BJMO - volume 10, issue 6, september 2016
F. Baekelandt MD, W. Everaerts MD, PhD, M. Albersen MD, PhD, B. Van Cleynenbreugel MD, PhD, U. Milenkovic MD, C. Assenmacher MD, S. Joniau MD, PhD
BRCA2 mutation carriers generally present with prostate cancer at a younger age, with more aggressive disease and with a higher risk of nodal involvement or distant metastases at diagnosis. We present a patient with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer with a BRCA2 gene mutation and its clinical significance for daily practice.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(6):223–227)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 3, may 2016
R. Peric MD, J.G. Aerts MD, PhD
This case report describes a patient referred with apparent stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer. There was doubt about the nature of the two processes in both lungs. Interpretation of radiological images and (the decisions around) acquiring histological evidence proved to play a pivotal role in definitive staging and treatment.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(3):101–104)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 2, april 2016
B. Dekeyser MD, M. Haagdorens MD, I. Deleu MD, E. Van Hul MD, E. Beerens MD, D. Van der Planken MD, K. Hendrickx MD, L. Verstraeten MD, Y. Geussens MD, W. Lybaert MD
A 54-year old man presented with a new-onset headache, phonophobia, tinnitus, blurred vision, and nausea. Further imaging and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an olfactory neuroblastoma. Olfactory neuroblastoma or esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare type of cancer, originating from the basal stem cells of the olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity. The patient received a maximal possible surgical resection of the tumour, followed by adjuvant chemo-irradiation. Given the absence of neck metastases, no prophylactic treatment of the neck was done. Recent studies state that standard treatment of esthe-sioneuroblastoma consists of surgical resection, followed by local radiotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for the locally advanced tumours. As for the treatment of the neck, current consensus is to perform salvage therapy when neck metastases are present.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(2):69–72)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 1, february 2016
S. Maréchal MD, G. Houbiers MD, M-P. Graas MD, C. Focan MD, PhD
5-Fluorouracil is an antimetabolite frequently used in the treatment of digestive cancers. Outside well-known side effects, it may induce cardiac toxicity under various clinical forms, from chest pain to arrhythmia, or even cardiac arrest, pericarditis being one of the most uncommon.1,2 We report here the case of a 52-year-old man who developed pericarditis symptoms after continuous 5-fluorouracil infusions.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(1):35–37)
Read moreBJMO - volume 9, issue 7, december 2015
A. De Pauw MSc, F. Boutens MD, M. Lemmerling MD, PhD, V. Renard MD
Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a syndrome of heterogeneous aetiology characterised by typical clinical and radiological findings. The occurrence of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in cancer patients is rapidly increasing. So when a cancer patient suddenly experiences symptoms of altered consciousness, convulsions, headache and/or visual disturbances, reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome should always be included in the differential diagnosis. In this paper, we describe a case of a patient who developed reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome after receiving a regimen with carboplatin and paclitaxel.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2015;9(7):286–89)
Read moreBJMO - volume 9, issue 7, december 2015
H. Van Den Bossche MD, R. Kokx MD, M. Albersen MD, PhD, C. Assenmacher MD, H. Van Poppel MD, PhD, S. Joniau MD, PhD
High-intensity focused ultrasound has been used as an alternative treatment for prostate cancer, as both primary or salvage treatment. It is considered a minimally invasive treatment modality. We recently needed to care for two patients with severe osteomyelitis of the pubic bone as a result of a prostatopubic fistula, after they underwent salvage high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment post-radiotherapy.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2015;9(7):290–95)
Read moreBJMO - volume 9, issue 5, september 2015
K. R. Meesschaert MD, D. Van Aken MD, P. Goetstouwers MD, D. Verhoeven MD, PhD, C. Langenaeken MD, M. Strijbos MD, PhD, Wim Demey MD
5-Fluorouracil is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents. It has been included in the treatment of a number of solid tumours, including upper gastrointestinal, colorectal and breast cancer, for many years. It is the backbone of several chemotherapy regimens, particularly in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract adenocarcinomas. Unfortunately, cardiotoxicities may be expected to occur regularly. As 5-fluorouracil is widely used, cardiotoxicity due to 5-fluorouracil is a relatively common problem. The case of a 64-year old man with invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma, who developed chest pain during his first mFOLFOX cycle, is presented. We see in this case and in the literature that recurrence of cardiac toxicity is high, even with premedication. There is some evidence that replacing the fluoropyrimidine by raltitrexed is safe and efficacious for patients with 5-fluorouracil (cardiac) toxicity in the setting of colorectal cancer.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2015;9(5):194–98)
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