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Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized form of skin cancer surgery that has the highest cure rates for several cutaneous malignancies. Certain skin cancers can have small extensions or “roots” that may be missed if an excised tumor is serially cross-sectioned in a “bread-loaf” fashion, commonly performed on excision specimens. The method of Mohs micrographic surgery is unique in that the dermatologist (Mohs surgeon) acts as both surgeon and pathologist, from the preoperative considerations until the reconstruction. Since Dr. Mohs’s initial work in the 1930s, the practice of Mohs micrographic surgery has become increasingly widespread among the dermatologic surgery community worldwide and is considered the treatment of choice for many common and uncommon cutaneous neoplasms. Mohs micrographic surgery spares the maximal amount of normal tissue and is a safe procedure with very few complications, most of them managed by Mohs surgeons in their offices. Mohs micrographic surgery is the standard of care for high risks basal cell carcinomas and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and is commonly and increasingly used for melanoma and other rare tumors with superior cure rates. This review better familiarizes the dermatologists with the technique, explains the difference between Mohs micrographic surgery and wide local excision, and discusses its main indications.

Background: Studies on the value of a staging laparoscopy in detecting metastases in gastric cancer patients show great variation. This study investigates the avoidable surgery rate in patients with and without a staging laparoscopy scheduled for surgery with curative intent. Methods: This population-based cohort study included all patients with an intentional resection for a potentially curable gastric adenocarcinoma, between 2011 and 2016, registered in the Dutch Upper GI Cancer audit. Patients with and without a staging laparoscopy were compared. The primary outcome was the avoidable surgery rate (detection of metastases and/or locoregional non-resectable tumor during intentional gastrectomy). Secondary outcomes were the negative predictive value, postoperative morbidity and pathology parameters. Results: 2849 patients who underwent an intentional gastrectomy were included. 414 of 2849 (14.5%) patients underwent a staging laparoscopy before initiation of treatment. The avoidable surgery rate was 16.2% in the staging laparoscopy group, compared to 8.5% in the non-staging group (P < 0.001), resulting in a negative predictive value of 83.8%. The avoidable surgery rate remained significantly different after correction for possible confounders. The main reason for not executing the gastrectomy was the presence of distant metastasis in both groups. cT and cN stage were significantly higher in patients who underwent a staging laparoscopy. Conclusions: The staging laparoscopy group had a higher cTN and pTN stage, implicating selection of patients with more advanced disease for a staging laparoscopy. Despite the staging laparoscopy, a higher rate of avoidable surgery was found, suggesting a low sensitivity for detecting metastases or locoregional non-resectability in this patient group.

Background: Balloon-assisted stone extraction (BASE) can be applied to remove the common bile duct (CBD) stones during laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE). This study aimed to analyze the efficacy...

Background: Despite its widespread use, computed tomography (CT) is not perfect for evaluating peritoneal metastases of colorectal origin before cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC). We therefore evaluated the value of adding diagnostic lapamscopy to CT when assessing patient eligibility for CRS + HIPEC.Methods: This was a retrospective study of a consecutive series of 112 patients evaluated systematically by diagnostic laparoscopy and CT between January 2012 and January 2018. Patient eligibility for CRS + HIPEC was assessed by the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) both at the time of initial diagnostic lapamscopy and during the retrospective review of CT images. Two experienced radiologists who were blinded to the PCI result at laparoscopy then independently estimated the PCI based on CT imaging. The primary outcome was the number of patients eligible for CRS + HIPEC by each method.Results: We identified 112 patients, of whom 95 (85%) were eligible for CRS + HIPEC based on diagnostic laparoscopy and 84 underwent CRS + HIPEC. Overall, 14 patients (17%) experienced an "open-and-close" procedure. In contrast to diagnostic lapamscopy, 100 patients (89%) were identified as being eligible for CRS + HIPEC by CT (p = 0.13), which would have resulted in an additional five open-and-close procedures.Conclusions: Adding diagnostic laparoscopy to CT produced a clinically relevant, but statistically non-significant, reduction in the number of patients eligible for CRS + HIPEC. We conclude that diagnostic lapamscopy may be of use in preoperative assessments when systematic analysis by CT scores the PCI as greater than ten. Future research should focus on the cost-effectiveness of this approach.

