Standardized approach to the conservative surgery of hepatic cystic echinococcosis: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery is the mainstay of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE). The conservative surgery of HCE carries a non-negligible risk of recurrence and significant morbidity, dominated by Deep Surgical Site Infections (DSSI). To address these issues, we have improved and standardized this technique, which could reduce complications and achieve better postoperative outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study from June 2017 to June 2022 involving of patient operated using a standardized open technique for uncomplicated HCE at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. The aim was to obtain results at least similar to radical management in terms of DSSI. Patients with large cystobiliary fistulas or patients with complicated cysts were excluded. RESULTS: Fifty patients with 106 cysts were operated using the standardized technique comprising of liver mobilization, intraoperative ultrasound, systematic methylene blue injection to detect cystobiliary fistulas and omentoplasty. The median age of the patients was 44(semi-interquartile range: 16) years. The main symptom described by the patient was pain in 43 cases (86%). An abnormal liver test was found in 20 cases (40%). On imaging studies, the cyst had a median size of 7.4(3.0) cm. Cyst of the hepatic dome accounted for 38 cases (35.8%) with most cysts being situated in the right hemi-liver. Visual inspection of the cavity and Methylene blue testing allowed for the discovery of 57 cysts (53.7%) that had cystobiliary fistulas that were sutured. Omentoplasty was performed in 77 cysts (72.6%). Postoperatively, only 2 cases (1.9%) developed a DSSI in the form of an external bile leak with resolved with conservative management. No case of recurrence was found after a median follow-up of 24 months. CONCLUSION: The standardized conservative surgical technique, in selected patients, shows promise in reducing DSSI rates and overall morbidity, and achieve as equally good result as radical management.

Predictive factors of occult cystobiliary fistulas during conservative treatment of hepatic hydatid cyst: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Occult cystobiliary fistula (CBF) is a common complication of hepatic hydatid cyst (HHC). It is often the cause of high morbidity of conservative treatment of HHC. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors of occult CBF to establish the indications for the investigation and treatment of these CBFs. METHODS: This was a prospective study that included all operated HHCs over a 3-year period. HHCs complicated with large CBFs were not included in the study. Systematic cholecystectomy and methylene blue test for all cysts were performed. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients operated on with 113 cysts were included in this study. The median cyst size was 6.7 cm (IQR, 1-38). A total of 114 CBFs were detected in 51 cysts (45.1%). The postoperative course was simple in 95.0% of cases. The specific morbidity rate was 2.7%. In a bivariate study, absence of mass and abdominal pain on palpation, hemoglobin level >11.55 g/dL, negative hydatid serology, cyst size, absence of calcifications, vascular compression, existence of a single cyst, and localization at segment VIII were predictive factors of occult CBF. At the end of the multivariate study, cyst size was determined to be the only predictive factor for occult CBF. A threshold of 3 cm was used. CONCLUSION: Cyst size is a major predictive factor for occult CBF.

A case report of primary pancreatic lymphoma revealed by an acute pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is a rare malignancy. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the predominant subtype, often affecting the pancreatic head in elderly males. Due to its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, PPL is frequently misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary surgeries. This case report discusses the diagnosis and management of PPL in a 47-year-old female, emphasizing the challenges in its identification. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old female with no medical history presented with severe epigastric pain and jaundice. Diagnosed initially as acute pancreatitis. The abdominal CT scan showed a tumor in the head of the pancreas suggesting pancreatic adenocarcinoma invading the vessels, making it minimally borderline. However, due to the presence of large intra- and retroperitoneal lymph nodes casting doubt on the diagnosis, we further investigated with an MRI and Endoscopic Ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration, which ruled out adenocarcinoma and confirmed a pancreatic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy with CHOP, showing significant improvement after six cycles. DISCUSSION: Primitive pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, often mimicking other pancreatic diseases. B-cell lymphomas, especially diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), are common in PPL. Diagnostic criteria include the bulk of disease in the pancreas, no splenic or hepatic involvement, and normal white blood cell count. Imaging modalities aid in diagnosis, but histopathological evaluation is essential. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, with rituximab-based regimens being common for DLBCL. CONCLUSIONS: B-cell pancreatic lymphoma poses diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms. A definitive diagnosis requires histopathological evidence, often obtained through minimally invasive procedures like endosonography-guided biopsy. Treatment involves chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation, with early detection correlating with improved outcomes. Surgery's role is limited due to the diffuse nature of the disease. This case underscores the importance of considering PPL in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses, especially in atypical clinical presentations.

Viability predictive factors of the daughter vesicles in hepatic cystic echinococcosis.

INTRODUCTION: Management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) requires knowledge of certain aspects related to the survival of Echinococcus granulosus. The viability of daughter vesicles (DV) is a determining factor in guiding therapeutic indications, particularly for transiently active Cysts type CE3b. PURPOSE: To determine the predictive factors of DV viability and its impact on the therapeutic management of CE3b type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective pilot study with an analytical aim on patients with cystic echinococcosis of the liver type CE2 and CE3b, operated in the General Surgery Department of Habib-Bourguiba Academic Hospital, Sfax-Tunisia for 22 months from March 2018 until December 2019. The unit of the study is the DV. A parasitological study of the DV was done in the parasitology laboratory. RESULTS: During the study period, 27 (40.9%) of 66 operated CE Disease from 21 patients containing 248 DV were explored. The median viability of DV protoscoleces was 16.7%. In bivariate analysis, factors for viability of DV protoscoleces were: fever, acute cholangitis, hyperbilirubinemia, left liver location, rock water and bilious echinococcal fluid (EF), cyst size ≥ 43 mm, Intracystic pressure ≥ 35 mmHg, DV size ≥ 6.5 mm, volume, number of DV/cyst ≥ 5, and opaque wall (p < 0.05). Predictive factors for the Non-viability of DV were: CE3b type, purulent EF, gelatinous EF. In multivariate analysis, only CE2 type, cyst size ≥ 43 mm, number of DV/cyst ≥ 5 and DV size ≥ 6.5 mm were factors significantly associated with the viability of DV protoscoleces. CONCLUSION: CE3b cysts without the criteria of viability of DV protoscoleces may become candidates for the 'Wait-and-Watch' procedure.