Jejunal strongyloidiasis mimicking crohn's colitis: A diagnostic dilemma!

ABSTRACT: We report an unusual case of jejunal strongyloidiasis presenting as chronic malabsorption and intractable small bowel diarrhea in an immunocompetent adolescent boy who posed a diagnostic challenge for pathologists, radiologists, and gastroenterologists. Histopathology revealed chronic active colitis and was consistent with the clinicoradiological diagnosis of Crohn's colitis but nonresponse to immunomodulators warranted full-thickness jejunal biopsy through laparotomy which showed numerous larvae and eggs of Strongyloides. There is a need to increase the awareness of Strongyloides colitis given its high rate of misdiagnosis and mortality as the correct diagnosis can avoid a fatal outcome of this curable disease.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis with histologic features suggestive of IgG4 related cholecystitis - A morphologic overlap with IgG4 related disease.

AIMS: Both xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) and IgG4-related cholecystitis (IgG4-CC) are rare chronic fibroinflammatory tumefactive diseases of the gallbladder, which cause a strong confusion with resectable malignancy in view of their mass forming tendency with extension into the liver. We aim to study the histopathologic features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis with regard to IgG4-related cholecystitis in extended cholecystectomy specimens. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty cases of extended cholecystectomy with liver wedge resection, diagnosed as XGC on histopathology from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrieved from the archives. Representative sections were reviewed by two pathologists independently. Immunohistochemistry was performed for IgG4 and IgG4/IgG was derived. The cases were dichotomized in two groups on the basis of IgG4 positive plasma cells. Six cases with >50 IgG4 positive plasma cells had storiform fibrosis, IgG4/IgG ratio >0.40 and extra-cholecystic extension. Of these, 50 % had obliterative phlebitis and 66.7 % had perineural plasma cell wrapping. CONCLUSIONS: A small subset of XGC cases (~10 %) had morphologic overlap with IgG4-CC, but should not be overcalled as the diagnosis of IgG4-RD requires an integrative approach based on clinical, serologic and imaging criteria and not solely on histopathology.

Gallbladder Cancer With Jaundice: Surgery Versus No Surgery.

Background Patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) and jaundice have a poor prognosis. The surgical management of these patients is controversial. There is a dearth of studies comparing curative surgical resection (CR) versus non-curative resection/palliation (NCR) in patients with GBC and jaundice. Hence, this study aimed to compare the outcomes between CR and NCR in these patients. Methodology This was a retrospective study on patients with GBC and jaundice managed by a single surgical unit at a tertiary care center in northern India from May 2009 to March 2021. These patients were grouped into CR or NCR. The clinical demographical profile and overall survival (OS) were compared between the groups. Results A total of 82 patients with GBC and jaundice were managed during the study period. The final study cohort included 59 patients (CR, n = 34; NCR, n = 25) after excluding patients with metastatic disease (n = 23). Common bile duct infiltration was seen in 61.7% and 84% of CR and NCR patients, respectively (p = 0.062). The overall tumor-node-metastasis staging between the two groups was similar (p = 0.296). The median OS of CR was significantly better in CR than NCR (20 months vs. six months; p = 0.001). The median OS was better in CR than NCR patients who received systemic chemotherapy (22 vs. 12 months; p = 0.001) or did not receive chemotherapy (14 months vs. three months; p = 0.001). Conclusions Patients with GBC and jaundice have better significant survival after CR than NCR alone.

A New Variant of Choledochal Cyst-Type 6B.

A choledochal cyst involving the cystic duct (type 6) is a rare disease. Dilatation of the common bile duct along with the involvement of cystic duct is extremely rare and only a few cases have been reported until now. A 38-year-old woman was evaluated for complaints of pain in the upper abdomen. On initial imaging with ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), she was diagnosed to have a type 1a choledochal cyst. Intraoperatively we found that it was not a simple cystic dilatation of the common bile duct (CBD) alone but the cystic duct was also dilated. Simple cholecystectomy with excision of the cyst and reconstruction with a Roux en Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed. The patient is doing well after six months of follow up. This type of choledochal cyst (CDC) with combined dilatation of cystic duct and CBD has not been defined in the Todani classification. Two studies published until now have given their own extension of the Todani classification as either type 1D or 6B. Our another case where a 23-year-old female with similar complaints was diagnosed with an isolated cystic duct dilatation (type 6A); here, we did a simple laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thus, we need to know that these distinct type of choledochal cyst exists and has to be added to the classification. It is also important to classify type 6 into two types A and B as their management differs.

