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Abstract Objective Breast cancer is a critical public health issue and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Its early diagnosis and detection can effectively help in increasing the chances of survival rate. For this reason, the diagnosis and classification of breast cancer using Deep learning algorithms have attracted a lot of attention. Therefore, our study aimed to design a computational approach based on deep convolutional neural networks for an efficient classification of breast cancer histopathological images by using our own created dataset. We collected overall 328 digital slides, from 116 of surgical breast specimens diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma of non-specific type, and referred to the histopathology department of the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat, Morocco. We used two models of deep neural network architectures in order to accurately classify the images into one of three categories: normal tissue-benign lesions, in situ carcinoma or invasive carcinoma. Results Both Resnet50 and Xception models achieved comparable results, with a small advantage to Xception extracted features. We reported high degrees of overall correct classification accuracy (88%), and sensitivity (95%) for detection of carcinoma cases, which is important for diagnostic pathology workflow in order to assist pathologists for diagnosing breast cancer with precision. The results of the present study showed that the designed classification model has a good generalization performance in predicting diagnosis of breast cancer, in spite of the limited size of the data. To our knowledge, this approach can be highly compared with other common methods in the automated analysis of breast cancer images reported in literature.

Invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST) or ductal carcinoma is the largest group of invasive breast cancers. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histological type; it comprises 5%–15% of all invasive breast cancers. Historically, lobular neoplasia and invasive lobular carcinoma may produce intracellular mucin that pushes the nucleus to one side, creating the characteristic signet ring cell morphology. The extracellular mucin secretion is essentially described in mucinous breast carcinoma. Mucinous differentiation can be seen in small areas of NST carcinoma, but recently a few cases of invasive lobular carcinoma with extracellular mucin are reported in the literature. It is important for pathologists to recognize this new entity because it mimics a NST carcinoma, as such a diagnosis may require a different approach in clinical management and surveillance. We report a new case of ILC with extracellular mucin and a review of the literature.

Mesonephric-like adenocarcinoma (MLA) is a rare and newly recognized subtype of ovarian and endometrial carcinomas, introduced in the 2020 World Health Organization Classification. This tumor likely originates from Müllerian-derived tissues and often mimics more common ovarian cancers, leading to frequent misdiagnosis. This case study details a 36-year-old woman who presented with urinary symptoms following a hysterectomy. Imaging revealed a significant left ovarian mass, initially misdiagnosed as carcinosarcoma. Pathological evaluation ultimately confirmed MLA, characterized by diverse architectural patterns and specific immunohistochemical markers. The patient underwent chemotherapy due to the locally advanced disease. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of MLA and emphasizes the need for awareness among clinicians to prevent misdiagnosis. Given its aggressive nature and tendency to early recurrence, further research is essential for establishing standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols for this rare malignancy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2025.)

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It constitutes a public health problem, especially in developing countries. Pelvic localization is rare with tubal involvement being the most frequent. It presents clinically, radiologically, and biologically as an ovarian tumor. We report the case of a patient who presented to the emergency department with pelvic pain, an abdominal-pelvic mass, and a general state of deterioration. The patient had a high CA125 level, and imaging initially suggested a neoplastic origin. She underwent laparoscopy with histopathological examination, confirming the diagnosis of tuberculosis, showing giant cell granulomas with caseous necrosis. A favorable outcome was observed on all fronts after antitubercular treatment., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Primary hepatic leiomyosarcoma (PHL) is a rare malignant tumor, which originates from smooth muscles. The imaging features are nonspecific and the diagnosis is often delayed until the tumor reaches a large size, which leads often to a dismal prognosis. We report a case of a 46-year-old male patient who was complaining about abdominal pain for 2 months. The imaging revealed the presence of a large mass in the liver with adrenal and liver metastasis. Diagnosis of PHL was confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. In this case report, we review the epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical aspects of the disease, as well as the treatment modalities., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Testicular epidermoid cysts, accounting for 1%-2% of all testicular masses, present a diagnostic challenge often identified post-orchiectomy. Conservative surgery is recommended, emphasizing the need for accurate preoperative diagnosis. A 28-year-old patient with acute left scrotal pain, initially suggestive of testicular torsion, underwent intraoperative exploration revealing extra-vaginal torsion with an incidentally discovered 2-cm intra-testicular mass. Due to suspected malignancy, a total orchiectomy was performed. Pathological analysis confirmed an epidermoid cyst with normal postoperative tumor markers. The patient had a good postoperative outcome and underwent testicular prosthesis placement 3 months after the surgery. Epidermoid cysts, often identified incidentally during urgent scenarios, underscore the importance of accurate preoperative diagnosis. Conservative surgery remains the preferred approach, emphasizing the consideration of benign factors to prevent unnecessary orchiectomies., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Small cell carcinoma of ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is an unusual malignant tumor that most commonly affects young women. Unfortunately, it has a very poor prognosis. We describe here an unusual case of a Moroccan young woman with a left ovarian mass and a symptomatic hypercalcemia. Morphologically, there are some malignant tumors that resemble SCCOHT; thus, it is very challenging to diagnose, and immunohistochemistry has a great contribution in it. Hopefully, molecular tools and new therapies will improve the management of these cases in the near future., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2024.)

