Giant gastric lipoma presenting as GI bleed: Enucleation or Resection?

IntroductionGastric lipomas are unusual benign lesions and account for less than 1% of all tumours of the stomach and 5% of all gastrointestinal lipomas (Thompson et al.2003; Fernandez et al. 1983 [1], [2]). Although predominantly asymptomatic and indolent; they may present with gastric outlet obstruction and upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding owing to size and ulceration. Only a few cases have been reported, presenting large in size with massive GI bleeding (Alcalde Escribano et al. 1989; Johnson et al. 1981 [3], [4]).Presentation of caseWe report the case of a 62-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency department with massive upper GI hemorrhage. He was initially resuscitated and stabilized. Later gastroscopy showed a large submucosal tumour (Fig. 1). Biopsy revealed adipose tissue. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed a huge well defined oval soft tissue lesion measuring about 16 × 8 × 8 cm. The mass noted a homogenous fat density arising from the posterior wall of stomach with no extramural infiltration (Fig. 2). The tumour was completely enucleated through an explorative gastrotomy incision (Fig. 4).Discussion and conclusionMassive bleeding secondary to a giant gastric lipoma is a rare finding of a rare disease. The majority of cases in the literature result in major gastric resection. Familiarity with its radiological findings and a high index of suspicion can lead to proper diagnosis in the acute setting. If malignancy is carefully ruled out, stomach preserving surgery is an optimal treatment option.     

Safety of Liver Resection in the Elderly: How Important Is Age?

Background

With the aging population, more elderly patients are being considered for hepatic resection. We investigated whether advanced age was associated with higher rate and severity of postoperative complications.

Methods

A total of 75 patients aged ≥70 years (group E) were matched with 75 patients aged <70 years (group Y) by the extent of liver resection and by operative indications. Primary outcome measures were rates and severity of complications. Secondary outcome measures were length of hospital stay and discharge destination. Univariate analysis was also performed to identify variables associated with higher surgical risk.

Results

Male-to-female ratio was 43:32 in both groups. Overall complication rates were 44 and 33.3% in group E and Y, respectively (P = 0.241; odds ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.81–3.05). There was no mortality in both groups. The only postoperative age-related morbidity was confusion in the elderly. There was no difference in the rates of severe complications (grade ≥3) between group E and group Y (16 vs. 14.7%; P = 0.744; odds ratio = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.46–2.70). Median length of hospital stay were 7 and 6 days, respectively (P = 0.01). Nineteen percent and 1% of patients in group E and group Y were discharge to rehabilitation facilities, respectively (P = 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that preoperative systemic chemotherapy and longer operative time were associated with higher morbidity in the elderly.

Conclusions

Liver resection can be performed in patients aged ≥70 years as safely as in younger patients. Duration and timing of systemic chemotherapy before liver resection should be optimized to minimize postoperative morbidity.     

Double Arterial Anastomosis in Liver Transplantation: Is Two Better than One?

Arterial revascularization during liver transplantation is normally achieved by anastomosing the graft hepatic artery to the largest artery available at the recipient pedicle—either the common hepatic artery (CHA) or an accessory right hepatic artery (RHA) originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). When a small caliber RHA is present, the artery is ligated and a single anastomosis with the CHA is performed. In the absence of a vascular reconstruction of the graft, the gastroduodenal artery is usually ligated as well. In this article, we describe a new type of arterial anastomosis in the case of a small accessory RHA and/or severe graft hepatic artery atherosclerosis that is commonly seen in elderly donors. To our knowledge, these are the first cases reported in the literature. This technique can be easily performed without increasing the arterial revascularization time or increasing the risk of complications associated with arteriosclerotic arteries. A 12-month follow-up revealed excellent function of the liver grafts.     

Resection of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Liver Metastasis: Is it Justified?

Background

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) liver metastases (LM) represent a therapeutic challenge, and it is unclear whether resection is justified. This study assesses long-term outcome and prognostic factors after liver resection for metastatic ACC.

