Dabigatran Etexilate Related Unilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage

A 63-year-old male presented to our clinic with computed tomography data of a large tumor of the left adrenal gland. The formation is highly suspicious for malignancy with central necrosis and hemorrhage, and a total size of 197/183/201 mm. Due to elevated D-dimer values of 7.17 mg/l (reference range <0.5 mg/l), treatment with dabigatran etexilate 2x150 mg was prescribed following a cardiology consult. On the third day of therapy, the patient noticed a large swelling in the left abdominal flank, which caused discomfort. No additional symptoms were reported. No previous abdominal surgical interventions or trauma were reported. Following a thorough physical examination, the patient was referred for a computer tomography that reported a diagnosis of a tumor of the left adrenal gland. Due to the size of the neoplasm, the suspicion of malignancy, compression of adjacent structures, and significant anemia with an Hb of 112 g/L, operative treatment was chosen as the best treatment modality. The mass was reported as a large organizing adrenal hematoma with no suspicion of malignancy on histology. Following a review of available literature, no other cases of unilateral adrenal hematoma with a size of 201x197 mm, following oral anticoagulant therapy with dabigatran etexilate, without any prior surgery or trauma have been reported. Most clinical cases report bilateral adrenal hemorrhage during the postoperative period, following prophylaxis with heparin and the development of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The patient underwent operative treatment, after which the patient recovered normally and was discharged from the clinic without complications.

KRAS Mutation Status in Bulgarian Patients with Advanced and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

RAS somatic variants are predictors of resistance to anti-EGFR therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) and affect the outcome of the disease. Our study aimed to evaluate the frequency of RAS, with a focus on KRAS variants, and their association with tumor location and some clinicopathological characteristics in Bulgarian CRC patients. We prospectively investigated 236 patients with advanced and metastatic CRC. Genomic DNA was extracted from FFPE tumor tissue samples, and commercially available kits were used to detect RAS gene somatic mutations via real-time PCR. A total of 115 (48.73%) patients tested positive for RAS mutations, with 106 (44.92%) testing positive for KRAS mutations. The most common mutation in exon 2 was c.35G>T p.Gly12Val (32.56%). We did not find a significant difference in KRAS mutation frequency according to tumor location. However, patients with a mutation in exon 4 of KRAS were 3.23 times more likely to have a tumor in the rectum than in other locations (95% CI: 1.19-8.72, p = 0.021). Studying the link between tumor location and KRAS mutations in exon 4 is crucial for better characterizing CRC patients. Further research with larger cohorts, especially in rectal cancer patients, could provide valuable insights for patient follow-up and treatment selection.

Assessment of students' satisfaction with virtual robotic surgery training

Objective

Nowadays, in Bulgaria there is a trend of increasing entry into the surgical field of robot-assisted surgery operations, which suggests a need for the establishment of a large number of specialists in this field in a short period. Based on these arguments, the Medical University of Varna was the first university in the country to introduce a robotic surgery training program for medical students. The study aims to investigate the medical students' satisfaction on robotic surgery training provided at Medical University of Varna with da Vinci Skills Simulator.

Design

During the summer semester of the academic 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 years, a pilot training of robotic surgery was conducted with 5th year students in Medicine. Within one month, the students had the opportunity to get acquainted with the simulator of da Vinci Xi robotic system. The training was divided into two modules: a two-week theoretical module and a two-week practical module. After completing the training, students filled out a questionnaire dedicated to assess their satisfaction with the proposed training. Correlation between their responses and the objective parameters assessed on the simulator was calculated.

Results

Thirty participants (16 men and 14 women) shared their opinion on easiness of use and usefulness of the robotic simulator in training of surgery activities. Students' responses highly evaluated both aspects with average five-point Likert scale scores of 4.3 and 4.5, respectively. 93% of the participants would continue their further education and training in robotic surgery field. In addition, there was no correlation between objective evaluation by the simulator and students responses.

Conclusions

Training in robotic surgery proves to be a useful approach for training students to develop skills and profession in the field of surgery. The results suggest that training in this field may be accomplished even at the student level, by exploiting the robotic surgery in realistic scenario and thus, in a timely manner to find out the surgical direction they want to be further evolved.

Malignant psammomatous melanotic schwannoma mimicking adrenal cyst: case report

Background

Melanotic schwannoma is a melanin producing nerve sheath tumors. Rarely, it can be associated with psammoma bodies, called psammomatous melanotic schwannoma. Psammomatous melanotic schwannomas are associated in up to 10% of the cases with Carney’s syndrome. The rarity of the lesion, which may present at different localizations create difficulty in placing a correct initial diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis is made after complete tumor excision and pathomorphological evaluation. The prognosis depends on the anatomical localization, local invasion and presence of a high mitotic index. The main pathomorphological differential diagnosis includes schwannomas and other melanin producing tumors as melanoma.