Myxopapillary ependymoma, a rare variant of ependymoma, commonly occurs in the conus medullaris or filum terminale. The rarity of these tumors can make their diagnosis and treatment challenging. This case report presents an atypical occurrence of myxopapillary ependymoma within the sacrum in a 68-year-old patient presented with a 3-month history of persistent left-sided low back pain radiating to the legs and fecal dysfunction. The patient underwent a sacral laminectomy and subtotal excision of the tumor, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy with favorable outcomes. This report highlights the significance of tailored approaches for unconventional tumor locations emphasizes the potential benefits of multimodal treatment strategies and provides insights from a comprehensive literature review on similar cases., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

The increasing commercialization of new gene panels based on next-generation sequencing for clinical research has significantly improved our understanding of breast cancer genetics and has led to the discovery of new mutation variants. The study included 16 unselected Moroccan breast cancer patients tested with multi-gene panel (HEVA screen panel) using Illumina Miseq, followed by Sanger sequencing to validate the most relevant mutation. Mutational analysis revealed the presence of 13 mutations (11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] and 2 indels), and 6 of 11 identified SNPs were predicted as pathogenic. One of the 6 pathogenic mutations was c.7874G>C, a heterozygous SNP in HD-OB domain of BRCA2 gene, which led to the arginine to threonine change at codon 2625 of the protein. This work describes the first case of a patient with breast cancer harboring this pathogenic variant and analyzes its functional impact using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Further experimental investigations are needed to validate its pathogenicity and to verify its association with breast cancer., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Breast metastasis from urological tract is exceptional, with a few sporadic cases reported in the literature. They can be confused with a primary breast cancer, especially in patients without clinical history, leading to an inappropriate and invasive treatment. Therefore, we have summarized some characteristics of metastatic breast tumors through this retrospective study., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2023.)

Mammary myofibroblastoma is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm that typically presents in older men and women. Less commonly, these benign tumors may also occur in soft tissues located outside of the breast, in which case they are referred to as mammary-type myofibroblastomas. The histologic composition of this benign spindle cell tumor can be markedly varied. We present one such case of myofibroblastoma of the male breast, describing its sonographic appearance and its diagnosis using ultrasound-guided core biopsy., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Osteo-lipoma is a very rare benign tumor with a good prognosis. It is composed mainly of mature fatty tissue with a bony component. The diagnosis is based on the histological study, given the clinical and radiological characters that can simulate other benign or malignant pathologies. Osteosarcoma is the main differential diagnosis. The distinction between these two neoplasms is essential as the basis of the treatment is different. We report the case of a patient with a giant ossifying lipoma independent of bone tissue located in the thigh., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2022.)

Metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC) to the breast is exceptional. Breast metastases of extra-mammary tumors are rare and usually involve melanoma, lymphoma or leukemia. We report the case of a patient with breast metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma occurring 18 years after nephrectomy. A history of RCC should always raise suspicion about breast metastasis, a situation that remains exceptional and whose diagnosis relies on anatomopathology., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2022.)

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates are increasing rapidly in many low-income and middle-income countries. A demonstration project was implemented in Morocco in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and challenges of implementing CRC screening through routine primary care facilities., Methods: The objective of the project was to screen 10,000 men and women aged 50 to 75 years through 10 primary health centers (PHCs) in 2 provinces. All eligible men and women attending the selected PHCs were offered the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Stool specimens brought to the PHCs were tested immediately by trained nurses. FIT-positive individuals were referred to the National Oncology Institute for colonoscopy., Results: In total, 9763 eligible men and women were screened by FIT between June 2017 and May 2019; most (73.3%) were women. The test was positive in 460 participants (4.7%). Among the individuals who had positive FIT results, 62.6% underwent colonoscopy. The main reasons for noncompliance to colonoscopy were competing life priorities (15.4%), other health problems (13%), and fear of getting a cancer diagnosis (12.3%). As the number of referrals to colonoscopy increased, the waiting time for the procedure increased, resulting in a drop in compliance. The detection rates of advanced adenomas and CRC were 4.0 in 1000 and 0.5 in 1000 individuals screened, respectively., Conclusions: An effective strategy to reach the target populations (especially men), a pragmatic assessment of the health system's capacity to deal with large numbers of referrals, and a formal cost-effectiveness analysis are essential before making any decision to introduce CRC screening in Morocco., (© 2021 American Cancer Society.)

