Icteric-type hepatoma with liver cirrhosis successfully treated with hepatectomy after biliary drainage: case report

A 67-year-old man with liver cirrhosis and an icteric-type hepatoma involving the left main portal vein underwent left hepatic lobectomy after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Surgery was successful because of effective biliary drainage and meticulous assessment of liver function tests, including 99mTC-galactosyl human serum albumin scintiphotography.     

A case involving long-term survival after esophageal cancer with liver and lung metastases treated by multidisciplinary therapy: report of a case

A 57-year-old male with lower esophageal cancer underwent subtotal esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy. The histopathological diagnosis was poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, pT2N1M0 pStageIIB. After one course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy involving low-dose CDDP/5FU, a PET–CT scan obtained 12 months after surgery revealed a solitary liver metastasis in the S2 area. The patient then underwent five courses of docetaxel chemotherapy (80 mg/body, tri-weekly), and a partial response was observed. We also performed radiofrequency ablation (RFA), after which a complete response was observed. Twenty months after surgery, we detected local liver recurrence in the same position and performed additional RFA. Twenty-four months after surgery, a solitary lung metastasis was detected in the left S2 area and the patient was administered five additional courses of docetaxel therapy. Subsequently, PET–CT revealed growth of lung and liver tumors without recurrence in other areas. Twenty-nine months after surgery, we partially excised metastatic liver and lung tumors, and no subsequent recurrence has since been detected. The prognoses of patients who suffer from esophageal cancer organ recurrence are known to be extremely poor, and optimal therapeutic strategies for treating these patients have not been established. This long-term survival case suggests that multidisciplinary therapy for the treatment of liver and lung recurrence after esophagectomy is effective.     

Advanced esophageal cancer with an esophago-bronchial fistula successfully treated by chemoradiotherapy following esophageal bypass surgery: report of a case

Esophageal bypass surgery using a gastric tube prior to definitive chemoradiotherapy in preparation for the formation of esophago-tracheal or bronchial fistula is a possible strategy for esophageal cancer invading the airway. This report presents the case of a patient with esophageal cancer involving the left main bronchus who underwent esophageal bypass followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy and who has achieved long-term survival without deterioration of his quality of life, in spite of the development of a malignant esophago-bronchial fistula.     

Hypothalamic hamartoma successfully treated by operation. Case report

An 18-month-old boy was diagnosed as having a hypothalamic hamartoma. When he was 1 year old, he developed precocious puberty, and at 18 months old, endocrinological tests revealed abnormally high follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels. The center of the hamartoma was subtotally excised, as confirmed on the postoperative computerized tomography scan. Precocious puberty subsided after the operation.     

Pleuroperitoneal communication with liver cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease needed hemodialysis successfully treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; report of a case

A 59-year-old man treated with hemodialysis for liver cirhhosis and chronic kidney disease developed right pleural effusion and ascites. Ascites always decreased after thoracocentesis for pleural effusion. In spite of repeated treatment with chest tube drainage, massive pleural effusion reappeared. Under the diagnosis of pleuroperitoneal communication, surgical repair of the diaphragm by video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were performed. Bulla and pin hole were found and they were resected and sutured. Surgery was safely and successfully accomplished though the patient had Child-Pugh B liver cirhhosis. Pleural effusion disappeared after surgery.     

Ulcerative colitis with severe backwash ileitis successfully treated by staged operation without sacrificing any involved ileum

Extension of the inflammatory process to the terminal portion of the ileum in patients with ulcerative colitis is commonly known as backwash ileitis (BWI). To the best of our knowledge, few studies of severe BWI have been reported in the English literature, and surgical strategies for this disease have not been discussed. We report 2 patients with ulcerative colitis and severe BWI, with concomitant ileal bleeding and perforation. In both cases, staged operation without sacrificing the involved area of the terminal ileum led to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, with a favorable postoperative outcome. Our cases suggest that the underlying pathophysiologic conditions in BWI may be reversible, and the involved lesion can be salvaged in some cases.     

Intraspinal epidermoid cyst successfully treated with radiotherapy: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Epidermoid cysts are benign lesions that account for 0.7% of all intraspinal tumors. Standard treatment is complete resection. The recurrence rate after surgery cannot be estimated from the scarce literature, but it has been acknowledged that, in some patients, curative surgery may be impossible and temporary relief of symptoms is the only aim. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: In 1996, a 59-year-old woman presented with a 30-year history of a spinal epidermoid cyst, for which she had previously undergone eight operations. Spastic paraplegia of the lower limbs had been present from initial diagnosis, and the neurological level had moved upward to C6. At the time of presentation, paresthesia in her arms and hands had developed. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed typical sequelae of previous surgery and a fibrotic region starting at the level of C5-C6 with formation of a cyst that extended to the conus terminalis. The spinal cord could not be visualized caudally at C7. INTERVENTION: Because both patient and surgeons did not want further surgical interventions that might comprise upper limb function, radiotherapy was performed. A dose of 46 Gy was delivered to the cervicothoracic spine (C4-T1) by opposing anteroposterior high-energy photon beams. The treatment was well tolerated, and after treatment, the patient's clinical symptoms improved slightly, without evolution on magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSION: Irradiation was effective in stabilizing the patient's disease. Although radiotherapy is not established in the treatment of epidermoid cysts, it should be considered as an alternative to palliative surgery and in patients who cannot undergo operations.     

