Subhepatic perforated acute appendicitis in a patient with midgut malrotation: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Subhepatic acute appendicitis (SHAA) is a very rare cause of acute abdomen, developing in association with two types of congenital anomalies like as midgut malrotation (MM) and maldescent of the caecum. Preoperative diagnosis of SHAA is a challenge because of its rarity and atypical presentation. Imaging may be helpful for determining the correct diagnosis. Surgery represents the standard treatment of SHAA.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 25-year-old Caucasian male presented to the Emergency Department with a one-day history of right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Physical examination revealed RLQ abdominal rebound tenderness with guarding. Laboratory tests reported high levels of C-reactive protein and neutrophilic leukocytosis. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a SHAA with intraluminal appendicolith, fat infiltration and pelvic fluid collection in a patient with MM. The patient underwent laparoscopic appendectomy: a retrocaecal subhepatic phlegmonous and perforated appendicitis was sectioned and removed with drainage of pelvic abscess. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

SHAA is characterized by anatomical variation of appendix and atypical presentation. Preoperative clinical diagnosis of SHAA is very difficult and imaging may be helpful for determining the correct diagnosis, as well as confirming MM or maldescent of the caecum. Laparoscopic appendectomy represents the correct treatment of SHAA.

CONCLUSION

SHAA is a rare surgical emergency that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with RLQ abdominal pain. Preoperative diagnosis needs a high index of suspicion and is facilitated by imaging. Surgery represents the appropriate treatment of SHAA.

Granular cell tumor of the cecum: Case report of mini invasive surgical resection and review of the literature

Introduction and importance

Granular Cell Tumor (GCT) is a rare lesion with unclear histogenesis, predominantly described as a skin lesion. Visceral localization of GCT is even more rare with few cases reported in the literature. Nowadays GCT guidelines are not available.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old Caucasian woman was visited in our surgical department for significant weight loss (about 30 kg) during the previous 6 months. Colonoscopy showed a caecal polypoid lesion that was resected with a diatermic loop and classified as GCT. Microscopically, the neoplasm partially involved the mucosa and diffusely the submucosa, extending to the endoscopic resection margins. Because of the high risk of perforation during endoscopic radicalisation attempt, the patient underwent ileocecal resection. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Clinical discussion

GCT is a rare soft tissue neoplasm probably deriving from Schwann cells. The main treatment for GCT is an endoscopic mucosal/submucosal resection. Nevertheless, a radicalization of the lesion through a surgical attempt should be preferred when the endoscopic procedure is linked to a high risk of perforation.

It is important to distinguish GCT from other polypoid lesions of the colon, due to its malignant potential (about 2%) and its relapsing capacity when margins are involved.

Conclusion

GTC is a rare neoplasm and as its diagnosis is made only histologically, it should be included in differential diagnosis of colonic polypoid lesions. Surgery can be considered the best choice when an endoscopic attempt of GCT lesions is linked to a high risk of colon perforation.

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Granular Cell Tumor (GCT) is a rare lesion with unclear histogenesis.

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Visceral localizations are even more rare that skin lesions.

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GCT should be distinguished from all other polypoid lesions.

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GCT epidemiology is limited due to its unknown origin and rare occurrence.

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Some specialists recommend a surgical resection for lesions >2–5 cm.

Non-traumatic rupture of voluminous non-typhoid Salmonella splenic abscess presenting with peritonitis: Case report and review of the literature

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Splenic abscess (SA) is an uncommon and life-threatening disease.

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Spontaneous rupture of a SA with peritonitis is a rare occurrence.

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Preoperative diagnosis of ruptured SA is a challenge due to non-specific clinical presentation.

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Nowadays there are no guidelines for the management of SA.

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Splenectomy represents the treatment of choice along with antibiotics in ruptured SA.

Introduction and importance

Splenic abscess (SA) is an uncommon, life-threatening disease with about 600 reported cases in the literature. It is caused by various infective pathogens and generally occurs in immunocompromised patients. SA is a rare complication of non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) infection. Diagnosis of ruptured SA is a challenge because the absence of specific symptoms and signs. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan represents the gold standard in diagnosing of SA. Splenectomy is the treatment of choice of ruptured SA with peritonitis.

Case presentation

A 26-year-old Caucasian female was admitted to the Emergency Department with a three-day history of abdominal pain and fever. Physical examination revealed severe and generalized abdominal pain on superficial and deep palpation with obvious muscle guarding and rebound tenderness. Abdominal CT scan showed ruptured SA. Laboratory tests reported anemia (hemoglobin 10.4 g/dl). The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for splenectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, the patient was discharged on the 7th post-operative day. Diagnosis of NTS SA was made by pus cultures.

Clinical discussion

SA is a rare complication of NTS infection associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Although different types of treatment of SA are reported in the literature, splenectomy represents the treatment of choice of ruptured SA.

Conclusion

NTS SA is difficult to diagnose because of its rarity and non-specific clinical presentation, often fatal if left untreated. Although there is no gold standard for treating SA, splenectomy with peritoneal lavage is mandatory in case of ruptured SA with peritonitis.

[The serological response to a recombinant DNA vaccine in the native residents of 2 hyperendemic hepatitis B areas in the Peruvian Amazonia]

In large areas of the Amazon jungle from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru, it has been reported hyperendemic HBV and delta focus. In the Peruvian jungle we found up to 97% of prevalence of HBV, on the northern Jívaro tribes vs the southern tribes, Arawak, (65%). In this paper we studied 226 volunteers from 6 Jívaro and 3 Arawak villages, who accepted to be vaccinated with a DNA recombinant vaccine (ENGERIX B); all of them were previously HBsAg/Ab negatives but 55.5% of them were anti-core (IgG) positive. Our results show 84.9% of seroconversion to anti-HBs, and 73.5% was consider to be immunized (> 10 mIU/ml). Better response was observed in those that were HBcAb negative, coming from a low endemic area. We also observed a good vaccine response although we had to change months the response decreased up to 51.8% of seroimmunity. Higher anti-HBs titles was observed in the southern tribes: MGC of 416.3 mIU/ml. compared with the south: MGC: 182.2 mIU/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to check previously, in hyperendemic areas, HBV markers, specially. It is important to receive the second dose between with the third dose up to 14 month. The immune response overall was good: the ABsAb titles obtained was in average, 290 mIU/ml (10.2-41,00). Apparently the vaccine do not suffer during the difficulties in transportation in the jungle. No side effects we shown during the vaccination program.

A focus of hyperendemic Plasmodium malariae-P. vivax with no P. falciparum in a primitive population in the Peruvian Amazon jungle

Findings in a sample population in southeastern Peru with a very high rate of malaria infection, due to Plasmodium malariae and P. vivax with apparently no P. falciparum, are described. The proportion of persons with P. malariae in this sample population, as determined by slide examination, appears to be the greatest ever reported for any area before the introduction of control measures. Although very few P. vivax were found on stained slides, results of the indirect immunofluorescence test indicated that this species was probably as prevalent as P. malariae; the absence of P. falciparum was supported by results of serologic tests. Possible reasons for this focus of malaria with no P. falciparum are discussed.