Long-term outcome of surgical treatment for idiopathic spinal arachnoid web: A case series

ObjectiveSpinal arachnoid web (SAW) is a rare condition of the spine with limited long-term follow-up data in the literature. The longest reported follow-up period was an average  3.2 years. The objective of this study is to report our long-term results of patients who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic idiopathic SAW.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of cases of idiopathic SAW that were operated between 2005–2020. We collected preoperative and last follow-up (LFU) data on motor force, sensory loss, pain, upper motor neuron (UMN) sign, gait disorder, sphincter dysfunction, syringomyelia, hyperintensity on T2-MRI, appearance of newer symptoms and number of reoperations.ResultsOur study included 9 patients with a mean follow-up period of 3.6 years (range 2–9.1 years). The surgical intervention involved a standard centered laminectomy, durotomy and arachnoid lysis. At presentation, motor weakness was present in 77.8% of patients, sensory loss in 66.7%, pain in 88.9%, sphincter dysfunction in 33.3%, UMN sign in 22%, gait disorder 55.6%, syringomyelia in 55.6% and MRI T2 hyperintensity in 55.6% of patients. At LFU, there was an improvement in all symptoms and signs to varying degrees. No new neurological symptoms appeared postoperatively, and there was no recurrence during the follow-up period.ConclusionOur results demonstrate that the reported immediate and short-term favorable outcomes following arachnoid lysis for symptomatic SAW persist over a long-term period and the risk of readhesion-correlated neurological deterioration following conventional surgical intervention is low.     

Prenatal diagnosis of pyriform sinus fistula using ultrasonography by detecting the communication to the pharynx

ObjectivePyriform sinus fistula (PSF) is a congenital anomaly which originates from the pharyngeal pouch. PSF is initially recognized as a cyst around the fetal neck, but accurate prenatal diagnosis of the disease is challenging. We aimed to report the key findings and tips in accurately distinguishing PSF from other differential diagnosis by which enables detection of the communication of the nuchal cyst and the pharynx.Case reportWe report a case in which we were able to diagnose PSF as early as 18 weeks of gestation with ultrasonography. We used epiglottis as a landmark, and detected an unilobular cyst arising from the pharynx.ConclusionUltrasonography is a powerful tool in prenatal diagnosis of PSF especially at early stage of pregnancy. By detecting the epiglottis, it can locate the communication of the nuchal cyst and the pharynx, and thereby enables an accurate diagnosis of PSF.     

Symptomatic perineural cyst after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage: A case report

Rationale:Tarlov or perineurial cysts are nerve root lesions often found in the sacral region. Most perineural cysts (PCs) remain asymptomatic throughout a patient''s life. While their pathogenesis is still unclear, trauma resulting in hemorrhaging into subarachnoid space has been put forward as a possible cause of these cysts. Recently, we worked with a patient experiencing symptomatic PCs after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage.Patient concerns:A 45-year-old man had a coil embolization procedure performed after being diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured anterior communicating artery. His symptoms were relieved after the procedure, but 7 days later he reported worsening pain in the left perineal area. The pain was intermittent at its onset and exacerbated by sitting, walking, and coughing.Diagnoses:Two weeks after the embolization procedure, a lumbar spine MRI revealed 2 PCs at the S1 and S2 level affecting the left S2 root with high signal intensity in T2 and T1 images, suggestive of bleeding within the cyst.Interventions:We operated using a posterior approach. Cyst fenestration was done after S1 laminectomy. We aspirated approximately 1 cc of old blood.Outcomes:His pain was relieved immediately after cyst removal and no neurologic deterioration occurred during the postoperative period.Lessons:Subarachnoid hemorrhage can be the source of the development of pain from asymptomatic PCs, making them symptomatic. Surgical extirpation is 1 treatment option for these symptomatic PCs.     

A rare case of a periorbital respiratory (choristomatous) cyst

Respiratory cysts are benign lesions lined by normal respiratory epithelium. There are few reported cases localized to the orbit, while those of the eyelid are exceedingly rare. Respiratory cysts usually arise either from a non‐hereditary congenital malformation, where they are distinguished as choristomatous, or from trauma. Here, we report a case of a 53‐year‐old man who presented with a large right lower eyelid cyst that was histopathologically diagnosed as a respiratory cyst.     

