A peculiar case of intususception in a pregnant woman: A diagnostic challenge

Adult intussusception presents a diagnostic challenge given its non-specific symptoms. It is not as common as in infants and young children. Traditionally, diagnostic steps are invariably fit for normal adults, but not in pregnancy which faces certain limitations. A 40-year-old pregnant mother, gravida 9 para 8 at 34-week gestation, complained of intermittent epigastric pain for 2 days, requiring hospitalization. She soon developed minimal per rectal bleeding that was ruled out as hemorrhoid. Imaging was limited due to her pregnancy status. She later developed spontaneous delivery to a premature baby. Computed tomography (CT) revealed an ileocolic intussusception, which was confirmed via exploratory laparotomy. Histology was consistent with inflammatory fibroid polyp. Acute abdomen in pregnancy can be due to various causes, thus a high index of suspicion and early CT abdomen might help in early diagnosis and treatment. The benefit of doing CT on the mother and the risk of CT on the fetus is to be weighed as the timely diagnosis can prevent bowel ischemia and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Surgery remains the definite management in adult intussusception and an exact diagnosis can be made during the operation.

The ChoCO-W prospective observational global study: Does COVID-19 increase gangrenous cholecystitis?

BACKGROUND

The incidence of the highly morbid and potentially lethal gangrenous cholecystitis was reportedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the ChoCO-W study was to compare the clinical findings and outcomes of acute cholecystitis in patients who had COVID-19 disease with those who did not.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected over 6 months (October 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021) with 1-month follow-up. In October 2020, Delta variant of SARS CoV-2 was isolated for the first time. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed and reported according to the STROBE guidelines. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who had COVID-19 were compared with those who did not.

RESULTS

A total of 2893 patients, from 42 countries, 218 centers, involved, with a median age of 61.3 (SD: 17.39) years were prospectively enrolled in this study; 1481 (51%) patients were males. One hundred and eighty (6.9%) patients were COVID-19 positive, while 2412 (93.1%) were negative. Concomitant preexisting diseases including cardiovascular diseases (p < 0.0001), diabetes (p < 0.0001), and severe chronic obstructive airway disease (p = 0.005) were significantly more frequent in the COVID-19 group. Markers of sepsis severity including ARDS (p < 0.0001), PIPAS score (p < 0.0001), WSES sepsis score (p < 0.0001), qSOFA (p < 0.0001), and Tokyo classification of severity of acute cholecystitis (p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group. The COVID-19 group had significantly higher postoperative complications (32.2% compared with 11.7%, p < 0.0001), longer mean hospital stay (13.21 compared with 6.51 days, p < 0.0001), and mortality rate (13.4% compared with 1.7%, p < 0.0001). The incidence of gangrenous cholecystitis was doubled in the COVID-19 group (40.7% compared with 22.3%). The mean wall thickness of the gallbladder was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group [6.32 (SD: 2.44) mm compared with 5.4 (SD: 3.45) mm; p < 0.0001].

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of gangrenous cholecystitis is higher in COVID patients compared with non-COVID patients admitted to the emergency department with acute cholecystitis. Gangrenous cholecystitis in COVID patients is associated with high-grade Clavien-Dindo postoperative complications, longer hospital stay and higher mortality rate. The open cholecystectomy rate is higher in COVID compared with non -COVID patients. It is recommended to delay the surgical treatment in COVID patients, when it is possible, to decrease morbidity and mortality rates. COVID-19 infection and gangrenous cholecystistis are not absolute contraindications to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in a case by case evaluation, in expert hands.

SARS-CoV-2-induced liver injury: A review article on the high-risk populations, manifestations, mechanisms, pathological changes, management, and outcomes

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 is an infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was declared a global pandemic with more than 500 million reported cases and more than 6 million deaths worldwide to date. Although it has transitioned into the endemic phase in many countries, the mortality rate and overall prognosis of the disease are still abysmal and need further improvement. There has been evidence that shows the significance of SARS-CoV-2-related liver injury. Here, we review the literature on the various spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced liver injury and the possible mechanisms of damage to the hepatobiliary system. This review aimed to illustrate the latest understanding regarding SARS-CoV-2-induced liver injury including the high-risk populations, the characteristic clinical manifestations, the possible pathogenic mechanism, the pathological changes, the current suggestions for clinical treatment for various spectrum of populations, and the prognosis of the condition. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 patients with a liver injury warrant close monitoring as it is associated with the more severe and poorer outcome of the infection.

