Conservative treatment of borderline ovarian tumors: a retrospective study.

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are a group of tumors with histological aspects and intermediate biological evolution between benign and malignant tumors, characterized by epithelial proliferation, lack of stromal invasion and nuclear atypia. BOTs account for approximately 10-15% of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. The interest in fertility preservation is very important as most BOTs are diagnosed in patients less than 40 years of age. Since borderline tumors occur in young, fertile women, the therapeutic approach depends on both staging and the need to preserve ovarian function and fertility. Treatment of BOT is primarily surgical, but recently fertility-preserving surgery has become more important. If infertility persists, ovarian induction or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be suggested in selected cases.

Acute lithiasic cholecystitis, pseudoneoplastic form, a cause of conversion for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Acute lithiasic cholecystitis represents one of the most frequent pathologies of the digestive tract, most often requiring emergency surgical treatment. The prevalence of this condition increases with age and it affects women the most. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred surgical treatment, as it diminishes postoperatory pain, it reduces the hospitalization period and medical and social costs, and it also provides a rapid postoperatory recovery. We present the case of an elder female patient, who presented with complex symptoms and signs, suggesting both lithiasic cholecystitis and a gallbladder neoplastic condition. Although there was preferred a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the presence of an inflammatory process with intense sclerous reaction in the hepatocystic triangle led the conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy into an open, classical one. Due to the inflammatory process, the common bile duct (CBD) could not be explored. The subsequent practicing of a cholangiography on the drain tube highlighted the presence of an obstacle in the end zone of the CBD, which could not be removed until the second surgical intervention. The histopahological exams - from frozen sections to immunohistochemistry - had a crucial role in deciding patient's surgical management. The good evolution of the case and the final postoperatory result confirmed that the therapeutic manner chosen for this case was the appropriate one.

Delayed interval delivery in twin pregnancy - case reports.

The implementation of assisted reproduction has increased the incidence of multiple pregnancies. Prenatal death of one fetus in the second trimester of twin pregnancy confronts the obstetrician with a difficult problem with regard to the management of pregnancy. The scarcity of the condition and the absence of the large-scale studies make it difficult to advise the parents on the prognosis and optimal management. The unavoidable birth or death of one premature neonate has led to the aim of delayed interval delivery for the other twin. We present in this report two cases of twin pregnancies with delayed-interval delivery and favorable outcomes for the surviving twins. The twin pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in HitMed Medical Center, Craiova, Romania. In the first case, one fetus dismiss in utero at 20 weeks of gestation. The second fetus was successfully delivered by Caesarean section, at 36 weeks. In the second case, the first fetus was delivered at 22 weeks. To save the surviving fetus, ligation of the umbilical cord at the cervical level was performed. The second fetus was delivered at 31 weeks by Caesarean section, in good conditions. We describe our management of the cases and the deliveries and the neonatal outcomes. In multiple gestation, prolongation of pregnancy after preterm dismiss in utero or even after delivery of one fetus is feasible in a closely monitored environment.

Papillary thyroid cancer stroma - histological and immunohistochemical study.

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine neoplasia. The incidence of the disease has been increasing in the past few decades in many regions, especially where the population was subject to some forms of accidental exposure. Among all the histopathological forms, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common histological subtype of malignant thyroid tumor, representing about 80-90% of all malignant thyroid tumors. Although it is generally accepted that tumor stroma plays an essential role in the development and metastasis of tumor cells, histopathological studies focused on tumor cells characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of tumor stroma histopathologically and immunohistochemically examining a total of 18 cases of papillary thyroid carcinomas, of which 18 cases were classic papillary carcinomas, 11 cases papillary carcinomas, follicular forms, five cases were papillary carcinomas - formed with tall-cells, three cases of papillary carcinomas, solid variants and one case was interpreted as an oncocytic variant. Most papillary carcinomas have been typically characterized by the presence of neoplastic papillae, composed of a central axis of fibro-vascular, branched, and coated by one or more layers of cubic or prismatic epithelial cells. In three typical papillary carcinomas, the stroma was composed of coarse connective axes rich in collagen fibers. The predominantly fibrous stroma, consisting of connective septum was observed in four cases, while in one case of papillary carcinoma, solid variant, we have identified a hyaline stroma; in one case was revealed a myxoid stroma. Diffuse stromal calcifications have been identified in two cases only. In the tumoral stroma, there were identified inflammatory infiltrates in nine cases, formed mostly of lymphocytes, and in one case, there was observed the presence of aggregated lymphoid nodules. The immunostaining with anti-CD34 antibody showed that in papillary thyroid carcinomas there is a well-represented vascularity, mostly made of small vessels (arterioles, venules, capillaries) with diameters between 7 and 50 µm, and immunostaining with anti-vimentin and anti-α-SMA antibody showed an increased number of fibroblasts, respectively myofibroblasts in the tumoral stroma. We believe that in the same thyroid tumor there are several clones of neoplastic cells that reshape the stroma, giving it certain histopathological characteristics.