Raised CA19-9 and CEA have prognostic relevance in gallbladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Role of tumor markers in gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) is not well established. We evaluated the prognostic value of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) in patients with GBC. METHODS: Of the 225 patients of GBC enrolled,176 patients were included in the study (excluded 49 patients with jaundice). Patients were divided into 3 groups; resectable n = 92, unresectable n = 17, metastatic n = 67. The clinico-pathological characteristics, tumor markers and survival data were analysed. The cutoff values of CA19-9 & CEA for predicting metastases were computed using receiver operating characteristic curve. Kaplan Meir survival and Cox regression analysis were done for factors predicting survival and recurrence. RESULTS: The median value of Ca19-9 was significantly higher in metastatic group [resectable: 21.3, unresectable: 53.9 and metastatic: 79; p < 0.001] but not for CEA [3.5, 7.8 and 5 ng/ml (p = 0.20)]. A cutoff value of 72 IU/ml for CA19-9, 5 ng/ml for CEA had a sensitivity and specificity of 52 and 80%, 51 and 72% respectively for detection of metastatic disease. Median, 3-year & 5-year survival were significantly lower in patients with CEA > 4 (p = 0.041), Ca19.9 > 37 (p = 0.019), T3/T4 (p = 0.001), node positive (p = 0.001) and presence of perineural invasion (p = 0.001). However, on multivariate analysis, only Ca19.9 > 37 predicted recurrence (p = 0.002, HR 5.8). CONCLUSIONS: Raised CA19.9 and CEA predict metastatic disease in patients with GBC without jaundice with a high specificity and may help in prognostication of the patient. CA19-9 was better than CEA in prediction of tumor burden and in predicting recurrence.

Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas Clinicopathological Characteristics and Long-Term Outcome: a Single-Center Experience.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare tumor of the pancreas. These tumors are considered to have low malignant potential with good prognosis. Due to its rarity, details about clinical presentation and management of the disease are not very clear. This study aims to share our experience and to describe management of the disease. We retrospectively evaluated patients 13 patients diagnosed with SPT on histopathological examination of resected specimen. Data on their clinicopathological, management-related factors, and follow-up was collected. All the patients were females, with a median age of 20 years. Abdominal pain was the most common presentation. The mean tumor size was 6.5 cm and majority of tumors were located in the head region. R0 resection was obtained in all the patients. All patients were disease-free with a median follow-up of 68 months. Excellent prognosis can be achieved with a margin-negative resection in these tumors. Adjacent organ or vascular involvement is not a contraindication for surgical resection.

Laparoscopic-Assisted Transhiatal Esophagectomy (LATE) for Carcinoma of the Esophagus.

Total laparoscopic approach for the management of carcinoma of the esophagus has not gained much popularity due to its complexity. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety, feasibility, and outcome of laparoscopic-assisted transhiatal esophagectomy (LATE) for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. This retrospective study involves a total of 26 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus who were considered for LATE by a single surgical team from January 2010 to September 2014. The median (range) age was 55 years (35-72), and male to female ratio was 20:6. The median (range) operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay were 300 min (180-660), 300 ml (100-500), and 11.5 days (8-25), respectively. Pulmonary complications and cervical anastomotic leak (including one patient with conduit necrosis) occurred in eight (30.7 %) and three (11.5 %) patients, respectively. AJCC stage (7th ed.) was IIA in 12 (46.15 %), IIB in 10 (38.46 %), IIIA in 3 (11.53 %), and IIIB in 1 (3.84 %) patient. Surgical resection margin was negative in all but one patient (3.8 %). The median (range) number of lymph nodes (LN) retrieved was 13 (8-28). During a median follow-up 19 months (8-39), five patients (19.23 %) developed recurrence and three (11.5 %) of them died. LATE is a safe and feasible for the management of selected patients with carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus.

Laparoscopic and open transhiatal oesophagectomy for corrosive stricture of the oesophagus: An experience.

