Background: Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare group of heterogeneous tumours that consist of several neoplasia which differentiate into different cell lines. They could arise from the mesodermal or ectodermal embryonic germ layers. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumour in the paediatric age group in most studies, while in adults, malignant fibrous histocytoma, liposarcoma and fibrosarcoma are seen to be more predominant. The study aims to highlight the histological patterns, clinical presentation, associated risk factors and the patients’ performance status at presentation.Methods: This is a 5-year retrospective between the period of 2010 to 2015 of all cancer patients diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, seen in the department of radiotherapy and oncology, a tertiary health centre in Sokoto Nigeria. Data collected included socio-demographic, histological type, clinical features, and performance status.Results: A total of 123 patients were reviewed during the study period of 2010 to 2015: males were 81 (65.9%) and females were 42 (34.1%), with a male to female ratio of 1.93:1. The commonest histological type in both the adult and paediatric age group was rhabdomyosarcoma. Most patients presented with a swelling as seen in 62 (50.4%) cases. The extremities were the commonest site of involvement, with the lower limbs consisting 41 (33%) of the total patients reviewed.Conclusions: Rhabdomyosarcoma was the most predominant histological type of soft tissue sarcoma seen over the review period and was seen in both the paediatric and adult age groups as the commonest type.

Infantile fibrosarcoma is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma seen in children usually less than 2years of age. Few cases of giant infantile fibrosarcoma have been reported in literature. We report a rare case of a giant multi-nodular infantile fibrosarcoma in the left anterolateral chest wall in a 7-year-old boy. The tumour was said to have been recurrent twice for about 6 years. At presentation patient was evaluated and was commenced on 6 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (VAC) regimen to alternate with Ifosfamide/Etoposide (IE) regimen with very good response. Thereafter, had a wide local excision of the tumour and then had 4 more cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. His 6months follow up showed no evidence of tumour recurrence. Infantile fibrosarcoma is said to be chemo-sensitive tumour with very good response, though surgical excision is the main treatment of choice and overall it is said to have a good prognosis.

Introduction Oxaliplatin is a third generation anti-neoplastic platinum compound (organo-platinum complex) used in the treatment of several solid tumours either as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. Hypersensitivity reactions to oxaliplatin are uncommon, with most reports indicating an incidence of 1–5%. The severity of reactions may vary from grade 1 side effect in line of skin flushing and/or rashes to very severe, life-threatening systemic anaphylaxis (grade 3/4). Following mild to moderate hypersensitivity reactions, steroids and/or antihistamines could be administered, after which the patient can be re-exposed to the drug. In severe hypersensitivity reactions however, oxaliplatin must be discontinued while alternative chemotherapeutic regimen or even other forms of therapy should be considered. Case report A 56 year old woman with colorectal cancer who was commenced on adjuvant oxaliplatin therapy developed Hypersensitivity reaction about 2 hours of the first oxaliplatin administration, for which the drug was discontinued and the symptoms improved. She had similar reactions in 2 subsequent attempts at administering same drug, after which the drug was changed. A placebo infusion was administered twice with no untoward reactions. Management and outcome: With each reaction, the drug was immediately discontinued and she was promptly given intranasal oxygen and corticosteroids. She was premedicated with anti-histamines and corticosteroids prior to subsequent cycles. Oxaliplatin was consequently discontinued and she experienced no further hypersensitivity reaction to the subsequent drug regimen. Discussion Hypersensitivity reactions to oxaliplatin, though a rare occurrence, are more likely idiosyncratic; with more cases being reported in recent times.