Management of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Single Institution Experience.

Introduction: There are multiple management modalities for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, but the treatment of choice is still under debate. This study aims to evaluate the diagnosis and outcomes of different management modalities in patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis and to identify the risk factors associated with recurrence. Method: This is a single-group cohort study that included those patients who had idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Ultrasonography was conducted for all of the cases using LOGIQ E9 with an ML6-15 transducer (5-15 MHz). A core needle biopsy was conducted to take samples from the cases for histopathological examination. The patients were put on steroid therapy. Whenever the cases did not respond to the steroid therapy, treatment with a combination of low-dose steroids and methotrexate was started. In the lack of response to conservative treatments, surgical interventions were started. Results: Sixty-three cases with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis were included. The mean age of patients was 35.7 years. The history of more than one childbirth was positive in a large portion of the cases (82.5%). The lesion side was unilateral in 58.7% of the cases. A large proportion of the lesions were classified as BIRADS category 2. The best treatment outcome was yielded by a combination of low-dose steroids and incision and drainage. The factors of age, lesion area (cm2), skin thickening, and white blood cell count enhanced the chance of recurrence. Conclusion: Incision and drainage in combination with a low dose of steroids can give an acceptable outcome with a low rate of recurrence.

Penile calciphylaxis with penoscrotal necrosis: A case report with literature review.

Penile calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy is an uncommon condition of the penile vessels due to its extensive vascular network. The aim of this report is to report a very rare case of penile calciphylaxis with penoscrotal necrosis. A 54-year-old male patient presented with progressive penoscrotal necrosis within a duration of one month. He had a history of diabetes mellitus and stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Under spinal anesthesia, partial penectomy and excision of the necrotic scrotum were performed. Histopathological examination was consistent with calciphylaxis. Despite it is a rare occurrence, penile calciphylaxis should be included in the different diagnosis of any diabetic and end stage kidney disease patients who presented with penile pain.

Para­testicular arteriovenous malformation: A case report and mini­review of the literature.

Arteriovenous malformations from para-testicular structures are very rare, with only a limited number of cases reported in the literature. The present study reports a rare case of para-testicular arteriovenous malformation. A 6-year-old boy presented with painless swelling in the scrotum for 6 months. Upon examination, a non-tender and non-pulsatile cystic swelling was observed in the right hemi-scrotum below the testis. A scrotal ultrasound revealed a separate cystic lesion with a normal texture and the vascularity of both testes. Under general anesthesia, via a small scrotal incision, a cystic, blood-filled mass was excised. The results of a histopathological examination were suggestive of vascular malformation. The case described in the present study aims to shed light on vascular malformations. A number of vascular malformations are incorrectly referred to as hemangiomas, and numerous patients undergo inappropriate therapy due to this misclassification. Although para-testicular arteriovenous malformation is a very rare condition, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of para-testicular lesions.

Non-operative management of pilonidal sinus disease; classification and outcome.

The characteristics of the pilonidal sinus that are associated with recurrence have scarcely been investigated in the literature. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease who were managed by a non-operative technique using Salih's preparation. This study also tries to classify the patients according to the features that determine the outcome of the intervention. This is a single-group cohort study that enrolled consecutive patients that had pilonidal sinus. All the patients were managed using Salih's preparation. The patients were seen at the clinic 6 weeks after the intervention to record data of recurrence. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 was used for coding and analysing the data. Test of significance and odds ratio were calculated for all of the features. The total number of patients receiving Salih's preparation was 12 123 cases, of which only 3529 patients were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 26.95 years, ranging from 14 to 55 years. The most significant factor related to the recurrence was the presence of an abscess. After summation of all odd ratios, the percentage of each one from the total was calculated, and accordingly, the patients were divided into three classes. Non-operative methods using a preparation with antimicrobial and sclerosing properties can be an alternative for surgical intervention with a lower risk of recurrence. Classification of patients based on specific criteria can give clinicians and even patients themselves a vision of the chance of recurrence and treatment success.

