Linfangioma esplénico gigante: Caso clínico / Gigantic cystic splenic lymphangioma: Report of one case

Splenic lymphangiomas are benign primary simple or multiple tumors. They are incidentally diagnosed in children and people younger than 20 year-old. We report a 26-year-old female presenting with a history of five months of abdominal pain localized over the left upper hemi abdomen. A computed tomographic abdominal scan demonstrated a cystic tumor of 16 cm diameter originating from the spleen. Hydatic serology was negative and all blood tests were normal. At surgery, a spienic cyst was found and almost all the cystic wall was excised, leaving only a small portion attached to the spleen. The pathological report described spienic parenchyma with endothelial lining over the internal side of the cyst. Immunohystochemical stains of the endothelial cells were positive for VIII Factor and D2-40 that are specific for lymphatic endothelium, yielding the final diagnosis of a cystic spienic lymphangioma.

Adenocarcinoma en duplicación intestinal del íleon: Caso clínico / Adenocarcinoma and intestinal duplication of the ileum: Report of one case

Gastrointestinal duplications are uncommon developmental abnormalities that occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. We report a 36 year-old female admitted to the emergency room due to abdominal pain. Computed abdominal tomography demonstrated small bowel ¡oops surrounding a tubular cystic structure and peritoneal free fluid. The surgical exploration revealed multiple malignant implants covering the visceral and parietal peritoneum and infiltrating completely the omentum. At the Heal mesentery we found a tubular cystic whitish tumor measuring 12 cm of diameter and 15 cm on length. A complete resection of the tumor was not considered an option due to the extensive peritoneal dissemination. Thirty-four days after the operation the patient died. The histopathology of the cystic wall was compatible with the architecture of intestinal wall extensively infiltrated by a moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma; a mucosal lining in parts atrophic and in parts infiltrated or replaced by adenocarcinoma was observed. A well structured muscular layer was recognized, and the myenteric plexus was identified.

Tumor del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) en una paciente con neurofibromatosis tipo 1 / Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. Report of one case

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomic dominant condition affecting the central nervous systema and presenting a disposition towards development of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). We report a 38year-old female patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 that required emergency surgery due to a perforated GIST originating in the fourth duodenal portion. The GIST, and the fourth duodenal portion, were excised and a primary duodenum-jejunal anastomosis was performed. The pathological study showed a partially necrotic solid-cystic tumor with 1 to 2 mitoses per 50-high-power fields. The cells stained positively to CD 117, CD34 and Desmin, and were negative to S-100, Vimentin, and Smooth Muscle a-Actin. The patient is currently asymptomatic and under follow-up during the last 11 months after surgery (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137:1197-200).

Coristoma pancreático en la vesícula biliar: Reporte de dos casos / Pancreatic choristoma in the gallbladder: Report of two cases

Pancreatic choristoma is the ocurrence of normal pancreatic tissue in an abnormal location without any anatomic continuity with the main body of the gland. Although heterotopia is uncommon in the gallbladder and biliary tract, anecdotic cases of gastric mucosa, liver, adrenal gland and pancreas among other tissues have been described. We report an eight year-old male and a 22 year-old female, electively operated for symptomatic cholelithiasis. On pathology, a nodule identified as a pancreatic endocrine and exocrine choristoma, was found in the gallbladder wall of both patients. We employed immunohistochemistry to characterize this choristoma. Tubular and epithelial structures were immunoreactive to cytokeratins 7, 8, 18, 19 and 20 and to CA19-9. Exocrine activity was documented by immunoreactivity to al-antitrypsin and al-chemotrypsin. Other immunohistochemical markers such as insulin and somatostatin were positive identifying endocrine activity.

Coristoma hepático en la pared de la vesícula biliar: report of one case / Hepatic choristoma in the gallbladder wall

El tejido hepático heterotópico es una condición poco común que se identifica con mayor frecuencia durante la exploración quirúrgica del abdomen por otras indicaciones. Describimos un caso de tejido hepático heterotópico localizado en la pared externa de la vesícula biliar de un paciente masculino de 47 años de edad, en el cual se realizó una colecistectomía laparoscópica porcolelitiasis sintomática. El reporte histopatológico informa de cambios crónicos en la pared vesicular y leve infiltrado linfocitario difuso en el corion de la mucosa y muscularis mucosae sin compromiso inflamatorio o infiltración por otros tejidos. El nodulo hepático compromete solo la serosa y mide 12x8x6 mm, la arquitectura es típica del parénquima hepático con su arquitectura lobulillar conservada y leve hiperemia centrolobulillar difusa. Aún cuando el coristoma hepático de nuestro paciente constituye un hallazgo inesperado, es importante destacar las implicaciones patológicas de este tejido y el potencial de malignidad asociado al mismo.

Rol del recuento de leucocitos y de la proteína C reactiva en niños con apendicitis / White blood cell count and C reactive protein for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children

Introducción. Pocos estudios han evaluado el valor predictivo del recuento de leucocitos (RL) y de la proteína C reactiva (PCR) en diferentes puntos de corte en niños con apendicitis. El objetivo de este estudio es el de determinar los puntos de corte para RL y PCR en diferentes periodos de tiempo dentro de la evolución clínica de la apendicitis y establecer su utilidad en el diagnóstico de apendicitis y en la diferenciación entre apendicitis simple y perforada. Material y Método. Estudiamos 198 pacientes operados por apendicitis, dividiéndolos en 4 grupos de acuerdo al periodo de tiempo entre el inicio de los síntomas hasta el diagnóstico. Se construyeron curvas ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics) para evaluar los valores de RL y PCR, los mejores puntos de corte fueron utilizados en el cálculo de la sensibilidad, especificidad y exactitud diagnóstica de estos exámenes para discriminar entre pacientes con y sin apendicitis y entre pacientes con apendicitis simple y perforada. Resultados. El RL y la PCR individualmente y asociadas, tienen una elevada sensibilidad para diferenciar entre pacientes con y sin apendicitis. La especificidad del RL y la PCR individualmente y asociadas para diferenciar entre pacientes con apendicitis simple y perforada es elevada pero la sensibilidad es baja. Conclusiones. El RL y la PCR pueden utilizarse para apoyar el diagnóstico clínico de apendicitis y dependiendo del tiempo entre el inicio de los síntomas y el diagnóstico, diferenciar pacientes con y sin apendicitis y discriminar entre apendicitis simple y perforada.

