PSEUDOMYXOMA PERITONEI

Since it closely resembles widely metastatic intra-abdominal cancer, pseudomyxoma peritonei should always be thought of in cases in which apparently hopeless malignant disease appears to be present. The disease is not often malignant and surgical treatment is palliative in many cases and curative in some.Therapy consists of the removal of the appendix in males and of the appendix and ovaries in females.     

Transhiatal and transthoracic resection in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: Does the operative approach have an influence on the long-term prognosis?

Background

Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) of the appendix is a rare neoplasm that share histological features of both adenocarcinoma and carcinoid tumor. While its malignant potential remains unclear, GCC's are more aggressive than conventional carcinoid. The clinical presentations of this neoplasm are also varied. This review summarizes the published literature on GCC of the appendix. The focus is on its diagnosis, histopathological aspects, clinical manifestations, and management.

Methods

Published studies in the English language between 1966 to 2004 were identified through Medline keyword search utilizing terms "goblet cell carcinoid," "adenocarcinoid", "mucinous carcinoid" and "crypt cell carcinoma" of the appendix.

Results

Based on the review of 57 published papers encompassing nearly 600 diagnosed patients, the mean age of presentation for GCC of the appendix was 58.89 years with equal representation in both males and females. Accurate diagnosis of this neoplasm requires astute observations within an acutely inflamed appendix as this neoplasm has a prominent pattern of submucosal growth and usually lacks the formation of a well-defined tumor mass. The mesoappendix was involved in 21.64% followed by perineural involvement in 2.06%. The most common clinical presentations in order of frequency were acute appendicitis in 22.5%; asymptomatic in 5.4%; non-localized abdominal pain in 5.15% and an appendicular mass in 3.09%. The most common surgical treatment of choice was appendectomy with right hemicolectomy in 34.70% followed by simple appendectomy in 24.57%. Concomitant distant metastasis at diagnosis was present in 11.16% of patients with the ovaries being the most common site in 3.60% followed by disseminated abdominal carcinomatosis in 1.03%. Local lymph node involvement was seen in 8.76% of patients at the time of diagnosis. The reported 5-year survival ranges from 60 % to 84%. GCC's of the appendix remains a neoplasm of unpredictable biological behavior and thus warrants lifelong surveillance for recurrence of the disease upon diagnosis and successful surgical extirpation.

Conclusion

GCC of the appendix is a rare neoplasm. Due to its wide range of presentation, this tumor should be considered as a possible diagnosis in many varied situations leading to abdominal surgery. Histopathological features such as increased number of Paneth cells, increased amount of mucin secretion and presence of pancreatic polypeptide may predict a more aggressive behavior. The advocated plan of management recommended for patients with tumors that involve the adjacent caecum or with high-grade tumors with histological features such as an increased mitotic rate involve initial appendectomy with completion right hemicolectomy due to the high possibility of local recurrence with intraperitoneal seeding prior to lymph node involvement and a 20% risk of metastatic behavior. In female patients with GCC of the appendix regardless of age, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is advocated. In cases with obvious spread of the disease chemotherapy, mostly with 5-FU and leucovorin is advised. Cytoreductive surgery with adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy can offer improved survival in cases with advanced peritoneal dissemination.     

Cytology of pseudomyxoma peritonei

Cytology of pseudomyxoma peritonei
The cytology of five cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei is described. It is characterized by large masses of mucinous material, some of which is wrapped up in a network of elongated fibroblast-like cells. Irregular clusters of flat branching vimentin-positive fibroblast-like cells may be found as the disease progresses. Goblet or tumour cells were not found in the cytology preparations, although they were seen in the histological sections of the one case which was biopsied. The appendiceal origin of pseudomyxoma peritonei could not be traced in three of four male patients, and the cause of the disease remained undetermined. Autopsy of the fourth case demonstrated a complete replacement of the appendix by mucus.     

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and endometriosis of the appendix

Background

A distended, mucous-filled appendix is known as an appendiceal mucocele. They are a rare form of an appendiceal mass and develop from both benign and malignant processes. Mucoceles can develop secondarily to an obstruction, such as from a fecalith, scarring or, rarely, endometriosis. Only 12 cases of non-neoplastic appendiceal mucoceles caused by endometriosis have been previously described. The association between neoplastic appendiceal mucoceles in the presence of endometriosis is described for the first time in this report.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of worsening abdominal pain over the past 3 months. Imaging studies revealed an appendiceal mass. Laparoscopic evaluation confirmed an appendiceal mucocele, and the patient underwent complete appendectomy. No evidence of mucinous or endometrial deposits were present within the abdominal cavity. Pathological diagnosis revealed low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) with evidence of endometriosis within the muscularis propria of the appendix. The patient recovered without complications and her abdominal pain completely resolved.

