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Background: Dabrafenib (D) and trametinib (T) improved survival in patients with BRAFV600 mut melanoma. High plasma concentration of D (PCD) is weakly associated with adverse events (AE). We investigated the relationship between PCD/T and tumour control or AE., Methods: We analysed PCD/T in patients treated with D+T for metastatic melanoma. We collected data of tumour response (RECIST 1.1) and AE (CTCAE 4.0) blinded to PCD/T results., Results: We analysed 71 D and 58T assays from 34 patients. High inter-individual variability of PCD (median: 65.0ng/mL; interquartile range (IQR) [4-945]) and of PCT (median: 8.6ng/mL; IQR [5-39]) was observed. We found a weak relationship between PCD and progression-free survival, taking follow-up time into account (hazard ratio 0.991; 95%CI, 0.981 to 1.000; P=0.06). However, no difference was observed between mean PCD/T of progressing patients (n=21; 125±183ng/mL and 9.3±3.6ng/mL, respectively) and responders (complete, partial or stable response) (n=13; 159±225ng/mL, P=0.58 and 10.6±24.4ng/mL, P=0.29, respectively). No significant relationship was found between PCD/T and most common AEs (fever, lymphopenia, CPK increase, and hepatic cytolysis), body mass index, or age. Mean CPT (n=16) was significantly higher for female subjects (n=18; 11.5±4.8ng/mL) than for male subjects (8.8ng/mL±2.9, P=0.01), but no difference was observed between sex and CPD (P=0.32)., Conclusion: Our study showed a weak relationship between PCD and progression-free survival, but no relationship between PCD/T and AE was found. Monitoring PCD and PCT alone is unlikely to be useful in assessing response to treatment., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Facial palsy can be defined as a decrease in function of the facial nerve, the primary motor nerve of the facial muscles. When the facial palsy is peripheral, it affects both the superior and inferior areas of the face as opposed to central palsies, which affect only the inferior portion. The main cause of peripheral facial palsies is Bell's palsy, which remains a diagnosis of exclusion. The prognosis is good in most cases. In cases with significant cosmetic sequelae, a variety of surgical procedures are available (such as hypoglossal-facial anastomosis, temporalis myoplasty and Tenzel external canthopexy) to rehabilitate facial aesthetics and function., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Due to ongoing technological advances, the range of clinical applications for diffusion-weighted MR imaging has expanded to now include abdominal pathology. Current applications for liver pathology include two main directions. First, oncologic imaging with detection, characterization and follow-up of lesions. Second, evaluation of diffuse liver diseases, including hepatic fibrosis. The diagnostic impact and role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging remain under investigation, but appear promising. Because of its short acquisition time, sensitivity, and additional information it provides, diffusion-weighted MR imaging should be included in routine liver imaging protocols.

Cystic lesions of the pancreas, with an estimated prevalence of 20%, frequently are incidental findings at imaging on asymptomatic patients. Pseudocysts, typically in a setting of pancreatitis, should first be excluded. Characterization of cystic tumors is more complicated. Still, it is important to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Multi-detector row CT and MRI allow characterization of such lesions in over 75% of cases. Indeterminate lesions should undergo endoscopic US with biopsy/aspiration and fluid analysis, especially for mucin producing tumors (rounded with thick enhancing wall). When imaging fails to fully characterize a lesion, follow-up may be proposed for lesions less than 3 cm in size, that are either unilocular with thin nonenhancing wall (simple cyst) or lobulated multilocular with thin nonenhancing wall (serous cystadenoma, isolated side branch IPMTP). Follow-up imaging shows that these tumors usually show very little change over time. Management is based on comparing estimated patient survival without treatment to surgical risks (morbidity, mortality, functional sequelae from the procedure).

Intracranial metastases account for up to 35% of intracranial tumors in adult. They can involve any part of the central nervous system: brain, meninges and cranial nerves. Any systemic tumor can metastasize to the brain; the most common primaries include lung, breast and melanoma. Imaging plays a major role in the evaluation and management of patients with metastatic brain tumors. This article discusses optimal CT and MR imaging protocols and describes imaging features and distinguishing characteristics of cerebral and meningeal metastases.

Background: It is currently thought that young adults are at increasing risk of exposure to deleterious sources of noise. To test this possibility we have assessed hearing status of young French men aged between 18 and 24 years in 1997 and study risk factors of deafness in a cross-sectional epidemiological study at selection centres for aptitudes to National Service., Methods: During the time of the study, 1208 subjects were examined. For each subject, data of an interview, an otoscopy and audiograms were collected. We compared hearing thresholds between subjects with different noise exposures and we determined risk factors of deafness in this population., Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was 9% at medium frequencies (0.5-2 kHz) and 15% at high frequencies (4-8 kHz).We found that 60% of the subjects were regularly exposed to at least one source of loud noise. Acoustic trauma (6%) mostly explained hearing losses. Repeated episodes of otitis media in childhood (17%) also emerged as an important risk factor apparently due to increased sensitivity to noise. In subjects with antecedent of otitis media, hearing impairments were significant in personal stereo users (>1 hour per day) (p<0.001), in those who went to discos and rock concerts (>2 times per month) (p=0.01) and in those who worked in noisy places (p=0.01). In contrast, in subjects without antecedent of otitis, we found no difference in hearing thresholds between noise exposed and non noise exposed subjects., Conclusions: Loud sound exposure is a true risk factor of early deafness in subjects that had had repeated episodes of otitis media in childhood. This study stresses the need for both prevention policies and information of health professionals and practitioners.

46 cases of epithelioma of the penis treated by endocurietherapy (Iridium 192) are analysed, with a minimum follow up to of 5 years. The local results appear to be excellent for small lesions, of the order of 20 mm, with only 2 recurrences out of 14 cases. With a slight potential of lymphatic spread, 12 of the patients are apparently cured. The organ has been preserved in perfect functional state. More extensive lesions, but less than 40 mm in size, have a less satisfactory prognosis by virtue of more frequent lymph node spread, difficult to control, and their general course. However local results remain quite respectable, despite 5 recurrences out of 25 cases, 3 of which were easily "salvaged" by surgery. 12 of these patients are apparently cured and in 9 the organ has been preserved in satisfactory functional condition. By contrast, massive forms, larger than 40 mm, recur or necrose and thus represent a poor indication for curietherapy. In conclusion it may be said that endocurietherapy for carcinoma of the penis, by virtue of a technique rendered opitmal by accurate prior dosimetry, is certainly an excellent therapeutic option for all small or moderately extensive lesions, avoiding mutilation. The presence of lymph node involvement has an unfavourable influence on prognosis.

The aim of the work was the evaluation of the dose delivered to the axilla during endocurietherapy for carcinoma of the breast using Iridium 192. The position of the radioactive material with respect to the axillary zone differing with the patient seated or lying, the authors carried out an vivo dosimetric study using Lithium fluoride. They refer to the chief properties of Lithium fluoride which render it the dosimetric agent of choice for clinical work and give details of their experimental conditions, stressing the problems encountered in practice (response in relation to dose, mass of thermoluminescent powder to use, fading, regeneration etc.). They then describe the technique used for placing the thermoluminescent dosimeter in the axillary zone adjacent to the target volume irradiated. Results concerning 43 patients made possible the establishment of a significant correlation between the dose delivered to the axillary region and the site of implantation of the radioactive material in the breast, and show that, with identical tumour doses, this dose is little dependent upon the structure of the radioactive implant itself. They conclude that the dose delivered to the axillary region is of the order of 25% of the tumour dose if the radioactive implant is localised in the axillary tail, 10% if it is in the upper outer quadrant and negligeable if it is elsewhere.