A giant adrenal cyst difficult to diagnose except by surgery

Introduction

Adrenal cysts represent rare clinical entities. Although surgical indications are well defined, pitfalls arise from the failure to establish an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Cystic lesions of other abdominal organs especially the pancreas complicate the diagnostic field.

Presentation of case

We present the case of a giant adrenal cyst in a young female causing diagnostic dilemma. Imaging studies revealed a large cystic lesion of uncertain origin located between the spleen and the tail of the pancreas. It was decided to perform a laparotomy which confirmed the presence of an adrenal cyst and enucleation of the cyst was performed. Examination at one year confirmed no complications.

Discussion

Adrenal cysts should always be included in the differential diagnosis of cystic abdominal lesions.

Conclusion

When the preoperative diagnosis is uncertain, surgical intervention can be both diagnostic and therapeutic.     

Hepatobiliary rhabdomyosarcoma mimicking choledochal cyst: Lessons learned

INTRODUCTION

The differential diagnosis of hepatic cystic lesions is a challenging process especially in case of hepatic rhabdomyosarcoma (HRMS) presenting as hepatic cyst.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We introduce our experience with a case of HRMS in a 3-year-old female patient who was misdiagnosed to have type IV-A choledochal cyst and definitive correct diagnosis was reached after the pathological and immunohistochemical examination of the surgically resected lesion. This case presentation is followed by important practical messages to hepatobiliary surgeons regarding HRMS.

DISCUSSION

HRMS is a rare pediatric tumor. Jaundice is the most common presentation of HRMS followed by abdominal pain and vomiting. Great effort is needed to differentiate the tumor from choledochal cyst and infectious hepatitis. Through evaluation using available imaging studies together with clinical anticipation is mandatory for establishing the correct diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Differentiation of HRMs from choledochal cyst mandates through evaluation and clinical anticipation. HRMS should be suspected in any child with obstructive jaundice. Once diagnosis is established, multidisciplinary treatment is the best management strategy and it has proved better surgical outcome and long term survival.     

Oversized pseudocysts of the spleen: Report of two cases: Optimal management of oversized pseudocysts of the spleen

INTRODUCTION

Pseudocysts of the spleen are usually asymptomatic and associated with a history of trauma, infection or infarction. In this report, we present two uncommon cases of solitary, oversized pseudocysts of the spleen.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

Two patients (cases A and B), with symptoms of abdominal pain, were investigated. The laboratory and ultrasound examination confirmed the diagnosis of a large, non-parasitic splenic cyst in both cases. Computed tomography described an oversized pseudocyst occupying almost the entire splenic parenchyma in both cases and in patient A, the cyst was located in the splenic hilum. The medical history revealed a previous abdominal injury only in case A. The two patients underwent an open total splenectomy. The pathology examination verified the diagnosis of a non-parasitic splenic pseudocyst.

DISCUSSION

Both patients presented with symptoms, in contrast to the majority of patients with splenic cysts. The medical history of patients with splenic pseudocysts does not always reveal the cause of the pseudocyst formation. Any type of spleen-sparing procedure is not easy to perform in cases of surgical and anatomical difficulty, because of recurrence and the risk of intractable bleeding from the spleen.

CONCLUSION

Partial splenectomy is the recommended method for parenchymal preservation, but total splenectomy is preferred when the splenic cyst is oversized or cannot be excised with safety.     

Ganglion cyst on the posterior cruciate ligament: a case report

Objective:

To present the diagnostic and clinical features of a ganglion cyst located on the posterior cruciate ligament and create awareness amongst clinicians of this uncommon diagnosis.

Clinical Features:

A 24-year old woman complaining of intermittent left knee pain brought on by an increase in mileage during her training for a half-marathon. A diagnosis of mild chondromalacia patella and a ganglion cyst on the posterior cruciate ligament was made via diagnostic imaging.

Intervention and outcome:

Patient was followed up with imaging. The patient chose to withdraw a surgical consult due to patient preference. No conservative treatment was provided.

Conclusion:

Although chondromalacia patella is the more probable, a secondary diagnostic consideration in this patient could be a ganglion cyst. A ganglion cyst on the posterior cruciate ligament is an uncommon diagnosis and the clinical manifestations are variable and non-specific. It is important to be aware of its clinical features and to obtain appropriate methods of imaging to generate the diagnosis promptly.     

