Biliary cysts in adults: Cerrahpasa experience.

Objectives: Biliary cysts are biliary duct dilatations, with 20% of the cysts being diagnosed in adulthood. Abdominal pain, jaundice and palpable abdominal mass are defined as the classical triad. However, nausea, vomiting, fever, itching and weight loss are frequent complaints. There are several treatment options depending on the type of the cyst. This study aimed to share our experience with biliary cysts and contribute to the literature on this subject. Material and Methods: Thirty patients, who received treatment for biliary cyst from January 1981 to December 2018 at our clinic, were studied retrospectively. The patients were analyzed based on age, sex, type of the cyst, diagnosis and treatment methods, post-op follow up and complications. Results: Twenty-seven of the patients were females, and three were males. The patients were aged between 16 and 76 years, and the median age was 41.9 years. All patients presented with abdominal pain, which was accompanied by cholangitis in nine patients, nausea and vomiting in four patients, dyspepsia in three patients and palpable mass in one patient. According to the Todani classification, biliary cyst findings were consistent with Type I in 23 patients, Type V in three patients, Type IV in two patients, Type II in one patient and Type III in one patient. Conclusion: Diagnosis and treatment are complex in biliary cysts due to anatomical proximity and variations. Therefore, it would be beneficial to refer them to referral centers. Choice of treatment should be based on the type of the cyst.

Sequential analysis of single-center experience of living donor kidney transplants with several vascular anastomosis techniques

Background and aim: Vascular variations of grafts are handled with various reconstruction techniques in renal transplantation. We aimed to analyze the effects of these reconstruction techniques and sites on patient/graft outcomes. Materials and methods: Renal transplantation cases at the Transplantation Unit of the General Surgery Department, Istanbul Uni- versity Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Postoperative duplex ultrasound results, urea-creatinine reduction rates, and complications were evaluated. Results: There were 228 living-donor transplantation cases evaluated. For single-renal-artery living-donor transplantations, there were 45 end-to-side external iliac artery, 15 end-to-side internal iliac artery, 152 end-to-end internal iliac artery, and 3 end-to-side common iliac artery anastomoses performed. In cases with double-arteries, 3 had end-to-side external iliac artery anastomoses, and 10 had end- to-end internal iliac artery anastomoses. No statistically significant differences were found between reconstruction techniques with regard to complications or urea-creatinine reduction rates. Conclusion: Internal, external, and common iliac arteries can be safely used for anastomoses. The presence of more than one renal artery creates no short or long-term problems when a side-to-side anastomosis is initially performed.

Pelvic actinomycosis presenting as a malignant pelvic mass: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic actinomycosis constitutes 3% of all human actinomycosis infections. It is usually insidious, and is often mistaken for other conditions such as diverticulitis, abscesses, inflammatory bowel disease and malignant tumors, presenting a diagnostic challenge pre-operatively; it is identified post-operatively in most cases. Here we present a case that presented as pelvic malignancy and was diagnosed as pelvic actinomycosis post-operatively. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old Caucasian Turkish woman presented to our clinic with a three-month history of abdominal pain, weight loss and difficulty in defecation. She had used an intra-uterine device for 16 years, however it had recently been removed. The rectosigmoidoscopy revealed narrowing of the lumen at 12 cm due to a mass lesion either in the wall or due to an extrinsic lesion that prevented the passage of the endoscope. On examination, there was no gynecological pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass, measuring 5.5 × 4 cm attached to the rectum posterior to the uterus. The ureter on that side was dilated. Surgically there was a pelvic mass adhered to the rectum and uterine adnexes, measuring 10 × 12 cm. It originated from uterine adnexes, particularly ones from the left side and formed a conglomerated mass with the uterus and nearby organs; the left ureter was also dilated due to the pelvic mass. Because of concomitant tubal abscess formation and difficulty in dissection planes, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy was performed (our patient was 48 years old and had completed her childbearing period). The cytology revealed inflammatory cells with aggregates of Actinomyces. Penicillin therapy was given for six months without any complication. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic actinomycosis should always be considered in patients with a pelvic mass especially in ones using intra-uterine devices, and who have a history of appendectomy, tonsillectomy or dental infection. Surgeons should be aware of this infection in order to avoid excessive surgical procedures.

Choledochal cysts in adults and the importance of differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Choledochal cysts, congenital cystic dilatations of the hepatobiliary tree, present diagnostic dilemmas. In countries where hydatid disease is endemic, this rare pathology may be overlooked. The importance of this issue led us to reexamine our clinical material to evaluate our findings and management. METHODS: This study examined 12 patients (11 females, 1 male) who were treated at the University of Istanbul, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, with the diagnosis of choledochal cyst between 1981 and 2000. The cases were examined retrospectively, and the complaints, diagnostic methods, findings, and management were discussed. RESULTS: Ten of the cysts were type I (83.3%), one was type II (8.3%), and one was type IV (8.3%). Three of the patients underwent operation with the diagnosis of liver hydatid cyst, but during the operation the cysts were found to be choledochal cysts. In six of the patients, the cysts were correctly diagnosed, and they were excised. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary approaches to treating choledochal cysts focus on total removal of the cyst. In a country where hydatic diseases are endemic, hepatobiliary cystic lesions are often misdiagnosed clinically and radiologically as hydatid cysts. Considering that percutaneous and laparoscopic approaches are being increasingly adopted for treatment of hydatid cysts, the problematic area must be subjected to thorough examination for cystic lesions. The possibility of choledochal cysts must always be kept in mind; otherwise, an unfavorable process may begin for both patient and surgeon.