Elective neurectomy during open, "tension free" inguinal hernia repair.

Chronic postoperative inguinal pain syndromes are potentially debilitating sequelae following elective inguinal hernia repair. Diagnosis and definitive treatment constitute challenging issues for both the surgeon and the patient. In this prospective trial, we evaluated the impact of elective iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerve resection on the incidence of pain, numbness, and sensory loss following anterior, "tension-free" herniorrhaphy. One hundred ninety-one patients were enrolled and were reviewed 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Pain, numbness, or any loss of sensation were recorded and categorized on a "mild," "moderate," or "severe" scale. No persistent pain syndrome was encountered. Numbness was found in 9.42% of the patients at the first month and in 6.28% of the patients after 1 year. Sensation loss (1.04%) was never bothersome or incapacitating at the end of the follow-up period. Elective neurectomy is safe to perform, well tolerated by patients, and is not associated with chronic postoperative inguinal pain.

Management approaches to adrenal incidentalomas (adrenalomas). A view from Athens, Greece.

We believe the management of adrenalomas should include the following: 1. A detailed history and physical examination to detect subtle evidence of hormonal hypersecretion or the possibility of metastatic carcinoma 2. Hormonal studies, such as The short dexamethasone suppression test (2 mg of dexamethasone) followed by a high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (8 mg), CRH assay, and analysis of the diurnal cortisol rhythm if serum cortisol is greater than 3 micrograms/dL 24-Hour (or spot) urinary catecholamine metabolites (metanephrine and normetanephrine) Plasma aldosterone level and renin activity in the hypertensive or normotensive patient with serum potassium less than 3.9 nmol/L 3. Additional imaging studies, such as MR imaging 131I-iodocholesterol (NP59) scanning to detect a subclinically functioning adenoma or carcinoma (MIBG scanning is rarely indicated) The role of FNA is limited. This modality may be helpful only in the patient with coexistent extradrenal carcinoma to confirm adrenal metastasis. Although genetic and molecular biology studies do not have wide clinical application, they should be encouraged and supported. Once all of these data are collected, the clinician should perform the following two steps: 1. All clearly nonfunctioning adrenalomas that are not suspicious for malignancy should be observed for several years, mainly with hormonal studies, until their secretory and benign nature is confirmed. 2. All patients with adrenalomas with evidence of subclinical function or potential for malignancy (using size, imaging, FNA, and molecular biology criteria) should undergo laparoscopic adrenalectomy for definitive diagnosis and therapy. The age, the overall medical condition, and the anxiety of the patient should be considered in the decision to operate on a patient with an adrenaloma.

Laparoscopy in the context of lower abdominal pain in young women.

The management of lower abdominal pain in young women carries up to 45% chance of diagnostic error. Laparoscopic management may be particularly beneficial in this subset of patients. This study reviews the authors' experience with laparoscopy as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in young women with lower abdominal pain. The authors analyzed 121 consecutive female patients, with a mean age of 30 years, who were evaluated from June 1995 to October 1997. All patients were managed by early laparoscopy within 24 h from the onset of symptoms. Radiographic imaging, including computed tomography and ultrasound, was performed in 79 patients (65.2%). Laparoscopy was diagnostic in all cases. In 58 patients (48%), multiple pathologic conditions were identified. Acute appendicitis was the most common diagnosis (82.6%), and benign gynecologic disorders was the predominant reason for multiple pathologic conditions (clinical evaluation was erroneous in 15% of patients). In 96% of patients, definite surgical treatment was provided laparoscopically. The mean hospitalization time was 2.0 +/- 1 days, and the mean operative time was 59.8 +/- 21 min. The overall complication rate was 2.5%. In young women, early laparoscopy can offer a safe and effective alternative for the definite diagnosis and treatment of lower abdominal pain.

Germ line mutation analysis in families with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A or familial medullary thyroid carcinoma.

The RET proto-oncogene has been identified as the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 disease gene. An association between specific RET mutation and disease phenotype has been reported. We present the phenotype-genotype of 12 Greek families with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) or familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Seventy members were studied and DNA analysis for RET mutations was performed in fifty-eight of them. Exons 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16 of the RET proto-oncogene were analyzed by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis, direct DNA sequencing and/or restriction enzyme analysis. No mutations of the RET proto-oncogene were identified in 1 of 9 families with MEN 2A and in the 3 families with FMTC. In 7 MEN 2A families, the mutation was demonstrated in codon 634 and in 1 family it was demonstrated in codon 620. There was a low frequency, about 8%, of hyperparathyroidism associated with MEN 2A. The specific causative mutations for pararthyroid disease were C634R or C634Y. Among the MEN 2A individuals there was one case with de novo C634R mutation and one case, C634Y, with cutaneous lichen amyloidosis which predated by 24 years the diagnosis of MEN 2A. In 2 children who were MEN 2A gene carriers, microscopic medullary thyroid carcinomas were found. These data show a low frequency of hyperparathyroidism in our cases and provide further evidence that individuals with C634R as well as with C634Y mutations of the RET proto-oncogene could be at risk for parathyroid disease. Cutaneous lichen amyloidosis could be an early feature of MEN 2A. Additionally, direct DNA testing provided an opportunity to resect medullary thyroid carcinoma at an early stage.

