Pancreaticobiliary reflux in patients with and without cholelithiasis: is it a normal phenomenon?

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticobiliary reflux is a pathologic phenomenon occurring in patients with gallstones. However, the occurrence of pancreaticobiliary reflux has not been studied in patients without gallstones. The objective of the present study was to measure the bile levels of amylase and lipase in patients without gallstones submitted to cholecystectomy as part of another surgical procedure, and to compare these values with the bile levels of amylase and lipase of patients submitted to cholecystectomy for gallstone disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective observational and comparative study was designed. A sample of 136 consecutive patients was included. Amylase and lipase levels were measured in bile. At our institution, normal plasma concentrations of amylase are 28-100 IU/l and lipase 13-60 IU/l. Normal values for pancreatic enzyme concentrations in bile have not been established. Therefore, bile amylase and lipase concentrations exceeding normal plasma concentrations were deemed to be elevated. RESULTS: Of the patients in the present study, 103 (76%) had gallstones and 33 (24%) had healthy gallbladders without gallstones. According to normal plasma levels for amylase and lipase, these enzymes in bile were elevated in 83.5% patients with gallstones, compared to elevated levels of amylase in 6% patients and lipase in 3% patients without gallstones (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pancreaticobiliary reflux is a common phenomenon in patients with gallstones and an uncommon phenomenon in patients with healthy gallbladders without gallstone disease.

Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) incidentally found and resected during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

The incidence of incidental pathology found during laparoscopic bariatric surgery has been estimated to be around 2%, and gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have been found in 0.8% of patients, constituting a rather uncommon finding. Safe laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs is an established procedure and has been described associated to gastric Roux-en-Y bypass for morbid obesity. We discuss one case of a gastric GIST incidentally discovered during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity. The procedure was performed via laparoscopy, and the patient recovered without any complication. Currently, the patient has lost weight according to what was expected, is asymptomatic, and free of disease.

[Adenocarcinoma and intestinal duplication of the ileum. Report of one case]. / Adenocarcinoma en duplicación intestinal del íleon: Caso clínico.

Gastrointestinal duplications are uncommon developmental abnormalities that occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. We report a 36 year-old female admitted to the emergency room due to abdominal pain. Computed abdominal tomography demonstrated small bowel loops surrounding a tubular cystic structure and peritoneal free fluid. The surgical exploration revealed multiple malignant implants covering the visceral and parietal peritoneum and infiltrating completely the omentum. At the ileal mesentery we found a tubular cystic whitish tumor measuring 12 cm of diameter and 15 cm on length. A complete resection of the tumor was not considered an option due to the extensive peritoneal dissemination. Thirty-four days after the operation the patient died. The histopathology of the cystic wall was compatible with the architecture of intestinal wall extensively infiltrated by a moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma; a mucosal lining in parts atrophic and in parts infiltrated or replaced by adenocarcinoma was observed. A well structured muscular layer was recognized, and the myenteric plexus was identified.

[Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. Report of one case]. / Tumor del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) en una paciente con neurofibromatosis tipo 1.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomic dominant condition affecting the central nervous system and presenting a disposition towards development of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). We report a 38 year-old female patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 that required emergency surgery due to a perforated GIST originating in the fourth duodenal portion. The GIST, and the fourth duodenal portion, were excised and a primary duodenum-jejunal anastomosis was performed. The pathological study showed a partially necrotic solid-cystic tumor with 1 to 2 mitoses per 50-high-power fields. The cells stained positively to CD 117, CD34 and Desmin, and were negative to S-100, Vimentin, and Smooth Muscle a-Actin. The patient is currently asymptomatic and under follow-up during the last 11 months after surgery.