Background: The status of peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM) management in North Africa is undetermined. The aim of this study was to assess and compare current practice and knowledge regarding PSM and examine satisfaction with available treatment options and need for alternative therapies in North Africa., Methods: This is a qualitative study involving specialists participating in PSM management in North Africa. The survey analyzed demographic characteristics and current knowledge and opinions regarding PSM management in different institutions. We also looked at goals and priorities, satisfaction with treatment modalities and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) usefulness according to specialty, country, years of experience, and activity sector., Results: One-hundred and three participants responded to the survey (response rate of 57%), including oncologists and surgeons. 59.2% of respondents had more than 10 years experience and 45.6% treated 20-50 PSM cases annually. Participants satisfaction with PSM treatment modalities was mild for gastric cancer (3/10 [IQR 2-3]) and moderate for colorectal (5/10 [IQR 3-5]), ovarian (5/10 [IQR 3-5]), and pseudomyxoma peritonei (5/10 [IQR 3-5]) type of malignancies. Good quality of life and symptom relief were rated as main priorities for treatment and the need for new treatment modalities was rated 9/10 [IQR 8-9]. The perceived usefulness of systemic chemotherapy in first intention was described as high by 42.7 and 39.8% of respondents for PSM of colorectal and gastric origins, while HIPEC was described as highly useful for ovarian (49.5%) and PMP (73.8) malignancies., Conclusions: The management of PSM in the North African region has distinct differences in knowledge, treatments availability and priorities. Disparities are also noted according to specialty, country, years of expertise, and activity sector. The creation of referral structures and PSM networks could be a step forward to standardized PSM management in the region., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Souadka, Essangri, Makni, Abid, Ayadi, Ksantini, Kordjani, Ballah, Bouka, Benkabbou, Majbar, El Khannoussi, Mohsine, Boutayeb and Hubner.)

The metaplastic breast cancers are rare lesions, accounting for less than 1 % of all breast malignancies. According to the WHO classification (2012), the spindle cell carcinoma of the breast figures among variants of metaplastic carcinomas. The average age at diagnosis is 53 years, and the usual course is fast. Their prognosis is more pejorative than the classic invasive ductal carcinoma. The differential diagnosis arises with sarcomas, especially phyllodes sarcomas but also with other primary breast sarcomas which remain rare. The distinction of this entity is important for further management of patients which is similar to that of conventional infiltrating carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, very aggressive neuroectodermal tumor of the skin. It is typically located on sun-exposed skin and frequently found in white men aged between 70 and 80 years., Case Presentation: We report a case of a 58-year-old black woman diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma of the posterior face of the right elbow. She had biopsy excision and was lost to follow-up. Four months later, she presented with recurrent disease on the inferior third of the right arm with three ipsilateral axillary lymph node metastases. Amputation of the right arm and ipsilateral axillary lymph node dissection were performed, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Six months later, the patient died as a result of respiratory failure caused by lung metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, no specific studies have been done comparing the course and the characteristics of Merkel cell carcinoma in white and black populations, and no similar case has been reported in the literature., Conclusions: The Merkel cell carcinoma is very rare in black people. As described elsewhere in the literature, our patient had a poor outcome despite radical management. To date, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no comparison of the prognosis of this tumor in white and black populations.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is malignant tumor that exceptionally occurs in the uterine cervix. It is mostly seen in postmenopausal women and has an aggressive clinical course. We report two cases of an adenoid cystic carcinoma associated with a high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and discuss briefly its clinical and pathological characteristics., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Background: Kaposi sarcoma is a neoplastic vascular disorder. It usually present on the skin of the upper and lower extremities, rarely in the mucosa of the head and neck. The most common sites reported are within the oral cavity, particularly on the palate. Other mucosal sites are rare. We present an unusual case where the primary manifestation of the Kaposi's sarcoma was in the nasal mucosa., Case Presentation: A 56-year-old female of Mediterranean descent presented with a 1 year history of swelling on the left side of her nose, nasal obstruction and occasional minor epistaxes. Physical examination showed a firm and bulging polypoid mass which filled the left nasal cavity without cutaneous lesions. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a tumor, measuring 77 mm in diameter, occupying the left nasal cavity causing erosion of nasal septum and extending posteriorly to the left choana and nasopharynx. There was bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Patient treated with chemotherapy alone. She was in a complete response after the first cycle. The patient received no further treatment. She needs a regular medical checkups that include a review of a patient's medical history and a complete physical exam. She is in excellent local control over 12 months., Conclusions: A review of the literature revealed that only seven cases of primary Kaposi sarcoma of the nasal cavity have previously been published and only two of them presented in a patient not associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Here, we report the third case where the primary manifestation of the Kaposi sarcoma was in the nasal cavity in a patient with an adequate immune system.

