Caecal perforation with faecal peritonitis - unusual presentation of Bochdalek hernia in an adult: a case report and review of literature

The improper fusion of the postero-lateral foramen of the diaphragm was first described by Bochdalek in 1848. The incidence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia varies from1:2000 to 1:5000 live births and Bochdalek hernias (BH) account for 75 to 85% of these. Although it is a well-known entity in neonates, it is occasionally discovered incidentally in adult patients. Until now, a total of around 100 cases of occult asymptomatic Bochdalek hernia have been reported. The symptomatic cases are encountered more rarely. Colon necrosis among the symptomatic cases was reported in some reports. We discuss the present case since we believe it to be, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of a Bochdalek hernia in an adult presenting with caecal perforation and faecal peritonitis and review the published literature about this rare condition.

[An anterior mediastinal mass of rare etiology]

Hydatid cyst of the mediastinum is very uncommon. The diagnosis, usually evident in endemic regions in the case of a typical clinical-radiological presentation, is rather more difficult in certain atypical forms. We report a case of a 19-year-old man who presented with a mass of tumour like appearance in the anterior mediastinum. The diagnosis of mediastinal hydatid cyst was established by transthoracic needle biopsy and endoscopic bronchial aspiration revealed hydatid membranous debris. The diagnosis was confirmed when the mediastinal cyst ruptured into a bronchus. Thoracotomy was carried out with an uneventful post-operative recovery. This observation illustrates the diagnostic difficulties when a mediastinal hydatid cyst presents the appearances of a tumour. This possibility must be included in the differential diagnosis of every mediastinal mass, particularly in endemic regions.

[Sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: what management?]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate results of surgical management for sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

A retrospective study has been completed on patients treated in our department for sternal metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

RESULTS

Among the 235 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, seven (3%) had sternal metastasis during follow-up. These sternal metastasis were metachronous with an average delay of 10 years. Treatment corresponded to an excision of the upper half of the sternum including internal parts of the clavicle and the adjacent ribs (four cases), a reduction of the metastatic tumour mass (two cases) and one biopsy with no resection (one case). After sternal excision, reconstruction of the chest wall was obtained with the use of polyester prosthesis covered with pectoral muscle flap. Radioiodine was assigned to all patients as a complementary therapy. With an average follow-up of 58 months, no local or distant recurrence was observed in five patients (71%). Two patients had local and/or distant metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Incidence of sternal metastasis is rare but does not preclude a large surgical resection. When possible, an aggressive management (surgical resection and radioiodine therapy) allows more than 70% relapse-free survival at 5 years.

How to treat esophageal perforations when determinants and predictors of mortality are considered

BACKGROUND

Published lethality rates of esophageal perforation (EP) vary depending on patient- and disease-related factors. This study was designed to evaluate how these factors impact death. Furthermore, we calculated the predictive accuracy of the Mortality Prediction Model (MPM II) and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) for in-hospital death. Conclusions about treatment decisions were drawn based on our data and analysis of recent literature.

METHODS

Every patient who was treated for EP at our department from December 2001 to July 2008 is included in this study. Logistic regression analyses of various risk factors, such as etiology, time interval, size, comorbidities, localization, type of treatment, and preexisting pathologies of the esophagus on death, were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 41 patients diagnosed with EP, nine died (21%). The most important risk factor concerning death was cirrhosis of the liver (0 vs. 89% mortality; odds ratio, 208; P<0.001). Accuracy for lethality risk prediction was calculated with MPM II and SAPS II on admission, and afterward the characteristic increase that occurred was evaluated by using receiver operator characteristic curves. Optimal results were achieved by using a characteristic SAPS II increase (AUC 0.86; P: 0.009) after the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study was the first to demonstrate that a rapid or continuous increase more than 40 of the daily SAPS II clearly indicates that a high risk of death is imminent. This should be used as a reevaluation factor when choosing a treatment strategy.

[Primary leiomyosarcoma of visceral mediastinum]

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the thorax is a rare malignant mesenchymatous tumour. Most of those tumours occurring in the mediastinum arise from the oesophagus and great vessels, whereas an appearance in the soft tissue of the mediastinum is extremely rare. The rare incidence of this tumour and its slow growth reflect the difficulties in differential diagnosis according to their histopathology and location. The most common treatment is surgical resection. The authors describe a case of a leiomyosarcoma arising from soft tissue of the mediastinum and present a review of the literature.

