Intraperitoneal Rupture of the Ureter as a Cause of Generalized Peritonitis: Report of a Case

We report a rare case of generalized peritonitis caused by nontraumatic, intraperitoneal rupture of the ureter. An 80-year-old woman with a history of bilateral vesicoureteral reflux and long-term urethral indwelling catheter drainage presented with a very distended abdomen. Computed tomography showed massive ascites and intraperitoneal free gas. We performed an emergency laparotomy, assuming a gastrointestinal perforation; but could not find a cause of generalized peritonitis. Postoperatively, she presented with anuria and massive peritoneal drainage. The findings of a cystogram confirmed intraperitoneal ureteral rupture. She was managed successfully with ureteral stenting. The diagnosis of this condition requires a high degree of clinical suspicion, along with radiographic evidence and peritoneal fluid analysis. Image-guided interventions play a crucial role in the management of ureteral urine leaks after a correct diagnosis has been made.     

Spontaneous Intraperitoneal Rupture of a Hepatic Hydatid Cyst

Hydatid cysts, which are endemic to certain areas, typically are found in the liver. Spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture, which can be life threatening, is rare. This article presents a case of spontaneous rupture of a hydatid cyst in a 69-year-old woman who was admitted to the emergency department. The patient had no history of trauma. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography suggested rupture of a hydatid cyst. The patient underwent a partial cystectomy, and the cystic area was washed with hypertonic saline and the peritoneal cavity was washed with isotonic saline and drained. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with albendazole for 3 months. No additional pathology was observed at the 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-ups. Although rare, a ruptured hydatid cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the acute abdomen in a patient residing in an endemic area.     

Familial Urachal Sinus Associated with a Possible Congenital Malformation: Report of a Case

We report a rare case of familial urachal disease associated with a congenital malformation. A 34-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with recurrent umbilical purulent discharge. She had undergone partial resection of the small intestine for obstruction and, later, a pyeloplasty for a stricture of the ureter-pyelo junction. Her younger brother had also undergone surgery for a urachal sinus 1 year earlier. She was found to have an umbilical granuloma with a fistulous track that could be probed for 3 cm distally. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography confirmed the fistulous track. Under a diagnosis of urachal sinus, a urachal remnant was excised. Histological analysis of the excised specimen revealed only inflammatory granulomatous tissue with marked infiltration of lymphocytes and foreign body giant cells. Urachal cysts are associated with a risk of intestinal strangulation and therefore, the finding of urachal disease justifies detailed evaluation. Received: October 10, 2001 / Accepted: September 3, 2002 Reprint requests to: K. Kubota     

Omental Cyst: Report of a Case

We report the case of an omental cyst, a rare type of abdominal cystic lesion that is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. A 43-year-old man with no clinical symptoms was admitted to our hospital for investigation of an abdominal cyst detected by ultrasonography (US). We performed diagnostic examinations including US, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. An omental cyst was diagnosed because of its position and connection to the surrounding tissues. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed endothelial cells on its internal wall and colonies of lymphocytes, confirming a diagnosis of lymphangioma, which is the most common type of omental cyst. Received: November 21, 2000 / Accepted: July 17, 2001     

Ileal Adenomyoma Accompanied by Primary Peritonitis: Report of a Case

We report herein the case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with severe abdominal pain and a 2-week history of a yellow vaginal discharge. An emergency operation was performed for localized peritonitis attributed to acute perforated appendicitis. There were no findings to indicate the cause of peritonitis, but by chance, a submucosal tumor was found in the ileum 2 m from Bauhin's valve. Appendectomy and wedge resection of the ileum with the submucosal tumor were carried out. The peritonitis was considered to have been idiopathic from bacterial and molecular biological examination of the ascites. Pathological, immunohistochemical, and flow cytometrical findings of the resected ileal submocosal tumor indicated a diagnosis of ileal adenomyoma with no malignancy, which suggested metaplasia of the pancreaticobiliary to gastric epithelium. Received: August 4, 2000 / Accepted: January 9, 2001     

Lymphoepithelial Cyst of the Pancreas: Report of a Case

A lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) is an extremely rare benign lesion of the pancreas. During a medical check-up, a 77-year-old man without any symptoms was found to have a cyst in the body of the pancreas. His serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level was slightly elevated. Computed tomography showed a multilocular, low-attenuating cyst on the superior surface of the pancreatic body. Thus, we performed distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. Histological examination revealed that the cyst wall was lined with squamous epithelium and surrounded by abundant mature lymphoid tissue. Keratinous substances were present in the cyst. An LEC of the pancreas is associated with a good prognosis and, although unusual, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions. Minimal resection of the cyst should be performed whenever possible, and extensive surgery avoided. For patients with a high surgical risk, fine-needle aspiration biopsy may be considered.     

