Familial primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors.

In this article, we describe the case of 4 brothers, 2 of which had primary mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (PMNSGCT), while the other 2 had benign mediastinal disease. We discuss the relationship between these diseases of the mediastinum and the thymic microenvironment. Additionally, we suggest that a genetic predisposition for germ-cell tumors (GCT) may be involved since the parents were relatives.

Familial extensive idiopathic bilateral pleural fibrosis.

The authors report three sisters with bilateral isolated apical pleural fibrosis of unknown origin, which did not respond to empirical antituberculosis therapy and oral corticosteroids. The disease evolved in an unrelenting fashion producing pleural fibrosis at the lung bases and leading to the death of two sisters and to lung transplantation in the other one. There was no history of other familial disease or consanguinity.

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of airport malaria. Seven cases observed in the Paris area in 1994.

Clinical and biological pitfalls that lead to incorrect or delayed diagnoses of airport malaria are described based on 7 cases reported from the Paris region in the summer of 1994. We also report the outcome and the epidemiological features of these patients.

[The value of rectosigmoidoscopy and the bacteriologic culture of colon biopsies in the etiologic diagnosis of acute diarrhea of adults. A prospective study of 65 patients].

The goal of this study was to evaluate the contribution of sigmoidoscopy with bioptic microbiology to the etiologic diagnosis of acute diarrhea in adults. Patients and methods. Sixty-five patients with acute diarrhea were included prospectively from February 1993 to November 1994.

[Hepatitis probably caused by Plethoryl. Apropos of 7 cases].

Seven patients developed acute hepatitis after receiving Plethoryl for obesity for 4 to 16 weeks. Jaundice was generally associated with or preceded by asthenia, nausea and pruritus. Serum aminotransferase activities were markedly increased whereas alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities were moderately elevated.

[Endoscopic removal of a duodenal villous tumor. Review of the literature (author's transl)].

A benign villous tumor of the second duodenum was treated by endoscopic excision. Fifty-four previously published cases are reviewed. Villous tumors of the duodenum are very uncommon.

[Retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis of an infraclinical testicular seminoma (author's transl)].

The authors report a case of retroperitoneal lymphatic dissemination of a seminoma without any demonstrable primary testicular tumour. Irradiation of the patient led to complete cure, apparently stable with two years' follow up. The authors explored both sides of the scrotum clinically and surgically without finding any testicular tumour.