Meckel's diverticulum causing intestinal obstruction in the newborn

Misdiagnosis of scrotal and retroperitoneal lymphangioma in children

BACKGROUND

Scrotal and retroperitoneal lymphangioma (SRL) in children is relatively rare and its clinical symptoms are usually difficult to distinguish from other conditions such as hydrocele and incarcerated inguinal oblique hernia. This study aimed to explore the clinical diagnosis and treatment of abdominal scrotal lymphangioma in children, and thus, to increase our understandings of this disease in clinical practice.

METHOD

This study enrolled nine boys, aged 1-10, who were admitted to Shanghai Children's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 and who were finally confirmed with lymphangioma in the inguinal area. The clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of these children were analyzed retrospectively. The length of diagnostic process ranged from 3 weeks to 20 months. We also reviewed other cases of initially misdiagnosed cases of SRL in English publications from 2000 to 2022.

RESULTS

The nine cases were misdiagnosed as hydrocele, hematoma, or inguinal hernia. Three patients received intracystic injection of bleomycin, three underwent laparoscopic mass resection, and three underwent resection of the inguinal lymphangioma under direct vision. Postoperative pathological analysis of the surgical specimens confirmed the diagnosis of benign cystic lesions and lymphangioma. Meanwhile, among the 14 cases of SRL in literature review, eight were misdiagnosed. Six were initially diagnosed as hydrocele, one as inguinal oblique hernia, and one as testicular tumor, all of which underwent ultrasonography scans. All cases were confirmed as lymphangioma after pathological examination.

CONCLUSION

The non-specific clinical manifestations may contribute to the misdiagnosis of scrotal masses in children. A detailed and accurate medical history, careful physical examination, and imaging findings are important factors contributing to the preoperative differential diagnosis of scrotal lumps in children, but the final diagnosis is based on pathological examination.

Rare cause of complicated Meckel's with Schistosoma infection: An unusual cause of acute intestinal obstruction in adults

INTRODUCTION

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common surgical condition, while Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, for which differential diagnosis is considered among children. Intestinal parasitosis refers to a group of disease caused by one or more species of protozoa, cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes. Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) caused by pathogenic helminths and protozoan species are endemic throughout the world. The intestine is frequently involved during Schistosoma infection, especially with Schistosoma mansoni.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 41 years old Egyptian male with an unremarkable past medical or surgical history presented to the emergency department with two days history of abdominal pain associated with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention. The pain was colicky and started gradually without any bowel motion or flatus for two days. Patient had tachycardia with other vitals within the normal limit. The abdomen was found to be distended and tender all over with an empty rectum by digital rectal examination (DRE). Upright chest and abdominal X-rays showed multiple air fluid levels. CT abdomen showed dilated proximal small bowel loop and a picture of SBO at distal ileal loops. The patient was resuscitated with IV fluids and shifted to the operating room. Laparoscopic exploration showed dilated small bowel loops with collapsed distal ileum, and an inflammatory band was found 20 cm from ileocecal junction, originating from a small bowel diverticulum. The inflammatory band was released, and the diverticulum was resected at the base by gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA). Postoperatively, the patient significantly improved, passed bowel motion and was discharged for home. The histopathology report showed MD with Schistosoma infection. The patient was then referred to the infectious disease department and praziquantel, a drug of choice for schistosomiasis, effective against all Schistosoma species was initiated.

DISCUSSION

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is transmitted through contact with contaminated water sources. Our patient had complete SBO with significant symptoms. He was treated with the surgical approach with diverticulum resection. Intestinal schistosomiasis was found on histopathology testing. In summary, we report a rare presentation of acute small bowel obstruction with an inflammatory band around MD harboring parasitic infection.

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic laparoscopy should be considered for all patients having virgin abdomen presenting with complete bowel obstruction. To the best of our knowledge from the literature review, this is the first case to be reported as acute SBO secondary to MD harbouring Schistosoma mansoni infection.

[Complications of Meckel's diverticulum in children: about 18 cases]

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a remnant of omphalomesenteric channel. It is often asymptomatic but it can be responsible for various clinical complications and variable clinical status especially in children. We conducted a retrospective study on complications of MD among children hospitalized in the division of Paediatric Surgery at the University Hospital Hassan II, Fez, Morocco. The study aimed to describe the clinical, radiological and therapeutic features of MD. The study was conducted over a period of 10 years (January 2009 - December 2018) and involved 18 children (15 boys and 3 girls) aged 1 day - 15 years (with an average age of 5 years) who had undergone surgery for complications of MD. Acute intussusception and intestinal occlusion were the most frequent complications. Other complications included: infection of the MD (1 case) and digestive hemorrhage (2 cases). Two rare types of neonatal Meckel's diverticulum were described (neonatal occlusion and fistula associated with omphalocele). In no case, abdominal X-ray without treatment, ultrasound and CT scan showed MD. Scintigraphy was performed in 2 patients with hematochezia and it helped to make the diagnosis of MD in one case. Three patients underwent laparoscopic surgery with resection of the MD and intestinal anastomosis with laparoscopy. The other patients underwent laparotomy. Ileostomy was performed in one case, followed by secondary recovery. Patient's outcome was good, except for one case of anastomotic leakage. Anatomopathological examination showed two cases of heterotopia.