European guidelines for quality assurance in the surgical management of mammographically detected lesions. European Breast Cancer Working Group.

The European Guidelines developed for mammography screening have contributed to the general discussion on quality assurance and the important tasks of the health professionals dealing with breast cancer screening. The cooperation of each medical discipline is of utmost importance in order to achieve optimal results and eventually a mortality reduction. The following guidelines are based on the British NHS quality assurance guidelines for surgeons in breast cancer screening and modified to meet the different needs in the European Countries. The term "surgeon" denotes a medical doctor trained and involved in the surgical treatment of breast diseases. The members of the working group who participated in order to adapt these guidelines are listed above. We hope that this document will contribute towards a more comprehensive approach of breast cancer screening-detected lesions throughout Europe.

Laparoscopic resection of solitary adrenal metastasis from lung carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with adrenal metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma are considered incurable and any surgical treatment is usually excluded. A review of the few cases of adrenalectomy for metastases from lung cancer that have been reported in the literature shows that good results can be achieved in selected patients. We propose a laparoscopic approach to perform the adrenalectomy in these patients. METHODS: A right laparoscopic adrenalectomy for metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma was performed. The right adrenal was resected using the anterior transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. RESULTS: The tumor was resected in total. The operating time was two hours. One year after surgery the patient remains well. CONCLUSIONS: The current indications for laparoscopic adrenalectomy can include the removal of small metastatic adrenal lesions in selected cases.

Should the primary treatment of hyperthyroidism be surgical?

OBJECTIVE: To review the results of the surgical treatment of all types of hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease, toxic nodular goitre, and toxic solitary adenoma). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital and private hospital, Greece. SUBJECTS: 400 Consecutive patients who were operated on between 1982 and 1991. INTERVENTION: Near total/total thyroidectomy in 226 patients with toxic nodular goitre and 87 patients with Graves' disease. Subtotal thyroidectomy in 25 patients with Graves' disease (early period of the study); lobectomy with resection of the isthmus of the thyroid in 62 patients with a solitary toxic adenoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, morbidity and patients' self assessment of the results of operation (symptoms, scar, ophthalmopathy). RESULTS: There was no mortality. Morbidity included 2 postoperative bleeds that required reoperation; 2 patients developed permanent unilateral vocal cord paralysis and 2 had permanent hypoparathyroidism. In 27 of the 400 patients (7%) a thyroid carcinoma was found in the resected specimen. No patient had persistent or recurrent hyperthyroidism 2 to 10 years after operation. Of the 49 patients with Graves' disease and opthalmopathy at the time of operation, 35 (71%) reported improvement in their ophthalmopathy and 14 (29%) reported no improvement. No patient had worsening of their exophthalmos; 388 (97%) were satisfied with their incision; and 360 (90%) reported a significant improvement in their preoperative symptoms (tachycardia, weakness, anxiety, and pressure in the neck). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the primary treatment of all types of hyperthyroidism should be surgical.

How accurate is computed tomography in predicting the real size of adrenal tumors? A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The ability to accurately assess tumor size is an important consideration during the preoperative evaluation of adrenal tumors, particularly solid nonfunctioning masses (incidentalomas or adrenalomas). Does the histological size of the adrenal tumor correspond to the preoperative computed tomography (CT)-estimated size? OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of CT in predicting the real size of adrenal tumors. DESIGN: Retrospective review of all clinical records of patients who underwent adrenalectomy from 1984 through 1995. The mean tumor size reported from CT examinations was compared with the corresponding size obtained from the pathology reports and the statistical difference was evaluated. SETTING: University and private hospitals in Athens, Greece. PATIENTS: Seventy-six patients who underwent adrenalectomy for various adrenal diseases and who met strict entry criteria. RESULTS: For the entire population, the mean diameter of the tumors was estimated (CT reports) at 4.64 cm, but the real value (pathology reports) was 5.96 cm (P < .001). The underestimation held true for all of the studied subgroups that were defined by the different proposed cutoffs for malignancy. Three patients were incidentally found to have adrenal cancer, with the tumors measuring from 2.6 to 2.9 cm on CT. In addition, 4 pheochromocytomas were clinically and laboratory "silent" at the time of their discovery. The regression line (y = 0.85 + 1.09x) relating CT-estimated and histological tumor size was linear (r = 0.90, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography underestimates the real size of adrenal tumors. The CT-estimated value should be corrected accordingly to obtain the real size. The size of an adrenal tumor, even when corrected, cannot predict the tumor's clinical behavior in many cases. Surgeons should always cautiously interpret the proposed diagnostic cutoffs, especially when considering surgical or conservative management of small nonfunctioning adrenal tumors.