Imaging presentations of esophageal perforation

AIM: To illustrate imaging presentations related to esophageal perforation and their significance for therapeutic decisions.

METHODS: We studied 21 patients with suspected esophageal injury from June 2002 to October 2008 at our hospital. Ten patients underwent standard chest radiography and 2 patients were submitted to cervical plain film, while 11 patients with suspected esophageal perforation were submitted to gastrografin swallow study (7 with iodine and 4 with barium). Nine patients underwent row spiral CT examination (2 with enhancement). Imaging presentations were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS: Chest radiography (n = 10) revealed hydropneumothorax in 4/10 and pleural effusions in 4/10, and pulmonary infection were observed in 3/10; Changes of mediastinum were seen in 7/10 patients, pneumomediastinum in 3 cases, mediastinum widen in 3 cases, and air-fluid level in 1 case. Subcutaneous emphysema in the neck, chest was noted in 4/10. Esophagography (n = 11) demonstrated contrast medium extravasation in 9/11, indicating a submucosal contrast medium collection in 4/11, except for 2 cases with negative finding. Enhanced CT scans (n = 9) revealed periesophageal air and fluid collections with irregular soft tissue masses in 5/11 patients, thicken wall with typical localization in 4/11, abscess formation in mediastinum or under diaphragm in 4/11. Contrast-enhanced CT (n = 2) demonstrated abscess formation with contrast enhancement of the margins.

CONCLUSION: Esophagography and CT examination are the main diagnosis methods for suspected esophageal perforation. CT findings of inflammatory reaction for esophageal perforation are especially important for surgical treatment.

Management of delayed intrathoracic esophageal perforation with modified intraluminal esophageal stent

In this article, we reviewed our experience of treatment of the delayed intrathoracic nonmalignant esophageal perforation employing modified intraluminal esophageal stent. Between February 1990 and August 2006, eight patients were included in this study. Five patients experienced sepsis. The interval time between perforation and stent placement ranged from 36 h to 27 days (average, 8.6 days). Esophageal stenting and throracotomy for foreign body removal were performed in four patients. The remaining four patients underwent stent placement and thoracostomy. Nutrition was initiated through gastrostomy after 7 to 10 days after the stenting. The stent was removed after the patients resumed oral intake of food and the esophagogram showed that perforation was closed. There was no death in this group. Signs of sepsis remitted 1 week after stent placement. Complications included stress ulcer, stimulative cough, and pneumonia each. Stent removal ranged 32 to 120 days (average 66.7) after its placement. The stent was kept in place for 4 months to prevent formation of esophageal stricture in one patient with caustic esophageal burns. The follow-up was completed in all the patients. The mean follow-up period was 59 months (range 12-180). One patient with caustic esophageal burn underwent cicatricial esophagectomy and gastric transposition 3 years later due to the esophageal stricture. Barium swallow demonstrated that there was a diverticulum-like outpouching in one patient and slight esophageal stricture at T2 and T3 level in another. One patient developed reflux esophagitis 5 years after stent removal. All the patients finally had a normal intake of food. Modified esophageal stenting is an effective method to manage the delayed intrathoracic esophageal perforation. Prevention of stent migration and its convenient adjustment might be the major advantages of this method.

Current management of esophageal perforation: 20 years experience

Esophageal perforations are surgical emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. No single strategy has been sufficient to deal with the majority of situations. We aim to postulate a therapeutic algorithm for this complication based on 20 years of experience and also on data from published literature. We performed a retrospective clinical review of 44 patients treated for esophageal perforation at our hospital between January 1989 and May 2008. We reviewed the characteristics of these patients, including age, gender, accompanying diseases, etiology of perforation, diagnosis, location, time interval between perforation and diagnosis, treatment of the perforation, morbidity, hospital mortality, and duration of hospitalization. Perforation occurred in the cervical esophagus in 14 patients (31.8%), thoracic esophagus in 18 patients (40.9%), and abdominal esophagus in 12 patients (27.3%). Management of the esophageal perforation included primary closure in 23 patients (52.3%), resection in 7 patients (15.9%), and nonsurgical therapy in 14 patients (31.8%). In the surgically treated group, the mortality rate was 3 of 30 patients (10%), and 2 of 14 patients (14.3%) in the conservatively managed group. Four of the 14 nonsurgical patients were inserted with covered self-expandable stents. The specific treatment of an esophageal perforation should be selected according to each individual patient. To date, the most effective treatment would appear to be operative management. With improvements in endoscopic procedures, the morbidity and mortality rates of esophageal perforations are significantly decreased. We suggest that minimally invasive techniques for the repair of esophageal perforations will be very important in the future treatment of this condition.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the sternum