Diagnosing ILD can be complex, and despite detailed evaluation and HRCT imaging, many patients require lung biopsy to help classify their disease. SLB has served as the reference standard for histopathology in ILD, since initial classification schemes were created more than 50 years ago. Frequently, patients are too unwell to undertake SLB and remain unclassifiable, despite the input of expert MDD. This can limit access to therapy and establishment of prognosis. TBLC is an emerging procedure for sampling lung tissue with promising results in research and clinical settings. Although diagnostic yield is not as high as SLB, the risk profile looks to be more acceptable and the accuracy appears to be good. There is increasing evidence for the utility of cryobiopsy in ILD diagnosis, particularly within the MDD. Cryobiopsy serves as an important adjunct for the diagnosis of ILD, enhancing the diagnostic confidence of treating clinicians.

To evaluate the surgical safety of en bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) and the effectiveness of ERBT combined with near-infrared (NIR) imaging technique in the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). From October 2017 to June 2018, 26 patients newly diagnosed with single NMIBC were included in this retrospectively trial. All patients received ERBT with monopolar current. After surgery, the fresh specimen was incubated with anti-CD47-Alexa Fluor 790, and then imaged under NIR imaging technique. Operative details, intraoperative and postoperative complications of ERBT regarded as safety outcomes, the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of tumor tissue and adjacent normal background tissue, and 12 months follow-up data were analyzed. Of 26 collected patients, obturator nerve reflex was occurred in six patients during tumor resection, and only one patient was observed with bladder perforation. In NIR gray image, the gray scale of MFI of tumor tissue were 132.31 ± 6.67 and the adjacent normal background tissue were 52.27 ± 12.09. The result showed a significantly higher MFI signals in tumor tissue compared to adjacent normal background tissue (P < 0.001). The recurrence-free survival rate at 12 month was 96.15%. ERBT with monopolar current is a safe and feasible technique to treat patients with NMIBC. A integrated bladder tumor tissue-bound anti-CD47-Alexa Fluor 790 was detected under NIR light, and the NIR image indicates that higher MFI signals in surgical margin is a predictive factor for residual tumor in patients with NMIBC after ERBT.

There is evidence in favor of using the ultrasound as the primary screening tool in looking for an occult cardiac injury. We report on a prospective single-center study to determine the diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasound for the diagnosis of occult penetrating cardiac wounds in a low-resource hospital from a middle-income country. Data were collected prospectively. We included all consecutive patients 14 years and older who presented to the Emergency Trauma Unit with (1) penetrating injuries to the precordial area and (2) a systolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg (hemodynamically stable). The main outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ultrasound compared with those of the pericardial window, which was the standard test. A total of 141 patients met the inclusion criteria. Our results showed that for diagnosing an occult cardiac injury, the sensitivity of the chest ultrasonography was 79.31%, and the specificity was 92.86%. Of the 110 patients with a normal or negative ultrasound, six had a positive pericardial window. All of these patients had left hemothoraces. None of them required further cardiac surgical interventions. We found that ultrasound was 79% sensitive and 92% specific for the diagnosis of occult penetrating cardiac wounds. However, it should be used with caution in patients with injuries to the cardiac zone and simultaneous left hemothorax.

The management of complex urethral stenosis may involve different surgical techniques. As retraction of the graft may account for surgical failure, this risk increases in patients with more extensive stenosis requiring a graft of greater diameter. Although double grafts have already been used to maximize success in these cases, we propose a modified technique for urethroplasty with longitudinal urethral incision. The hypothesis was that this technique would increase the lumen by using only a urethral incision on the dorsal surface. Two patients presenting with recurrent urethral stenosis underwent urethroplasty using a double graft of oral mucosa that preserves the integrity of the spongy tissue and allows ventral inlay graft fixation using a midline relaxing incision in the portion of the urethra with stenosis. In both cases, the urethrocystoscopy and uroflowmetry performed after surgery showed a pervious and complacent urethra. After four and six months of follow-up, the postoperative outcomes were satisfactory for both patients. Further studies involving larger numbers of patients and long-term follow-up are required to evaluate the effectiveness of this method.