Background: Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial tumors accounting for less than 1 % of all breast neoplasms. They are malignant in 20 % of cases. Only a few cases of malignant phyllodes tumors metastatic to bone have been reported., Case Presentation: Case 1: A 40 year-old white woman presented with three-week history of pain and functional impairment of the left lower limb. Her clinical past was remarkable for previous left mastectomy and radiotherapy for malignant phyllodes tumor performed one year ago. Computed tomography revealed a moth-eaten appearance of the left femoral head. The patient underwent computed guided femoral head biopsy. Pathological findings were consistent with metastatic malignant phyllodes tumor. The patient received ifosfamide and adriamycin chemotherapy. She is doing well without any evidence of progression on her imaging follow- up after 8 months. Case 2: A 48 year-old white woman, with history of bilateral mastectomy and radiotherapy for malignant phyllodes tumor performed one and two year ago, presented with four-week left lower quadrant abdominal pain. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid aggressive osteolytic mass of the left iliac bone with extensive soft tissue invasion. Biopsy of the tumor was performed and showed a sarcomatous proliferation consistent with metastatic malignant phyllodes tumor. The patient received the same chemotherapy regimen as in the first case but without any response on her imaging follow up after 6 months., Conclusion: Malignant phyllodes tumor is a rare and aggressive fibroepithelial neoplasm. An accurate diagnosis of metastases should be based on clinicopathological correlation allowing exclusion of differential diagnoses. The goal of successful managing this tumor is early detection and complete resection prior to dissemination.

Endometrial cancer in patients with uterine congenital malformations is exceptional and there are only a few rare cases published in the literature. We report the case of a 67 years-old patient with an endometrial cancer located in the right cavity of a complete septate uterus.

Intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma is a rare lymph node benign tumor, of unknown pathogenesis. Although benign, this lesion is frequently confused with metastatic lesions, especially in atypical sites. We report a 39-year-old man with a history of testicular malignant mixed germ cell tumor, presented with abdominal painless mass. The computed tomography of the abdomen confirmed the presence of 180 × 140 mm2 mass in the retroperitoneum with lympadenopathy on the right measuring 20 x 15 mm. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, and a surgical exerese of the retroperitoneeum lymph node was made. Histological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed the diagnosis of intranodal palissaded myofibroblastoma. This entity has been previously described, only once, in retroperitoneal region. Despite to the rarity of this neoplasm, we discuss clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis.

Metastatic carcinoma to the uterine cervix from colorectal cancer, through haematogenous or lymphatic spread, is extremely rare. We report the case of a 59 year old woman in whom cervical metastasis was diagnosed after 13 months of follow-up for a sigmoid adenocarcinoma, confirmed by immunohistochemical study, with a review of the literature. This case illustrates that abnormal gynecologic symptoms can reveal a disease progression on patients who suffer colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Metastases to the breast from extramammary malignancies are infrequent, the most common primary sites are malignant melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancer of the lung, stomach, prostate and ovary. The cervical origin is exceptional. Splenic metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix is also rare. To the best of our knowledge, only three cases of isolated splenic metastasis have been reported in the literature., Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 55-year-old North African woman who presented with a nodule in her left breast eight months after treatment for stage IIB squamous cell uterine cervical carcinoma. The excisional biopsy with histological study demonstrated a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A computed tomography scan revealed a splenic secondary location., Conclusions: We report here a case of two unusual metastatic sites of uterine cervical carcinoma, the breast and spleen. It is the first case of this association without widespread disease.

Background: Breast metastasis is fairly uncommon and prognosis is dismal. Breast metastasis might be the first symptom or may occur during the course of other malignancies dominantly arising from the contralateral breast. Leukemia, lung cancer and conjunctival melanoma may spread to the breast., Case Presentation: A 43-year-old female patient was operated on for conjunctival melanoma. After two years the disease progressed quickly and cutaneous nodes appeared on the back and paraumbilical region. Physical and radiological examination showed a breast mass. No palpable lymph's nodes were noted. She underwent an open biopsy. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed breast metastases from melanoma. During post-operative staging multiple nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal lesions were also objective. The patient was given palliative dacarbazine (250 mg/m2 per day for 4 days) for 4 cycles. She died 4 months after the diagnosis of breast metastases., Conclusion: Histopathological evaluation should be mandatory in patients with medical history of malignancies in order to differentiate new primary tumors, metastases, and benign tumors.

Pure sarcomas of the breast are uncommon, accounting for less than 1% of primary breast malignant tumors. Mammary osteogenic sarcomas are very rare and less than 100 cases have been reported in literature. They mainly affect older and middle aged women and are highly aggressive. We report an additional case in a 56-year-old woman. Histological and immunohistological characteristics were similar to those described in other localizations. Differential diagnosis involves phyllodes sarcoma, breast metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid and osteoid differentiation, osteosarcoma of the ribs, and metastatic osteosarcoma. The prognosis is poor.