Pregnancy resulting from IMSI after testicular biopsy in a patient with obstructive azoospermia.

In this article, we report a case of pregnancy obtained in an infertile couple diagnosed with severe male factor infertility. The couple attended for fertility examination reporting a history of 10 years of infertility. The cause of infertility was obstructive azoospermia. The treatment consists of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The ovarian stimulation of female patient was done with antagonist protocol and after ovarian puncture was obtained nine oocytes. The urologist performed testicular sperm extraction (TESE). There were selected nine sperm cells by intra-cytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI). For this purpose, we used an inverted microscope with high magnification equipped with ×60 air objectives with modulation contrast illumination. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of sperm into the oocytes there were obtained six normal embryos from which three embryos were transferred into the uterus. A singleton pregnancy was achieved which was completed with birth of a healthy baby in time. This successful outcome shows that use of IMSI and ICSI procedures are really useful in selection of best spermatozoa obtained by TESE in treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

Neuroendocrine tumor arising de novo in the left upper thigh: a case report.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) originate in the neuroendocrine cells of the neural crest (Kulchitsky cells). If neuroendocrine tumors arising in the digestive tract or lung may occasionally result in skin metastases, primary soft tissue or skin NETs are infrequent. The current paper presents the case of an elderly woman patient with neuroendocrine tumors arising de novo in the left upper thigh, accompanied by lymph nodes metastases in the left groin and in the left pelvic sidewall, in close vicinity of the iliac vessels. The diagnosis of NET was performed based on immunohistochemical tests. Such tumors show a slow growth and, generally, have a good prognosis. It is emphasized that complete surgical excision, in some cases associated with adjuvant external radiotherapy is the optimal therapeutic modality in dealing with such lesions.

Morphoclinical study of intracerebral hemorrhage with subarachnoid effusion.

AIM: The study is an integrated assessment of clinical, imagistic and morphological parameters in severe intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) complicated with subarachnoid effusion (SAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The studied group had 37 cases of patients with ICH and SAE who were hospitalized in the Emergency County Hospital of Craiova and died during hospitalization. The parameters evaluated were clinical (relation with the seasons, age, sex, arterial blood pressure, the motor deficit, degree of coma and Glasgow score at admission) and morphological (the sites of the intraparenchymal hematoma and SAE, the size of the intraparenchymal hematoma, the presence of the mass effect, and the association of intraventricular effusion). The latter were assessed on CT films and during autopsy. RESULTS: The presence of SAE as a complication of ICH showed a predilection for cold seasons, especially winter. From the 37 studied cases, 18 were men and 19 women. 51.3% of the patients were in the fourth and fifth life decade. Almost 73% of the patients had third stage arterial hypertension at admission, over 56% motor deficits and almost 49% Glasgow scores lower than 6. The hematomas had huge dimensions as compared to hosting encephalic structures, in lobar sites involving more than one lobe. Other risk factors as mass effect, perilesional edema and intraventricular extension (IVE) were constantly present. CONCLUSIONS: The association of SAE with other independent risk factors such as hypertension, low Glasgow scores, dimensions of hemorrhagic foci, presence of mass effect, perilesional edema and intraventricular extension (IVE) results in the death of patient despite any sustained therapeutical intervention.

Sentinel lymph node study in colorectal cancer using serial sectioning and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining: importance and limitations.

