WhatsApp video call communication between oncological patients and their families during COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: On March 8th, 2020 the Italian Government implemented extraordinary measures to limit COVID-19 viral transmission. The aim of the study was to verify if the use of WhatsApp facilitates communication, improves health information, perception of safe and security, reduce emotional stress during the COVID-19 emergency. METHODS: In this study we identified two period, in the pre-COVID 1-month period (February 9th - March 8th, 2020) 34 patients underwent elective surgery for malignancies (21) and benign (13) diseases, respectively. We provided patients' families on a daily basis with clinical information face-to-face in the ward regarding their postoperative course. In the post-COVID 1-month period (March 9th - April 5th, 2020), 15 patients with malignancies were treated. In this period, patients and their families given a consent form to let the surgical team to communicate clinical data using WhatsApp. At the end of the study period we collected a satisfaction anonymous questionnaire of both patients and families. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in the pre- vs. post- COVID period regarding the number of surgical procedures (P=0.004). In the post-COVID period, the satisfaction questionnaire showed a good reliability (Cronbach's α 0.912) and a high percentage of satisfaction of patients and their families for the adopted communication tool, reassurance, privacy protection and reduction of emotional stress. CONCLUSIONS: WhatsApp is a safe and fast technology, it offers the opportunity to facilitate clinical communications, reduce stress, improve patient security, obtain clinical and psychological positive implications in patient's care preserving their privacy in the COVID-19 emergency period.

Cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas: a hard diagnostic challenge between pancreatic cystic lesions-review of recent literature.

Lymphangiomas are rare congenital benign tumors arising from the lymphatic system. The incidence of this disease in the pancreas is extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of these tumors. Before introducing the review we reported a case of a 67-year-old woman with cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas. We reported the radiological investigations carried out preoperatively and the treatment performed. The review tries to identify the features described in literature of the pancreatic lymphangioma. We have performed a PubMed research of the world literature between January 1st 2000, to November 31st 2017, using the keywords [Lymphangioma pancreas], [diagnosis], [CT lymphangioma] and [MRI lymphangioma]. We have found 158 articles, of which about 100 were case reports. Based on our search criteria, we have identified 31 pancreatic lymphangioma in literature reporting their imaging characteristics. According to our report and to several authors in literature the diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lymphangioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). The role of imaging exams (CT and MRI) can help to identify and suspect this possibility of diagnosis. The endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) can have a potential role to reach the correct diagnosis.