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the small-bowel mesentery: A case report of nonspecific clinical presentation and a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplasm of various anatomical sites, which is histopathologically characterized by spindle-shaped cells with myofibroblastic proliferation and inflammatory infiltration.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

In this case report, a 37-year-old man presented with nonspecific systemic symptoms, including abdominal pain and weakness, which was diagnosed by multislice computed tomography and ultrasonography. An 8 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm nodular gray-white firm noninfiltrative mass, which was well localized in the mesentery tissues of small bowel, was observed and the patient underwent surgical resection.

DISCUSSION

A review of the literature on IMT of the small-bowel mesentery yielded a small number of previously described cases. This tumor most frequently involves the lungs and arises most commonly in extrapulmonary locations such as the mesentery and omentum. The etiopathogenesis and the clinical course of the disease are unclear. The histological and clinical differential diagnosis of IMT also includes reactive processes and mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Follow-up after surgical removal documented local recurrence and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The preferred primary treatment is complete surgical excision, and patients require close clinicoradiological follow-up. In general, cases treated with complete surgical resection have a good prognosis.     

Laparoscopic management of chemical peritonitis caused by dermoid cyst spillage

Background:

Dermoid cyst is the most frequent benign ovarian tumor. Spillage of cyst contents during surgery is common and can rarely lead to chemical peritonitis.

Case Report:

A patient presented 3 days after attempted laparoscopic removal of bilateral dermoid cysts. On examination, she had a low-grade fever, rebound tenderness with guarding, and a markedly elevated white blood cell count. A decision was made to proceed with laparoscopy with the presumptive diagnosis of chemical peritonitis. Laparoscopic findings included residual dermoid cyst contents and extensive filmy adhesions of the bowel and omentum to the peritoneal surface. The chemical peritonitis resolved after laparoscopic removal of residual dermoid cyst content including bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and copious irrigation.

Conclusion:

Early recognition and prompt treatment by repeat laparoscopic surgery with removal of the remaining cyst contents and peritoneal lavage can be a successful method for treating chemical peritonitis.     

Thoracic Myelopathy Secondary to Intradural Extramedullary Bronchogenic Cyst

Background/Objective:

To report a case of thoracic myelopathy secondary to intradural extramedullary bronchogenic cyst.

Study Design:

Case report.

Methods/Findings:

A 20-year-old man presented to the emergency department with increasing back pain and lower-extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a cystic lesion at the T4 level with mass effect on the spinal cord.

Results:

The lesion was resected, and histopathologic evaluation showed a cyst lined by respiratory-type epithelium consistent with a bronchogenic cyst.

Conclusions:

Intradural extramedullary bronchogenic cysts of the thoracic spine have been reported previously but are extremely rare. The treatment of choice is surgical resection.     

Ganglion cyst in children: Reviewing treatment and recurrence rates

BACKGROUND:

Pediatric hand and wrist ganglia seem to have different epidemiological characteristics than those of adults – a majority are found on the volar aspect of the hands and wrists of patients younger than 10 years of age.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the epidemiology, etiological factors, clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of patients with ganglion cysts at The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario).

METHODS:

The records of the pathology department at The Hospital for Sick Children were searched for all cases of ganglion cyst operated on between January 2000 and December 2008.

RESULTS:

Thirty-seven patients underwent treatment for symptomatic ganglion cyst. The mean age of the patients was 9.6 years, and there were 23 females. A mobile nodule was the initial presentation of the ganglion in 64% of the cases. Pain was the most common indication for surgical removal. Only 11.4% of patients experienced previous trauma. In 70% of the cases, the diagnosis was made clinically. The most common sites of occurrence were volar wrist (25.7%), dorsal wrist (22.8%) and the volar aspect of the base of the ring finger (17.1%). Surgical excision was the treatment of choice for 94.2% of the patients with symptomatic lesions. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Only one patient (2.8%) presented with recurrence in the series.

CONCLUSION:

Although it is possible that these findings might change with longer follow-up, the present data provide information to help guide the treatment of these cysts. Complete surgical removal is a very effective treatment, with low rates of recurrence.     