The clinical safety of generic and brand clopidogrel in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Although some recent studies have found that original and generic clopidogrel brands are acceptable and have the same pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, there is insufficient evidence to compare the clinical effectiveness and safety of brand and generic clopidogrel. The current study aims to evaluate the clinical safety of brand and generic clopidogrel by comparing clinical outcomes in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Method: This was a single centre, parallel-arm, phase III, open-label, and randomized group sequential trial. It was conducted to compare the clinical safety of a brand and three generic clopidogrel forms in patients who have undergone CEA. All enrolled subjects were treated perioperatively with dual antiplatelet (aspirin and clopidogrel). The involved participants were assigned randomly into four groups based on the type of clopidogrel. Safety parameters were measured, including haematoma, blood draining from drainage, mouth deviation, tongue deviation, and stroke. SPSS software was used to perform the data analysis. Results: The trial included 80 patients in total (20 patients per group). Thirty-one (38.8%) patients were male. The mean age of patients was 65.6 years (49-79). Eighteen (22.5%) patients had a history of previous coronary intervention, and seventeen (21.3%) had symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Overall, Plavix or Piax combined with aspirin were linked to better clinical safety than the other two generic clopidogrel, as the amount of bleeding was nearly two times lower in patients treated with Plavix or Piax (270±92.39 and 271.5±80.60, respectively) compared to PlavigrelAwa or Plavineer (505.7±169.1 and 496.5±174.6, respectively) (P≤0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the current study showed diversity in clinical safety of different clopidogrel formulations that were provided perioperatively in CEA patients.

Efficacy of ultrasound­guided platelet rich plasma injection for the management of de Quervain's tenosynovitis.

De Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQT) is a painful stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist, which may be refractory to conservative treatments. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for the management of DQT. For this purpose, from January, 2020 to February, 2021, 12 patients with DQT who received the US-guided PRP injection were studied prospectively. All patients were evaluated clinically for pain intensity using the visual analog scale and sonographically prior to treatment. The patients were followed-up at 1 and 3 months after the procedure to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment. In total, 12 hands of 12 female patients with DQT were analyzed in the present study. The post-treatment clinical evaluation revealed complete recovery in 4 (33.3%) of the patients, and 6 (50%) of them had recovered and returned to their daily activities. The sonographic evaluation revealed a significant reduction in the mean retinaculum thickness from 1.84 to 1.069 mm, and mean tendon sheath effusion from 2.06 to 1.25 mm, with only 58% of the cases having tendon sheath effusion at 3 months post-treatment. On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that US-guided PRP injection with needle tenotomy can be used as an alternative non-surgical therapy for patients who do not respond to conventional conservative treatments, particularly in cases with sub-compartmentalization. The use of US may play a crucial role in the treatment of DQT, as improved clinical outcomes can be obtained with US-guided injections, particularly in cases with sub-compartmentalization.

The role of inflammatory serum markers and ureteral wall thickness on spontaneous passage of ureteral stone < 10 mm: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Ureteral stone is a worldwide disease and accounts for 20% of all urolithiasis. There is a widespread discussion on the preferred initial treatment method, whether medical or surgical, and each has its pros and cons. In this study, we aimed to assess the role of both ureteral wall thickness around the stone and inflammatory markers in guiding the decision-making process. Methods: In this prospective study, 161 patients who presented with ureteric colic and were diagnosed with ureteral stone with NCCT were included. UWT around the stone was measured, and the NLR and PLR were calculated. The patients were given a single daily dose of tamsulosin 0.4 mg for 4 weeks with weekly follow-up to determine SSP or failure. Results: Of the 161 patients with a mean age 40.12 ± 12.36 SD, 55.9% had a spontaneous stone passage. Receiver operating characteristics showed a cut off value of 2.45 mm UWT of non SSP patients with an 83% sensitivity and 86% specificity. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between higher NLR, PLR and increased UWT (Pearson correlation of 0.314 and 0.426 respectively). The combined higher NLR, PLR and increased UWT were associated with failure of SSP (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Many factors play a role in decision making for management of ureteral stones. Our study concludes that patients with high NLR, PLR, and UWT around the stone have lesser chance of SSP using MET. Their rise can be used as predictors to decide early intervention.

