A rare case of perforation of the subhepatic appendix by a toothpick in a patient with intestinal malrotation: laparoscopic approach.

Foreign body ingestion is not an uncommon problem in clinical practice. While most ingested foreign bodies pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract, sharp foreign bodies such as toothpicks should cause intestinal perforation. We reported the case of a perforation of the appendix caused by a toothpick, which also pierced the liver without hepatic damages, in a male with an intestinal malrotation and subhepatic appendix. The patient was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed the anomalous position of the first portion of the large intestine with inflamed appendix. A laparoscopic appendicectomy and the exploration of the abdominal cavity was performed using minimally invasive technique.

Thyroid anaplastic carcinoma: the impact of multimodality treatment on survival. The experience of a referral center for endocrine surgery.

AIM: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is characterized by local invasiveness, risk of recurrence and very poor prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 79 consecutive patients treated between 1996 and 2012. We analysed the multimodality treatment of ATC considering the impact of surgery and radiotherapy on survival. RESULTS: Patients were divided in groups A and B (tumor less and larger than 5 cm). Surgery was carried out in 44 patients, radiotherapy in 48 patients. Tracheostomy and endoprosthesis were used respectively in 48.1% and in 25.3% of patients. The mean survival was 5.35 (± 3.2) months with no significant difference in group A vs. group B. Considering patients undergone surgery, significant impact on survival was observed comparing A vs. B (P=0.013). Combination of surgery and radiotherapy significantly improves outcome comparing A vs. B (P=0.017). Improvement in survival compared to no treatment at all was observed in both groups respectively for surgery (P=0.001 and P=0.0001) and radiotherapy (P=0.047 and P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although the severity of prognosis of ATC, multimodality treatment still significantly improves local control of the disease achieving acceptable survival in selected patients and adequate palliation of symptoms for the others. Surgery is still a fundamental treatment.

Total thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection. Experience of a referral centre for endocrine surgery.

AIM: Thyroid cancer prognosis is determined by several variables, even with extremely elevated survival rate. The most debated issues are the type of thyroidectomy and extension of lymphadenectomy. Aim of the study is the analysis of benefits of level VI lymphadenectomy associated to total thyroidectomy in the treatment of thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 316 total thyroidectomy with central node dissection were carried out in the Unit of Endocrine Surgery, University of Perugia. Direct parathyroid auto-implantation was carried out if damage or accidental excision occurred. High risk patients received radioiodine treatment. RESULTS: Lymph node metastases in the VI level were observed in 42% of cases with a significant difference (p 0.0042) of positive lymph node in level VI comparing tumor larger than 1 cm vs smaller than 1 cm. No significant differences were observed when considering difference of sex, and age. Significant difference (p 0.005) was shown when considering over 45 years old male patients with tumor larger than 1 cm vs smaller ones. The 78% of patients underwent iodine ablation after surgery. Recurrence rate in these patients was 3.2%, with no significant difference compared to not treated patients. Bilateral temporary recurrent nerves palsy were observed in 0.6% of cases, unilateral temporary recurrent nerves palsy in 3.4%, unilateral permanent palsy in 1.5%, temporary hypoparathyroidism in 17%, permanent hypoparathyroidism in 4.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy combined to central node dissection, even in absence of risk factors and without clinical evident nodes, is the treatment of choice offering clear indications to radioiodine ablation.

Differentiated thyroid tumors: surgical indications.

Thyroid gland tumors represent 1% of malignant tumors. In Italy their incidence is in constant growth. The aggressiveness depends on the histological type. The relative non-aggressive grade of different forms of tumors is the basis for discussing the treatment of choice: total thyroidectomy vs lobectomy with or without lymphadenectomy of the sixth level in the absence of metastasis. Authors report about their experience, and they advocate, given the high percentage of multicentric forms, total thyroidectomy as treatment of choice.

[The sentinel lymph node mapping in colon cancer]. / Il linfonodo sentinella nei tumori del colon.

BACKGROUND: malignant tumors of the colon can metastases along the lymphatic system in a sequential way, which means that there will be a first node to be involved and then from this disease will pass to another node and so gradually. The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node or group of nodes reached by metastasizing cancer cells from a tumor. OBJECTIVES: the present work aims to determine the predictive value of the sentinel lymph node procedure in the staging of non-metastatic colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: in this prospective study joined up only 26 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon T2-T3, without systemic metastases, and with these criteria for inclusion: a) minimum age: 18 years old; b) staging by total colonoscopy, chest X-ray and CT scan; c) patients classified as ASA 1-3; d) informed consent. Within 20 minutes from the colic resection, the bowel was cut completely along the antimesenteric margin and is performed submucosal injection of vital dye within 5 mm from the lesion at the level of the four cardinal points; then the lymph nodes are placed in formalin and sent to the pathologist. The lymph nodes were subjected to histological examination with haematoxylin-eosin and with the immunohistochemistry technique. RESULTS: from January to December 2008 only 26 patients joined up in this prospective study. From the study were excluded the 4 patients with T4 and M1 tumour. Also 7 patients with stenotic lesions were excluded. Patients considered eligible for our study were only 14. The histopathological examination of haematoxylin-eosin revealed: a) in 4 cases were detected mesocolic lymph node metastases; b) in 10 cases were not detected mesocolic lymph node metastases. In cases there were no metastases, the mesocolic sentinel lymph nodes lymph nodes were examined with immunohistochemical technique; in 2 cases were revealed the presence of micrometastases. In one case was identified aberrant lymphatic drainage patterns (skip metastasis); the sentinel lymph node (negative examination wit eaematoxylin-eosin) was studied with immunohistochemical technique that has not revealed the presence of micrometastases. CONCLUSIONS: the examination of the sentinel node is feasible with the ex vivo method. Using the immunohistochemical technique we detect micrometastasis in 20% of the cases, not revealed with the classical haematoxylin-eosin examination. The study of sentinel lymph node with multilevel microsections and immunohistochemical techniques allow a better histopathological staging.

[The abdominal compartment syndrome and the importance of decompressive re-laparotomy]. / La sindrome compartimentale addominale ed il ruolo della re-laparotomia decompressiva.

BACKGROUND: the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is an increasingly recognized complication of both medical and surgical patients. The World Society of the Abdominal Compartmental Syndrome defined Intra Abdominal Hypertension (IAH) as a mean Intra Abdominal Pressure (IAP) ≥ 12 mm Hg and the ACS as IAP ≥ 20 mmHg (with or without an abdominal perfusion pressure < 60 mm Hg) that is associated with dysfunction or failure of one or more organ systems that was not previously present. The IAH contributes to organ failure in patients with abdominal trauma and sepsis and leads to the development of ACS. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of IAH, the prevalence of ACS and the importance to the effects to the abdominal decompressive re-laparotomy. Patients and methods. The study included 10 patients, 4 men and 6 women with an average age of 68 years (range, 38-86) operated and and treated with xifo-pubic laparotomy between January 2007 and December 2008. According to gold-standard methods, we measured the IAP by indirect measurement using the transvescical route via Foley bladder catheter. RESULTS: among 10 patients with laparotomy, 8 patients (80%) developed IAH < 20 mm Hg but they have not reported significant organ dysfunction , while 2 patients (20%) developed an IAH > 20 mm Hg associated whit organ dysfunction. For this reason, the last 2 patients were undergoing to the decompressive re-laparotomy with temporary closure. CONCLUSION: in according to our experience and the results of the literature, we believe essential monitoring abdominal pressure in patients with abdominal laparotomy. The abdominal decompressive re-laparotomy is a useful procedure to reduce symptoms and improve the health of the patient.