Laparoscopic resection of a gastric schwannoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are a group spindle cell tumors which include gastrointestinal stromal tumors, leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas and schwannomas (Nishida and Hirota, 2000). Schwannomas generally present as a slow and asymptomatic growing mass in the gastrointestinal tract typically arising in the gastric submucosa accounting for up to 0.2% of gastric tumors (Melvin and Wilkinson, 1993; Sarlomo-Rikala M, Miettinen, 1995). TREATMENT: with negative surgical margin resection (as approached in this case) is considered the standard treatment. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 60-year-old woman was referred to our general surgery service for dyspepsia. During her evaluation a gastric mass was incidentally found on upper GI endoscopy which showed a submucosal exophytic neoplasm at the gastric antrum. The patient was discharged following an uneventful recovery from a successful surgical laparoscopic tumor resection. DISCUSSION: Schwannomas are benign neurogenic tumors that originate from Schwann cells. They commonly occur in the head and neck but are rare in the GI tract (Menno et al., 2010). The differential diagnosis between gastric schwannomas and GISTs can be difficult in the preoperative assessment. With the advent of immunohistochemical staining techniques it is now possible to make a differential diagnosis based on their distinctive immunophenotypes. Gastric schwannomas are consistently positive for S-100 protein and negative for c-kit; conversely, 95% of GISTs are positive for c-kit and negative for S-100 protein in up to 98 to 99% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Gastric schwannomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of any gastric submucosal mass. Negative margin resection as seen with this patient is the standard surgical treatment as there is low malignant transformation potential.

Management of the hemophilic pseudotumor of the abdomen: A rare pathological entity.

INTRODUCTION: Hemophilic pseudotumor is a rare complication that occurs in patients with severe hemophilia. Results from multiple episodes of bleeding into the bones and soft tissues. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 31 years old male patient, with severe hemophilia A. Diagnosed with an abdominal tumor 10 years ago during routine screening, that progressively grew to encompass the entire abdominal area, with symptoms of intestinal obstruction. DISCUSSION: Hemophilic pseudotumor appears as a painless tumor of slow growth that can compress vital organs producing bone destruction, muscle and skin necrosis. The tumor may have fistulas or break spontaneously. CONCLUSION: The abdominal hemophilic pseudotumor is a rare pathological entity, with few reports worldwide, but must be considered in hemophilic patients with a well documented abdominal tumor.

[Determination of the diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in patients with thyroid nodule and a definitive histopathological report]. / Determinación de la certeza diagnóstica de la gammagrafía tiroidea con tecnecio 99 sestamibi en pacientes con nódulo tiroideo y resultado histopatológico definitivo.

BACKGROUND: 99mTc sestamibi scanning and aspiration biopsy can predict the histopathological result of a thyroid nodule fairly accurately. OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in detecting malignancy in patients with thyroid nodule confirmed by definitive histopathological report after thyroidectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 69 patients with a solitary thyroid nodule were studied. In all patients, fine needle aspiration, total thyroidectomy for suspected thyroid cancer, and histological analysis of the surgical specimen were performed. There were 54 patients with a positive 99mTc sestamibi scan; of these, malignancy was confirmed by histological analysis in 25 and excluded in 29. There were 15 patients with a negative 99mTc sestamibi scan; of these, three had a final diagnosis of cancer and 12 were confirmed as cancer-free. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in detecting malignancy in thyroid nodules was determined through a statistical analysis. 99mTc sestamibi scan for thyroid cancer had a sensitivity of 89.28% and a specificity of 29.25%. The positive predictive value was 46.29% and the negative predictive value was 80%. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that 99mTc sestamibi scan should be routinely used in all patients with a thyroid nodule and an indeterminate result on fine needle aspiration. This procedure is most useful in excluding malignancy in patients with a negative 99mTc sestamibi scan.

