Case report of choledocholithiasis 40 years post cholecystectomy

Choledocholithiasis occurring 40 years postcholecystectomy surgery is not commonly seen and is one of the longest reported latency period in literature today. Herein, we report a case of a 72 year old lady with previous open cholecystectomy 40 years ago, presented with acute onset right upper quadrant pain. Her bloods result revealed an obstructive jaundice picture with total bilirubin 125 μmol/L. Computed tomography imaging revealed high burden calculi in the common bile duct. The choledocholithiasis was subsequently completely retrieved by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedure. The commonest causes for delayed presentation of choledocholithiasis is retained or regeneration of stones within a gallbladder remnant or cystic duct with majority of retained stones present within 2-3 years of surgery. Presentation later than that is thought to be secondary to migratory surgical clips as it acts as a nidus for stone formation. There are other studies that revealed common bile duct stones formation to be associated with bile duct stricture, periampullary diverticulum, parasites or foreign bodies within bile duct or other factors that can cause bile stasis. Our aim for this case report is to add to the current handful of cases with such lengthy latency and hopefully this will give rise to future research and to better our understanding of the potential risk factors and causation of this prolonged latency postcholecystectomy.

An audit of breast cancer in patients 40 years and younger in two Johannesburg academic hospitals

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females, usually diagnosed after the age of 50 years. There is a perceived increase in breast cancer cases in young women in two public sector Johannesburg academic hospitals; however, there is a shortage of data to confirm this.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess data on breast cancer in young patients and determine any increase in the number of cases in patients 40 years and younger.

Method

A retrospective analysis of radiology and histopathology reports of patients 40 years and younger, seen at the radiology departments of two Johannesburg academic hospitals, was performed over a 5-year period. The frequency, histology and immunohistochemical results of breast cancer diagnoses were determined in patients with a Breast Imaging - Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification of 4 or above.

Results

Breast cancer was diagnosed in 73% of the total eligible 469 patients. The mean patient age was 34.35 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was diagnosed in 83% (n = 283) of patients classified as BI-RADS 5 on imaging. Luminal A and B subtypes were the most common. The highest number of patients (n = 142) were seen in 2016 of which 92 had breast cancer.

Conclusion

In this very specific sample set, there was a lower number of breast cancer diagnoses in 2015 and then an increase of breast cancer diagnoses in young patients from 2016 to 2018.

Contribution

Earlier breast cancer detection benefits the patient, their families and their reproductive ability. Knowledge of breast cancers in young patients can increase awareness, leading to effective, early diagnoses.

Patients with early-onset rectal cancer aged 40 year or less have similar oncologic outcomes to older patients despite presenting in more advanced stage; A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Early-onset colon and rectal cancer has increased in alarming rates. The present study reviewed the characteristics and outcome of early-onset rectal cancer in patients aged ≤40 years.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study on rectal cancer patients who were treated in a tertiary center in the Middle East. Baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients ≤40 years were compared with patients >40 years. Main outcome measures were patients' and tumor characteristics, local recurrence, distance metastasis, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Among 244 patients with rectal cancer, 81 (33.2%) aged 40 years or less. 56.8% of patients ≤40 years and 49.7% of patients >40 years presented with stage III/IV disease (p = 0.36). Local recurrence and distant metastasis were detected in 10.3% and 13.2% of patients ≤40 years and in 16.9% and 13.9% of patients >40 years (p = 0.29 and 0.88). The 3-year OS and DFS rates of patients ≤40 years were 75% and 80.9% versus 74.2% and 76.5% in patients >40 years (p = 0.9 and 0.59). Patients ≤40 years presented with ulcerative carcinoma (38.3% vs 21.5%, p = 0.01) and signet-ring carcinoma (12.3% vs 2.5%, p = 0.008) more than patients > 40 years.

CONCLUSION

Early-onset rectal cancer accounted for one-third of all patients presenting with rectal cancer. Patients younger than 40 years had higher incidence of mucinous and signet-ring rectal carcinoma, and presented more with advanced stage. The age of patients did not have a significant impact on the oncologic outcome of rectal cancer.

Practical consensus recommendation on when to do BRCA testing

BRCA-mutation associated breast cancer and to future cancer risks and sensitivity to systemic therapies. Now that rapid genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is available, BRCA mutation status can be considered when making treatment and prevention decisions for BRCA testing, BRCA mutation carriers with breast cancer. Expert group used data from published literature, practical experience, and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists, to arrive at practical consensus recommendations for use by the community oncologists.