The lymph node involvement represents an important predictor for survival in colorectal cancer; consequently, the best pathologic evaluation is necessary in order to adequately assess the lymph node status. This study aims to evaluate the impact of sentinel lymph node technique in colorectal cancer in lymphatic basin staging. The study included 43 consecutive operated cases, in which the identification of sentinel lymph node was performed during surgery (in vivo procedure - colon cancer) or immediately after the removal of the resection specimen (ex vivo procedure - rectal cancer). These cases were matched with 45 control cases. The identified sentinel lymph node was separately examined using multiple sections and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining method. The detection rate, accuracy, sensitivity and false negative rate were better for colon cancer (86.36%; 84.21%; 66.66%; 23.07%) vs. rectal cancer (61.9%; 84.61%; 50%; 18.18%), but there are no arguments for the feasibility of the technique in every day practice. Further studies and methods are mandatory in order to improve the staging of the pN status in colon and rectal cancer.

Study of cerebral vascular structures in hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage.

AIMS: The study was performed in order to assess the alterations of extra-parenchymal and intraparenchymal vascular structures in 82 hypertensive patients suspected of primary intraparenchymal hematoma, which died and were autopsied in order to confirm the diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studied material consisted of nervous tissue situated near and distant from the haemorrhagic lesion. The specimens of nervous tissue were processed by the classical histological technique and stained with the usual stainings and with immunohistochemical stains for basement membranes and endothelial cells. RESULTS: Extra-parenchymal arteries showed classic lesions of atherosclerosis. Atheromatous lesions were of all types, even the extension towards the media being encountered a complication with thrombosis. At the level of the intraparenchymal blood vessels, the spectrum of the lesions due to arterial hypertension included all steps of vascular wall degeneration, from hypertrophy of smooth muscle layer to complete hyalinization of arterial wall, but with a focal irregular distribution, not related with the proximity of haemorrhagic focus. High arterial blood pressure also influenced the capillary walls which showed focal or circumferential thickening due to the densification of the type IV collagen material from the basement membrane structure. The CD34 immunostaining showed that endothelial cells kept their structural integrity. CONCLUSIONS: The sequence of degenerative lesions of the cerebral vascular wall culminates with the hyalinization of excessive fibrillar material form arteriolar wall or from basement membranes. Hyalin material is weakening the wall resistance to the stress determined by the high values of blood pressure in hypertension, and, correlated with a minimal resistance of the surrounding cerebral parenchyma, can explain why the cerebral parenchyma is the only tissue in which blood pressure variations can determinate vascular rupture and cerebral haemorrhage. The more adequate term for describing the vascular wall changes seems to be sclerosis (arteriolar and even capillary) with hyalinosis.

[The megaureter--a possible complication after resected retroperitoneal tumor]. / Megaureterul--complicatie posibila dupa tumori retroperitoneale operate.

The authors present a very rare complication of a retroperitoneal tumor resection: unilateral iliopelvic segmental megaureter. This condition was subsequently complicated with a diffuse peritonitis caused by parietal microperforations.

[Ovarian cancer--diagnostic dilemmas and unusual therapeutic response]. / Cancerul de ovar între dileme de diagnostic si "capriciile" raspunsului terapeutic.

The aims of this paper are both to highlight some dilemmas concerning the diagnosis of primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma mainly in its early stages and to underline the capricious responses of this type of malignancy to an otherwise well coded modern management. This study is based on the analysis of the records of 78 patients with ovarian carcinoma admitted for diagnosis and surgical treatment to the Department of General Surgery of Craiova C.F.R. Clinic from 1993 through 2003. The results of this analysis are difficult to interpret due to loss to follow up (in terms of response rates) of some of our 78 operated on ovarian carcinoma patients who went on with their platinum-based chemotherapy (following surgical cytoreduction) under the supervision of different Oncology Departments nationwide. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that most of this study patients (71.9%) presented with advanced-stage (III and IV) ovarian carcinoma which sometimes seemed quite confusing by its clinical polymorphism but its prognosis was very much related to both the degree of surgical cytoreduction accomplished and tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy. Finally, although this study does not allow us to draw firm conclusions it is an attempt to share out our current perception on the primary epithelial ovarian cancer management.

[Locoregionally advanced rectosigmoid cancer: diagnosis, surgical approach, late results]. / Neoplasmul rectosigmoidian avansat locoregional. Probleme de diagnostic, rezultate la distanta, atitudine terapeutica chirurgicala.