Pattern of facial nerve palsy during parotidectomy: a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to report and analyze the prevalence of permanent facial nerve paralysis following parotidectomy for various benign and malignant lesions in a single center. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included all patients who underwent parotidectomy (total and superficial) for benign and malignant tumors and chronic inflammatory diseases during a 6-year period. Patients who had previously undergone an operation of the parotid gland and those with preoperative facial weakness were excluded. RESULTS: The study included 127 patients ranging in age from 14 to 83 years (median, 45.89 years). Most patients were female (n = 83, 65.4%). The most prevalent procedure was superficial parotidectomy (n = 117, 92.1%), followed by total parotidectomy (n = 6, 4.7%). The average operative duration was 138 minutes (range, 80-400 minutes). Histopathology revealed that 109 (85.8%) patients had benign tumors, 14 (11.0%) had malignant tumors, and 4 (3.1%) had chronic sialadenitis. Only two patients sustained an injury to the cervical branch of the facial nerve. CONCLUSION: In this single-center experience of parotid surgery, the rates of transient and permanent facial paralysis were acceptably low at 9.0% and 1.6%, respectively, for all pathologies.

Subcutaneous bronchogenic cyst of the chest wall: A case report with brief literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchogenic cysts are congenital lesions found in the mediastinum, particularly the posterior-superior area. The current study aims to report a rare case of a subcutaneous bronchogenic cyst in the chest wall. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old patient presented with a swelling of the chest wall. The mass had been present since birth. On examination, there was a large soft, round mass over the sternum subcutaneously. It was a fixed, non-flatulence, non-pulsatile, and non-tender mass. DISCUSSION: Usually, the condition develops between the fifth and sixteenth weeks of gestation, when the primordial intestine separates into two parts: dorsal, which gives rise to the esophagus, and ventral, which gives rise to the pulmonary bud and tracheobronchial tree. As a result, the cyst is an ectopic lung bud that may or may not be connected to the tracheobronchial tree but lacks mesenchymal tissue. CONCLUSION: Although chest wall bronchogenic cysts are uncommon, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic and soft tissue lesions in adults with chest wall swelling.

Recurrent seasonal severe hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis; a case report.

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is considered an uncommon cause of AP. The current study aims to present a unique case of recurrent seasonal severe HTG-induced AP (HTG-AP); treated with insulin and heparin. Case report: A 36-year-old male presented with recurrent attacks of severe upper abdominal pain that was radiating to the back and associated with repeated vomiting. The condition has being occurring every autumn-winter for the last three years. He had thalassemia minor and had a history of HTG-AP. His TG levels were relatively normal from February to August; however, from September to February, his TG levels highly elevated which has resulted in HTG-AP every year for the past three years. The condition was confirmed via a contrast-enhanced computerized tomography scan of the abdomen. To prevent the next HTG-AP, his TG level was monitored monthly. When TG levels spiked again, the patient was put on an insulin infusion with heparin, glucose, and potassium to rapidly reduce TG level. After two days, serum TG was dramatically reduced (<500 mg/dL). Discussion: Despite multiple theories being proposed, the pathogenesis of HTG-AP is yet to be understood. Usually, HTG-AP is a single episodic, and recurrent HTG-AP is considered uncommon finding. Previous reports are contradictory regarding TG level and seasonal variation. There is currently no standard management approach to treat HTG-AP cases. Conclusion: HTG-AP rarely reoccurs on an annual basis, and seasonal variation seems to play a major role in its onset. The condition can be managed with insulin, heparin, and glucose infusions.

Bilateral brachial plexus block as alternative to general anaesthesia in high-risk patient; a case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral brachial plexus blocks can be an alternative to general anaesthesia in the surgery of arm, forearm, wrist, or hand. This study aims to report a case in which a risky patient underwent amputation surgery under regional anaesthesia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old male was admitted to the hospital for an amputation operation. Ultrasonography revealed normal findings regarding internal organs, aside from grade II increased echogenicity of both kidneys and a small bladder cyst. Echocardiography revealed mildly left ventricular dilation, moderate systolic left ventricular dysfunction, ejection fraction 38%, left ventricular wall hypokinesia with left ventricular dilation. The amputation was performed under a bilateral supraclavicular brachial plexus block with the guidance of ultrasound. DISCUSSION: Theoretically, there are some advantages to regional anaesthesia in comparison to general anaesthesia, such as decreasing the ordinary body response to stress in the presence of low levels of cortisol and catecholamines, increasing blood flow and peripheral vasodilatation, decreasing hypercoagulability, lower risk of arterial and venous thrombosis and it aids to prevent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: Bilateral brachial plexus blocks, as a type of regional anaesthesia under ultrasound guidance, can be depended upon as a reliable substitute for general anaesthesia in perilous conditions.

