DIFFERENCE IN PREDICTORS OF ANASTOMOTIC LEAKAGE DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ANASTOMOSIS AFTER COLORECTAL CANCER SURGERY.

Anastomotic leak (AL) after colorectal cancer surgery is one of the most serious postoperative complications which has major impact on outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for AL, as well as to examine whether there are differences in risk factors for AL depending on the primary tumor location. We retrospectively reviewed records of patients having undergone colorectal surgical procedures for malignancies between January 2013 and December 2017 in a single institution. Only procedures with primary anastomosis were included. Of the 153 patients, AL occurred in 10.6% of patients with primary tumor in the sigmoid colon and rectum, and in 8.2% of patients with primary tumor in the proximal sections of the colon. On univariate analysis, delayed oral intake and more advanced histologic stages of the tumor were significantly correlated with AL in patients with tumors in the sigmoid colon and rectum, and multiorgan resection and distant metastases in patients with tumors in the proximal sections of the colon. In conclusion, risk factors for the occurrence of AL vary depending on the primary tumor location and further investigation is needed to provide better insight into these differences.

Reduced Expression of Autophagy Markers and Expansion of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Correlate With Poor T Cell Response in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

Widespread coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is causing pneumonia, respiratory and multiorgan failure in susceptible individuals. Dysregulated immune response marks severe COVID-19, but the immunological mechanisms driving COVID-19 pathogenesis are still largely unknown, which is hampering the development of efficient treatments. Here we analyzed ~140 parameters of cellular and humoral immune response in peripheral blood of 41 COVID-19 patients and 16 age/gender-matched healthy donors by flow-cytometry, quantitative PCR, western blot and ELISA, followed by integrated correlation analyses with ~30 common clinical and laboratory parameters. We found that lymphocytopenia in severe COVID-19 patients (n=20) strongly affects T, NK and NKT cells, but not B cells and antibody production. Unlike increased activation of ICOS-1+ CD4+ T cells in mild COVID-19 patients (n=21), T cells in severe patients showed impaired activation, low IFN-γ production and high functional exhaustion, which correlated with significantly down-regulated HLA-DR expression in monocytes, dendritic cells and B cells. The latter phenomenon was followed by lower interferon responsive factor (IRF)-8 and autophagy-related genes expressions, and the expansion of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Intriguingly, PD-L1-, ILT-3-, and IDO-1-expressing monocytic MDSC were the dominant producers of IL-6 and IL-10, which correlated with the increased inflammation and accumulation of regulatory B and T cell subsets in severe COVID-19 patients. Overall, down-regulated IRF-8 and autophagy-related genes expression, and the expansion of MDSC subsets could play critical roles in dysregulating T cell response in COVID-19, which could have large implications in diagnostics and design of novel therapeutics for this disease.

Anastomotic leak after colorectal cancer surgery - risk factors in 21thcentury.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to investigate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak (AL) after elective colorectal resections performed for malignancies. In addition, we studied some features of postoperative recovery and their influence on AL occurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients that underwent colorectal surgical procedures for malignancies between January 2013 and December 20017 in a single institution. Only procedures with primary anastomosis were included. RESULTS: Of the 153 patients, 56.2% were male. The mean age was 67.5 years. AL occurred in 15 patients (9.8%). In univariate analysis, multiorgan resection, delayed postoperative bowel movement and delayed onset of per oral intake were significantly correlated with AL. Gender, preoperative albumin level, primary cancer site and surgery duration did not have significant correlation with AL. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors described in the literature of the 20th century are no longer current. The main findings that feature postoperative recovery were associated with increased risk of AL and should be more carefully investigated in further studies which could lead towards the development of new specific post-operative protocols.

Full-endoscopic interlaminar operations in lumbar compressive lesions surgery: prospective study of 350 patients - "ENDOS" Study.