We report a rare case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis involving the sternum. The patient was a 12-year-old girl presenting with anterior chest pain and swelling. Radiographs and computed tomography showed an osteolytic lesion in the sternum. Technetium bone scintigraphy revealed increased uptakes in the sternum, the greater trochanter of the right femur, and the right distal tibia. Incisional biopsy for the sternum lesion was performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis was Langerhans cell histiocytosis. She was treated with chemotherapy and the symptoms disappeared.

Lung hydatic cysts in children: comparison study between giant and non-giant cysts

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to review our experience in pediatric giant pulmonary hydatid cysts focusing on clinical symptoms, location of the cyst, type of the intervention, postoperative complications and long-term results.

METHODS

Between June 2002 and May 2007, 118 children were operated on for hydatid lung cysts. Two groups were defined: Group 1, 32 children with giant hydatid cysts and Group 2, 86 children with non-giant cysts. The statistical significance between the groups was estimated using paired samples t test.

RESULTS

The mean age was 11.8 years in G1 and 9.7 years in G2. All of the patients were symptomatic in G1 but only 18% in G2 (P=0.003). The right lower lobe was most frequently involved in both G1 and G2. Surgical parenchymal resection was performed in five patients in G1 (16%) and in 2% in G2 (P=0.033). Postoperative complications in G1 were more significant comparatively to G2 (P=0.003).

CONCLUSION

Giant hydatid lung cysts represent a distinct pathology. They affect essentially adolescents and may reach a large size causing parenchymal destruction. Thus, surgical resections are frequently used and postoperative complications rate is high.

Serum adiponectin levels in patients with esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between serum levels of adiponectin and clinicopathological characteristics in esophageal cancer. This is the first report evaluating serum adiponectin levels in patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients with esophageal cancer and thirty healthy subjects were included in the study. Adiponectin levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

RESULTS

The mean serum adiponectin level in the cancer group was significantly low compared with the adiponectin level in the healthy control group. Furthermore, adiponectin levels of the patients gradually decreased with increase in tumor stage. The patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus had significantly lower values of serum adiponectin than patients with squamous cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that decreased circulating adiponectin levels may play a role in the progression and/or development of esophageal cancers. However, for clinical use of serum adiponectin in terms of early diagnosis and treatment, further studies should be performed.

Evaluation of pulmonary hydatid cyst cases

BACKGROUND

The incidence of pulmonary hydatid cyst has been high in developing countries such as Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes of pulmonary hydatid cyst disease at a tertiary centre.

METHODS

A total of 138 patients, aged between 9 and 72 years with pulmonary hydatid cyst were diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 in 2nd thoracic surgery clinic at our hospital. Clinical characteristics of patients, epidemiological features, cyst diameters and localizations, laboratory findings, surgical approaches were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

The most frequent symptoms of pulmonary hydatid cyst were chest pain and cough (44.9%, 37.6%). According to cyst size, there was no difference between younger than twenty and older age groups (p>0.05). Twenty-two patients had complicated cyst cases. Most of them were symptomatic (90.9%). Association of complicated cyst with hepato-pulmonary involvement was significantly higher as compared with single hydatid cyst (p=0.01). Cystectomy was performed in 84.05% of patients and post-operative mortality was seen in only one patient due to pulmonary embolism.

CONCLUSION

Association of lung and liver hydatid cyst increased the risk of occurrence of a complicated pulmonary hydatid cyst. Choice of surgical approach had satisfactory results and post-operative mortality was low.

Giant viable hydatid cyst of the lung: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infestation caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The resulting large cysts in the lung are a special clinical entity called giant hydatid cysts.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 18-year-old Yemeni woman presented with a dry cough and mild fever, with no history of chest pain, dyspnoea or weight loss. Chest X-ray revealed a homogenous opacity almost replacing the right lung. The patient underwent surgery which revealed a large, viable hydatid cyst measuring 26 x 18 x 5 cm.

CONCLUSION

This case report provides evidence that non-complicated hydatid cysts, even if very large, have a good prognosis and can be safely treated by parenchyma-preserving surgery.

