Thymus pathology in myasthenia gravis with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and concomitant Hashimoto's thyroiditis. A four-case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying the morphological features of thymus in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and concomitant Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), which were recruited from a single surgical unit of a tertiary referral hospital located in the North-Eastern region of Romania, over a period of 11 years. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical, imaging, laboratory, thymic pathology, and outcome data that were obtained from medical records of patients with MG and concomitant HT, to whom a thymectomy was performed for a suspected thymic lesion. All the surgical interventions were done in the Third Clinic of Surgery, St. Spiridon Emergency County Hospital, Iasi, Romania, for an 11 years' period, i.e., from January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010. RESULTS: Four patients (three females and one male) were included. The mean age of the patients at the time of their thymectomy was 40.25 years. Of all patients, 75% had moderate or severe MG, 100% had anti-AChR antibodies, and an electromyographic decrement greater than 25%. All patients have been diagnosed with HT in their past medical history by a full thyroid panel [high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values, low free thyroxine (fT4) values, and the presence of the anti-thyroid antibodies] and all of them have been treated with Euthyrox. Our four patients expressed different MG subtypes, each of them being associated with different thymus pathology. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed heterogeneous mediastinal masses and established the correct diagnosis only in 25% of cases. The pathological exams also revealed a heterogeneous pattern of thymic lesions. In contrast with other studies, our patients with MG with anti-AChR antibodies and concomitant HT presented atrophic thymus more frequently (50%), but with particular morphological changes of Hassall's corpuscles. Also, 25% of cases were diagnosed with thymic lympho-follicular hyperplasia (TLFH) associated with thymic epithelial hyperplasia. In B2 thymoma, neoplastic epithelial cells expressed cytokeratin 19 (CK19) immunoreactivity, high Ki67 labeling index and strong p63 immunopositivity. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, MG and HT occurred simultaneously, or one of them was diagnosed before the other, raising some new questions regarding the immune mechanism of these two autoimmune diseases. Due to the heterogeneous morphological changes of the thymus that we found in this study, we can hypothesize that thymus is involved in the pathogenic mechanism of MG with anti-AChR-antibodies and concomitant HT development.

The rarity of nongravid uterus torsion - difficult diagnosis even in modern medicine.

Uterine torsion is a rare surgical emergency that can evolve with ischemic lesions of the genital organs. We present a case of a 59 year-old woman who was hospitalized with important abdominal pain and modified general status. On clinical examination, a giant abdominal mass was found, and bimanual genital palpation could not find the cervix but revealed tension in the vaginal walls. CT examination described the palpable tumor mass as a giant uterine leiomyoma, with no information regarding the adnexes. As her general status become critical within 24 hours, the surgical intervention was performed, although the patient refused it. The abdominal exploration discovered a giant engorged uterus with 720-degree dextro-isthmic rotation around its axis; both fallopian tubes, broad ligaments, round ligaments and ovaries were also rotated and ischemic. She underwent subtotal hysterectomy with favorable postoperative outcome. The pathological report showed that the uterus and the annexes had ischemic to necrotic lesions. This case shows that the diagnosis of uterine torsion can be a pitfall due to its rarity. The disease has fatal evolution if the correct treatment is not applied on time.

MANAGEMENT OF TRAUMATIC LIVER LESIONS.

AIM: To determine the correct therapeutic approach to the different grades of liver trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in 56 patients with abdominal trauma admitted over a 9-year period to in the IIIrd Surgical Clinic of the Iasi "Sf. Spiridon" Hospital. It is focused on operative or non-operative management of liver trauma, surgical technique used, morbidity and postoperative mortality. Data were collected from electronic medical records and observation sheets and processed and interpreted using Microsoft Excel statistical functions. RESULTS: In the interval May 26, 2005-April 19, 2013 56 cases of abdominal trauma were recorded, 31 (55.35%) residing in urban areas, and 25 (44.64%) in rural areas. The mean age was 39 years, range 18-83 years old. The male/female ratio was 2.5/1 and the group consisted of 40 (71.42%) male patients and 16 (28.57%) female patients. The causes of abdominal trauma were: car accident in 29 (51%) cases, fall from different heights in 6 (10%) patients, workplace-related accidents in 8 patients (14%) and direct hit injury in 12 patients (12%). In our cohort, 51 (91%) patients with abdominal trauma have been emergency admitted, 3 patients (5%) were transferred from different medical units, and 2 patients (4%) were referred by a specialist doctor. Two or more simultaneous lesions were diagnosed in 53 (96%) cases. Of the 45 patients with traumatic liver injuries diagnosed on admission, 32 (71%) required surgical intervention. In the remaining 13 (29%) patients, the therapeutic management was conservative. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic traumas are often severe, and frequently associated with multiple injuries. The non-operative management is indicated in liver lesions grade I, II and III according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), if abdominal cavity organs are not injured. Higher grade liver lesions (over IV) in which the hemorrhagic risk persists or reappears require surgical intervention as soon as possible, and according to the type of lesion, the right procedure should be chosen.

Split-thickness skin grafting in oncologic surgery of the limb--a case report.

Large excision of tumor soft tissues is often complicated by infections, seriously undermined blood supply and venous drainage, tendon exposure, functional impairment. We report the case of a 67 years old woman admitted for a sarcoma of the right forearm occurring 14 years after a modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for carcinoma of the right breast. A wide excision of the lesion and split-thickness skin graft was performed with uneventful recovery and satisfactory healing of the graft tissue and functional aspect of the arm. In the last few decades, there has been a search for solutions in tissue repair without need for auto grafts, such as biological substitutes that could repair or improve the function of tissue. In case none of these products are available, auto graft is a good choice and it may be commonly used in the surgical treatment of postoperative soft tissues defects after oncologic surgery.

The risk of lymphedema after breast cancer surgical treatment.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of knowing the predisposing factors of the occurrence of homolateral upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 1104 patients with breast cancer, who were hospitalized in the IIIrd Surgical Clinic, lasi, between 2000 and 2010, for surgical treatment followed by oncological adjuvant therapy. The surgical intervention was conservative in 228 cases and modified radical mastectomy - Madden type - in 876 patients. Periodic clinical follow-ups were done every 3 months during the first postoperative year, every 6 months during the second year and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Early lymphedema occurring in the first 14 postoperative days or between day 14 and day 21 was found in 8 patients. Late lymphedema, occurring up to 12 months or more after surgery, was diagnosed in 41 patients. Medium and severe lymphedema occurred at 42 patients. We evaluated the preexisting risk factors, the risk factors related to the type of surgery and those related to the cancer staging. CONCLUSIONS: It's ideal to identify predisposing factors of developing lymphedema related to breast cancer surgery before applying any type of treatment, There are therapeutic methods (general, drug therapy, physiotherapy) and methods related to the surgical act that influences the prophylaxis of lymphedema or have an amazing effect on already occurred lymphedema.