Acute diffuse thyroid swelling after fine-needle aspiration: A case report and review of the literature.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is the first-line and a cost-effective examination method of nonfunctional thyroid nodules. Acute transient thyroid swelling after an FNA is a rare complication, and to date, only 14 cases have been reported in the English literature. Herein, we report a case of a 26-year-old woman with acute transient thyroid swelling, which occurred after an ultrasound-guided FNA of a thyroid nodule. Although the patient had undergone an FNA without complication 2 years previously, the second FNA caused acute thyroid swelling. The present case emphasizes the potential risk of acute thyroid swelling associated with every FNA procedure.

Fatty liver creates a pro-metastatic microenvironment for hepatocellular carcinoma through activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Fatty liver (FL) is associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether FL itself promotes the progression of HCC is unclear. We recently found that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were prominently activated in the steatotic liver. Here, we investigated whether steatotic livers promote HCC progression and whether HSCs of steatotic liver are associated with HCC progression. We implanted rat HCC cells into diet-induced steatotic livers in rats via portal vein injection. Thereafter, HSCs and HCC cells were co-implanted subcutaneously into nude rats. Migration and proliferation of HCC cells were measured, and activation of ERK and Akt in these cells was determined by western blotting. Chemokines secreted from HSCs and HCC cells were also evaluated by ELISA. Steatotic livers significantly promoted HCC metastasis compared with non-steatotic livers. Additionally, co-implantation of HCC cells with HSCs from steatotic livers produced significantly larger tumors in recipient rats as compared to those induced by HCC cells co-implanted with HSCs from normal livers (NLs). HSCs isolated from steatotic livers, compared with HSCs isolated from NLs, secreted greater amounts of interleukin-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and transforming growth factor-ß. These cytokines may enhance the proliferation and migration of HCC cells by increasing the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt in HCC cells. Moreover, we noted that the Rho-kinase inhibitor deactivated activated HSCs and attenuated HCC progression. In conclusion, the rat steatotic liver microenvironment favors HCC metastasis, and this effect appears to be promoted by activated HSCs in the steatotic liver.

Detectability of hepatocellular carcinoma by gadoxetate disodium-enhanced hepatic MRI: tumor-by-tumor analysis in explant livers.

PURPOSE: To investigate the detectability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on Gd-EOB-enhanced MR images (Gd-EOB-MRI), we performed tumor-by-tumor analysis of pathologically confirmed tumors using explants from cirrhotic patients who had undergone liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 11 explanted livers and classified the tumor intensity during the arterial phase (AP) and the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) as low in HBP with early enhancement (EE) in AP (A), as high in HBP with EE in AP (B), as low in HBP without EE in AP (C), as high in HBP without EE in AP (D), and as iso-intense in HBP with EE in AP (E). The diagnostic criteria for HCC were (i) pattern A and C, (ii) pattern A and E, (iii) pattern C and E, and (iv) patterns A, C, and E. RESULTS: Of the 71 HCCs, 22 were not detected at MRI; of these, 9 were moderately differentiated and 13 were well-differentiated HCCs. The sensitivity of Gd-EOB-MRI for diagnostic criteria 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 63.4%, 52.1%, 22.5%, and 69.0%. CONCLUSION: The maximum sensitivity of Gd-EOB-MRI for HCC was only 69.0% even when diagnostic criteria that included all previously reported HCC patterns were adopted.

