Ectopic ampulla of vater in D4 with adenosquamous carcinoma: case report and literature review.

Ampulla of Vater (AOV) is typically located in the second part of the duodenum. There are few reported cases of ectopic AOV over the line extending from the pylorus of the stomach down to the distal part of the duodenum. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are only five cases reported in the English literature of an ectopic AOV in the fourth part of the duodenum, with only one of them having adenocarcinoma of the ampulla. Hereby, we report the first case of ectopic AOV in the fourth part of the duodenum, presenting with obstructive due to adenocarcinoma with focal squamous differentiation. This is the case a 42-year-old lady who had a sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity in the past. She presented with right upper quadrant pain for one month associated with subjective fever, unintentional weight loss, pale stool, and dark urine. The physical examination revealed a deeply jaundiced lady with an unremarkable abdominal exam. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary dilation with ectopic insertion of the distal CBD into the fourth part of the duodenum with no evidence of biliary stones. She underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy after difficult biliary decompression. Histopathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, pancreaticobiliary type with focal squamous differentiation. Ectopic AOV is a very rare entity, especially when it is associated with adenosquamous carcinoma changes.

Surgical site invasive aspergillosis in immunocompetent patient secondary to Kramericeae herb: Case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Surgical site infection results in an increased morbidity and length of stay. This poses a great economic burden to society and remains a challenge in the surgical field surgery. In the recent years, there has been great attention in modalities to avert such complications. Primary cutaneous infection with aspergillosis is rare entity in immune competent patient. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare cause of surgical site infection with invasive aspergillosis in immunocompetent patient secondary to Kramericeae herb. We describe the wound which was noted to be offensive with production of a tar like and golden green slough material, which lack clinical improvement despite aggressive surgical debridement and the use multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Post-operative wound infection with aspergillosis has been reported in literature related to patient and environmental factors; immunocompromised patient and contamination of ventilation system. Poor response to conventional measures in treating wound complication should alert surgeons to anticipate unusual fungal wound infection. Mortality due to aspergillus infection wound is highest in patient with solid organ transplant. However, it is uncommon that it can lead to septic shock and death in immunocompetent patients. CONCLUSION: Post-operative wound infection with fungi seems to be less anticipated cause in immunocompetent patient. To improve outcome better awareness of the wound characteristics and clinical course. Furthermore, a better control by local authorities of non-controlled "herbal medicines" sellers in terms of routines checks of their products to ensure their health safety.

Transduodenal resection of periampullary neuroendocrine tumor: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Periampullary tumors are characterized as tumors that emerge nearby to the major papilla in the duodenum. They are rare lesions with an incidence rate of 0.4-0.48 per 100,000. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) constitute only 3% of all duodenal tumors. Their proximity to the major and minor papillae along with the gastric outlet raises a surgical challenge. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient is a 40-year-old, male, medically free. He presented with history of a testicular mass. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis was done and showed a large retroperitoneal lymph node. A biopsy of the epididymal mass showed no evidence of malignancy. Excision of the left para-aortic mass revealed a metastatic lymph node of a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Further evaluation by gallium-68 PET-CT scan showed a periampullary neuroendocrine tumor. The decision to operate was concluded in a multidisciplinary team meeting, and intraoperatively the duodenum showed a well-defined mass between the first and second part of the duodenum which was excised via a trans-duodenal submucosal approach. A frozen section confirmed a negative margin. The final histopathology report showed a grade 2 metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. The latest follow-up was 3 years post-op via fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT and it showed no FDG avid disease at the duodenum or pancreases with no FDG avid lymphadenopathy or distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: Periampullary tumors that fall under certain parameters could be resected via transduodenal local resection. This procedure yields equivalent results to more invasive surgeries, such as a Whipple's procedure, with less morbidity.