Synchronous occurrence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma and Hashimoto thyroiditis in a single thyroid: A case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The synchronous development of a medullary and papillary carcinoma as two different tumors has only been reported very rarely. The aim of the current report is to describe an extremely rare occurrence of medullary carcinoma, papillary microcarcinoma, and Hashimoto thyroiditis. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old man presented with a right-sided neck mass. Ultrasound showed a well-defined nodule in the right mid third with microcalcification and increased nodular vascularity associated with multiple right-sided cervical lymphadenopathy. The histopathological examination showed multifocal medullary carcinoma with incidental finding of unifocal papillary microcarcinoma conventional type on the left side. Additional pathology of Hashimoto thyroiditis with a small intra-thyroidal parathyroid gland in the left thyroid gland. The procedure went perfectly and the patient was discharged home without any difficulties. DISCUSSION: Synchronous existence of these two neoplasms can occur in two forms: distinct medullary carcinoma and papillary carcinoma isolated by normal thyroid tissue, or mixed medullary and follicular-derived thyroid carcinoma, in which single or multiple lesions show morphology and immunoreactivity for both medullary carcinoma and follicular-derived carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The synchronous coexistence of papillary microcarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an uncommon thyroid condition.

Ectopic papilla of Vater in the pylorus presenting with cholangitis: A case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The papilla of Vater is situated in the second part of the duodenum. The current study aims to report a rare occurrence of an ectopic papilla of Vater in the pyloric region presenting with cholangitis. CASE REPORT: A 59-year-old male patient presented with right upper quadrant pain, anorexia, nausea, and jaundice. He was feverish and exhibited tenderness in the right upper quadrant. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed an ectopic papilla of Vater on the pyloric canal. A gastroscope was used instead of a duodenoscope for better visibility of the opening, easier cannulation, and a less risky sphincterotomy. He returned one year after his last procedure with no symptoms and no recurrence of acute cholangitis. DISCUSSION: It has been suggested that developmental defects are acquired during embryogenesis. If subdivision happens early in embryogenesis, leaving the pars hepatica above the zone of proliferation that divides the stomach from the duodenum, the pars hepatica will develop into a duct that empties into the pylorus area. CONCLUSION: It is preferable to use a gastroscope rather than a duodenoscope to visualize and manipulate the common bile duct in the case of an ectopic papilla of Vater in the pylorus.

Mixed germ cell tumor of sacrococcygeal region; A case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Mixed germ cell tumors are uncommon tumors that contain two or more types of malignant, primitive, or germ cell components. This study aims to report a rare case of extragonadal mixed germ cell tumor of the sacrococcygeal area. CASE REPORT: A 4-year-old female presented with lower back swelling for two weeks. It was associated with pain and fever. Investigations showed elevated Alpha-fetoprotein and normal beta HCG levels. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large well defined heterogeneous mass at the midline of the lower coccygeal region, which displaced the rectum anteriorly without invasion. Surgical dissection of the mass with excision of the coccyx was performed. Afterward, the patient was referred to an oncology center for chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: The emergence of extragonadal germ cell tumors may be caused by a disruption in the migration of primordial germ cells along the urogenital ridge, which then undergo a malignant transformation as a consequence of their microenvironment. Another idea states that extragonadal germ cell tumors occur when germ cells that routinely migrate into the extragonadal region during embryogenesis undergo malignant transformation.

Simultaneous Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome and Leydig Cell Tumor in a Patient with Azoospermia: A Rare Case Report.

Testicular cancers comprise 1-1.5% of entire cancers in men, and sex cord-stromal tumors include 5% of testicular cancers. This study aims to report a simultaneous Sertoli cell-only syndrome and Leydig cell tumor in the same patient. A 32-year-old man presented with a history of primary infertility for 3 years. Physical examination revealed normal secondary sexual characteristics. Two successive seminal fluid analyses revealed azoospermia. A scrotal ultrasound scan showed a 28 × 27 mm hypoechoic and hypervascular right testicular mass. Right radical orchiectomy and simultaneous left testicular biopsy were conducted. The histopathological examination revealed Sertoli cell-only syndrome and Leydig cell tumor with focal Leydig cell hyperplasia. Reversing fertility following the management of Leydig cell tumor is rarely mentioned in the literature. A study revealed that fertility recovered following 4 months of management in a primary infertile male. However, infertile men with nonobstructive azoospermia due to SCOS can only have a child by testicular sperm extraction technique. Despite the rare occurrence of Leydig cell tumor, it could be seen in association with Sertoli cell-only syndrome in infertile men with azoospermia. Clinical examination and imaging studies are important in these patients as the possibility of having a testicular mass is high among them.

