Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
A case of a paranasal sinus mucocele of the frontal sinus invading the anterior cranial fossa and orbital wall.
Liu S, et al
Researchers from Japan report a rare and diagnostically challenging case of a frontal-ethmoid sinus mucocele — a benign, mucus-filled cyst — that simultaneously eroded through both the skull base into the anterior cranial fossa and through the orbital wall in a 64-year-old woman. The patient initially presented with eye-related symptoms including swelling around the right eye, light sensitivity, and excessive tearing, which are not typical warning signs that would immediately suggest an intracranial problem. Endoscopic sinus surgery successfully removed the lesion and confirmed through histopathology that the cyst was benign, lined by normal respiratory tissue, with the protective brain covering (dura mater) found intact and no cerebrospinal fluid leakage detected. Complete resolution was achieved without any neurological or intracranial complications, demonstrating the effectiveness of minimally invasive endoscopic management even in anatomically complex cases. This case highlights the importance for clinicians to consider sinus mucoceles in the differential diagnosis when patients present with orbital symptoms, as early recognition and surgical intervention can prevent serious complications including intracranial infection or vision loss.
The Journal of international medical research
Source →Genetic pharmacoepidemiology of JAK inhibitors in chronic immune-mediated skin diseases: implications for precision therapy and medication safety.
Zhang Y, et al
Researchers used Mendelian Randomization — a genetic technique that mimics a clinical trial by using naturally occurring gene variants — to investigate whether inhibiting specific JAK enzymes (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2) is both effective and safe for treating immune-mediated skin diseases such as psoriasis. Drawing on genetic data from over 800,000 individuals in the UK Biobank and FinnGen cohorts, the study found that genetically proxied loss-of-function variants in TYK2 were significantly associated with reduced risk of psoriasis, providing strong genetic support for TYK2 inhibitors as a targeted therapy. The safety analyses also produced preliminary signals linking JAK2 inhibition to pulmonary embolism and tuberculosis risk, and TYK2 inhibition to non-melanoma skin cancer and lung cancer, though the effect sizes were very small and the authors caution that these findings are hypothesis-generating rather than conclusive. A complementary systematic review of randomized controlled trials partially confirmed the overall safety profile of JAK inhibitors in skin diseases. These findings are clinically meaningful because they help clarify which patients with psoriasis and related conditions may benefit most from JAK inhibitor therapy while highlighting safety signals that should be monitored in future research and clinical practice.
Frontiers in pharmacology
Source →Transanal sphincter-sparing local excision for primary anorectal malignant melanoma: a case report.
Wang Z, et al
Anorectal malignant melanoma is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer arising near the anal canal, and the best surgical approach for treating it remains debated between sphincter-preserving local excision and more radical surgery that removes the rectum and anus permanently. Researchers report the case of a 61-year-old man with a 4-by-4-centimeter tumor near the dentate line who underwent transanal sphincter-sparing local excision, a minimally invasive approach that removed the tumor while keeping the anal muscles intact. The procedure was completed successfully without complications, and the patient retained normal bowel control after surgery, demonstrating the technical feasibility of this approach for selected patients. Despite the initially favorable postoperative outcome, the patient died 14 months after surgery, underscoring the aggressive nature of this cancer even when caught in an apparently localized stage. This case suggests that sphincter-preserving local excision may offer a reasonable quality-of-life benefit for carefully chosen patients who lack sphincter involvement or distant spread, avoiding the permanent colostomy associated with radical surgery. Clinicians are cautioned that broader conclusions await larger studies and longer follow-up data to determine the true long-term oncological impact of this surgical strategy.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Artificial Intelligence-Based Diagnosis of Kaposi Sarcoma Using Digital Photographs in Dark-Skinned Patients in Uganda.
Coates SJ, et al
Researchers in Uganda evaluated whether an artificial intelligence model could accurately diagnose Kaposi sarcoma (KS) — a cancer strongly associated with HIV — by analyzing digital photographs of skin lesions in dark-skinned patients. A total of 472 participants were enrolled, their lesions were photographed, and punch biopsies were taken as the gold-standard reference; 332 patients had confirmed KS. The AI model, built using a combination of YOLO object detection algorithms, achieved 89% sensitivity and 51% specificity in the test set, meaning it was reasonably good at identifying true cases but also produced a notable number of false positives. For comparison, a dermatologist reviewing the same images reached 93% sensitivity but only 19% specificity, indicating that both the AI and the human expert favored not missing cases at the cost of over-diagnosis. While the AI model is not yet accurate enough for routine clinical use, the authors conclude that the results are promising enough to warrant further research with larger datasets and improved technology, particularly given the high burden of KS in sub-Saharan Africa and the shortage of specialist dermatologists in the region.
JCO global oncology
Source →Bilateral Necrotic Foot Lesions of Kaposi Sarcoma in a Man from Ecuador.
Aye SM, et al
This case report describes an unusual and severe presentation of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in a man from Ecuador, featuring bilateral necrotic lesions on both feet. Kaposi sarcoma is a cancer caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and most commonly affects individuals who are immunocompromised, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS. The case highlights how KS can manifest with advanced, tissue-destroying (necrotic) lesions, which can be mistaken for other conditions such as infections or vascular disease, potentially delaying diagnosis. This report underscores the importance of considering Kaposi sarcoma in the differential diagnosis of necrotic skin lesions, especially in patients from regions where HHV-8 is endemic or in those with underlying immune suppression. Timely and accurate diagnosis is critical to initiating appropriate treatment and improving patient outcomes in such severe presentations.
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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