Conclusions

Endometriosis of the appendix is a rare manifestation and is most often identified as an incidental finding. Endometriosis leading to an obstructive mucocele of the appendix is an exceedingly rare finding, having only been described 12 times in the medical literature. LAMN in the presence of endometriosis of the appendix is described for the first time in this report. The association between appendiceal neoplasms in the presence of endometriosis requires further research in order to optimize operative treatment.

     

Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis in Childhood

Six cases of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis confirmed by x-ray examination and surgical operation were observed in a ten-year period. Due to the wide variability in signs and symptoms in children, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis can be diagnosed only with a high degree of clinical suspicion and roentgenological examination. Gallbladder disease is uncommon in childhood but should be considered in children with vague abdominal pains or bouts of unexplained jaundice. If a normal appendix is found at laparotomy in the “acute abdomen,” the surgeon would be wise to palpate other specific organs within the abdomen, including the liver and gallbladder.The treatment of choice is cholecystectomy. The prognosis for recovery is excellent if there is no complicating systemic disease.     

阑尾残株炎9例的临床观察

目的：总结阑尾残株炎的病因、诊断方法、预防和治疗措施,为临床提供更多的参考依据。方法：回顾性分析我院2011年1月～2013年1月收治的9例阑尾残株炎患者的临床资料,并查阅相关文献,总结阑尾残株炎的病因和诊疗方法等。结果：阑尾残端过长（〉1cm）是导致阑尾残株炎发生的主要原因。结合血常规、钡剂灌肠透视、CT、彩超等检查,必要时行腹腔镜探查可确诊阑尾残株炎。及时行手术切除阑尾残株是阑尾残株炎主要治疗方法。本组5例患者行传统开腹阑尾残端切除术（残端双重结扎,保留残端0．2～0．3cm）,2例行腹腔镜阑尾残端切除术（钛夹夹闭阑尾残端,保留阑尾残端0．2～0．3cm）,2例行部分盲肠切除术,回盲部留置引流管。2例患者出现切口感染,9例患者均痊愈。结论：预防阑尾残株炎的主要措施是是尽量完善阑尾切除手术。对已行阑尾切除术的患者再次出现右下腹部疼痛时等类似阑尾炎症状时,临床医生应考虑阑尾残株炎的可能,进一步行钡剂灌肠透视检查及腹部超声等辅助检查,必要时行腹腔镜腹腔探查以确诊,并应根据患者具体情况及时行手术切除阑尾残株。     

Atypical localization of myenteric ganglia in the human appendical wall: a comparative study with animal appendix

The presence of well developed appendices in some animals when compared to humans has led to speculation that appendix is a vestigial organ. Increasing number of studies have revealed that the appendix serves as an important organ in humans. The function of animal appendix, and the differences between species remain poorly understood. In this study we examined human myenteric plexus and compared them with animal studies. Appendices were obtained from five young adults in which the appendix was found to be normal after removal. Fixed appendix cryosections were examined by immunofluorescence methods using neuronal marker antibodies to neurofilaments and beta III tubulin. Both antibodies stained myenteric ganglia which were arranged in an apparently irregular pattern in human appendix wall. We observed unexpected localization of myenteric ganglia in the subserosa often accompanied by rarely occurring ganglia in the longitudinal muscle layer. These ganglia were of different sizes and shapes and unequally distributed under a thin layer of serosa. Our findings raise many questions about the possible role of irregular and atypical myenteric ganglia localization in relation to altered motility and subsequent pathogenesis of the appendix in inflammatory disease in humans. On the other hand, studies of the literature have revealed simplicity in the organization of myenteric plexus, e.g., in well-developed rabbit appendix. In addition, appendicitis in animals is restricted to in apes with similarly shaped appendix to humans.     

妊娠合并恶性肿瘤疾病的诊疗探讨

目的:探讨妊娠合并恶性肿瘤在诊治过程中的临床表现,探讨其对妊娠结局的影响及预后.方法:回顾性查阅2005年至2011年9月于我院住院治疗患者病历,收集妊娠合并恶性肿瘤疾病患者10例在入院诊断、治疗经过中的相关资料.结果:10例患者中9例在终止妊娠前确诊,3例孕妇死亡,5例在随访中,2例失访;10例胎儿中有生机儿5例,其中1例放弃,在可随访的3例新生儿生存状态良好.结论:妊娠合并恶性肿瘤疾病的临床确诊及及时治疗对妊娠结局会造成影响,妊娠结局与肿瘤分期及孕周相关,应在产前进行常见恶性肿瘤疾病的筛查,早期发现,早期干预.     

