Hepatic Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor Mimicking Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, and liver PEComas are extremely rare. They are usually discovered incidentally, and diagnostic pitfalls are frequent owing to similar imaging characteristics to other liver neoplasms. We present a patient whose evaluation was consistent with a right-sided hepatocellular carcinoma for which right hepatectomy was performed. Based on the final histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry, a diagnosis of PEComa was made. Immunohistochemistry plays a crucial role in arriving at the diagnosis, and resection represents the standard of care. A long-term follow-up is recommended because the natural history of PEComas is unpredictable.

Laparoscopic Ultra Low Anterior Resection: Single Center, 6-Year Study.

Background: This study represents a prospective analysis of a series of laparoscopic ultra low anterior resection (ULAR) done at a laparoscopic surgical center to assess the surgical outcome, oncological efficacy, and quality of life after surgery. Methods: Over a period of 6 years (2013-2018), 43 patients aged between 40 and 68 years, with very low rectal cancers (3-6 cm from the anal verge), within T3N1M0 stage, assessed by positron emission tomography-computed tomography and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by laparoscopic ULAR and simultaneous diversion ileostomy. Results: The overall complication rate was low and there was an overall leak rate of 9.3% with a radiological leak (Grade A) in 3 of the 43 patients (7%), but only 1 (2.3%) patient required a local lavage and a resuturing for secondary hemorrhage. Recurrence was seen in 2/43 (4.7%), one of whom had a conversion to abdominoperineal resection. The other had distant metastasis and refused further treatment. The functional outcome is assessed in 41 (95.3%) patients by low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score and a reasonable quality of life with major LARS was seen in only 7.3% of the patients at a follow-up ranging from 1 to 6 years. Conclusion: The nCRT followed by laparoscopic ULAR is a feasible option for operable very low rectal cancers and is associated with minimal postoperative events, a low local recurrence and less incidence of LARS.

Mediastinal Pseudocyst: Varied Presentations and Management-Experience from a Tertiary Referral Care Centre in India.

Pseudocysts are a recognised complication following acute or chronic pancreatitis. Usually located in peripancreatic areas, they have also been reported to occur in atypical regions like liver, pelvis, spleen, and mediastinum. Mediastinal pseudocysts are a rare entity and present with myriad of symptoms due to their unique location. They are a clinical challenge to diagnose and manage. In this paper, we describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of mediastinal pseudocysts in 7 of our patients, as well as our experience in managing these patients along with their clinical outcome.

Anomalous middle hepatic artery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Wolf in sheep's clothing.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a simple but dangerous operation. The complex anatomy and frequent anomalies of the hepatic arterial and biliary system are often a shocking surprise to the laparoscopic surgeon. When these vital structures cannot be identified correctly, potentially crippling serious vascular and biliary injury can occur. A very rare case of middle hepatic artery encountered in the Calot's coursing over the gall bladder and travelling extraparenchymal into segment IV is reported. Identification and preservation of the middle hepatic artery is essential to prevent the possibility of hepatic artery thrombosis and to avoid ischemic cholangiopathy of segment IV duct. A comprehensive understanding of the hepatic arterial and biliary anatomy of the liver will empower laparoscopic surgeons to avoid crippling vascular and biliary injury.