BACKGROUND: Full-endoscopic operations of lumbar spine are truly minimally invasive surgical procedures. Endoscopic techniques have become the standard in many areas because of the advantages they offer intraoperatively and after surgery. With the interlaminar and transforaminal approach, two full-endoscopic procedures are available for lumbar compressive lesion operations. Our aim was to present and explain all aspects of the full-endoscopic operative technique, and presentation of results of lumbar discectomies and monosegmental decompression in full-endoscopic interlaminar technique performed during 3-year period in comparison with conventional microsurgical operations reported in literature. METHODS: A series of 350 patients underwent full-endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy, and spinal canal decompression, during a 3-year period, is analyzed. In addition to general and specific parameters, VAS and ODI scale are used as measuring instruments. RESULTS: In our clinical series of full-endoscopic operations 88% of the patients no longer had leg pain postoperatively, and 7% had only occasional pain. In 7 (2%) patients minor nerve damage resulted in transient paresthesias, and in 2 patients resulted in neurological deficit. Dural tear occurred in 8 (2.3%) patients, and only 1 had reoperation for direct dural repair. The recurrence rate was 5.7% (3.7% had reoperation). Resection of the herniated disc and sufficient decompression was technically possible in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results of the full-endoscopic technique are at least equal to those of the conventional microsurgical discectomy with advantages such as reduced tissue trauma, improved patient mobility, and lower overall complication rate. With the possibility of selecting the most adequate approach, lumbar disc herniations inside and outside the spinal canal, can be sufficiently removed using the full-endoscopic technique, when taking the appropriate indication criteria into account.

Clinical significance of neoangiogenesis and index of proliferation in the signet ring type of gastric adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether microvascular density and the level of proliferation in gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) are important factors in the locoregional control of the disease. METHODS: Over a period of eight years, gastric resection specimens from 37 patients were examined. The proliferative index (labelled by Ki67) and microvascular density (MVD) index (mvdIDX) (labelled by CD105) were determined for each case of SRCC. RESULTS: Gastric SRCC was diagnosed more often in female than in male patients (21 females, 16 males ; p≤0.05) . The average age of female patients was 63 years, while the male patients were 62 years old on average (p=0.702). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the median numbers of Ki67 positive cells and CD105 positive blood vessels were higher in tumors compared to surrounding non-tumor tissue. Higher proliferative index and higher mvdIDX were also established relative to tumor stage. Correlation analysis showed a high positive correlation between proliferation index and microvascular density (MVD) index (mvdIDX) (correlation coefficient=0.784). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed progression of both indices examined. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that, although both proliferative and mvdIDXs are reliable, the former had better performance in identifying of disease progression (AUC=0.970).

Laparoscopic gastric wedge resection as the method of choice in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors--A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most frequent mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The surgery of resectable gastric GIST is the primary therapy for these tumors, but the decision regarding the surgical radicality of the procedures is still a point of discussion among surgeons and oncologists. CASE OUTLINE: A 74-year-old patient was admitted to hospital with signs of bleeding from the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Urgent gastroscopy was performed and a subepithelial gastric lesion with bleeding ulceration was noted in the region of the fornix. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a tumor in the fornix region with the dimensions of 48 x 32 mm, which was growing mostly intraluminally. After an adequate preoperative preparation the patient underwent a laparoscopic wedge resection of gastric fornix with intramural tumor lesion. The histopathological analysis of the specimen showed a well differentiated GIST (histological grade Gi), of the spindle cell type. Based on the immunohistochemical analysis of thespecimen it was concluded that the patient was in the IA stage of the disease with a low risk of malignant progression. In the population of patients with GIST, this is the most common group (43%), with low malignant potential, and relapses present in only 3.6% of cases.The patient started with oral food intake on the first postoperative day, the first bowel movement occurred 36 hours after surgery, and the patient was released from hospital on the fourth postoperative day. CONCLUSION: Based on the aforementioned, we consider that the laparoscopic gastric wedge resection is a safe and efficient surgical procedure. This is primary therapy for most common group of patients with resectable gastric GIST.