BACKGROUND: Oesophagectomy for corrosive stricture of the oesophagus (CSE) is rarely performed due to high risk of iatrogenic complications. The aims of this study were to review our experience of transhiatal oesophagectomy (THE) in patients with CSE as well as to compare results of open and laparoscopic methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of patients with CSE who underwent open transhiatal oesophagectomy (OTE) or laparoscopic-assisted transhiatal oesophagectomy (LATE) by a single surgical team from 2012 to 2016. All study patients had either failed endoscopic dilatation or had a long stricture which was not amenable to endoscopic dilatation. RESULTS: Totally, 35 patients were included in the study, of which 19 (54.3%) were female. OTE was performed in 20 (57%) patients, and LATE was performed in 15 (43%) patients. Gastric and colonic conduits were used in 23 (65.7%) and 10 (34.3%) patients, respectively. Demographic and clinical parameters were comparable between LATE and OTE groups (P > 0.05). Median intra-operative blood loss, post-operative requirement of analgesic and hospital stay were lower in LATE group (P ≤ 0.05). There was no hospital mortality (30 days), but three patients (8.6%) died during a median follow-up of 36 months. CONCLUSION: THE is a safe procedure for patients with CSE, and LATE may be an alternative approach in selected patients.

The technique of laparoscopic hepatic bisegmentectomy with regional lymphadenectomy for gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hepatic bisegmentectomy (s4b and s5) with regional lymphadenectomy (LHBRL) for patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) is rarely reported. AIMS: The aim of the study was to describe the technique of LHBRL in patients with GBC and to present our initial experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on twenty patients with GBC who were considered for LHBRL by the described technique. These patients either had a suspicion of GBC (SGBC) or had an incidental diagnosis of GBC (IGBC). Appropriate statistical methods were applied. RESULTS: Twelve patients (60%) had SGBC and eight patients (40%) had IGBC. Eighteen patients (90%) were females and median age was 50 (range: 28-70) years. Median (range) surgical blood loss was 120 ml (80-400), operation time was 300 (200-480) min and hospital stay was 5.5 (2-10) days. No patient had iatrogenic complication during LHBRL. Five (25%) patients required conversion to open method. Four patients (20%) who developed complications were managed conservatively. All but three patients (25%) with SGBC had a benign disease on final biopsy. TNM stage of 17 patients (85%) with adenocarcinoma was T1bN0 in 3 (17.6%), T2N0 in 6 (35.3%), T3N0 in 2 (11.7%) and T1-3N1 in 6 (35.3%). The median lymph node count was 10 (range: 4-24) and resection margins were negative (R0) in all. The overall survival was 82.3%. During a median follow-up of 22 months, two patients died due to disease recurrence and one patient died due to myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: The described technique of LHBRL is safe and feasible for patients with GBC without extrahepatic involvement.

Laparoscopic splenic artery ligation for hypersplenism in cirrhosis: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Splenectomy for the treatment of hypersplenism in patients with cirrhosis (HIC) is related with complications. Laparoscopic splenic artery ligation (LSAL) may be an alternative treatment option. AIMS: To evaluate safety and feasibility of LSAL in the treatment of HIC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of ten patients with HIC who were treated with LSAL from October 2012 to February 2015. RESULTS: The median (range) age was 33.2 (13-56) years and sex distribution was equal. The median (range) leukocyte counts (×10(9)/L) before, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after LSAL were 2.2 (0.8-8.2) and 5.65 (2.78-10.7), 4.7 (2.8-7.8) and 4.95 (3.4-7.7) respectively. The median (range) platelet counts (×10(9)/L) before and at 3, 6 and 12 months after LSAL were 25.5 (11-65) and 75 (39-289), 74 (32-184) and 76 (56-251) respectively. Following LSAL, there was a significant improvement in total leucocyte count, platelet count and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (P < 0.05). Two patients (20%) developed intraoperative bleeding and required conversion; one of these two patients developed splenic cyst that required radiological intervention. Four patients (40%) had post ligation syndrome (PLS) that was managed conservatively. During a median (range) follow-up of 19.5 (5-29) months, one patient (10%) required splenectomy due to inadequate response. CONCLUSION: LSAL is a safe and feasible treatment option for the palliation of symptomatic HIC, however, further prospective trials are necessary for confirmation.

