Aesthetic Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction in Laparoscopic vs. Open Incisional Hernia Repair: Have We Asked the Patients?

Background: Incisional hernias are predominantly treated through open or laparoscopic surgery, with each method influencing recovery and patient-reported outcomes. This underscores the need for reliable assessment tools such as the EuraHS-QoL questionnaire to evaluate quality of life after surgery. Methods: This prospective single-center study was aimed at evaluating aestethic outcomes and patient satisfaction following laparoscopic versus open hernia repair. It involved 222 patients categorized by type of approach. The EuraHS-QoL questionnaire was used preoperatively and at 1- and 3-months post-surgery, with data analysis performed using Origin Pro 2018 and SPSS software version 28.0. Results: Among the participants, 152 were females and 70 males, with 78% undergoing open surgery and 22% laparoscopic. Findings revealed superior patient outcomes with laparoscopic repair in terms of pain management, daily activities, and aesthetic satisfaction. Patients reported significantly lower pain levels and fewer restrictions in daily activities post-laparoscopic surgery. While initial postoperative cosmetic results favored laparoscopic methods, the perceived differences in abdominal shape diminished over time. Conclusions: Laparoscopic repair significantly improves quality of life compared to open surgery, as shown by EuraHS-QoL scores. These results support the use of laparoscopic techniques in appropriate cases due to their benefits in pain reduction and faster functional recovery.

Emergency and Elective Colorectal Cancer-Relationship between Clinical Factors, Tumor Topography and Surgical Strategies: A Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of the study was to analyze the relationships among several clinical factors and also the tumor topography and surgical strategies used in patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: We designed an analytical, observational, retrospective study that included patients admitted to our emergency surgical department and diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The study group inclusion criteria were: patients admitted during 2020-2022; patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (including the ileocecal valve); patients who benefited from a surgical procedure, either emergency or elective. Results: In our study group, consisting of 153 patients, we accounted for 56.9% male patients and 43.1% female patients. The most common clinical manifestations were pain (73.2% of the study group), followed by abdominal distension (69.3% of the study group) and absence of intestinal transit (38.6% of the study group). A total of 69 patients had emergency surgery (45.1%), while 84 patients (54.9%) benefited from elective surgery. The most frequent topography of the tumor was the sigmoid colon, with 19.60% of the patients, followed by the colorectal junction, with 15.68% of the patients, and superior rectum and inferior rectum, with 11.11% of the patients in each subcategory. The most frequent type of procedure was right hemicolectomy (21.6% of the study group), followed by rectosigmoid resection (20.9% of the study group). The surgical procedure was finished by performing an anastomosis in 49% of the patients, and an ostomy in 43.1% of the patients, while for 7.8% of the patients, a tumoral biopsy was performed. Conclusions: Colorectal cancer remains one of the most frequent cancers in the world, with a heavy burden that involves high mortality, alterations in the quality of life of patients and their families, and also the financial costs of the medical systems.

Large Symptomatic Inguinoscrotal Seroma Occurred Early after Laparoscopic Total Extraperitoneal Hernia Repair (TEP): a Case Report and Literature Review.

Inguinoscrotal hernia (ISH) is an entity for which treatment is under debate. Open surgery is the standard approach, but the laparoscopic technique has a great outcome when used by experienced surgeons. Seroma is one of the complications following laparoscopic hernia repair for these scrotal hernias, which is due to the large hernia sac, usually transected, leaving in place a remnant of the sac. Conservative measures can be applied for the treatment of seroma; however, in symptomatic cases, puncture and aspiration of fluid are recommended. Sometimes, these seromas can reach a large size and require surgery to remove the remnant sac. Herein, we report the case of a 49-year-old male with a large seroma that occurred four days after the laparoscopic approach - total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) for inguinoscrotal hernia. Conservative measures failed, and because the symptoms were not alleviated, reintervention was opted for. The distal sac was excised and the patient recovered uneventfully. The six-month follow-up did not show any recurrence of the hernia or seroma. We emphasize the importance of sac management in large ISH cases and discuss seromas after laparoscopic hernia repair in such instances.

Evaluation of the Immunohistochemical Scoring System of CDX2 Expression as a Prognostic Biomarker in Colon Cancer.