Methods

Patients who underwent resection of ACC LM were identified from institutional databases. Recurrence, survival, and tumor characteristics, including ??-catenin and TP53 status based on immunohistochemistry and sequencing, were reviewed. The prognostic value of variables was assessed with log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard models for multivariate analysis.

Results

From 1978 to 2009, 28 patients (20 females; median age, 45?years), including 11 with synchronous metastasis and 3 with extrahepatic metastasis, underwent resection for ACC LM (major hepatectomy in 61%). Postoperative mortality was nil and morbidity 55%. On pathological examination, tumors were multiple in 68%, with a median size of 43?mm, and resections were R0, 1, and 2 in 59%, 33%, and 7%, respectively. All 28 patients developed recurrent disease, which was treated surgically in 11, including repeat hepatectomy in 4. Of the 15 patients with adequate tissue for analysis, ??-catenin immunostaining was positive in 7, with 4 corresponding CTNNB1 mutations associated with decreased survival; p53 staining was positive in 5 (4 with corresponding TP53 mutations). The median disease-free and overall survival after hepatectomy was 7 and 31.5?months, respectively, with a 5-year survival of 39%. In multivariate analysis, nonfunctional tumor and surgical treatment of recurrence were independent predictors of good outcome.

Conclusions

In selected patients with ACC LM, resection is associated with long-term survival and is, therefore, justified but rarely curative.     

Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases: Is a Resection Margin of 3 mm Enough?

Background

A safety margin of ≥10 mm is generally accepted in surgery for colorectal metastases. It is reasonable that modern methods of liver parenchyma dissection may allow for a reduction in this distance.

Methods

A total of 333 patients were included in a multicenter trial after resection of colorectal liver metastases. Dissection of the liver had been performed with a CUSA^®, UltraCision^®, or water-jet dissector. The size of the resection margin was correlated with recurrence risk and survival.

Results

The median hepatic recurrence-free survival reached 35 months for all patients; median recurrence-free survival was 24 months and overall survival was 41 months. Univariate analysis of different groups denoting the extent of resection margin (≥10 mm, 6–9 mm, 3–5 mm, 1–2 mm, 0 mm (R1)) indicated that a margin of 1–2 mm leads to a significantly reduced median hepatic recurrence-free survival of 20 months (p = 0.004) and recurrence-free survival of 19 months (p = 0.011). Patients with R1 resection had the worst prognosis. Overall survival was not influenced by the size of the resection margin. Surgical margins were significantly reduced in simultaneous resections of four or more liver metastases and in cases in which metastatic infiltration of central liver segments was present. At multivariate analysis, resection margins of 1–2 mm and 0 mm were independent predictors of hepatic recurrence and overall recurrence.

Conclusion

The indication for resection of metastases can be safely extended to cases in which tumors sit closer than 1 cm to nonresectable structures.     

Giant Hepatic Hemangioma With Kasabach–Merritt Syndrome: Is the Appropriate Treatment Enucleation or Liver Transplantation?

We present a case of giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (Kasabach–Merritt syndrome) which was cured by enucleation. The 51 year old woman presented with increased abdominal girth and easy bruisability. Workup elsewhere revealed a massive hepatic hemangioma and she was started on radiation therapy to the lesion and offered an orthotopic liver transplant. After careful preoperative preparation, we felt that resection was possible and she underwent a successful enucleation. The operation and postoperative course were complicated by bleeding but she recovered and remains well in followup after 6 months. All coagulation parameters have returned to normal. Enucleation should be considered the treatment of choice for hepatic hemangiomas, including those presenting with Kasabach–Merritt syndrome. The benefits of enucleation as compared to liver transplantation for these lesions are discussed.     

Intralesional Excision versus Wide Resection for Giant Cell Tumor Involving the Acetabulum: Which is Better?