Pneumaturia and faecaluria: Symptoms leading to a life-saving diagnosis

Background

Colonic diverticulosis is often asymptomatic, but it can complicate bleeding, abscess and stricture. Pneumaturia and faecaluria are unexpected manifestations of colonic diverticulitis complicated by colovesical fistula formation.

Case presentation

This case report highlighted a 57-year-old man who presented with lower abdominal pain which was associated with pneumaturia and fecaluria. He was diagnosed with colovesical fistula after being misdiagnosed with other diseases from various clinic visits. Direct fluoroscopy was performed and a diverticular fistula of the sigmoid colon was confirmed by computed tomography of the abdomen. Hartmann's procedure and resection of the posterior wall of the bladder were resected.

Conclusion

Pneumaturia and faecaluria are common but distinct manifestations of complicated diverticular diseases. Attention should be paid to general practitioners to achieve proper referral, hence early treatment and prevention of disease-related complications.

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Colonic diverticulosis can be complicated by bleeding and stricture including fistula formation.

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Pneumaturia and faecaluria are unexpected manifestations of colovesical fistula.

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General practitioners should be aware of pneumaturia and faecaluria to reduce diverticulitis-related morbidity.

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC).

FINDINGS

In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683-0·717]).

INTERPRETATION

In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required.

FUNDING

British Journal of Surgery Society.

Surgery for deep infiltrating rectal endometriosis-Selecting the right approach

Endometriosis involving the bowel is a form of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The endometriotic lesions can infiltrate the bowel layers mimicking a malignancy. The majority of bowel involvement happens in the colon and rectum. We report our experience in surgically managing rectal endometriosis in two patients, one via a conservative approach and the other with a more radical approach and their associated short-term and long-term outcomes are observed. In principle, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in managing rectal DIE with adjuvant hormonal therapy. The selection of surgical approach should be based on disease factors such as the size of the lesions and extent of the disease, patient factors including fitness for surgery and expectations as well as logistics and resource limitations.

Primary prostatic signet ring cell carcinoma in elderly with obstructive uropathy: a case report

Background

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the prostate is a rare and aggressive subtype of prostate adenocarcinoma with a poor prognosis, with only approximately 60 cases reported worldwide.

Case presentation

A 62-year-old man presented with acute urinary retention and hematuria, after a year’s history of lower urinary tract symptoms. Digital rectal examination revealed an irregular and hard prostate. Flexible cystoscopy showed bladder base infiltration by the enlarged prostate obscuring both ureteric orifices, necessitating nephrostomy and subsequent bilateral antegrade stenting to relieve the obstruction and improve his renal function. Transrectal ultrasonography biopsy of the prostate was performed revealing histological features of SRCC. Due to its rarity, there is currently no standardized treatment approach and it is often similarly treated according to the traditional management of prostate adenocarcinoma.

Conclusions

SRCC of the prostate is a rare and aggressive subtype of acinar adenocarcinoma with no established guidelines. Histological criteria for SRCC of the prostate are highly variable in the available literature. It is important to differentiate between the primary and metastatic SRCC of the prostate as both are managed differently. However, the overall prognosis remains poor in general.

Different domains of dengue research in the Philippines: A systematic review and meta-analysis of questionnaire-based studies

Background

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease of humans worldwide, including southeast Asia region. This review provides a comprehensive overview of questionnaire-related dengue studies conducted in the Philippines and evaluates their reliability and validity in these surveys.

Methods

A review protocol constructed by a panel of experienced academic reviewers was used to formulate the methodology, research design, search strategy and selection criteria. An extensive literature search was conducted between March–June 2020 in various major electronic biomedical databases including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and ScienceDirect. A systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) were selected as the preferred item reporting method.

