[Acute pancreatitis associated with hypercalcaemia]. / Pancreatitis aguda asociada con hipercalcemia.

BACKGROUND: Hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism is a rare cause of acute pancreatitis, with a reported prevalence of 1.5 to 8%. There is no clear pathophysiological basis, but elevated parathyroid hormone and high serum calcium levels could be responsible for calcium deposit in the pancreatic ducts and activation of pancreatic enzymes, which may be the main risk factor for developing acute pancreatitis. The aim of this report is to describe four cases. CLINICAL CASE: Four cases are reported of severe pancreatitis associated with hypercalcaemia secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism; three of them with complications (two pseudocysts and one pancreatic necrosis). Cervical ultrasound, computed tomography, and scintigraphy using 99mTc-Sestambi, studies showed the parathyroid adenoma. Surgical resection was the definitive treatment in all four cases. None of the patients had recurrent acute pancreatitis events during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Acute pancreatitis secondary to hypercalcaemia of primary hyperparathyroidism is rare; however, when it occurs it is associated with severe pancreatitis. It is suspected in patients with elevated serum calcium and high parathyroid hormone levels. Imaging techniques such as cervical ultrasound, computed tomography, and scintigraphy using 99mTc-Sestambi, should be performed, to confirm clinical suspicion. Surgical resection is the definitive treatment with excellent results.

[Deep neck abscess. Factors related to reoperation and mortality]. / Absceso profundo de cuello. Factores asociados con la reoperación y mortalidad.

BACKGROUND: Deep neck abscesses are major complications that arise of odontogenic, pharyngeal, or cervicofacial foci, mainly in patients with morbidities that facilitate the spread to other spaces. Many of them require surgical treatment, and an appropriate evaluation and surgical drainage is required to obtain the best results. AIM: To identify factors which relate to reoperation and mortality in patient submitted to surgical treatment due to deep neck abscess. METHODS: Review of all patients with deep neck abscess who underwent surgical treatment in a Head and Neck Surgery Department in a third-level hospital during a two year period. RESULTS: There were 87 patients, 44 of which were female. The median age was 49 years old. Thirty-five patients (40%) had comorbidities, diabetes mellitus being the most common, found in 30 (34%) patients. Twenty-one patients (24%) required reoperation (primarily due to inadequate surgical drainage). The risk factors identified with it were presence of comorbidities (mainly diabetes mellitus) (p< 0.05), multiple deep neck spaces involvement (p< 0.001) and an ASA score of three or above (p< 0.01). Eight patients died, for a mortality of 9%. The factors related to mortality were multiple deep neck spaces involvement (p< 0.01), bilateral involvement (p< 0.05) and reoperation (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Deep neck abscesses appropriate evaluation and a complete surgical drainage of all deep space neck abscesses are primordial to avoid reoperation and improve survival.

Antecedentes: los abscesos profundos de cuello son complicaciones de infecciones, principalmente de origen odontogénico y de vías aéreas superiores, que afectan con mayor frecuencia a pacientes con morbilidades que favorecen la diseminación de la infección. Muchos requieren tratamiento quirúrgico, evaluación y drenaje apropiado para obtener los mejores resultados. Objetivo: identificar los factores relacionados con la reoperación y la mortalidad en pacientes con drenaje quirúrgico por absceso profundo de cuello. Material y métodos: estudio longitudinal, retrospectivo, observacional y comparativo efectuado con base en la revisión de todos los pacientes con absceso profundo de cuello que se operaron en un servicio de cabeza y cuello de un hospital de tercer nivel. Resultados: se estudiaron 87 pacientes, 44 de ellos eran mujeres. La mediana de edad fue de 49 años. El 40% tenían comorbilidades (35 pacientes) y la diabetes melltitus fue la más frecuente en 30 pacientes (34%). Se reoperaron 21 pacientes (24%), la mayoría por drenaje incompleto. Los factores de riesgo identificados fueron: comorbilidades (principalmente diabetes mellitus) (p< 0.05), mayor número de espacios afectados (p< 0.001) y una escala de ASA III o mayor (p< 0.01). La mortalidad fue de 9% (ocho pacientes). Los factores relacionados con mortalidad fueron: mayor número de espacios afectados (p< 0.01), afectación bilateral (p< 0.05) y reoperación (p< 0.001). Conclusión: en abscesos profundos de cuello la evaluación preoperatoria y el drenaje quirúrgico completo de todos los espacios afectados son primordiales para evitar la reoperación y mejorar la supervivencia.

