Large anterior abdominal wall fibrosarcoma in a known case of recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare soft tissue sarcoma of low to intermediate malignant potential. Incidence is estimated to be 0.8 to 4.5 cases per million persons per year. The tumor is highly aggressive locally and is known to recur. Punch biopsy or excisional biopsy (in case of small tumors) are diagnostic. Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful in determining the size and extent of the tumor’s treatment is primarily surgical, with a wide local excision with at 2 cm margin. However, local recurrence after apparently adequate surgical excision is common. Mohs micrographic surgery has been recommended as it enables maximum preservation of tissue. When surgery is insufficient, imatinib mesylate is shown as a safe and effective treatment in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), especially in cases of locally advanced or metastatic disease. Here, we report a case of a giant fibrosarcoma on the anterior abdominal wall, measuring 27×18×9 cm, which occurred in a recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Diagnosis was done by histopathological examination (HPE) of the previously excised tumor and CT was done. The tumor was excised with a 3 cm margin and extensive reconstruction of the anterior abdominal wall defect was done using synthetic mesh, myocutaneous flaps and split skin grafting. Keeping in view the recurrent nature of our case, large tumor size, DFSP-fibrosarcomatous (FS) transformation and close negative margins in the HPE of the postoperative specimen, the patient was planned for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Role of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scoring system in risk stratification and management of small bowel perforations

Background: Despite the surgical treatment, sophisticated intensive care units, latest generation antibiotics and a better understanding of pathophysiology, the morbidity and mortality rate of perforation peritonitis are still high. Patients are usually managed by subjective decision of surgeon based on which mortality is very high.Methods: This was a double-blind observational study conducted over a period of 18 months on 50 patients with small bowel perforations. Based on the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score at presentation, patients were triaged into 3 groups: group 1 (score ≤10), group 2 (score 11 to 20) and group 3 (score >20). Study population was managed by the subjective decision of the operating surgeon who was blinded off the APACHE II score of patients. Hence removing the possibility of bias and observing a correlation between surgical outcome and APACHE II score of the patient.Results: Patients with higher APACHE II score (>10) were more likely to undergo exteriorization of bowel. Length of hospital stay was also found to be increased with an increase in score. APACHE II score of 10 was found to predict mortality with significant difference between 2 groups. Below this score the mortality was 0% and above this score the mortality rate rose to 31.25%.Conclusions: APACHE II can be used as a reliable and uniform scoring system as its assessment at presentation in patients of small bowel perforations provides an insight to their surgical management as well as predicting overall outcome.

The dilemma of the “ischemic-looking” electrocardiogram: Pulmonary embolism or acute coronary syndrome?

Pulmonary embolism (PE) may be potentially fatal if not diagnosed and treated in time. Although specific electrocardiogram (ECG) findings often suggest the diagnosis of PE, occasionally, the ECG may mimic that of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We report an interesting case of a 45-year-old female presenting with sudden onset chest pain and shortness of breath with widespread ST depression in anterior precordial leads. Although initially treated and referred as a case of ACS, careful analysis of the ECG and subsequent echocardiography and computed tomography imaging confirmed the diagnosis of PE. Intensivists and cardiologists need to be aware that diagnostic dilemma between PE and ACS is not uncommon due to such “ischemic-looking” ECG as well as elevated troponin levels in both conditions. The use of multimodality imaging techniques is helpful in arriving at the correct diagnosis.

Imaging in Benign Uterine Leiomyoma with Suspected Sarcomatous Changes.

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common pelvic tumors and show various degeneration. Typically present in women in the 5th decade. The uterus is the most common location for a leiomyosarcomas.Most leiomyosarcomas are thought to arise de novo. Sarcomatous changes appear hypoechoic areas on ultrasound (USG) with heterogenous echo pattern while on computed tomography (CT) they appear hypodense a leiomyoma in a postmenopausal woman Indiawith USG and CT appearance suggestive of sarcomatous changes due to multiple small areas of internal necrosis is described.

Percutaneous treatment of bifurcation coronary stenosis: a long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of bifurcation coronary stenosis involved several techniques in the last few years, with the use of one stent, two stents, kissing balloon, crush stenting. Basic objective was to reduce MACE rate and improve event-free survival. OBJECTIVE: To examine the performance of some techniques of stent placement adopted in the last few years by evaluating MACE (major adverse cardiac events) and TLR (target lesion revascularization). METHODS: Between 1999 and 2003, 74 consecutive patients with bifurcation lesions were treated with either stenting two vessels (type A, n = 8) or single vessels (type B, n = 66) and were followed for 30 days, 6 months, with a mean follow-up of 23 months for clinically driven MACE and TLR. RESULTS, The mean reference diameters of the main and side branches were 2.97 +/- 0.27 mm and 2.28 +/- 0.49 mm, respectively. The side branch was stented in 11% cases. Less than 30% residual stenosis in the main branch was achieved in 100% cases, <50% in the side branch in 94.5% of the cases. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events were non-Q-wave MI in 5% patients. During follow-up, death was 1.35%, subacute stent thrombosis (SAT) was 4%, and TLR (CABG) was 10.8%. Multivariate analysis showed type 1 lesion, and STEMI was associated with more MACE than others. There was 4.35-fold greater odds of MACE, associated with stenting both vessels in bifurcation lesion. CONCLUSION, Stenting of the main branch along with kissing balloon dilatation or provisional stenting of the side branch is a safe and effective treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions with acceptable TLR rates.