Intra-cholecystic approach for laparoscopic management of Mirizzi's syndrome: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic management of patients with Mirizzi's syndrome (MS) is not routinely recommended due to the high risk of iatrogenic complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intra-cholecystic (IC) or inside-gall bladder (GB) approach was used for laparoscopic management of 16 patients with MS at a tertiary care referral centre in North India from May 2010 to August 2014; a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data was performed. RESULTS: Mean age was 40.1 ± 14.7 years, the male-to-female ratio was 1:3, and 9 (56.25%) patients had type 1 MS (MS1) and 7 (43.75%) had type 2 MS (MS2) (McSherry's classification). The laparoscopic intra-cholecystic approach (LICA) was successful in 11 (68.75%) patients, whereas 5 patients (31.25%) required conversion to open method. Median blood loss was 100 mL (range: 50-400 mL), and median duration of surgery was 3.25 h (range: 2-7.5 h). No major complications were encountered except 1 patient (6.5%) who required re-operation for retained bile duct stones. The final histopathology report was benign in all the patients. No remote complications were noted during a mean follow-up of 20.18 months. CONCLUSION: LICA is a feasible and safe approach for selected patients with Mirizzi's syndrome; however, a low threshold for conversion is necessary to avoid iatrogenic complications.

Correlations of portal pressure in post-cholecystectomy benign biliary stricture.

AIM: Presence of portal hypertension (PH) adversely affects perioperative and long-term outcome in patients with post-cholecystectomy benign biliary stricture (PCBBS). Identification of factors related to the development of PH will help to prevent this complication. METHODS: From September 2010 to December 2012, 30 patients with PCBBS were studied prospectively for correlation of portal pressure (PP) with injury repair interval (IRI), biliary pressure (BP), severity of hepatic fibrosis (FS), severity of hepatic inflammation (IS) and obstructive biliary pathology score (OBPS). Appropriate statistical methods employed and P ≤ 0.05 (two-sided) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Mean PP, mean BP and median IRI were 19.4 ± 4.74 mmHg, 20.1 ± 3.99 mmHg and 145 days, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (P-value) of PP with IRI, FS, IS and OBPS were 0.564 (0.001), 0.502 (0.004), 0.752 (0.0001) and 0.242 (0.19), respectively. Pearson correlation of PP with BP was r = 0.383 (r(2) = 0.146, P = 0.03). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (P-value) of FS with IS and OBPS were 0.561 (0.003) and 0.371 (0.04), respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of serum bilirubin with OBPS was 0.550 (P = 0.001). Incidence of PH was 33.3% and mean fall of PP following biliary repair was 6.2 ± 1.98 mmHg (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: PP in patients with PCBBS has a good correlation with IS, and a fair correlation with both FS and IRI whereas PP was not directly related to BP and OBPS; further prospective trials are mandatory to confirm this correlation, and to evaluate mechanism of fall in PP following biliary decompression.

Ascariasis presenting as acute abdomen-a case report.

Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides is common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Prevalence of ascariasis is related to poverty, poor hygiene and poor fecal sanitation. This helminth usually lives harmlessly in small intestine but can also cause intestinal obstruction or perforation peritonitis which is common in childhood. Ascaris can also migrate through ampulla of vater to produce cholangitis, pancreatitis,cholecystitis and rarely hepatic abscess. Ascaris induced hepatic abscess can sometimes present with acute abdomen (like acute pyogenic abscess). We present a young adult with Ascaris induces hepatic abscess who presented and a case of acute abdomen in emergency department.

