No abstract

In the span of the last 48 years, only 33 cases of children with orbital Ewing sarcoma have been reported. This study is to present 3 cases that were admitted to Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, during the period from 2009 to 2013. We have 2 cases treated using the hospital standard Ewing sarcoma treatment protocol, to completion, whereas the third discontinued treatment. All tumors have confirmed CD99 positivity, although translocation (11;22) was positive in 1 patient and negative in the third. With earlier diagnosis and adequate surgical resection and integration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy 1 patient survived for about 4 years, whereas the other 2 cases died due to disease progression or recurrence.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many ramifications on healthcare delivery and practice. As part of this, utilising biomarkers to risk stratify patients has become increasingly popular. During the COVID-19 pandemic the use of D-dimer has increased due to the evidence of COVID-19 induced thromboembolic disease. We evaluated the use of D-dimer on all hospital admissions during the peak of the pandemic and evaluated its sensitivity in diagnosing pulmonary embolic disease (PE). Patients without COVID-19 infection were as likely to have evidence of PE as their COVID-positive counterparts. However, the sensitivity of a D-dimer was higher in COVID-positive patients at a lower D-dimer level (>1,500 μg/L, sensitivity 81%, specificity 70%) than in those without clinical, immunological or radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection (D-dimer >2,000 μg/L, sensitivity 80%, specificity 76%). These data suggest higher D-dimer thresholds should be considered for the exclusion of pulmonary emboli.

Childhood adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor and its association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is even rarer. One such case is discussed in this case report. A 3-year-old patient was concomitantly diagnosed with ALL and an initially nonmetastatic ACC. Management started by following the Total XV protocol without a window phase. Left adrenalectomy was conducted after the consolidation phase. Recurrence of a mass at the tumor bed was discovered at week 33 of the continuation phase. Reexcision was conducted, followed by the administration of an ACC protocol including cisplatin, etoposide, and doxirubicin. Mitotane was added when a pulmonary metastasis was discovered and then stopped after the patient suffered from an arachnoid cyst and speech difficulties. The ALL protocol was resumed from week 34 of the continuation phase. Progression of pulmonary nodules was noted after week 45. A pulmonary metastectomy was performed. The ALL protocol was resumed up to week 51 with a good response as proven by assessment of minimal residual disease. A further recurrence was diagnosed at the abdominal tumor bed with a paravertebral mass and a pulmonary nodule. The patient was assigned to palliative treatment and died after a 32-month survival. Such rare associations need more extensive discussions of the best possible management in scientific literature.