Primary omental liposarcoma presenting as an incarcerated inguinal hernia

Herein, we present a case of primary liposarcoma of the omentum found in an incarcerated inguinal hernia in a 52-year-old male patient. The patient was admitted to our hospital in June 2000 with sudden onset of left-sided abdominal and groin pain of 12 hours duration with a large, irreducible inguinal hernia. This was not associated with nausea or vomiting. An emergency operation was performed, and in the hernia sac the tumor, arising from the greater omentum, was found. After we opened the transversal fascia and peritoneum, the tumor was resected with a block of the greater omentum, and hernioplasty was performed using Shouldices method. The histopathological diagnosis of resected tumor showed myxoid type liposarcoma. In the English medical literature, omental liposarcoma has never before been reported as the content of a hernia sac.     

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and body mass index: an assessment of 151 sequential cases

PURPOSE: Little objective data are available regarding obesity and the performance of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). We reviewed our LRP series to determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on operative time, blood loss, anastomotic leakage, positive margins, length of stay, complications, urinary continence and erectile function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single institution retrospective review was performed of 151 sequential LRPs performed by a single surgeon. Patients were separated into those who were nonobese (BMI less than 30), and those with classes I (BMI 30 to 34.9), II (BMI 35 to 39.9) and III (BMI 40 or greater) obesity according to WHO criteria. RESULTS: There were 97 patients in the nonobese and 54 in the obese cohort, including 35, 14 and 5 with classes I to III obesity, respectively. A trend toward greater preoperative prostate specific antigen (p = 0.14), Gleason score (p = 0.06) and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (p = 0.07) was noted in the obese (BMI 30 or greater) group. The cohorts had similar prostate size (p = 0.11), pathological grade (p = 0.57), pathological stage (p = 0.50), postoperative hemoglobin decrease (p = 0.77) and hospital stay (p = 0.90). The rates of positive margins (p = 1.0), anastomotic leakage (p = 0.49), prostate specific antigen recurrence (p = 1.0) and complication (p = 0.14) were also similar. Early postoperative urinary continence (p = 1.0) and erectile function (p = 0.19) appeared equivalent. Mean operative time +/- SD was greater in obese than in nonobese patients (208 +/- 43 vs 192 +/- 34 minutes, p = 0.02). Mean operative time was longer in patients with classes II and III obesity (220 +/- 47 minutes, p <0.05 and 249 +/- 32, p <0.01, respectively). The class III group had a longer mean operative time than the class I obesity group (198 +/- 34 minutes, p <0.05). Obese patients underwent a greater number of additional procedures at the time of LRP (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: While obesity significantly increased LRP operative time, it did not significantly impact other intraoperative and postoperative surgical parameters. LRP should be offered to obese patients as a feasible and effective treatment option for prostate cancer.     

The steroid hormone receptors in tumors of adipose tissue

The clinical evidence suggests that the steroid hormones may influence the biologic course of tumors of soft tissue. In an attempt to characterize the possible steroid hormone dependency of soft tissue, we studied the incidence and distribution of cytosolic receptors for the steroid hormones in benign and malignant tumors of adipose tissue origin. All specimens were assayed for the steroid hormone receptors by charcoal dextran technique and analyzed by the method of Scatchard. The results show a high incidence of cytosolic estrogen and glucocorticoid receptors in tumors of adipose tissue origin except in lipoma and well differentiated liposarcoma. The binding parameter of these receptors suggests that the receptors may be responsive to physiologic steroid hormonal milieu.     

Resection of a retroperitoneal schwannoma by a combined approach

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We report a remarkable case of retroperitoneal schwannoma with significant spinal growth illustrating the effectiveness of a combined surgical approach. METHODS: A 41-year-old man presented with a long history of back pain and unexplained weight loss. An abdominal mass was found in the right upper quadrant. The CT-scan revealed a partially cystic lesion located in the right psoas muscle. Spinal extension was noticed through the L1-L2 neural foramen. MRI better showed the wide rostro-caudal extension in the spinal canal. RESULTS: Bilateral L1 and L2 laminectomy was performed to remove the spinal portion of the tumor. It was extradural but attached to the dura. The roots were not infiltrated. The retroperitoneal mass was removed by an anterior transperitoneal approach. The histological examination did not reveal criteria of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare and their preoperative diagnosis remains difficult. In case of significant spinal growth, a combined surgical exposure should be preferred to allow total removal of the lesion and control of the neurological structures.     

Tumor-Forming Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: Report of a Case

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is characterized by the progressive proliferation of connective tissue, but it rarely results in the formation of a mass. Herein, we report a rare case of tumor-forming IRF. A 76-year-old woman was referred to our hospital after a tumor in the right retroperitoneum was found by ultrasonography and computed tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 5 × 8 × 5-cm irregularly shaped tumor, lying adjacent to the right kidney, with a high-intensity T1-weighted image and a high-intensity T2-weighted image. Hormonal levels were within normal limits. Surgery was performed because of the possibility of an adrenal cancer. The tumor was firm, measured 7 × 8 × 4cm, and weighed 115g. The pathological diagnosis was retroperitoneal fibrosis. It is very difficult to distinguish tumor-forming IRF from malignancy. Several examinations, including needle aspiration cytology and biopsy, are necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.     