Experiencia quirúrgica en el manejo del hiperparatiroidismo primario de un año en el Servicio de Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello del Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI / Surgical experience in the management of a 1-year primary hyperparathyroidism at the Head and Neck Surgery Service of the Specialty Hospital of the National Medical Center ''Siglo XXI''

Objetivo: Evaluar la utilidad de los métodos de diagnóstico, la efectividad de la paratiroidectomía y sus complicaciones. Sede: Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo, observacional, transversal. Análisis estadístico: Medidas de tendencia central más pruebas de valor diagnóstico. Pacientes y método: Se incluyeron 21 pacientes adultos consecutivos operados por hiperparatiroidismo primario (HPTP), del 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2009. Las variables analizadas fueron: edad, género, antecedentes familiares de patología paratiroidea, manifestaciones clínicas, cuantificación de niveles séricos de calcio, fósforo y hormona paratiroidea en preoperatorio y postoperatorio, depuración de creatinina y densitometría ósea; valor diagnóstico de estudios preoperatorios de localización y reporte histopatológico. Resultados: El 90% de los pacientes perteneció al sexo femenino y la edad media fue de 57 años. La nefrolitiasis, hipertensión arterial sistémica y fatiga fueron las manifestaciones clínicas y entidades asociadas con mayor frecuencia a hiperparatiroidismo primario. La ultrasonografía y la centellografía mostraron baja sensibilidad, bajo valor predictivo positivo, moderada especificidad y moderado valor predictivo negativo. El abordaje quirúrgico fue unilateral en 10 pacientes (47.5%), bilateral en 52.5%; la efectividad terapéutica fue de 85.7% en la primera intervención y 100% en la reintervención. Se registraron complicaciones en el 4.7% de los pacientes. Conclusión: En esta serie los pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo primario presentaron nefrolitiasis con mayor frecuencia; la sensibilidad diagnóstica de la ultrasonografía y centellografía en relación con la localización específica de las glándulas es inferior a lo informado. Se tuvo alta efectividad quirúrgica de la paratiroidectomía y baja frecuencia de complicaciones.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of the diagnostic methods and the efficacy of parathyroidectomy and its complications. Setting: Third level health care center (Specialty Hospital of the National Medical Center ''Siglo XXI'') Design: Retrospective, descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. Statistical analysis: Central tendency measures and diagnostic value tests. Patients and method: The study included 21 consecutive adult patients subjected to surgery due to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) from January 1st to December 31st 2009. Analyzed variables were: age, gender, familial antecedents of parathyroid pathology, clinical manifestations, pre-operative and post-operative serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels, creatinine depuration, bone densitometry; diagnostic value of preoperative location study and histopathological report. Results: Ninety percent of patients were women with a mean age of 57 years. Nephrolithiasis, systemic arterial hypertension, and fatigue were the clinical manifestations most frequently associated with primary hyperparathyroidism. Ultrasonography and scintigraphy showed low sensitivity, low positive predictive value, moderate specificity, and moderate negative predictive value. Surgical approach was unilateral in 10 patients (47.5%), bilateral in 52.5%; therapeutic efficacy was of 85.7% for the first intervention, and of 100% for re-intervention. Complications were encountered in 4.7% of patients. Conclusion: In this series, patients with primary hyperparathyroidism presented nephrolithiasis more frequently, sensitivity of ultrasonography and scintigraphy in relation to specific location of glands was lower than reported. High surgical efficacy of the parathyroidectomy was achieved with low frequency of complications.

Factors associated with malignancy in patients with thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND: Due to the development of diagnostic techniques, the incidence of thyroid nodule reporting is increasing. Most of these cases may be managed conservatively, but it is important to identify those with a high suspicion of malignancy. The aim of this study was to identify factors that relate to malignancy in patients with thyroid nodule. METHODS: We reviewed the files of all patients with thyroid nodule who underwent surgical treatment in a Head and Neck Surgery Department in a third-level hospital during a 3-year period. RESULTS: There were 114 patients; 103 were female. Median age was 48 years old with a mean nodule size of 3.3 cm. Surgeries performed were 54 hemithyroidectomies, 10 total thyroidectomies, 48 total thyroidectomies and central nodal dissection (level VI), 1 partial resection, and one istmectomy. In 64 patients, the final diagnosis was benign, adenoma being the most common diagnosis. In 50 patients the nodules were malignant, predominantly papillary carcinoma (42 cases). Factors related to malignant nodule were age < 40 years (p < 0.05), firm consistency (p < 0.01), fixed nodule (p < 0.01) and microcalcifications (p < 0.01) and solid or mixed appearance assessed by ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that clinical characteristics and ultrasonography results may be used to identify high risk patients with thyroid nodules.