Rho inhibitor prevents ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat steatotic liver.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatic stellate cells are thought to play a role in modulating intrahepatic vascular resistance based on their capacity to contract via Rho signaling. We investigated the effect of a Rho-kinase inhibitor on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the steatotic liver. METHODS: Steatotic livers, induced by a choline-deficient diet in rats, were subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Hepatic stellate cells isolated from steatotic livers were analyzed for contractility and Rho signaling activity. The portal pressure of the perfused rat liver and the survival rate after ischemia-reperfusion were also investigated. RESULTS: Hepatic stellate cells from steatotic livers showed increased contractility and upregulation of Rho-kinase 2 compared with those from normal livers. Furthermore, endothelin-1 significantly enhanced the contractility and phosphorylation level of myosin light chain and cofilin in hepatic stellate cells isolated from steatotic livers. A specific Rho-kinase inhibitor, fasudil, significantly suppressed the contractility and decreased the phosphorylation levels of myosin light chain and cofilin. Serum levels of endothelin-1 were markedly increased after IR in rats with steatotic livers, whereas fasudil significantly decreased endothelin-1 serum levels. Rats with steatotic livers showed a significant increase in portal perfusion pressure after ischemia-reperfusion and a significant decrease in survival rate; fasudil treatment significantly reduced these effects. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of Rho/Rho-kinase signaling in hepatic stellate cells isolated from steatotic livers is associated with an increased susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury. A Rho-kinase inhibitor attenuated the activation of hepatic stellate cells isolated from steatotic livers and improved ischemia-reperfusion injury in steatotic rats.

Prognostic significance of antithrombin III levels for outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have shown that serum antithrombin III (ATIII) has anti-inflammatory effects, the prognostic value of ATIII in HCC is unknown. We investigated the influence of preoperative ATIII levels on the outcome of patients who underwent hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Data from 440 patients (314 patients with ATIII ≥ 70 % and 126 patients with ATIII <70 %) who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC were retrospectively collected and analyzed. To overcome bias due to the different distribution of covariates for the 2 groups, propensity score matching was performed on the patients, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The propensity score analysis revealed that 65 patients with ATIII of ≥ 70 % (group 1) and 65 patients with ATIII of <70 % (group 2) had the same preoperative and operative characteristics (excluding the ATIII level). The overall survival rate and the disease-free survival rate was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P = 0.005 and 0.011, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that ATIII was a significant favorable factor for overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with HCC after curative hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with HCC was found to be associated with preoperative antithrombin III levels. ATIII may be useful for predicting outcomes of patients with HCC after curative hepatectomy.

Afferent loop obstruction with obstructive jaundice and ileus due to an enterolith after distal gastrectomy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Afferent loop obstruction is an uncommon complication associated with Billroth II reconstruction or Roux-en-Y reconstruction after gastrectomy. Moreover, cases where the obstruction is caused by enterolith are rare. Here, we report a rare case of afferent loop obstruction caused by an enterolith after Roux-en-Y reconstruction of gastrectomy; subsequently, leading to ileus in the ileum. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 84-year-old man who received a Roux-en-Y distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer presented with symptoms of fever and jaundice 14 months later. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an enterolith in the duodenal afferent loop and a dilated intrahepatic bile duct. Although the obstructive jaundice and fever disappeared with conservative therapy, ileus occurred due to the movement of the enterolith into the ileum, which was refractory to conservative therapy. Therefore, enterotomy was performed to remove the enterolith, and the patient had an uneventful recovery. Histologically, the enterolith derived from food residue. No postsurgical sign of recurrence has been noted for 6 months. CONCLUSION: We report a rare case where an enterolith in a duodenal afferent loop after distal gastrectomy led to obstructive jaundice, and subsequently, caused ileus by its movement into the ileum.

Sessile serrated adenoma/polyp leading to acute appendicitis with multiple pyogenic liver abscesses: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Although appendicitis is a common disease, appendicitis concurrent with liver abscesses and sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) is rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 69-year-old man presented with symptoms of abdominal pain and fever. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple liver abscesses and an enlarged appendix with a pseudotumoral appearance, which suggested acute appendicitis. In the emergency operation, ileocecal resection was performed for the perforated appendicitis with an inflammatory mass in the ileocecum. On macroscopic examination, the torose lesion was localized at next to the appendiceal orifice. The tumor was diagnosed as SSA/P based on the microscopic finding. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the liver abscesses were cured by antibiotic therapy. The patient was discharged 17days after the surgery. DISCUSSION: In this case, SSA/P localization at next to the appendiceal orifice was suggested as the cause of the perforated appendicitis with multiple liver abscesses. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of surgery and antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of a patient with SSA/P that led to acute appendicitis with multiple pyogenic liver abscesses.

