Ovarian masses in infant-juvenile age. / Tumores ováricos en niñas y adolescentes.

INTRODUCTION: The appropraite surgical treatment to pediatric patients with ovarian lesions are heterogeneous and ovarian preservation is desirable in children. The aim of this study is to the discuss findings related to a set of patients who were operated on for ovarian lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study carried out in 13 years on 56 patients under the age of 17. These patients were divided into 3 groups according to ovarian pathologic diagnosis: 25 with functional (cyts and torsion), 18 with epithelial ovarian lesions and 13 with germ cell tumours. These three groups were compared in terms of menarche, torsion, age, duration, size, pain, mass, vomiting, irregular menstruation, location and operation type. RESULTS: Follicle cysts, serous cyst adenomas and teratomas were the most common in these groups. The mean age of the patients was 12.18±4.84 years. The most common symptoms and signs were abdominal-pelvic pain (85.7%) and swelling(37.5%). Torsion was seen in 21 patients (37.5%), mean mass size was found to be 10.46±6.55 cm. A salpingo-oophorectomy (SO) was performed in 38 patients and cyst excision (CE) was performed in 18 patients. In premenarcheal cases, torsion was seen more in menarcheal cases and in the functional lesion group. CE was performed more often in the functional and t SO was performed often in the epithelial and germ cells groups. CONCLUSION: Torsion and functional ovarian pathologies are thought to be common in premenstrual ages and malign lesions are very rare in all age groups so we recommend ovarian protective surgery should be preferred.

Introducción. El tratamiento quirúrgico adecuado para las pacientes pediátricas con lesiones ováricas es heterogéneo, y en las niñas es conveniente conservar los ovarios. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar los hallazgos relacionados con un grupo de pacientes a las que se operó por lesiones ováricas. Pacientes y métodos. Un estudio retrospectivo realizado durante 13 años con 56 pacientes menores de 17 años. Estas pacientes se dividieron en 3 grupos según el diagnóstico de patología ovárica: 25 tenían lesiones funcionales (quistes y torsión), 18 tenían lesiones ováricas epiteliales y 13 tenían tumores germinales. Se comparó a estos tres grupos en términos de menarquia, torsión, edad, duración, tamaño, dolor, tumor, vómitos, menstruación irregular, ubicación y tipo de operación. Resultados. En estos grupos, fueron más frecuentes los quistes foliculares, los cistoadenomas serosos y los teratomas. La media de edad de las pacientes fue de 12,18 ± 4,84 años. Los síntomas y signos más frecuentes fueron dolor (85,7%) e hinchazón (37,5%) en la región abdominopélvica. Se observó torsión en 21 pacientes (37,5%); la media del tamaño del tumor fue de 10,46 ± 6,55 cm. Se realizó una salpingoovariectomía (SO, por sus siglas en inglés) en 38 pacientes y una resección del quiste (CE, por sus siglas en inglés) en 18 pacientes. Se observaron más casos de torsión en las pacientes premenárquicas que en las menárquicas y en el grupo de lesiones funcionales. Se realizaron más resecciones quirúrgicas en el grupo de lesiones funcionales, y más SO en los grupos de lesiones epiteliales y tumores germinales. Conclusión. Se considera que la torsión y las patologías ováricas funcionales son frecuentes en la edad premenstrual, y las lesiones malignas son muy raras en todos los grupos etarios, por lo que se recomienda preservar la fertilidad en la cirugía.

Effect of ginger extract on liver damage in experimental obstructive jaundice produced by main bile duct ligation.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice is one of the most important surgical causes of childhood jaundices. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of ginger (Gingiber officinalis) extracts on liver damage in experimental obstructive jaundice produced by main bile duct ligation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty two Wistar-albino rats were randomly allocated into 7 groups (n = 6). Nothing was performed in the control (C) group. Only laparatomy was performed in the sham (Sh) group. The ginger 1 and 2 (G1 and G2) groups received only 100 and 200 mg/kg/day doses of ginger extract for 1 week orally. In study group, common bile duct ligation was done. In treatment 1 and 2 (T1 and T2) groups common bile duct ligation was followed by administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day doses of ginger extract for 1 week orally from the third post operative day, respectively. Blood samples and liver were harvested in order to evaluate the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), gama glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin (bil), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and liver tissue SOD, GSH, MDA levels and liver apoptosis. Results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test statistically. RESULTS: Ginger administration did not result in any differences of serum or tissue levels of the studied parameters and liver apoptosis between the groups statistically (except AST levels in group T2). Tissue GSH and serum SOD levels were only mildly increased in groups receiving ginger alone. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence for protective, inhibitive and decreasing effects of ginger extract on liver injury in experimental obstructive jaundice with these findings.