Splenic oligometastasis from cervical adenocarcinoma three years after disease free survival: A case report and a review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among females. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common subtype of cervical cancer, followed by adenocarcinoma. The most reported sites of metastasis are the lungs, bones, liver, and brain. One of the rarest sites of metastasis, particularly from the adenocarcinoma subtype, is the spleen, with only four reported cases in the literature. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old post-menopausal female was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the endocervix (FIGO stage IIIB) after she presented to the gynecologist complaining of post-coital vaginal bleeding. The patient received chemoradiotherapy followed by brachytherapy. After completion of treatment, she had a restaging work-up which revealed a complete radiological and pathological response. During her routine follow-up, she was found to have a new splenic lesion by surveillance abdominopelvic MRI three years after completion of treatment. Surgical resection was performed, and pathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma to spleen. CONCLUSION: Cervical cancer metastasis to spleen is very rare, especially in the cervical adenocarcinoma subtype. A high index of suspicion is necessary during follow-up. Once there is a suspicion of splenic metastasis, surgical intervention should be considered for both curative and palliative intents.

Staged surgical approach for metastatic GIST, how far should we go? Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that commonly arises from the stomach and proximal small intestine but can develop in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The disease can range from primary localized to an advanced metastatic unresectable disease in up to 30% of patients. Usually, metastasis involves the liver, peritoneum, and occasionally the lungs. The current standard treatment of localized resectable tumors is complete oncological resection, while advanced metastatic GISTs treatment remains contentious. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 34 years old pregnant female presenting with a 3 days history of multiple episodes of hematemesis and melena. Laboratory investigations were unremarkable except for severe anemia (Hgb 4.4 g/dL). After further investigations a diagnosis of duodenal GIST (DGIST) with liver metastasis was made. She received and showed good response to neoadjuvant Imatinib therapy, which was followed by a successful 2-stage surgery in the form of extended right hepatectomy and Whipple procedure with a good survival. CLINICAL DISSECTION: The evolution of Imatinib had a tremendous impact on surgery in metastatic GIST even in initially unresectable cases, thereby providing a better survival. However, the duration of neoadjuvant Imatinib course and the matter of resistance are still unclear those necessitating the use of different agents or the surgical approach. CONCLUSION: Although with the advancements in surgical approaches and perioperative care, liver resection might be a curative option. The role of surgery in advanced GIST remains a controversial matter that needs critical selection of cases based on further future research.

Ischiorectal fossa metastasis from colon cancer: Case report of a rare entity and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers both nationally and internationally. It commonly metastases to local lymph nodes, liver and lungs, with few reported cases of rare sites of metastasis such as adrenal glands, breast and skin. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 55-year-old-female admitted as case of large bowel obstruction and unintentional weight loss. Computed tomography scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis (CT CAP) showed sigmoid colon circumferential thickening with three lesions in the right hemi-liver. A laparoscopic diverting ileostomy followed by a colonoscopy showed a sigmoidal mass consistent with adenocarcinoma on histopathology. Hence, she received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by hepatectomy for the liver metastasis. Post-operatively CT CAP showed a newly developed right ischiorectal fossa (IRF) nodule along with newly developed porta hepatis lymph node. PET scan showed uptake in these two new lesions. Therefore, the patient underwent resection of the primary tumor, porta hepatis lymph node and right ischiorectal fossa nodule excision. The histopathology of the primary tumor came as moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with both ischiorectal lesion and the porta hepatis nodule being positive for metastatic disease. CLINICAL DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: Ischiorectal fossa tumors are extremely rare with the majority being benign in origin. Nevertheless, the possibility of metastasis is there with no clear explanation regarding the pathway of how the metastatic cells can reach the IRF. Pre-operative diagnosis is important to determine the appropriate approach particularly if the mass is thought to be malignant. Further larger studies are needed to understand the pathway of metastasis to IRF.

