Metallosis with spinal implant loosening after spinal instrumentation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Spinal metallosis is a rare complication following spinal instrumentation whereby an inflammatory response to the metal implants results in the development of granulomatous tissue. CASE SUMMARY: We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who had recurrence of back pain 5 years after lumbar spine posterior decompression and instrumented fusion. Lumbar spine radiographs showed hardware loosening and magnetic resonance imaging showed adjacent segment disease. Revision surgery revealed evidence of metallosis intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: Spinal metallosis can present several years after instrumentation. Radiography and computed tomography may demonstrate hardware loosening secondary to metallosis. Blood metal concentrations associated with spinal metallosis have yet to be established. Hence, metallosis is still an intraoperative and histopathological diagnosis. The presence of metallosis after spinal instrumentation likely indicates a more complex underlying problem: Pseudarthrosis, failure to address sagittal balance, infection, and cross-threading of set screws. Hence, identifying metallosis is important, but initiating treatment promptly for symptomatic implant loosening is of greater paramount.

Confirmation of the structure of (±)-preisomide by total synthesis.

The structure of preisomide has been confirmed by total synthesis involving chemoselective oxazine formation and vinyl iodide carbonylation in six steps (longest linear sequence) and 23% overall yield.

Sporadic Renal Angiomyolipoma: Can We Adopt a Uniform Management Protocol / Angiomiolipoma renal esporádico: ¿Podemos adoptar un protocolo de tratamiento estándar?

Renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs), formerly known as PEComas (tumors showing perivascular epithelioid cell differentiation) are common benign renal masses composed of a varying ratio of fat, blood vessels, and smooth muscles. They are largely asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally on imaging. The adipose tissue content is the factor that gives AMLs their characteristic appearance on imaging and makes them easily identifiable. However, the fat-poor or fat-invisible varieties, which are difficult to differentiate radiologically from renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), present a diagnostic challenge. It is thus essential to establish the diagnosis and identify the atypical and hereditary cases as they require more intense surveillance and management due to their potential for malignant transformation. Multiple management options are available, ranging from conservative approach to embolization and to the more radical option of nephrectomy. While the indications for intervention are relatively clear and aimed at a rather small cohort, the protocol for follow-up of the remainder of the cohort forming the majority of cases is not well established. The surveillance and discharge policies therefore vary between institutions and even between individual practitioners. We have reviewed the literature to establish an optimum management pathway focusing on the typical AMLs.

Los angiomiolipomas renales (AML), antes conocidos como PEComas (tumores que muestran epitelioides perivasculares) son masas renales benignas frecuentes compuestas por una proporción variable de grasa, vasos sanguíneos y músculos lisos. Suelen ser asintomáticos y se diagnostican de forma incidental en las pruebas de imagen. El contenido de tejido adiposo es el factor que confiere a los AML su aspecto característico en las imágenes y los hace fácilmente identificables. Sin embargo, las variedades pobres en grasa o invisibles, que son difíciles de diferenciar radiológicamente de los carcinomas de células renales (CCR), suponen un reto diagnóstico. Por lo tanto, es esencial establecer el diagnóstico e identificar los casos atípicos y hereditarios, ya que requieren una vigilancia y un tratamiento más intensos debido a su potencial de malignización. debido a su potencial de transformación maligna. Existen múltiples opciones de tratamiento, que van desde el enfoque conservador hasta la embolización y la opción más radical de la nefrectomía. Si bien las indicaciones para la intervención son relativamente claras y están dirigidas a una cohorte bastante pequeña, el protocolo para el seguimiento del resto de la cohorte que forma la mayoría de los casos no está bien establecido. Por lo tanto, las políticas de vigilancia y alta varían entre instituciones e incluso entre profesionales individuales. Hemos revisado la literatura para establecer una ruta de manejo óptima centrada en los AML típicos.

