Prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on recurrence and survival in patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) undergoing surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the 80 resectable ESCC patients who underwent surgery at Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine between 2008 and 2018. Receiver operator characteristics curve of NLR was plotted for disease-free survival (DFS). The area under the curve of NLR was 0.692 (p=0.008) with 65.2% sensitivity and 2.8 with 69.5% specificity. Patients were divided into two groups based on the NLR as follows: NLR <2.8 and NLR ≥2.8. RESULTS: Among 80 ESCC patients, 54 (65.5%) were female. The median age was 55 years (range, 26-77). The NLR was <2.8 in 47 (58.7%) patients. Median DFS was 55 months in patients with NLR ≥2.8, whereas it was not reached in those with NLR <2.8 (p=0.008), with corresponding overall survival (OS) durations of 71 months and not reached (p=0.027). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score 2, presence of obstruction at diagnosis, lower 1/3 esophageal localization, neoadjuvant treatment, and NLR ≥2.8 were found to be the factors related to survival. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that high pre-treatment NLR was associated with worse DFS and OS in patients with resectable esophageal cancer. We believe that pre-treatment NLR may help guide predicting treatment outcomes in non-metastatic resectable ESCC patients.

The Effect of Obesity on Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of obesity on response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the effect of obesity on response to NACT and survival in locally-advanced gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: From 2010 to 2019, 142 GC patients with clinical stage III disease who underwent curative surgery after NACT were enrolled. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to body mass index (BMI) as follows; BMI < 25 kg/m2, BMI = 25-30 kg/m2, and BMI > 30 kg/m2. The Mandard tumor regression grading system was used for tumor regression grade (TRG). RESULTS: Of the 142 GC patients, 45(31.7%) were female. The median age was 58 years. BMI was < 25 kg/m2 in 60 (42.3%) patients, 25-30 kg/m2 in 44 (31%) patients, and > 30kg/m2 in 38 (26.8%) patients. The numbers of patients with TRGI-II, TRGIII, and TRGIV-V were 35 (24.6%), 44 (31%), and 63 (44.4%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among BMI groups in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.919 and p = 0.398, respectively). According to TRG groups; mDFS was 46 months in TRG I-II, 28 months in TRG III, and 18 months in TRG IV-V (p <0.001). In multivariate analysis, presence of perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion were the factors affecting TRG. CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that pre-treatment obesity did not affect the TRG in clinical stage III GC patients. However, a better TRG status was associated with improved survival.
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A Rare Case of Secondary Hydatid Cyst: Uterus and Colon Locations in the Same Patient

The aim of the present study was to present a case with secondary hydatid cysts in both uterus and colon. The patient was a 71-year-old female living in Hakkari, Turkey. She was admitted to the Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine Medical Center with complaints of chronic abdominal and pelvic pain, and swelling in the abdomen. First, the sagittal T2 weighted magnetic rezonance imaging (MR) showed a type-3 cyst hydatid with daughter vesicles located at the posterior of uterus. Later, MR revealed a type-2 cystic lesion with detached membrane adhered to the anterior wall of colon and it was reported to be associated with abdomen. When the previous liver surgery history of the patient was kept in mind, the new finding was suggestive of a secondary cystic hydatid . In conclusion, it is possible to diagnose secondary cystic echinococcosis in patients with a history of primary cyst surgery in liver or any other organ by combining the symptoms and imaging findings.

Transcervical resection of two parathyroid adenomas located on the anterior mediastinum.

The mediastinum is a possible location of ectopic parathyroid adenoma. Most ectopic parathyroid glands in the mediastinum are found in the superior mediastinum within the thymus. In this article, two cases with ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas that were excised via transcervical resection are presented. Preoperative examination of the two cases was performed. Laboratory tests supported hyperparathyroidism. For both patients, the results of radiologic and scintigraphic examinations of the cases were compatible with parathyroid adenoma masses in the anterior mediastinum. Transcervical resection was performed via suprasternal incision through the sternal notch and the posterior wall of the sternum space by blunt dissection with the finger. The soft lesions were removed en bloc in both cases. The parathyroid hormone levels of the two cases decreased dramatically after the operation. Transcervical resection may be an alternative method to major surgery in anterior mediastinal small masses.