Background  

Because of the anatomic complexity of the pelvis, there is no standard surgical treatment for giant cell tumors (GCTs) of the pelvic bones, especially in the periacetabular region. Treatment options include intralesional curettage with or without adjunctive techniques and wide resection. The best surgical treatment of a pelvic GCT remains controversial.     

Unlocking Better Survival for Esophageal Cancer Patients: Is Thoracic Duct Resection the Key?

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Giant cell tumor of bone: Is curettage the answer?

Background:

Giant cell tumors (GCT) are neoplasms of mesenchymal stromal cells with varied manifestations. There is no uniform accepted treatment protocol for these tumors,

Materials and Methods:

49 cases of proven giant cell tumors of appendicular skeleton, 27 prospective and 22 retrospective constituteed this study. The retrospective cases were collected by using computerized data base collection method. The patients were evaluated clinically, radiologically and by histology. Companacci grading and Enneking staging was used in the study. Two treatment modalities were used a) extended curettage (with/ without bone grafting/ cementation) or b) wide excision and reconstruction with a prosthesis or arthrodesis. Functional evaluation was done by Enneking''s system. Chi square tests, mann-whitney test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

Results:

The average age was 26.82 years (16-50 years). 25 patients (51%) were recurrent GCT at presentation. The commonest site was lower end of femur (16 cases, 32.65%) and upper end of tibia (13 cases, 26.53%). 40 (81.63%) tumors had less than 5 mm of subchondral bone free of tumor. 35 (71.43%) tumors were Enneking''s surgical stage III and companacci grade III. Pathological fractures were seen in 12 (24.49%) cases. Intra-lesional currettage was used in 28 and enbloc excision in 19 patients and 2 (4.08%) underwent amputation. The average follow up period was 18.6 months (range 2-84). One recurrence was seen in a grade III recurrent distal radial lesion in the intralesional curettage group (3.57%) Enneking''s functional score with intralesional curettage (25.41) was better than enbloc excision (21.37). Enbloc excision had higher rates of infections (36.84 % Vs 25%) and soft tissue coverage problems (21.05% Vs 0).

Conclusion:

Intralesional therapy has a better functional outcome and less complications than enbloc excision, albeit with a high recurrence rate which can however be effectively treated with repeat extended curettage.     

Treatment of Hydatid Cyst of the Liver: Where Is the Evidence?

Treatment of hydatid cyst of the liver ranges from surgical intervention (conventional or laparoscopic approach) to percutaneous drainage and to medical therapy. The aim of this systematic review was to provide “evidence-based” answers to the following questions: Should chemotherapy be used alone or in association with surgery? What is the best surgical technique? When is the percutaneous aspiration injection and reaspiration technique (PAIR) indicated? An extensive electronic search of the relevant literature without limiting it to the English language was carried out using MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library. Key words used for the final search were “hydatid cyst,” “liver,” “treatment,” “meta analysis,” “randomized controlled trial,” “prospective study,” “retrospective study.” All relevant studies reporting the assessment of one modality of treatment or a comparison of two or several therapeutic methods to treat hydatid cyst of the liver and published in a peer-reviewed journal were considered for analysis. This systematic review allowed us to conclude that chemotherapy is not the ideal treatment for uncomplicated hydatid cysts of the liver when used alone (level II evidence, grade B recommendation). The level of evidence was too low to help decide between radical or conservative treatment (level IV evidence, grade C recommendation). Omentoplasty associated with radical or conservative treatment is efficient in preventing deep abscesses (level II evidence, grade A recommendation). The laparoscopic approach is safe (level IV evidence, grade C recommendation). Drug treatment associated with surgery (level II evidence, grade C recommendation) requires further studies. Percutaneous drainage associated with albendazole therapy is safe and efficient in selected patients (level II evidence, grade B recommendation). The level of evidence is low concerning treatment of complicated cysts.     

Radiofrequency-Assisted Liver Resection: Higher Incidence of Infectious Complications ?