Predictive Value of Carcinoembryonic and Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Related to Some Clinical, Endoscopic and Histological Colorectal Cancer Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important oncological and public health problem worldwide, including Serbia. Unfortunately, half of the patients are recognized in an advanced stage of the disease, therefore, early detection through specific tumor biomarkers, such as carcinoembryonic (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), is the only way to cope with CRC expansion. METHODS: Our cross-sectional study evaluated the influence of some clinical, endoscopic and histological characteristics of CRC on CEA and CA 19-9 serum levels, to determine whether these biomarkers could be related to CRC detection. The study included 372 participants: 181 suffered from CRC and 191 participants were controls. Endoscopic and histological examinations were used for CRC diagnosis, while additional ultrasound and abdominal computerised tomography imaging were used for staging the disease. Measurement of CEA and CA 19-9 was performed after CRC confirmation. RESULTS: Age, gender, tumor localization, macro-morphological and histological characteristics did not influence biomarkers serum levels. Both were significantly higher (p<0.01) in patients with Dukes D stage of CRC compared with controls. Sensitivity (76.8%) and specificity (76.6%) of CEA alone were higher than for CA 19-9, but with no statistical significance. Furthermore, sensitivity of CEA alone in the Dukes A/B group was similar to the entire CRC patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Although not recommended as a screening method for the general population, elevated values of each biomarker indicate further diagnostic procedures and their simultaneous testing can improve the diagnostic sensitivity in early detection of CRC, as shown by the united analysis (AUC 0.842).

[The Laparoscopic Enucleation for Branch Duct Type Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Located at the Body of Pancreas: A Case Report].

INTRODUCTION: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are among the most common cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, but they represent only 1-3% of all exocrine pancreas tumors. With the development of diagnostic possibilities the number of patients with IPMN is constantly increasing and represents approximately 20% of all surgically treated pancreatic tumors.The development of laparoscopic surgery has led to advances in the treatment of cystic tumors of the pancreas with the emergence of new surgical dilemma in the choice of surgical techniques in patients with IPMN. CASE OUTLINE: A 23-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with non-specific symptoms of upper abdomen. Performed diagnostics indicated the existence of a tumor formation at the periphery of the pancreas, in the region of the proximal corpus, 8x5 cm in diameter. The cystic formation, wall thickness 3 mm, was filled with dense contents and injected into the tissue of the pancreas, but did not lead to an extension of the pancreatic duct. After adequate preoperative preparation the patient was operated on, when a laparoscopic enucleation of cystic tumor with coagulation and cutting off communication between the peripheral pancreatic duct and pancreatic tumors was performed by using ultrasound scissors. Histopathological analysis of the specimen indicated an IPMN of the branch duct type (BD-IPMN) with a low grade dysplasia. The line of resection was without cellular atypia. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positivity on tumor mucins (MUC-5 and MUC-2), which is typical for gastric type of BD-IPMN. Six months postoperatively the patient showed no signs of recurrence of the disease. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment is the dominant choice for the treatment for IPMN. Although minimally invasive, laparoscopic enucleation of BD-IPMN is able to achieve an adequate level of radicality without the accompanying complications and with short postoperative recovery period.

Involvement of leptin receptors expression in proliferation and neoangiogenesis in colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study tested whether there exists a correlation between leptin receptors (LEPR) expression with proliferation and neoangiogenesis in colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Enrolled were 75 patients with colorectal carcinoma, who underwent surgical tumor resection. After routine histopathological preparation, sections 3-4 µm thick were prepared. Routine H&E and immunohistochemical ABC method with anti-LEPR, anti-Ki67 and anti-CD 105 antibodies were performed. RESULTS: Pronounced or moderate LEPR expression in colorectal carcinoma was found in 77.3% of the cases. Absence of expression of LEPR correlated with low rate of proliferation in 94.1% of the cases, while high proliferation rate showed 92% of the cases with pronounced LEPR expression. Low grade neoangiogenesis correlated with absence of LEPR expression in 88.2% of the cases. In 92% of the cases with pronounced LEPR expression, high rate of angiogenesis was observed. The LEPR expression correlated significantly (p<0.001) with proliferation index (proIDX) and neoangiogenesis index (mvdIDX). The corresponded correlation coefficients indicated considerable strength of association between variables (r=0.63 and r=0.66). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that LEPR expression in colorectal carcinoma significantly corresponded to proliferation index of tumor cells and neoangiogenesis, which could have significant therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Improved quality of life in hyperthyroidism patients after surgery.