Severe acute pancreatitis: surgical management in a third-level hospital.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis has a reported mortality of 10-30% in specialized hospitals, representing 20% of patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Indications for surgery are infected necrosis, necrosis persistent, fulminant pancreatitis or acute pancreatitis complications such as bleeding or intestinal perforation. METHODS: We studied patients diagnosed with pancreatitis from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007. RESULTS: We analyzed records of 82 patients, 63.4% were male and the most common etiology of pancreatitis was biliary in 63.4% of patients. Morbidity was 62.19%; 35.36% had pulmonary complications. In 15.85% of patients there was enterocutaneous fistula and 10.9% had bleeding. Mortality was 20.73%. In our hospital, all patients with severe acute pancreatitis are managed in the intensive care unit. Parenteral nutrition is only indicated in patients intolerant to oral feeding or with inability to place a nasojejunal tube. Use of antibiotics is based on carbapenem, and surgical indications are infected pancreatic necrosis, persistent sterile pancreatic necrosis, fulminant acute pancreatitis and abdominal hypertension, and complications such as intestinal perforation and bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that patients with severe acute pancreatitis are managed by a multidisciplinary team in an intensive care unit. The role of parenteral nutrition and antibiotics should be individualized.

Pancreatitis aguda grave, manejo quirúrgico en un hospital de tercer nivel / Severe acute pancreatitis: surgical management in a third-level hospital

Introducción: La pancreatitis aguda grave está asociada a una mortalidad de 10 a 30 % en centros hospitalarios especializados y representa 20 % de los diagnósticos de pancreatitis. Las indicaciones para tratamiento quirúrgico son necrosis infectada, necrosis persistente, pancreatitis fulminante o complicaciones agudas de la pancreatitis como hemorragia o perforación intestinal. Métodos: Estudio que incluyó pacientes intervenidos quirúrgicamente con el diagnóstico de pancreatitis aguda grave del 1 de enero de 2000 al 31 de diciembre de 2007. Resultados: Se analizaron los expedientes de 82 pacientes, 63.4 % fue del sexo masculino; la etiología más frecuente de pancreatitis fue la biliar, en 63.4 %. La morbilidad fue de 62.19 %; 35.36 % presentó complicaciones pulmonares, 15.85 % fístula enterocutánea y 10.9 % hemorragia. La mortalidad fue de 20.73 %. Todos los pacientes con pancreatitis aguda grave fueron tratados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos; la nutrición parenteral se indicó en pacientes con intolerancia a la vía oral e imposibilidad de colocar una sonda nasoyeyunal; como terapia antibiótica profiláctica se utilizó un carbapenémico. Las indicaciones quirúrgicas se limitaron a necrosis pancreática infectada, necrosis pancreática estéril persistente, pancreatitis aguda fulminante e hipertensión intraabdominal y complicaciones como perforación intestinal y sangrado. Conclusiones: En los pacientes con pancreatitis aguda grave se recomienda manejo por un equipo multidisciplinario en una unidad de cuidados intensivos; la nutrición parenteral y los antibióticos deben ser bien valorados y no utilizarlos en forma rutinaria, y una vez diagnosticada la pancreatitis grave su uso debe ser sistemático.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute pancreatitis has a reported mortality of 10-30% in specialized hospitals, representing 20% of patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Indications for surgery are infected necrosis, necrosis persistent, fulminant pancreatitis or acute pancreatitis complications such as bleeding or intestinal perforation. METHODS: We studied patients diagnosed with pancreatitis from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007. RESULTS: We analyzed records of 82 patients, 63.4% were male and the most common etiology of pancreatitis was biliary in 63.4% of patients. Morbidity was 62.19%; 35.36% had pulmonary complications. In 15.85% of patients there was enterocutaneous fistula and 10.9% had bleeding. Mortality was 20.73%. In our hospital, all patients with severe acute pancreatitis are managed in the intensive care unit. Parenteral nutrition is only indicated in patients intolerant to oral feeding or with inability to place a nasojejunal tube. Use of antibiotics is based on carbapenem, and surgical indications are infected pancreatic necrosis, persistent sterile pancreatic necrosis, fulminant acute pancreatitis and abdominal hypertension, and complications such as intestinal perforation and bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that patients with severe acute pancreatitis are managed by a multidisciplinary team in an intensive care unit. The role of parenteral nutrition and antibiotics should be individualized.