Laparoscopic Management of a Cystic Duct Cyst

Background:

Choledochal cysts are rare cystic dilatations of the biliary tree. Though their cause is uncertain, these cysts are usually referred for surgical resection because of their association with developing malignancy. Traditionally, choledochal cysts have been classified under 5 main types. Not included in this classification are cysts of the cystic duct, a condition that is even rarer, with only 14 cases reported in the literature to date. We describe one such rare case of a cyst of the cystic duct that we successfully treated via laparoscopic resection.

Methods and Results:

A 41-year-old male was found to have a biliary abnormality on a routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan for an unrelated medical condition. Further magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) imaging identified a cystic dilation consistent with a Type II choledochal cyst. Laparoscopic resection was performed using a total of 5 trocars, at which time a cyst of the cystic duct was found instead of the expected Type II choledochal cyst. Intraoperative cholangiography was used as a surgical adjunct to confirm the anatomy, and resection of the cyst was completed without complications.

Conclusions:

Our case adds to the body of reports showing that cysts of the cystic duct, while extremely rare, do occur and need to be recognized. Given the preoperative similarity between cystic duct cysts and other choledochal cysts, proposal for a new “Type VI” category for choledochal cysts may be considered so that clinicians can be prepared for this variation. Once recognized, cysts of the cystic duct can be safely and effectively removed by laparoscopic excision, as we have demonstrated.     

How to Build a Simple and Safe Laparoscopic Hydatid Evaluation System

Background:

One of the most common problems faced in laparoscopic treatment of hydatid cysts is the difficulty in evacuating the particulate contents (daughter cysts and laminated membrane). Although various instruments and laparoscopic techniques have been described to evacuate the contents of hydatid cysts, most are not available at many surgical centers.

Methods:

By assembling disposable, cheap, and available anesthesia equipment with common laparoscopic instruments, a laparoscopic system was made to evacuate the contents of a hydatid cyst. Ten patients with hepatic hydatid disease underwent laparoscopic surgery using this new hydatid system between June 2011 and January 2013.

Results:

The procedure was completely straightforward. Twelve hydatid cysts (2 patients had 2 separated cysts) were evacuated without any spillage. All patients were followed for at least 8 months, with no evidence of recurrence.

Conclusions:

This simple apparatus, which can be assembled anywhere, was safely used to evacuate the contents of hydatid cysts without causing any spillage.     

Paraovarian Cysts of Neoplastic Origin Are Underreported

Introduction:

We suspected that paraovarian cysts of neoplastic origin may be underreported. This study was designed to evaluate our data on the pathologic characteristics of cystic lesions located in the paraovarian area and compare them with previous studies that claimed the vast majority of these lesions were simple paraovarian cysts and only few (1.69% to 5%) were neoplastic ones.

Methods:

This is a retrospective analysis of the clinical, surgical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic features of 59 women operated on for cystic paraovarian lesions at our institution from January 2002 to April 2006.

Results:

Forty-four women (74.6%) had simple paraovarian cysts, and 15 (25.4%) had benign neoplastic paraovarian cysts (7 cystadenomas and 8 cystadenofibromas). There were no cases of malignant tumor. There was no difference in the clinical presentation of the women with either type of cyst. Preoperative ultrasound examinations (n=50) demonstrated more complex cysts with internal papillary projections in the group with neoplastic paraovarian cysts (41.7% compared with 7.9%, P=0.01). The macroscopic pathologic examinations revealed a significantly increased percentage of gross papillary excrescences in the group of neoplastic paraovarian cysts (10/ 15, 66.7%) compared with the group with simple paraovarian cysts (3/44, 6.8%, P<0.01). Other pathologic features did not differ between the 2 study groups.

Discussion:

Our analysis revealed a higher percentage of paraovarian cysts of neoplastic origin (∼25%) than the figures quoted in most previous reports.

Conclusion:

Intraoperative inspection for diagnosing the cyst type and more frequent use of endobag devices to avoid spillage of cystic fluid are recommended.     

