Laparoscopic management of small bowel obstruction secondary to a mesodiverticular band of a Meckel's diverticulum in an adult: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: The mesodiverticular band (MDB) of a Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a rare, yet notable etiology of small bowel obstruction (SBO) in adults. Due to the nonspecific symptoms and challenging diagnosis thereof, preoperative clinical suspicion and strategic management are crucial for achieving optimal outcomes. Therefore, we presented a case in which laparoscopic surgery was strategically performed to alleviate ileus, due to a preoperative diagnosis of SBO, suspected to be secondary to an MD with a concomitant MDB. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 32-year-old male patient presented with a half-day's duration of epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and tenderness, resulting in the working diagnosis of SBO. DIAGNOSES: Initial non-contrast computed tomography (CT) revealed SBO without signs of strangulation, postulated to be caused by an MD and concomitant MDB, resulting in conservative management. The symptoms persisted, necessitating contrast-enhanced CT. However, the dilated bowel loop suggestive of an MD that had been observed on non-contrast CT could not be confirmed on contrast-enhanced CT. INTERVENTIONS: Decompression therapy using a long tube provided minimal relief, prompting laparoscopic surgery on the 5th day post-admission for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. OUTCOMES: An MD resection effectively relieved the SBO. The histopathological analysis revealed a true diverticulum with ectopic pancreatic tissue, confirming the diagnosis of an MD. At the band site, vascular and neural structures were encased in a sheath, consistent with the remnants of the vitelline duct mesentery; and histopathologically diagnosed as an MDB. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 9th day, postoperatively. LESSONS: Decompression therapy and strategic laparoscopic surgery based on the preoperative working diagnosis of SBO yielded favorable outcomes, highlighting the importance of the early clinical suspicion of an MD and a concomitant MDB, as the etiology of SBO. The imaging variability and rarity of an MD in adults emphasizes the need for a heightened awareness and an accurate diagnosis for optimal management. Early intervention should be deliberated for patients with suspected intestinal ischemia. However, this case accentuates the clinical implications of strategic planning and employing minimally invasive techniques in the management of an MD-related SBO in adults.

Gastritis cystica profunda in an unoperated stomach mimicking a pyloric submucosal tumor and causing anorexia: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Gastritis cystica profunda (GCP), commonly observed in remnant gastric anastomosis, is associated with developing gastric cancer. CASE: This case report describes a patient with GCP in a previously unoperated stomach that mimicked a pyloric submucosal tumor and caused anorexia, which is rare in clinical practice. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 72-year-old woman presented with loss of appetite and weight. DIAGNOSES: Gastroscopy detected a 20 mm diameter submucosal tumor near the pylorus. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging identified a cystic lesion, unlike a usual submucosal tumor in the stomach. The diagnosis was difficult, even with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. INTERVENTIONS: Surgery was performed for diagnosis and treatment. The lesion was resected using a submucosal dissection technique after an incision of the gastric wall during open laparotomy. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of GCP and revealed no dysplasia or cancer. OUTCOMES: Anorexia resolved after the surgery. Residual or recurrent lesions were not detected during follow-up examinations performed 1 year after surgery. LESSONS: GCP occurring in a previously unoperated stomach as a macroscopic lesion like a submucosal tumor causing some symptoms is rare. GCP is associated with a risk of developing cancer. Therefore, careful evaluation and management during treatment are required.

Laparoscopic resection for appendiceal mucocele secondary to endometriosis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: This case report describes a patient who underwent laparoscopic resection of the mucocele of the appendix secondary to endometriosis, a rarity in clinical practice. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was a 38-year-old woman with a history of endometriosis and an ovarian cyst who sought medical advice with a chief complaint of mild right lower abdominal pain. DIAGNOSES: Computed tomography and ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed a cystic lesion at the distal end of the appendix without definitive findings of malignancy. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor-like elevation at the appendiceal orifice. Appendiceal mucocele was suspected preoperatively. INTERVENTIONS: The lesion was resected laparoscopically. Secondary ileocecal resection with lymphadenectomy was possible if the resected specimen was pathologically diagnosed as a malignant tumor with the risk of lymph node metastasis. OUTCOMES: The resected specimen was pathologically diagnosed as an appendiceal mucocele secondary to endometriosis; therefore, additional surgery was avoided. CONCLUSION: Although appendiceal mucoceles secondary to endometriosis are rare, laparoscopic surgery in which only the lesion was resected is a useful strategy for the treatment and pathological diagnosis of appendiceal mucoceles without findings of malignancy.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Allergen Immunotherapy-Treated Mice Suppressed IL-5 Production from Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT), such as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), is a treatment targeting the causes of allergic diseases. The roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs), bilayer lipid membrane blebs released from all types of cells, in AIT have not been clarified. To examine the roles of EVs in SCIT, it was analyzed whether (1) EVs are phenotypically changed by treatment with SCIT, and (2) EVs derived from SCIT treatment suppress the function of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), which are major cells contributing to type 2 allergic inflammation. As a result, (1) expression of CD9, a canonical EV marker, was highly up-regulated by SCIT in a murine model of asthma; and (2) IL-5 production from ILC2s in vitro was significantly decreased by the addition of serum EVs derived from SCIT-treated but not non-SCIT-treated mice. In conclusion, it was indicated that EVs were transformed by SCIT, changing to a suppressive phenotype of type 2 allergic inflammation.