The colorectal cancer continues to be diagnosed in advanced stages in our country, mainly due to unapplying of a programmer of active diagnosis through screening on the population with risk for colorectal cancer, and inefficiency of primary care system. In the department of General Surgery CFR Craiova Hospital between 1991-2001 were operated a number of 231 patients with colon cancer and 104 patients with rectal cancer. The results, showing an increased number of recurrences in cases of resection performed for advanced loco-regional tumors of rectosigmoid, made us to reconsider the attitude of avoiding the abdominoperineal resection even when the distance between the inferior limits of the tumors and the anal edge exceeded the distance considered being standard for a low anastomosis performing. The follow-up of the patients with paraclinic technique that didn't prove efficient led in the most cases to a delaying in diagnosis of local recurrences until the moment of resectability was exceeded. The applying of efficient methods in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer and follow-up could provide in the future better results for anterior resections with low anastomosis.

[Clinical course of an ileal carcinoid with mesenteric metastasis]. / Evolutie particulara a unui carcinoid ileal cu metastaza ganglionara în baza mezenterului.

This paper aim is to present the case of a male patient, age 63 admitted in hospital for non-specific gastroenterologic symptoms easily attributed to colecyst calculosis; the anamnesis and careful clinical examination have avoided a useless cholecystectomy and permitted to establish indication for laparotomy; during that was found an ileal tumor with massive metastasis in the base of mesentery. The surgical attitude was dictated by histological diagnostic difficulties (prostate adenocarcinoma metastasis), so it has given up the idea of tumor excision (unjustified intraoperative risk for a metastasis), performing a bypass of the ileal tumor by an enteroenterostomy, then the patient was sent to the Oncological Department. Postoperative evaluation of the patient finally permitted to establish the neuroendocrine origin of the tumor; after oncological treatment (chemotherapy), about 10 months after operation the patient didn't present any sign of tumor (tumor markers and CT scan within normal). The paper emphasizes the problem of practicing an aggressive surgical treatment for carcinoid intestinal tumors with mesenteric metastasis but also brings attention to nonsymptomatic forms of cholecyst calculosis that may hide associated malignant tumors undetected by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

[Breast conserving surgery --7 years of experience]. / Chirurgia conservatoare a sânului--7 ani de experienta.

The breast cancer treatment is based nowadays on a new surgical option: breast-conserving surgery, which is reliable at least for the first and second stage of cancer, with radical intention, obviously. We have started to practice the breast-conserving surgery in our surgical clinic (at CFR Hospital, from Craiova) for 7 years; until now we have performed 159 breast-conserving operation and, as results, we have recorded 3 local recurrences (2.12%) and 1 death due to cancer evolution. Our protocol includes removal of the primary tumor with enough surrounding tissue to ensure negative margins of resectable specimen, associated with total axillary lymph-node dissection and postoperative breast irradiation. Our oncologist on different postoperative conditions indicated the chemotherapy: tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, patient age, etc. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize our unassuming experience but especially to draw attention on important results, obtained by long-term monitoring the patient who underwent breast-conserving surgery, in a two prospective protocols, which demonstrate the importance and applicability of breast-conserving therapy. The conclusion of this study is that breast-conserving surgery followed by breast irradiation is reliable, as the results are similar with the radical mastectomies; the main objective is to obtain a good cosmetic result, which depends on tumor size/size of the breast ratio.

[Tumour-host interaction and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer]. / Aspecte ale relatiei tumora-gazda cu implicatii în aprecierea prognosticului la pacientii cu cancer gastric.

The study analyzed the prognostic significance of a group of three histologic markers belonging to intra- and peritumorous stroma as derived from a series of 66 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma operated upon in Craiova CFR General Surgery Clinic. To this end we attempted to uncover any possible correlation between the three stromal parameters represented by type of angiogenesis, peritumorous inflammatory infiltrate and desmoplastic reaction and both the depth of malignant invasion through the gastric wall and the histologic type of gastric cancer. The results of our investigation highlighted that type A2 angiogenesis is displayed mostly by gastric carcinomas with well-differentiated tubular and secretory structure (class 2 Goseky) whereas type A3, angiogenesis is mainly a feature of gastric cancer with a poorly-differentiated tubular morphology (classes 3 and 4 Goseky). Moreover there was no statistically significant correlation between the intensity of inflammatory infiltrate and both the Goseky classes and the depth of neoplastic spread. Finally a clearly desmoplastic reaction was encountered in less than 50% of our patient series and represented almost a characteristic of both poorly-differentiated tubular structured malignancies and serosa invading tumors.