One-stage procedure for lung and liver hydatid cysts

Concomitant pulmonary and liver hydatid cysts occur in 4% 25% of patients with echinococcosis. To evaluate the safety of a single-stage operation, experience with this procedure between 1992 and 2005 was reviewed. Of 152 patients who underwent surgery for pulmonary hydatid cyst, 30 had an additional hepatic cyst that was located on the upper dome of the liver in all cases. Pulmonary cysts were excised first via a posterolateral thoracotomy. After phrenotomy, the hepatic hydatid cyst was evacuated without capitonnage, and a Folly catheter was left in the cavity. Postoperative complications in the 30 patients with cysts in both locations included empyema in 2, bronchopleural fistula in 1, excessive biliary discharge in 3 and hemorrhage in 1. Hepatic hydatid cysts recurred in 2 patients. There was no hospital death. A single-stage posterolateral thoracotomy for extraction of pulmonary and liver hydatid cyst is an effective and safe surgical technique with few complications.

The distribution of gamma-hydroxybutyrate-induced Fos expression in rat brain: comparison with baclofen

gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a euphoric, prosocial and sleep inducing drug that binds with high affinity to its own GHB receptor site and also more weakly to GABA(B) receptors. GHB is efficacious in the treatment of narcolepsy and alcoholism, but heavy use can lead to dependence and withdrawal. Many effects of GHB (sedation, hypothermia, catalepsy) are mimicked by GABA(B) receptor agonists (e.g. baclofen). However other effects (euphoric and prosocial effects and a therapeutic effect in narcolepsy) are not. The present study used Fos immunohistochemistry to assess the neural activation produced in rat brain by medium to high doses of GHB (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) and a high dose of baclofen (10 mg/kg) that produced similar sedation to 500 mg/kg GHB. Results showed many common regions of activation with these two drugs including the supraoptic, paraventricular, median preoptic and ventral premammillary nuclei of the hypothalamus, the central nucleus of the amygdala, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. GHB (500 mg/kg), but not baclofen (10 mg/kg), induced significant Fos expression in the median raphe nucleus and lateral habenula, while a higher dose of GHB (1000 mg/kg) induced additional Fos expression in the islands of Calleja, dentate gyrus (polymorphic layer) and arcuate nucleus, and in various regions implicated in rapid and non-rapid eye movement sleep (laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, tuberomammillary nucleus and the ventrolateral and anterodorsal preoptic nuclei). Surprisingly, Fos immunoreactivity was not observed with either GHB or baclofen in reward-relevant regions such as the nucleus accumbens, striatum and ventral tegmental area. Overall these results indicate a distinctive signature of brain activation with GHB that may be only partly due to GABA(B) receptor effects. This confirms a unique neuropharmacological profile for GHB and indicates key neural substrates that may underlie its characteristic influence on sleep, body temperature, sociability and endocrine function.

The management of esophagogastric anastomotic leak after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma

Esophagogastric anastomotic leaks are the most feared surgical complications following resection of esophageal cancers. We aimed to develop a therapeutic algorithm for this complication characterized by high morbidity and mortality using our 20 years of experience and the published literature. A total of 354 patients who had undergone an esophagectomy and esophagogastric anastomosis due to esophageal carcinoma were evaluated retrospectively. The incidence for anastomotic leak was 15.5% (n = 90) in the cervical region and 4.2% (n = 264) in the thoracic region (mean: 7.1%). Cervical anastomotic leaks were detected after a mean period of 7.2 days following the procedure. Fourteen patients with cervical leaks were treated conservatively. Four out of 14 patients (28.6%) died due to sepsis and multi-organ failure related to fistula. Thoracic anastomotic leaks were detected after a mean period of 4.7 days following the procedure. Emergency reoperation, resection and reconstruction procedures were performed in one patient. Self-expanding metallic coated stents were placed at the anastomosis region in two patients. A more conservative approach was employed in other patients with thoracic anastomotic leaks. Six of them (46.2%) died due to fistula. General mortality rate was 37.0%, and the duration of hospitalization was 40.0 days for patients with anastomotic leaks. Cervical anastomotic leaks are more common than thoracic anastomotic leaks, but most of them are successfully treated with conservative approaches. Thoracic anastomotic leaks that in the past were related to high mortality rates despite conservative or surgical procedures might be successfully treated nowadays with the use of self-expanding metallic coated stents.