Metastatic Mixed Adeno-Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Colon to the Liver with Multiple Peritoneal Deposits: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Metastatic mixed adeno-neuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) is a rare malignancy. It is characterized by the presence of both neuroendocrine and epithelial components, each of which constitute at least 30% of the lesion to establish the diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 48-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of right upper-quadrant pain and unintentional weight loss of 18 kg. He was also complaining of constipation and fatigue for 6 days. The initial diagnosis from a referring hospital was colon cancer with liver metastasis based on a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis. After re-evaluation at our hospital, the scan revealed multiple peritoneal deposits in addition to the previously reported findings. A colonoscopy and biopsy were performed, after which the histopathological examination demonstrated a mixed poorly differentiated large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Based on the imaging and histopathology reports, he was diagnosed with a poorly differentiated MANEC of the colon with liver metastasis and multiple peritoneal deposits. His lesions were deemed unresectable, and he was referred to the oncology department for palliative care. There he received a total of 9 cycles of cisplatin and etoposide for 8 months. His CT scan showed a regression of the primary tumor indicating a good response to chemotherapy. The patient is still following up with his medical oncologist. CONCLUSIONS Although it is rare, MANEC is a complex neoplasm that requires a high index of suspicion to diagnose due to its nonspecific presentation. It is confirmed through histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the tumor biopsy. Imaging is performed for staging, with most patients presenting at advanced stages with metastases. The only curative option is complete surgical resection of both the primary and metastatic lesion. Many cases, however, are regarded as unresectable and are referred for palliative treatment.

Gallbladder cancer of two histological origins: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Carcinosarcoma is an extremely rare subtype of gallbladder cancer with a worldwide prevalence of less than 1%. Carcinosarcomas are composed of a mixture of epithelial and mesenchymal components. Preoperative diagnosis of carcinosarcoma is challenging considering the non-specific clinical presentation and radiological findings. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63 years old female presented with right hypochondrium abdominal pain for 6 months. CA 19.9 level was high. Computed tomography of abdomen showed gallstones with enhancing wall thickening, along with enlarged portacaval lymph node. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy of porta hepatis lymph node was done which showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Hence, she underwent extended cholecystectomy with extended porta hepatis lymph node dissection. Final histopathological result showed carcinosarcoma (pT2a, pN1 M0). Unfortunately, she passed away 7 months post-operatively. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The majority of patients with carcinosarcomas are asymptomatic but can develop unspecific symptoms in advanced stages. The diagnosis is usually made incidentally on histopathological examination. Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment and longer survival can be achieved if combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. BILCAP trial suggested that capecitabine can improve survival in patients with gallbladder cancer. Unfortunately, even with these treatment modalities prognosis remains poor with a survival rate ranging from 2.9 to 6 months. CONCLUSION: Gallbladder carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. However, some cases reported a good survival rate after surgery. Further research is needed to understand the behavior of these tumors well and identify the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and which patients would benefit the most from surgery.

Salvage liver transplantation after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastasis with favorable outcomes: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) develop metastases most commonly in the liver. Liver transplantation (LT) can be used in certain cases of primary liver malignancy or in metastatic diseases, such as Neuroendocrine tumors. However, there are controversies regarding LT as a treatment option for liver metastasis from CRC due to poor outcomes in previously reported cases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 37-year-old male who underwent resection of the left-sided colon due to cancer and was found to have synchronous liver metastasis for which he received chemotherapy. Later, he underwent a right hepatectomy, which was complicated by insufficient liver remnant function despite the preserved liver perfusion. Therefore, salvage liver transplantation was performed successfully with a good long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Many studies examined the survival and quality of life in patients undergoing liver transplantation for unresectable colorectal liver metastasis; these studies include the SECA Study (secondary cancer) and others with favorable outcomes. We reviewed the literature and compared the outcomes of some of these studies in this article. Our case emphasizes that liver transplantation could be an option for some colon cancer liver metastasis (CLM) patients, specifically, as a salvage procedure. Thus, more research is needed to develop selection criteria for patients who may benefit from liver transplantation.

Breast fat necrosis secondary to warfarin-induced calciphylaxis, a rare mimicker of breast cancer: A case report and a review of literature.

