Branchial Cysts in Quito, Ecuador

Abstract Introduction Branchial cleft anomalies are the second most common congenital anomaly in children. However, some lesions may not develop clinically and are not diagnosed until adulthood. The recent literature of branchial cysts (BCs) in the adult population is really scanty. For this reason, we analyzed the clinical and surgical management of the adult population treated for a BC at a tertiary care general hospital. Methods A retrospective review of the clinical records of all the patients with histological diagnosis of BC who were surgically treated at the Social Security Hospital in Quito, Ecuador, was performed. Fifty-one patients (27 women) with congenital anomalies of the 2nd (43 patients with cysts) and 3rd (6 patients with cysts and 2 with fistula) branchial arches were diagnosed and treated. Diagnosis was made on clinical grounds and by computed tomography scan. Results The 43 patients with a 2nd branchial cleft cyst underwent complete surgical excision through a wide mid-neck transverse cervicotomy. The 6 cases of 3rd branchial cleft cyst underwent surgical resection through a lower-neck transverse incision, and the 2 patients with clinical fistula in the lower aspect of the neck were operated on via an elliptical incision around this external fistula opening. Postoperative evolution was uneventful in all patients. Conclusions Branchial cysts can occasionally be diagnosed in adult patients in the setting of a general hospital population. A correct clinical and imaging assessment was diagnostic in most patients. Complete surgical resection was curative in all our patients, and postoperative complications were exceptional.

Melanomas nasosinusales / Sinonasal melanomas

Los melanomas mucosos representan 2 a 8% de todos los melanomas de cabeza y cuello. La mayoría se localizan en la cavidad nasal y senos paranasales. El objetivo de este estudio fue revisar la evolución de pacientes portadores de melanomas malignos nasosinusales (MMNS) en un hospital de atención terciaria. Material y Métodos: Serie de casos de 19 pacientes operados por MMNS en el Hospital "Carlos Andrade Marín" y algunos institutos privados de Quito. Todos con diagnóstico histológico confirmado. Resultados: Once varones con una edad promedio de 64 años. Sus síntomas más frecuentes fueron obstrucción nasal y epistaxis y la mayor parte de los tumores se localizaron en la fosa nasal. En 11 pacientes se encontró extensión extranasal. Doce pacientes estuvieron en estadios III-IV. Todos los pacientes recibieron tratamiento quirúrgico y siete de ellos radioterapia complementaria. Recurrencia local (11 eventos) ocurrió en 9 casos. Estos eventos fueron tratados con cirugía en ocho pacientes, que eventualmente recibieron radioterapia (RT) y quimioterapia (QT). 0cho de estos nueve pacientes fallecieron. La sobrevida global a 5 años fue del 46%. La mortalidad estuvo relacionada con la extensión de la enfermedad local y la presencia de metástasis. Todos los pacientes con estadio I están vivos. Discusión: La mayor parte de MMNS tiene mal pronóstico debido ­ principalmente- a enfermedad local inicialmente avanzada, recurrencia local y metástasis a distancia. La cirugía es el tratamiento de base seguido de RT.

Introduction: Head and neck mucosal melanoma account for 2 to 8% of head and neck melanomas, most of them arising in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses. The aim of this report was to review the follow up of patients with sinonasal malignant melanomas (SNMM), treated over a long period of time at a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: Case series of 19 patients surgically treated for SNMM at Social Security Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin and other private clinics from Quito Ecuador. All patients had histologically proven diagnosis; eleven men. Results: The mean age was 64 year-old. The most common symptoms were nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Most tumors were located at the nasal fossa. Extranasal extension occurred in 11 patients. Twelve tumor were at stages III-IV. All patients were surgically treated. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 7 patients. Local recurrence (11 events) occurred in 9 cases. These events were treated with surgery in 8 patients, eventually associated to radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT). Eight out of 9 patients died. Overall survival was 46%. Death was related to extension of the disease and distant metastases. All stage I tumor patients are still alive. Discussion: Most sinonasal melanomas have a poor prognosis, mainly attributed to initial advanced local disease, local recurrence and distant metastasis.

Cirugía para la obesidad y sus efectos metabólicos. artículo de revisión / Surgery for obesity and its metabolic effects. review article

En el Ecuador según la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición publicada en el 2013, la prevalencia de Obesidad en personas mayores de 19 y menores a 60 años es del 62.8%, mientras que la principal causa de muerte de los ecuatorianos en el 2011 según el INEC fue la Diabetes Mellitus Tipo II. La aso-ciación entre obesidad y sus comorbilidades genera un importante impacto en la salud pública y en los costos que se generan de su atención. La cirugía metabólica (bariátrica) representa una excelente opción terapéutica para el tratamiento a largo plazo de la obesidad y sus comorbilidades.

In Ecuador, according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey published in 2013, the prevalence of obesity in people over 19 and under 60 years is 62.8%, while the main cause of Ecuadorians ́ death in 2011 according to the INEC was the Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The association between obesity and its comorbidities generates a significant impact on public health and its costs. The metabolic surgery is an excellent treatment option for long-term treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.