Giant idiopathic penoscrotal lymphedema - Surgical approach with skin graft: A case report.

Lymphedema is originated from the reduced lymphatic flow, causing a volumetric increase in the affected region and is physically and emotionally uncomfortable. Surgical intervention is considered the best treatment option as it brings both functional and aesthetic benefits. This is a report from the case of a previously healthy 45-year-old man who developed idiopathic penoscrotal giant lymphedema. A surgical approach was proposed. There was resection of scrotal lymphedema followed by a classic postectomy, suprapubic advancement flaps, and use of a partial skin graft from the right thigh. The results of the therapeutic approach were aesthetically and functionally satisfactory.

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EXPRESSION OF ALCAM AND ALDH1 MARKERS IN PATIENTS WITH COLORRETAL ADENOCARCINOMA AND ASSOCIATION WITH CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL OUTCOMES / ANÁLISE IMUNOISTOQUÍMICA DA EXPRESSÃO DOS MARCADORES ALCAM E ALDH1 EM PACIENTES COM ADENOCARCINOMA COLORRETAL E ASSOCIAÇÃO COM DESFECHOS CLINICOPATOLÓGICOS

Background: Colorectal cancer has a high global mortality and tumor markers have emerged as diagnostic, management and prognostic indicators. New markers are being studied. Objective: To verify if there is a correlation between the immunohistochemical expression of ALCAM and ALDH1 proteins in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissue with epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics, in particular their impact on disease progression and death. Method: Observational, single-center, analytical, retrospective study, through the investigation of patients undergoing surgical resection for colorectal cancer. 122 patients were evaluated. Regarding progression, it was shown that in individuals with positive ALCAM (n=40), 14/40 (35%) had progression, and for positive ALDH (n=54), 22/54 (40.7%). For death, the analysis of ALCAM positive (n=40), 24/40 (60%) died, and ALDH1 positive (n=54), 33/54 (61.1%). Conclusion: The immunohistochemical expression of ALCAM and ALDH1 markers was not associated with disease progression and death; it was also not possible to observe a correspondence relationship with the evaluated markers.

Racional: O câncer colorretal apresenta alta mortalidade global e marcadores tumorais têm surgido como sinalizadores de diagnóstico, manejo e prognóstico. Novos marcadores estão sendo estudados. Objetivo: Verificar se há correlação da expressão por imunoistoquímica das proteínas ALCAM e ALDH1 em tecido com adenocarcinoma colorretal com as características epidemiológicas e clinicopatológicas, em particular o seu impacto na progressão de doença e no óbito. Método: Estudo observacional, unicêntrico, analítico, retrospectivo, através da investigação de pacientes submetidos à ressecção cirúrgica por câncer colorretal. Foram avaliados 122 pacientes. Em relação a progressão, mostrou-se que nos indivíduos com ALCAM positiva (n=40), 14/40 (35%) tiveram progressão, e para ALDH positiva (n=54), 22/54 (40,7%). Para óbito, a análise da ALCAM positiva (n=40), 24/40 (60%) morreram, e ALDH1 positivo (n=54), 33/54 (61,1%). Conclusão: A expressão imunoistoquímica dos marcadores ALCAM e ALDH1 não apresentou associação com a progressão de doença e óbito; também não foi possível observar relação de correspondência com os marcadores avaliados.

Laparoscopia no tratamento do ureter retrocava: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Laparoscopy in the treatment of retrocaval ureter: a case report and literature review

É apresentado um caso de ureter retrocava em paciente com queixa de dor lombar à direita, tratada após confirmação por tomografia computadorizada de abdome com contraste intravenoso com transposição do ureter direito (ureteroplastia) associada à implantação de cateter duplo J. sem intercorrências. Dessa forma, enfatiza-se a importância dessa malformação como uma das causas de uropatia obstrutiva e o uso de métodos de imagem para diagnosticá-la.

Contemporary different patterns of indications and outcomes for the surgical management of renal tumors in an academic center.

