Incidental presentation of appendix neuroendocrine tumor: Long-term results from a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Appendix neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are the most common tumors of the appendix and are most often diagnosed incidentally. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate appendix NETs diagnosed incidentally in our clinic. METHODS: Of 8304 patients who underwent appendectomy with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in Ankara Training and Re-search Hospital, General Surgery Clinic between January 2009 and January 2022, 33 had histopathology results evaluated as appendix NET, and a retrospective analysis was made of these cases. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, tumor infiltration, tumor location, tumor size, surgical margin, tumor World Health Organization grade, surgery performed, lymph node metastasis, Ki67 index, number of mitosis, follow-up time, and survival. RESULTS: The rate of appendix NET was found to be 0.4%. The 33 cases comprised 15 (45.5%) males and 18 (54.5%) females with a mean age of 35.48 years (range: 16-84 years). Positive surgical margin was determined in 1 (3.03%) case, in which right hemicolectomy was performed. All other cases were followed up after appendectomy. The median follow-up was 89 (7-145) months. No recurrence was observed in any case. Mortality developed during follow-up in one case due to non-tumoral causes. CONCLUSION: Appendix NETs are generally asymptomatic and appear incidentally after appendectomy due to acute appendicitis. Appendix NETs diagnosed incidentally are generally below 2 cm and have a good prognosis.

An effective and reliable marker in grading the severity of acute cholecystitis: Increased immature granulocyte percentage.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is an acute inflammatory disease of gallbladder and it is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain. Determining the severity of AC at hospital admission is extremely important to choose the most effective treatment method and predict vital prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of immature granulocyte percentage (IG%) in grading AC severity. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out on 528 patients hospitalized due to AC diagnosis. Demographic data, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IG%, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and imaging results of patients were recorded. Furthermore, patients' length of hospital stay was determined. Tokyo Guidelines were used to grade AC severity. According to this grading, patients were classified into three groups as grade 1 (mild), grade 2 (moderate), and grade 3 (severe) AC. Differences among groups were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: There were 386 patients (73.1%) in the mild AC group, 102 patients (19.3%) in the moderate AC group, and 40 patients (7.6%) in the severe AC group. WBC, NLR, CRP and IG% were significant parameters in discriminating mild AC from moderate and severe AC. However, only IG% was a significant parameter in discriminating moderate AC from severe AC. Moreover, the power of IG% to discriminate between patients with mild and moderate AC and those with severe AC was dramatically higher than the other parameters. CONCLUSION: Increased IG% is seen as an effective and reliable predictor in the early determination of AC severity.

Role of immature granulocytes and total bilirubin values in the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis in patients over 65 years.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of immature granulocyte count, immature granulocyte percentage, and total bilirubin value in predicting complicated and perforated appendicitis in patients aged 65 years and older with a diagnosis of appendicitis. METHODS: In this study, 84 patients, aged 65 years and older, who had appendectomy demographic information, preoperative white blood cell count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, immature granulocyte count and immature granulocyte percentage, operation findings, and pathology results were collected retrospectively. They were grouped into 4 categories: complicated, non-complicated, perforated, and non-perforated, according to the data and surgical findings. RESULTS: Total bilirubin and immature granulocyte count were found to be statistically significant in predicting complicated and perforated appendicitis in patients aged 65 years and older with a diagnosis of appendicitis. The total bilirubin was found to have the following values in differentiating complicated appendicitis: area under the curve=0.883, sensitivity=78.3%, and specificity=88.5%. Total bilirubin had the highest discrimination power with area under the curve=0.804 in differentiating perforation. CONCLUSION: The immature granulocyte percentage and total bilirubin count are the fast, inexpensive, and reliable parameters that can be used to predict complicated and perforated appendicitis in patients aged 65 years and older.

Role of immature granulocytes and total bilirubin values in the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis in patients over 65 years

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of immature granulocyte count, immature granulocyte percentage, and total bilirubin value in predicting complicated and perforated appendicitis in patients aged 65 years and older with a diagnosis of appendicitis. METHODS: In this study, 84 patients, aged 65 years and older, who had appendectomy demographic information, preoperative white blood cell count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, immature granulocyte count and immature granulocyte percentage, operation findings, and pathology results were collected retrospectively. They were grouped into 4 categories: complicated, non-complicated, perforated, and non-perforated, according to the data and surgical findings. RESULTS: Total bilirubin and immature granulocyte count were found to be statistically significant in predicting complicated and perforated appendicitis in patients aged 65 years and older with a diagnosis of appendicitis. The total bilirubin was found to have the following values in differentiating complicated appendicitis: area under the curve=0.883, sensitivity=78.3%, and specificity=88.5%. Total bilirubin had the highest discrimination power with area under the curve=0.804 in differentiating perforation. CONCLUSION: The immature granulocyte percentage and total bilirubin count are the fast, inexpensive, and reliable parameters that can be used to predict complicated and perforated appendicitis in patients aged 65 years and older.

