Triple gallbladder: radiological review.

Triple gallbladder represents a rare congenital anatomical abnormality that can be a diagnostic challenge in reason to its rarity and consequential difficulties with diagnosis and identification. A systematic review of all published literature between 1958 and 2022 was performed. We identified 20 previous studies that provided 20 cases of triple gallbladder; our case was also included in the analysis, making a total of 21 patients. All patients underwent on diagnostic imaging examinations. After 1985, 9 patients underwent US examination which allowed prompt recognition of triple gallbladder in 2 patients only. CT was performed in 3 patients and allowed the correct diagnosis in a case. In 4 patients, was performed MRCP which allowed the correct diagnosis of triple gallbladder in all patients. Preoperative imaging allows the recognition of triple gallbladder in 9 of 21 patients (43%); in 12 patients (57%) the diagnosis was intraoperative. On patients considered, 16/21 underwent cholecystectomy. In 15 cases, the excised gallbladders were submitted for histopathological characterization with detection of metaplasia of the mucosa in 3 patients, while papillary adenocarcinoma was found in one. Imaging plays a key role in the identification of the anatomical variants of gallbladder, especially triple gallbladder, as modern imaging techniques allow a detailed assessment of the course of the biliary tract for a correct preoperative diagnosis. It is also crucial to be aware of the association between this condition and the metaplasia phenomena with the development of adenocarcinoma, as this may influence the patient's course of treatment.

The impact of preoperative nutritional screening, ERAS protocol, and mini-invasive surgery in surgical oncology: A multi-institutional SEM analysis of patients with digestive cancer.

Background: Mini-invasive surgery (MIS), ERAS, and preoperative nutritional screening are currently used to reduce complications and the length of hospital stay (LOS); however, inter-variable correlations have seldom been explored. This research aimed to define inter-variable correlations in a large series of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and their impact on outcomes. Methods: Patients with consecutive cancer who underwent radical gastrointestinal surgery between 2019 and 2020 were analyzed. Age, BMI, comorbidities, ERAS, nutritional screening, and MIS were evaluated to determine their impact on 30-day complications and LOS. Inter-variable correlations were measured, and a latent variable was computed to define the patients' performance status using nutritional screening and comorbidity. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Of the 1,968 eligible patients, 1,648 were analyzed. Univariable analyses documented the benefit of nutritional screening for LOS and MIS and ERAS (≥7 items) for LOS and complications; conversely, being male and comorbidities correlated with complications, while increased age and BMI correlated with worse outcomes. SEM analysis revealed that (a) the latent variable is explained by the use of nutritional screening (p0·004); (b) the variables were correlated (age-comorbidity, ERAS-MIS, and ERAS-nutritional screening, p < 0·001); and (c) their impact on the outcomes was based on direct effects (complications: sex, p0·001), indirect effects (LOS: MIS-ERAS-nutritional screening, p < 0·001; complications: MIS-ERAS, p0·001), and regression-based effects (LOS: ERAS, MIS, p < 0·001, nutritional screening, p0·021; complications: ERAS, MIS, p < 0·001, sex, p0·001). Finally, LOS and complications were correlated (p < 0·001). Conclusion: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), MIS, and nutritional screening are beneficial in surgical oncology; however, the inter-variable correlation is reliable, underlying the importance of the multidisciplinary approach.

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) in a young transgender woman: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare T-cell lymphoma occurring after breast implant procedures. As gender confirmation therapy (GCT) in male-to-female transgender (FT), up to 60-70 % of patients require breast augmentation and are at risk for BIA-ALCL. Hence, we report the youngest BIA-ALCL case in the Italian population and the first early-stage BIA-ALCL occurred in FT patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-years-old FT was admitted to outpatients' clinics due to swollen left breast. The patient underwent GCT with a macrotextured implant four years before. Clinical examination revealed swollen left breast. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed left breast periprosthetic effusion. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan did not reveal any focal pathological uptake. Fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed BIA-ALCL suspect. The patient underwent bilateral en bloc breast implant removal and periprosthetic capsulectomy. Due to the early stage, adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted. Postoperative follow-up was unremarkable. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: BIA-ALCL is a rare, emergent clinical concern after breast implant surgery. GCT leads to improved body satisfaction and quality of life in FT individuals. As for non-trans patients undergoing breast reconstruction or breast augmentation, this clinical case once again demonstrates that FT patients undergoing breast implant surgery are at risk of BIA-ALCL. CONCLUSION: Physicians should promote awareness among patients' GCT and tailored postoperative follow-up.

