Comparative Assessment of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies vs. Percutaneous Biopsies of Pancreatic Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Performance.

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer ranks as the fourth deadliest form of cancer. However, it is essential to note that not all pancreatic masses signal primary malignancy. Therefore, it is imperative to establish the correct differential diagnosis, a process further supported by pre-operative biopsy procedures. This meta-analysis aims to compare the diagnostic performance of two minimally invasive biopsy approaches for pancreatic tissue sampling: percutaneous biopsies guided by computed tomography or ultrasound, and transduodenal biopsies guided by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE and Scopus databases. The included studies analyzed the diagnostic performance of the two biopsy methods, and they were assessed for risk of bias using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Statistical analysis was carried out using the RevMan and MetaDisc software packages. Results: The statistical analysis of the results demonstrated the superiority of the percutaneous approach. Specifically, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, LR+, LR-and DOR for the percutaneous approach were 0.896 [95% CI: 0.878-0.913], 0.949 [95% CI: 0.892-0.981], 9.70 [95% CI: 5.20-18.09], 0.20 [95% CI: 0.12-0.32] and 68.55 [95% CI: 32.63-143.98], respectively. The corresponding values for EUS-guided biopsies were 0.806 [95% CI: 0.775-0.834], 0.955 [95% CI: 0.926-0.974], 12.04 [95% CI: 2.67-54.17], 0.24 [95% CI: 0.15-0.39] and 52.56 [95% CI: 13.81-200.09], respectively. Nevertheless, it appears that this statistical superiority is also linked to the selection bias favoring larger and hence more readily accessible tumors during percutaneous biopsy procedures. Conclusions: Concisely, our meta-analysis indicates the statistical superiority of the percutaneous approach. However, selecting the optimal biopsy method is complex, influenced by factors like patient and tumor characteristics, clinical resources, and other relevant considerations.

Incidental Finding of an Asymptomatic Jejunal Schwannoma: A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND Schwannomas are tumors that arise from Schwann cells that surround and support nerve cells. Most common sites for presentations are head, neck, and extremities. Schwannomas of gastrointestinal tract are rare, slow-growing tumors, usually benign, arising from gastrointestinal tract's neural plexus. They are histologically distinguishable from conventional schwannomas that arise in soft tissue or the central nervous system. Preoperative diagnosis of gastrointestinal schwannoma is challenging, requiring immunohistological confirmation of the nature of the tumor. Here, we report a case of 57-year-old woman with an incidental finding of an asymptomatic submucosal jejunal schwannoma. CASE REPORT A 57-year-old woman with a medical history of hematological disorder underwent a contrast abdominal computed tomography as part of medical follow-up. The imaging revealed the presence of a jejunal mass. The patient underwent laparoscopic surgical resection of the lesion, followed by side-to-side jejuno-jejunal anastomosis with 4-cm clear surgical margins. The final pathologic study revealed the presence of jejunal schwannoma, as tested positive for S-100 protein. The patient was discharged home on the fourth postoperative day, having an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSIONS Jejunal schwannoma are usually benign and asymptomatic, and they are often discovered incidentally during diagnostic tests for other conditions; therefore, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors. Surgical treatment appears to be necessary to achieve a definitive diagnosis through a biopsy of the tumor tissue. Benign jejunal schwannomas have a good prognosis.

Pancreatolithiasis: Does Management Depend on Clinical Manifestations?

BACKGROUND Pancreatic calculi (PC) or pancreatolithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the main pancreatic duct (MPD), side branches, or parenchyma of the pancreas. It is highly associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP), and is present in 50-90% of those patients. The stone formation can be attributed to a diversity of factors, all of them leading to obstruction in the duct, hypertension of its distal part, increased intraductal and parenchymal pressure, and inflammation, causing the standard symptom, epigastric pain. Immediate restoration of pancreatic secretion flow is of utmost importance and can be achieved with both endoscopic and surgical techniques. Endoscopic techniques include endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combined, if possible, with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), while surgical techniques consist of drainage and resection procedures. The choice of treatment for PC depends on the location, size, and number of stones, and the existence of other complications. CASE REPORT We present 2 cases that were diagnosed with PC, in which clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and imaging examinations were different, suggesting the variety of manifestations pancreatolithiasis can cause. Each patient was treated differently, according to their clinical situation and the presence or absence of complications. Both patients were discharged and fully recovered. CONCLUSIONS The management of pancreatolithiasis can be demanding in some cases, mostly when there are complications. The purpose of this case report is to indicate the importance of personalized treatment for each patient, as different approaches to the same medical condition should be easily identified and successfully treated.

