The prognostic impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on lymph node sampling in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer, at least 12 lymph nodes are required to accurately stage locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT) reduces the number of lymph nodes retrieved during surgery. In this study, we evaluated the effect of NACRT on lymph node retrieval and prognosis in patients with LARC. We performed an observational study of 142 patients with LARC. Although our analysis was retrospective, data were collected prospectively. Half the patients were treated with NACRT and total mesorectal excision (TME) and the other half underwent TME only. The number of lymph nodes retrieved and the number of metastatic lymph nodes were significantly reduced in the NACRT group (P > 0.001). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, only NACRT and patient age were significantly associated with reduced lymph node retrieval. The number of metastatic lymph nodes and the lymph node ratio (LNR) both had a significant effect on prognosis when the patient population was examined as a whole (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively). However, the LNR was the only significant, independent prognostic factor in both treatment groups (P = 0.007 for the NACRT group; P = 0.04 for the no-NACRT group). NACRT improves patient prognosis only when the number of metastatic lymph nodes is reduced. The number of metastatic lymph nodes and the LNR are important prognostic factors. Lymph node retrieval remains an indispensable tool for staging and prognostic assessment of patients with rectal carcinoma treated with NACRT.

A retrospective, Italian multicenter study of complex abdominal wall defect repair with a Permacol biological mesh.

Complex abdominal wall defects (CAWDs) can be difficult to repair and using a conventional synthetic mesh is often unsuitable. A biological mesh might offer a solution for CAWD repair, but the clinical outcomes are unclear. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a cross-linked, acellular porcine dermal collagen matrix implant (Permacol) for CAWD repair in a cohort of 60 patients. Here, 58.3% patients presented with a grade 3 hernia (according to the Ventral Hernia Working Group grading system) and a contaminated surgical field. Permacol was implanted as a bridge in 46.7%, as an underlay (intraperitoneal position) in 38.3% and as a sublay (retromuscolar position) in 15% of patients. Fascia closure was achieved in 53.3% of patients. The surgical site occurrence rate was 35% and the defect size significantly influenced the probability of post-operative complications. The long-term (2 year) hernia recurrence rate was 36.2%. This study represents the first large multi-centre Italian case series on Permacol implants in patients with a CAWD. Our data suggest that Permacol is a feasible strategy to repair a CAWD, with acceptable early complications and long-term (2 year) recurrence rates.

Retrorectal tumors: Case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Retrorectal tumors are rare diseases and they can be challenging to diagnose and to manage. Usually they have a slow growth and they are asymptomatic. When present, symptoms depends on the dimensions of the tumor and their position. Inside the retrorectal space may develope a wide variety of benign and malignant masses. CASE REPORT: A 70-years-old, obese, female patient was admitted to our hospital referring pelvic and lower-back pain for six months. The retrorectal mass was incidentally detected on imaging, and treated with a modified Kraske procedure.Pathological examination revealed a rare retrorectal epidermoid cyst. We also reviewed the informations present in the scientific literature about the incidence, diagnosis and treatment options of retrorectal tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the rarity and heterogeneity of these tumors, we agree with literature that their surgical management is mandatory in order to achieve a definitive diagnosis and to avoid complications including malignant transformation. The surgical approach should be tailored for each patient and according to tumor's features.

Small bowel obstruction caused by an unusual variant of paraduodenal hernia. The "middle congenital mesocolic hernia": case report.

Internal hernias account for 0.2-0.9 % of all small bowel obstructions and are associated with a mortality rate of 50 % when strangulation is present. Congenital mesocolic hernias, traditionally called paraduodenal hernias, caused by an abnormal rotation of the primitive midgut, are the most common type of internal hernia. They can be divided into three types: the right and the left congenital mesocolic hernias, accounting for the 25 and 75 % of all cases, respectively, and the extremely rare transverse congenital mesocolic hernia. A high preoperative misdiagnosis rate has been reported and a surgical exploration is recommended to identify strangulation. The present case report describes a case of small bowel obstruction due to an unusual variant of congenital mesocolic hernia never previously reported in the literature. We discuss the clinical appearance, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of the case, with a brief review of the literature focused on the pathogenesis and management of mesocolic congenital hernias.

Mediastinal ganglioneuroma: a rare and often asymptomatic tumour. A case report.

Ganglioneuroma is a very rare tumour characterised by a slow evolution and arising from cells originating in the neural crest. This type of tumour occurs most commonly in the posterior mediastinum and is considered malignant in childhood and benign thereafter. It grows very slowly and can usually grow to a substantial size without giving rise to an evident clinical picture. We report the case of an 18-year-old asymptomatic patient, who had undergone a medical examination in a military hospital where a chest X-ray revealed a roundish mass in the right lung displacing the trachea to the left. Computed tomography showed that the mass was located in the posterior mediastinum. Surgical resection was performed. The tumour was encapsulated and adhered tightly to the pleura of the costovertebral angle. Histological examination revealed a ganglio-neuroma composed of Schwann cells and mature ganglion cells without any neuroblastomatous elements. This case of a mediastinal ganglioneuroma in a young male patient is a typical example of this rare pathological entity. The totally asymptomatic clinical picture could be explained by the very slow growth of this type of tumour which can displace the surrounding anatomical structures without infiltration.

Hydatid disease in a very unusual location: the adrenal gland. A case report.

Hydatid cysts are most often located in the liver and lungs (55-90%), while their location in the adrenal gland is very rare (0.5%). We observed a patient with a hydatid cyst in the adrenal gland, the diagnosis of which was incidental during ultrasonography and computed tomography. The experience acquired in Sicily where hydatid disease is endemic makes serological tests unnecessary, also because they often require a lengthy waiting period and are expensive. The patient had undergone surgery for the treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts. The adrenal localization may be explained as a consequence of secondary dissemination via the blood stream. The cyst developed inside the gland and caused atrophy of the glandular tissue. The surgical treatment called for adrenalectomy as the adrenal gland was entirely occupied by the cyst.