Cervicomediastinal Thymic Cyst: Report of a Case

Congenital thymic cysts are rare. Consequently, they are often misdiagnosed and not included in the preoperative differential diagnosis of neck masses. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy with a large cervicomediastinal thymic cyst to increase the awareness of this unusual entity. We discuss the clinical features, presentation, and pathogenesis of thymic cysts.     

Lymphoepithelial Cyst of the Pancreas: Report of a Case

An extremely rare case of a lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) of the pancreas is described herein. A pancreatic cystic tumor was initially detected in a 50-year-old man at a medical checkup. On admission, his serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level was 8 100 U/ml and a computed tomography scan revealed a well-circumscribed multilocular cystic tumor in the pancreatic head and body. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed no communication between the pancreatic ducts and the tumor. A distal pancreatectomy with lymph node dissection was performed because the lesion was suspected to be a mucinous cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. However, histological examination revealed that the cyst was lined by stratified squamous epithelium and surrounded by lymphoid tissue, thereby confirming the diagnosis of LEC of the pancreas. The superficial layer of squamous epithelium and the cystic contents were found to be immunohistologically positive for CA19-9. Establishing a preoperative diagnosis of LEC is quite difficult because it resembles other cystic neoplasms of the pancreas in radiographic features and is frequently associated with an elevation of serum tumor markers such as CA19-9. Received: June 21, 1999 / Accepted: March 24, 2000     

Multilocular Mediastinal Cyst with Rim Calcification: Report of a Case

We report a case of a multilocular anterior mediastinal cyst with rim calcification and severe adhesion to the adjacent organs. We excised the cyst completely, with resection of the left phrenic nerve, pericardium, and left lung because of the severe adhesion. Histological examination revealed that the multilocular cystic walls were composed of fibrous connective tissue and calcifications, but the lining epithelial cells were absent because of dystrophic calcification resulting from chronic inflammation. On the basis of the location and pathological findings, we diagnosed a multilocular mediastinal cystic tumor; most likely a multilocular thymic cyst. It is important to distinguish a multilocular thymic cyst from a unilocular thymic cyst because a multilocular thymic cyst may recur postoperatively and coexist with a thymic epithelial tumor. Dense adhesion to the surrounding mediastinal structures may make removal difficult, especially if there is rim calcification.     

Squamous Cell Carcinoma arising in a Giant Epidermal Cyst: a Case Report

Epidermal cysts are commonly encountered in surgical practice. Malignant degeneration of epidermal sebaceous cyst is uncommon. The authors report the case of a 38-year Filipino woman presenting with a voluminous sebaceous cyst of the left buttock. Ultrasonography and computer tomography were made preoperatively without any hint of eventual malignant degeneration. Marginal excision was performed with direct closure of the skin. The histological examination revealed epidermal sebaceous cyst with squamous cell carcinoma in situ, which is a quite rare, but well known complication occurring in sebaceous cysts.     

Spontaneous Tracheal Rupture: a Case Report

We report the case of a spontaneous posterior tracheal wall rupture following a cough. A 67-year-old woman with a history of longstanding treatment with corticosteroids (8 years) for Giant Cell Arteritis had general anesthesia for cataract removal. Surgery and anesthesia were uneventful. In the recovery room, the patient coughed and soon after developed subcutaneous emphysema of the neck. Chest radiography confirmed the clinical diagnosis of marked subcutaneous emphysema and showed huge pneumomediastinum and minor right pneumothorax. A thoracic CT scan revealed a large laceration of the posterior tracheal wall (a 4 cm longitudinal tear), extending from the middle of the trachea to the level of the carina. Surgical repair consisted in closure of the dilaceration using an autolo-gous pericardial patch.

It seems reasonable to suspect the facilitating role of connective tissue fragility due to chronic corticosteroid administration in the development of this tracheal rupture following cough. Tracheal rupture is a potentially lethal injury, which can be repaired successfully if the diagnosis is made early. Risk factors, diagnosis and principles of treatment of this lesion are discussed.     