BACKGROUND: The most common causes of hyperthyroidism are Graves disease (GD) and toxic nodular goiter (TNG). GD and TNG might influence patients' quality of life (QoL). The aim of our study was to analyze and compare the QoL of patients with GD with that of TNG patients and to evaluate the influence of surgical treatment on their QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted at the Center for Endocrine surgery in Belgrade, Serbia. The ThyPRO questionnaire was used in the QoL assessment of the GD and TNG patients (31 and 28, respectively) pre- and post-operatively. RESULTS: All patients were receiving antithyroid drugs, and none of the patients were overtly hyperthyroid at the time of completing the preoperative questionnaire. The QoL of the GD patients was worse than that of the TNG patients, with significant differences in eye symptoms, anxiety, and sex life domains (P < 0.001, P = 0.005, and P = 0.004, respectively), preoperatively, and in eye symptoms, anxiety, emotional susceptibility, and overall QoL (P = 0.001, P = 0.027, P = 0.005 and P = 0.013, respectively), postoperatively. The improvement in QoL in the GD patients was significant after surgical treatment in all ThyPRO domains. In the TNG patients, the improvement was significant in all but one ThyPRO domain, sex life (P = 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: The QoL of GD patients is worse than those of TNG patients. Surgery may improve QoL in patients with GD and TNG even if they have achieved satisfying thyroid status with medication treatment, preoperatively.

[The founding of Zemun Hospital].

This year Zemun Hospital--Clinical Hospital Center Zemun celebrates 230th anniversary of continuous work, thus becoming the oldest medical facility in Serbia.The exact date of the hospital founding has been often questioned in history. Various dates appeared in the literature, but the most frequent one was 25th of February 1784. Until now, the document which confirms this has never been published. This article represents the first official publication of the document which confirms that Zemun Hospital was indeed founded on this date. The first hospitals started emerging in Zemun when the town became a part of the Habsburg Monarchy. The first sanitary facility ever formed was the"Kontumac"--a quarantine established in 1730. Soon after, two more confessional hospitals were opened.The Serbian (Orthodox) Hospital was founded before 1769, whereas the German (Catholic) Hospital started working in 1758. Both hospitals were financed, amongst others, by the Town Hall--the Magistrate. In order to improve efficiency of these hospitals, a decision was made to merge them into a single City Hospital. It was founded on 25th February 1784, when the General Command ordered the Magistrate of Zemun to merge the financess of all existing hospitals and initiate the construction of a new building. Although financially united, the hospitals continued working in separate buildings over a certain period of time.The final, physical merging of these hospitals was completed in 1795.

Resection or radiofrequency ablation of colorectal liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Liver resection is the treatment of choice for solitary colorectal liver metastases in suitable candidates. Recently, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become a very popular procedure in the treatment of liver metastases. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients with solitary colorectal liver metastasis who had been subjected to resection or ablation. METHODS: In this retrospective study we analyzed and compared patients with solitary colorectal liver metastases treated by resection or ablation in the University Hospital Centre "Dr Dragisa Misovic" in Belgrade from January 2002 until December 2009. RESULTS: In this study 94 (67.1%) patients underwent resection whereas 46 (32.9%) patients underwent RFA. Most of the resected patients (59.6%) required major hepatectomy. The median follow-up time was 28.4 months. Tumor ablation was a significant predictor of the overall survival (p = 0.002; OR 3.75; 95% CI 1.696-8.284). Our study demonstrated longer disease free-survival in the group of resected patients compared to the RFA group (37.6 vs 22.3 months, p = 0.073). The median overall survival was 56.3 months for patients who underwent resection vs 25.1 months for those in the RFA group (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the patients with solitary hepatic colorectal cancer metastases should be considered for hepatic resection whenever it is feasible, because this procedure provides superior long-term survival as compared to radiofrequency ablation.

A case-control study of papillary thyroid cancer in children and adolescents.