Esophageal disease in Shantou area: an analysis of 1476 cases

AIM: To explore the incidence, prevention and treatment of esophageal diseases in Shantou residents.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data (e.g. gastroscopic findings, pathological results, imaging manifestations and surgical treatments) of 1476 patients endoscopically diagnosed with esophageal diseases.

RESULTS: Of the 1476 cases, 714 were diagnosed with esophageal cancer, 455 with esophagitis, 120 with esophageal varices, 85 with benign esophageal stenosis, 46 with esophageal mucosal laceration, 34 with esophageal foreign bodies, 23 with esophageal diverticulum, 6 with esophageal polyps, and 3 with esophageal achalasia. Conservative treatment was performed in 840 cases; endoscopic treatment was used in 124 cases; surgical treatment was achieved in 512 cases. Of the 714 patients with esophageal cancer, 218 cases (152 received operation and 66 with non-surgical treatment) were followed up, and the 1- and 3-year death rates of those with operation or non-operation were 40% and 90%, or 95% and 100%, respectively. Of the cases with esophagitis, 150 recovered while 10 died.

CONCLUSION: Esophagitis and esophageal cancer constitute the majority of esophageal diseases. The incidence of esophageal cancer is relatively high in this region, and residents should strengthen the sense of prevention.

MR imaging evaluation of disorders of the chest wall

Chest wall lesions constitute a diverse group of thoracic diseases, including those of soft tissue and osseous origin. MR imaging, with its superior tissue-resolving capability and multiplanar image acquisition, is an important tool for assessing chest wall lesions. In this article, the authors review common and uncommon diseases of the chest wall, with an emphasis on the MR imaging characteristics of these diseases. Among the diseases they discuss are diseases of the soft tissue including lipoma, hibernoma, liposarcoma, hemangioma, and lymphoma. They also examine diseases of the osseous thorax, including benign osseous tumors, fibrous dysplasia, and aneurysmal bone cyst. In addition, they discuss such malignant osseous tumors as osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.

Pregnancy-associated liver disorders

Liver disorders associated with pregnancy include hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), preeclampsia, syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP), and acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). These conditions are relatively common and unique to pregnancy and are more likely to occur at certain terms of gestation specific to each condition. They can be associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Although managing such patients may be very challenging, spontaneous resolution of the disease occurs shortly after termination of the pregnancy, usually without hepatic sequellae. Early diagnosis and timely treatment is a key to therapeutic success. This article explores the clinical features, pathophysiology, and management of these disorders.

Poland's syndrome

The main purpose of surgical correction in Poland's syndrome is to improve chest wall symmetry and correct breast hypoplasia. Creation of an anterior axillary fold and smoothing out the infraclavicular defect greatly improves the final result. Cardiorespiratory function may be impaired, but serious conditions requiring early operative correction are rare. When present, unilateral costochondral agenesis involves one to three segments in the mid-anterior chest and sternal depression to that side. Operative planning in such cases includes a multi-layered approach to provide a solid base for soft tissue reconstruction of the more superficial layers.

Coronary artery bypass in myocardial ischemia of the young due to hydatid cyst

Cardiac hydatid cyst is an uncommon disease, especially in France. It is rarely responsible for myocardial ischemia, and even more rarely in the young. We report the clinical features and imaging of a 24-year-old Tunisian woman with hydatid cyst of the free wall of the left ventricle responsible for myocardial ischemia, associated with a hepatic hydatid cyst. Management consisted of a combination of surgery with cystopericystectomy and coronary artery bypass graft and prolonged medical treatment as for treatment of hepatic hydatid cyst. Three-year follow-up revealed no recurrence. This case illustrates two interesting points: the rare clinical presentation of cardiac hydatid cyst with a coronary syndrome in a young 24-year-old woman related to compression of the left anterior descending artery by the cyst with a need for coronary artery bypass graft after resection of the cyst, and the value of medical treatment of hydatid disease, even for cardiac localization.

Treatment of thoracic esophageal anastomotic leaks and esophageal perforations with endoluminal stents: efficacy and current limitations

BACKGROUND

Intra-thoracic esophageal leakage after esophageal resection or esophageal perforation is a life-threatening event. The objective of this non-randomized observational study was to evaluate the effects of endoluminal stent treatment in patients with esophageal anastomotic leakages or perforations in a single tertiary care center.

