ABSTRACT
Cervical sympathetic chain (CSC) schwannoma is a rare neurogenic tumor that can mimic a carotid body tumor (CBT). Two male patients aged 33 and 49 years old were referred for a cervical mass thought to be a CBT. Both patients were found to have an asymptomatic, pulsatile, nontender mass located at the level of the angle of the mandible. Both patients were neurologically asymptomatic and cranial nerves were normal. Both patients underwent neck exploration and resection of the mass involving the CSC. Postoperatively, a Horner's syndrome was present. Histopathology confirmed both tumors to be schwannomas of the CSC. At follow-up, both patients are asymptomatic with no recurrence. The main imaging criterion to differentiate a CBT from a CSC schwannoma is the lack of hypervascularity of the latter. Malignant transformation is extremely rare. Tumor excision gives excellent results with no local recurrence. Horner's syndrome is an expected postoperative complication.
Subject(s)
Carotid Body Tumor/diagnosis , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnosis , Nervous System Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neurilemmoma/diagnosis , Sympathetic Nervous System , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A newborn twin with an antenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis underwent staged repair of the abdominal wall defect. She developed multiple fistulae due to ischemic bowel and then abdominal wall dehiscence requiring additional surgical interventions. Obstructive jaundice, first evident at 3 weeks of age, became progressively severe. A stricture of the common bile duct was diagnosed by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. The stricture was treated by percutaneous biliary drainage, biliary stenting, and balloon dilation of the common bile duct. These procedures, commonly used in adults for biliary decompression, may be useful alternatives to surgical intervention in infants and children with obstructive jaundice due to bile duct stricture.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Muscles/abnormalities , Catheterization , Cholestasis, Extrahepatic/therapy , Common Bile Duct Diseases/therapy , Diseases in Twins , Drainage , Cholestasis, Extrahepatic/surgery , Common Bile Duct Diseases/surgery , Drainage/methods , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , StentsABSTRACT
The authors use a snare for the antegrade extraction of coils which have become partially extruded during therapeutic embolization.