Primary anorectal malignant melanomas: retrospective analysis of 11 cases in a single center.

OBJECTIVES: Anorectal malignant melanoma is a rare tumor with poor prognosis. In this study, it was aimed to present our surgical results by reviewing the literature retrospectively in 11 patients who underwent surgery for ARMM in our clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients who underwent surgery for anorectal malignant melanoma in Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital between 2007-2018 were included in the study. RESULTS: Four patients were males and seven were females. Mean age was 54.18. The tumor was in the rectum in 4 cases, in the anorectal region in 3 cases and in the anal canal in 4 cases. Wide local excision was performed in 3 cases and APR was performed in 8 cases. Four of the cases were stage I, 6 were stage II and 1 was stage III. Mean tumor size was 4.73 cm, and mean tumor depth was 13.6 mm. Mean number of metastatic lymph nodes was 10.37. Median survival was 12 months. CONCLUSION: Anorectal malignant melanoma is a type of tumor diagnosed in late and advanced stages due to lack of specific findings. Although ARMM is rare, when rectal bleeding, pain, hemorrhoids and changes in bowel habits are observed, ARMM should be kept in mind.

An Evaluation of the Effect of Preoperative Inflammation-based Factors on Survival in Gastric Cancer Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive effect of preoperative inflammatory factors on overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of General Surgery, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, between January 2011 and October 2020. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective examination of 207 patients was made from the demographic, preoperative, and postoperative clinical pathology records of patients diagnosed with GAC. Demographic data, pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, preoperative inflammatory factors including neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and aspartate transaminase (AST)-alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) ratio, red cell distribution width (RDW), and hypoalbuminemia were statistically analysed in respect of the effect on OS. RESULTS: Overall survival was determined to be significantly shorter in patients with age >65 years (p = 0.001), advanced TNM stage (p <0.001), tumor size >4.7 cm (p = 0.007), AST-ALT ratio >1.21 (p = 0.017), and hypoalbuminemia (<35 g / L) (p = 0.018). In Cox regression analysis for all factors affecting OS, age >65 years (p = 0.002) and TNM stage 1B (p = 0.004) and 2A (p = 0.039) were determined as independent predictors of survival. The values of NLR, PLR, and RDW were not statistically significant between the groups with and without mortality (p=0.066, p=0.283, p=0.501, respectively). CONCLUSION: Inflammation-based factors including AST-ALT ratio and albumin can help assess prognosis in patients with gastric cancer in standard clinical preoperative tests. Key Words: Gastric cancer, Inflammation-based factors, Aspartate transaminase-alanine aminotransaminase ratio, Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, Platelet-lymphocyte ratio, Albumin, Tumor-node-metastasis staging, Overall survival.

Assessment of Ankaferd Blood Stopper in experimental liver ischemia reperfusion injury

Background/aim: To investigate possible protective effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS) in an experimental liver ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) model. Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 30 female rats separated into 3 groups as sham, control (IRI), and treatment (IRI + ABS) groups. In the IRI + ABS group, 0.5 mL/day ABS was given for 7 days before surgery. In the IRI and IRI + ABS groups, the hepatic pedicle was clamped for 30 min to apply ischemia. Then, after opening the clamp, 90-min reperfusion of the liver was provided. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results: Compared to the sham group, the IRI group had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), fluorescent oxidant products (FOP) and lower expression of albumin and total antioxidant status (TAS) (P < 0.05). Compared to the IRI group, the IRI+ABS group showed lower expression of AST, ALT, TOS, MDA and FOP and higher expression of albumin and TAS (P < 0.05). In the histopathological analysis, congestion scores were statistically significantly lower in the IRI + ABS group than in the IRI group. Conclusions: ABS has a strong hepatoprotective effect due to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects and could therefore be used as a potential therapeutic agent for IRI.

How much Reliable Is Alvarado Scoring System in Reducing Negative Appendectomy?