METHODS

Thirty-two consecutive patients with an intrathoracic esophageal leak, caused by esophagectomy (n = 19), transhiatal gastrectomy (n = 3), laparoscopic fundoplication (n = 2), and iatrogenic or spontaneous perforation (n = 8), undergoing endoscopic stent treatment were evaluated. Hospital stay, mortality and morbidity, sealing rate, extraction rates, complications, and long-term effects were measured.

RESULTS

Median time interval between diagnosis and stent treatment was 3 and 5 days, respectively. Eighteen patients had futile surgical closure of the defect before stenting, while in 14 patients, stent placement was the primary treatment for leakage. Stent placement was technically correct in all patients. Functional sealing was achieved in 78%. Mortality was 15.6%. Stent extraction rate was 70%. Overall method-related complications occurred in nine patients (28%).

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of self-expanding stents after esophageal resection or perforation is a feasible and safe procedure with an acceptable morbidity even if used as last-choice treatment.

Peritoneal lavage cytology in patients with oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine the value of performing peritoneal lavage cytology during laparoscopy in the management of oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Laparoscopy combined with peritoneal cytology was performed in patients with potentially resectable oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Macroscopic peritoneal findings at laparoscopy and the presence of free peritoneal tumour cells were recorded. All patients were followed to death or the census point. Patients with overt peritoneal disease or positive cytology were offered palliative chemotherapy, subject to performance status.

RESULTS

Forty-eight (18.8 per cent) of 255 patients had overt peritoneal metastases at staging laparoscopy. Fifteen (7.2 per cent) of the remaining 207 patients had positive cytology; these patients had a median (95 per cent confidence interval) survival of 13 (3.1 to 22.9) months, versus 9 (7.4 to 10.6) months for those with overt peritoneal metastases (P = 0.517). Of patients receiving chemotherapy, those without overt metastases had a slight survival advantage over patients with metastases (median 15 (10.8 to 19.2) versus 9 (7.4 to 10.7) months; P = 0.045).

CONCLUSION

Positive peritoneal cytology in the absence of overt peritoneal metastases is not uncommon in oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma. It is a marker of poor prognosis even in the absence of overt peritoneal metastases.

Adult polysplenic syndrome accompanied by aberrant right subclavian artery and hemangioma in a cleft spleen: a case report

We present a case of adult polispleny syndrome accompanied by cleft spleen containing a cavernous hemangioma and an aberrant right subclavian artery. Patients with polysplenic syndrome are usually lost in childhood and rarely reach adulthood. The most frequently accompanying vascular abnormality is an interrupted inferior vena cava with azygous-hemiazygous continuation. Arterial vascular anomalies are rather rare, and there are several reports in the medical literature where cases of childhood polyspleny syndrome are accompanied by pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas or a main hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery. The case presented here seems to be the first report of adult polysplenic syndrome with an aberrant subclavian artery and a splenic cavernous hemangioma. The possible congenital vascular anomalies which eventually could accompany adult polysplenic syndrome cases are clinically important for the approach to the patient and planning of eventual vascular interventions.

Primary esophageal repair in Boerhaave's syndrome

Boerhaave's syndrome is the most severe disease in the esophageal perforation. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the outcome in patients who were treated with primary repair for Boerhaave's syndrome regardless of the time interval. From 1997 to July 2007, 10 patients with Boerhaave's syndrome were treated with primary repair regardless of the time interval. The interval between rupture and initial treatment was less than 24 hours in five patients (50.0%) and more than 24 hours in the other five patients (50.0%). There was no operative mortality and five postoperative leaks. Of these five patients with postoperative leaks, one received primary repair for less than 24 hours (20%) and four received operation for more than 24 hours (80%). However, postoperative leaks were managed by non-operative methods and resolved within 2 weeks. The time interval between perforation and operative intervention should not prejudice the surgeon against primary repair of Boerhaave's syndrome. Although a high incidence of postoperative leak occurred in patients who were operated on for more than 24 hours, its management is not hard to perform and its prognosis was not poor.

Primary hydatid cyst of the posterior mediastinum

Hydatid cystic disease is still a health problem in Morocco. Mediastinal localization is very rare. We report the case of a 24-year-old man who presented with right chest pain and dyspnea. Chest X-Ray and computed tomography showed a mediastinal mass. The diagnosis was confirmed perioperatively by macroscopic and histologic investigations. Resection of the cyst was performed, and a small part intimately adherent to the inferior vena cava and oesophagus was left in place. There were no complications or recurrence.