A case of sacral hydatid cyst

INTRODUCTION

Hydatid cyst of bone constitutes only 0.5-2% of all hydatidoses. The thoracic spine is the most common site of spinal hydatidoses. Primary hydatid cyst of the sacral spinal canal is rare.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 19-year-old man had cauda equina syndrome with pelvic pain 15 days ago, the pelvic radiography shows a lytic image depend on the left sacral wing. MRI showed an intra-pelvic cystic image invading the sacrum T1 hypointense and T2W hyperintense. The Hydatid serology was positive.Surgical treatment consisted of a wide drainage of hydatid cavity dug in the left sacral wing, and by which it communicated intra pelvic, with removal of the entire cyst by gentle aspiration, abundant rinsing with hypertonic saline, release and sacred roots encompassed in a puddle of fibrosis hydatid.The evolution was good with recovery of perineal sensation and anal tone. The sacroiliac joint was considered stable and did not require synthesis or reconstruction.

DISCUSSION

Hydatid cysts predominantly occur in liver and lungs. Involvement of other organs is uncommon. Neither surgery nor medical therapy is generally effective for bone, especially spinal hydatidosis. The initial treatment of choice is surgical excision for neural decompression and establishing diagnosis. Albendazole is the drug of choice against this disease, when suspected, presurgical use of Albendazole in Echinococcus infestations reduces risk of recurrence and/or facilitates surgery by reducing intracystic pressure.

CONCLUSION

A missed diagnosis of hydatid cyst could be devastating. Hence, hydatid cyst should be kept as a differential diagnosis, when encountered with a cystic lesion of sacrum. In addition, longterm follow-up is mandatory as recurrence is high despite use scolicidal agents.     

Acute sciatica and progressive neurological deficit secondary to facet synovial cysts: A report of two cases.

Objective:

To describe two patients with lumbar facet synovial cysts causing sciatica and progressive neurological deficit.

Clinical Features:

A 52-year-old female with bilateral sciatica and a neurological deficit that progressed to a foot drop; and a 54-year-old female with worsening sciatica and progressive calf weakness were seen at a major tertiary care centre. Diagnostic imaging studies revealed the presence of spinal nerve root impingement by large facet synovial cysts.

Interventions and Outcomes:

Activity modification, gabapentinoid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications were unsuccessful in ameliorating either patient’s symptoms. One patient had been receiving ongoing lumbar chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy despite the onset of a progressive neurological deficit. Both patients eventually required surgery to remove the cyst and decompress the affected spinal nerve roots.

Conclusion:

Patients with acute sciatica who develop a progressive neurological deficit while under care, require prompt referral for axial imaging and surgical consultation. Primary care spine clinicians need to be aware of lumbar facet synovial cysts as a possible cause of acute sciatica and the associated increased risk of the patient developing a progressive neurological deficit.     

Laparoscopic Spleen-Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy in a Solitary True Pancreatic Cyst

Background:

Solitary true pancreatic cysts (STPCs), or epithelial cysts, are benign lesions that are extremely rare in adult patients. Advances in radiographic techniques have improved the ability to identify pancreatic cystic lesions. We report a case of a large and symptomatic STPC in a 47-year-old female patient who was treated successfully with spleen-preserving laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. We also review the clinical and pathologic features of all reported STPCs within the past 25 years.

Database:

To compose the review, we did a search of the international literature for STPCs that had occurred in adults. Fourteen related articles were found describing cases of STPCs. Clinical and pathologic information was collected for all of the reported pancreatic cysts, and a database was formed. STPCs are detected more frequently in women than in men. The mean age of occurrence is 43.2 years, and the mean cyst size is 5.6 cm. Fifty percent of true cysts are located in the head of the pancreas. Size and site are responsible for the symptoms caused, although 22.8% were asymptomatic. Diagnosis was made postoperatively in all cases by histopathologic studies. No case of malignancy was reported in any STPC.

Conclusions:

STPCs are rare and benign lesions commonly discovered incidentally during abdominal imaging. Surgical treatment is considered the appropriate therapy for large and symptomatic STPCs. The definitive diagnosis is established by histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies.     

Pandora's box and retrorectal tumors in laparoscopy: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Retrorectal tumors are uncommon and the etiology diverse. Literature to define the preoperative diagnosis and plan the intraoperative management are uncommon.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We describe a case of a 44 year old patient with a laparoscopic approach for the removal of a retrorectal tumor and emphasize on the preoperative diagnostics and the intraoperative, minimal invasive approach.