Determinación de la certeza diagnóstica de la gammagrafía tiroidea con tecnecio 99 sestamibi en pacientes con nódulo tiroideo y resultado histopatológico definitivo / Determination of the diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in patients with thyroid nodule and a definitive histopathological report

Antecedentes La gammagrafía con tecnecio 99 (Tc99) sestamibi y la biopsia por aspiración permiten predecir de forma relativamente segura el resultado histopatológico de un nódulo tiroideo. Objetivo Determinar la utilidad diagnóstica de la gammagrafía tiroidea con tecnecio 99 sestamibi para detección de malignidad en pacientes con nódulo tiroideo, confirmado por resultado histopatológico definitivo posterior a tiroidectomía. Material y métodos Se estudió un total de 69 pacientes con diagnóstico de nódulo tiroideo solitario que contaban con punción por aspiración con aguja fina y que fueron sometidos a tiroidectomía total ante sospecha de cáncer con análisis patológico posterior en todos. Cincuenta y cuatro pacientes con gammagrafía tiroidea positiva para malignidad; 25 pacientes con un histopatológico final de cáncer y 29 con un histopatológico negativo al mismo. Quince pacientes con gammagrafía tiroidea negativa para neoplasia tiroidea, con 3 presentando un diagnóstico de cáncer confirmado por patología y 12 confirmados con ausencia de malignidad. Resultados En el presente estudio se realizó un análisis estadístico para determinar la certeza diagnostica del Tc99 sestamibi para detectar malignidad en los nódulos tiroideos. El estudio con gammagrafía tiroidea con Tc99 sestamibi para cáncer de tiroides, tuvo una sensibilidad de 89,28%, con una especificidad de 29,25%. El Tc99 sestamibi mostró un valor predictor positivo de 46,29% y un valor predictor negativo de 80%.ConclusionesConsideramos que la práctica de la gammagrafía tiroidea con Tc99 sestamibi debe ser una técnica diagnóstica que se utilice de forma rutinaria en todo aquel paciente con un nódulo tiroideo que presente una punción aspiración con citología tiroidea indeterminada; siendo su mayor utilidad para descartar malignidad en aquellos que presentan captación baja en el estudio de medicina nuclear (AU)

Background 99m Tc sestamibi scanning and aspiration biopsy can predict the histopathological result of a thyroid nodule fairly accurately. Objective To determine the accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in detecting malignancy in patients with thyroid nodule confirmed by definitive histopathological report after thyroidectomy. Material and methods A total of 69 patients with a solitary thyroid nodule were studied. In all patients, fine needle aspiration, total thyroidectomy for suspected thyroid cancer, and histological analysis of the surgical specimen were performed. There were 54 patients with a positive 99mTc sestamibi scan; of these, malignancy was confirmed by histological analysis in 25 and excluded in 29. There were 15 patients with a negative 99mTc sestamibi scan; of these, three had a final diagnosis of cancer and 12 were confirmed as cancer-free. Results The diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in detecting malignancy in thyroid nodules was determined through a statistical analysis. 99mTc sestamibi scan for thyroid cancer had a sensitivity of 89.28% and a specificity of 29.25%. The positive predictive value was 46.29% and the negative predictive value was 80%.ConclusionsWe believe that 99mTc sestamibi scan should be routinely used in all patients with a thyroid nodule and an indeterminate result on fine needle aspiration. This procedure is most useful in excluding malignancy in patients with a negative 99mTc sestamibi scan (AU)