PURPOSE: Inconsistencies have been pointed out in the treatment of small renal tumors by laparoscopists, as many would remove the entire kidney unnecessarily, whereas open surgeons are more likely to perform partial nephrectomy. Thus, we compared the practice and outcomes between two groups of surgeons treating renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the renal cancer database from our institution from January 2000 to October 2006 for data retrieval and analysis. The patients treated by the laparoscopy staff (LS) and the oncology staff (OS) were divided into two groups for comparison. Data were collected for age, gender, type of surgery performed, time of operation, length of stay in the hospital, complications, histological evaluation, operation room time, hospital stay time, complications rate, and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients were evaluated, 149 in the LS group (62%) and 91 in the OS group (38%), and the results have been summarized. Fifty percent of all procedures were open; however, in the OS group 100% of the surgeries were open and in the LS group 19% of the cases were open. Interestingly, only 9% of the surgeries in the OS group were nephron sparing, whereas in the LS group 60% of the patients had their kidneys spared. OS treated a higher percentage of locally advanced tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopists performed a more variety of surgical approaches including open procedures and performed much more nephron sparing surgeries than the oncologists. Open surgery still plays an important role for locally advanced disease and hilar tumors.

Fibroplasia after polypropylene mesh implantation for abdominal wall hernia repair in rats / Fibroplasia após implante de tela de polipropileno para correção de hérnia da parede abdominal em ratos

PURPOSE: This study assessed the collagen deposition and correlated it with local inflammatory responses to evaluate the length of time required for fibroplasia when polypropylene meshes are used to repair incisional abdominal wall hernias in rats. METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats underwent longitudinal resection of a peritoneal and musculoaponeurotic tissue segment (3x2 cm) of the abdominal wall followed by defect reconstruction with polypropylene mesh bridging over aponeurosis. The animals were divided into 6 groups according to the time points for the analysis of fibroplasia: 1, 2, 3, 7, 21 and 30 days post-implantation. Animals were sacrificed at each time point, and the site where the polypropylene mesh was implanted was evaluated histologically to assess inflammatory response and percentage of collagen using computer-assisted videomorphometry. RESULTS: Total collagen was found at the mesh site on the 3rd day post-implantation, and increased progressively on all subsequent days up to the 21st day, when it reached its highest percentage (p<0.001). Type III collagen increased progressively from the 3rd to the 21st days, when it reached its highest percentage (p<0.001); on the 30th day, it decreased significantly (p>0.001). Type I collagen was first found between the 7th and 21st days; it reached its highest percentage on the 21st day and then remained stable until the 30th day. The type I to type III collagen ratio increased significantly and progressively up to the 30th day (p<0.001). Neutrophils were found at the mesh site from the 1st to the 21st day post-implantation. Macrophages, giant cells and lymphocytes were seen on the 2nd day. Thirty days after mesh implantation, neutrophils disappeared, but the percentages of macrophages, giant cells and lymphocytes remained stable (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that total collagen was first seen on the 3rd day post-implantation, with a higher percentage of type I collagen...

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o tempo de fibroplasia em tela de polipropileno na correção de hérnias incisionais da parede abdominal, em ratos, através da quantidade de colágeno, correlacionando-o com a resposta inflamatória local. MÉTODOS: Trinta e seis ratos machos da linhagem Wistar foram submetidos à ressecção longitudinal de um segmento músculo-aponeurótico e peritoneal (3x2 cm) da parede abdominal, seguida por reforço com tela de polipropileno, em forma de ponte sobre a aponeurose. Os animais foram distribuídos em seis grupos, de acordo com o tempo de fibroplasia a ser estudado (1, 2, 3, 7, 21 e 30 dias de pós-operatório). Após os prazos estabelecidos para estudo da fibroplasia, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia, e a área de fixação da tela de polipropileno foi avaliada histologicamente quanto à reação inflamatória e à percentagem de colágeno pela técnica videomorfométrica assistida por computador. RESULTADOS: Houve aparecimento de colágeno total junto à tela no 3º dia pós-implante, com aumento progressivo na sua proporção em todos os dias subseqüentes até o 21º dia, quando atingiu sua proporção máxima (p<0,001). A partir do dia 3, o colágeno III sofreu um aumento progressivo até o dia 21, quando atingiu sua proporção máxima (p<0,001), e no 30º dia apresentou uma redução significativa (p<0,001). O colágeno tipo I surgiu entre o 7º e o 21º dia, apresentou sua máxima proporção no 21º dia e manteve-se inalterado até o final do período de observação. A relação colágeno tipo I/tipo III aumentou progressivamente e inverteu-se no 30º dia de observação (p<0,001). Os neutrófilos foram identificados no 1º dia pós-implante, mantendo-se junto à tela até o 21º dia. Os macrófagos, gigantócitos e linfócitos foram identificados no 2º dia. Trinta dias após a implantação da tela, desapareceram os neutrófilos e mantiveram-se estáveis as proporções de macrófagos, gigantócitos e linfócitos (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados do presente estudo evidenciaram...