Anterior, posterior, or laparoscopic approach for the management of adrenal diseases?

BACKGROUND: At the advent of laparoscopic adrenalectomy it seemed timely to us to assess the advantages and the overall results of the different techniques that are currently used in an approach to adrenalectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 1995, 165 patients underwent adrenalectomy. Eighty-six patients (37 men and 49 women with a mean age of 46.4 years) underwent adrenalectomy via the anterior approach, 61 patients (18 men and 43 women with a mean age of 43.8 years) underwent posterior extraperitoneal adrenalectomy, and 18 patients (8 men and 10 women with a mean age of 48.7 years) underwent anterior laparoscopic adrenalectomy. For statistical analysis of the different comparisons between the groups we used the t test for independent samples, the Wilcoxon test, chi-square, and one way analysis of variance. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality. The morbidity was 13.9% in the anterior approach, 9.8% in the posterior approach, and 0% in the laparoscopic approach. The mean operating time for unilateral adrenalectomy was 155.3 min (range 75 to 315) for the anterior approach, 108.6 min (range 60 to 195) for the posterior approach and 116.1 min (range 75 to 180) for the laparoscopic approach. For bilateral adrenalectomy the mean operating time was 165 min for the anterior and 178 min for the posterior approach. The average diameter of tumors resected anteriorly was 8.07 cm (range 2.5 to 20), posteriorly was 5.25 cm (range 0.5 to 14), and laparoscopically was 4.03 cm (range 2 to 6.5). The mean length of postoperative hospitalization for patients undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy was 8 days (range 2 to 25) for the anterior approach, 4.5 days (range 1 to 11) for the posterior approach, and 2.2 days (range 1 to 5) for the laparoscopic approach. Patient controlled analgesia lasted 3.4 days for those operated anteriorly, 2.3 days for those operated posteriorly, and 1.08 days for those that underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic approach to the adrenal promises the safest and least painful operation with shorter in-hospital stay and the best cosmetic and long-term results. The posterior approach is the fastest of all and a better overall operation than the anterior approach that should only be reserved for removing very large adrenal tumors and when concomitant intra-abdominal procedures, that can't be handled laparoscopically, are anticipated.

Is aluminum toxicity responsible for uremic pruritus in chronic hemodialysis patients?

Pruritus is a common symptom among patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. However, its etiology remains unclear. In an attempt to clarify its cause we tried to correlate pruritus and its intensity with several serological variables in 94 hemodialysis patients. Our results show that higher serum aluminum concentrations are found in dialysis patients with pruritus (p = 0.008) and that the intensity of pruritus is also significantly related to the aluminum concentration (p = 0.007). The intensity of pruritus was also correlated with the calcium-phosphate product (p = 0.03). Our findings suggest that prolonged exposure to aluminum in patients with chronic renal failure might be involved in the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus and elevated calcium-phosphate product seems to be an additional factor predisposing to pruritus.

Adrenaloma: a call for more aggressive management.

We review our experience from the surgical management of 57 patients (24 males, 33 females) with a mean age of 48.5 years who underwent adrenalectomy because of the computed tomography (CT) finding of a "nonfunctioning" adrenal tumor (adrenaloma). We found that CT consistently underestimated the real histologic size of the adrenal tumor (p = 0.001). Of the 57 resected tumors, 23 were cortical adenomas, 7 myelolipomas, 8 adrenal cysts, 11 nodular hyperplasias, 2 primary adenocarcinomas, 2 metastatic carcinomas, and 4 pheochromocytomas. The mean diameter was 5.89 cm and the mean weight 114.07 g. The mean diameter of the resected primary adenocarcinomas was 3.0 cm and 4.5 cm, respectively. The operative mortality was zero and the perioperative morbidity minimal. The mean operating time was 137 minutes (range 60-240 minutes). The posterior approach had the shortest operating time and the laparoscopic approach the shortest hospital stay and the least postoperative need for narcotics. During the 6.2 years mean follow-up period, five patients with preoperative hypertension remained normotensive, and both patients with the resected primary adenocarcinomas are alive without recurrence. We suggest a more liberal surgical approach to patients with adrenalomas because: (1) even small tumors can be malignant or potentially lethal (e.g., pheochromocytomas); (2) some tumors that appear to be nonfunctioning may in reality be functioning; and (3) other nonfunctioning tumors may, with time (and without prior notice), function. The low risk of adrenalectomy especially via the laparoscopic approach can provide an early definitive diagnosis and treatment, avoiding the cost of repeated CT scans and other studies as suggested by the currently prevailing conservative management of these tumors.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy without pancreaticojejunostomy.