Encoded by the CDX2 homeobox gene, the CDX2 protein assumes the role of a pivotal transcription factor localized within the nucleus of intestinal epithelial cells, orchestrating the delicate equilibrium of intestinal physiology while intricately guiding the precise development and differentiation of epithelial tissue. Emerging research has unveiled that positive immunohistochemical expression of this protein shows that the CDX2 gene exerts a potent suppressive impact on tumor advancement in colorectal cancer, impeding the proliferation and distant dissemination of tumor cells, while the inhibition or suppression of CDX2 frequently correlates with aggressive behavior in colorectal cancer. In this study, we conducted an immunohistochemical assessment of CDX2 expression on a cohort of 43 intraoperatively obtained tumor specimens from patients diagnosed with colon cancer at Colțea Clinical Hospital in Bucharest, between April 2019 and December 2023. Additionally, we shed light on the morphological diversity within colon tumors, uncovering varying differentiation grades within the same tumor, reflecting the variations in CDX2 expression as well as the genetic complexity underlying these tumors. Based on the findings, we developed an innovative immunohistochemical scoring system that addresses the heterogeneous nature of colon tumors. Comprehensive statistical analysis of CDX2 immunohistochemical expression unveiled significant correlations with known histopathological parameters such as tumor differentiation grades (p-value = 0.011) and tumor budding score (p-value = 0.002), providing intriguing insights into the complex involvement of the CDX2 gene in orchestrating tumor progression through modulation of differentiation processes, and highlighting its role in metastatic predisposition. The compelling correlation identified between CDX2 expression and conventional histopathological parameters emphasizes the prognostic significance of the CDX2 biomarker in colon cancer. Moreover, our novel immunohistochemical scoring system reveals a distinct subset of colon tumors exhibiting reserved prognostic outcomes, distinguished by their "mosaic" CDX2 expression pattern.

Molecular Deciphering of Colorectal Cancer: Exploring Molecular Classifications and Analyzing the Interplay among Molecular Biomarkers MMR/MSI, KRAS, NRAS, BRAF and CDX2 - A Comprehensive Literature Review.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits molecular and morphological diversity, involving genetic, epigenetic alterations, and disruptions in signaling pathways. This necessitates a comprehensive review synthesizing recent advancements in molecular mechanisms, established biomarkers, as well as emerging ones like CDX2 for enhanced CRC assessment. Material and Methods: This review analyzes the last decade's literature and current guidelines to study CRC's molecular intricacies. It extends the analysis beyond traditional biomarkers to include emerging ones like CDX2, examining their interaction with carcinogenic mechanisms and molecular pathways, alongside reviewing current testing methodologies. Results: A multi-biomarker strategy, incorporating both traditional and emerging biomarkers like CDX2, is crucial for optimizing CRC management. This strategy elucidates the complex interaction between biomarkers and the tumor's molecular pathways, significantly influencing prognostic evaluations, therapeutic decision-making, and paving the way for personalized medicine in CRC. Conclusions: This review proposes CDX2 as an emerging prognostic biomarker and emphasizes the necessity of thorough molecular profiling for individualized treatment strategies. By enhancing CRC treatment approaches and prognostic evaluation, this effort marks a step forward in precision oncology, leveraging an enriched understanding of tumor behavior.

Right Transcephalic Ventriculo-Subclavian Shunt in the Surgical Treatment of Hydrocephalus-An Original Procedure for Drainage of Cerebrospinal Fluid into the Venous System.

The objectives of this article are to present an original surgical procedure for the temporary or definitive resolution of hydrocephalus, in the case of repeated failure of standard treatment techniques, and to present a case that was resolved using this surgical technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present the case of a 20-year-old male patient with congenital hydrocephalus who underwent a number of 39 shunt revisions, given the repetitive dysfunctions of various techniques (ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, ventriculo-cardiac shunt). The patient was evaluated with the ventricular catheter externalized at the distal end and it was necessary to find an emergency surgical solution, considering the imminent risk of meningitis. The patient was also associated with the diagnosis of acute lithiasic cholecystitis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The final chosen solution, right ventriculo-venous drainage using the cephalic vein, was a temporary surgical solution, but there are signs that this procedure can provide long-term ventricular drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Transcephalic ventriculo-subclavian drainage represents an alternative technical option, which can be used when established options become ineffective.

