Gallbladder papillomatosis and cholecystocolonic fistula: a rare combination.

BACKGROUND: Biliary papillomatosis (BP) with sole involvement of the gall bladder or gall bladder papillomatosis (GBP) is very rare. Biliary-enteric fistula, particularly the cholecystocolonic fistula (CCF) type, is also very rare. The combination of both types of lesions in a single patient has never previously been reported in the English literature. CASE REPORT: We report herein the case of an 81-year-old woman who was diagnosed with both disease entities, which occurred in a cause-and-effect relationship. She underwent resection of the gall bladder with closure of the fistula, and was discharged improved afterwards. CONCLUSIONS: GBP is a premalignant condition that warrants extensive resection. An absent Murphy's sign or jaundice on physical examination should not rule out this disease or accompanying biliary tract infection because a biliary-enteric fistula may be present. Thorough review of the radiologic images should be performed, since subtle details could be easily missed or dismissed, thus affecting the postoperative course. A CCF should alert the physician that another disease entity is present.

Glomus tumor of the trachea managed by spiral tracheoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Glomus tumors are usually found over the dermis of the extremities, particularly over the subungual region of the fingers, and occurrence in the trachea is an extremely rare event. To date, only 29 cases of tracheal and 2 main bronchus glomus tumors have been reported in the English literature. Our patient is the first ever reported case in Taiwan that was managed by spiral tracheoplasty. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis. Computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a mass over the posterior wall of the trachea. Surgical resection with spiral tracheoplasty was performed due to uncontrolled bleeding and airway compromise. Histopathology and immunostaining confirmed a glomus tumor. Postoperative course was unremarkable and she was discharged in improved condition after 9 days of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Although chronic symptom presentation is the rule for tracheal glomus tumors, airway obstruction and bleeding are life-threatening presentations. Histopathological examination and staining are important to differentiate it from hemangiopericytoma or carcinoid tumors. Spiral tracheoplasty after tangential resection may be tried, as this preserves more tracheal tissue, decreases tension, and prevents postoperative leakage at the anastomotic site.

Balloon sheath miniprobe compared to conventional EUS in the staging of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Conventional endoscopic ultrasonography was a valuable modality in staging the invasion depth of colon cancer. However, it is not widely used because of its difficulty in detecting small or flat lesions and obtaining a cross-sectional image due to tight stricture of tumor lesions and in those lesions located at or over a bend of the colon. Due to this, mistaging or understaging is often seen. We conducted a prospective study using a new technique and instrument (balloon sheath with miniprobe) in colon cancer staging and compared it with the conventionally used endosonography. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and thirty-four patients underwent preoperative staging using two different instruments. Seventy-three patients were evaluated with conventional endoscopic ultrasonography while the other 61 patients were evaluated with the balloon sheath miniprobe. RESULTS: The balloon sheath miniprobe had an overall accuracy rate of 85%; 100% in T1; 78% in T2; 90% in T3 and 40% in T4. Lymph node metastasis was correctly determined in 67% with a sensitivity and specificity rate of 56% and 75%, respectively. The overall accuracy rate of endoscopic ultrasonography in staging colon carcinoma was 89%; 83% in T1; 83% in T2; 93% in T3 and 71% in T4. Overall accuracy rate in lymph node metastasis evaluation was 77%. Sensitivity was 77% and specificity was 76%. Inability to obtain a clear cross-sectional image using the miniprobe was 3.3%, while that of the endoscopic ultrasonography was 11%. CONCLUSIONS: The balloon sheath miniprobe is a good alternative for evaluating lesions over the proximal colon and is superior to other modalities in obtaining a cross-sectional image even in tight, stenotic lesions. One limitation is its difficulty in assessing deeper structures such as lymph node groups and contiguous organ involvement.

Intracoronary retrieval of the dehisced radiopaque ring of a guiding catheter: an unusual complication of coronary angioplasty.

The guiding catheter used in coronary intervention may be damaged or some parts could be dehisced during the procedure, producing adverse effects in the vascular tree. So much so that immediate surgery is usually indicated. We report a case with a dehisced radiopaque ring of the catheter during the procedure. It was retrieved percutaneously without thoracotomy.