Breast fat necrosis (BFN) is usually a benign inflammatory response to breast trauma. However, an extremely rare cause of fat necrosis is calciphylaxis, a calcification of small- and medium-sized arteries causing thrombosis and ischemia. It is classified into (A) uremic (B) nonuremic-induced calciphylaxis. Calciphylaxis has been reported to be encountered in different parts of the body. However, to the best of our knowledge there is only one case in the English literature of BFN 2ry to warfarin-induced calciphylaxis. We report a 65-year-old female, known case of atrial fibrillation on warfarin, presented with a left breast mass of 4-month duration. The mass was painful and progressively enlarging. Examination of the left breast showed 7 × 4 cm mass, spanning from 10-2 o'clock, free from surrounding structures, with preserved overlying skin. However, the mass was not visualized on mammogram. Ultrasound showed a left breast lobulated hypoechoic mass containing a hyperechoic component. Biopsy showed fat necrosis. After 1 month, she presented with ulceration of the overlying skin. After wide local excision, histopathology demonstrated a calciphylaxis-induced fat necrosis. Considering the patient's background, the diagnosis was BFN secondary to warfarin-induced calciphylaxis. Hence, the warfarin was shifted to Rivaroxaban, 6 months follow-up showed no evidence of recurrence. In conclusion, the rarity of nonuremic calciphylaxis is reflected on the delay of diagnosis in some of the reported cases and the lack of grading system used to guide the management of such difficult wounds. However, keeping a high index of suspicion is important whenever such wounds are encountered with presence of risk factors other than end-stage kidney disease.

Management of Very Late Pancreatic Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma 8 Years After Radical Nephrectomy: A Report of a Rare Case.

BACKGROUND The most common primary malignant neoplasm of the kidneys in adults is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which originates inside the renal cortex and accounts for 80-85% of all primary renal neoplasms. RCCs can spread to many organs, including the liver, lungs, bones, and brain. Disease is quiescent until the late stages of disease in the vast majority of patients. CASE REPORT We report a case of 63-year-old woman who presented to her surveillance check-up after a right radical nephrectomy 8 years ago. Computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis (CT-CAP) revealed a hypervascular mass in the body of the pancreas measuring 1 cm, consistent with metastatic appearance. Therefore, the tumor board decision was to proceed with spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. The final histopathology result showed metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) with negative resection margins. The patient currently is under regular follow-up. The latest CT-CAP was done at 1 year postoperatively, which showed no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Patients with RCCs can develop asymptomatic metastatic lesions years after complete oncological resection of the primary tumor. Furthermore, metastatic RCCs can be misdiagnosed as other primary tumors. Hence, a meticulous long-term follow-up is essential to ensure that recurrence or a new distant metastasis is not missed. RCCs are known for their poor response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, the new targeted therapies have shown a good response rate. Nevertheless, complete oncological resection of the pancreatic metastasis remains the best treatment modality and is associated with a 5-year survival rate of 75%.

Huge solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas 'Frantz tumor': a case report.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN) of the pancreas are rare neoplasms accounting for 1-2% of all pancreatic tumors and have a general female predominance. We report a case and intraoperative videos of SPN involving the whole pancreatic tail. A 19-year-old female patient initially presented to another healthcare facility complaining of abdominal pain, which was started 6 years ago. A contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed a large mass measuring 15.6 cm × 11.6 cm × 11 cm, arising from the pancreas with an enhancing cystic component. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, which revealed a huge mass occupying most of the abdominal cavity. Thus, we proceeded with a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Intraoperatively, the frozen section showed that the mass had features of a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas with negative resection margins. The SPN diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The pathophysiology behind the development of SPN and its cellular origin is still a matter of debate with multiple proposed hypotheses. SPNs are asymptomatic in almost 70% of all cases and usually discovered incidentally. The pre-operative diagnosis of SPNs remains a clinical challenge despite all the current advances in the diagnostic modalities. Surgical management with negative resection margins is the mainstay of treatment, even with metastasis and vascular invasion, surgical excision should be performed whenever feasible. The recurrence rate after surgical resection has been reported to be 3-9%. The prognosis of SPN limited to the pancreas is generally excellent with over 95% cure rate following complete surgical resection. SPN is a rare entity of a controversial origin but is considered as a low-grade malignancy. Surgical resection to achieve complete excision constitutes the mainstay of treatment, which mostly results in an excellent prognosis.