Validation of a New Prognostic Score in Patients with Ovarian Adenocarcinoma.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of clinical prognostic factors and propose a prognostic score that aids the clinician's decision in estimating the risk for patients in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: The study included 195 patients diagnosed with ovarian adenocarcinoma. The therapeutic strategy involved multidisciplinary decisions: surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (80%), neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (16.4%), and only chemotherapy in selected cases (3.6%). Results: After a median follow-up of 68 months, in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1 and 2 vs. 0 (hazard ratio-HR = 2.71, 95% confidence interval-CI, 1.96-3.73, p < 0.001 for PFS and HR = 3.19, 95%CI, 2.20-4.64, p < 0.001 for OS), menopausal vs. premenopausal status (HR = 2.02, 95%CI, 1.35-3,0 p < 0.001 and HR = 2.25, 95%CI = 1.41-3.59, p < 0.001), ascites (HR = 1.95, 95%CI 1.35-2.80, p = 0.03, HR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.52-3.5, p < 0.007), residual disease (HR = 5.12, 95%CI 3.43-7.65, p < 0.0001 and HR = 4.07, 95%CI = 2.59-6.39, p < 0.0001), and thrombocytosis (HR = 2.48 95%CI = 1.72-3.58, p < 0.0001, HR = 3.33, 95%CI = 2.16-5.13, p < 0.0001) were associated with a poor prognosis. An original prognostic score including these characteristics was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (area under the curve-AUC = 0.799 for PFS and AUC = 0.726 for OS, p < 0.001). The median PFS for patients with none, one, two, three, or four (or more) prognostic factors was not reached, 70, 36, 20, and 12 months, respectively. The corresponding median overall survival (OS) was not reached, 108, 77, 60, and 34 months, respectively. Conclusions: Several negative prognostic factors were identified: ECOG performance status ≥ 1, the presence of ascites and residual disease after surgery, thrombocytosis, and menopausal status. These led to the development of an original prognostic score that can be helpful in clinical practice.

Surgical Approach to Bilateral Inguinal Hernia. A Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Bilateral inguinal hernia can be safely repaired simultaneously, open or minimally invasive, in an elective sce-nario. The choice of surgical approach depends on the patient's status, hernia characteristics, surgeons and patient preferences. Whether age criteria should be considered when selecting between the two approaches is still a matter of debate. Considering that there is no consensus regarding the best repair in bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy, the aim of the study is to perform an analysis regarding elective surgical approach of patients with bilateral inguinal hernias. Material and Methods: To study the relationship between exposure to an open versus laparoscopic approach in patients with bilateral inguinal hernia, we conducted a case-control study. In our retrospective analysis, cases (23 patients) were the open-approach hernia repair, and controls (82 patients) were laparoscopic hernia repair. We analyzed two sets of variables: first, related to patient characteristics (age 65 years, BMI 30 kg/m2, smoking habit, HTA status, COPD status, DM status, use of anticoagulants, presence of neoplastic status) and second, variables related to hernia features (inguinoscrotal hernia, recurrent hernia and complicated hernia). Results: The mean age for cases was 73.26 (Ã+-12.99) years and that of controls, was 56.48 (Ã+-15.15) years. Univariate analysis demonstrated four variables with statistical significance: age 65 years, inguinoscrotal hernia, neo-plastic status, and anticoagulant use. When introduced into the multivariate analysis, we noted that only two variables, age 65 years (OR=4.183, 95% CI [1.289, 13.572], p=0.017) and use of anticoagulants (OR=38.876, 95% CI [1.305, 1158.011], p=0.035) reached statistical significance. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that when we refer to bilateral inguinal hernia repair, patients aged 65 years are at risk of having an open procedure at least fourfold more than patients aged 65 years. In addition, the use of anticoagulants increases the risk of open hernia repair 38 times more than that of minimally invasive repair for the same age group. Interestingly, in our study, hernia characteristics were not found to be associated with open hernia repair and age 65 years. In our study we found that age 65 years is associated with electing open hernia repair over minimally invasive repair, which can be linked to age-related risk factors. Further re-search is needed to investigate the impact of age and age-related risk factors on surgical outcomes of bilateral inguinal hernia repair.

