Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization for Gynecologic Tumor Relapses: Development of a Technique.

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: Excision of peritoneal or nodal isolated recurrences frequently involves performing a surgery on a previously operated area, which is more difficult to achieve with minimally invasive approaches. Our aim was to describe the technical aspects, feasibility, and complications derived from the application of the radioguided occult lesions localization (ROLL) in gynecologic oncology recurrence excision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients bearing localized relapses of a gynecologic tumor that were considered candidates for surgical excision were assessed to undergo a ROLL procedure. Radiotracer ( 99m Tc-albumin macroaggregate) injection of the lesions was performed by ultrasonography or CT guidance. Relapses were localized using a gamma probe by minimally invasive surgery when located in the abdomen, or percutaneously when located in the groin. Intraoperative and early (up to postoperative day 30) complications were prospectively recorded. RESULTS: A total of 8 patients underwent the procedure. The median age was 59 years (range, 35-87 years). Four patients had abdominal relapses, whereas 4 patients presented groin relapses. The mean operative time was 120 minutes (range, 30-190 minutes), whereas the median estimated blood loss was 5 mL (range, 0-150 mL). All the targeted lesions were successfully removed. No intraoperative complications were reported. One postoperative complication (inguinal lymphocele) was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: ROLL surgery constitutes a new approach for isolated recurrences in gynecological tumors.

Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Metastases on Round Ligament of Liver.

ABSTRACT: We describe a case of a 69-year-old woman with follicular thyroid cancer of long evolution, with thyroidectomy 20 years before, who had remained clinically stable until now, when she started to present abnormal levels of serum thyroglobulin. An 123I whole-body scan showed a high uptake in the upper right half of her abdomen, and an 18F-FDG PET/CT located this focus at the liver's round ligament. Pathology findings after surgery showed the focus to be a differentiated thyroid cancer metastasis. This is an unusual presentation of differentiated thyroid cancer metastasis.

Technetium-99m-indocyanine green versus technetium-99m-methylene blue for sentinel lymph node biopsy in early-stage endometrial cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The low accuracy of pre-operative imaging techniques for prediction of nodal status strengthens the relevance of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in endometrial cancer, although the optimal method for its detection is still under investigation. The increasing use of indocyanine green (ICG) has aroused concern about its enhanced visualization of lymphatic channels, which could lead to a specimen that is thought to be nodal tissue not subsequently yielding a lymph node on pathologic analysis ('empty node packet'). Our main objective was to compare the overall and bilateral detection rates for SLN biopsy using two combined techniques: technetium-99m-ICG (Tc-99m-ICG) versus technetium-99m-methylene blue (Tc-99m-MB). Our secondary aim was to compare the 'empty node packet' rates between the two cohorts. METHODS: A prospective, non-randomized, single-center trial including patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer (any grade or histology) in pre-operative early stage, and operated on between February 2017 and July 2019. All tracers were injected intracervically. Pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy were performed on patients at intermediate or high risk of recurrence pre-operatively. All SLNs were sent for intra-operative frozen section and afterwards processed following an ultrastaging protocol. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were included, 58% (n=49) in the Tc-99m-MB group and 42% (n=35) in the Tc-99m-ICG group. Overall detection rate was 93% and was not statistically different between the two groups. A better bilateral detection rate was observed among Tc-99m-ICG patients (69% vs 41%, p=0.012). The 'empty node packet' rate was 4% in the Tc-99m-ICG cohort and 0% in the Tc-99m-MB cohort (p=0.032). DISCUSSION: Tc-99m-ICG is a feasible, safe technique for SLN biopsy in early-stage endometrial cancer, and appears to be superior in terms of bilateral detection to Tc-99m-MB. The addition of Tc-99m to ICG could decrease the rate of 'empty node packets' and better define the anatomic location of SLNs in patients with endometrial cancer.

A False-Negative Case of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma on 11C-Methionine PET and Intense 18F-FDG Uptake.

We report a case of a 44-year-old man with neurological symptoms and MRI findings, which were unable to differentiate between glioma and lymphoma. Metabolic characterization by means of PET imaging with F-FDG and C-methionine is proposed to determine the benign or tumor (high- and low-grade) origin of brain lesions. In this case, the MRI lesion corresponded with an inconclusive metabolic pattern of intense F-FDG uptake and no significant C-methionine uptake. Pathological study revealed a false-negative case of C-methionine due to lymphoma.

Giant urinary bladder stone: incidental finding in (99m)Tc-DTPA renography.

A 27-year-old woman presented with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections in infancy and urinary incontinence secondary to lipomyelomeningocele. At the age of 7, she underwent bladder augmentation enterocystoplasty, requiring intermittent catheterization without urinary tract infections until present. A Tc-DTPA renography was performed to evaluate renal function, in which an abnormal tracer distribution was seen in urinary bladder, and furthermore, a retrograde cystography shows a giant bladder stone.

Distancias anatómicas de la pelvis en relación con las técnicas quirúrgicas a través del foramen obturador / Anatomical distances among pelvic structures related to surgical techniques through the obturator foramen

Objetivo: Describir las distancias entre las principales estructuras óseas, vasculares, neurológicas y viscerales que son relevantes para guiar el paso de las agujas insertoras en las técnicas quirúrgicas a través del foramen obturador. Material y métodos: Se diseccionaron 6 hemipelvis femeninas de cadáver embalsamado, procedentes de donantes de cuerpo voluntarias del Departament de Ciències Morfològiques de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). En la disección se hizo especial hincapié en la delimitación del agujero obturador y la localización de estructuras osteomusculoaponeuróticas y neurovasculares adyacentes. Resultados: Se midieron distintas distancias. Son especialmente relevantes las distancias en relación con la rama isquiopubiana, la espina ciática y el arco tendinoso del músculo elevador del ano, ya que constituyen las principales referencias para la cirugía. Conclusiones: Un buen conocimiento de la anatomía trae luz al paso a ciegas de los tunelizadores que utilizan el foramen obturador para acceder a la pelvis. Ello debe permitir una cirugía más segura y una mejor comprensión de los riesgos potenciales, cómo evitarlos y cómo tratar las complicaciones perioperatorias

Objective: To describe distances between the major bony, vascular, neurologic and visceral structures of importance when guiding trocar needles through the obturator foramen. Material and methods: Six embalmed female hemipelvises from voluntary donors were dissected at the Department of Anatomy of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) School of Medicine. Special attention was paid to the obturator foramen and its neighboring bony, aponeurotic and muscular structures, and neurovascular bundles. Results: Several distances were collected. Distances in relation to the ischiopubic ramus, the ischial spine and the arcus tendineus of levator ani seemed to be particularly important, as they are the main landmarks for surgery. Conclusion: A good knowledge of anatomy illuminates the passage of trocar needles inserted through the obturator foramen as a route to enter the pelvic space. This knowledge improves safety, understanding of potential risks and how to avoid them, as well as the management of perioperative complications