Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Coexistence of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Bilateral Pheochromocytoma in MEN2A Syndrome: Atypical Presentation and Clinical Insights From a Case Report.
Vallejo-Soto JC, et al
This case report describes an atypical presentation of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A), a hereditary syndrome driven by RET gene mutations, in which a patient developed bilateral pheochromocytoma — tumors arising in the adrenal glands — roughly a decade before receiving a diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma. The case challenges the conventional understanding of MEN2A's clinical timeline, demonstrating that the adrenal component can substantially precede the thyroid malignancy that is typically considered the hallmark of the syndrome. A critical clinical lesson from this report is that the presence of a high-risk RET mutation should guide surgical planning even when fine-needle aspiration or other cytological assessments return benign results, as relying solely on cytology may lead to dangerous diagnostic delays. Additionally, the case underscores the need for lifelong surveillance in MEN2A patients, since adrenal tumors can recur years after initial treatment and may re-emerge dramatically as life-threatening hypertensive crises. For clinicians managing hereditary endocrine cancers, this report reinforces a genetics-first approach to risk stratification and surgical decision-making rather than dependence on tissue biopsy findings alone.
Clinical case reports
Source →Paraproteinemias in Sjögren disease: cryoglobulinemia and serum monoclonal gammopathy identify distinct clinical phenotypes and differential lymphoma susceptibility.
Longhino S, et al
Researchers investigated how two types of abnormal blood proteins — cryoglobulins and monoclonal components (MC) — individually and together influence disease presentation and lymphoma risk in patients with Sjögren disease (SjD), a chronic autoimmune condition known to elevate the risk of B-cell lymphoma. Using data from 1,202 patients enrolled in the Italian GRISS multicenter registry, participants were divided into four groups: those with monoclonal gammopathy alone, cryoglobulinemia alone, both conditions simultaneously, or neither. The critical finding was that only patients harboring both cryoglobulinemia and monoclonal gammopathy at the same time faced a markedly increased lymphoma risk, with an odds ratio of 6.30, whereas either abnormality in isolation did not independently raise this risk to a statistically significant level. Cryoglobulinemia alone was associated with vasculitic disease manifestations including skin lesions, kidney involvement, and peripheral nervous system damage, while the combined group additionally displayed features of advanced B-cell expansion such as lymphadenopathy, constitutional symptoms, and hematological abnormalities. These results give clinicians a practical tool to identify a specific high-risk subgroup of Sjögren disease patients who warrant intensified surveillance and earlier intervention to prevent lymphoma development.
Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism
Source →Malignant Melanoma Bone Metastasis With Unknown Primary Site: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Wang C, et al
A rare case of malignant melanoma presenting first as a bone metastasis in a young adult has been reported in the journal Case Reports in Orthopedics. A 21-year-old male sought hospital care for intermittent pain in his left thigh, and imaging revealed bone destruction in the distal femur that was subsequently confirmed by pathological and immunohistochemical analysis as metastatic malignant melanoma, with no identifiable primary tumor site found. The patient underwent surgical resection of the affected bone segment with reconstruction using an artificial knee joint, followed by systemic chemotherapy for advanced melanoma, and at follow-up showed stable condition with no signs of recurrence or new metastasis. This case underscores that malignant melanoma can first manifest clinically as a bone metastasis even when the originating tumor site remains completely unknown, a scenario that poses significant diagnostic challenges and risks treatment delay. The authors reviewed relevant literature and concluded that clinicians should not defer local surgical intervention or systemic therapy while searching for the primary lesion, as timely combined treatment is critical to improving overall survival in this patient population.
Case reports in orthopedics
Source →Pleomorphic adenoma of the parapharyngeal space: a case report.
Elamrani Y, et al
Clinicians have reported a rare case of pleomorphic adenoma — a benign, non-cancerous tumor — arising in the parapharyngeal space, a deep anatomical compartment of the neck, in a 52-year-old man who experienced eight months of progressive, painless oropharyngeal swelling and mild difficulty swallowing. Tumors of the parapharyngeal space are extremely uncommon, accounting for less than 0.5% of all head and neck neoplasms, and their management is complicated by the region's intricate anatomy and proximity to critical neurovascular structures. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI proved essential in characterizing the well-encapsulated lesion and guiding surgical planning, while cytological examination supported the preoperative diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma. The tumor was successfully removed via a transoral approach — through the mouth — with meticulous preservation of the tumor capsule, which is critical for minimizing the risk of local recurrence or malignant transformation. Histopathological analysis confirmed a benign pleomorphic adenoma with no evidence of malignancy, and the patient remained free of recurrence after one year of follow-up. This case demonstrates that a transoral surgical approach can offer a safe, minimally invasive, and cosmetically favorable option for carefully selected patients with well-encapsulated benign lesions of the parapharyngeal space.
Journal of medical case reports
Source →Evaluation of long-term outcomes of functional suprahyoid neck dissection in patients with early-stage lower lip cancer.
Gülmez E, et al
A new retrospective study published in Oral Oncology evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of functional suprahyoid neck dissection (FSND) in 107 patients with early-stage (T1-T2, clinically node-negative) lower lip squamous cell carcinoma treated over nearly three decades at a tertiary cancer center. Researchers performed 146 FSND procedures and found an occult metastasis rate of just 1.86%, meaning hidden lymph node spread was rare, while only two patients developed regional nodal recurrence during follow-up — both successfully managed with salvage treatment. Crucially, no deaths related to the surgical procedure itself were recorded, and recurrence rates matched those reported for other established neck dissection techniques. The findings suggest that for patients with limited ability to comply with strict surveillance schedules or those considered higher risk, FSND offers a reliable and oncologically safe method to accurately stage the neck without compromising cancer control outcomes. Conversely, for highly compliant patients, ultrasonography-guided watchful waiting remains a valid alternative, underscoring the importance of individualized treatment planning in early lip cancer management.
Oral oncology
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