Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Mutational patterns in a large cohort of parathyroid carcinomas.
Pandya C, et al
A new study published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation examined the landscape of genetic mutations in one of the largest cohorts of parathyroid carcinoma patients ever assembled, a rare and aggressive cancer of the parathyroid glands. Researchers systematically catalogued the mutational patterns across tumour samples to identify which genes are most frequently altered in this malignancy. The findings reinforce the central role of known driver genes such as CDC73, while also shedding light on additional recurrent mutations that may contribute to tumour development and progression. Understanding these mutational signatures is critical because parathyroid carcinoma is notoriously difficult to diagnose and currently lacks effective targeted therapies. These results could guide the development of novel diagnostic markers and open the door to precision medicine approaches for patients with this rare endocrine cancer.
Journal of endocrinological investigation
Source →Recurrent mediastinal paraganglioma: a Case Report with a long-term follow-up.
Shi W, et al
Researchers present a detailed case report of a patient with mediastinal paraganglioma, a rare neuroendocrine tumor arising in the chest cavity, who developed recurrence and distant metastasis during long-term postoperative follow-up. The report highlights the diagnostic approach, which combines biochemical testing for catecholamines and their metabolites with advanced multimodal imaging such as PET/CT to assess tumor activity and spread. Complete surgical removal remains the preferred treatment, and for highly vascularized tumors, preoperative embolization of feeding arteries is recommended to minimize bleeding and improve the likelihood of achieving clear surgical margins. In cases of recurrence or metastasis, the targeted therapy sunitinib was identified as a viable treatment option. This case underscores the importance of lifelong follow-up after surgery for mediastinal paraganglioma, given the tumor's potential for late recurrence, and aims to improve clinician awareness and management of this uncommon malignancy.
Frontiers in medicine
Source →Comprehensive management of carotid body paragangliomas: A case report on diagnosis, surgical resection, and postoperative surveillance.
Lachkar A, et al
Researchers present a detailed case report of a 45-year-old woman diagnosed with a carotid body paraganglioma, a rare and highly vascular tumor that develops at the point where the carotid artery divides in the neck. The tumor was identified using a combination of imaging techniques including ultrasound, contrast-enhanced CT scanning, and digital subtraction angiography, which together confirmed a Shamblin type II classification and ruled out hormonal activity. Surgeons successfully removed the tumor while preserving the carotid arteries and the surrounding cranial nerves, with postoperative imaging confirming no signs of recurrence. This case underscores the critical importance of multimodal imaging not only for accurate diagnosis but also for guiding surgical planning and monitoring patients after treatment. For clinicians, the report serves as a practical reference for managing these anatomically complex and surgically challenging tumors.
Radiology case reports
Source →Clinical analysis of seven cases of primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Zhang M, et al
Researchers at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University conducted a retrospective study examining seven cases of primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PHNEN), a rare type of tumor originating in the liver, treated between 2015 and 2023. The study found that most patients had no symptoms, with tumors discovered incidentally during routine check-ups, and the majority had solitary tumors located in either the left or right lobe of the liver. Pathological examination identified five neuroendocrine tumors (four grade G2 and one grade G1) and two small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, with immunohistochemical markers such as Syn, CgA, and CD56 proving reliable for diagnosis. Six of the seven patients underwent radical surgical resection, and four of those showed no recurrence during follow-up, while the two who experienced recurrence and the one patient who could only undergo biopsy all died within months. The findings underscore that PHNEN lacks distinctive clinical or imaging features, making pathological examination essential for a definitive diagnosis, and that radical surgical resection remains the most effective treatment when the tumor is operable.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Case report of transsphenoidal meningocele presenting as airway obstruction and panhypopituitarism: Radiological findings and the role of CSF flow analysis.
Wong HT, et al
Clinicians from a radiology center report a rare case of transsphenoidal meningocele — a herniation of the brain's protective membrane into the nasal cavity — in a 33-year-old man who had suffered nasal obstruction, excessive thirst, and frequent urination for several years. Advanced MRI imaging, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow analysis, revealed that a large cystic lesion extending from the pituitary region through the sphenoid sinus into the nasopharynx was filled with CSF and communicated directly with the fluid spaces of the brain, disproving an earlier misdiagnosis of craniopharyngioma. The CSF flow analysis — a technique that tracks the movement of brain fluid — was pivotal in confirming the diagnosis by demonstrating bidirectional fluid exchange between the lesion and the brain's ventricular system. Because the patient's hormonal deficiencies (panhypopituitarism) were longstanding and irreversible, and because surgery carried a high risk of post-operative CSF leakage, the medical team opted for conservative management with lifelong hormone replacement therapy. This case highlights that transsphenoidal meningocele, though uncommon, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic pituitary lesions, particularly when standard imaging features of tumors such as solid components or contrast enhancement are absent. It also underscores the diagnostic value of CSF flow MRI in avoiding unnecessary surgery based on an incorrect diagnosis.
Radiology case reports
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