Primary malignant neoplasms of the cecal appendix: unusual findings in acute appendicitis

Introduction: To evaluate the prevalence of appendix neoplasia correlating with patient profile, histological types and frequency. Methods: Data collection was performed in the Pathology Department of a General Hospital, with the objective of identifying patients diagnosed with malignant cecal appendix tumors by histopathologic study of specimens from acute appendicitis. Results: The prevalence of malignant primary epithelial neoplasia of the appendix was 1%. Fifty percent of the cases were neuroendocrine tumors, 35% were mucinous, and 15% were adenocarcinomas. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.3 (SD, 20.4) years (range 16-81), with a women/men ratio of 3:1. Discussion: Appendiceal neoplasms are rare and should be suspected manly in women over 40 years of age with suggestive symptoms of acute appendicitis. The size, location, extent, margins and presence of mucin are essential findings for the treatment of these patients. (AU)

Artéria hepática direita originada da artéria mesentérica superior: Qual seu real trajeto anatômico? / Right hepatic artery originated from the superior mesenteric artery: What is the standard anatomic position?

RESUMO Objetivos: A irrigação arterial hepática tem como característica a elevada frequência de variações da anatomia. O objetivo do estudo foi descrever o trajeto anatômico da artéria hepática direita quando originada da artéria mesentérica superior. Métodos: Foram analisadas 5147 tomografias computadorizadas com contraste endovenoso de pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Radiologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Passo Fundo - RS, no período outubro de 2016 a dezembro de 2017. Foram selecionados 125 pacientes portadores de variação anatômica da artéria hepática direita na origem. Os achados foram categorizados pela variação do trajeto vascular, emergência da artéria mesentérica superior e a relação com demais estruturas. Resultados: Obtivemos o trajeto mais frequente desta variação como retropancreático (88,8%), retroportal (76,8%) e pós-coledociano (75,2%), emergindo cerca de 2,33 cm da origem da artéria mesentérica superior. Conclusão: Demonstramos que na maioria das vezes, a artéria hepática direita variante, apresenta trajeto posterior ao pâncreas e ao pedículo hepático e emerge próxima da origem da artéria mesentérica superior.

ABSTRACT Objective: Liver arterial irrigation is characterized by a high frequency of variations in its anatomy. The aim of the study was to describe the anatomic position of the right hepatic artery as a brunch of the superior mesenteric artery. Methods: A total of 5147 intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans of patients seen at the Radiology Service of the Passo Fundo Clinical Hospital (RS), from October 2016 to December 2017, were selected. 125 patients with anatomic variation of the right hepatic artery were selected. The findings were categorized by the variation of the vascular position, emergence from the superior mesenteric artery and the relationship with other structures. Results: The most frequent position was retropancreatic (88.8%), retroportal (76.8%) and post-choledocian (75.2%), emerging about 2.33 cm from the superior mesenteric artery. Conclusion: We have shown that most common variant of the right hepatic artery presents its posterior origin from the pancreatic and hepatic pedicle, and arises close to the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.

Laparoscopia e lavado peritoneal no pré-operatório do adenocarcinoma gástrico: podemos modificar a conduta? / Preoperative laparoscopy and peritoneal lavage in gastric adenocarcinoma: can the approach be modified?

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar se a laparoscopia com lavado peritoneal é superior à tomografia computadorizada para o estadiamento do adenocarcinoma gástrico e se pode modificar a conduta cirúrgica do paciente. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo de 46 pacientes portadores de adenocarcinoma gástrico tratados pela equipe de cirurgia digestiva do Hospital de Clínicas de Passo Fundo (RS), de janeiro de 2015 a dezembro de 2018, e submetidos à laparoscopia com lavado peritoneal pré-operatório. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos ao estadiamento clínico pré-operatório com tomografia computadorizada. Resultados: dos 46 pacientes analisados, a maioria apresentava tumores localizados na cárdia (34,8%), pouco diferenciados (69,6%) e do subtipo células em anel de sinete (65,2%). Em 91,3% deles a tomografia computadorizada não identificou carcinomatose peritoneal ou metástases à distância. Entre estes pacientes com tomografia computadorizada negativa para doença à distância, 21,8% apresentaram lavado peritoneal positivo para células neoplásicas e tiveram suas condutas terapêuticas modificadas. Conclusão: a laparoscopia e o lavado peritoneal alteraram a decisão cirúrgica em 21,8% dos pacientes, proporcionando um estadiamento pré-operatório mais fidedigno no adenocarcinoma gástrico.

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess whether laparoscopy with peritoneal lavage is superior to computed tomography for staging gastric adenocarcinoma and whether it can modify the surgical approach. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of 46 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated by the digestive surgery team of the Passo Fundo Clinics Hospital (RS), from January 2015 to December 2018, and submitted to laparoscopy with preoperative peritoneal lavage. All patients underwent preoperative clinical staging with computed tomography. Results: of the 46 patients analyzed, the majority had tumors located in the cardia (34.8%), poorly differentiated (69.6%), and subtype signet ring cells (65.2%). In 91.3%, the computed tomography scan did not identify peritoneal carcinomatosis or distant metastasis. Among these patients with negative computed tomography for distant disease, 21.8% had positive peritoneal lavage for neoplastic cells and had their therapeutic approaches modified. Conclusion: laparoscopy and peritoneal lavage altered the surgical decision in 21.8% of patients, providing a more reliable preoperative staging in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Origen y trayecto anómalos del nervio musculocutáneo / Anomalus origin and traject of musculocutaneous nerve

El nervio musculocutáneo se origina del fascículo lateral en el plexo braquial y sus fibras emergen principalmente de las raíces nerviosas anteriores de C5 y C6. Durante la disección de rutina del plexo braquial en un cadáver formolizado, fue encontrada una variación del origen y trayecto de este nervio. El nervio musculocutáneo se originaba de la cara lateral del nervio mediano y después del origen, cruzaba anteriormente al músculo coracobraquial, sin perforarlo, de medial hacia lateral y de proximal hacia distal, para después ramificarse. Las variaciones anatómicas encontradas contribuyen para el estudio de la anatomía y sirven para el cirujano en intervenciones en la fosa axilar y en la parte anterior del brazo, previniendo, así, complicaciones operatorias.

The musculocutaneous is originated from the lateral fascicle in the brachial plexus and its fibers emerge mainly from the anterior nervous roots C5 and C6. During the routine dissection of the brachial plexus in a formolized corpse, its origin variation and passage was found. The nerve was originated on the lateral face of the median nerve and after its origin, crossed anteriorly to the coracobrachial muscle, without perforating it, from medial to lateral, proximal to distal, after to branch off. The anatomical variations found contribute to the anatomy study and they serve as alert for the surgeon in interventions in the axillary's cavity and in the previous store of the arm, preventing, thus, operational complications.