinct morphological components: a benign eccrine spiradenoma and a malignant eccrine spiradenoma of low grade with extensive necrosis. Different histologic patterns were observed such as cylindromatous features.Morphological differentiation in malignant eccrine spiradenoma is variable, sometimes with almost complete loss of eccrine differentiation. Extensive sampling to look for a probable previously benign component is necessary. In the other hand, malignant changes can be easily missed without adequate sampling.Ben Brahim E, Sfia M, Tangour M, Makhlouf R, Cribier B, and Chatti S. Malignant eccrine spiradenoma: a new case report