AimTo provide a further insight into the usefulness of lung biopsy in children.MethodsLung biopsies in children from January 2007 to December 2017 were reviewed (n=39). The histology results were categorised as: definitive diagnosis, normal lung parenchyma, inconclusive.ResultsLung biopsy provided a definitive diagnosis in 25 (64%) cases. A suspected diagnosis was confirmed in 16 (41%) and a new diagnosis was found in 9 (23%) children. Histology was inconclusive in 11 (28%) cases and normal in 3 (8%). Fifteen (38%) children had treatment altered due to the biopsy result.ConclusionLung biopsy mostly confirmed the suspected diagnosis and was associated with a low procedure related morbidity (n=1) and mortality (n=0). Importantly, the biopsy result identified a pathology which altered treatment in over one third of patients. However, in a number of cases the histology was inconclusive, therefore careful patient selection is recommended to maximise diagnostic yield.

Background The Lund and Browder (LB) chart is currently the most accurate and widely used chart to calculate total body surface area affected by a burn injury. However, it is not easy to use charts to calculate burn percentages because of the difficulty in performing mathematical calculations with the percentages attributed to various body regions that are only partially burned. It is also cumbersome to have to perform mental calculations, especially in emergency situations. Methods We compared results from the LB chart with a modified Lund and Browder (MLB) chart using 10 assessors on five different burn wounds each drawn on both charts. Results Variability of results was significantly reduced using the MLB chart compared to the LB chart. Conclusions Assessments performed using the MLB chart are less variable than those using the LB chart. Using this chart will help burn care providers rapidly, accurately, and reliably estimate burn extent.

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most frequent surgical entity in the emergency department, but its correct diagnosis remains challenging. To improve diagnosis, clinical prediction rules (CPRs) have been created to establish objective scores for the probability of suffering AA. In this study, we establish scores indicating whether laparoscopy would be superior to clinical observation or repeat diagnostic test.A retrospective observational study was conducted with 433 patients submitted to surgery for suspected AA using a laparoscopic approach. The Alvarado, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis, appendicitis inflammatory response, and adult appendicitis score scales were applied in each case to establish a high, medium, or low probability of suffering AA.Of the 433 patients analyzed, 381 (88.0%) had AA. Twelve (2.8%) were converted to open surgery, and complications were observed in 54 (12.5%) cases. The CPRs studied showed statistically significant differences between AA and negative appendectomies. However, in patients with intermediate probability scores, the diagnostic accuracy of the CPRs evaluated was not adequate.Laparoscopic surgery can serve as a diagnostic tool for patients with intermediate AA probability scores because of its low associated morbidity and mortality and because it affords a direct diagnosis of the problem, allowing determination of the appropriate treatment.

Background The purpose of this study was to describe the diagnostic value and therapeutic benefit of diagnostic splenectomy. Methods Retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing splenectomy with an unknown diagnosis (UD), a hematologic malignancy (HM) or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Surgical indications and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results 113 splenectomy patients were identified. Of the UD patients undergoing splenectomy, 46% (n = 16) received a definitive diagnosis postoperatively. A change in diagnosis occurred in 12% (n = 4) of HM patients. Complete symptom relief was observed more often in UD patients who received a definitive diagnosis after splenectomy 69% (n = 11), compared to the 47% (n = 9) who did not receive definitive diagnosis postoperatively. Conclusions The diagnostic ability of splenectomy was 46% when the diagnosis was unknown preoperatively. Additionally, a majority of patients experienced relief of symptoms postoperatively. Splenectomy may be a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in select UD and HM patients.

Introduction Two group and save (G&S) samples are routinely collected from patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy and/or emergency appendicectomy. We aimed to identify the necessity of this practice by looking at the perioperative transfusion rates. Methods Data were obtained from our electronic theatre system for all patients who underwent emergency laparoscopic surgery (specifically diagnostic laparoscopy and/or laparoscopic appendicectomy) between January 2017 and December 2018. Records were reviewed for the number of G&S samples sent and perioperative transfusion rates. Results A total of 451 patients were included in the study. The numbers of procedures performed in 2017 and 2018 were 202 (44.8%) and 249 (55.2%), respectively. The total number of samples sent was 930. Only 786 (84.5%) samples were processed and the rest were rejected for various reasons. Of the 451 patients included in the study, 308 (68.3%) had two G&S samples sent, whereas 41 patients (9.1%) had only one G&S sample sent. Fifty-six (12.4%) and 20 (4.4%) patients had three and four G&S samples sent, respectively. Only two patients required transfusion perioperatively (0.4%), and the indication in both was irrelevant to the primary operation. Conclusions These results demonstrate a near-zero transfusion rate in this patient cohort. Omitting G&S is safe and potentially saves time and resources.