Background: White blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) at different cutoff values may have a predictive value for the diagnosis of appendicitis in children. Aim: To determine the value of WBC and CRP for the diagnosis of appendicitis and for the differentiation of simple from perforated appendicitis. Material and Methods: We studied 198 patients (aged 2 to 14 years, 96 males) operated for appendicitis divided in 4 groups according to the lapse between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis (12 hours or less, 13 to 24 hours, 25 to 48 hours and more than 48 hours). The gold standard for the diagnosis was the pathological study of the surgical piece. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for CRP and WBC; the best cutoff points were used to calculate the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy to discriminate patients with and without appendicitis, and patients with simple and perforated appendicitis. Results: At a cut off point ranging from 14600 to 15400 cells/mm³, the sensitivity and specificity of WBC to differentiate children with an without appendicitis ranged from 0.9 to 1 and from 0.2 to 0.4 respectively, in the different groups of children studied. The sensitivity and specificity for CRP, at a cut off point ranging from 4.7 and 9.8 mg/dl, ranged 0.9 to 1 and from 0.2 to 0.4 mg/dl respectively, in the different groups. Sensitivity and specificity values did not change significantly when both WBC count and PCR were considered together. The specificity of WBC and CRP, individually or together, to differentiate patients with simple and perforated appendicitis is high but the sensitivity is low. Conclusions: WBC and CRP have a good sensitivity but a low specificity for the diagnosis of appendicitis. For the differentiation between simple and perforated appendicitis, these laboratory values have a high specificity but a low sensitivity.

Evisceración por ruptura espontánea de hernia incisional: reparación con malla / Mesh repair for spontaneous rupture of incisional hernia and evisceration: report of one case

Introducción. Las hernias incisionales son una de las complicaciones más frecuentes de la cirugía abdominal. Las hernias incisionales primarias se presentan en 2 por ciento a 20 por ciento de los pacientes operados mediante laparotomía. Las complicaciones de estas hernias son la incarceración y estrangulación. La ruptura espontánea de la piel que cubre la hernia y consiguiente evisceración de los intestinos a través del defecto, actualmente es una complicación inusual de la hernia incisional. Reporte de caso. Reportamos el caso de una paciente con ruptura espontánea de una hernia incisional y evisceración, la cual fue tratada con éxito mediante el uso de prótesis de polipropileno sobre el defecto en posición supra- aponeurótica. La paciente, de 81 años de edad, se presentó en la Unidad de Emergencias de nuestra institución debido a la ruptura espontánea del saco herniario y la piel que lo cubría, de una hernia incisional gigante de la línea media infraumbilical; a través del defecto protruían asas intestinales. La reparación primaria y cierre de la aponeurosis de los músculos rectos anteriores del abdomen no fue posible. Después de la resección de todo el tejido de mala calidad del saco herniario y de toda la piel dañada, se cerró el saco herniario con puntos en “U”. Una malla de polipropileno fue fijada sobre la aponeurosis de los músculos recto anterior del abdomen. La paciente se recuperó satisfactoriamente. En el seguimiento y control 2 años después de la cirugía la paciente se encuentra asintomática.

Endometriosis del íleon como causa de obstrucción intestinal: Report of two cases / Ileal endometriosis as a cause of intestinal obstruction. Report of two cases

Endometriosis is a common, chronic, benign, estrogen dependent gynecological disorder associated to pelvic pain and infertility. Its main characteristic is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. The prevalence of pelvic endometriosis ranges between 6% and 10% women during their reproductive years. Clinical symptoms of pelvic endometriosis are pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dispareunia and infertility. Distal ileum endometriosis is an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction with a frequency of 7% to 23% of all cases with intestinal involvement. We report two patients, 30 and 34 years old, with terminal ileum endometriosis and intestinal obstruction that required surgery and intestinal resection. Both patients are well one year after the operation.

Puntuación diagnóstica para apendicitis: estudio prospectivo de su aplicación por profesionales de salud no-médicos / Application of a diagnostic score for appendicitis by health-related non-physician professionals

Background: Diagnostic scores have been developed as simple, user-friendly, cost-effective instruments to improve the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Aim: To assess the yield of a diagnostic score for acute appendicitis, measured by trained health-related non-physician professional. Patients and methods: A prospective, double blind, non-randomized trial. Emergency room nurses applied a previously validated diagnostic score for appendicitis to patients aged more than 15 years with abdominal pain and tachycardia or fever. The main outcome was the percentage of patients operated for acute appendicitis that had a positive score for appendicitis and a pathologically demonstrated appendicitis. Results: The mean scores for patients operated or not operated for appendicitis were 8.64 and 3.31, respectively. The figures for sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of the score were 0.83, 0.98 and 0.94, respectively. Conclusions: An appendicitis score measured by health-related non-physician professionals has a similar diagnostic yield than clinical judgment.