Regional Clinical and Biochemical Differences among Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Environmental habitat may play a role in clinical disparities of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) patients. AIMS: To compare preoperative clinical symptoms and associated conditions and surgical findings in patients with pHPT, living in different geographical regions from the Black Sea, Mediterranean and Anatolia regions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, clinical-based multi-centric study of 694 patients with pHPT. METHODS: Patients from 23 centers and 8 different geographical regions were included. Data related to baseline demographics, clinical, pathologic and treatment characteristics of 8 regions were collected and included age, gender, residential data, symptoms, history of fracture, existence of brown tumor, serum total Ca and p levels, serum parathormone (PTH) levels, serum 25-OH vitamin D levels, bone mineral density, size of the resected abnormal parathyroid gland(s), histology, as well as the presence of ectopia, presence of dual adenoma, and multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)- or familial-related disease. RESULTS: The median age was 54. Asymptomatic patient rate was 25%. The median PTH level was 232 pg/mL and serum total Ca was 11.4 mg/dL. Eighty-seven percent of patients had an adenoma and 90% of these had a single adenoma. Hyperplasia was detected in 79 patients and cancer in 9 patients. The median adenoma size was 16 mm. Significant parameters differing between regions were preoperative symptoms, serum Ca and p levels, and adenoma size. All patients from South-East Anatolia were symptomatic, while the lowest p values were reported from East Anatolia and the largest adenoma size, as well as highest Ca levels, were from Bulgaria. CONCLUSION: Habitat conditions vary between geographical regions. This affects the clinicopathological features of patients with pHPT.

Ingested intraabdominal foreign bodies that require surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to review cases that required surgical intervention to remove ingested foreign bodies. METHODS: Medical records of 7 patients who underwent surgical intervention at the Yüzüncü Yil University Department of General Surgery between 2009 and 2014 after ingesting foreign bodies were reviewed. RESULTS: Female:male ratio was 5:2; mean age was 25 (16-35). Four patients had swallowed pins, 1 patient had swallowed a sewing pin, 1 patient had swallowed a safety pin, and 1 patient had swallowed a wristwatch. The patient who had swallowed the wristwatch had psychiatric disorders. All other patients stated that they had swallowed the objects by accident. CONCLUSION: Most ingested foreign bodies pass smoothly through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract within a week, but those that migrate out of the lumen require surgical intervention due to complications including perforation, abscess, fistula, and peritonitis. Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality. It is believed that sharp and pointed objects that migrate outside of the lumen ought to be removed, lest they cause complications.

Effect of thymoquinone on the healing of left colon anastomosis: an experimental study.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of thymoquinone on the healing of experimental left colon anastomosis in rats. METHODS: Forty Wistar albino rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into four groups (10 rats/group). Group 1 (control group) rats were not administered Thymoquinone (TQ) for 3 days after the operation. Group 2 was administered daily TQ for 3 days starting from the first day after the operation. Group 3 was not administered TQ for 7 days after the operation. Group 4 was administered daily TQ for 7 days starting from the first day after the operation. Thymoquinone was administered as a single dose oral gavage through a 4F feeding catheter per each day. The bursting strength of the anastomosis was measured on 3rd and 7th postoperative days (POD) and resection was performed. Subsequently, the hydroxyproline level in the resected tissue was measured and a histological evaluation was performed. RESULTS: The bursting pressures of the anastomoses were measured to be statistically significantly greater on 7th POD in TQ administered groups compared to those without TQ administration. Tissues were stained with Masson's trichrome dye in order to evaluate the amount of fibrous tissue reaction for histopathological examination; there was no significant difference in the amount of fibrous tissue between groups 1 and 2, while a very marked increase in the fibrous tissue was detected in groups 3 and 4. Mean tissue hydroxyproline levels of the groups 3 and 4 on 7th POD were 1.30 and 2.72 µg/g-protein, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TQ significantly increased the bursting pressure of the anastomosis, tissue hydroxyproline level, and fibrous tissue production.

Successful Treatment of a Large Pelvic Abscess Using Intraluminal VAC: A Case Report.

The most feared complication of the surgical treatment of rectal cancer is anastomotic leakage, which is related to high rates of mortality and morbidity. Here, we present a patient who could not be treated with surgical drainage but treated by intraluminal Vacuum Associated Closure (VAC). A 34-year-old male patient was treated for rectal cancer by low anterior resection, colorectal anastomosis, and diverting ileostomy following neoadjuvant CRT. The patient reported with a postoperative anastomotic disruption and a large pelvic abscess. Due to the continuation of foul-smell drainage inspite of perianal incision and drainage, intraluminal VAC was applied and the pelvic abscess and the foul-smell were successfully treated. The presence of an adequate anal sphincter tonus is a disadvantage in anastomotic leakage, since it prevents the emptying of the intestinal content and also precludes the drainage of the pelvic abscess. The endoluminal application of VAC, similar to the results of application of VAC in open wounds, has been demonstrated to decrease fibrin and necrotic tissue in the pelvic cavity and increase granulation tissue. VAC, which has long been used in the treatment of open wounds, is a promising method in the treatment of large pelvic abscesses due to anastomotic leakage following rectum resection.