Thyroid carcinomas in children and adolescents are rare tumors and the most common among them is papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Its etiology is still under research and has not been clearly defined thus far, especially in young individuals. The aim of this case-control study was to determine potential risk factors for the development of PTC in children and adolescents. This type of study has not been carried out previously in this age group. A case-control study was carried out during a 15-year period, between 1995 and 2009. The case group included 75 patients with PTC younger than 20 years of age, with the youngest patient being 6.5 years old; 45 patients were female and 30 were male. The control group included the same number of participants, and the cases were individually matched by sex, age, and place of residence. Conditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were applied in data analysis. According to univariate logistic regression analysis, PTC in children and adolescents was significantly related to the following factors: family history of thyroid cancer, family history of residence in an endemic-goiter area, family history of benign thyroid disease, and family history of nonthyroid malignant tumors. According to the multivariate logistic regression method, PTC in children and adolescents was independently related to a family history of thyroid cancer (odds ratio=4.5, 95% confidence interval=1.2-19.8) and a family history of nonthyroid malignant tumors (odds ratio=3.8, 95% confidence interval=1.4-8.7). In conclusion, all of the factors associated with the development of PTC in children and adolescents were related to their family history.

Low fresh gas flow balanced anesthesia versus target controlled intravenous infusion anesthesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cost-minimization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is widely recognized as a well-tolerated and effective method for cholecystectomy. It is also considered cost saving because it has been associated with a decreased hospital length of stay. Variables that might lead to increased costs in laparoscopic surgery are the technique and drugs used in anesthesia. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare the costs of 2 anesthetic techniques used in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC)--balanced versus IV anesthesia--from the standpoint of an outpatient surgical department, with a time horizon of 1 year. METHODS: Patients scheduled to undergo elective LC were enrolled in this prospective case study. Patients were randomly allocated to receive balanced anesthesia, administered as low fresh gas flow (LFGF) with inhalational sevoflurane and IV sufentanil in a target controlled infusion (LFGF SS group), or IV anesthesia, administered as IV propofol/sufentanil in a target controlled infusion (TCI group). We used a microcosting procedure to measure health care resource utilization in individual patients to detect treatment differences. The costs of medications used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia during surgery were considered for LFGF SS and TCI. Other end points included duration of anesthesia; mean times to early emergence, tracheal extubation, orientation, and postanesthesia discharge (PAD); pain intensity before first analgesia; number of analgesics required in the first 24 hours after surgery; and prevalences of nausea, vomiting, and agitation. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included in this analysis (male/female ratios in the LFGF SS and TCI groups: 11/19 and 12/18, respectively; mean [SD] ages, 48 [7.9] and 47 [8.6] years; and mean [SD] body mass indexes, 26 [2.0] and 26 [3.0] kg/m2). The costs of anesthetics were significantly lower with LFGF SS compared with TCI (euro17.40 [euro2.66] vs euro22.01 [euro2.50] [2006 euros]). Times to early emergence and tracheal extubation were significantly shorter with LFGF SS than TCI (5.97 [1.16] vs 7.73 [1.48] minutes and 7.57 [1.07] vs 8.87 [1.45] minutes, respectively). There were no significant between-group differences in mean duration of anesthesia; times to orientation and PAD; pain intensity before first analgesia; number of analgesics required in the first 24 hours; or prevalences of nausea, vomiting, and agitation. Because no clinically significant differences in the anesthetic results were observed, a cost-minimization analysis was conducted and found that using LFGF SS, the outpatient surgical department could realize a budget savings of euro454 per 100 patients. For the nearly 1000 expected patients per year, the savings for the department was calculated as euro4540. CONCLUSION: The results from this cost analysis in these patients who underwent elective LC suggest that the use of sevoflurane through the LFGF technique would be cost saving in this outpatient surgical department.

[Oxidized LDL and C-reactive protein as markers for detection of accelerated atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes].