A simple technique that maintains the endocrine function without the risk of pancreaticojejunostomy after Whipple's operation is described. The simple external drainage via a polyethylene tube of the pancreatic remnant without pancreaticojejunostomy has been tried and proven successful and safe.

The incidence of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in Rochester, Minn, 1950 through 1969.

During the period 1950 through 1969, 2344 persons (755 men and 1589 women) in Rochester, Minn, met diagnostic and residency criteria for cholelithiasis. The age-adjusted average annual incidence rates per 100,000 population were 217 for men and 370 for women (adjusted rates were 255 and 276, respectively). Incidence rates increased with age in both sexes, but more rapidly so for men, so that by 70 years of age the rate for men was higher than that for women. For the decades covered in this study, no secular trend in incidence was detected for the two sexes combined or separately.

Dietary and other risk factors in the aetiology of cholelithiasis: a case control study.

We studied the effect of dietary factors and a variety of other risk factors on the development of cholelithiasis through a case control study. The study involved 96 cases and 118 age and sex matched controls. All cases and controls were interviewed with regard to a variety of risk factors and frequency of consumption of over 100 food items. Analysis was done both by chi square and a multiple logistic regression model. From all the dietary factors the only ones that showed a positive statistically significantly (p less than 0.05) association was consumption of animal fat as expressed by eating all visible fat on the meat and using butter on the table. Interestingly high consumption of olive oil had a negative (protective) association with the disease. A negative association was also found with smoking and holding a job demanding hard labor.

Does coffee consumption protect against thyroid disease?

In a case-control, serially matched study, 70 patients with thyroid cancer, 55 with benign thyroid disease and 71 controls were interviewed in regard to a variety of socioeconomic, social and dietary characteristics. Statistical analysis revealed a strikingly negative (p less than 0.05) association between benign and malignant thyroid disease and consumption of coffee. After adjustment for possible confounding variables, the association remained statistically significant. The mechanism by which coffee consumption may play a protective role against development of benign or malignant thyroid neoplasms may be the stimulatory effect of caffeine on the intracellular cyclic AMP production, which is known to inhibit cell growth.

Parathyroid cysts of the neck and mediastinum. Case report.

Five cases of parathyroid cyst are presented and the literature concerning this rare entity is reviewed. Three of the five cysts were located in the neck and were non-functioning. The other two were in the anterior mediastinum and functioning, and indeed were associated with hypercalcemic crisis. Four cases were treated surgically, and in one non-functioning parathyroid cyst both diagnosis and treatment were accomplished with fine-needle aspiration. The cystic appearance, color of the fluid contents, high content of parathyroid hormone and histologic features distinguish parathyroid cyst from the much commoner thyroid cyst. Non-functioning parathyroid cysts can be treated with fine-needle aspiration, whereas functioning cysts require surgical removal.

The surgical management of adrenal cortical carcinoma.

Experience with the surgical treatment of 12 patients with carcinoma of the adrenal cortex is presented. They were 6 men and 6 women. Their ages ranged from 23 to 66 years old (mean 38 years). Four carcinomas had detected hormonal activity. The location of the carcinoma involved the right adrenal in 8 cases and the left in 4 cases. The mean diameter of the mass was 15 cm. Excision of the adrenal cancer with the ipsilateral kidney was the usual procedure. Lymph nodes were involved in 5 cases and interestingly the kidney was only involved in 3 cases. One patient died during hospitalization from pulmonary embolus, whereas another one required re-exploration for postoperative hemorrhage. Nine patients developed pulmonary, hepatic and bone metastasis within 3 to 10 months, postoperatively. Radiation treatment and chemotherapy had poor results. Nevertheless, one patient in whom left adrenalectomy, splenectomy and partial pancreatectomy was performed, is doing well, despite the presence of hepatic metastases, with the addition of o,p' DDD, 24 months postoperatively. Another patient underwent reoperation and excision of recurrent local disease 12 months after adrenalectomy/nephrectomy. She is now alive 16 months following her second surgery. Based on the above, an aggressive surgical approach is advocated in the management of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism and thyroid cancer.

To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of two cases with concomitant secondary hyperparathyroidism and thyroid cancer. Despite previously published reports of a possible association between primary hyperparathyroidism and non-medullary thyroid cancer, we believe that such an association is coincidental. Nevertheless, increased awareness of the possibility of encountering and treating both diseases at the same time is advisable.