Background Complications in the urinary tract related to congenital Zika syndrome have recently been reported. One complication, cryptorchidism, has been reported by the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group/MERG, in Pernambuco/Brazil. The present article describes for the first time the surgical findings in a case series of boys with Zika-related microcephaly and cryptorchidism, who underwent surgical testicular exploration as a contribution to better understand the possible mechanisms involved in gonads formation and descent. Methods A total of 7 children (11 testicular units), aged 3 to 4 years, were submitted to inguinal or scrotal orchidopexy for the treatment of palpable cryptorchidism between August 2019 and January 2020. Characteristics of the gonads and its annexes related to appendixes, testis-epididymis dissociation, gubernacular insertion, and associated hydroceles and/or hernias were described. Measures in centimetres were taken for volume calculate. Results We found a low prevalence of testicular and epididymal appendix (66.7%), a high prevalence of testis-epididymis dissociation (55.6%), low mean testicular volume for their ages (lower for older boys) and ectopic gubernacular insertion in all cases. There was no evidence of associated hydroceles and/or hernias in any case. No surgical complication was registered or reported, and all explored gonads were properly placed in the scrotal sac. Conclusions We herein describe the surgical findings of these children's orchidopexies and discuss the possible mechanisms of viral action in embryogenesis and postnatal growth and development of the testes and annexes. These children need to be followed over time due to the higher risk of testicular atrophy and malignancy. Surgical timing seems to be relevant to avoid loss of testicular volume.

Obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract is a frequent surgical emergency experienced by patients with advanced cancers. We aimed to evaluate factors associated with resumption of post-operative chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer undergoing explorative laparotomy for bowel obstruction.This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2009 and 2013 at Herlev Hospital, Denmark. All patients with advanced cancer were identified from a local electronic database containing all emergency laparotomies. Adult patients with mechanical bowel obstruction were included if they had any kind of cancer and had been under active oncological treatment within the last eight weeks prior to surgery. Demographic, clinical, pre-, and post-operative data were collected and reviewed manually. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for resuming oncological treatment.A total of 76 patients admitted with bowel obstruction and undergoing oncological treatment within eight weeks before surgery were included. Post-operatively, cancer treatment was resumed in 58% of patients. An American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score less-than III (odds ratio = 12.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.9-54.6); p = 0.001) and a performance status less-than 3 (odds ratio = 9.7 (95% CI: 1.4-67.2); p = 0.021) were associated with resuming post-operative cancer treatment.We found that ASA score and performance status are associated with resumption of cancer treatment post-operatively and should be taken into consideration when considering the treatment strategy for patients with advanced cancer and malignant bowel obstruction.The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.not relevant.

BACKGROUND Expediting evaluation and intervention for severely injured patients has remained a mainstay of advanced trauma care. One technique, direct to operating room (DOR) resuscitation, for selective adult patients has demonstrated decreased mortality. We sought to investigate the application of this protocol in children. METHODS All DOR pediatric patients from 2009 to 2016 at a pediatric Level I trauma center were identified. Direct to OR criteria included penetrating injury, chest injuries, amputations, significant blood loss, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and surgeon discretion. Demographics, injury patterns, interventions, and outcomes were analyzed. Observed mortality was compared with expected mortality, calculated using Trauma Injury Severity Score methodology, with two-tailed t tests, and a p value less than 0.5 was considered significant. RESULTS Of 2,956 total pediatric trauma activations, 82 (2.8%) patients (age range, 1 month to 17 years) received DOR resuscitation during the study period. The most common indications for DOR were penetrating injuries (62%) and chest injuries (32%). Forty-four percent had Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 15, 33% had Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 8 or less, and 9% were hypotensive. The most commonly injured body regions were external (66%), head (34%), chest (30%), and abdomen (27%). Sixty-seven (82%) patients required emergent procedural intervention, most commonly wound exploration/repair (35%), central venous access (22%), tube thoracostomy (19%), and laparotomy (18%). Predictors of intervention were ISS greater than 15 (odds ratio, 14; p = 0.013) and GCS < 9 (odds ratio = 8.5, p = 0.044). The survival rate to discharge for DOR patients was 84% compared with an expected survival of 79% (Trauma Injury Severity Score) (p = 0.4). The greatest improvement relative to expected mortality was seen in the subgroup with penetrating trauma (84.5% vs 74.4%; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION A selective policy of resuscitating the most severely injured children in the OR can decrease mortality. Patients suffering penetrating trauma with the highest ISS, and diminished GCS scores have the greatest benefit. Trauma centers with appropriate resources should evaluate implementing similar policies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic tests or criteria, level II.