What Do Cancer Surgery and orthopedic Surgery Elderly Patients Have in Common? A Long-term Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Orthopedic and Cancer Patients Original Research.

Objectives-background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) involves decline in several cognitive domains after surgery and is particularly common after cardiac surgery, while also common among other types of surgery. Given the potential effects of such cognitive dysfunction on the quality of life, it is important to study it in multiple populations in order to limit its occurrence. Study design: We present the long-term neuropsychological outcome of 200 patients, 100 of whom had orthopedic surgery and 100 oncological surgery. Methods: We administered a series of neuropsychological tests assessing attention, complex scanning, verbal working memory, executive functioning, short-term and long-term memory, and visuospatial perception before surgery, prior to discharge, at 3-month follow-up and 6 years after surgery. We compared the performance of these patients to normative datasets. Results: Despite equivalent levels of pre-surgery performance between patients, oncology patients exceeded their preoperative neurocognitive levels, suggesting less postoperative cognitive dysfunction in orthopedic patients overall, in all neuropsychological domains at a 6-year follow-up, except short-term retention. In contrast, orthopedic patients showed no improvement, and, instead, showed some cognitive decline, which remained consistent over time. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the critical role of the type of surgery utilized in the development of POCD and have implications for clinical management and patients' quality of life in the very long term. Health policy professionals should be aware that patients' low POCD may persist in the long term, and this is useful from a clinician's point of view.

A systematic review meta-analysis and meta-regression on the implications of an aberrant right hepatic artery in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for the treatment of malignant disease.

We investigated the outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy in the presence of an aberrant right hepatic artery (aRHA). We systematically reviewed Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science until April 2023 for studies comparing pancreaticoduodenectomy outcomes with and without aRHA. Endpoints included postoperative mortality, R0 resection margins, pancreatic fistulae, hemorrhage, biliary leak/fistulae, delayed gastric emptying, operative duration, and blood loss. Eight retrospective studies involving 1514 patients were included. The risk ratio (RR) for postoperative mortality and odds ratio (OR) for R0 resection between the aRHA and normal anatomy groups were 1.37 (95%CI:0.74-256) (I2=0%, P=0.99) and 1.03 (95%CI:0.67-1.59) (I2=10%, P=0.35). Besides a longer operative duration in the aRHA group, mean difference (MD) 54.64 (95% CI: 8.51-100.77) (I2=94%, P<0.01), there were no significant differences in secondary endpoints. Meta-regression revealed a significant association between aRHA reconstruction and postoperative mortality (ß=0.0179, P<0.01). This review displayed non-statistically significant differences in terms of surgical and oncological outcomes between patients with aRHA and patients with normal hepatic artery anatomy undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, the observed trend of increased postoperative mortality in patients with aRHA, combined with extended surgical duration and the link between aRHA reconstruction and postoperative mortality, prevents drawing definitive conclusions. Further research through high-quality studies is warranted.

Which Is the Best Way to Treat Massive Hemoptysis? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