Aim : To evaluate clinical experience with radiofrequency (RF)-assisted liver resection in non-cirrhotic and non-cholestatic patients with metastatic liver disease.

Methods: A group of consecutive patients who underwent RF-assisted liver resection for metastatic liver disease was prospectively followed.

Results : Between July 2005 and April 2008, 95 liver RF-assisted liver resections were performed, 71 of them for metastatic liver disease. The mean hospital stay was 14 (range 5–40) days. The mean operation time was 141 (range 64233) minutes. The mean duration of RF coagulation was 10 (range 9–12) minutes. A total of 37 complications in 24 (33%) patients were recorded, including 12 (16.9%) infected collections in resection line that had to be drained percutaneously. The 30-day postoperative mortality was zero.

Conclusion : This study indicates that RF-assisted resection may have a benefit in decreasing peroperative blood loss and the number of blood transfusions. Nevertheless, an increased incidence of infectious complications and pleural effusions that required evacuation was noted.     

Distal Femoral Osteotomy: Is Internal Fixation Better than External?

Background  

Distal femoral osteotomies (DFO) can be used to correct deformities around the knee. Although osteotomies can be fixed with either internal or external fixation techniques, the advantages of one over the other are unclear.     

Stage IV Rectal Cancer with Liver Metastases: Is There a Benefit to Resection of the Primary Tumor?

Background  

Resection of primary and liver lesions is the optimal management of Stage IV rectal cancer with liver metastases. For patients with extensive liver metastases, FOLFOX and FOLFIRI have improved resection rates and survival. We compared survival outcomes in patients with Stage IV rectal cancer with liver metastases undergoing staged or synchronous resection with those undergoing primary rectal resection only or no resection at all.     

Is Microsurgical Treatment of Brachial Plexus Palsy Better than Conventional Treatment?

There are some plexus injuries for which microneural plexus reconstruction provides the only good possibility of achieving useful limb function. These injuries include complete plexus palsies in the adult and baby, and incomplete upper plexus lesions in the adult. There are plexus injuries for which there is little to no role for microneurosurgery, such as the isolated C8, T1 injury in the adult (this is an extremely rare injury in babies). This article explores conventional versus microneurosurgical reconstruction for adult traumatic and birth-related brachial plexus palsies.     

Is the Quality of Life Better in Patients with Colostomy than Patients with Fecal Incontience?

Background A colostomy offers definitive treatment for individuals with fecal incontinence (FI). Patients and physicians remain apprehensive regarding this option because the quality of life (QOL) with a colostomy is presumably worse than living with FI. The aim of this study, therefore, was to compare the QOL of colostomy patients to patients with FI. Methods A cross-sectional postal survey of patients with FI or an end colostomy was undertaken. QOL measures used included the Short Form 36 General Quality of Life Assessment (SF-36) and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life score (FIQOL). Results The colostomy group included 39 patients and the FI group included 71 patients. The average FI score for FI group was 12 ± 4.9 (0 = complete continence, 20 = severe incontinence). In the colostomy group the average colostomy function score was 12.9 ± 3.8 (7 = good function, 35 = poor function). Analysis of the SF-36 revealed higher social function score in the colostomy group compared to the FI group. Analysis of the FIQOL revealed higher scores in the coping, embarrassment, lifestyle scales, and depression scales in the colostomy group compared to the FI group. Conclusion A colostomy is a viable option for patients who suffer from FI and offers a definitive cure with improved QOL.     

Bypass Surgery Versus Intentionally Incomplete Resection in Palliation of Pancreatic Cancer: Is Resection the Lesser Evil?

Objective  

As technical expertise increases, the indication for pancreatic resection for advanced pancreatic cancer has been expanded over the last years. Recently, several groups reported their series of unintentionally incomplete tumor resections and reported a potential survival benefit for patients after incomplete resection when compared with palliative bypass surgery. We investigated in a retrospective analysis whether even tumor resection that was intended to be incomplete might provide a better outcome than conventional palliative procedures.