A novel technique for surgical reconstruction of the perineal floor following anteroposterior exenteration of the pelvis--case report and review of the literature.

Pelvic exenteration is the only potentially curative surgical procedure for patients with recurrent cervical, vaginal, vulvar or rectal cancers, especially following adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Morbidity rates, however, remain high, which is significantly attributed to complications of the pelvic floor reconstruction techniques. We describe a novel reconstruction technique of the pelvic floor, involving a combination of an oblique rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap and a synthetic absorbable mesh as a pelvic sling for additional support, in a 63-year-old female patient with recurrent vulvar carcinoma. Combining the use of myocutaneous flaps and prosthetic mesh material can provide an effective alternative solution to the complications arising from pelvic floor reconstruction of large defects after exenteration procedures, especially in previously irradiated settings. Further studies are necessary to define the long-term outcomes and indications of these techniques, as well as the optimal combination between the available myocutaneous flaps and prosthetic materials.

Extraovarian peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma mimicking colonic obstruction.

Involvement of the colon by extraovarian peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma (EPSPC) is considered as rare. During a 10-year period the records of five female patients with a mean age of 73.4 years who were admitted for colonic obstruction due to EPSPC were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative data were studied. All patients presented with symptoms of colonic obstruction and high concentrations of CA-125. Involvement of the sigmoid colon was demonstrated preoperatively both in CT and colonoscopy. Operative findings of multiple peritoneal implantations involving the surface of the ovaries in two cases, the greater omentum in three cases and invasion of the sigmoid colon in all cases prompted us to perform sigmoidectomy and omentectomy in all cases with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in four of them. All patients received adjuvant paclitaxel plus platinum-based combination chemotherapy.

A malignant eccrine poroma in a pregnant woman: case report and review of the literature.

Malignant eccrine poroma is a rare cutaneous neoplasm that originates from the intraepidermal portion of the eccrine gland. It affects mainly elderly people while its occurrence in younger adults is extremely rare. We present the first reported case of a malignant eccrine poroma in a pregnant woman, with emphasis on its pathologic and immunohistochemical features. Early diagnosis and treatment of eccrine neoplasms are of crucial importance when pregnancy coexists, because of their tendency to aggravate under the influence of gestation-related changes.

Colorectal cancer emergencies during pregnancy case reports.

Colorectal carcinoma emergencies during pregnancy are exceptionally rare. Three women 38, 31 and 36 years old, in the third trimester of gestation received treatment, respectively, for acute abdomen due to perforation of rectal carcinoma, ileus due to a sigmoid tumor, and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) from a cecal tumor compromising the right iliac vein. In the first two patients urgent cesarean sections were carried out with Hartmann's procedure and a loop colostomy was performed to resolve the ensuing intraabdominal sepsis and ileus, respectively. In the third patient, a cesarean section was carried out to treat the underlying DVT more aggressively, while right colectomy was postponed for three weeks. Restoration of the alimentary tract was achieved two months later in the first case, while in the second and third cases total colectomy due to familial polyposis and right colectomy were performed three weeks after the cesarean section. An overview of the clinical features, diagnostic pitfalls and therapeutic approaches to manage complications of colorectal cancer during pregnancy are discussed.

Predicting early mortality following percutaneous stent insertion for malignant biliary obstruction: a multivariate risk factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous stent placement is an accepted method of palliation in malignant biliary obstruction. Factors predicting early mortality after this procedure have not been identified. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 141 patients with malignant biliary obstruction who underwent percutaneous stent placement for biliary decompression to identify the risk factors associated with early mortality (< or = 30 days). RESULTS: Of 14 clinicopathological and laboratory variables analysed blood urea, albumin, haemoglobin and alkaline phosphatase were found to be significant on univariate analysis. The age and gender of the patient along with cancer type, level of obstruction, presence of pyrexia and bilirubin level had no influence on early mortality. Stepwise logistic regression identified the haemoglobin level and blood urea to be independently significant in predicting early mortality. Overall 30-day mortality was 20.5% (29/141). Patients with blood urea over 4.3 mmol/l and a haemoglobin less than 10.9 g/dl had a mortality rate of 52% (12/23) compared with 14% (17/118) in the remainder. Using these two variables a regression equation has been derived which allows calculation of the probability of survival at 30 days after the percutaneous procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory variables in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice can be used to predict mortality following percutaneous stent insertion.

Results of percutaneous plastic stents for malignant distal biliary obstruction following failed endoscopic stent insertion and comparison with current literature on expandable metallic stents.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic stenting is an effective method of relieving biliary obstruction in patients with unresectable malignancy. If this fails, optimal management is controversial. Percutaneous insertion of plastic or mesh metal stents has been advocated. AIM: To review the outcome of percutaneous plastic stents and compare this with contemporary data from the literature on mesh metal stenting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a period of six years, 400 patients had attempted endoscopic stenting for distal malignant biliary obstruction which failed in 54 (13.5%). These 54 patients were treated with percutaneously placed plastic stents. RESULTS: Percutaneous stenting was technically successful in 48 patients (89%). Early complications occurred in 13 patients (24%), the commonest being acute cholangitis in seven (12%). There was no procedure-related mortality but a 30-day mortality of 11 % (n = 6). Ten patients (18%) required re-admission after 30 days for stent block (mean period 4 months). Forty-seven patients (87%) were followed up until death. The median survival for the patients undergoing palliative stenting was 3 months (5 days to 17 months). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that percutaneous plastic stents can be used safely and effectively in patients who have failed endoscopic stenting.

Primary squamous carcinoma of liver: presentation as liver abscess.

Primary keratinizing squamous carcinoma of the liver has been reported as arising in a hepatic cyst, in association with prolonged cholestasis or chronic biliary sepsis. We describe the occurrence of such a tumor without predisposing factors, with presentation similar to that of hepatic abscess.