|
 
 |
| LETTER TO EDITOR |
|
| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 4 | Page : 155 |
|
Adenocarcinoma: A surprise diagnosis in a middle-aged woman with retroperitoneal teratoma
Mahmood Dhahir Al-Mendalawi
Department of Paediatrics, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| Date of Web Publication | 17-Jan-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
Prof. Mahmood Dhahir Al-Mendalawi
Department of Paediatrics, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, P. O. Box: 55302, Baghdad Post Office, Baghdad
Iraq
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/LJMS.LJMS_63_18
How to cite this article:
Al-Mendalawi MD. Adenocarcinoma: A surprise diagnosis in a middle-aged woman with retroperitoneal teratoma. Libyan J Med Sci 2018;2:155 |
I read with interest the case report by Thambi et al.[1] published in July–September 2018 issue of the Libyan Journal of Medical Sciences. The authors nicely described adenocarcinoma, a rare somatic malignancy, arising in a retroperitoneal teratoma (RPT) in a 29-year-old Indian patient.[1] Regrettably, they did not attempt to explain that rare malignant transformation in the studied patient. I assume that the following point might be relevant. It is explicit that due to immunosuppression, coinfection with oncogenic viruses, and life prolongation secondary to the use of antiretroviral therapy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals have increased susceptibility to have tumors.[2] Among these individuals, coinfection with oncogenic viruses, including Epstein–Barr virus, human herpesvirus-8, and human papillomavirus could result in the significant malignancy-related morbidity and mortality. It has been suggested that these viruses interact with HIV in unique ways that predispose HIV-infected individuals to malignant diseases.[3] I assume that HIV could play an important role in arising one tumor in another through yet unrecognized molecular and cellular and mechanisms. In-depth researches are in need to verify that postulation. To my knowledge, India is among Asian countries facing the distressing consequences of HIV infection. The available data pointed out to 0.26% HIV seroprevalence compared with a global average of 0.2%.[4] I assume that underlying HIV infection ought to be seriously taken into consideration in the studied patient, and hence, HIV testing through the diagnostic panel of blood CD4 lymphocyte count and viral overload estimations was envisaged. If these measurements were to show HIV positivity, the case in question could be truly regarded a novel case report. This is because adenocarcinoma arising in a RPT in HIV-positive patient has never been reported in the world literature to date.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Thambi R, Johnson G, Leelamma JP. Adenocarcinoma: A surprise diagnosis in a middle-aged woman with retroperitoneal teratoma. Libyan J Med Sci 2018;2:111-3.  [Full text] |
| 2. | Valencia Ortega ME. Malignancies and infection due to the human immunodeficiency virus. Are these emerging diseases? Rev Clin Esp 2018;218:149-55. |
| 3. | Arora A, Chiao E, Tyring SK. AIDS malignancies. Cancer Treat Res 2007;133:21-67. |
| 4. | Paranjape RS, Challacombe SJ. HIV/AIDS in India: An overview of the Indian epidemic. Oral Dis 2016;22 Suppl 1:10-4. |
|
Search Pubmed for