INTRODUCTION: Hemoptysis is one of the most common symptoms of respiratory system diseases. Common causes include bronchiectasis, tumors, tuberculosis, aspergilloma, and cystic fibrosis. The severity of hemoptysis varies from mild to moderate to massive hemoptysis and can easily lead to hemodynamic instability and death from suffocation or shock. Nevertheless, the most threatening hemoptysis that is presented to the emergency department and requires hospitalization is the massive one. In these cases, today, the most common way to manage hemoptysis is bronchial artery embolization (BAE). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus from January 2017 (with the aim of selecting the newest possible reports in the literature) until May 2023 for studies reporting massive hemoptysis. All studies that included technical and clinical success rates of hemoptysis management, as well as rebleeding and mortality rates, were included. A proportional meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Of the 30 studies included in this systematic review, 26 used bronchial artery embolization as a means of treating hemoptysis, with very high levels of both technical and clinical success (greater than 73.7% and 84.2%, respectively). However, in cases where it was not possible to use bronchial artery embolization, alternative methods were used, such as dual-vessel intervention (80% technical success rate and 66.7% clinical success rate), customized endobronchial silicone blockers (92.3% technical success rate and 92.3% clinical success rate), antifibrinolytic agents (50% clinical success rate), and percutaneous transthoracic embolization (93.1% technical success rate and 88.9% clinical success rate), which all had high success rates apart from antifibrinolytic agents. Of the 2467 patients included in these studies, 341 experienced rebleeding during the follow-up period, while 354 other complications occurred, including chest discomfort, fever, dysphagia, and paresis. A total of 89 patients died after an episode of massive hemoptysis or during the follow-up period. The results of the meta-analysis showed a pooled technical success of bronchial artery embolization equal to 97.22% and a pooled clinical success equal to 92.46%. The pooled recurrence was calculated to be 21.46%, while the mortality was 3.5%. These results confirm the ability of bronchial artery embolization in the treatment of massive hemoptysis but also emphasize the high rate of recurrence following the intervention, as well as the risk of death. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, massive hemoptysis can be treated with great clinical and technical success using bronchial artery embolization, reducing mortality. Mortality has now been reduced to a small percentage of cases.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Our Ten-Year Experience of a Single-Center Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequent mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. They have variable clinical presentation, prognosis, and molecular characteristics. Here, we present the results of our retrospective study including patients operated on for GIST during the last decade. METHODS: All the patients who underwent GIST resection during the decade 2008-2018 were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on the pathology report. All the data were collected and analyzed statistically using the Statistical Package for Social Science v25.0. Finally, after having applied the proper search terms, a comprehensive review of articles published in the Medline database was held. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (sixteen women) were included in the study with a mean age of 69.6 years old (SD = 13.9). Twenty-one patients had a GIST in the stomach, eight in the small intestine, and three had an extra GIST. Of the 29 patients contacted, 21 were alive with a mean survival time of 74.3 months (SD = 49.6 months, min: 3.0 months, max: 161.0 months), whereas eight patients passed away. Finally, 13 patients were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of whom only one died, while 9 patients passed away from those treated with surgery alone (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Our results were in concordance with the existing data in the literature. GISTs require patient-based therapeutical management depending on the histology of the tumors. Gastric tumors present a better prognosis than those localized in the intestine, while the use of TKIs has led to an improvement in patient survival rate.

Updated Perspectives on the Diagnosis and Management of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome marked by extensive colorectal polyposis and a high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Having access to screening and enrollment programs can improve survival for patients with FAP by enabling them to undergo surgery before the development of colorectal cancer. Provided that there are a variety of surgical options available to treat colorectal polyps in patients with adenomatous polyposis, the appropriate surgical option for each patient should be considered. The gold-standard treatment to reduce this risk is prophylactic colectomy, typically by the age of 40. However, colectomy is linked to morbidity and constitutes an ineffective way at preventing extra-colonic disease manifestations, such as desmoid disease, thyroid malignancy, duodenal polyposis, and cancer. Moreover, extensive studies have been conducted into the use of chemopreventive agents to prevent disease progression and delay the necessity for a colectomy as well as the onset of extracolonic disease. The ideal chemoprevention agent should demonstrate a biologically plausible mechanism of action and provide safety, easy tolerance over an extended period of time and a lasting and clinically meaningful effect. Although many pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products have been tested through the years, there has not yet been a chemoprevention agent that meets these criteria. Thus, it is necessary to develop new FAP agents that target novel pathways, such as the mTOR pathway. The aim of this article is to review the prior literature on FAP in order to concentrate the current and future perspectives of diagnosis and treatment. In conclusion, we will provide an update on the diagnostic and therapeutic options, surgical or pharmaceutical, while focusing on the potential treatment strategies that could further reduce the risk of CRC.

Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms: A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are the most frequent cystic pancreatic neoplasm. They derive from the main pancreatic duct or branch ducts. Aim: This narrative review aims to present and compare the current guidelines on the management of IPMNs. Materials and methods: We reviewed the most important scientific literature on the management of IPMNs. Discussion: The clinical presentation of IPMNs is usually nonspecific; common symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice. There are no sex differences, and the incidence increases with age. It is considered a premalignant lesion associated with synchronous or metachronous carcinomas. Multifocal sites within the pancreas and the presence of solid components, like mural nodules, are predictive factors for developing malignancy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging technique of choice. However, computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) can also contribute to the diagnosis. Resection is the optimal treatment for IPMNs that arise from the main duct, while several indications are suggested for the surgery on IPMNs of branch ducts. Conclusion: The decision on surgery is not always a simple task and should be based on high-risk features of the neoplasm. In any case, re-examination and follow-up are highly recommended.

Surgical Management of Groove Pancreatitis: A Case Report.

Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a chronic type of pancreatitis involving the groove area between the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and the common bile duct. Alcohol abuse is one of the main pathogenetic factors, although its etiology is not clearly defined. Differential diagnosis of pancreatic disorders remains difficult. The lack of diagnostic management and the restrictive number of patients are the main barriers. This article presents a case of a 37-year-old male diagnosed with GP after several episodes of epigastric pain and vomiting, with a history of chronic alcohol consumption. The patient's radiological and laboratory results excluded the possibility of malignancy and suggested the diagnosis of groove pancreatitis with duodenal stenosis. After initial conservative treatment failed, surgical management was decided. A gastroenteroanastomosis was made in order to bypass the duodenum aiming for a total resolution of the symptoms and an uneventful recovery of the patient. Although most studies suggest pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple's procedure) as the treatment of choice, a less major procedure can be performed in evidence of malignancy absence.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a tailgut cyst: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Retrorectal hamartomas or tailgut cysts (TCs) are rare. In most cases, they are asymptomatic and benign; however, rarely, they undergo malignant transformation, mainly in the form of adenocarcinoma. CASE SUMMARY: A 55-year-old woman presented to our hospital with lower back pain. On magnetic resonance imaging, a large pelvic mass was found, which was located on the right of the ischiorectal fossa, extending to the minor pelvis. The patient underwent extensive surgical resection of the lesion through the right buttock. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a retrorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma originating from a TC. Surgical resection of the tumour was complete, and the patient recovered without complications. The pilonidal sinus was then excised. One year later, semi-annual positron emission tomography-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans did not reveal any evidence of local recurrence or metastatic disease. CONCLUSION: Preoperative recognition, histological diagnosis, and treatment of TCs pose significant challenges. In addition, the possibility of developing invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma, although rare, should be considered.

Mental health well-being and functional adjustment in colorectal cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer significantly affects the quality of life of patients, while at the same time contributing to the development of symptoms of psychopathology. The aim of this prospective study, is to investigate the role of the disease in the quality of life of patients with colon cancer and in the appearance of symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as the connection of the above characteristics during the recovery process, given the distress symptoms experienced by the patients. METHODS: In the present study, HADS, FACT - C, well as the DT are use, in a sample of 118 patients of an average age of 70.5 ± 8.5 years, which were submitted to partial or total colectomy surgery. RESULTS: Moderate levels of anxiety (M = 8.25, SD = 3.87) and low levels of depression (M = 6.90, SD = 2.97) and distress (M = 5.84, SD = 2.60) emerged preoperatively, while the improvement was significant of patients' quality of life level 6 months after surgery. At the same time, a significant negative effect of the patients' distress level preoperatively on their quality of life, during the recovery process was observed. CONCLUSION: Preoperative anxiety is not considered to be an element that affects the functionality and the psychological and physical adaptation to the disease of patients with colon cancer. On the contrary, the feelings of distress they experience can be a predictive factor of their quality of life after the partial or total colectomy surgery.

Synchronous Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in the Head and Tail, a Double Trouble: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Synchronous primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is very rare and can be formed either through multicentric carcinogenesis or intrapancreatic metastasis. We report the case of an 80-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Laboratory tests showed elevated levels of blood glucose and CA 19-9, and Computed Tomography revealed two hypoenhancing lesions in the head and tail of the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound, which is the imaging method of choice for pancreatic cancer, was performed with a fine needle biopsy, and the cytological analysis diagnosed PDAC in both lesions. The patient underwent total pancreatectomy, and pathologic evaluation revealed synchronous primary PDAC with moderate to poor differentiation in the head and tail in the setting of IPMN (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia) and chronic pancreatitis. After his recovery from postoperative pulmonary embolism, the patient was discharged home with sufficient glycemic control. Multifocal PDAC occurs more often when precursor lesions, such as IPMN, pre-exist. The optimal treatment for multiple lesions spread all over the pancreas is total pancreatectomy. Diabetes mellitus is a serious complication of total pancreatectomy (new-onset or type 3c), but overall, long-term survival has been significantly improved.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas: two case reports and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Among the total reported cases of pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas, around 1-2.9% are adenosquamous carcinomas of the pancreas. Due to limited data, preoperative diagnosis is a great challenge for physicians, and it is usually set post-operational, based on the pathologist report. We operated on two cases of adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas, which we present alongside the operation and treatment planning. CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old Caucasian female and a 63-year-old Caucasian male presented themselves with jaundice in our department. The abdomen computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed lesions of the pancreas. A pancreas-duodenumectomy was performed in both patients, and the post-operational histology analysis revealed adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas head. The patients were discharged in good condition and received further chemotherapy treatment after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Two case reports of adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas are described here, which both underwent surgery resection. The limited available literature on this topic substantially limits the knowledge and guidance on treatment. A summarization of the available literature is attempted, alongside a description of possible fields of future research.