Pilonidal sinus of breast, a case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Pilonidal sinus (PNS) is an acquired inflammatory infection that mostly occurs in the sacrococcygeal region. This study aims to present a case of breast pilonidal sinus with a brief literature review. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old female presented with two painful right breast lumps for about one-month duration. Ultrasound (US) examination revealed heterogeneous areas with minimal inflammation at the right breast. There was also a nipple inversion, retro areolar duct dilatation, skin fistula, and reactive inflammatory level I axillary lymph nodes, suggesting inflammation/infection. Wide local excision was done. Histopathological examination revealed duct ectasia with a focus of sclerosing adenosis and a single hair shaft located in the breast tissue. DISCUSSION: Authors encourage surgical treatment (excision and primary closure) due to high recurrence risk after aspiration, medical treatment, and slow response of the abscess to antibiotic administration. Gender, family history, smoking, overweight, sinus size, poor hygiene, and surgical technique are among the risk factors that play a role in recurrence. CONCLUSION: Breast PNS is a very rare and atypical variant of PNS that may occur due to nipple inversion, hormonal effect, poor hygiene, tight brassieres. Surgical treatment is the best option to reduce recurrence risk.

One for two, ipsilateral reduction and contralateral reconstruction mammoplasty: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this paper is to introduce a novel procedure for concomitant contralateral reduction and ipsilateral reconstruction mammoplasty by dividing the contralateral breast and creating a pectoralis myocutaneous flap for reconstruction. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 34-year-old female, with a history of left side mastectomy presented for reconstruction. Under general anesthesia, the scar of the previous operation was resected in an elliptical shaped incision, the right breast was divided in middle, leaving the flap (pectoralis myocutaneous flap) with pectoralis branch of thoracoacromial artery. The superiomedial part of right breast (the flap) was rotated under the bridge of intermammary skin into the left incision. Ten days after the operation, the flap was viable and healthy. DISCUSSION: The aim of breast reconstruction is to provide psychosocial support and improve quality of life in the long term by restoring the shape of the breast surgically. New techniques have emerged constantly, and each comes with its list of advantages and risks. The benefits of reconstruction are clear, yet often it is not found as a part of breast cancer treatment routinely. CONCLUSION: In single session reduction mammoplasty in one breast and using the resected piece as a flap to reconstruct the contralateral breast is possible whenever indication.

Bilateral inframammary pilonidal sinus: A case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a chronic inflammatory perianal disorder that rarely occurs outside sacrococcygeal region. The aim of this study is to report an extremely rare case of bilateral inframammary PNS with brief literature review. CASE REPORT: A 25-year-old female presented with a discharging sinuses in both inframammary region for two years. Examination showed multiple discharging sinuses with several centimeters of induration and tenderness. Under general anesthesia, complete excision of the sinuses with primary closure done. Histopathological examinations showed chronic foreign body granuloma surrounding hair shaft pictures consistent with PNS. DISCUSSION: Inframammary PNS has never been reported in the literature. As with intermammary PNS, in this case also it is associated with obesity and large breasts with tight brassieres. Diagnosis is usually clinical. In contrast to sacrococcygeal PNS, operation under general anesthesia is main treatment modality. CONCLUSION: Pilonidal sinus of inframammary region is an extremely rare condition. High index of suspicion is required for diagnosis. Excision with primary closure is the definitive therapy.

Enterobius vermicularis causing acute appendicitis, a case report with literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Enterobius vermicularis is one of the commonest parasitic infestations worldwide but its association with acute appendicitis remains controversial. It is very rarely encountered during appendectomy. The aim of this paper is to report a case of acute appendicitis caused by Enterobius vermicularis. A 23-year-old housewife presented with a right lower abdominal pain for the past 8 h. Clinical examination revealed right iliac fossa tenderness upon palpation and rebound tenderness upon release. The patient was diagnosed as a case of suspected acute appendicitis. The patient was anesthetized and intubated. Delivery of the vermiform appendix done through right grid iron incision. Intra operatively an inflamed appendix obstructed by Enterobius vermicularis was noted. CONCLUSION: Enterobius vermicularis can habit the appendix and induce the signs and symptoms of A.A with or without actual histopathological acute appendicitis. The treatment of choice is surgical resection of the appendix.