Laparoscopic treatment of a pericaecal internal hernia.

We present the case of a pericaecal hernia treated successfully with a laparoscopic approach and full recovery after surgery. A 53-year-old female patient with a personal history of depression, osteoporosis and irritable bowel syndrome consulted to the emergency department for abdominal pain and distension in the last 12 h, associated with one episode of vomit and diminished frequency in the passage of stools. The right abdomen was tender to palpation, and blood work revealed no leucocytosis. A computed tomography scan showed small bowel loops distended and displaced to the right parietocolic recess, lateral to the ascending colon. Exploratory laparoscopy was performed confirming the presence of small bowel loops incarcerated in the paracaecal fossa. These ones were reduced with gentle manoeuvres, and the peritoneal folds incised to prevent recurrence. The patient was started on an oral diet 2 days after surgery and discharged home on the 3rd post-operative day.

Rib desmoplastic fibroblastoma: Video-assisted resection.

A 46-year-old man was referred to our department due to chronic chest pain. A computed tomography showed an exophytic image arising from 5th rib that was projected on the middle lobule. The patient underwent an exploratory videothoracoscopic because we couldn't discard lung compromise. A corneal-like lesion emerging from the inner side of the 5th rib was revealed. Complete video-assited resection was done. Histopathology examination revealed a desmoplastic fibroblastoma. To our knowledge this is the first case of desmoplastic fibroblastoma arising from a rib and the second case published in all literature of chest wall involvement.

Diastasis recti associated with midline hernias: Totally subcutaneous video-endoscopic repair.

A 63-year-old man with a history of a conventional cholecystectomy was referred to our department for an incisional subcostal hernia and chronic back pain. Physical examination also showed an umbilical hernia and diastasis recti measuring 6 cm that was confirmed with a computed tomography scan. Subcutaneous video-endoscopic repair was done repairing all defects simultaneously.

Laparoscopic retromuscular incisional hernia repair.

A 67-year-old male with a history of a conventional right colectomy and hypertension was referred to our department for an incisional hernia and abdominal discomfort. Physical examination also showed a supraumbilical defect that was confirmed with a computed tomography scan. Laparoscopic Rives technique repair was done to repair the defect avoiding direct contact of the mesh with the intra-abdominal viscera.

Intradiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst: report of a rare new case.

Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are congenital abnormalities commonly found within the mediastinum. Diaphragmatic location is extremely rare. We present a woman in her 60s with an asymptomatic intradiaphragmatic BC. The patient underwent complete surgical resection with primary closure of the left hemidiaphragm. BCs should remain a differential diagnosis of any soft-tissue mass in the region of the diaphragm. Complete surgical resection is recommended even in asymptomatic patients to avoid complications such as infection, rupture, bleeding or malignant transformation.

En-bloc resection of soft-tissue sarcoma of anterior chest wall and reconstruction with titanium bars and free anterolateral thigh flap.

Primary soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the chest wall are uncommon. Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment being sternal resection ocassionally required. We present a 25-year-old man with an anterior chest wall STS. The patient underwent complete oncological resection with reconstruction using titanium bars combined with a free vascularised anterolateral thigh flap. STSs of the chest wall are very rare and they comprise a surgical challenge for both resection and reconstruction.

Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma in elderly patients: preliminary results in a Latin-American population.

INTRODUCTION: In melanoma, lymph node status constitutes the most important prognostic factor among patients with locoregional disease. It has been postulated that elderly patients present less metastatic involvement in sentinel lymph node (SLN). Our objective was to analyse the results and evolution of patients ≥ 70 years-old with cutaneous melanoma in whom sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was carried out. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 194 patients with primary CM who had a SLNB between 2005 and 2020 was included. Demographic and tumour data, SLN status, recurrence rate, morbidity and evolution were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to age: Group 1 (<70 years old) and Group 2 (≥70 years old). RESULTS: One hundred and fifty patients were included in Group 1 and 44 patients in Group 2. Median Breslow thickness was 1.7 mm in Group 1 and of 2 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.015).Forty-seven patients had positive SLNB; 38 (25%) belonged to Group 1 and 9 (20.5%) to Group 2 (p = 0.55). Recurrence was found in 34 patients: 25 belonging to Group 1 and 9 corresponding to Group 2 (p = 0.65). Morbidity was of 4% in Group 1 and 9% in Group 2 (p = 0.23). With an average follow-up of 30.6 months, 5-year overall survival was of 87% in Group 1 and of 63% in Group 2 (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Advanced age was not associated with differences regarding positivity of SLN and recurrence but difference in overall survival was observed. According to our results and the low morbidity rate, we consider SLNB should not be omitted in such age group, since it improves staging and gives the possibility to evaluate adjuvant treatment.

Resection of a giant retroperitoneal lipoma herniating through the inguinal canal.

Retroperitoneal lipomas are extremely rare with few cases reported so far in the literature. They can reach different sizes and present with a variety of symptoms. The differential diagnosis is mainly with well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS). We present a 34-year-old woman with a retroperitoneal lipoma herniating through the inguinal canal into the proximal thigh. The patient underwent complete oncological resection using a Karakousis's abdominoinguinal incision. Retroperitoneal lipomas are a very rare condition and sometimes require resections technically challenging. MDM2 amplification is critical for its differential diagnosis with WDLPS.

Resection of retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcoma involving the abdominal aorta.

Complete surgical resection of soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs) frequently requires complex multivisceral resections, which is the most important factor related to overall survival and local recurrence. Major vascular involvement is not rare in patients with primary retroperitoneal STSs. We present a 54-year-old woman with a retroperitoneal STS encasing the infrarenal abdominal aorta. The patient underwent complete oncological resection with vascular reconstruction using a bi-iliac vascular graft. Major blood vessel involvement is not a contraindication for STS surgery with a curative intent.

Left adrenal ganglioneuroma: Report of a new case.

INTRODUCTION: Adrenal ganglioneuroma (AGN) represents about 20% of the reported cases. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a 37-year-old man referred to our institution for a history of abdominal discomfort and a left adrenal solid mass incidentally discovered in CT abdominal scan (24 × 20 mm). Patient underwent laparoscopic surgical excision of the tumor. CONCLUSION: The histopathology examination showed areas of spindle cells and scattered mature ganglionic cells compatible with AGN.

Entirely thoracoscopic resection of a giant emphysematous bulla.

A 38-year-old man with longilinear shape, smoker (38 packs/year) and no other relevant medical history was referred to our department due to the finding of left pulmonary hyperlucency on a chest x-ray. A computed tomography (CT) was performed and a giant emphysematous bulla with thin-walled partitions inside was shown that replaced almost the entire left upper lobe, The patient underwent an exploratory thoracoscopy. Intraoperatively a giant bulla was seen that initially impressed to replace the entire upper lobe. Despite the large size we decided to attempt thoracoscopic resection preserving the remaining healthy parenchyma. Bullectomy was done using linear endoscopic stapling devices. To our knowledge this is the only case with such a large bulla resected entirely by VATS.

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma.

Mucinous cystadenomas and carcinomas of the ovary are well-established and common tumors. However, Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenomas (PRMCs) are very rare. We present a 50-year-old woman referred to our institution with history of intermittent abdominal pain and palpable mass in her left flank. On CT-scan an unilocular cystic mass with thin wall measuring 171×155×108mm in the retroperitoneum was shown. Patient underwent surgical excision of the tumor. The histopathology examination showed a cystic mass with a fibrous wall and an epithelium composed of a single layer of columnar cells with mucin vacuoles compatible with PRMC.