Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and intraoperative radiation therapy in the management of gallbladder cancer: a case report

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy, often characterized by nonspecific clinical presentations and late diagnosis, which contribute to its poor prognosis. It is commonly detected at advanced stages, leading to low survival rates. Surgical resection is the primary treatment, with the extent of surgery depending on the T stage of the cancer. In advanced cases, surgery is only considered if it can potentially be curative. Despite various treatment approaches for advanced GBC, survival outcomes remain poor. In our case series, we introduce a novel treatment approach combining cytoreductive surgery, intraoperative radiation therapy, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Remarkably, we observed a 100% one-year survival rate, with one patient achieving eight years of disease-free survival without recurrence or metastasis. This aggressive treatment strategy did not lead to increased morbidity or mortality, suggesting its safety and feasibility. However, larger-scale studies are required to draw definitive conclusions.

Ancient schwannoma in the right iliac fossa: A case report and review of literature

Ancient schwannomas are a rare variation of schwannomas, with the distinction being based on histopathological examination of the excised specimen. On histopathological examination, ancient schwannomas exhibit degenerative changes such as calcification, hyalinization, and cystic necrosis, along with S100 positivity. Complete surgical excision is the mainstay treatment for ancient schwannomas and carries a favorable prognosis. Recurrence is the most common complication, often arising from incomplete surgical excision. Herein, we present a case of a 41-year-old male who presented to our center as a case of a retroperitoneal mass for further investigations and diagnostic workup. Imaging showed a retroperitoneal mass in the right iliac fossa. We proceeded with ultrasound guided needle biopsy, and examination of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of ancient schwannoma. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgery, and complete surgical excision was achieved. On follow-up 3-months later, the patient is doing well, and no signs of recurrence were found.

A 51-Year-Old Woman with Advanced Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Stage 3b Chronic Kidney Disease Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Bidirectional Intraperitoneal Cisplatin and Ifosfamide Chemotherapy: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Malignant mesotheliomas are rare, yet highly malignant tumors. Mesotheliomas are tumors that develop from mesothelial surfaces, with the pleura being the most common, followed by the peritoneum. The diagnosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is usually established when the disease is advanced, owing to the nonspecific clinical appearance and abdominal symptoms. Initially, MPM was treated with palliative systemic chemotherapy, with or without palliative surgery. However, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with bidirectional intraoperative chemotherapy (BDIC) has recently emerged as a treatment option for MPM. BDIC creates a bidirectional chemotherapy gradient in the peritoneal tumor cells through the simultaneous use of intraperitoneal and intravenous chemotherapy. CRS, combined with BDIC (CRS-BDIC), allows the complete elimination of residual tiny tumor cells after complete removal of the visible tumor nodules. CASE REPORT Herein, we present a case of a 51-year-old woman with MPM and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3b. Her treatment consisted of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy, followed by CRS-BDIC using intraperitoneal cisplatin and doxorubicin, and intravenous ifosfamide. The surgery was successful, with no immediate complications or decline in the patient's kidney function. On follow up 2 months later, the patient denies suffering any chemotherapy-related adverse effects, and her kidney profile remains stable. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, nephrotoxicity, a known adverse effect of cisplatin and ifosfamide, might not be a contraindication for the use of these potentially nephrotoxic drugs in CRS-BDIC in patients with renal impairment.