The Value of Preoperative Lesion Dedicated Ultrasound of Breast Cancer before Conserving Surgery for Optimizing Margins.

To investigate the effect of US performed immediately before breast conserving surgery (BCS) by radiologist accompanied by the surgeon. All patients scheduled for BCS in the last year (group 1, n = 46) were evaluated with US immediately before surgery. About 108 patients (group 2) who were treated with BCS before the study were included as the control group. Tumor size and localization, the distances between tumor-skin and tumor-pectoralis muscle fascia were noted. Re-excision rate due to positive margins was significantly lower in group 1. Statistically significant difference was detected in re-excision rates for nonpalpable tumors. Preoperative US is an effective and practical method.

Effect of LigaSure™, Monopolar Cautery, and Bipolar Cautery on Surgical Margins in Breast-Conserving Surgery.

BACKGROUND: We compared the differences in thermal damage at the surgical margin between monopolar cautery, bipolar cautery, and LigaSure™ in breast cancer lumpectomy specimens and assessed the effect of these techniques on the evaluation of the surgical margins. METHODS: 30 patients scheduled for breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer were included in this study. During lumpectomy, each of the superior, inferior, lateral, and medial borders of the tumour was excised using one of the following: a scalpel, monopolar cautery, bipolar cautery, and LigaSure technology. The surgical margins of frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the lumpectomy specimen were evaluated. Thermal damage was defined as the maximum depth of thermal damage (in mm) from the surgical margin, and the level was categorized as none, low (≤1 mm), or high (>1 mm). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between monopolar cautery, bipolar cautery, and LigaSure in terms of thermal damage. There was no thermal damage at the surgical margin in tissues dissected by scalpel. CONCLUSION: Thermal damage due to the excision method may cause false-negative and false-positive results in the surgical margin evaluation of lumpectomy specimens. More research is needed on the effects of different energy modalities on surgical margin evaluation in breast-conserving surgery.

The value of fine needle aspiration and cytologic examination of impalpable complicated breast cysts.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of fine needle aspiration--FNA and cytologic analysis of impalpable complicated breast cysts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We rewieved the imaging findings, aspiration, cytology and biopsy results and followup imaging findings of 246 complicated cysts in 166 women retrospectively. RESULTS: FNA was performed in 169 out of the 246 complicated cysts. Thirtyone lesions were followed-up with US. Surgical biopsy was performed from five lesions. No malignant cells (137 cysts), insufficient cellular material (17 cysts), atypical cells (4 cysts) were seen in cytological examination of the aspirates. None of these lesions were found to represent malignancy at the time of surgical excision and during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Impalpable complicated breast cysts may be classified as probably benign and can be managed with follow-up imaging studies instead of intervention. Routine cytologic examination is unnecessary if the fluid is not bloody (Tab. 2, Ref. 18). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Diagnostic dilemma of sudden deaths due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

Sudden death due to acute pancreatitis has been rarely determined. A review of 3305 autopsies performed between 1991 and 2001 at the Council of Forensic Medicine found 12 cases (0.36%) with sudden death due to acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis without symptoms. A history of chronic alcohol ingestion was obtained from family in four cases (33%), and no stones were found in the bile ducts or in the gall bladders. During the autopsies, hemorrhage and edema were localized on the head of the pancreas in three cases and the whole pancreas in nine cases. The most common extrapancreatic pathology was found in the lung including pulmonary edema, alveolar hemorrhage, pleural effusion, and pulmonary congestion. There was no correlation between pulmonary and pancreatic damage. It is suggested that the forensic pathologists who are dealing with sudden unexpected death must not ignore the examination of pancreatic and extrapancreatic regions to avoid missing acute pancreatitis.

[Paraduodenal internal hernias: clinical analysis of two cases]. / Paraduodenal internal herniler: Iki olgu nedeniyle klinik analiz.

Paraduodenal hernias, or so called "congenital intraperitoneal hernias"are rare cause intestinal obstruction. These hernias are caused by variations in intestinal rotation and the patients present with symptoms ranging from intermittent abdominal pain to acute obstruction. We report two cases of obstructive paraduodenal hernias which are at left and right each and review of its clinical features and surgical management.

A rare case of Spigelian hernia combined with direct and indirect inguinal hernias.

Spigelian hernia is a rare type of ventral hernias with nonspecific symptoms and signs. Therefore, its diagnosis is often difficult and requires more clinical attention. Although intermittent abdominal swelling and pain are the main symptoms, Spigelian hernias can be sometimes asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally at the operation. In some cases, these hernias can be associated with other abdominal wall hernias, therefore a detailed physical examination of the patients is necessary to avoid mistakes in diagnosis. Herein, we report an interesting and educational case of Spigelian hernia with accompanying ipsilateral both direct and indirect inguinal hernias in a male patient treated by open surgical repair with use of polypropylene mesh.

Evaluation of surgical malpractice in Turkey.