A reproducible reference point for the common peroneal nerve during surgery at the posterolateral corner of the knee: a cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: This is an experimental study conducted to assess whether the fibular head is a reliable reference point to identify the position of the common peroneal nerve at the posterolateral corner of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cadaveric knees were dissected through the lateral approach. The common peroneal nerve was identified and traced. The location where the common peroneal nerve crossed the posterior border of the biceps femoris and the posterior border of the fibular neck were designated as points B and N, respectively. The tip of the fibular head was designated F. Distances FB and FN were measured and the triangular area FBN was calculated at various degrees of knee flexion. RESULTS: During knee motion, distance FN showed minimal change and was not affected by variation in degrees of knee flexion (p = 0.131). Distance FB and distance BN were affected by variation in degrees of knee flexion (p < 0.001). Triangular area FBN increased in size up to 60° of knee flexion measuring 621.22 mm2 and subsequently decreased with further knee flexion. CONCLUSION: The common peroneal nerve can consistently be found at approximately 20.7 ± 1 mm on the fibular neck with respect to the tip of the fibular head. The tip of the fibular head is a consistent landmark that can be used to predict the position of the exit point of the common peroneal nerve at the posterolateral corner of the knee.

En bloc resection of the external iliac vein along with broad ligament leiomyosarcoma: A case report.

Outcomes following the excision of the external iliac vein during gynaecological oncology surgery are poorly documented. This is because most gynaecological oncologists consider tumours with vascular involvement inoperable. We describe a patient whose right external iliac vein was transected during the removal of a large broad ligament leiomyosarcoma invading the right external iliac vein. The patient's recovery following surgery was uneventful, and she remained disease-free 6 months postoperatively, with minimal morbidity. In describing this case, we hope to educate and inform other gynaecological oncologists facing a similar surgical challenge. We also propose that resection of the external iliac vessels in such cases is safe and feasible, and summarise the anatomical course of venous collaterals, which develop when the external iliac veins are obstructed.

Diaphragm disease in advanced ovarian cancer: Predictability of pre-operative imaging and safety of surgical intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the positive predictive values of pre-operative identification with CT imaging of metastatic diaphragm disease in surgically managed cases of advanced ovarian cancer (AOC). Additionally, we have assessed the post-operative morbidity and survival following diaphragmatic surgical intervention in a large regional cancer centre in the United Kingdom. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of all cases of AOC with metastatic diaphragm disease surgically treated at the Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Cancer Centre, UK between 1st August 2007 and 29th February 2016. RESULTS: A total of 536 women underwent surgery for primary AOC. Diaphragm disease was evident intra-operatively in 215/536 (40.1%) and 85/536 women (15.9%) underwent a procedure involving their diaphragm. Of these 85 cases, 38 peritoneal strippings (38/85, 44.7%), 31 partial diaphragmatic resections (31/85, 35.6%) and 16 electro-surgical ablations (16/85, 18.9%) were performed. There were no significant differences in post-operative complications between the three different diaphragmatic surgical groups. Of those patients who underwent peritoneal stripping or partial diaphragm resection, 12% were upstaged to stage 4A by virtue of pleural invasion. The positive predictive value for pre-operative radiological identification of diaphragmatic disease was 78.6%. CT imaging failed to detect diaphragmatic involvement despite obvious diaphragm disease during surgery in 29.4% of cases, giving a low negative predictive value of 64.8%. The sensitivity and specificity for CT imaging in detecting diaphragm disease was 44.3% and 93.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diaphragmatic disease is often discovered in AOC. However, pre-operative assessment with CT imaging is not reliable in accurately detecting diaphragm involvement. Therefore, all patients with AOC should be regarded as in potential need for diaphragm surgery and their operation undertaken in cancer centres with adequate expertise in upper abdominal surgery. If there is a suspicion of diaphragm muscle invasion during diaphragmatic peritonectomy, the muscle should be partially resected. This will lead to potential upstaging of disease to stage 4A and therefore, to suitability for targeted therapy. In our Centre, the surgical removal of diaphragmatic disease did not significantly increase surgical morbidity.

Reminder of an important clinical lesson in the presentation of an inguinoscrotal bladder hernia and its CT findings.

Inguinoscrotal bladder hernias are still a rare finding in clinical practice. The present report describes the case of a patient who presented with minimal symptoms and was found to have an inguinoscrotal bladder hernia that was confirmed on CT. The CT findings include very clear and interesting images, and the case is discussed further.