Results

Out of a total of 34 peer-reviewed dengue-related KAP studies that were identified, 15 published from 2000 to April 2020 met the inclusion criteria. Based on the meta-analysis, a poor mean score was obtained for each of knowledge (68.89), attitude (49.86) and preventive practice (64.69). Most respondents were equipped with a good knowledge of the major clinical signs of dengue. Worryingly, 95% of respondents showed several negative attitudes towards dengue prevention, claiming that this was not possible and that enacting preventive practices was not their responsibility. Interestingly, television or radio was claimed as the main source of gaining dengue information (range 50–95%). Lastly, only five articles (33.3%) piloted or pretested their questionnaire before surveying, of which three reported Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (range 0.70 to 0.90).

Conclusion

This review indicates that to combat the growing public health threat of dengue to the Philippines, we need the active participation of resident communities, full engagement of healthcare personnel, promotion of awareness campaigns, and access to safe complementary and alternative medicines. Importantly, the psychometric properties of each questionnaire should be assessed rigorously.

Case report: A giant hemorrhagic adrenocortical carcinoma causing cardiorespiratory embarrassment

Background

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare aggressive tumor that can be hormone or non-hormone secreting. It is usually associated with fatal outcomes due to its physiological hormonal interaction. We report a successful anaesthetic and surgical management for a patient who presented to us with a huge hemorrhagic ACC which was complicated with acute respiratory failure.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old lady presented to us with progressive abdominal distension and right hypochondriac pain for two months. She was anemic with elevated liver enzymes. Urgent computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis showed a huge right supra renal mass. She subsequently developed respiratory failure due to splinting of diaphragm, of which successfully underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy. Subsequent endocrine and histopathological work up showed an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).

Discussion

Suprarenal masses usually originate from the adrenal glands. They should be investigated to rule out phaeochromocytoma, which originate from the inner adrenal medulla or outer cortex to form ACC. The latter usually occur in women and of poor prognosis. Huge ACC may cause acute respiratory failure by way of splinting of diaphragm. Both anaesthetic and surgical teams should be well trained in handling patients who undergo adrenal surgeries.

Conclusion

A giant hemorrhagic functional ACC is extremely uncommon with very poor prognosis. Such conditions should be investigated to rule out phaeochromocytoma. Its potential neuro-hormonal interactions and anatomical correlations can cause fatal perioperative cardio-respiratory embarrassment. The anaesthetic and surgical teams should be capable in managing the hemodynamic instabilities that may present during surgical manipulation and resection of a large ACC.

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A gigantic hemorrhagic functional ACC is extremely uncommon with very poor outcome.

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Patients with a huge suprarenal mass should be thoroughly investigated to rule out phaeochromocytoma.

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The anaesthetic team should be capable in managing the hemodynamic instabilities that may present during resection of a large ACC.

Gastric duplication cyst with a red flag presentation: a case report

Gastric duplication cyst (GDC) is a rare congenital malformation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Despite being benign in the entity, its complications vary from an asymptomatic abdominal mass to fulminant or massive GI bleeding. A 28-year-old lady presented with unexplained GI haemorrhage, in which the upper endoscopy showed a classic feature of GI stromal tumour. The preoperative diagnosis was also confirmed by the computed tomography. She subsequently underwent surgical resection and the final histopathology was consistent with a benign entity of GDC.

Development and validation of a structured survey questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, preventive practice, and treatment-seeking behaviour regarding dengue among the resident population of Sabah, Malaysia: an exploratory factor analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported a significant association of knowledge, attitude and preventive practice (KAP) regarding dengue infection among community's resident in endemic areas. In this study we aimed to assess and develop a reliable and valid KAP survey on the subject of dengue that is suitable for the resident population of Sabah, Malaysia.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to February 2020 involving 468 respondents. Information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants (six items), their KAP (44, 15 and 18 items on knowledge, attitude and practice, respectively) and treatment-seeking behaviour (five items) towards dengue was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and R software in the R Studio environment. The knowledge section was analysed by two-parameter logistic item response theory (2-PL IRT) using ltm package. The construct validity and reliability of items for sections on attitude, practice and treatment-seeking behaviour were analysed using psy package.