Negative Whole-Body Computed Tomography Scans in Polytrauma Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) has been a mainstay and an integral part of the evaluation of polytrauma patients in trauma centers and emergency departments (ED) for a comprehensive evaluation of the extent of injuries. However, routine use of WBCT remains controversial since it exposes patients to radiation and exponentially increases financial expense. The primary objective was to determine the rate of negative WBCT in polytrauma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is a dedicated trauma center with a mean of 237,392 ED visits and 10,714 trauma per year. The study included all adult (≥18 years) polytrauma patients who presented to our ED, requiring trauma team activation, and underwent WBCT as part of their evaluation from January 2016 to May 2017. We excluded pediatric patients, patients transferred from another facility, and pregnant patients. The primary endpoint was to measure the rate of negative WBCT in polytraumatized patients. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients were included with a mean age of 28.8 ± 12.9 years. The rate of negative WBCT scans was 20.4%. The positive scans were subclassified based on the number of anatomical body regions that were affected radiologically. One body region was affected in 47 patients (31.8%), two body regions were affected in 50 patients (33.8%), and ≥3 body regions were affected in 51 patients (34.3%). In a subset analysis, we identified that oxygen saturation <94% and GCS ≤8 were associated with positive CT scans. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a slightly higher rate of utilization of WBCT in the management of trauma patients compared to studies with similar practice. We believe that in the correct setting with incorporating high index of suspicion, a physical examination with attention to vital signs and mental status, performing E-FAST, and dedicated X-Rays is a way to potentially reduce the use of WBCT in polytrauma patients.

A Diagnostic Dilemma of a Subcutaneous Hibernoma: Case Report.

BACKGROUND Subcutaneous lipomatous lesions are commonly encountered in clinical practice. Hibernoma is a rare subtype of the benign lipomatous tumor, representing 1% of all types. It poses a challenge due to the difficulty of differentiating it from atypical lipomatous lesions and liposarcomas, which may lead to possible inappropriate diagnosis and management. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 33-year-old male who presented with a right upper thigh swelling noticed some time prior to presentation that had started increasing in size prior to his presentation. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unable to rule out atypical lipomatous tumor and liposarcoma. An ultrasound-guided biopsy gave a diagnosis of hibernoma. The patient underwent a wide local excision, which confirmed the diagnosis of hibernoma. At the 3-year follow-up, there was no evidence of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Hibernoma has been reported in the literature to be discovered incidentally by radiological imaging done for other causes. However, hibernomas raise a diagnostic challenge because in most imaging modalities they are indistinguishable from other malignant tumors. A wide local excision with negative margins is key to resolving the diagnostic dilemma that a hibernoma presents, as it will provide a definitive diagnosis differentiating it from other lipomatous lesions and prevent any future recurrence. Caution is advised when dealing with lipomatous lesions, as they often overlap with malignancy. Furthermore, an MRI should be done for any subcutaneous lesion that is larger than 5 cm or shows recent growth. A biopsy can resolve the diagnostic dilemma with caution to the hypervascularity of such tumors.