Emergency General Surgery and COVID-19 Pandemic: Are There Any Changes? A Scoping Review.

Background and Objectives: The pandemic of SARS-CoV-19 has affected the overall spectrum of General Surgery, either in the case management part, or in the type of cases. The purpose of this review is to gather all the parameters affected and to compare these changes between the pandemic period and the corresponding time frame of the previous year. Materials and Methods: A review of literature in two electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) was performed examining studies during the pre-pandemic (March to May 2019) and pandemic (March to May 2020) period about emergency surgeries. The differences in case presentation in emergency rooms, patient characteristics, length of hospitalization, type of surgery, complications and mortality rate were compared. Results: The comparison of the studies revealed significant results highlighting the differences between the two time periods for each parameter. There has been observed an overall decrease in the number of cases presented for emergency and urgent surgery. In terms of age, sex, and BMI, there were no significant variations amongst the patients. About the length of hospitalization, the patients hospitalized longer during the pandemic period. In terms of pathologies, the most common types of surgery were appendectomy, gastrointestinal, and colorectal resection. Mortality did not differ between the two study periods. Conclusions: COVID-19 affected a large part of Emergency General Surgery mainly concerns the type of operations performed. The hospitalization of patients, the complications that may have arisen and the recognition of emergencies were the most important issues faced by health care officials in hospitals during the period of COVID-19; however, there were parameters like mortality and patients' characteristics that did not appear to differ with pre-pandemic era.

Transabdominal Preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair leading to orchiectomy: A case report.

Introduction: And importance: The most common postoperative complications after inguinal hernia repair are hernia recurrence, hematoma, seroma, wound infection, chronic pain, numbness and swelling. The aim of this case report is to present a rare complication of inguinal hernia repair, a large scrotal abscess that was caused by an inoculated scrotal hematoma 3 months after Transabdominal Preperitoneal bilateral inguinal hernia repair. Case presentation: An 84-year-old patient presented to the emergency department complaining about fever, pain and progressive swelling of the left hemiscrotum. He had undergone a Transabdominal Preperitoneal bilateral inguinal hernia repair 3 months earlier and a scrotal paracentesis 17 days earlier due to a scrotal hematoma. The pelvic CT scan was indicative of a large abscess in the left hemiscrotum compressing the ipsilateral testicle. Surgical exploration of the inguinal area was performed and considering the patient's advanced age the abscess was excised "en bloc" with the ischemic ipsilateral testicle. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home on the third postoperative day. Clinical discussion: Scrotal abscess, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scrotal pain after inguinal hernioplasty. Scrotal drainage is sometimes used in order to relive the patient's discomfort caused by a swollen scrotum, but if not performed properly it can lead to serious infections. Postoperatively, a suction drain or elevation and compression of the scrotum may prevent scrotal complications. Conclusion: Scrotal abscess is a rare complication of inguinal hernioplasty. Scrotal care pathways establishment after inguinal hernia repair could help reduce and manage complications.

A Rare Case of Multiple Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Coexisting with a Rectal Adenocarcinoma in a Patient with Attenuated Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Syndrome and a Mini Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Multiple gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are extremely rare entities that exist either as spontaneous GISTs or as part of various syndromes, such as Carney's triad and type I neurofibromatosis (NF1). Attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) is a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with a milder clinical presentation. Both GISTs and AFAP have been reported to coexist with colorectal cancer, but the coexistence of GISTs and AFAP has never been reported in the literature before. CASE REPORT: A 45-year-old male patient with known AFAP arrived scheduled for a total colectomy and ileo-rectal anastomosis due to the malignancy of one of the previously biopsied polyps of the upper rectum. Intraoperatively, multiple nodular tumors were found at the jejunum within a length of 45 cm, for which an enterectomy and enteroanastomosis were performed. A histopathological examination of the whole colectomy specimen confirmed the presence of multiple polyps in the large intestine along with a rectal invasive adenocarcinoma. At the same time, in the examined part of the small intestine, 15 GISTs sized from 0.5 to 2.0 cm of prognostic group I, were identified. The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated. CONCLUSION: Multiple GISTs may present as an asymptomatic disease, and the same thing is true for colorectal cancer. Therefore, the appropriate screening is crucial for entities such as AFAP, since the surgery was performed because of the malignant transformation in one of the polyps and revealed multiple GISTs, as well.