Epidemiological and clinical profile of irritable bowel syndrome in India: report of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology Task Force.

AIMS: To study the profile of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the frequency of such symptoms among the general population, in India. METHODS: In this prospective, multi-center study, data were obtained from 2785 patients with chronic lower gastrointestinal symptoms (complainants) with no alarm feature and negative investigations for organic causes visiting physicians at 30 centers, and from 4500 community subjects (non-complainants), using separate questionnaires. RESULTS: Most complainants were middle-aged (mean age 39.4 years) and male (1891; 68%). The common symptoms were: abdominal pain or discomfort (1958; 70%), abdominal fullness (1951; 70%); subjective feeling of constipation (1404 of 2656; 53%), or diarrhea (1252 of 2656, 47%), incomplete evacuation (2134; 77%), mucus with stools (1506; 54%), straining at stools (1271; 46%), epigastric pain (1364; 49%) and milk intolerance (906; 32%). Median stool frequency was similar in patients who felt they had constipation or those who felt they had diarrhea. Information to subtype symptoms using standard criteria was available in 1301 patients; of these, 507 (39%) had constipation-predominant IBS ( 3 <or= stools/week), 50 (4%) had diarrhea-predominant IBS (>3 stools/day) and 744 (57%) had indeterminate symptoms. Among non-complainants, most subjects reported daily defecation frequency of one (2520 [56%]) or two (1535 [34%]). Among non-complainants, 567 (12.6%) reported abdominal pain, 503 (11%) irregular bowel, 1030 (23%) incomplete evacuation, 167 (4%) mucus and 846 (18%) straining at stools; a combination of abdominal pain or discomfort relieved by defecation, and incomplete evacuation was present in 189/4500 (4.2%) community subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with IBS in India are middle-aged men, and have a sense of incomplete evacuation and mucus with stools. Abdominal pain or discomfort is frequent but not universal. Importantly, stool frequency was similar irrespective of whether the patients felt having constipation or diarrhea. Most (90%) non-complainant subjects had 1 or 2 stools per day; symptoms complex suggestive of IBS was present in 4.2% of community subjects.

Giant inclusion cyst of the cornea following filtering surgery.

Various trans-conjunctival ophthalmic procedures are reported to cause inclusion cyst of conjunctiva, due to the accidental inclusion of viable conjunctival epithelium, under intact conjunctiva. We report a case of histopathologically confirmed inclusion cyst of the cornea following filtering surgery. There was no recurrence in 24 months of postoperative period.

Inadvertent filtering bleb following sutureless cataract surgery.

The case history of a sixty-two-year-old lady, who presented with a bleb in the upper part of her left eye following cataract surgery was studied. The patient had no prior history of any glaucoma surgery. Gonioscopy revealed fishmouthing of the internal aspect of the scleral tunnel incision. The diagnosis of post-cataract filtering bleb was made which was managed by resuturing the wound. This case highlights the use of gonioscopy to visualise and evaluate the internal wound and discusses intraoperative recognition of internal leak and its management with horizontal sutures.

Posterior capsular dehiscence following blunt injury causing delayed onset lens particle glaucoma.

A late onset lens-particle glaucoma secondary to trauma is reported. It was treated by cataract extraction and intraocular lens placement.

Posterior scleritis presenting as unilateral secondary angle-closure glaucoma.

The following is a case report of a 19-year-old male who presented with unilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma. Posterior scleritis was diagnosed based on clinical features and ultrasound B-scan. The acute angle closure attack and exudative retinal detachment completely resolved with use of oral corticosteroids.

Concomitant gout and rheumatoid arthritis--a case report.

We report a case of definite rheumatoid arthritis and co-existing gout. Although gout and rheumatoid arthritis are relatively common entities individually, the co-existence of these two conditions is rare.

Mitomycin-C-augmented trabeculectomy for neovascular glaucoma. A preliminary report.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) in the management of eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: Fifteen eyes of 14 patients with NVG were included in the study. NVG was secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (3 eyes), hemiretinal vein occlusion (2 eyes), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (8 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (1 eye) and idiopathic (1 eye). Preoperative retinal ablation was performed in eyes with evidence of posterior segment ischaemia. Following this, all eyes underwent trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC (0.4 mg/ml for 3 minutes). Clinical outcome assessment included visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb appearance, identification of complications and antiglaucoma medications required to control IOP. RESULTS: The mean IOP decreased from 38.6 +/- 12.9 mmHg (range, 15-64 mmHg) to 17.4 +/- 9.33 mmHg (range, 4-34 mmHg) (P = 0.001). Preoperative visual acuity ranged from light perception to 6/9 in the affected eye. Thirteen (86.6%) of 15 eyes improved vision or retained preoperative vision, one (6.7%) eye lost light perception and one (6.7%) eye developed tractional retinal detachment two years after trabeculectomy. Ten (66.7%) of 15 eyes were classified as surgical success with a mean follow-up of 28.6 +/- 26.3 months (range, 2-82 months). None of the patients developed choroidal haemorrhage, hypotony maculopathy, late onset bleb leak or endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC is a good treatment modality in the management of eyes with NVG.