Massive ovarian oedema in adolescents.

Massive ovarian oedema is an unusual clinical entity occurring in teenage girls. It is a rare tumour-like condition of the ovary characterized by marked enlargement of one or both ovaries due to marked accumulation of oedema fluid in the ovarian stroma. Massive ovarian oedema may result from partial or intermittent torsion of the mesovary, interfering with venous and lymphatic drainage, but not with arterial blood flow. The patients most commonly present with lower abdominal pain and enlargement. This entity can clinically mimic a neoplasia. We report three cases with massive ovarian oedema.

Pancreas pseudocyst associated with L-asparaginase treatment: a case report.

A major complication of L-asparaginase used in the treatment of paediatric malignancies in children is pancreatitis (2%-16%). However, only seven paediatric cases of pancreatic pseudocyst caused by the utilization of the agent have been reported in literature. We present the case of a 5-year old girl who had abdominal pain and epigastric dullness after the third course of BMF-95 protocol with a diagnosis of ALL. A pancreatic pseudocyst of 10 x 10 cm size was found by abdominal tomography. The cyst was treated by percutaneous external drainage, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), administration of octreotide and antibiotherapy for one month. Percutaneous external drainage has proven to be an effective, noninvasive method in this special case with a systemic disorder and the high risk of mortality should a surgical intervention have been performed.

Increased nitric oxide is accompanied by lipid oxidation in adolescent varicocele.

Summary One of the mechanisms of injury in varicocele has been proposed to be elevated nitric oxide (NO). We aimed to determine the association between the elevation of NO and lipid oxidation in varicocele compared with peripheral venous levels of these two substances as it has not been studied before. The study group consisted of 13 adolescents with left idiopathic varicocele of grades II-III. Blood specimens were obtained from dilated spermatic and peripheral veins simultaneously. Peripheral samples were also collected from 13 healthy children as controls. Nitrite/nitrate levels (NO(x)) and levels of malonedialdehyde (MDA) were determined using Griess reaction and thiobarbituric acid test, respectively. Results were compared with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Peripheral NO(x) and MDA were the same in the study and control groups (p = 0.069 and p = 0.27, respectively). Spermatic vein NO(x) and MDA levels were elevated significantly compared with the peripheral levels in the study group (p = 0.005 and p = 0.048, respectively). Increased NO(x) levels with lipid oxidation occur locally in adolescent varicocele, implying that these events could be reversed by early treatment.

Diagnostic value of plain abdominal radiographs in acute appendicitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: The plain film of the abdomen (PAX) is still utilised in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (Aap). Aim of this study was to evaluate the value of PAX in the diagnosis of Aap in children, since it continues to be a controversial subject. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gazi University Medical School. PATIENTS: The histopathological diagnoses and PAX of 213 children (mean age 9-6 years) operated for acute right-lower quadrant pain were evaluated retrospectively. There were 181 patients with Aap and 32 with normal appendix. METHODS: The rate of detection of overall thirteen roentgenographic criteria defined in various reports in medical literature as indicating appendicitis were noted and compared with histopathological diagnoses. The PAX which revealed one or more of these signs in combination was considered to be positive for Aap. Data was analysed statistically and sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of PAX in the diagnosis of Aap were determined. RESULTS: Roentgenographic sign(s) were detected in 170 (79%) cases, 18 without Aap. The most frequent were lumbar scoliosis with left-sided convexity (50%) and small intestinal air-fluid levels (32%). In 39 cases, 25 with Aap, no sign(s) was detected. In all of the perforated cases, at least one of the determined criteria was seen. The percentage of roentgenographic signs found in cases with and without appendicitis was different significantly (p<0.01). The negative predictive value of PAX in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was 32.5% and positive predictive value was 89%. CONCLUSION: PAX could he helpful in diagnosis in children with suspected acute appendicitis.