DISCUSSION

Especially because these tumors are rare and often an incidental finding in gynecologic surgery, it is important to know the various differential diagnoses and its consequences with the laparoscopic approach.

CONCLUSION

We suggest the laparoscopic approach in cases of retroperitoneal cysts of unknown origin is ideal also because anatomic structures, mostly nerves, can be easily spared.     

Hemorrhagic lumbar facet cysts accompanying a spinal subdural hematoma at the same level

Context

We present a rare and interesting case of hemorrhagic lumbar facet cysts accompanying a spinal subdural hematoma at the same level suggesting a possible mechanism by which spinal subdural hematomas can arise.

Findings

A 71-year-old man presented with persistent sciatic pain and intermittent claudication. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a multilocular mass lesion that showed high signal intensity in both T1- and T2-weighted images, and was located both inside and outside of the spinal canal. Computed tomographic myelography showed a cap-shaped block of the dural tube at L5 and computed tomography with L5–S facet arthrography demonstrated cystic masses. The patient was diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy caused by hemorrhagic facet cysts, and then progressed to surgical treatment. Surgery revealed that the cysts contained blood clots, and intraoperative findings that the inside of the dural tube appeared blackish and that the dural tube was tensely ballooned after removal of the cysts led us to explorative durotomy. The durotomy demonstrated concentrated old blood pooling both in the dorsal and ventral subdural space, and these spaces were subsequently drained. After surgery, his sciatic pain and intermittent claudication resolved. There was no evidence of cyst mass recurrence at 2 years of follow-up.

Conclusion

We propose a newly described mechanism for the formation of spinal subdural hematomas. We recommend surgeons be alert to epidural lesions causing repeated acute compression of the dural tube, which can cause spinal subdural hematoma, and consider the possible coexistence of these lesions in diagnosis and strategic surgical decisions.     

Laparoscopic Decortication of Hilar Renal Cysts Using LigaSure

Background and Objectives:

In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of using the LigaSure sealing system (Valleylab, Boulder, Colorado) for laparoscopic decortication of symptomatic hilar renal cysts.

Methods:

Seventeen patients underwent laparoscopic decortication of hilar renal cysts with the LigaSure system. Our study included only symptomatic, Bosniak type 1, simple and symptomatic renal cysts. The operative route, transperitoneal or retroperitoneal, was planned according to the location confirmed by computed tomography. The patients'' symptoms were preoperatively and postoperatively evaluated by the Wong-Baker visual pain scale. Operative measures and radiologic outcomes were prospectively evaluated.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 56.4 years, and the mean follow-up period was 12.5 months. Preoperative computed tomography showed only a single cyst in 15 patients (88.2%) and showed two separate cysts in 2 cases (11.8%). The cysts were located in the perihilar region close to the vascular structure in all patients. A transperitoneal approach was used in 9 patients, and a retroperitoneal approach was used in 8 patients. The mean operative time and hospitalization time were 56.4 minutes and 1.2 days, respectively. Minor complications were observed in 3 patients. Symptomatic and radiologic success rates of 94.2% and 100%, respectively, were achieved.

Conclusion:

Laparoscopic decortication of symptomatic hilar renal cysts—first reported in the literature in this study—using the LigaSure sealing system is feasible, effective, and safe, even if the cyst is located in the perihilar area.     

Spontaneous resolution of symptoms associated with a facet synovial cyst in an adult female – a case report

Background:

Facet cysts are implicated in neural compression in the lumbar spine. Surgery is the definitive treatment for symptomatic facet cysts since the failure rate for conservative treatment is quite high; however, the role of physical/manual medicine practitioners in the management of symptomatic facet cysts has not been well explored. This case report will add to the body of evidence of spontaneous resolution of symptoms associated with facet cysts in the chiropractic literature.

Case:

A 58 year old female presented with acute low back and right leg pain which she attributed to a series of exercise classes that involved frequent foot stomping. Physical examination did not elicit any objective evidence of radiculopathy but MRI and CT scans revealed a facet cyst impinging on the right L5 nerve root. Injections and surgery were recommended; however, the patient’s radicular symptoms completely resolved after three months without surgical intervention.

Summary:

There is currently a paucity of data in the literature regarding the chiropractor’s role in the management of symptomatic facet cysts. The case presented here has added to this literature and possible areas for future research have been explored.