Multifragmentary proximal humerus fracture successfully treated with k-wire fixation: A case report

Introduction and importanceThe ideal treatment of proximal humerus fracture remains a controversial topic, especially in the case of complex multi-fragmentary fractures. However, in limited resource settings, alternative less complicated fixation may be considered in highly selected patients without compromising the functional outcome. We report a case of successful treatment with k-wire fixation with satisfactory functional outcome.Case presentationA 22-year-old female presenting with a right-sided closed multi-fragmentary proximal humerus fracture following a motor vehicle collision. A complex multi-fragmentary right-sided proximal humerus fracture (AO 11C3, Codman-Hertel type 12) was diagnosed based on the shoulder x-ray and computed tomography 3-dimensional reconstruction. She underwent an open reduction and k-wire fixation under image guidance. She had satisfactory functional outcome 6 months after surgery with painless near-total range of motion.Clinical discussionThe ongoing debate of the optimal surgical management for complex proximal humerus fractures implies that the best treatment should be made on an individual basis. The probable reason for the good outcome in our patient may be the combination of intact blood supply and periosteum, intact rotator cuff mechanism, young patient with healthy bone metabolism and achievement of good reduction with restoration of the articular surface and calcar.ConclusionAlthough this successful case of k-wire fixation is not sufficient to challenge the option of primary arthroplasty, this low cost, readily, available simple strategy may be useful in highly selective instances.     

Malignant pheochromocytoma with liver invasion treated successfully by combined retroperitoneal laparoscopic control of arterial in-flow followed by open hepatectomy: A case report

IntroductionPheochromocytoma surgery is generally challenging for surgeons and anesthesiologists for cardiovascular complications.Presentation of caseA 54-year-old Japanese man was found to have a large right pheochromocytoma infiltrating the posterior part of his liver and vena cava and multiple lung metastases. After retroperitoneal laparoscopic dissection of the dorsal side of the tumor and ligation of the feeding vessels, total resection of the primary tumor, extended posterior sectional hepatectomy, and partial vena cava resection were performed by open surgery via a thoracoabdominal approach. Abundant congestive bleeding with instability of vital signs occurred during transection. It could be finally controlled by dissect the remnant feeding artery in the inmost space. Prior control of arterial in-flow enabled successful completion of the planned surgical procedure. The patient has now survived for 27 months since resection of the primary lesion.ConclusionLigation of the feeding arteries to this hypervascular catecholamine-releasing tumor via a retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach prior to performing combined organ resection facilitated successful excision of this large malignant pheochromocytoma.     

Sporadic gastric carcinoid tumor successfully treated by two-stage laparoscopic surgery: A case report

We report a case of sporadic gastric carcinoid tumor successfully treated by two-stage laparoscopic surgery. A 38-year old asymptomatic woman was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a submucosal tumor of the stomach. Endoscopic examination showed a solitary submucosal tumor without ulceration or central depression on the posterior wall of the antrum and biopsy specimens were not sufficient to determine the diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a tumor nearly 2 cm in diameter arising from the muscle layer and a computed tomography scan showed the tumor enhanced in the arterial phase. Laparoscopic wedge resection was performed for definitive diagnosis. Pathologically, the tumor was shown to be gastric carcinoid infiltrating the muscle layer which indicated the probability of lymph node metastasis. Serum gastrin levels were normal. As a radical treatment, laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with regional lymphadenectomy was performed 3 wk after the initial surgery. Finally, pathological examination revealed no lymph node metastasis.     

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis after living donor liver transplantation: a case successfully treated with tamoxifen: report of a case

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. It is difficult to diagnose and the prognosis is poor. This report describes a case of SEP after living donor liver transplantation that was successfully treated with tamoxifen. A 56-year-old male, that had received a liver transplant for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma 5 years earlier, was admitted with continuous abdominal pain and nausea. He had increased C-reactive protein levels and white blood cell count, and underwent laparotomy 5 days after hospitalization. The surgical findings showed ascites and SEP of the small bowel. An attempt to peel off the adhesions was stopped because there was a strong risk of intestinal tract damage. Tamoxifen treatment was initiated for SEP after surgery. The patient’s symptoms gradually improved and he was able to resume feeding. He had been symptom-free for over 3 years at the last follow-up.     

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma successfully resected using the rib-cross thoracotomy approach: report of a case

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma is extremely rare and disease prognosis is very poor. A solid large tumor occupying the left thorax was detected in a 66-year-old female. Rib-cross thoracotomy was performed to excise the tumor; the 5th and 6th ribs and intercostal muscles and vessels were cut along the mid-axillary line, and the thorax was entered posteriorly at the 4th intercostal space and anteriorly at the 6th intercostal space, providing wide exposure of the entire thorax. Left pneumonectomy combined with chest wall resection was successfully performed, followed by chest reconstruction to achieve complete resection. Histopathologically, adenocarcinoma and spindle cell sarcoma containing rhabdomyosarcoma components were identified; the patient was diagnosed with pT3N1M0 stage IIIA true pulmonary carcinosarcoma. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy containing cisplatin and vinorelbine was administered. There was no recurrence of the disease 20 months after surgery. Aggressive excision may result in favorable outcomes for pulmonary carcinosarcoma.     

Bilateral knee gunshot wounds successfully treated with arthroscopic bullet retrieval: A case report

One unusual case of bilateral knee joint gunshot wounds caused by a low-velocity low-energy missile is presente. Arthroscopic retrieval of the bullets was performed resulting in recovery within 5 days.