Case presentation

We present a case of an 11-year-old female with cystic lesion adjacent to right adrenal gland, mimicking adrenal cyst. Ultrasound guided biopsy was undertaken due to the cystic appearance of the formation and the lack of certain diagnosis from the non-invasive diagnostic tests. No signs of cellular and nuclear atypism were observed. The diagnosis of benign endothelial cyst with spontaneous hemorrhage was suggested. The patient underwent transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomy en-bloc with the cyst to prevent spillage of the cyst content due to the intimate adhesion of the lesion to the adrenal gland and vena cava inferior. Pathomorphological examination revealed malignant psammomatous melanotic schwannoma. The adrenal gland was intact with no tumor infiltration. The patient was followed up on the 1st and 2nd month afterwards the surgery by MRI with no signs of local recurrence and postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Psammomatous melanotic schwannoma near adrenal gland are rare and present difficulty with exact preoperative diagnosis. Complete resection should always be provided. Laparoscopic surgery is feasible if radical excision is not compromised. Long-term follow-up and Carney’s syndrome surveillance after complete excision are recommended especially in young patients.

Rare Finding of Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp of the Duodenum: A Complete Diagnostic and Pathological Workup

Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFP) are solitary benign tumors rarely found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Additionally, duodenal polyps are diagnosed incidentally. We present a case of a 51-year-old female admitted to the department with an initial diagnosis of duodenal polyp on gastroscopy, CT, and positron-emission tomography (PET). COVID-19 pandemics was the reason for delayed treatment which allowed the lesion to progress and almost double its size in an eight-month period. We performed conventional duodenotomy and excision of the polyp. Diseases like gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, and inflammatory polyp of Crohn’s disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis of IFP because they could be observed in the same location.

Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Rectal Cancer

In a chapter about rectal cancer there is content about rectal anatomy in relation to magnet-resonanse imaging and TME- surgery (total mesorectal excision). Secondly there is content about imaging methods used in diagnosis and follow-up of rectal cancer. Very important topic is concerning the novel imaging strategies in surgical and radiotherapy planning in the era of individual oncologic approach to the patient. At last there is detailed desctiption and metaanalysis of imaging strategies concerning neoadjuvant and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy for rectal cancer patients. All imaging markers correspond to substantial oncologic parameters such as survival rates. The connecting bridge is magnet-resonance imaging.

Expression of transcription factor Scratch2 in colorectal cancer

e14669

Background: The Scratch genes constitute an independent subgroup of the Snail superfamily of transcription factors (TFs). Vertebrates contain 2 Snail and 2 Scratch genes (Scrt1 and Scrt2). Members of the Snail/Scratch superfamilies are characterized by a having both zinc finger domains, which mediate DNA-binding and a SNAG domain that is necessary for the transcriptional repression. Under normal conditions, the Scratch genes are expressed exclusively in the nervous system, where they regulate cortical neurogenesis (Paul, Tonchev, et al. Cerebral Cortex 2012, Epub ahead of print; doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhs356). However, expression of Scrt2 under pathological conditions is poorly characterized, especially in humans. Methods: We investigated the expression of Scrt2 by immunohistochemistry in 50 primary or metastatic (hepatic metastasis) colorectal cancer biopsies acquired through routine operations at the Department of General Surgery, Medical University-Varna, Bulgaria. We also evaluated the histological type and clinical stage of the tumors. Results: We found that both the primary and the metastatic tumor strongly expressed Scrt2 protein. Interestingly, the expression was mostly in the cytoplasm, in accordance with the reported pattern in the developing cortex (Paul, Tonchev, et al. Cerebral Cortex 2012, Epub ahead of print; doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhs356). Notably, in the hepatic metastatic tumors, we found no or scarce expression in the normal hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor, while a strong expression in the colorectal cancer metastasis. Conclusions: Scrt2 represents a putative novel marker for colorectal cancer. Detailed correlation of the clinical parameters, such as patient survival, and the expression level of Scrt2 might yield novel prognostic value of this TF in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.

[The value of endo rectal ultrasound]

In the last twenty years, endorectalultrasound (ERUS) has become the primary method for locoregional staging of rectal cancer. ERUS is the most accurate modality for assessing local depth of invasion of rectal carcinoma into the rectal wall layers (T stage). Lower accuracy for T2 tumors is commonly reported, which could lead to sonographic overstaging of T3 tumors following preoperative therapy. Unfortunately, ERUS is not as good for predicting nodal metastases as it is for tumor depth, which could be related to the unclear definition of nodal metastases. The use of multiple criteria might improve accuracy. Failure to evaluate nodal status could lead to inadequate surgical resection. ERUS can accurately distinguish early cancers from advanced ones, with a high detection rate of residual carcinoma in the rectal wall. ERUS is also useful for detection of local recurrence at the anastomosis site, which might require fine-needle aspiration of the tissue. Overstaging is more frequent than understaging, mostly due to inflammatory changes. Limitations of ERUS are operator and experience dependency, limited tolerance of patients, and limited range of depth of the transducer. The ERUS technique requires a learning curve for orientation and identification of images and planes. With sufficient time and effort, quality and accuracy of the ERUS procedure could be improved.