Solitary fibrous tumor developing in the right retroperitoneal space.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal tumor that is quite aggressive and prone to recurrence and metastasis. Most SFTs are benign, but the identification of the histological features that define the dedifferentiation of SFTs can predict the aggressiveness of the tumor and the presence of a reserved prognosis. We present a rare case of conventional SFTs with features of malignancy and highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties related to this case. Computed tomography aspect suggested a possible gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Surgical intervention was performed through median laparotomy and a tumor of approximately 15∕12 cm was found, developed from the level of the right retroperitoneal space, and pushing anteriorly the ascending colon, cecum, and terminal ileum. The immunohistochemical aspect correlated with the histopathological one suggests a SFT most likely malignant. In conclusion, the early diagnosis of SFTs is essential in establishing an appropriate treatment. Immunohistochemistry is indispensable in establishing the diagnosis of SFTs.

The Effect of Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy on the Pathological Response in Patients with Rectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the long-term outcomes and the survival rate in patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer. This is a retrospective study undertaken in a surgery department of an oncological clinical hospital. The study evaluated the data of all patients treated for rectal cancer between January 2014 and December 2018. Results: Of 126 patients, thirteen patients with mean age of 58.3 years had a pathological complete response and were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Ten patients (76.9%) underwent treatment with 45 Gy. One patient was treated with 51 Gy, one with 49.3 Gy, and 12 patients were treated daily with 1.8 Gy. One patient underwent a short course of 5 days with 5 Gy. Patients diagnosed and treated in 2016 had a survival rate of 54 to 57 months, in 2017 42 to 48 months and in 2018 29 to 34 months. For two patients with final pCR, the adjuvant treatment was given and the wait and watch policy was applied. Both patients were females, aged 51 and 66 years (mean age 58.5 years). CONCLUSION: The frequency of pCR was similar to that in other published studies. The survival rate in our cohort was high, death occurring in two cases, one being the oldest patient in the study. We concluded that the long-term oncological control is excellent in patients who receive neoadjuvant treatment leading to improved OS, improved quality of life, and decreasing the recurrence rates.

Meropenem antibiotic therapy in acute secondary peritonitis, therapeutic effects superior to other therapies - experimental clinical and histopathological study in the laboratory animal.

AIM: A perforated peptic ulcer is the most common cause of peritonitis through the perforation of the digestive tube, which occurs in a percentage between 2% and 14% of patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer and being associated with a 10% to 30% mortality rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Considering the above, we imagined a study, using laboratory animals, in which we produced gastric perforations, then followed their evolution without antibiotic treatment and under antibiotic therapy with Cefuroxime 25 mg∕kg∕24 hours intravenously or Meropenem 40 mg∕kg∕24 hours intravenously, following the tissue changes both macroscopically and microscopically. RESULTS: The study revealed a mortality of 36.6%, most deaths (81.82%) occurred in the first 24 hours after the perforation, all subjects belonging to the group that did not receive antibiotic treatment and the group treated with Cefuroxime. From a clinical point of view (evaluation of the general condition), macroscopically and microscopically, a better evolution of the subjects who received antibiotic therapy can be observed, compared to those who did not receive antibiotic therapy, thus in the case of subjects who received antibiotic therapy, the absence or the presence of a small amount of intraperitoneal fluid, which has a serocitrine appearance, as well as the absence of macroscopic changes at the level of unaffected intraperitoneal organs, can be observed. Microscopically, it can be seen that in the subjects treated with Meropenem, changes in the parietal peritoneum were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic therapy with Meropenem in acute peritonitis has a survival rate comparable to peritoneal lavage and source control.

Cancer-Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought infectious and contagious diseases back to the forefront of medical concerns worldwide [...].

An Unexpected Case of Perforated Acalculous Cholecystitis Caused by a Fish Bone.