Long-term survivors after resection of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas: significance of histologically curative resection

Background/Purpose The prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer is said to have not been improved markedly by any procedures in the past 20 years. Since 1973, we have gradually extended the area of dissection when performing curative resection for pancreatic cancer to improve the resection rate and prognosis. Nineteen patients have survived for 3 years or more, and the 5-year survival rates of patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas were 23.9% for macroscopically curative resection and 34.3% for histologically curative resection.Methods We histologically observed surgical specimens, cut into 3- to 5-mm sections and compared the histologic characteristics of the 19 patients who survived for 3 years or more with those of 41 patients who died of cancer within 3 years (excluding 6 operative and hospital deaths), in order to find the conditions required for long-term survival.Results The following conditions were associated with long-term survival: (1) tumor diameter 3cm or less; (2) either absence of lymph node metastasis or metastasis limited to the n₁ group; (3) degree of invasion of the anterior pancreatic capsule of zero (s0); and (4) either no retropancreatic invasion (rp0) or exposed retropancreatic invasion (rpe) with no cancer invasion of dissected peripancreatic tissue ew(–).Conclusions At present, because the rpe rate is more than 70%, resection of the pancreas, including the superior mesenteric vein and the retropancreatic fusion fascia, is essential for a curative resection, because the retropancreatic tissue between the back of the pancreas and this fascia is anatomically considered to be in the position of the subserosal tissue in the gallbladder or stomach. Combined resection of the superior mesenteric artery may further improve the results of resection for pancreatic cancer, from the anatomical viewpoint.     

Collision tumor of the thyroid: a case report of metastatic liposarcoma plus papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The term collision tumor represents the proximal coexistence of two histologically distinct tumors. Collision tumors within the thyroid are extremely rare, and reported cases are usually of mixed histologies of papillary and medullary carcinomas. Metastatic disease to the thyroid is also an uncommon scenario but may develop after long disease-free intervals. Carcinomas, most commonly renal cell carcinoma, are the likeliest group of neoplasms to metastasize to the thyroid. Soft tissue sarcomas metastasize to the thyroid with a much lower frequency. METHODS: We are reporting this highly unusual case of metastatic liposarcoma from the thigh to thyroid, which harbored a collision tumor of papillary thyroid carcinoma. This 86-year-old woman had undergone an initial resection for liposarcoma of the thigh two decades before being seen with a thyroid mass. RESULTS: Histologically, the thyroid mass was a metastatic myxoid liposarcoma, identical to the primary neoplasm. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was present within this metastasis and in the adjacent thyroid. CONCLUSION.: For any patient seen with a thyroid mass with a history of prior malignancy, no matter how remote, metastatic disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis.     

Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty by a retroperitoneal approach in children

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with dismembered laparoscopic pyeloplasty by a retroperitoneal approach in children with pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1999 and 2002, retroperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty was attempted in 21 children (one bilateral; mean age 8 years, range 1.7-17). In a flank position with four ports (one of 5 or 10 mm and three of 3 mm), the PUJ was resected and the anastomosis made using 6/0 absorbable sutures. Any redundant renal pelvis was reduced when needed. A JJ stent was inserted in all patients. RESULTS: The procedure could not be completed by laparoscopy in four patients, the main reason being difficulty in completing the anastomosis; in the other 18 patients the procedure was successful. An aberrant crossing vessel was found in nine patients and dismembered pyeloplasty enabled ureteric transposition in all, with no conversion. The mean (range) operative duration was 228 (170-300) min and the mean hospital stay 2.5 (2-4) days. In three patients the JJ stents were not in the bladder at the time of removal by cystoscopy, and ureteroscopy was used to retrieve them. All children returned to full activities within 7 days of surgery. The mean (range) follow-up was 12.7 (2-36) months, with six children followed for> 2 years; all were asymptomatic, with imaging confirming improved hydronephrosis. CONCLUSIONS: These mid-term results confirm that retroperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty is a safe and feasible approach in children. Although the technique is very demanding it has the advantage of duplicating the principles of the open approach. The long operative duration and high conversion rate might be reduced with experience. Before expanding this approach to younger children, refinements in the anastomotic technique are needed.     

Retroperitoneal sarcoma: Time for a change in attiude?

Background : Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is considered a disease with poor prognosis partly because of the difficulty with diagnosis at an early stage. This review assesses the current best practice principles for RPS and finds evidence suggesting a better outlook for appropriately managed cases. Recommendations are made for improving diagnostic certainty before laparotomy and inappropriate transperitoneal biopsy occur. Methods : A critical review of the English language literature was conducted using MEDLINE software and searching the terms ‘retroperitoneal sarcoma’ alone or in combination with ‘prognosis’, ‘surgery’ and ‘adjuvant therapy’. Conclusions : Retroperitoneal sarcoma is a rare disease but when appropriately managed the disease‐free survival can be improved and may even approach that of extremity soft tissue sarcoma. One of the greatest barriers to improving outcome is the misinterpretation of clinical signs and an over‐reliance on ultrasound diagnosis in pelvic presentations, or misinterpretation of clinical signs and/or computer tomography (CT) scans in abdominal masses. Physicians referring patients with a retroperitoneal mass should consider more frequently the less common differential diagnoses of an abdominopelvic mass including retroperitoneal sarcoma. This is especially true in circumstances where there is a circumscribed, predominantly solid tumour, with clinical or radiological signs of vascular or rectal displacement, ureteric obstruction and/or classic renal rotational displacement. The more frequent use of CT scans with intravenous and oral contrast with referral prior to inappropriate transperitoneal biopsy is recommended. In atypical cases where preoperative biopsy is necessary, extraperitoneal routes are preferable. Complete en bloc surgical excision at the first laparotomy is the treatment of choice in RPS. Macroscopic clearance may necessitate resection of adjacent viscera, neurovascular structures or abdominopelvic walls but, if achieved, may lead to long‐term survival depending on individual tumour biology.