True Solitary Pancreatic Cyst in an Adult: Report of a Case

The differential diagnosis of cystic neoformations in the pancreas is challenging. We report a case of a true solitary cyst of the pancreas in a 26-year old woman. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed a unilocular neoformation in the head of the pancreas, without obstruction of Wirsung's duct. We excised the cyst and performed Roux-en-Y loop pancreaticojejunostomy, but the patient suffered recurrent acute pancreatitis from Wirsung's duct stenosis. Thus, a new Roux-en-Y loop pancreaticojejunostomy was successfully done 6 months later. Histologically, the cyst was lined by cuboidal epithelium, immunohistochemically positive to anti-carbohydrate antigen 19-9 antibodies. To our knowledge, only 11 cases of solitary true cyst of the pancreas in adults have been reported, so the characteristics of this unusual entity are not well known. We propose a scheme for the differential diagnosis of cystic neoformations of the pancreas, starting from the histopathological definition of a true solitary cyst.     

Inguinal Hernia as a Rare Manifestation of Meconium Peritonitis: Report of a Case

The usual manifestations of meconium peritonitis confined to the inguinoscrotal region are soft hydroceles, hard nodules in the scrotum, and, occasionally, calcified nodules in the wall of a hernia sac, with or without calcification on abdominal X-ray. Inguinal hernia is an extremely rare manifestation of healed meconium peritonitis. An unusual presentation of meconium peritonitis encountered during hernia repair is described herein to alert the pediatric surgeon of this possibility to avoid unnecessary abdominal exploration. Received: April 17, 2001 / Accepted: September 11, 2001     

A Chylous Cyst of the Mesentery: Report of a Case

(Received for publication on Oct. 21, 1998; accepted on July 13, 1999)     

Submucosal Dermoid Cyst of the Rectum: Report of a Case

(Received for publication on Oct. 13, 1998; accepted on May 27, 1999)     

Acute Abdominal Aorta Embolism Caused by Rupture of a Cardiac Hydatid Cyst

We report a case of an abdominal aortic embolism due to rupture of a cardiac hydatid cyst. This report emphasizes the diagnostic, preventative, and treatment options for hydatid cyst embolism of abdominal aorta. Echocardiography should be routinely performed in all patients with hydatid disease for possible involvement of the heart. This enables early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac echinococcus before life-threatening complications occur.     

Gastric Bronchogenic Cyst Histologically Diagnosed After Laparoscopic Excision: Report of a Case

Abdominal computed tomography of a 71-year-old man revealed a 3-cm mass in gastric cardia. Although the mass was widely attached to the gastric wall, no clear contrast enhancement was observed. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed the mass to have homogenous high intensity on T2W1 images and isointensity on T1W1 images. On diffusion-weighted imaging, no high intensity was observed. However, the mass had a smooth surface and was widely attached to the gastric wall, consistent with computed tomography findings. A gastric submucosal tumor was suspected. Laparoscopic tumor resection was performed. Histopathologic diagnosis of the mass was a bronchogenic cyst derived from the respiratory primordium originating in the foregut of the primitive intestine. Such cysts are mostly found in the mediastinum or thoracic cavity; their occurrence on the gastric wall is extremely rare. Despite this, we think that bronchogenic cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal unilocular cystic diseases.     

Successful Resection of an Infected Duodenal Duplication Cyst After Percutaneous Cyst Drainage: Report of a Case

We report a case of a duodenal duplication cyst complicated by infection. An 8-year-old boy was brought to our hospital with severe abdominal pain and a fever of 39.8°C. He had a 5-year history of occasional abdominal pain with vomiting. On examination, a cystic mass was felt under the liver. We performed percutaneous drainage of the cyst under a suspected diagnosis of a choledochal cyst complicated by acute biliary infection. A contrast study through the drainage tube and surgical exploration revealed a duodenal duplication cyst communicating with the second part of the duodenum. The patient had an uneventful recovery and remains well 5 years after surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of an infected duodenal duplication cyst successfully treated by resection after percutaneous drainage.     

Conservative Treatment of a Cervical Thoracic Duct Cyst: a Case Report

Cysts of the thoracic duct are uncommon entities that can occur in the abdominal segment, the cisterna chyli, the thoracic segment and the cervical segment of the thoracic duct. The rarest presentation is in the cervical segment, with only seventeen cases reported in English literature.

The diagnosis can be made by puncture and with the use of computed tomography or ultrasonography. The cystic fluid always contains an excess of T-lymphocytes and triglycerides. Except for two cases, all reported cervical thoracic duct cysts were surgically treated by excision and ligation of the lymphatics connected to the cyst.

We present a case of a successful non-operative treatment of a cervical thoracic duct cyst that was resolved by repeated aspiration and dietary changes only.