Lipomatous tumors of adrenal gland: A case series of 5 patients and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Lipomatous tumors of the adrenal glands are a diverse group of tumors characterized by the composition of adipose tissue. This group of tumors include myelolipomas, angiomyolipomas (AML), lipomas, and teratomas. They are usually benign, non-functioning tumors, and they account for 5% of all primary adrenal tumors. This study aimed to elucidate the management of the initial size of the adrenal mass and symptoms of presentation. We provide a succinct literature review regarding angiomyolipomas tumors of the adrenal glands. PRESENTATION OF CASES: Here, we report 5 cases of lipomatous tumors of the adrenal glands. All 5 tumors were non-functioning. Four of them were myelolipoma, and one was AML. Two cases of myelolipoma presented with flank pain, while the rest of the 3 cases presented with hypochondrium pain. Three cases of myelolipoma were managed with laparoscopic adrenalectomy, one case of myelolipoma was converted from laparoscopic to open adrenalectomy because of abdominal adhesions, and the last case was AML and was managed with open adrenalectomy. All patients had an uneventful recovery with regular follow-up. DISCUSSION: Myelolipoma, the most common lipomatous tumor of the adrenal gland, consists of a mixture of bone morrow element and adipose tissue. AML consists of a mixture of a thick-walled blood vessel, smooth muscle, and adipose tissue. They mimic many different benign and malignant tumors on radiography, and the histopathological examination is still needed to confirm the diagnosis. There is still controversy in the management of these tumors. Usually, the management is individualized on each case. Reporting of these tumors are increasing due the wide-spread use of modern imaging modalities. CONCLUSION: Adrenal lipomatous tumors are uncommon but with the increase use of imaging modalities their detection has increased. Further studies are needed to establish guidelines in the management of these tumors, especially that they can mimic malignant conditions.

Surgical outcomes of primary carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder after curative resection: A rare case series.

INTRODUCTION: Primary carcinosarcoma is a rare neoplasm of the gallbladder, and is characterized by collision elements of the adenocarcinomatous and sarcomatous components. The tumours comprise both malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements, and are usually very aggressive, conferring poor prognosis. Adenocarcinomas are the most common neoplasms of the gall bladder, while carcinosarcoma are extremely rare, with a global prevalence rate of less than 1%. The low incidence of carcinosarcoma greatly hinders the understanding of its aetiology. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here, we report the surgical outcome of 3 rare cases of gallbladder carcinosarcomas, two of which had a IVB stage disease and in one case the staging was II. Following surgery, the survival in the former was less than 1 year, while in the latter, it extended up to 7 years (86 months), and the patient is alive till date. This study aimed to elucidate the surgical outcomes and prognosis after curable resection for carcinosarcomas of the gallbladder. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that carcinosarcomas are associated with a poor prognosis and short survival, particularly in those with tumours of >5 cm. In the absence of effective adjuvant treatment, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. CONCLUSION: Complete surgical resection may improve prognosis and extend survival in patients with this rare and aggressive form of gallbladder cancer.

Challenges in the management of adenocarcinoma of ampulla of Vater in pregnancy: A case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Ampullary adenocarcinoma is a rare entity during pregnancy. It accounts for 0.5% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. The best treatment modality for resectable tumors with the best reported outcome is surgical resection in the form of pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure). In this case report, we discuss the challenges in the management of ampullary adenocarcinoma in a pregnant patient. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of 22 years old pregnant women who presented with vague abdominal pain and jaundice at the 28th week of gestation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed a stricture around the ampulla and distal common bile duct (CBD). The CBD was stented and a biopsy was taken. Histopathology revealed: an invasive adenocarcinoma. The patient was managed by elective pancreaticoduodenectomy after induction of vaginal delivery at the 34th week of gestation. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing and managing ampullary adenocarcinoma in pregnant patients in their 3rd trimester is challenging. Yet, a delayed viable delivery followed by a definitive surgery in the form of pancreaticoduodenectomy offers the best outcomes for both the mother & fetus in case of early stage disease.

