Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a review of 31 patients.

BACKGROUND: Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare inflammatory gallbladder disease which is difficult to diagnose and treat; XGC may be confused with gallbladder cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological features and surgical outcomes, with the aim to determine the appropriate treatment approaches for XGC. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcomes of 31 patients (2.0%) who were diagnosed with XGC based on histopathological findings among 1513 patients who underwent cholecystectomy at our hospital between January 2010 and July 2019. RESULTS: Preoperative ultrasonography and computed tomography findings indicated acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, and suspicious XGC in 26 (83.9%) patients with thickening of the gallbladder wall and suspicious gallbladder cancer in 5 (16.1%) patients. Abdominal pain and jaundice were observed in 18 (58.1%) patients and 5 (16.1%) patients, respectively. Biliary drainage before surgery was performed in 21 (67.7%) patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which was performed in 23 (74.2%) patients, was converted to open cholecystectomy in 12 (52.2%) of these 23 patients. Among the patients with other diseases treated during the study period, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1377 patients and converted to open surgery in 71 (5.2%) patients. Five patients with suspicious gallbladder cancer underwent open surgery. In these patients, intraoperative frozen section analysis was useful in distinguishing between XGC and gallbladder cancer and was important in avoiding unnecessarily extended surgery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for XGC is possible, but often difficult due to severe inflammation. The frequency of conversion to open surgery is higher in patients with XGC than those with other forms of cholecystitis. XGC may resemble gallbladder cancer based on the diagnostic imaging findings, and intraoperative frozen section analysis is essential to avoid unnecessarily extended surgery.

Calcification and abscess formation around the catheter tip of a central venous access port: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein occasionally occurs in association with long-term placement of a central venous catheter; however, such complications rarely involve calcification within the blood vessels. We report a case of calcification and abscess formation around a central venous catheter tip. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient was an 84-year-old Asian woman who developed a fever that had started approximately 5 months after the placement of a central venous catheter. At the time of presentation, blood tests showed a marked inflammatory response, and chest computed tomography showed a high absorption area and air density around the catheter tip. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with abnormal intravascular calcification and a deep neck abscess associated with long-term central venous catheter placement. The initial plan was to administer antibiotics and remove the central venous catheter. However, central venous catheter removal was deemed difficult due to the calcification and therefore required an incision. Because of the patient's advanced age and dementia, her family requested antibiotic treatment only. Following antibiotic treatment, the patient's inflammatory response normalized, and her fever resolved. The treatment was discontinued, and the patient's condition gradually stabilized. CONCLUSIONS: Catheter-related complications of central venous catheter placement include vascular occlusion, extravasation of the infusion, and infection. However, abnormal calcification in the blood vessels is extremely rare, and there has been only one case report of a neonate with central venous catheter-related vascular calcification in Japan. The etiology of intravascular calcification is considered to be related to the infusion content and the infusion rate of high caloric infusions and blood products. The incidence of complications associated with long-term central venous catheter placement is expected to increase with the increasing aging of the population and advances in chemotherapy. The report of the clinical course of this rare case adds to the body of knowledge in this area.