Gallbladder inflammation is most often determined by the presence of gallstones. Acalculous cholecystitis usually occurs in patients with multiple comorbidities or with an immunosuppressed status, and therefore its evolution is faster and more severe compared to acute calculous cholecystitis. The presence of a fish bone into the peritoneal cavity, through a gastrointestinal fistula is not very rare, but acute cholecystitis caused by a fish bone is unexpected. Here, we present the case of a 75-year old woman who had eaten fish two months before and presented at the Emergency Room with perforated acalculous cholecystitis and a right subphrenic abscess. The laparoscopic approach permitted the evacuation of the subphrenic abscess, bipolar cholecystectomy and removal of a fish bone from nearby the cystic duct. Postoperative evolution was uneventful, with hospital discharge after five days. The patient was in good clinical condition at two months follow-up.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of tumor budding in colorectal cancer: an important parameter with prognostic value.

We analyzed 82 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) [75 patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma (ADK) and seven patients with "signet ring cell" ADK] using multi-cytokeratin (CK) AE1∕AE3 immunohistochemical assay. In order to determine the mucinous nature of some of the lymph node metastases of the mucinous colorectal ADKs studied, Periodic Acid Schiff-Alcian Blue (PAS-AB) histochemical staining was used. The counting results were systematized in the following ranges: 0 budding areas; between 1-4 budding areas; between 5-9 budding areas; and =10 tumor budding (TB) areas. The statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test. More than half of the cases of mucinous ADK revealed an increased intensity of TB, whereas in the case of "signet ring cell" ADK, an average intensity of this phenomenon. Mucinous ADKs, which were pT3 staged, showed an increased intensity of TB, and those in pT2 stage demonstrated, in the vast majority of cases, the absence of TB. There was a predominance of TB intensity in the absence of vascular-lymphatic invasion. Our study shows the existence of a concordance between tumor progression, the histological type of CRC, vascular-lymphatic invasion and the phenomenon of TB.

Ovarian metastases reported after adjuvant laparoscopic oophorectomies in breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian metastases (OM) of breast cancer (BC) can occur with different rates, ranging from 3-30%, being reported after prophylactic, therapeutic ovariectomies or discovered at necropsy. The aim of the study was to review the histopathological aspects of 59 laparoscopic oophorectomies performed in our Department as part of the oncological treatment of premenopausal women with BC. A number of eight (13.55%) patients were histologically confirmed with OM. The initial tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage of BC tumors was advanced with no pelvic symptoms or imaging abnormalities associated. Five (62.5%) patients had unilateral ovarian involvement and three (37.5%) bilateral, two of them being associated with primary bilateral BC. The immunohistochemical markers used to confirm the breast origin of metastasis were estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 (GCDFP15), Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1), cancer antigen-125 (CA-125), cytokeratin 7 (CK7), cytokeratin 20 (CK20). One case showed positive cytoplasmic reaction for thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). GCDFP15 was positive in all OM and almost all (seven of eight) were noted as non-immunoreactive for WT1. Although six cases of metastatic BC were positive for CK7 and negative for CK20, only four of them retain the same immunoprofile of their primary tumor for the metastatic ovarian lesions. Only one case out of eight showed weak and focal positivity for CA-125. Three cases were positive for mucin 1 (MUC1) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). CONCLUSIONS: The differential diagnosis between OM and primary ovarian cancer can be challenging for the pathologist as well and immunostaining is of help. GCFDP15 is the most specific for breast carcinoma. In contrast with the recent papers published in the literature, we detected TTF-1 cytoplasmic expression in invasive breast carcinoma by SPT24 clone.

An unusual cause of acute surgical abdomen: benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma associated with adenomatous tumor.

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (BMPM) is a rare disease that primarily affects fertile women with previous abdominal surgery. BMPM associated with adenomatous tumor is a single case report, according to our opinion. The patient had a history of abdominal surgery nine years ago for ovarian cysts. Upon admission, the diagnosis was acute surgical abdomen with acute peritonitis signs. The treatment applied consisted in the removal of peritoneal cysts and partial omentectomy. Only immunohistochemical examination established the diagnosis. The aim is to discuss diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties, underlining that there is no consensus on the use of chemotherapeutics. In conclusion, establishing a preoperative diagnosis is difficult if not impossible. One of the causes of acute surgical abdomen may be BMPM. The malignant transformation of this disease is rare, but the disease recurrence rate is over 50%, and it is often recommended to be monitored through abdominal computed tomography.