Role of serum and synovial procalcitonin in differentiating septic from non-septic arthritis- a prospective study

IntroductionSeptic arthritis is a serious orthopaedic emergency that must be diagnosed and managed early to prevent devastating complications. The current gold standard for diagnosing septic arthritis is synovial fluid culture, but results are delayed by 48–72 h, and the sensitivity of the test is very low. Differentiating Septic from non-septic arthritis is vital to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics and prevent complications. Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful marker in differentiating septic from non-septic arthritis but there are very few studies that have studied the role of synovial PCT for the same.AimTo determine the role of serum and synovial PCT in differentiating acute Septic from non-septic arthritis.Materials and methodsProspective clinical study in which 60 patients presenting with acute inflammatory arthritis (<2 weeks duration) were enrolled from May 2018 to May 2020. Serum and synovial fluid samples were drawn at presentation and routine blood investigations, synovial fluid culture sensitivity, and Procalcitonin levels were measured. Patients were divided into 3 groups, with group-1 having confirmed pyogenic, group-2 having presumed pyogenic, and group-3 having non –pyogenic patients, respectively. All data was tabulated and statistically analysed using appropriate tests.ResultsMean serum PCT values in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 1.06 ± 1.11, 0.85 ± 0.74, and 0.11 ± 0.24, respectively. Patients in the Pyogenic group (group1 and group 2) had significantly higher mean serum PCT as compared to group3 (p < 0.0001). Group 1 had higher serum PCT as compared to group 2, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.58). Mean synovial PCT in group 1, 2 and 3 were 2.42 ± 1.98, 1.89 ± 1.18, and 0.22 ± 0.40, respectively. Patients in the Pyogenic group (Group1 and Group2) had significantly higher mean synovial PCT as compared to Group 3 (p < 0.0001). Group 1 had higher mean synovial PCT as compared to group 2, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.54). The area under the ROC curve of the serum levels of PCT was 0.0.895, and the area under the ROC curve of the synovial fluid levels of PCT was 0.914, which was higher than the serum PCT level.ConclusionSerum and synovial Procalcitonin may be used as a diagnostic marker in differentiating septic from inflammatory arthritis and can help in reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics and early diagnosis and management of septic arthritis, thereby preventing complications.     

Commentary on "Primary orbital monophasic synovial sarcoma with calcification: A case report"

The present letter to the editor is related to the study titled “Primary orbital monophasic synovial sarcoma with calcification: A case report’’. Orbital synovial sarcoma is one of the rare intraorbital masses seen in adult and pediatric populations. Some case reports in the literature revealed that synovial sarcoma may contain calcifications. Therefore, it is important to make differential diagnosis among calcified orbital masses in childhood.     

达芬奇机器人在胆总管囊肿手术切除中的应用

目的评估达芬奇机器人手术系统辅助胆总管囊肿切除术的安全性及疗效，总结手术经验。 方法回顾性分析2016年3月至2018年12月于中山大学附属第一医院胆胰外科接受达芬奇机器人辅助胆总管囊肿切除术的12例患者临床资料，分析其相关的临床数据，评估手术的安全性及近期疗效。 结果12例均顺利完成机器人辅助下胆总管囊肿及胆囊切除、肝管空肠改良襻式吻合术；手术中位时间为385 min（280~420 min），术中出血量中位数为30 ml（30~100 ml）。3例有腹腔手术史患者术后进食时间、住院时间与无手术史的患者比较，差异无统计学意义。术后1例患者发生腹腔感染，经保守治疗后痊愈；术后平均住院（7.7±1.4）d，无一例30 d内再入院。 结论达芬奇机器人辅助胆总管囊肿切除手术安全、可靠，操作更精准灵活、舒适，具有微创、术中出血少、术后恢复快的优势。     

微小RNA-564基因下调对滑膜间充质干细胞成软骨分化的影响

目的探究下调微小RNA-564(miR-564)基因对滑膜间充质干细胞成软骨分化的作用。 方法取第3代的人滑膜间充质干细胞(SMSCs)作为实验细胞，实验设计为3组：SMSCs空白对照组(空白组)；miRNA抑制剂转染SMSCs对照组(对照组)；miR-564抑制剂转染SMSCs实验组(实验组)。将3组SMSCs同时成软骨诱导培养，观察诱导后软骨细胞的组织形态，并检测诱导前7 d内的3组细胞增殖曲线，和软骨分化特异性基因和蛋白[Ⅱ型胶原、蛋白聚糖、性别决定区Y框蛋白9(Sox9)、母亲DPP同源物4(Smad4)]；本次实验所有数据均采用单因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA)检验。 结果甲苯胺蓝染色观察细胞形态与特点基本符合软骨细胞，实验组细胞数量更多，蓝染更明显；细胞增殖曲线表明实验组细胞增殖速度明显快于对照组(F＝0.842, P <0.01)；RT-PCR检测与Western Blotting检测表明实验组软骨细胞分化特异基因和蛋白表达较对照组明显升高(F＝2274.75, F＝447.31, F＝30476.22; P <0.01)，并且实验组TGF-BMP关键基因及蛋白Smad 4有所升高(F＝457.02, P <0.01)。 结论下调miR-564基因的表达可促进滑膜间充质干细胞向软骨细胞增殖与分化，并且有可能是通过作用于TGF-BMP通路实现。