RESULTS

For the knowledge section, only 70.5% (31/44) of items were within or close to the parameter acceptable range of -3 to + 3 of difficulty. In terms of discrimination, 65.9% (29/44) of items were within or close to the acceptable range of 0.35 to 2.5, and 24 items (54.5%) failed to fit the 2-PL IRT model (P < 0.05) after assessing by goodness-of-fit analysis. Only eight items were reliable and retained in the attitude section with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test value of > 0.7, while based on the communalities, 11 items in the attitude section were excluded due to very low h2, factor loading values and low correlation with the total (< 0.5). The practice section was found suitable for factor analysis because the KMO value was > 0.7. The communalities of the practice section showed that seven items had low h2 values (< 0.3), which were therefore excluded from further analysis, and only 11 items were retained.

CONCLUSIONS

The KAP items retained in the final version of the survey were reliable and valid to be use as a questionnaire reference when conducting future similar studies among the population of Sabah.

The challenges and risk of laboratory handling on a histology specimen during COVID-19 pandemic

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taken the world into turmoil by surprise. The rapid spreading of this virus has led to an exponential increase in the number of cases. It has created a public health disaster, causing a collapse of the health system in every part of the world. Many sectors in the health area are affected, including histopathology services. The challenges and risk of viral transmission can come from various aspects and levels. For COVID-19 tests, there are even cases of no direct contact with the specimens; the specimens received infection from individuals of unknown status. The fixatives used for histopathology specimens are believed to be inactivated viruses, which can be an inactivate coronavirus. Even so, precautions have to be put in place to prevent the spread of infection to laboratory personnel, especially to those handling underfixed and fresh frozen cytology samples. Precautions must also be taken when dealing with histopathology services, by wearing full personal protective equipment and by executing other standard safety measures. The purpose of this review is to highlight the challenges faced in managing histopathology services in our centre during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malignant ulcer: a great mimicker of gastric plasmablastic lymphoma

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an uncommon human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lymphoma, with a predilection to develop in the oral cavity. It usually has a plasmablastic morphology with weak or no expression of B cell-associated markers. Among non-HIV patients, it tends to occur in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, lymph nodes, and skin. We experience a 74-year-old male who presented with abdominal discomfort, altered bowel habit, loss of weight, and loss of appetite with a palpable abdominal mass. Upper endoscopy revealed multiple dish-like and raised nodular mass with a central ulcer in the stomach and duodenum. The histology was consistent with high-grade lymphoma of the plasmablastic type. The immunohistochemistry was positive for plasma cells marker of CD38 and CD138, but negative for the lymphocytic marker of CD45, as well as mature T and B cell marker of CD3 and CD20. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed due to sepsis without completion of his investigations and treatments.

Malignant Subcutaneous Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor of Anterior Abdominal Wall

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are a family of rare mesenchymal tumors with discrete histological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Even rarer among them are cutaneous and subcutaneous PEComas. We describe a 34-year-old woman who presented with a large anterior abdominal subcutaneous lesion showing intact overlying skin and no obvious invasion of the abdominal musculature. A wide local excision was performed. Histopathology revealed a solitary tumor measuring 75 × 55 × 90 mm with epithelioid cells in nests with thin fibrovascular septa and spindle cells. Resection margins were clear with no invasion to the skin or rectus sheath. Tumor cells were positive for HMB-45 but negative for other markers. This is the largest subcutaneous PEComa reported to date.

Case Report: Unusual High-Grade Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal Tumor Mimicking Tuberculous Meningitis in a Child From an Endemic Region

Background: Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DL-GNT) is a new entity described in the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of brain tumors. While DL-GNT is predominantly an indolent tumor that affects young boys, high-grade DL-GNT is unusual and seldom reported in children. Case Presentation: In this report, we describe the challenges and pitfalls associated with diagnosing this high-grade variant in a tuberculosis-endemic region. We highlight the importance of identifying non-typical imaging findings, i.e., non-enhancing cystic lesions with high T2 signal along the leptomeningeal surface, that may expedite the diagnosis of this condition. Histopathologic correlations with MR spectroscopy findings are also discussed. Conclusion: We provide the first clinical imaging report of utilizing MR spectroscopy to distinguish DL-GNT from tuberculosis with histopathologic correlation.

Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Presenting as Bleeding Duodenal Mass: A Surgical Rarity

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a rare pancreatic neoplasm. The presentation varies from recurrent pancreatitis, steatorrhea and weight loss to incidental findings during imaging studies. The recognition of IPMN is crucial in deciding for prompt surgical intervention, which is the best treatment modality for this precancerous condition. Here, we report a case of 55-year-old man with massive upper gastro intestinal bleeding arising from a huge fungating duodenal mass. In view of massive bleeding, a decision for emergency Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy was made. Final histological diagnosis confirmed as IPMN. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of IPMN presented with a huge fungating duodenal mass causing massive UGIB requiring surgical intervention.

Huge Retroperitoneal Cyst Masquerading as Ovarian Tumour: A Case Report

Retroperitoneal cystic mass is a rare surgical condition that is often misdiagnosed preoperatively. Here, we report a case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with abdominal swelling for a 1-year duration, which was associated with lower abdominal pain for 6 months. Her abdominal radiograph showed a huge radiopaque lesion, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen reported it as a left ovarian serous cystadenoma causing local mass effect to the left ureter leading to mild left hydronephrosis. She underwent exploratory laparotomy and noted there was a huge retroperitoneal cystic mass. The histopathological assessment finding was consistent with a benign retroperitoneal cyst. This case report aims to share the rare case of primary retroperitoneal lesions, which can cause a diagnostic challenge preoperatively to all clinicians despite advanced achievement in medical imaging.

An oncological curiosity of a male patient with a huge leiomyoma of the terminal ileum

Leiomyoma is a smooth muscle tumour that can arise in any part of the body especially the uterus. Even though it is traditionally linked with hormonal influence, it can also develop in extrauterine organs with a slight female predominance. It is indistinguishable with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) histologically. We report a case of a 30-year-old gentleman who presented with a huge painful mass in the right iliac fossa. Computed tomography revealed a 10 × 10 cm homogeneous mass arising from the terminal ileum; he subsequently underwent an open right hemicolectomy. Histology showed a well-circumscribed lesion composed of interlacing bundles of smooth muscle fibres of the submucosa with positive smooth muscle actin and H-Caldesmon stains but negative for DOG-1 and CD117 (c-kit) stains which were consistent with leiomyoma. Despite its rarity, this hormone-related tumour needs to be considered regardless of gender. Immunohistochemistry is paramount as it is histologically identical to GIST.

Vanek's tumor causing ileoileal intussusception in a middle-aged man

Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency requiring urgent intervention. Small bowel obstruction secondary to intussusception is rarely encountered especially when inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) is the lead point. A 41-year-old gentleman with intestinal intussusception secondary to IFP presented to us with a classic symptom of intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography revealed a target or sausage-shaped soft tissue mass with a layering effect, which was confirmed by intraoperative findings. Histopathology was consistent with IFP and supported by immunoreactivity of CD34 and negative immunostaining for CD117. He recovered without any surgical complication or recurrence. Even intussusception can be managed via non-surgical technique in children; surgery is the mainstay of treatment in adults.

Incidental hepatic tuberculosis during planned resection of locally advanced ampullary carcinoma: a case report

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is classified according to the site of disease as pulmonary or extrapulmonary. Extrapulmonary TB is less common than its counterpart in which it can be found anywhere in the body including the liver. Similar to ampullary carcinoma, TB liver can manifest with jaundice and deranged liver function tests, particularly in the obstructed biliary systems.

Case presentation

A 43-year-old gentleman with locally advanced ampullary carcinoma was noticed to have multiple suspicious liver nodules intraoperatively during curative ampulla resection. The surgery was then abandoned after a biopsy. The histology was consistent with chronic granulomatous inflammation. He was then subjected to a Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy procedure after initiation of anti-tubercular treatment. He recovered well with no evidence of tumour recurrence and worsening TB.

