Publications by authors named "Abraham C Van Wyk"

Purpose: Prostate cancer disproportionately affects men of African descent, yet their representation in tissue-based studies is limited. This multinational, multicenter pilot study aims to establish the groundwork for collaborative research on prostate cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: The Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate network formed a pathologist working group representing eight institutions in five African countries.

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We report a diagnostically challenging case of a SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumour to emphasize its potential to mimic other malignant tumours on histology, especially in small biopsies and where rhabdoid morphology is lacking. A 48-year-old man, who was known for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and polysubstance use, presented with dyspnoea and an anterior mediastinal mass that had grown rapidly over a seven-month period. The rapid growth and location in the anterior mediastinum raised clinical suspicion for lymphoma or a germ cell tumour.

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Unlabelled: A 77-year-old woman with suspected lung carcinoma had multiple bladder masses and lymphadenopathy outside the normal urinary bladder drainage area. Fine needle aspiration and immunocytochemistry of the cervical lymph node complex and transurethral biopsy of the bladder masses confirmed metastatic small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Contribution: Clinical correlation, imaging findings, tumour markers and immunohistochemistry are necessary for metastatic bladder tumour work-up.

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Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma that most commonly arises in sun-exposed skin. Established risk factors include advanced age, fair skin, chronic ultraviolet light exposure and immunosuppression. Merkel cell polyomavirus infection is implicated in a subset of cases.

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Article Synopsis
  • Current TB treatments for children aren't effectively targeting drug levels in the actual TB lesions, which may hinder optimal therapy and shorten treatment times.
  • The study aimed to measure levels of first-line TB drugs in tissues of 13 children with severe pulmonary TB, using samples taken from their lungs and lymph nodes.
  • Results showed that while some drugs had low penetration in lymph nodes compared to the blood, ethambutol was an exception; importantly, none of the drugs could reach the needed concentrations in necrotic lesions.
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Context.—: Limited data exist on the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective.

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We present a case of a 34-year-old male who presented with syncope secondary to a large adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the distal trachea. A computed tomography and flexible bronchoscopy showed almost complete occlusion of the distal trachea. Resection with curative intent was performed, but resection margins were unfortunately not clear.

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Background: The rapid diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in children remains challenging. The presence of enlarged lymph nodes provides an opportunity to obtain diagnostic material through fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Mycobacterial culture, traditionally the reference standard, has a slow turnaround time and PCR-based methods are not widely available in developing countries.

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Background: Colorectal perineuriomas are uncommon benign mucosal-based proliferations of mesenchymal cells that express perineurial markers, often associated with colonic crypts displaying a serrated/hyperplastic architecture. The vast majority of cases arise distal to the splenic flexure and have been described as sessile polyps. Using molecular analysis, BRAF mutations have been demonstrated in the serrated crypt epithelium.

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A 30-year-old female with no significant past medical history was referred to our facility with sudden onset of shortness of breath. She had a low clinical probability for pulmonary thromboembolism and a computed tomography angiogram showed enlarged pulmonary arteries but no in situ thrombi. She developed recurrent episodes of hypotension and hypoxia, and was transferred to the intensive care unit where she died despite active resuscitation.

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We present an unusual cause of lung cavitation and a neck mass in an HIV positive child, initially thought to be tuberculosis. This case report illustrates that the cause for cavitatory lung disease in immunosuppressed children has a large number of possibilities and careful investigation to determine the etiological agent is warranted.

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Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplasm with unknown malignant potential that has been described in most organ systems. We present the case of a 3-year-old boy who was referred with lower urinary tract symptoms and macroscopic hematuria. An IMT was suspected after clinical, radiological, and surgical work-up, and the diagnosis was confirmed after a partial cystectomy was performed.

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Objective: To document a rare case of coexisting endometriosis and mature cystic teratoma in the same ovary.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Gynecology unit in a tertiary training and teaching hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

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