The epidemiology of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Europe

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is one of a family of neurodegenerative diseases, first diagnosed in 1996. Scientific evidence strongly supports the hypothesis that it is acquired through consumption of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-infected meat. The majority of cases have been diagnosed in the UK in young individuals, with an excess of cases in the north and a significant cluster of cases in Leicestershire. Many uncertainties in its biology and epidemiology, in particular the length of the incubation period, make predictions of any future epidemic difficult. Studies are currently under way to obtain more precise estimates of the prevalence of asymptomatic infection through testing tonsil and appendix tissues for the abnormal prion protein.     

Lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions

Lymphocyte-high endothelial venule (HEV) cell interaction that is mediated by specific receptors is fundamentally important during normal and malignant lymphocyte traffic. Putative human lymphocyte homing receptors to peripheral lymph node, mucosal (Peyer's patch, appendix) and inflamed joint tissue (synovium) HEV appear to be functionally distinct, but structurally closely related 90 kDa glycoproteins that are highly conserved during evolution. These receptors regulate lymphocyte traffic in an organ-specific manner throughout the body, thus determining the characteristics of local immune responses and possibly also the patterns of dissemination of lymphoid malignancies.     

Aspiration cytology of breast cysts

A cytologic evaluation was made of 57 samples of fluid aspirated from cystic breast masses during the past 12 years in our hospital. The cytologic diagnosis of the cyst aspirates from 17 cancer cases was positive in 10 cases, suspicious in 2 and negative in 5. No false-positive cytologic diagnosis was made in 40 cases of benign cystic disease. Blood-tinged aspirates were observed in 14 of the 17 cases of malignant cystic disease but in only 2 of 40 benign cases. Ductal cell clusters were detected in aspiration smears from 16 of the cases of malignant cystic disease and 15 of the cases of benign cystic disease. Apocrine cells were seen in the aspiration smears from 12 of the cases of benign cystic disease but in none of the aspirates from the 17 cancer cases.     

Carcinoma of Large Bowel in the Young

The incidence of large-bowel carcinoma in young people seems to be increasing. Twenty-one cases occurring between the ages of 13 and 25 are reviewed. Most cases were found to be in an advanced state of the disease. High grade malignant growths were found to be twice as common in the young as in adults. The mode of presentation is no different from that in adults and a plea is made for improving results of treatment by earlier diagnosis, which can be established by an increased awareness of the disease in children and young adults.     

黄姑鱼的恶性黑色素瘤

从我国南海海域捕获的黄姑鱼(Nibea albiflora)中发现15例恶性黑色素瘤(malignant melanoma)。本文较详细地介绍了有关这种肿瘤的病理解剖学、病理组织学和超微结构的观察结果。在国内外首次报道黄姑鱼的这种恶性肿瘤对肿瘤学有一定的研究价值。     

Peritoneal washing cytology in cervical carcinoma. Analysis of 109 patients

The peritoneal washing cytologies of 109 patients (112 procedures) undergoing laparotomy for cervical carcinoma were evaluated retrospectively and compared with the clinical and pathologic findings. Nine patients (8.3%) had malignant peritoneal washings (including three of four with washings initially termed "inconclusive"). Four (4.9%) of the 82 patients with squamous carcinoma and 3 (16.7%) of 18 with adenocarcinoma had positive washings. Five (5.6%) of 90 washings obtained at initial explorations were positive, as compared with 4 (18.2%) of 22 washings obtained as follow-up operations in recurrent cases. The 111 peritoneal washing cytologies with a corresponding histologic evaluation of the peritoneal cavity showed a good correlation; peritoneal washing cytology had an efficiency of 91.0%, a sensitivity of 52.9% and a specificity of 100%. Two cases in which the cytologies were considered positive only after review had negative peritoneal histologies; both patients died of progressive disease within 11 months. Peritoneal washing cytology was positive in 5 (5.9%) of 84 cases with FIGO stage 1 cancers, 2 (18.2%) of 11 cases with stage 2 cancers, 1 (33.3%) of 3 cases with stage 3 cancers, and 1 (10%) of 10 cases with recurrent tumors. Eight (88.9%) of nine patients with malignant peritoneal washings died of disease from 3 to 15 months following surgery; one showed no evidence of disease at 9 months. These results suggest that: (1) cervical carcinomas are infrequently associated with a positive peritoneal washing; (2) peritoneal washing cytology is more likely to be positive in cases of adenocarcinoma than in cases of squamous carcinoma; (3) peritoneal washings obtained at the time of surgery for recurrence are more likely to contain malignant cells than are washings obtained during initial exploration; (4) nonkeratinizing malignant squamous cells may be confused with reactive mesothelial cells; and (5) peritoneal washing cytology is a relatively insensitive technique for detecting advanced cervical disease, but correlates with a poor prognosis when positive.     