Albendazole is not effective for primary treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts

INTRODUCTION

In current practice, minimal invazive interventions such as percutaneous drainage and laparoscopic surgery in adjunct treatment with benzimidazoles have been gaining acceptance in treatment of hydatid cystic disease with minimal morbidity and mortality. In this prospective study, the efficacy and validity of primary medical therapy in the treatment of hydatid cystic disease has been investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-five patients with hepatic cystic disease were treated with albendazole alone between January 2004 and June 2007. All of the patients were administrated albendazole as 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1) divided into two equal doses for 6 months with ultrasonography (USG), serological tests, full-blood cell count and hepatic function tests performed in 2 months intervals in the course of treatment.

RESULTS

Fifty of the patients were female and 15 were male with a mean age of 47.0+/-16.9 (17-80). A total number of 106 cysts were present in 65 patients. Mean cystic diameter was 5.5+/-3.6 (1-16). In 41 of the patients, cysts were solitary and in remaining 24 patients cysts were multiple. Mean follow-up period was 28.3+/-8.6 (12-42) months. The overall success rate of albendazole therapy was 18% (12/65) in the study.

CONCLUSION

Albendazole therapy for hepatic hydatidosis is not effective in the vast majority of patients and, therefore, should not be used as the primary therapy for patients who are surgical candidates.

Risk factors for surgical site infection after surgery for esophageal perforation

Esophageal perforations carry a high potential for morbidity and mortality. The prognosis depends on rapid and precise diagnosis and management. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are very common following the surgical treatment of esophageal lesions. We aimed identify significant risk factors for SSI after surgery for esophageal perforation via an historical cohort study including patients who underwent surgical management of esophageal perforation. The predictive variables were analyzed by bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression. Eighty-one patients were studied during a 10-year period ending in 2004. The mean age was 42.6 years. In 44% of the patients the time interval between the perforation and surgery was up to 6 h and in 30% it was > 24 h. Associated lesions occurred in other cavities; 17% in the chest, 5% in the abdomen, 5% in the extremities, 4% in the spinal column and bone marrow and 2% in the face. There were grade I lesions in eight cases (10%), grade II in 64 cases (79%) and grade III in nine cases (11%). The mean time of surgery procedure was 117.2 min. The mean SSI was 7.99. SSIs occurred in 33 patients (41%). The risk factors for SSI following surgical management of esophageal perforation were: age > or = 50 years, time delay to treatment > 24 h, associated lesion in another cavity and Injury Severity Score > or = 15.

Local complications of hydatid disease involving thoracic cavity: imaging findings

Hydatid disease, a worldwide zoonosis, is caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus tapeworm. Although it can involve almost every organ of the body, lung involvement follows in frequency the hepatic infestation in adults and is the predominating site in children. Radiologically, hydatidosis usually demonstrates typical findings, but many patients are at risk of developing various complications of hydatid disease with atypical imaging findings and these are rarely described in the literature. In this pictorial review, the imaging features of local complications of hydatid disease involving the thorax including intrapulmonary or pleural rupture, infection of the ruptured cysts, reactions of the adjacent tissues, thoracic wall invasion and iatrogenic involvement of pleura are described. Additionally, imaging characteristics of transdiaphragmatic thoracic involvement of hepatic hydatid disease are presented. To prevent the development of subsequent catastrophic results, all radiologists need to be aware of the atypical imaging appearances of complications of pulmonary hydatid disease.

Parasitic lung infection and the paediatric lung

Human parasitosis is still prevalent worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The involvement of the lung is variable depending on the characteristics of the parasites and hosts. In malnourished and immunodeficient children, the consequences of lung parasitosis may result in significant morbidity and mortality.

Death due to late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 2-year-old child

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is classically regarded as a neonatal defect presenting with respiratory distress; however, not all CDH will present in this manner. Unlike newborn deaths related to CDH, where the mechanism of death is respiratory in nature, the mechanism of death in late-presenting CDH is not always due to respiratory compromise. In this case report, we present a death occurring in a 2 1/2-year-old child who presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and emesis, and then rapidly decompensated and died. Autopsy revealed a CDH, with herniation of abdominal contents into the left thoracic cavity, with associated gastric volvulus, necrosis, and rupture.