Factors affecting mortality in emergency surgery in cases of complicated colorectal cancer.

AIM: To evaluate retrospectively demographic, clinical and histopathological variables effective on mortality in patients who had undergone emergency surgery due to complicated colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 39 patients underwent urgent surgical interventions due to complicated colorectal cancer at the Department of General Surgery, Dursun Odabas Medical Center, between January 2010 and January 2015. Thirty three of these were included in the study. Six patients were excluded because complete medical records had been missing. Medical records of the 33 cases were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were 14 (42.5%) male and 19 (57.5%) female patients. Mean age was 60 years (range: 32- 83 years); 14 (42.5%) patients were less than 60 years old , while 19 (57.5%) were 60 years old or older. Operations were performed due to perforation (39.3%) and obstruction (60.6%) in 13 and 20 patients, respectively. Tumor localization was in the right and transverse colon in nine (21.2%) and in the left colon in 24 cases (72.7%). Eleven (33.3%) patients underwent resection and anastomosis, 13 (39.3%) resection and ostomy, and nine (27.2%) patients underwent ostomy alone without any resection. Postoperative mortality occurred in nine cases (27.2%). CONCLUSIONS: High mortality should be expected in females older than 60 years with a left sided colon tumor or with another synchronous tumor and in perforated tumors. Unnecessary major resections should be avoided and primary pathology should be in the focus of treatment in order to decrease the mortality and morbidity rates.

Colon cancer presented with sigmoid volvulus: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Sigmoid volvulus is the most prevalent type of colonic volvulus. Colon cancer is seen less where sigmoid volvulus is common, so it is rare to see that colon cancer is synchronous with sigmoid volvulus. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We would like to present a case of sigmoid volvulus caused by colon cancer in a male patient aged 80 who was referred to the hospital with toxaemic shock presentation. DISCUSSION: Sigmoid cancer can be presented as sigmoid volvulus to the emergency department. In intestinal obstruction early diagnosis is of crucial importance. Computarized tomography is a diagnosis tool that should be preferred both in the diagnosis of obstruction and in detecting its cause, localisation, degree and complications. CONCLUSION: When surgery is performed due to the urgent colonic obstruction in colonic volvulus diagnosed patients, a colon tumour should be considered in the same column loops or in the distal colon. We believe that CT is the method that should be preferred in large-bowel obstruction suspected patients.

A Rare Complication of Biliary Stent Migration: Small Bowel Perforation in a Patient with Incisional Hernia.

Endoscopic biliary stents have been recently applied with increasing frequency as a palliative and curable method in several benign and malignant diseases. As a reminder, although most of the migrated stents pass through the intestinal tract without symptoms, a small portion can lead to complications. Herein, we present a case of intestinal perforation caused by a biliary stent in the hernia of a patient with a rarely encountered incarcerated incisional hernia.

Bronchogenic cyst mimicking an adrenal mass in the retroperitoneal region: report of a rare case.

We report the surgical excision of a retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst that presented as a nonfunctioning left adrenal mass in a 25-year-old woman with continuous pain in the left flank. Preoperative biochemical testing confirmed that the mass was nonfunctional. Bronchogenic cysts are mostly benign congenital abnormalities that originate from the remnants of the primitive foregut and typically occur in the lung. Subdiaphragmatic and especially, retroperitoneal locations are rare. Despite the rarity of this pathologic entity, bronchogenic cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal cystic lesions. Diagnosis must be definitively confirmed by histology.

The Relationship between Eating and Lifestyle Habits and Cancer in Van Lake Region: Another Endemic Region for Esophageal and Gastric Cancers.

Purpose. To examine the relationship between esophageal and gastric cancers commonly seen in Van Lake region and the traditional eating habits of the geography. Materials and Methods. Esophageal and gastric cancer cases, who underwent surgery between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, were examined. Pathology reports of the patients and presence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) were recorded. Surveys were filled by face to face meeting or telephone call. Control group was created with randomly selected individuals without any cancer diagnosis having age, gender, and socioeconomic characteristics similar to patient group. All data were analyzed using SAS.9.3 statistical programme. Results. Compared with the control group, herby cheese consumption (a component of eating habits) and smoking were significantly higher in the patient group (P < 0.001). Tandoor exposure is compared in terms of female gender, and significant difference was found between the groups (P = 0.0013). As a result of the analysis with logistic regression more than 150 gr of herby cheese consumption per day was found to increase the cancer risk (odds ratio 1.017; 95% CI: 1.012-1.022). Conclusion. A high consumption of herby cheese, cooking bread on tandoor, and heavy smoking were seen to be important risk factors for esophageal and gastric cancers.