Pyometra.

Pyometra is a potentially lethal disease. Eighteen cases, all but one in postmenopausal women, were diagnosed at the Ottawa General and Ottawa Civic hospitals between 1974 and 1978 inclusive. A review of this series and of the literature demonstrates that a large proportion of cases (72% in this series) are associated with or follow radiotherapy for a malignant disease of the uterus and that anaerobic bacteria are frequently isolated from the uterine cavity (in 56% of the patients in this series). Because pyometra is potentially lethal (one patient in our series died) it should be considered as an abscess and treated promptly and vigorously by evacuation and continued drainage of the uterine cavity. Curettage of the cavity and the endocervical canal after dilatation is essential to rule out associated malignant disease as well as to debride the necrotic tissue. Antibiotics effective against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria should be given to all patients with signs of systemic infection. Once the infection is controlled, the underlying problem can be treated.     

Prostatectomy in private practice; a review of 589 cases in a five-year period

Prostatectomy was done in 589 cases in a five-year period. The operation was done transurethrally in 530 cases of benign disease and in 50 cases of malignant lesions. In six cases of malignant disease and three of benign, open procedures were used. Results of transurethral prostatectomy were considered good or excellent in 94.4 per cent of the cases of benign hypertrophy and in 92 per cent of the cases of carcinoma. It was felt that radical perineal prostatectomy was advisable for early operable cases of carcinoma, but that the transurethral procedure was more suitable in almost all cases of benign hypertrophy.     

Primary Malignant Tumors of the Heart

Because of their rarity, primary malignant tumors of the heart continue to evade clinical preoperative diagnosis. In five cases of malignant heart tumor that were reviewed from the diagnostic point of view, the clinical symptoms and radiographic abnormalities were found to be similar to those produced by more common heart diseases. The diagnosis of malignant cardiac tumor should be considered in a patient with heart disease who has (1) an unusual cardiomediastinal silhouette, (2) an atypical cardiac calcification, and (3) clinical or radiographic cardipulmonary findings which do not conform to the expected behavior of the common forms of heart disease.     

Dermatopathic Lymphadenopathy—A Clinicopathologic Analysis of Lymph Node Biopsy Over a 15-Year Period

Forty cases of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy were found in a series of 906 consecutive lymph node biopsies (4.8 per cent).The histologic development and progression of the disease was correlated with the clinical state of the patient.In 35 of 40 cases the patients had active skin disease at the time of the biopsy; one of the remaining five patients had Hodgkin''s disease, one had multiple myeloma and one had secondary syphilis. In the other two, no organic cause was found.In nine cases (22.5 per cent), the histological pattern typical of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy was associated with malignant lymphoma. Except for two biopsies, which showed coexisting malignant lymphoma and dermatopathic lymphadenopathy, no histologic features were found which distinguished patients with malignant lymphoma from the remainder.While the pathogenesis of the lymph node changes remains obscure, the histologic features suggest that it is at least in part an immune response, although the nature of the responsible antigen is unknown.     

Cytogenetics in malignant lymphoma.

There appear to be four primary areas of interest in the application of cytogenetic techniques to the study of malignant lymphomas: (1) the role of cytogenetics in the diagnosis of lymphoma in problem cases, (2) as an aid to the classification of malignant lymphomas, (3) whether specific chromosomal patterns will have prognostic significance for response to therapy or survival, and (4) the role of cytogenetics in staging of malignant lymphomas. A case of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia is reported in which cytogenetic studies demonstrated an aneuploid clone suggesting that cytogenetic abnormalities of lymphoma may precede the diagnostic histopathologic picture. The occurrence of 14q+ marker chromosomes in plasmacytic myeloma, plasma cell leukemia, malignant lymphomas, Burkitt's lymphoma, and ataxia-telangiectasia suggest that a common etiologic or pathogenetic mechanism may be present in some of these disorders. A preliminary pilot study of spleens removed at staging laparotomy for Hdgkin's disease suggests that cytogenetic studies may be able to detect Hodgkin's disease that is not apparent histologically. Further studies are required to provide answers to these areas of interest in cytogenetics in malignant lymphoma.