The role of staging laparoscopy in primary gall bladder cancer--an analysis of 409 patients: a prospective study to evaluate the role of staging laparoscopy in the management of gallbladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of staging laparoscopy (SL) in the management of gallbladder cancer (GBC). METHODS: A prospective study of primary GBC patients between May 2006 and December 2011. The SL was performed using an umbilical port with a 30-degree telescope. Early GBC included clinical stage T1/T2. A detectable lesion (DL) was defined as one that could be detected on SL alone, without doing any dissection or using laparoscopic ultrasound (surface liver metastasis and peritoneal deposits). Other metastatic and locally advanced unresectable disease qualified as undetectable lesions (UDL). RESULTS: Of the 409 primary GBC patients who underwent SL, 95 had disseminated disease [(surface liver metastasis (n = 29) and peritoneal deposits (n = 66)]. The overall yield of SL was 23.2% (95/409). Of the 314 patients who underwent laparotomy, an additional 75 had unresectable disease due to surface liver metastasis (n = 5), deep parenchymal liver metastasis (n = 4), peritoneal deposits (n = 1), nonlocoregional lymph nodes (n = 47), and locally advanced unresectable disease (n = 18), that is, 6-DL and 69-UDL. The accuracy of SL for detecting unresectable disease and DL was 55.9% (95/170) and 94.1% (95/101), respectively. Compared with early GBC, the yield was significantly higher in locally advanced tumors (n = 353) [25.2% (89/353) vs 10.7% (6/56), P = 0.02]. However, the accuracy in detecting unresectable disease and a DL in locally advanced tumors was similar to early GBC [56.0%, (89/159) and 94.1%, (89/95) vs 54.6% (6/11) and 100% (6/6), P = 1.00]. CONCLUSIONS: In the present series with an overall resectability rate of 58.4%, SL identified 94.1% of the DLs and thereby obviated a nontherapeutic laparotomy in 55.9% of patients with unresectable disease and 23.2% of overall GBC patients. It had a higher yield in locally advanced tumors than in early-stage tumors; however, the accuracy in detecting unresectable disease and a DL were similar.

Management of hypersplenism in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: a surgical series.

BACKGROUND: Hypersplenism is commonly seen in patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). While a splenectomy alone can effectively relieve the hypersplenism, it does not address the underlying portal hypertension. The present study was undertaken to analyze the impact of shunt and non-shunt operations on the resolution of hypersplenism in patients with NCPH. The relationship of symptomatic hypersplenism, severe hypersplenism and number of peripheral cell line defects to the severity of portal hypertension and outcome was also assessed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of NCPH patients with hypersplenism managed surgically between 1999 and 2009 at our center was done. Of 252 patients with NCPH, 64 (45 with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and 19 with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis) had hypersplenism and constituted the study group. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad InStat. Categorical and continuous variables were compared using the chi-square test, ANOVA, and Student's t test. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare non-parametric variables. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in the study group was 21.81+/-6.1 years. Hypersplenism was symptomatic in 70.3% with an incidence of spontaneous bleeding at 26.5%, recurrent anemia at 34.4%, and recurrent infection at 29.7%. The mean duration of surgery was 4.16+/-1.9 hours, intraoperative blood loss was 457+/-126 (50-2000) mL, and postoperative hospital stay 5.5+/-1.9 days. Following surgery, normalization of hypersplenism occurred in all patients. On long-term follow-up, none of the patients developed hepatic encephalopathy and 4 had a variceal re-bleeding (2 after a splenectomy alone, 1 each after an esophago-gastric devascularization and proximal splenorenal shunt). Patients with severe hypersplenism and those with defects in all three peripheral blood cell lineages were older, had a longer duration of symptoms, and a higher incidence of variceal bleeding and postoperative morbidity. In addition, patients with triple cell line defects had elevated portal pressure (P=0.001), portal biliopathy (P=0.02), portal gastropathy (P=0.005) and intraoperative blood loss (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hypersplenism is effectively relieved by both shunt and non-shunt operations. A proximal splenorenal shunt not only relieves hypersplenism but also effectively addresses the potential complications of underlying portal hypertension and can be safely performed with good long-term outcome. Patients with hypersplenism who have defects in all three blood cell lineages have significantly elevated portal pressures and are at increased risk of complications of variceal bleeding, portal biliopathy and gastropathy.

Non-familial double malignancy of the colon and ampulla of Vater: a case report and review of literature.

Apart from their association in familial and hereditary cancer syndromes, sporadic double malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract involving the ampulla of Vater and colon are extremely rare. Although synchronous resection of the two by adding a colectomy to a pancreaticoduodenctomy can be accomplished with minimal increase in the surgical morbidity, a few patients, however, are best managed by a staged resection. We report a case of sporadic double malignancy of the ampulla of Vater and right colon who despite the best attempts continued to bleed and remained malnourished and was successfully managed by staged right hemicolectomy followed by a pancreaticoduodenectomy.