The aim of this retrospective study was to differentiate complications from malpractices in surgical cases and to help specialists who work as court experts in malpractice litigations. We reviewed 366 malpractice cases notified to The Higher Health Council by Criminal Courts between 1995 and 2000. Of these, 93 had General surgical malpractice cases. The data showed that a large proportion of malpractice litigations against surgeons resulted from deviations of the surgeons from their own field of study. The surgeons did not obtain informed consent from patients in the majority of the cases. The rate of autopsy in deaths from malpractices was 79.6%. Fifty percent of malpractice litigations were groundless. It can be suggested that incessant exposure to criticisms and complaints may make innocent surgeons less willing to take risks for patients.

Acquired Lymphangiectasia of the Breast After Breast Conserving Surgery.

Lymphangiectasia is characterized by vesicular dilation of lymphatic vessels and is generally a complication of radiotherapy or surgery of various malignant tumors such as breast and cervical cancers. Although it is not a precancerous disease, correct diagnosis is important to rule out Stewart-Treves syndrome which is defined as lymphangiosarcoma that develops in long-standing chronic postmastectomy lymphedema. Observation alone or many therapeutic options including cryosurgery, electrocauterization, sclerotherapy, and excision have been widely used in the management. Herein, a case of breast lymphangiectasia was presented as a late and rare complication of breast cancer-related therapies.

Docetaxel-induced Scleroderma in A Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report.

Paclitaxel and docetaxel are antineoplastic drugs derived from the yew tree, Taxus brevifolia. They are the members of the taxane family and act by inhibiting mitotic activity due to the suppression of microtubule depolymerization. They are used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, small cell lung cancer, and head and neck cancer. In addition to side effects such as cardiotoxicity, neutropenia, arthralgia, and myalgia, they may also cause alopecia, urticaria, mucositis, acral erythema, pustular dermatitis, erythema multiforme, and scleroderma-like mucocutaneous lesions. Scleroderma is among the uncommon side effects of taxane antineoplastic agents. As was the case in few cases in literature, it usually begins with edematous changes in the proximal aspect of the extremities, and subsequently, sclerosis is developed in the skin. Scleroderma, which usually regresses with the discontinuation of the drug and with steroid therapy, may lead to severe contractions that require physical therapy and rehabilitation in some patients. In this paper, we presented a 60-year-old female patient in whom scleroderma developed because docetaxel chemotherapy for breast cancer because it is encountered rarely.

Complication rates after operations for benign thyroid disease.

Controversy persists concerning the use of total thyroidectomy in benign thyroid disease and varying complication rates have been reported. We evaluated the safety of total thyroidectomy or lobectomy in benign thyroid disease. During a 5-year period, 102 patients were operated on for benign thyroid disease, including multinodular goiter (n = 55), solitary nodule (n = 18), toxic nodular goiter (n = 22) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (n = 7). Recurrent laryngeal nerves were routinely investigated during dissection. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 27 cases, unilateral total lobectomy with isthmectomy in 38 and unilateral total, contralateral subtotal lobectomy in 37. One (0.9%) temporary superior laryngeal nerve palsy, 1 (0.9%) temporary recurrent nerve palsy and 1 (0.9%) temporary hypoparathyroidism occurred. Wound seroma developed in 2 patients (1.9%). There were no deaths or permanent complications. This study shows that total thyroidectomy or lobectomy can be done with minimal morbidity in cases of benign thyroid disease affecting the whole gland.

Recurrent Incisional Hernia due to Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare but challenging neoplastic disease which is characterized with intraperitoneal mucinous-gelatinous fluid accumulation. It rarely presents as a mass mimicking abdominal wall hernias A recurrent incisional hernia due to pseudomyxoma peritonei is presented here. A 60-year-old female patient had been operated on for a left mucinous ovarian cyst 20 cm in diameter in 1998. Mucinous material had disseminated into interloop spaces through the right subdiaphragmatic region. Total abdominal hysterectomy + bilateral salpingooophorectomy and peritoneal toilet had been performed. She was rehospitalized for abdominal distention and a 4 cm defect over the incision and underwent a hernia repair using polypropylene mesh in 2001. Abdominal distention recurred to give a rise to an incisional hernia in 2006. She was reoperated for decompression and repair, but nothing could be done because of sticky adhesions and the incision were simply closed. The patient was referred to our department for operation. A prosthetic hernia repair with 30 × 30 cm polypropylene mesh was performed. The patient was discharged on the postoperative 5th day following an uneventful recovery. However, she died of disseminated disease after 18 months.

Extensive hepatic-portal and mesenteric venous gas due to sigmoid diverticulitis.

Hepatic portal venous gas is most often associated with extensive bowel necrosis due to mesenteric infarction. Mortality exceeds 75% with this condition. The most common precipitating factors include ischemia, intra-abdominal abscesses and inflammatory bowel disease. In this report, we present a 75-year-old woman with extensive hepatic portal and mesenteric venous gas due to colonic diverticulitis. She had a 10-year history of type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She was treated by sigmoid resection and Hartmann's procedure and discharged from the hospital without any complications.

Effect of vitamin A on the CD44 expression in the small intestine of rats with obstructive jaundice.

