Recurrent abdominal complaints caused by a cecal neurofibroma: a case report.

Gastrointestinal involvement of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1, Von Recklinghausen's disease) is generally associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal manifestation of NF1 includes several tumors such as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and ampulla of vater tumors. However, colonic involvement in NF1 patients is rare. We report a case of a patient presenting with dysphagia, weight loss, intermittent abdominal pain and constipation caused by a single cecal neurofibroma obstructing the ileocecal valve. Also gastrointestinal involvement of the lower tract should be considered in patients with NF1 presenting with abdominal complaints.

A solitary Peutz-Jeghers type polyp in the jejunum of a 19 year-old male.

A 19-year old male presented with melena and anemia. A duodenoscopy revealed no abnormalities, but a small bowel X-ray series demonstrated a large jejunal polyp. This 4 cm large polyp was visualised during peroperative small bowel endoscopy and was subsequently surgically removed. The polyp had the characteristic histologic appearance of a Peutz-Jeghers type polyp, but the patient had no other signs of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, such as the characteristic mucocutaneous pigmentation, the presence of multiple polyps or a positive family history. After removal of the polyp, melena did not recur and his hemoglobin concentration normalized. Altogether, the patient does not fulfill the diagnostic criteria for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and appears to have a solitary jejunal Peutz-Jeghers type polyp. All previously reported patients with such polyps were older than this patient.

Quality of life after gastric banding in morbidly obese Dutch patients: Long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term effects of adjustable gastric banding (AGB) on quality of life (QoL) in a morbidly obese population were investigated in a cross-sectional study. Additionally, determinants of QoL after AGB were assessed. METHODS: All patients treated by AGB for morbid obesity in a Dutch hospital were invited to complete the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Of 121 participating patients 59 met the criteria for long-term follow-up (>5 years): 4 male and 55 female, mean age 42.4 ± 9.7 years, mean body mass index (BMI) before surgery 44.9 ± 5.9 kg/m(2). Time since surgery was 74.7 months (range 60-107.6). The control group consisted of 28 presurgical patients. General and obesity-related parameters were assessed for correlation with QoL. RESULTS: Significant differences between the preoperative group and Dutch community norm (CN) values were found on five out of eight QoL subscales, in favor of CN. AGB induced significant weight loss in the postoperative group: 56.1% excess weight loss (%EWL). This group scored significantly better than the preoperative group on one out of eight subscales: physical functioning (P = 0.019). Additionally, scores on four out of eight subscales were still significantly impaired compared to CN. Postoperative BMI and %EWL influenced QoL after long-term follow-up, whereas weight regain had no negative impact. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that after long-term follow-up subjects treated by gastric banding to induce weight loss have a slightly better QoL than those who did not undergo surgery yet. QoL remains impaired in comparison to the general population. After long-term follow-up BMI and weight loss do influence QoL whereas weight regain does not have any negative impact.

Gallstone formation after weight loss following gastric banding in morbidly obese Dutch patients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for the development of gallstones. Rapid weight loss may be an even stronger risk factor. We retrospectively assessed the prevalence and risk factors of gallstone formation after adjustable gastric banding (AGB) in a Dutch population. METHODS: All patients who underwent AGB between Jan 1992 and Dec 2000 for morbid obesity were invited to take part in this study. Transabdominal ultrasonography of the gallbladder was performed in those patients without a prior history of cholecystectomy (Group A). Additionally, 45 morbidly obese patients underwent ultrasonography of the gallbladder before weight reduction surgery (Group B). RESULTS: 120 patients were enrolled in the study (Group A). Prior history of cholecystectomy was present in 21 patients: 16 before and 5 after AGB. Ultrasonography was performed in 98 patients: gallstones were present in 26 (26.5%). On multivariate analysis, neither preoperative weight, nor maximum weight loss, nor the interval between operation and the postoperative ultrasonography were determinants of the risk for developing gallstone disease. Prevalence of gallstones was significantly lower in the morbidly obese patients who had not yet undergone weight reduction surgery (Group B). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid weight loss induced by AGB, is an important risk factor for the development of gallstones. No additional determinants were found. Every morbidly obese patient undergoing bariatric surgery must be considered at risk for developing gallstone disease.