De Garengeot hernia with perforated appendicitis and a groin subcutaneous abscess: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: De Garengeot hernia is rare. Although previous reports have suggested various surgical options according to patient condition, comorbidities, surgeon preference, and clinical findings during surgery, a treatment strategy has not been established. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 81-year-old woman presented with an irreducible tender mass that was subsequently diagnosed as an incarcerated femoral hernia with a subcutaneous abscess in the right groin. Intraoperative findings revealed a necrotic and perforated appendix strangulated by the femoral ring for which an appendectomy and herniorrhaphy was performed concurrently through the hernia sac. The subcutaneous abscess cavity was washed thoroughly and a drainage tube was placed within it. The patient recovered uneventfully. DISCUSSION: We suggest that the approach through the inguinal incision in both appendectomy and herniorrhaphy with drainage may be useful in avoiding intra-abdominal contamination in cases of de Garengeot hernia with subcutaneous abscess. CONCLUSION: Here, we described a case of de Garengeot hernia with a subcutaneous abscess in the groin. Clinicians should consider de Garengeot hernia in patients with a groin hernia, make an early diagnosis, and promptly provide surgical treatment to reduce the risk of complications.

h-prune affects anaplastic thyroid cancer invasion and metastasis.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies and is resistant to multimodal treatments. The expression of h-prune, the human homologue of Drosophila prune, has been reported to be correlated with progression and aggressiveness in various cancers including breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. We examined the role of h-prune in anaplastic thyroid cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Immunohistochemical analysis of h-prune was performed with 15 surgically resected specimens of anaplastic thyroid cancers. To investigate cell motility, Boyden chamber, wound healing and matrigel invasion assays were performed using cells from anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines. A murine orthotopic thyroid cancer model was used to investigate metastatic ability. In the immunohistochemical analysis, only weak focal or no staining of h-prune was observed in non-tumor tissue. In contrast, diffuse staining of h-prune was observed in anaplastic thyroid cancer and lymph node metastasis samples. Both inhibition of h-prune phosphodiesterase activity with dipyridamole and small interfering RNA for h-prune suppressed 8505C and KTC-3 cell motility. In addition, treatment with dipyridamole and decreased expression of h-prune suppressed tumor invasion and pulmonary metastasis in a NOD/Shi-scid, IL-2Rγnull (NOG) mouse orthotopic thyroid cancer model. In conclusion, h-prune is frequently expressed in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells and lymph nodes metastasis, and promotes migration and invasion of anaplastic thyroid cancer cells and metastasis in an anaplastic thyroid cancer model. Thus, h-prune shows promise as a targeting candidate against anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Acute Cholecystitis with Significantly Elevated Levels of Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9.

Serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), a marker of malignant tumors, is generally slightly elevated in benign conditions. We report a case of acute cholecystitis with a significantly elevated level of serum CA 19-9 based on positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) findings. A 65-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and fever. A CT image revealed an enlarged gallbladder without tumor shadows. The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was elevated to 7.66 mg/dl. Moreover, the serum CA 19-9 level was significantly elevated to 19,392 U/ml. We started antibiotic treatment, because we suspected acute cholecystitis, but still, we could not ignore the possible presence of malignant tumors. After 11 days of antibiotic treatment, serum CRP and CA 19-9 levels decreased to 0.11 mg/dl and 1,049 U/ml, respectively. There was an accumulation of fluorine 18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (maximum standardized uptake value, 9.3) without tumor shadows in the liver, near the gallbladder, on the PET-CT examination. We considered the possibility that the inflammation had spread from the gallbladder to the liver, made a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, and performed a cholecystectomy 33 days after treatment initiation. The serum CA 19-9 level decreased to 45 U/ml after the surgery. One year after the surgery, the patient was alive, and the serum CA 19-9 level was 34 U/ml. Acute cholecystitis with a significantly high elevation of the serum CA 19-9 level is rare. In such cases, it is important to confirm the change in the serum CA 19-9 level over time after antibiotic treatment and perform imaging studies to distinguish between inflammation and malignancy.