Torsion of wandering spleen as a rare reason for acute abdomen: A presentation of two cases.

Wandering spleen is a rare disease that is clinically characterized by torsion of the pedicle. The congenital absence of ligaments anchoring the spleen to the left sub-phrenic area or an acquired looseness is the major reason behind its mobilization. Unless splenic torsion occurs and acute abdominal clinical symptomatology develops, clinical diagnosis is highly challenging due to lack of symptoms. This study aims to share the information acquired from two encountered cases accompanied by the relevant literature.

T-tube bridging for the management of biliary tree injuries.

BACKGROUND: Injuries of the biliary tree, which mainly occur as a complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, are a potentially life threatening cause of high morbidity and mortality. The reported frequency of biliary injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is from 0.5-0.8%. Such injuries may sometimes become too complicated for surgical repair. Presented here is the case of a patient with a major bile duct injury for whom bile duct continuity was achieved using a T-tube. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old man, who developed bile duct injury following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in another center for cholelithiasis, was referred to our clinic. A Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed in the early postoperative period. However, ensuing anastomotic leakage prompted undoing of the hepaticojejunostomy followed by placement of a T-tube by which bile duct continuity was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: For injuries with tissue loss requiring external drainage, T-tube bridging offers a feasible option in that it provides bile duct continuity with biliary flow into the duodenum, as well as achieving external drainage, thus alleviating the need for further definitive surgery.

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 in gastric cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the levels of preoperative serum matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in gastric cancer. METHODS: One hundred gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy were enrolled in this study. The serum concentrations of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in these patients and in fifty healthy controls were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Higher serum MMP-1 and TIMP-1 levels were observed in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Serum MMP-1 and TIMP-1 levels were positively associated with morphological appearance, tumor size, depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, perineural invasion, and pathological stage. They were not significantly associated with age, gender, tumor location, or histological type. CONCLUSION: Increased MMP-1 and TIMP-1 were associated with gastric cancer. Although these markers are not good markers for diagnosis, these markers show in advanced gastric cancer.

Serum YKL-40 Levels in Patients with Gastric Cancer.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: YKL-40 is secreted by several types of tumors. Increased serum YKL-40 levels have been reported in prostate, glioblastoma, breast and colorectal cancers. Determination of YKL-40 levels may serve as a valuable biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the serum YKL-40 levels expressed in gastric carcinomas. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2011, we retrospectively reviewed 100 patients with gastric cancer and compared their serum samples to 75 healthy volunteers. YKL-40 levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: We found significantly higher serum levels of YKL-40 in patients with gastric cancer compared to the healthy population (P < 0.0001). We also found significant differences in serum YKL-40 levels between female and male patients with gastric cancer (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: YKL-40 is over-expressed in gastric cancer, suggesting a more aggressive phenotype. YKL-40 may be a useful serum biomarker for gastric cancer identification, and future studies should focus on the role of YKL-40 in the tumorigenesis of gastric cancer and responsiveness toward treatment.

Outcome of surgical treatment of intestinal perforation in typhoid fever.

AIM: To represent our clinical experience in the treatment of intestinal perforation arising from typhoid fever. METHODS: The records of 22 surgically-treated patients with typhoid intestinal perforation were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 18 males and 4 females, mean age 37 years (range, 8-64 years). Presenting symptoms were fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. Sixteen cases were subjected to segmental resection and end-to-end anastomosis, while 3 cases received 2-layered primary repair following debridement, one case with multiple perforations received 2-layered primary repair and end ileostomy, one case received segmental resection and end-to-end anastomosis followed by an end ileostomy, and one case received segmental resection and end ileostomy with mucous fistula operation. Postoperative morbidity was seen in 5 cases and mortality was found in one case. CONCLUSION: Intestinal perforation resulting from Salmonella typhi is an important health problem in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey. In management of this illness, early and appropriate surgical intervention is vital.

Small Bowel Obstruction due to Mesodiverticular Band of Meckel's Diverticulum: A Case Report.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the small intestine. Common complications related to a Meckel's diverticulum include haemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, and inflammation. Small bowel obstruction due to mesodiverticular band of Meckel's diverticulum is a rare complication. Herein, we report the diagnosis and management of a small bowel obstruction occurring due to mesodiverticular band of a Meckel's diverticulum.

Gossypiboma: retained surgical sponge after a gynecologic procedure.

We report on a case of gossypiboma. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with abdominal mass. She had undergone a caesarean operation 23 years previously. The mass in the right abdominal quadrant was suspected by abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The mass was removed by laparotomy excision and the final diagnosis was gossypiboma.