The challenges of diagnosing idiopathic ovarian vein thrombosis: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal pain is a common clinical challenge presenting to the emergency department. The challenge lies in the wide differentials particularly in females due to the addition of potential gynecological conditions. Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is one of the uncommon differentials requiring rapid recognition & treatment to avoid serious complications or even death. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 42-year-old healthy female, post normal vaginal delivery 1- year prior to presentation. She presented with left iliac fossa and periumbilical pain for 1-day with no other symptoms. She was vitally stable. Abdominal & pelvic examinations revealed left lower tenderness with guarding. Laboratory investigations were within normal. Abdominal Doppler showed a dilated left ovarian vein with absent flow and Computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of a thrombus. Therefore, the diagnosis of OVT was made and she was started on anticoagulation. DISCUSSION: OVT is a rare, life-threatening condition occurring mainly during the post-partum period (0.18% post vaginal delivery). Diagnosing ovarian vein thrombosis can be challenging because of the overlapping presentation with other differentials. A high index of suspicion should be kept in females presenting with abdominal pain. Standard guidelines for managing OVT are lacking. However, lower limb DVT guidelines have been suggested in the literature to be applicable. CONCLUSION: The initial modality of diagnosing OVT is Doppler ultrasound. However, CT and MRA confirm the diagnosis in case of uncertainty. The mainstay of treatment is the conservative approach while the surgical approach is reserved for persistent OVT despite appropriate conservative therapy.

The ugly face of deep vein thrombosis: Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens-Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens (PCD), a rare & life-threatening condition caused by a massive deep venous thrombosis that is associated with arterial occlusion caused by the subsequent compartment syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old male was diagnosed as a case of extensive left femoral DVT & pulmonary embolism. Two days after being managed by systemic thrombolytics & heparin, his condition worsened as he developed cyanosis of the affected limb, compartment syndrome & foot drop so he was referred to our facility for further management. CT venogram showed a thrombosis of the left popliteal vein extending into the left common iliac vein confirming the diagnosis of PCD & May-Turner syndrome. We adopted a limb preserving approach using a pharmacomechanical catheter directed thrombolysis (PCDT). The patient recovered fully with a complete resolution of his foot drop. DISCUSSION: Several treatment options have been suggested to improve the outcomes of PCD, but due to the rarity of this condition a gold standard treatment is still controversial. But regardless of the chosen approach, there is an urgent need to decrease the thrombus burden to prevent further adverse sequelae like amputation or even death which can be achieved by using PCDT as it was demonstrated in our case. CONCLUSION: Our case shows that a rare entity of DVT as PCD could be a result of improper management of acute proximal DVT in the background of anatomical variabilities & that despite the late presentation of such a rare condition there still a role for a limb preserving approach with endovascular techniques.

Thoracic Complications of Bariatric Surgeries: Overlooked Entities.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgeries are increasingly performed to treat obesity worldwide. The currently available literature on these surgeries mainly focuses on their abdominal complications, giving less attention to their thoracic ones. Hence, the present work aimed to highlight the thoracic complications associated with bariatric surgeries. METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was performed and involved the review of the medical charts of 390 patients who underwent different bariatric surgeries between January 2014 and January 2017 in our hospital or who were referred to us from other centers after their specific operations. The data of patients who developed thoracic complications and who required further intervention were identified and categorized by the modality of diagnosis, outcome, duration of hospital and ICU stays, and management. Patients with a history of a preexisting pulmonary disease were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were observed to have thoracic complications secondary to their bariatric surgeries. Twenty-two patients (84.6%) received post-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LASG). Nine patients (34.6%) required ICU stays. Twenty patients (76.9) had incidences of pleural effusion in the postoperative period. The mean duration of hospital and ICU stays were 4.4 ± 11.67 days and 15 ± 19.36 days, respectively. Other reported thoracic complications included esophageal perforations, thoracic empyema, septic pericardial effusion, and pancreaticopleural fistula. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgeries are safe procedures in selected patients. There is a significant amount of literature describing abdominal, nutritional, neurological, and even ophthalmic complications after bariatric surgeries. Being that they are relatively rare, thoracic complications are underreported in the literature. The management of thoracic complications after bariatric surgery requires awareness and a high index of suspicion to prevent further morbidities and mortalities.