Conclusions

A high index of suspicion and quick decision making can help to diagnose a possible extrapulmonary TB masquerading as a malignant disease in a patient with curative intention of ampullary carcinoma.

Giant submandibular sialolipoma masquerading as huge goitre: a case report

Background

Sialolipoma is a rare tumour which may arise from both major and minor salivary glands and has recently been described as a variant of salivary gland lipomatous lesions.

Case presentation

We report a 54-year-old male who presented with a 7-year history of large right anterior neck swelling. He was clinically euthyroid and had no compressive or infiltrative symptoms. He sought medical attention due to the discomfort exerted by the weight of the mass and was keen for excision. The swelling appeared like a goitre but physical examination proved otherwise. Imaging was suggestive of a benign tumour arising from the right parapharyngeal fossa. The mass was surgically excised and was noted to be adherent to part of the submandibular gland. Histopathological examination revealed a new variant of benign adipocytic tumour of salivary gland or sialolipoma arising from the submandibular gland. Besides being the largest sialolipoma to be reported, there are also no reports of giant submandibular sialolipomas masquerading as a huge goitre in appearance.

Conclusion

Submandibular sialolipomas can present in really large sizes and appear as a giant goitre. It is important to differentiate between benign lipomas from liposarcomas and tailor the management accordingly. Surgical enucleation is the preferred choice of treatment for these benign tumours with low recurrence rates.

A clinically silent tumour of adrenal myelolipoma: A case report

Introduction

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare, non-functional, benign neoplasm which is constituted of mature haematopoietic elements and adipose tissues in various proportions. It is diagnosed accidentally and frequently with the widespread use of imaging modalities.

Presentation of case

We report a 63-year-old lady with incidental findings of adrenal tumour on computed tomography (CT) scan during a routine medical check-up. She underwent tumour resection in view of a large tumour of 7 cm in size.

Discussion

CT scan is sensitive to diagnose adrenal myelolipoma in view of its fat-laden property and useful to monitor the tumour progress. Even previously she opted for conservative management; the decision for surgery was made in view of enlarging tumour and risk of surrounding tissue compression.

Conclusion

With increased awareness, the detection rate of this tumour is improving, hence able to prevent the complications of a large tumour such as compression, bleeding and tumour necrosis.

Total Hip Replacement in a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) going for surgery have put challenges to the treating surgeon, anaesthetist and physician as the patients can present with various medical complications perioperatively. It can be associated with polyarticular involvement especially avascular necrosis of the head of femur. The patients may present young with severe clinical findings and abnormal radiological features. The surgery in young SLE patients revolves on the longevity of the prosthesis used.We report a case of a 26-year-old lady with SLE going for right total hip replacement for her avascular necrosis of right hip. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(2) 2020 p.322-325

Spontaneous Omental Infarction: An Unusual Etiology of Abdominal Pain

A 49-year-old lady with previous scars complained of acute abdominal pain for two days. Her right hypochondrium was tender and guarding upon assessment. The laboratory investigations were unremarkable. Due to a diagnostic incongruity, computed tomography of the abdomen was performed showing a suspicious lesion at anterolateral aspect of the ascending colon. Surgical intervention was decided and intraoperative finding was consistent with spontaneous omental infarction. Omentectomy was undertaken and final histology was compatible with the intraoperative diagnosis. Although it is exceptional, omental infarction should be considered as part of the differential diagnoses of right-sided acute abdominal pain with normal laboratory investigations. This case highlights its unexpected discovery and we describe its literature reviews.

Florid papillomatosis of the nipple

Florid papillomatosis (FP) of the nipple, or nipple adenoma, is a rare breast tumour, affecting middle-aged group population. A 46-year-old woman presented to us with a cauliflower-like FP of the right nipple with no blood stained discharge or breast lump. FP can be mistaken clinically for Paget's disease and occasionally misinterpreted as invasive ductal or intraductal carcinoma. Extensive intervention, correct diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. Any breast pathology requires triple assessment including FP of the nipple. Once the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma is excluded, simple complete excision can be undertaken. This is to ensure complete obliteration of disease recurrence and preservation of cosmetic result. We discuss the pathology and psychosocial aspects of FP.

