Laparoscopic treatment of mesenteric cysts

Mesenteric cysts are rare intraabdominal tumors. We review the diagnosis, laparoscopic management, patient's outcome and follow-up of evaluation for three cases of mesenteric cyst that presented to Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School, Department of Surgery, from 1999 to 2002. All of the patients presented with nonspecific abdominal symptoms such as constipation, abdominal discomfort, and anorexia. Preoperative evaluation for differentiating mesenteric cyst from malignancy is made by abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography. The procedure was completed laparoscopically using three trocars in three patients. In one patient retroperitoneal resection was performed. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 36 months, and there were no recurrences. Currently, the surgical treatment of mesenteric cyst should be performed by laparoscopy, which offers significant advantages in terms of reduced morbidity and hospital stay. For appropriate cases in which cyst arises from mesenterium of colon, the retroperitoneal approach should be applied.

Treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults with polyurethane stent

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of polyurethane nasolacrimal duct stents in the treatment of epiphora resulting from primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 25 patients (21 women and four men with mean age of 44 years, range 20 to 74 years) with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, 28 hollow polyurethane stents designed by Song and associates were placed under fluoroscopic guidance. The obstruction was complete in 20 lacrimal drainage systems and partial in eight. The lacrimal sac size was normal or large on dacryocystogram in all lacrimal drainage systems. A Ritleng probe was introduced through the upper punctum and advanced past the obstruction. A guide wire with a flexible tip was then introduced through the probe, over which the stent was advanced in retrograde fashion and placed into the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct. Clinical success was defined by the demonstration of a completely patent lacrimal drainage pathway through saline irrigation and no or minimal complaint of epiphora.

RESULTS

Stent placement was technically successful in 26 of 28 lacrimal drainage systems (93%). The mean time of fluoroscopy screening was 3.2 minutes (range, 1.4 to 5.8 minutes). The overall success rate was 82% (23 of 28 lacrimal drainage systems). Two stents were completely occluded. In one lacrimal drainage system with minimal epiphora, the stented drainage pathway was partially occluded. The patients were followed up from 4 to 22 months (mean, 7.2 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Retrograde placement of a hollow polyurethane nasolacrimal duct stent is a technique that is simple and well tolerated by patients. This method achieves a high success rate and may be suggested as a nonsurgical procedure for adults with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction and proper lacrimal sac size. The Ritleng probe facilitates the procedure.

Treatment of obstructive epiphora in adults by balloon dacryocystoplasty

AIMS

To determine the efficacy of dacryocystoplasty with balloon dilatation in the treatment of complete and partial obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system.

METHODS

The procedure was performed on 26 patients with epiphora due to complete (n=16) or partial (n=10) obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system. A flexible tipped guide wire was introduced through the superior canaliculus into the inferior meatus and manipulated out of the nasal cavity. A 3 mm balloon was then introduced in a retrograde direction over the guide wire and dilated at the obstruction site.

RESULTS

The procedure was technically successful in all patients with partial obstruction, but unsuccessful in four of 16 cases with complete obstruction. Reobstruction occurred in eight of 12 patients with complete obstruction, and in five of 10 patients with partial obstruction. The overall success rate was 25% for complete and 50% for partial obstructions. The mean follow up was 14 months (8-37 months).

CONCLUSION

Although the balloon dacryocystoplasty is a simple and minimally invasive technique, the outcome from our study indicates that it is not advisable for treatment of complete obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system. Balloon dilatation may prove suitable for the treatment of patients with partial obstruction below the level of the lacrimal sac, especially in those who are poor candidates for surgery, or who do not wish to undertake dacryocystorhinostomy. Even in the partial obstruction group the success rate was only 50%, so that further modification to the technique and controlled studies are likely to be required before it could be recommended for general use.

Lupus vulgaris secondary to single BCG vaccination. A case report

A 10-year-old girl with lupus vulgaris following single BCG vaccination is reported. She had a 15 x 20 cm painless lesion covering her left shoulder, axilla, triceps and biceps region. PPD test was positive. Histopathological picture was identical to lupus vulgaris.

Polyarteritis nodosa presenting with hemobilia and intestinal hemorrhage

Polyarteritis nodosa is a multisystem disease primarily involving the small and medium-sized vessels. Prognosis depends on the presence and severity of visceral involvement. Thrombosis and aneurysm formation commonly occur in kidney and gastrointestinal tract. Although hepatic involvement is also common, hepatic aneurysmal rupture with intrahepatic or perihepatic hematoma formation is infrequent. Hemobilia secondary to aneurysmal rupture is a very rare condition. We present a case of polyarteritis nodosa accompanied by hemobilia and intestinal hemorrhage secondary to hepatic and mesenteric aneurysmal rupture.

Solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas: CT and MR findings

Solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas is a very rare low-grade malignant neoplasm with only 126 cases reported in the literature and seen mostly in young female patients. Surgical excision means cure in cases before malignant degeneration developed. Its characteristic findings are typical location in the tail of the pancreas, peripheral capsule formation, hypodensity on CT images, and hyperintense internal signal characteristics on T1-weighted MR images secondary to hemorrhage and accumulation of methemoglobine molecule. These findings are enough for the preoperative diagnosis that may lead to early surgery and cure. We present the CT and MR findings of this very rare neoplasm in a case report.

Primary tonsillar tuberculosis: a case report

A 67-year-old man with an enlarged left tonsil underwent a tonsillectomy for the suspicion of malignancy. He had had a dental extraction six months earlier. Clinical and histopathological investigations established the diagnosis of primary tonsillar tuberculosis.

Surgical treatment of hepatic hydatid disease

The results of surgery in 38 patients with hepatic hydatid disease are described. Cystectomy was done in four patients with small peripheral cysts. For them the mean postoperative stay was 8.2 days. Partial cystectomy, introflexion and omentoplasty were performed in 28 patients with uncomplicated large cysts. The mean postoperative stay for these patients was 8.6 days. One patient in this group died of massive hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Exploration of the common bile duct and choledochoduodenostomy were required in three patients who had large cysts complicated by rupture into the biliary tree. This complication resulted in a mean postoperative stay of 11.5 days. Three patients who had cysts complicated by pyogenic infection were treated with tube drainage. They were discharged with their tubes in place after a mean hospital stay of 26.5 days. Hydrogen peroxide 10% was used as a scolicidal agent and was successful in preventing dissemination. All patients underwent ultrasonography 3 months after surgery, and 28 (74%) were followed up by annual examination. There was no recurrence after a mean follow-up of 2.7 years. The results suggest that surgical treatment of hepatic hydatid disease should be governed by the size, location and complications of the cyst. The combination of partial cystectomy, introflexion and omentoplasty was safe and effective therapy for patients with large hepatic cysts uncomplicated by pyogenic infection.