Histopathological diagnosis and its correlations with anatomoclinical features, surgical approach and postoperative prognosis in sacral tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Sacral tumors encompass numerous histopathological types. They represent an uncommon pathology and, when diagnosed, they are often in advanced stage of the disease, becoming a therapeutic challenge. The correct treatment of a sacral tumor should be established by a multidisciplinary team that will assess the exact anatomical, imagistic and histopathological characteristic of the tumors thus choosing an optimal surgical approach while taking into consideration the risk of recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of both primitive and metastatic sacral tumors in "Bagdasar-Arseni" Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, for a period of 10 years, studying demographic data, clinical signs, anatomical and histopathological features as well as surgical approach and postoperative prognosis. RESULTS: Sacral tumors were diagnosed with a peak incidence in the age group 60-69 years, being more frequent in women. Primitive sacral tumor was predominant and, in this subgroup, chordoma was the most frequent. Metastatic tumors appeared in older subjects. None of the histopathological types associated a preferred topography of the resection or increased resectability. Posterior surgical approach was chosen in most cases, total resection being a hard goal to accomplish due to the invasion of vascular and nervous structures. Bleeding was the most frequently reported incident, carcinomas recording the highest blood loss amongst primitive tumors. Overall prognosis was clearly favorable for subjects diagnosed with primitive sacral tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Interpreting imaging data in a clinical context, paying attention to histopathological examination and knowing each histological type characteristics is mandatory in choosing the surgical approach thus obtaining the best postoperative outcome possible.

Semiological characters and morphopathological-radiological correlations in duodenal malignancy.

Localized duodenal neoplasms are relatively rare entities, most often representing invasions of the duodenum by malignant masses developed in the duodeno-pancreatic region. The paper makes a more exact analysis of radiological semiology of duodenal localized tumors and seeks to determine through this analysis the role of radiological examinations in the support for the anatomopathologist. The study group included 17 cases of duodenal localized tumors, nine cases of which have been shown to be vaterian ampulloma and eight malignant tumors of the duodenum. All cases were CT (computed tomography) examined and two-thirds were performed conventional radiological examinations, prior to CT examination. Pre-operatively, all cases were evaluated endoscopically, and in three of them bile prostheses were made. CT examination protocol included a native acquisition and post-administration of intravenous contrast agent in both the arterial phase and in parenchymal and venous phase. The acquisition was made with 3 mm thin sections, subsequently coronal and sagittal plane reconstructions being made. The paper tries to establish possible correlations between the morphopathological aspect and the radio-imaging semiological characteristics of lesions.

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm mimicking an adnexal mass.

We present a rare case of malignant epithelial neoplasm of the appendix, an uncommon disorder encountered in clinical practice, which poses a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a particular case in which the appendix was abnormally located in the pelvis, mimicking an adnexal mass. Therefore, it was difficult to make the preoperative diagnosis on clinical examination, imaging studies and laboratory tests and we discovered the lesion during the diagnostic laparoscopy. No lymphadenopathy or mucinous ascites were found. The case was completely handled via the laparoscopic approach keeping the appendix intact during the operation. The frozen section, the detailed histopathology overview as well as multiple immunostaining with a complex panel of markers report diagnosed a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) with no invasion of the wall. No adjuvant therapy was considered needed. At a one-year follow-up oncological assessment, the patient was free of disease. In women with cystic mass in the right iliac fossa an appendiceal mucocele should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Laparoscopic appendectomy can represent an adequate operation for the appendiceal mucinous neoplasm if the histological report is clear and surgical precautionary measures are taken.

CT characters versus morphopathological characters in pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is a rare neoplasm, whose incidence increases with age. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is an easy way to explore the pharyngeal region, having the advantage of being able to highlight and characterize the existence of a tumor in this region, and to determine its local extension and lymphatic metastasis. In this group were included a total of 27 patients, who, following the histopathological findings were diagnosed with pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and who have previously received a CT scan. CT examination protocol included a native scan and post-intravenous administration of contrast medium, in both the arterial phase and in parenchymal and venous phase. The scan was made with 2 mm thin sections, subsequently were performed coronal and sagittal reconstructions. The examination plan included the thoracic region down to the aperture. The paper tries to establish correlations between the morphological appearance and semiological computed tomography characters of the lesions.