Rare presentation of isolated hydatid disease of the breast.

Isolated hydatid disease of the breast is a rare condition, possessing a diagnostic dilemma for the clinicians. Hydatid disease is common in endemic areas affecting most commonly the liver and lungs. Other organs rarely involved are the kidney, bone and brain. It is caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, widely spread by cattle and sheep. Humans are the accidental host for this organism. We present a similar case of isolated hydatid cyst of the breast, which was diagnosed preoperatively and managed successfully.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis--a diagnostic challenge.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is a benign, uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis characterised by focal or diffuse destructive inflammation of the gall bladder. The present study was undertaken to analyse the clinical presentation, pre-operative imaging, intra-operative findings and histological features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and the results compared with those in the literature. Thirteen histologically confirmed cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis were identified from the retrospective analysis of the patient records of 217 cholecystectomies performed during the period January 2011 to March 2012 at the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital, New Delhi. The clinical, radiological and operative details of these patients have been analysed. The incidence of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was 6% and age range was between 25 and 62 years with a mean age of 40.3 years. A female: male ratio was 1.6:1. Chronic right upper quadrant pain was the most common clinical presentation. In 2 patients, a gall bladder carcinoma was suspected radiologically as well as clinically, but was later disproved on histology. Abdominal ultrasound scan showed marked thickening of the gall bladder wall in 11 cases (84.6%). Laproscopic procedure required conversion to an open procedure in 8 patients (61.5% conversion rate). Histologically focal or diffuse inflammation with foamy histiocytes, inflammatory cells, giant cells and fibroblasts in varying proportion were seen. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an unusual destructive inflammatory process, characterised by severe fibrosis and gall bladder wall thickening presenting as a gall bladder mass that mimics gall bladder carcinoma. The pre- and intra-operative differential diagnosis of the disease still remains a challenge to the practising surgeon and histological assessment of all gall bladders excised for xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is critical, considering the occasional coexistence with gall bladder carcinoma.

Omental patch technique for the ileal perforation secondary to typhoid fever.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Enteric perforation is a grave complication of typhoid fever. Laparotomy with primary closure is the treatment of choice depending upon the bowel condition. Fecal fistula formation is the main concern in primary closure and the incidence of this complication dramatically decreases when omentum is used as a patch over primary closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 176 patients underwent laparotomy for enteric perforation and they were divided into two groups randomly; Group I--Primary closure with omental patch and Group II--Only primary closure. The outcomes were measured in relation to hospital stay, wound infection, septicemia, fecal fistula, and mortality. RESULTS: The incidence of complications including fecal fistula and mortality is significantly lower in the group I patients. Fecal fistula occurs in 7.7% in group II, while in only 1.1% in group I. The mortality is also lower 3.3% in group II, while 1.1% in group I. CONCLUSION: Primary closure with omental patch is a better option as compared with only primary closure in enteric perforation patients. It can be recommended as an alternative method to primary closure only in enteric perforation patients.