Background
Primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs) constitute a family of neoplasms of presumed neuroectodermal origin that predominantly present as bone or soft-tissue masses in adolescents and ...young adults. PNET arising in the kidney is rare.
Objective
To describe the radiological features in three patients with primary renal PNET.
Materials and methods
The radiological features of primary renal PNET in three adolescent patients (age 10, 14 and 16 years) are described.
Results
Tumour thrombus extending into the renal vein and inferior vena cava was noted in all three patients. In addition, further tumour extension into the atrium was seen in two patients with extension into a pulmonary artery in one patient. Neural foraminal and intraspinal extension close to the origin of the tumour was identified in two patients. Liver, bone and lung metastases were identified.
Conclusion
While rare, one should consider the diagnosis of PNET when encountering a renal mass with aggressive features such as inferior vena cava tumour thrombus, direct intraspinal invasion and distant metastasis.
Familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare but invariably fatal disease without haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Genetic defect identification is useful for confirming a clinical ...diagnosis, predicting the risk of future recurrence, and defining haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis predisposition in asymptomatic family members. Notably, familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2 associates with mutations in the perforin gene (PRF1) which is the most frequent subtype of familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Although perforin gene mutations have been described in Asians, they are largely reported from Japan. The case reported here is the first familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2 patient in Hong Kong with an identified perforin gene mutation.
We report a rare case of a primary osseous pleomorphic liposarcoma of the distal femur in a 13-year-old boy. Primary liposarcoma of bone is a very rare malignant tumour originating from primitive ...mesenchymal cells rather than mature adipose tissue. Pleomorphic liposarcoma is the least common of the eight known histological subtypes in the WHO classification. The entity is not previously reported in children. This is the third reported case of pleomorphic liposarcoma of the bone, and the first reported case presenting in adolescence. We describe the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of this rare bony tumour.
We evaluated an indirect immunofluorescence assay based on virus-infected cells for detecting anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody. ...All confirmed SARS cases demonstrated seroconversion or fourfold rise in IgG antibody titer; no control was positive. Sensitivity and specificity of this assay were both 100%. Immunofluorescence assay can ascertain the status of SARS-CoV infection.
Neoplastic abdominal tumours, particularly those originating from embryonal tissue (such as hepatoblastoma and nephroblastoma) and neural crest cells (such as neuroblastoma), are well-documented in ...young children. Neoplasms of adulthood, most commonly carcinoma of different visceral organs, are also well-documented. Abdominal tumours in adolescence constitute a distinct pathological group. The radiological features of some of these tumours have been described only in isolated reports. The purpose of this pictorial essay was to review the imaging findings of various kinds of abdominal tumours in adolescent patients (with an age range of 10–16 years) who presented to the Children Cancer Center of our institution in the past 15 years. Some tumours, though rare, have characteristic imaging appearances (especially in CT) that enable an accurate diagnosis before definite histological confirmation.
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMFT) is a distinct entity under the group of inflammatory pseudotumours. Sometimes these pseudotumours can have an aggressive appearance on imaging, which makes ...it indistinguishable from other malignant neoplasms. We present a case of IMFT of the bladder in a child.
To provide a practical action plan for effective infection control of norovirus outbreak in acute paediatric wards.
We report the infection control measures that were implemented to terminate and to ...prevent nosocomial spread of norovirus gastroenteritis in an open-designed paediatric ward.
Nine children, one visitor, and one medical student were affected in a norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in an acute paediatric ward. Vomiting was the main presenting symptom. The outbreak was rapidly terminated three days after implementation of stringent infection control measures and there was no second wave of attack. These measures included strict contact precautions, prompt isolation and cohorting of symptomatic patients, vigorous environmental cleansing with concentrated disinfectant (hypochlorite solution 1000 ppm), meticulous handling of waste products, and efficient contact tracing of exposed patients, family members, and medical students.
Prompt implementation of stringent infection control measures and contact tracing can rapidly terminate the norovirus outbreak and prevent a second wave of infection. Children with unexplained vomiting and those with contact history of gastroenteritis should be properly triaged, isolated, and investigated for possible infective causes, including norovirus-induced gastroenteritis.
PDF