Ligasure Hemorrhoidectomy: Updates on Complications After an 18-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoidal disease represents one of the most common anorectal disorders in the general population. Energy devices, such as LigaSureTM scalpel, have reshaped the concept of hemorrhoid surgery and in turn, have improved patient outcomes and simplified the work of surgeon. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate the outcomes of LigaSureTM hemorrhoidectomy (LH) analyzing main post-operative complications rate, length of stay, operating time, and time to return to work. METHODS: In this monocentric descriptive study, from June 2001 to February 2019, 1454 consecutive patients, treated with LH for grade III and IV hemorrhoids, were analyzed. Complications were classified in early, late, and long-term if they occurred within 1 month, between 1 and 2 months or after 2 months, respectively. RESULTS: 90.2% of patients were treated in day surgery regimen and the mean operating time was 14.3 minutes. The post-operative pain decreased from 3.7 mean VAS on the 1st postoperative day to 0.1 mean VAS on 30th post-operative day. Early complications rate was 2.1%: urinary retention accounted for 1.8% of patients. 0.3%-of patients experienced postoperative bleeding and only one required reoperation. Late complications rate was 5.8%: anal stenosis, incomplete healing, and anal fissure were detected in 3.6%, 1.2%, and 1% of patients, respectively. The long term complications rate was 5.3%: anal fistula, soiling, perianal abscess, and recurrence were identified in 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 4.8% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: LH is a safe and fast procedure with a proven minimal complication rate.

Ulcerated breast cancer with single brain metastasis: A combined surgical approach. Clinical presentation at one year follow up - A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in woman. Approximately 5-10% of breast cancer occurs as de novo stage IV and some studies have shown that from 10% to 30% of those patients presents Brain Metastasis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: In this study, we report a case of solitary brain metastasis of breast cancer in a 63-year-old Italian Caucasian woman with neurological symptoms as first clinical presentation. After the correct diagnosis and multidisciplinary meeting it was decided to simultaneously perform a metastasectomy surgery plus right mastectomy, right axillary dissection and immediate breast reconstruction. In our clinical practice we report a successful combined surgical approach in a stage IV de novo breast cancer patient with single site brain metastasis at one year follow-up. DISCUSSION: Metastasectomy plus mastectomy provided neurological control of acute complication of metastatic disease and complete breast cancer local control. One-time operation could be the best option when diagnosis of breast cancer is made thanks to the onset of oncological emergency like intracranial hypertension due to single brain metastasis. CONCLUSION: Combined surgical approach offers the opportunity to treat two different oncological urgencies, reducing the unnecessary repeated surgical and anesthesiologic trauma.

Breast Cancer and COVID-19: The Effect of Fear on Patients' Decision-making Process.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak is currently having a huge impact on medical resource allocation. Breast Cancer (BC) patients are concerned both with BC treatment and COVID-19. This study aimed to estimate the impact of anxiety among patients, caused by the spreading of COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between the 16th of January and the 20th of March 2020, we retrospectively enrolled 160 patients. Eighty-two patients with a suspected breast lesion (SBL) were divided into two groups: PRE-COVID-19-SBL and POST-COVID-19-SBL. Seventy-eight BC patients were divided into PRE-COVID-19-BC and POST-COVID-19-BC. Patient characteristics including age, marital status, SBL/BC diameter, personal and family history of BC, clinical stage and molecular subtype were recorded. Procedure Refusal (PR) and Surgical Refusal (SR) were also recorded with their reason. RESULTS: BC and SBL analysis showed no difference in pre-treatment characteristics (p>0.05). Both POST-COVID-19-SBL and POST-COVID-19-BC groups showed higher rates of PR and SR (p=0.0208, p=0.0065 respectively). Infection risk represented primary reason for refusal among POST-COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: COVID-19-related anxiety could affect patients' decision-making process.

Impact of Awake Breast Cancer Surgery on Postoperative Lymphocyte Responses.

BACKGROUND: Surgical stress and anesthesia affect the patient's immune system. Analysis of the lymphocyte response after breast-conserving surgery was conducted to investigate the differences between effects after general and local anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients with breast cancer were enrolled for BCS through local or general anesthesia. Total leukocytes, total lymphocytes, lymphocyte-subsets including CD3+, CD19+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+CD56+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio was examined at baseline and on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3. RESULTS: Baseline data showed no statistical difference between the two groups. Within-group ANOVA test showed significant differences for total leukocyte count (p<0.001), total lymphocyte count (p=0.009) and proportion of natural-killer cells (p=0.01) in the control group. Between-group analysis showed lower median values of total lymphocytes in the awake surgery group on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3 (p=0.001, p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively) when compared to the control group. Patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia had higher total lymphocyte counts on postoperative day 2 (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: In this randomized study, breast-conserving surgery plus local anesthesia had a lower impact on postoperative lymphocyte response when compared to the same procedure performed under general anesthesia.