There is still an ongoing debate, especially regarding early diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Early surgery leads to inadequate evaluation of acute abdominal pain and negative appendectomy, whereas delayed surgery leads to appendicitis perforation complications. The diagnosis of this condition is considerably difficult, especially due to subtle early symptoms and clinical condition. The aim of the present study was to identify whether the Alvarado scoring system could reduce the incidence of negative appendectomy in patients who will undergo surgery for acute appendicitis. Patients who underwent surgery with acute appendicitis prediagnosis were retrospectively classified as negative appendectomies (group A) and positive appendectomies (group B) according to histological diagnosis. All groups were evaluated for age, gender, Alvarado scores, and parameters. Two hundred eighty-one patients were included in the study. Group A contained 71 (25.3 %) patients, and group B contained 210 (74.7 %) patients. There was a significant difference in WBC, left shift, rebound, and change of pain localization between the groups (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.023, respectively). Alvarado scores were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.001). In logistic model examination, the major factor was the Alvarado score (7 or above) and the minor factor was spreading pain. The Alvarado scoring system can be used to reduce negative appendectomy in patients who will undergo surgery with acute appendicitis.

Intracystic Carcinoma of the Breast: Report of Two Cases.

Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast (IPC) is usually seen in postmenopausal elderly women. Its prognosis is much better than other type of breast tumors, and usually do not contain invasive components. Surgical excision with negative margins and axillary sentinel lymph node sampling is the recommended treatment. Two cases of intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast that was treated at our clinic are herein presented. Both cases were postmenopausal, were both positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors and negative for HER 2. They underwent breast-conserving surgery. One patient had an invasive focus, therefore axillary lymph node sampling was performed, and the sentinel lymph node was not metastatic. This patient received hormonal therapy as well as radiotherapy. In the other case, there was no invasive focus and the surgical margins were negative, therefore, additional surgery was not performed. The patient is receiving hormonal therapy. Intracystic carcinoma of the breast should be kept in mind especially in elderly patients with breast cysts, with clinically or radiologically suspicious features, and biopsy and local excision should be considered. Although there is not any standard approach for patients with IPC, each patient must be evaluated for surgery and should be individually assessed in terms of adjuvant therapy.

Do intestinal parasitic infestations in patients with clinically acute appendicitis increase the rate of negative laparotomy? Analysis of 3863 cases from Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Acute appendicitis is the most frequently observed disease requiring emergency surgery. The role of parasites in its pathogenesis has long been discussed. The signs of the parasitic infestations can mimic the signs of acute appendicitis. Therefore, it can cause a negative laparotomy. AIM: To evaluate the parasitic infestations of the appendix vermiformis whether increas the rate of negative laparotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The histopathology results of a total of 3863 patients who underwent appendectomy with clinically acute appendicitis were evaluated retrospectively. All appendectomy materials in which parasites were observed were evaluated with respect to the nature of the parasites and the findings of inflammation. Cases in which parasite tissue fragments and/or eggs as well as findings of inflammation were histopathologically observed in the appendix lumen were diagnosed with parasitic appendicitis. RESULTS: Evidence of parasites was observed in 19 (0.49%) of the evaluated appendectomy materials. In 9 (47.3%) of these specimens that had evidence for parasites, findings for acute appendicitis and localized peritonitis were identified. Findings of acute appendicitis had not been identified in the other ten (52.7%) of the specimens. Enterobius vermicularis was the most frequently identified parasite. CONCLUSIONS: In parasitic acute appendicitis, appendectomy in itself is not sufficient for treatment. Pharmacological treatment should also be administered after surgery. Patients should be evaluated prior to surgery for parasites, and diagnosis of acute appendicitis should be considered more cautiously in order to avoid negative laparotomies.

A Rare Cause of Jaundice Following Cholecystectomy: Compression by the Silicon Drain.

Jaundice that develops following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a troublesome experience for the surgeon which requires invasive management after a challenging diagnosis period. Jaundice is. We aimed to present our experience with a rare complication of jaundice in a patient that occurred due to the compression of an isolated drain without choledoc canal injury. A 63-year-old female patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallstone. The patient developed post-operative jaundice which was detected by upper abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to result from compression by the silicon drain on main hepatic canal. The patient was discharged upon removal of the silicon drain with recovery in biochemical and radiological parameters. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to report jaundice developing due to extrahepatic bile duct obstruction caused by isolated drain compression. Although this rare complication can be diagnosed by radiological workup and managed by simple surgical intervention, we believe that it requires consideration among other possible complications during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.