Linfangioma esplénico gigante: Caso clínico / Gigantic cystic splenic lymphangioma: Report of one case

Splenic lymphangiomas are benign primary simple or multiple tumors. They are incidentally diagnosed in children and people younger than 20 year-old. We report a 26-year-old female presenting with a history of five months of abdominal pain localized over the left upper hemi abdomen. A computed tomographic abdominal scan demonstrated a cystic tumor of 16 cm diameter originating from the spleen. Hydatic serology was negative and all blood tests were normal. At surgery, a spienic cyst was found and almost all the cystic wall was excised, leaving only a small portion attached to the spleen. The pathological report described spienic parenchyma with endothelial lining over the internal side of the cyst. Immunohystochemical stains of the endothelial cells were positive for VIII Factor and D2-40 that are specific for lymphatic endothelium, yielding the final diagnosis of a cystic spienic lymphangioma.

Adenocarcinoma en duplicación intestinal del íleon: Caso clínico / Adenocarcinoma and intestinal duplication of the ileum: Report of one case

Gastrointestinal duplications are uncommon developmental abnormalities that occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. We report a 36 year-old female admitted to the emergency room due to abdominal pain. Computed abdominal tomography demonstrated small bowel ¡oops surrounding a tubular cystic structure and peritoneal free fluid. The surgical exploration revealed multiple malignant implants covering the visceral and parietal peritoneum and infiltrating completely the omentum. At the Heal mesentery we found a tubular cystic whitish tumor measuring 12 cm of diameter and 15 cm on length. A complete resection of the tumor was not considered an option due to the extensive peritoneal dissemination. Thirty-four days after the operation the patient died. The histopathology of the cystic wall was compatible with the architecture of intestinal wall extensively infiltrated by a moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma; a mucosal lining in parts atrophic and in parts infiltrated or replaced by adenocarcinoma was observed. A well structured muscular layer was recognized, and the myenteric plexus was identified.

Tumor del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) en una paciente con neurofibromatosis tipo 1 / Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. Report of one case

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomic dominant condition affecting the central nervous systema and presenting a disposition towards development of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). We report a 38year-old female patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 that required emergency surgery due to a perforated GIST originating in the fourth duodenal portion. The GIST, and the fourth duodenal portion, were excised and a primary duodenum-jejunal anastomosis was performed. The pathological study showed a partially necrotic solid-cystic tumor with 1 to 2 mitoses per 50-high-power fields. The cells stained positively to CD 117, CD34 and Desmin, and were negative to S-100, Vimentin, and Smooth Muscle a-Actin. The patient is currently asymptomatic and under follow-up during the last 11 months after surgery (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137:1197-200).

Is hyperbilirubinaemia in appendicitis a better predictor of perforation than C-reactive protein? - a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To compare the performance for the prediction of perforated appendicitis of total bilirubin versus C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, the time period of symptoms' evolution, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS: Prospective observational study, applying receiver operating characteristics curve analysis to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the tested variables. RESULTS: The period of symptom's evolution was prolonged (105.2 ± 79.3 hours vs. 38.6 ± 17.5 hours), and CRP levels were higher in perforated appendicitis (176 ± 82.6 mg/l vs. 80 ± 76 mg/l). Most patients with perforated appendicitis had a SIRS score higher than 3 points. CRP (>76.7 mg/l), the time period of symptoms' evolution (>34.5 hours), and SIRS (3 points or more), were the best cutoff values to predict perforated appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: Perforated appendicitis may be suspected based on CRP, SIRS and the time period of symptoms' evolution. We do not recommend the use of total bilirubin to predict perforation in appendicitis.

[Gigantic cystic splenic lymphangioma. Report of one case]. / Linfangioma esplénico gigante. Caso clínico.

Splenic lymphangiomas are benign primary simple or multiple tumors. They are incidentally diagnosed in children and people younger than 20 year-old. We report a 26-year-old female presenting with a history of five months of abdominal pain localized over the left upper hemi abdomen. A computed tomographic abdominal scan demonstrated a cystic tumor of 16 cm diameter originating from the spleen. Hydatic serology was negative and all blood tests were normal. At surgery, a spienic cyst was found and almost all the cystic wall was excised, leaving only a small portion attached to the spleen. The pathological report described spienic parenchyma with endothelial lining over the internal side of the cyst. Immunohystochemical stains of the endothelial cells were positive for VIII Factor and D2-40 that are specific for lymphatic endothelium, yielding the final diagnosis of a cystic spienic lymphangioma.