Diagnosis and treatment of primary thyroid lymphoma from a surgical perspective: a multi-institutional study.

PURPOSE: Surgery of primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) has been mostly limited to diagnostic work-up. This study aimed to further study its potential role. METHODS: This was a retrospective study from a multi-institutional registry of PTL patients. Clinical, diagnostic work-up (fine needle aspiration, FNA; core needle biopsy, CoreNB), contribution of surgery (open surgical biopsy, OpenSB; thyroidectomy), histology subtype, and outcome data were evaluated. RESULTS: Some 54 patients were studied. Diagnostic work-up included FNA in 47 patients, CoreNB in 11, and OpenSB in 21. CoreNB yielded the best sensitivity (90.9%). Thyroidectomy was performed in 14 patients with other diagnosis (incidental PTL), in 4 for diagnosis and in 4 for elective treatment of PTL. Incidental PTL was associated with not performed FNA nor CoreNB (OR 52.5; P = 0.008), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) subtype (OR 24.3; P = 0.012), and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (OR 11.1; P = 0.032). Lymphoma-related death (10 cases) mostly occurred within the first year after diagnosis and was associated with diffuse large B-cell (DLBC) subtype (OR 10.3; P = 0.018) and older patients (OR 1.08 for every 1-year increase; P = 0.010). There was a trend towards lower mortality rate in patients receiving thyroidectomy (2/22 versus 8/32, P = 0.172). CONCLUSION: Incidental PTL accounts for most of thyroid surgery cases and are associated with incomplete diagnostic work-up, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and MALT subtype. CoreNB appears to be the best tool for diagnosis. Most of PTL deaths occurred during the first year after diagnosis and mostly related to systemic treatment. Age and DLBC subtype are poor prognostic factors.

[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: descriptive study of our experience with 36 cases]. / Neumomediastino espontáneo: estudio descriptivo de nuestra experiencia basada en 36 casos.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is defined as a primary process characterized by the presence of air or gas in the mediastinum. We report all the cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum diagnosed in our hospital between January 1996 and December 2004. We developed a protocol for data collection that included the following: medical history, triggers, signs, radiology, treatment, hospital stay, and complications. During this period we diagnosed 36 cases--25 men (69.4%) and 11 women (27.5%)--with a mean age of 36.8 years (range, 11-90 years) and a mean hospital stay of 8.56 days (range, 1-53 days). The most common clinical presentation was chest pain, either isolated (27%) or with associated dyspnea (19.4%). A triggering factor was identified for 14 patients (38.8%). There was no associated morbidity or mortality. In view of our findings, we concluded that spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon entity with considerable clinical variability and that correct diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion. Radiography provides the best evidence for diagnosis.

[Computed tomographic colonography: applications, advantages and disadvantages]. / Colonografía tomográfica computarizada: aplicaciones, ventajas e inconvenientes.

INTRODUCTION: Complete preoperative study of the colon is required in the management of colorectal cancer, due to the frequent association of primary colonic neoplasms with colonic adenomas (28%) and/or synchronous carcinomas (5%) of the colon. We present a series of patients who underwent computed tomographic colonography, the indications for this procedure, and the results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a descriptive prospective study. Between May 2003 and August 2004, 50 computed tomographic colonographies were performed in 50 patients with suspected stenosing colorectal cancer and incomplete conventional colonoscopy. RESULTS: Fifty computed tomographic colonographies were performed. The findings were as follows: three were normal (6%), and in the remainder, one was a false positive for a suspected neoplastic pelvic mass (3.125%) and two were false positives (11.7%) for colonic polyps. Fifty percent of the findings (n = 32) were related to peritoneal metastases and colonic neoplasms. There were 12 technical complications [lack of cleaning of the colon (5), lack of distension (2), little air insufflation (5)]. Patient complications included vegetative manifestations in one (vomiting) and rectal bleeding in another. The overall complication rate was 27.4% (23.4% corresponded to technical complications and the remaining 4% were patient-related). There was no mortality related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: Because computed tomographic colonography is safe, effective and well tolerated by the patient, it should be considered as a technical alternative in the study of stenosing neoplasms of the proximal colon with incomplete colonoscopy. In addition, it allows other associated findings, both intra- and extracolonic, to be obtained and improves the diagnostic and therapeutic management of the patient.

Intestinal invagination in adults: preoperative diagnosis and management.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intestinal invagination in adults is an uncommon but potentially serious condition that is usually diagnosed during surgery by the presence of a mechanical obstructive syndrome. We report a series of adults with intestinal invagination and discuss preoperative diagnosis and surgical procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the files of all the seven patients aged over 18 years with a postoperative diagnosis of intestinal invagination and treated at our center between 1996 and 2000. RESULTS: Preoperative causal diagnosis was established in six cases by ultrasonography and computed tomography. All the patients received surgery, three as emergency and four programmed. The lesions causing the invagination were: three benign (Meckel's diverticulum, inflammatory pseudotumor, fibroid polyp) and one malignant (degenerative villous adenoma polyp) located in the terminal ileum, two malignant lesions in the cecum (both adenocarcinomas over a polyp), and in the remaining case a double lymphoma of the jejunum and ileum. The intussusceptions were ileoileal in three cases and ileocolic in four. We performed intestinal resection in six cases and one excision of Meckel's diverticulum. CONCLUSION: Preoperative diagnosis of intussusception was possible in most cases. Sonography and computed tomography proved the most effective and useful preoperative diagnostic methods. In adults colonic invagination is almost always malignant while small bowel is almost always benign. Invagination in adults must be clarified by surgery, and intestinal resection is the procedure of choice.

[Omental torsion: imaging techniques can prevent unnecessary surgical interventions]. / Torsión de epiplón: las técnicas de imagen pueden evitar intervenciones innecesarias.

INTRODUCTION: Segmentary infarction of the greater omentum produces a clinical profile of acute abdomen. To date, the cause has been discovered during surgery. Greater use of ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department could lead to preoperative diagnosis. The aim of this study was to describe the advisability of avoiding surgery in selected patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A series of nine adult patients (six men and three women), aged between 18 and 50 years, with a final diagnosis of primary omental torsion were reviewed. The first three patients underwent surgery: two underwent laparotomy for suspected acute appendicitis and the third underwent laparoscopy with a diagnosis of non-specific acute abdomen. The six remaining patients, who received a diagnosis of primary omental torsion or infarction based on ultrasonography and CT, underwent conservative treatment. The patients who did not undergo surgery were subsequently evaluated with imaging techniques to confirm resolution. RESULTS: In the first three patients, symptoms were resolved by resection of the affected omental section. In the six remaining patients, a 3-6 cm mass of soft tissue in the paraumbilical region, between the rectal sheath and the transverse colon, was found. The lesions were hyperechoic or of mixed attenuation. These findings, together with the absence of other radiological and clinical signs, led to the preoperative diagnosis. Treatment was conservative and a fast recovery, observed both clinically and radiologically, was made. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery should be avoided in selected cases of acute abdomen diagnosed as primary omental torsion.