INTRODUCTION High levels of inflammatory markers are associated with an increased risk for development of coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to estimate relations between oxidized LDL (oxLDL), C-reactive protein (CRP) and conventional lipid risk factors for CHD in type 2 diabetics without coronary heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three groups of subjects were included in the study. 44 well-controlled type 2 diabetics (25 female/19 male; 54.50 +/- 6.54 years); FBG: 5.67 +/- 0.69: HbA1c: 6.5 +/- 1.6%) without clinical signs of CHD; the second group included 24 hypercholesterolemic healthy subjects (14 female/28 male; 51.30 +/- 5.76 years). The control group included 24 normocholesterolemic healthy subjects (17 female/12 male; 48.1 +/- 8.37 years). Lipid profiles were measured by enzymatic methods. OxLDL was measured by a commercially available sandwich ELISA (Mercodia AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Hs-CRP was measured by chemiluminiscence (Immulite-DPC) using Behring Latex hs-CRP assay. RESULTS Serum oxLDL levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients (p<0.05) and subjects with hypercholesterolemia (p<0.01) compared with control subjects. Levels of CRP were significantly increased in hypercholesterolemic subjects, compared with controls (p<0.01). Levels of CRP in diabetic patients also were significantly increased compared to those of controls (p<0.05). In type 2 diabetes oxLDL significantly correlated with CRP (r=0.657; p=0.0001), TG:HDL-C ratio (r=0.690; p=0.0001). In hypercholesterolemic subjects oxLDL significantly correlated with oxLDL:LDL ratio (r=0.788, p=0.0001) but not with CRP. In controls, oxLDL significantly correlated with oxLDL:LDL ratio (r=0.679; p=0.0001, and CRP (r=0.802; p=0.0001). CONCLUSION It is of great importance to identify type 2 diabetics and hypercholesterolemic healthy subjects with high levels of oxLDL and CRP, because they are at increased risk for development of accelerated atherosclerosis.

[Treatment of colorectal liver metastases with a combination of liver resection and radiofrequency ablation].

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation is a new invasive procedure that is being increasingly used in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Resection as the only potential cure for colorectal liver metastases is limited by the size and the itrahepatic localization of lesions. Radiofrequency ablation may extend the limitations of classic surgery. In this work we analyzed the combination of surgical liver resection and radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 11 patients with colorectal metastases. Colon resection and radiofrequency ablation have been performed in five (5) patients, three (3) patients underwent liver resection and radiofrequency ablation, and in three (3) patients colon resection, liver resection and radiofrequency ablation were performed. RESULTS: In our study group, there were 6 (54.54%) men and 5 (45.45%) women aged 55 to 66 years and 52 to 67 years of age, respectively. During operations, we treated 30 liver metastases, 2.72 metastses per patient. There were from 2 to 4 ablation metastases. The diameter of colorectal metastases was between 11 mm and 44 mm. Most of ablation metastases (12 or 40%) were between 2.1 cm and 3 cm in diameter. Only 10% of ablation metastases were over 40 mm in diameter. DISCUSSION: The majority of patients with metastatic colorectal hepatic tumors are not candidates for surgical resection, due to tumor size, location and multifocality. However, we can treat advanced colorectal cancers and colorectal liver metastases with a combination of liver resection and radiofreqency ablation. In this way we can operate and give a chance to patients with multifocal metastases and metastases with a diametar over 40 mm. CONCLUSION: A combination of liver resection and radiofrequency ablation in treatment of advanced colorectal cancers with liver metastases is a good treatment modality which increases the number of operabile cases.

[Case report: parathyroid gland adenoma]. / Prikaz slucaja: adenom paratiroidne zlezde.

INTRODUCTION: Primary hyperparathyroidism is a generalized disorder resulting from excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone involving one or more parathyroid glands. Both familial and sporadic forms exist. Histologic examination reveals parathyroid adenoma in about 90% of patients, although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish an adenoma from a normal gland. Primary hyperparathyroidism is commonly characterized by hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and excessive bone resorption. CASE REPORT: This is a case report of a 52-year old female patient with toxic thyroid adenoma and a parathyroid gland adenoma. The patient underwent partial thyroidectomy as a method of choice in treatment of toxic thyroid adenoma. Two years later, clinical hyperparathyroidism caused by an adenoma of parathyroid gland has manifested and was surgically removed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In mild hypercalcemia, many patients are asymptomatic and this condition is frequently discovered accidentally during routine laboratory screening. In order to provide operative treatment efficiency in thyroid nodule cases, besides thyroid gland morphological diagnostics, it is necessary to perform a preoperative verification of parathyroid glands as well. This diagnostic approach is essential in identifying possible simultaneous occurrence of multiple diseases, such as: thyroid and adenoma of parathyroid gland, in order to diminish incorrect diagnostic estimates.