A clinical comparison of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for the treatment of complicated appendicitis: historical cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Appendectomy is one of the most common operations. Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is considered first-line treatment, but the use of LA for treatment of complicated appendicitis remains controversial. Here, we performed a retrospective analysis to compare clinical outcomes between patients treated with LA and those who underwent open appendectomy (OA). METHODS: Data for 179 patients who underwent an operation for the treatment of complicated appendicitis at our hospital between 2011 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The selection included 89 patients who underwent a conventional appendectomy and 90 patients who were treated laparoscopically. Outcome measures such as mean operative time, blood loss, time until oral intake duration of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the concurrent effects of the examined factors on the rate of postoperative complications. RESULTS: The mean ages of patients in the OA and LA groups were 50.17 ± 22.77 and 50.13 ± 25.84 year. Mean operative times were longer in the LA group than OA (10.2.56 ± 44.4 versus 85.4 ± 43.11 min; p = 0.009). The duration of hospital stay was shorter for the LA group (9.61 ± 5.57 versus 12.19 ± 8.4; p = 0.016). There were no significant differences in return to consumption of oral intake between the LA and OA groups (2.03 ± 1.66 versus 2.48 ± 2.17; p = 0.123). Multivariable analysis found that the rate of postoperative complications was significantly reduced for the LA group, in comparison with the postoperative-complication rate of the OA group (16.7% versus 27%; odds ratio 0.376; 95% CI 0.153-0.923; p = 0.0327). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that LA is a safe and efficient operative procedure that provides clinically beneficial advantages in comparison with OA. Thus, when possible, appendectomy for complicated appendicitis should be attempted using a laparoscopic approach. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Additional surgery after endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal cancer: a review of 53 cases.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) allows the en bloc resection of tumors and is particularly indicated for T1 colorectal cancer. The number of patients undergoing additional surgery after colorectal ESD is increasing. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcomes in patients with additional surgery. METHODS: Of 1018 patients who underwent colorectal ESD in our hospital between February 2010 and July 2018, 53 patients who underwent additional surgery in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed and investigated for their clinicopathological characteristics. The need for additional surgery was determined by a pathological examination according to the guideline [1]. RESULTS: In total, 53 patients (24 men, 29 women; mean age, 68.2 years; mean tumor diameter, 30.5 mm) were included. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 47 (88.7%) patients. Liver metastases were preoperatively observed in one patient, for whom hepatectomy was simultaneously performed. All procedures included pathological R0 resection. Postoperative complications occurred in 9 (17.0%) patients. There were no complications requiring reoperation. Fifteen (28.3%) patients had a positive vertical margin; of these patients, residual tumor was observed in the resected specimens of two (13.3%) patients. Eight patients (15.1%) had lymph node metastasis (LNM): four (25.0%) and four (10.8%) of 16 and 37 patients with and without vascular invasion, respectively. Eleven patients (20.8%) had grade 2 or 3 tumor budding, and four (36.4%) of these had LNM. Postoperative recurrence was observed in two (3.8%) patients. CONCLUSION: Additional surgery after ESD for T1 colorectal cancer was effective and had good long-term outcomes.

[Two Cases of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Simultaneous Liver Metastasis with Long-Term Recurrence-Free Survival].

We report 2 cases of postoperative long-term survival of gastric cancer with synchronous liver metastasis. Case 1 was a 65- year-old man. Examination for anemia revealed advanced type 5 cancer in the antrum and suspected invasion of the transverse colon. A nodule 15mm in diameter suspected to be metastasis was also found in the liver S2. As no unresectable factors were present, partial hepatectomy, partial transverse colon resection, and distal gastrectomy were performed. Postoperatively, S-1 chemotherapy was administered for 14 months. Seven years after surgery, the patient is alive without recurrence. Case 2 was a 67-year-old woman. Examination for anemia revealed advanced type 2 cancer in the lower gastric body and a nodule 12mm in diameter suspected to be liver metastasis in the liver S8. Partial resection of the liver, total gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, and splenectomy were performed because no unresectable factors were observed. Postoperatively, chemotherapy with S-1 was administered for 38 months. Six years after surgery, she is alive without recurrence. Although there is no clear evidence for radical surgery for gastric cancer with simultaneous liver metastases, these results indicate that resection may be considered in cases with small numbers of metastases.

A case report of primary pancreatic leiomyosarcoma requiring six additional resections for recurrences.

INTRODUCTION: Primary pancreatic leiomyosarcoma is extremely rare. We report a case in which six additional resections were required to treat recurrent tumors in a 5-year period following the primary operation. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 69-year-old man presented with a pancreatic tumor. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a large heterogeneous mass with a necrotic area arising from the pancreatic body. We performed distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and wide resection of the transverse mesocolon. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a pancreatic leiomyosarcoma. We repeatedly performed surgery on recurrent tumors. DISCUSSION: Primary pancreatic leiomyosarcoma is considered to be a highly aggressive malignancy. The most effective treatment is complete surgical resection with tumor-free margins. Even when tumors recur, it is possible to improve the prognosis by further resection. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival is achievable by repeated resection of recurrent tumors.