Cystic intestinal pneumatosis of the small gut: Etiopathogenesis and review of literature.

Cystic intestinal pneumatosis (CIP) is the presence of gas bubbles inside the wall of the intestine. In literature it has been reported to be associated with a variety of clinical conditions such as: superior mesenteric ischemia, intestinal perforation, bowel necrosis, infections which can cause mucosal alterations and therefore increasing its permeability, necrotizing enterocolitis in babies, trauma, intestinal obstruction, autoimmune and pulmonary pathologies. Its presence is usually documented by radiological techniques such as abdominal X-ray, CT scan and endoscopy and are usually characterized by the typical pattern of gas bubbles in the wall of the intestine. Majority of cases may be managed conservatively but intramural gas resulting from bowel necrosis represents a surgical emergency. We admitted an 86- year old man who presented with mild to moderate and persistent non-specific abdominal pain recurring for the last three weeks. No history of previous surgery was recorded. On examination, bowel sounds were dull and rare, general tenderness on the left of the abdomen but no particular resistance was noted, breath sounds were reduced and right hemi-thorax had reduced expansion as well. The patient was dehydrated and no central or peripheral neurological deficits were observed. Chest X-ray was performed and showed the presence of free air beneath the diaphragm. A complete abdominal CT scan was then done and documented the presence of pneumoperitoneum and multiple cystic like structures containing air in the right peri-splenic and para-renal regions. Laparotomy was then done for suspected perforation of the gut. The small gut was entangled with adhesions and presence of cystic structures with bubbles of air along the wall of the gut. The affected part of the small gut was then resected. The histology result confirms the presence of cystic pneumatosis of the small gut without any sign of intestinal wall perforation. KEY WORDS: Cystic pneumatosis, Pneumoperitoneum, Radiological investigations, Surgical approach.

Diaphragmatic hernia Report of two cases, classification, and review of literature.

Morgagni-Larrey hernia is uncommon congenital disease in the adults and presents with mild to severe clinical symptoms. In literature, about 80% of Morgagni -Larrey hernia are found on the right side of the chest cavity and have usually a peritoneal sack. Only 2-3% of patients at birth are symptomatic and therefore eligible for urgent surgery. Less severe forms of the disease are characterized by persistent epigastric and subcostal pains sometimes associated with vomiting and are frequently mistaken for dyspeptic disturbances. We present two case reports; the first one is a patient of 74 years who presented with persistent epigastric pain, vomiting, slight to moderate dyspnea on exertion associated with tachycardia, tachypnea and dyspeptic symptoms. Such symptoms have been going on for the last 6 months. The second patient is a 90 year old woman who was admitted in our ward for abdominal pain and distension associated with vomiting. In both cases a Morgagni-Larrey diaphragmatic hernia was discovered by using esophagogastroduodenoscopy, gastrographyn swallow and CT scan in the first case and only CT scan in the second one. KEY WORDS: Morgagni-Larrey hernia, Radiological investigations, Symptoms in adults, Surgical approach.

Struma ovarii with follicular thyroid-type carcinoma and neuroendocrine component: case report.

Struma ovarii (SO) is a slow-growing ovarian neoplasm with thyroid tissue as its predominant component. It is an uncommon neoplasm, usually asymptomatic with an unknown risk of malignant transformation. Due to difficulties in assessing the rare biological nature and the discrepancies in the reported cases, a consensus on the appropriate treatment has not been definitively reached. A 50-year-old female was subjected to upper gut endoscopy which showed a 30-mm mass located in the gastric antrum, suggestive of mesenchimal tumor. Incidentally, a pelvic CT scan also documented a solid mass in the right adnexa, with morphological characteristics of ovarian neoplasm. The patient underwent gastrectomy, total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with lymph node dissection, and omentectomy. Histology documented the presence of gastric cavernous angioma, and, in the right adnexa, foci of follicular thyroid-type carcinoma arising in SO with a well-differentiated neuroendocrine component.Here we report and discuss the clinical and morphological presentation of follicular thyroid-type carcinoma arising in SO. The neoplasm was discovered incidentally and had a favorable clinical outcome at 1-year follow-up.

Portal vein gas due to gangrenous cholecystitis treated by a laparoscopic procedure: report of a case.

Portal pneumatosis is a rare diagnostic factor, which is often associated with ischemic intestinal accidents. It has been associated with a negative prognosis for a very long time, and the presence of portal pneumatosis is usually an indication for the need to perform a laparotomy. A 68-year-old male patient with diabetes, obstructive lung disease, and a previous cerebral stroke associated with left hemiplegia presented with abdominal pain, fever and neutrophil leukocytosis. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed the presence of portal pneumatosis with signs of acute cholecystitis and remarkable gastrectasia. In consideration of the serious clinical picture, the patient first underwent esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy (EGDS), which showed ulcerative hemorrhagic gastritis. He then underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The histology results confirmed the intraoperative diagnosis of gangrenous cholecystitis. The patient was discharged on the 7th postoperative day. With the use of new diagnostic techniques, especially CT, the incidence of portal pneumatosis has increased and consequently the clinical approach of surgeons to this pathology is also changing. Indeed, when portal pneumatosis is not associated with intestinal ischemia, the therapeutic approach must be guided by the clinical condition of the patient and by the investigation of the causes of this pathology. The laparoscopic approach can be extremely useful either in the diagnosis (if this has not been achieved by noninvasive means) or in treatment, if possible, of the causes implicated by the portal pneumatosis.