Abdominal cocoon syndrome: Rare cause of intestinal obstruction-Case report and systematic review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal cocoon or sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is an uncommon condition in which the small bowel is completely or partially encased by a thick fibrotic membrane. Our study presents a case of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis and conducts a literature review. METHODS: A bibliographic research was conducted. Our research comprised 97 articles. Gender, age, symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment were all included in the database of patient characteristics. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old man complaining of a 2-day history of minor diffuse abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and constipation was presented in emergency department. Physical examination was indicative of intestinal obstruction. Laboratory tests were normal. Diffuse intraperitoneal fluid and dilated small intestinal loops were discovered on computed tomography (CT). An exploratory laparotomy was recommended, in which the sac membrane was removed and adhesiolysis was performed. He was discharged on the tenth postoperative day. RESULTS: There were 240 cases of abdominal cocoon syndrome in total. In terms of gender, 151 of 240 (62.9%) were male and 89 of 240 (37%) were female. Ages between 20 and 40 are most affected. Symptoms include abdominal pain and obstruction signs. For the diagnosis of abdominal cocoon syndrome, CT may be the gold standard imaging method. The surgical operation was the treatment of choice in the vast majority of cases (96.7%). Only 69 of 239 patients (28.9%) were detected prior to surgery, and CT was applied in these cases. CONCLUSION: Abdominal cocoon is a rare condition marked by recurrent episodes of intestinal obstruction. Surgical therapy is the most effective treatment option.

Ampullary Large-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, a Diagnostic Challenge of a Rare Aggressive Neoplasm: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Ampullary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs) are extremely rare, and available data are limited on case reports. They present with jaundice, non-specific abdominal pain, or weight loss, imitating adenocarcinoma. Their incidence increases due to the improved diagnostic techniques. However, preoperative diagnosis remains challenging. We report the case of a 70-year-old man with a history of metabolic syndrome, cholecystectomy, and right hemicolectomy, presenting with jaundice. Laboratory results showed increased liver biochemistry indicators and elevated CA 19-9. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an ulcerative tumor on the ampulla of Vater, and the biopsy revealed neuroendocrine carcinoma. Although computed tomography (CT) detected enlarged regional lymph nodes, the positron emission tomography (PET) showed a hyperactive lesion only in this area. Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy with R0 resection was performed. Pathologic evaluation of the 3.1 × 1.9 cm tumor revealed an LCNEC with immunohistochemical positivity at Synaptophysin, EMA, CD56, and cytokeratin CK8/18. The Ki-67 index was 45%. Two out of the nine dissected lymph nodes were occupied by the neoplasm. The patient was discharged home free of symptoms, and adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin + etoposide was initiated. A comprehensive review of the reported cases showed that the preoperative biopsy result was different from the final diagnosis in few cases, regarding the subtypes. Conventional radiology cannot identify small masses, and other methods, such as endoscopy, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and FDG-PET scan, might aid the diagnosis. Diagnosis is based on histology and immunohistochemical markers of the surgical specimens. The treatment of choice is pancreatoduodenectomy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. However, recurrence is frequent, and the prognosis remains poor.

Ectopic pancreatic tissue in stomach: A case report.

Introduction and importance: Ectopic Pancreas (EP) is a rare condition that is mostly found in the Gastrointestinal tract and especially in the stomach. Although the lesion is mainly asymptomatic, non-specific symptoms can be present, making the diagnosis even more challenging. Case presentation: In our case a 52-year-old woman, with heartburn as the only symptom, was undergone successive examinations, indicating a subepithelial lesion in the antrum of the stomach, from which only Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) indicated the presence of ectopic pancreas, while Computed Tomography results considered the mass as Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Wedge gastrectomy was performed in order to extract the lesion and the histopathological examination confirmed the findings of the MRI. The patient fully recovered with no complications. Clinical discussion: In most cases, EP is described in endoscopy as a subepithelial mass with normal mucosa. As EP can mimic other subepithelial masses, even adenocarcinoma, it is of utmost importance not to omit the performance of surgical removal and histopathological examination. Consequently, resection is essential not only for the diagnosis but also for the treatment of the patient. Conclusion: EP is not a usually detected clinical pathology. There is no specific algorithm, which physicians should follow in order to reach the diagnosis without the surgical intervention. For this reason, clinicians should be conscious of the existence of EP in the stomach.