Fibroplasia after polypropylene mesh implantation for abdominal wall hernia repair in rats.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the collagen deposition and correlated it with local inflammatory responses to evaluate the length of time required for fibroplasia when polypropylene meshes are used to repair incisional abdominal wall hernias in rats. METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats underwent longitudinal resection of a peritoneal and musculoaponeurotic tissue segment (3x2 cm) of the abdominal wall followed by defect reconstruction with polypropylene mesh bridging over aponeurosis. The animals were divided into 6 groups according to the time points for the analysis of fibroplasia: 1, 2, 3, 7, 21 and 30 days post-implantation. Animals were sacrificed at each time point, and the site where the polypropylene mesh was implanted was evaluated histologically to assess inflammatory response and percentage of collagen using computer-assisted videomorphometry. RESULTS: Total collagen was found at the mesh site on the 3rd day post-implantation, and increased progressively on all subsequent days up to the 21st day, when it reached its highest percentage (p<0.001). Type III collagen increased progressively from the 3rd to the 21st days, when it reached its highest percentage (p<0.001); on the 30th day, it decreased significantly (p>0.001). Type I collagen was first found between the 7th and 21st days; it reached its highest percentage on the 21st day and then remained stable until the 30th day. The type I to type III collagen ratio increased significantly and progressively up to the 30th day (p<0.001). Neutrophils were found at the mesh site from the 1st to the 21st day post-implantation. Macrophages, giant cells and lymphocytes were seen on the 2nd day. Thirty days after mesh implantation, neutrophils disappeared, but the percentages of macrophages, giant cells and lymphocytes remained stable (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that total collagen was first seen on the 3rd day post-implantation, with a higher percentage of type I collagen at the last observational time point. The prolonged healing inflammatory response and the persistence of chronic inflammation surrounding to the mesh did not affect the length of time required for fibroplasia.

Cystic phaeochromocytoma is a distinctive subgroup with special clinical, imaging and histological features that might mislead the diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To report and analyse cases of cystic phaeochromocytoma at our institution and in previous publications, as adrenal cystic masses are usually associated with nonfunctional lesions, but they can be phaeochromocytoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective adrenalectomy database at our institution was reviewed to identify patients with phaeochromocytoma and cystic lesions. The clinical, radiological and histological features of cystic phaeochromocytoma were evaluated. Other previously published data were identified and compared with the present series. RESULTS: In all, there were 107 adrenalectomies at our institution from November 2000 to March 2007; 31 of these patients had a confirmed diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma and six (19%) were cystic phaeochromocytomas. Three of the six cases were asymptomatic and had a negative biochemical evaluation (one male and five females, mean tumour size 6.6 cm); the imaging diagnosis was mainly based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the foremost feature was the enhancement of the tumour rim associated with a central cystic mass. Nine other previously published cases were reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: From the present large series and previous anecdotally reported cases, patients with cystic phaeochromocytomas are more likely to be asymptomatic, to complain of chronic abdominal pain, and to have a negative biochemical evaluation, which might deter physicians from conducting a full evaluation for phaeochromocytoma and mislead the final diagnosis. As such, there could be an even higher prevalence of this entity that is yet to be determined.

Advances in pheochromocytoma management in the era of laparoscopy.

PURPOSE: To understand the advances that were made in the management of pheochromocytoma since laparoscopy was initiated at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data for all patients who underwent surgical procedure for adrenal diseases had been recorded prospectively since September 2000, when laparoscopy was routinely initiated at our institution; all patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma up to December 2005 had their data assessed (group 1). Charts for all patients with a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma who underwent surgery at our institution from 1990 to 1995 (group 2) were reviewed, and the data were compared with data from patients in group 1. RESULTS: In group 1, 24 patients with pheochromocytoma underwent 26 procedures at our institution, including five patients with extra-adrenal tumor and one patient with bilateral tumor; 18 adrenalectomies (one bilateral) were performed, and two extra-adrenal tumors were removed using a laparoscopic approach. In group 2, ten open adrenalectomies were performed in 9 patients (1 bilateral). The patients who underwent laparoscopy for either adrenal or extra-adrenal tumor had shorter operative times and hospital stay and less bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Pheochromocytoma is a complex disease with potentially severe complications. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be safely performed for removal of either adrenal or extra-adrenal tumors. Patients spend a shorter time in the critical care unit after the procedure.