[Dyslipidemia and subclinical hypothyroidism]. / Dislipidemija u supklinickom hipotiroidizmu.

INTRODUCTION: Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as an increased serum TSH and normal serum FT4 concentration. In subclinical hypothyroidism, thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies are frequently present. Subclinical hypothyroidism may have endogenous or exogenous causes. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism is rather high. The number of patients progressing to overt hypothyroidism may be higher. These patients may be asymptomatic, or have only mild symptoms or a single symptom. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated 35 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism in order to establish the type and degree of dyslipidemia and effects of therapy with L-thyroxine (50 micrograms/d) during three months. RESULTS: Serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apo B were increased. A significant reduction of serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apo B concentrations was established during thyroid hormone replacement. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Only a few studies reported higher LDL and lower HDL-cholesterol values in subclinical hypothyroidism. Much interest was thus aroused to evaluate whether or not subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with hypercholesterolemia. Only patients with serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentration above 10 mU/L had a significant reduction of serum cholesterol concentration during thyroid hormone replacement. Most patients with subclinical hypothyroidism should be treated with thyroxine to prevent progression to overt hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy may slow the progression of coronary heart disease, because of its beneficial effects on lipids. These findings and especially high rate of progression towards overt hypothyroidism suggest early thyroxine treatment.

[Role of intravenous cholangio-cholecystography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic choledocholithiasis]. / Uloga intravenske holangio-holecistografije u dijagnostici asimptomatske holedoholitijaze.

INTRODUCTION: Standard diagnostic procedures (anamnesis, physical examination, laboratory analyses, ultrasound diagnosis), commonly used in diagnosis and preparation for surgical intervention of patients with cholelithiasis, are in most cases a reliable indicator for evaluation of the disease and conditions planned for surgery. DISCUSSION: In some cases by application of these narrow diagnostic models, some conditions, anatomic variations and biliary tract malformations remain unrecognized. Asymptomatic ("silent") choledocholithiasis (2.02%) represents a special diagnostic and therapeutic problem. CONCLUSION: Our extended diagnostic protocol includes routine intravenous cholangio-cholecystography as a standard diagnostic procedure for evaluation of cholecysto-choledocholithiasis prior planning cholecystectomy.

[Strategies for endoscopic and surgical treatment of biliary tract calculi]. / Strategija u endoskopskom i operativnom lecenju kalkuloze zucnih puteva.

INTRODUCTION: Common bile duct calculi represent a pathologic entity involving obstructive icterus, cholangitis, hepatic cirrhosis or pancreatitits. Common bile duct calculi mostly have a secondary origin (from gallbladder) in 95% of cases, while primary choledocholithiasis is rare. CLASSIFICATION: From surgical aspect, common bile duct calculi can be: 1. Asymptomatic, without manifested symptoms or signs, 2. Mobile, with intermittent biliar obstruction and disobstruction, 3. Fixed, with obstruction and signs of hepato-biliary and/or bilio-pancreatic duct, 4. Transitory, microcalculi which pass through Vater's Papilla by propulsion into duodenum with symptoms. DISCUSSION: Modern biliary surgery includes diagnosis of common bile duct calculi, and if possible preoperative endoscopic (endoluminal) surgery, which is less invasive for patients. If such approach is not possible, it is necessary to perform stone extraction and cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: Common bile duct calculi represent a common disease of the digestive system. Endoscopic diagnostic procedure is very important in management of choledocholithiasis. Endoscopic treatment of common bile duct calculi prior to cholecystectomy is a method of choice and a strategy for associated cholecysto-choledocholithiasis.