Neuroendocrine Tumour of the Breast in a Young Lady: A Case Report

Primary neuroendocrine tumours of the breast are rare. The WHO has classified them according to the tissue grading. The clinical presentation is similar to the usual infiltrating ductal carcinomas, however the histopathological assessment requires special staining to confirm the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumour. We report a case of a primary neuroendocrine tumour of the breast in a 33-year-old lady who presented with a locally advanced breast tumour with multicentric disease. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.18(2) 2019 p.419-422

An Obstructed Malignant Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumour of the Rectum

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour is rare but more common in children. It shows an immunophenotypic features of myofibroblastic differentiation, hence bearing neoplastic potential. The diagnosis is challenging especially if it involves rectum. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment if clinically obstructed. A 65-year-old gentleman presented with intestinal obstruction, which then followed by a hartmann's procedure. Final diagnosis is a rare case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the rectum. We discuss its genetic involvement with a literature review.

Role of co-expression of estrogen receptor beta and Ki67 in prostate adenocarcinoma

Purpose

To evaluate the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-beta and Ki67 in prostate cancer and study their relationship.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed 101 cases of prostate adenocarcinoma diagnosed from January 2011 to June 2015 in 100 patients. Immunohistochemical staining of ER-beta and Ki67 was analyzed according to Gleason score categorized into prognostic groups of 1 to 5. Double-immunofluorescent staining of ER-beta and Ki67 was performed in a total of 20 cases to study the co-expression and the relationship between these markers within the same tumor.

Results

A total of 53 of 101 cases (52.5%) were positive for ER-beta expression. There was a positive correlation whereby a high percentage of ER-beta expression was seen in the higher prognostic groups (groups 4 and 5; p=0.007). High Ki67 expression was observed in the higher prognostic group, whereas low Ki67 or negative expression was found in the lower prognostic group (p<0.001). The majority of cases evaluated with double-immunofluorescent staining (14/20) showed co-expression of ER-beta and Ki67 at the individual cell level.

Conclusions

ER-beta and Ki67 are independent tumor markers in high prognostic groups. Hence, co-expression of ER-beta and Ki67 indicates a more aggressive tumor with a poorer prognosis.

Submucosal Lipomatosis of Caecum with Concomitant Acute Appendicitis: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Colonic lipomatosis is relatively a rare tumour of mesenchymal origin, composed of welldifferentiated adipocytes interlaced by fibrous tissues. A 59-year-old lady presented with right iliac fossa pain with positive rebound tenderness, Rovsing’s and obturator signs. Investigation revealed marked leucocytosis suggestive of an acute appendicitis. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed an inflamed appendix with concomitant caecal mass suspecting of a malignancy. Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was proceeded following oncologic resection. However, final histopathologic examination was consistent with caecal colonic lipomatosis with concomitant acute appendicitis. Hereby, dual pathologies can be elicited in an acute abdomen.Keywords: acute abdomen, acute appendicitis, colonic lipomatosis.

Approaches to phyllodes tumour of the breast: a review article

Phyllodes tumours are rare entities of fibroepithelial diseases. The exact pathogenesis and their relationship with fibroadenomas are oblivious. Women aged between 35 to 55 years are commonly affected, even younger in Asian population. Triple assessment should be applied as a guide to management in any breast pathology. Clinical appearances are typically diagnostic for phyllodes tumours. Even though sometimes inconclusive, mammography and ultrasonography are the main imaging modalities. Although the role of cytology is debatable, presence of both epithelial and stromal elements supports the diagnosis especially in malignant type. Core biopsy is rather favored in view of higher accuracy for the diagnosis. Accurate preoperative assessment and histologic diagnosis allow correct surgical intervention and subsequent avoidance of reoperation. Surgical management can be either wide excision with more than 1 cm margins or mastectomy without axillary surgery. Local recurrence has been associated with inadequate excision of the pseudopod. Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended for positive surgical margin and for local control of borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors. The role of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy has not been fully studied.