HYPOTHESIS: In this study, the influence of obstructive jaundice on the CD44 expression in the rat small intestine and the alterations of this CD44 expression by vitamin A given intraperitoneally (200 IU/g/day) are evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective animal model study, 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: group A rats (n = 8) underwent sham operation and were given daily saline intraperitoneally for 2 weeks (sham + saline); group B animals (n = 8) underwent sham operation and were given daily vitamin A intraperitoneally for 2 weeks (sham + vitamin A); group C rats (n = 8) underwent common bile duct ligation and were given daily saline intraperitoneally for 2 weeks (obstructive jaundice + saline), and group D animals (n = 8) underwent common bile duct ligation and were given daily vitamin A intraperitoneally for 2 weeks (obstructive jaundice + vitamin A). After 2 weeks, standardized jejunum and ileum segments were harvested from all animals. The expression of CD44 on the cell surface was evaluated immunohistochemically. Comparisons among the four groups were done. RESULTS: The plasma bilirubin, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phospatase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels in groups C and D (obstructive jaundice groups) were higher than those in groups A and B (sham groups; p < 0.05). There was no difference between groups A and B (sham groups) with regard to the number of cells expressing surface CD44 in jejunum and ileum. When groups A and B were compared with group C (obstructive jaundice + saline) animals, the number of cells expressing surface CD44 was significantly decreased in both jejunum and ileum in group C. The difference between sham groups (A and B) and group C was found to be significant (p < 0.05). When group D (obstructive jaundice + vitamin A) was compared with group C (obstructive jaundice + saline), the number of cells expressing surface CD44 was significantly increased in jejunum and ileum in group D animals (p < 0.05), higher than in the sham groups (A and B). The difference between group D and sham groups (A and B) was found to be significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obstructive jaundice for 2 weeks significantly decreased the CD44 expression in the rat small intestine. We found that daily intraperitoneal administration of vitamin A in rats with obstructive jaundice for 2 weeks significantly restored the impaired CD44 expression.

The effect of purified micronized flavonoid fraction on the healing of anastomoses in the colon in rats.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic leakage of colonic and rectal anastomoses is a major complication after large intestine surgery. Many factors influence the healing of colon anastomoses. Flavonoids have been recognized for centuries as physiologically active constituents that are used to treat human diseases. We studied the effects of a clinically used, micronized, purified flavonoid fraction on the healing of colonic anastomosis in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The flavonoid group of rats received 100 mg/kg per day of Daflon for 14 days until surgery. Thereafter, a resection and anastomosis were performed. The bursting pressure of the anastomoses and the hydroxyproline levels of the perianastomotic tissue were determined to evaluate the healing on the third and seventh days of surgery for both flavonoid and control groups. RESULTS: The bursting pressure of the flavonoid group was higher on the seventh day. The hydroxyproline levels of the flavonoid group were significantly higher than in the control group on both the third and seventh days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the micronized purified flavonoid fraction has some inhibitory properties on the healing of the anastomosis, its net effect was to obtain a better anastomotic healing of the colon in rats.

Breast abscesses in lactating women.

We designed a prospective study to assess the contributing factors in puerperal breast abscess and to evaluate the treatment options. During the 4-year study period, 128 nursing women with breast infection were followed. Of these, 102 had mastitis (80%) and 26 had breast abscess (20%). Ultrasonographic examination was performed in all cases. Patient age, parity, localization of infection, cracked nipples, duration of lactation, duration of symptoms, milk culture results, breast infections during previous lactation period, treatment options, healing time, and recurrence were recorded prospectively. All mastitis patients were treated with antibiotics and none developed an abscess. Ten abscesses were aspirated, and 16 abscesses were treated by incision and drainage. Healing times were similar. There was no significant difference between mastitis and abscess groups regarding age, parity, localization of breast infection, cracked nipples, positive milk cultures, or mean lactation time. Duration of symptoms and healing were longer in cases of abscess. Multivariate analyses showed that duration of symptoms was the only independent variable for abscess development. Recurrent mastitis developed in 13 patients (10.2%) within a median of 24 weeks of follow-up. Delayed treatment of mastitis can lead to abscess formation, and it can be prevented by early antibiotic therapy. Ultrasonography is helpful for detecting abscess formation. In selected cases the abscess can be drained with needle aspiration with excellent cosmesis.

Local anesthesia use for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and timing of local anesthesia during laparoscopic surgery in terms of postoperative pain, nausea, and the need for opioids and antiemetics. This prospective study was carried out on 142 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Peroperative local anesthesia was not administered to 53 patients (group A). The skin, subcutis, fascia, and parietal peritoneum were infiltrated with 0.5% bupivacaine HCl at trocar sites before trocar insertion in 46 patients (group B). Local anesthesia was given to 43 patients in equal doses at the same sites and the same manner at the end of surgery (group C). The higher requirement for analgesics in group A patients was statistically significant when compared with that in group B and C patients. The mean doses of analgesics postoperatively were significantly higher in group B than in group C. The time delay to the first antiemetics was significantly shorter in group A than in group C. Applying local anesthesia to the skin, subcutis, fascia, and parietal peritoneum through trocar sites reduces the postoperative analgesic requirement and pain intensity. This approach is more effective when applied at the end of an operation than at the start.