Introduction Diagnostic tonsillectomy is performed to exclude malignancy. It is associated with a post-operative hemorrhage rate of 3.5%, (1) which is more dangerous in small children. No previous case series for asymmetrical tonsils have detected tonsil lymphoma.(2–6) We aimed to review our local diagnostic tonsillectomy practice. Method The authors reviewed the clinical notes and histological results for all diagnostic tonsillectomies carried out from June 2013 to June 2016. Results We recorded data for 168 patients. There were four post-operative bleeds and one return to theatre. Bilateral tonsillectomies accounted for 152 operations (90.5%). Lymphoid hyperplasia accounted for 95% of histological diagnosis with no malignancies found. Pre-operative tonsil grading demonstrated no statistically significant association with histological tonsil weight difference (ANOVA p = 0.10). Actinomyces colonisation had little affect on tonsil weight difference when we compared patients with bilateral colonisation and no colonisation ( t -test p = 0.540) and between tonsils in patients with unilateral tonsil Actinomyces colonisation (paired t -test p = 0.448). Recurrent tonsillitis was more prevalent in patients with Actinomyces colonisation than OSA/sleep disordered breathing (39% vs 15%). Conclusion A literature search yielded five smaller case series of palatine tonsil asymmetry in children with no malignancy found.(2–6) Case-control studies report tonsillar asymmetry as the most common presenting symptom (73%) in tonsillar lymphoma.(7) This enlargement usually occurs rapidly within 6 weeks with new obstructive or systemic B-type symptoms.(3) A Turkish epidemiological study found asymmetrical tonsils in 1.7% of the healthy paediatric population.(8) We therefore estimate there to be over 210,000 children with asymmetrical tonsils in the UK. With an unreliable grading system, we believe asymmetrical tonsils in isolation, unchanged for over 6 weeks may not warrant tonsillectomy.

Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) is a well-accepted approach for penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT). However, the steps of procedure and the systematic laparoscopic examination are not clearly defined in the literature. The aim of this study was to clarify the definition of DL in trauma surgery by auditing DL performed for PAT at our institution, and to describe the strategies on how to avoid missed injuries.The data of patients managed with laparoscopy for PAT from January 2012 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The details of operative technique and strategies on how to avoid missed injuries were discussed.Out of 250 patients managed with laparoscopy for PAT, 113 (45%) patients underwent DL. Stab wounds sustained 94 (83%) patients. The penetration of the peritoneal cavity or retroperitoneum was documented in 67 (59%) of patients. Organ evisceration was present in 21 (19%) patients. Multiple injuries were present in 22% of cases. The chest was the most common associated injury. Two (1.8%) iatrogenic injuries were recorded. The conversion rate was 1.7% (2/115). The mean length of hospital stay was 4 days. There were no missed injuries. In the therapeutic laparoscopy (TL) group, DL was performed as the initial part and identified all injuries. There were no missed injuries in the TL group. The predetermined sequential steps of DL and the standard systematic examination of intraabdominal organs were described.DL is a feasible and safe procedure. It accurately identifies intraabdominal injuries. The selected use of preoperative imaging, adherence to the predetermined steps of procedure and the standard systematic laparoscopic examination will minimize the rate of missed injuries.

Background Before primary oral tumors are treated, various prophylactic procedures that require tissue repair are often necessary (e.g. biopsies, tooth extractions, radiation, and tracheotomies). Wound healing and tumor growth harness similar immune/inflammatory mechanisms. Our previous work indicates that tumors impair wound healing, although the extent to which tissue repair conversely influences tumor growth is poorly understood. Here, we test the hypothesis that dermal wound healing exacerbates primary tumor growth and influences tumor immunobiology. Materials and methods Female, immunocompetent mice were inoculated subcutaneously with murine oral cancer cells (AT-84) to induce flank tumors. Half of the mice received dermal excisional wounds (4 × 3.5 mm diameter) on their dorsum 16 days later, whereas the skin of controls remained intact. Tumor and blood tissues were harvested 1 and 5 days post wounding, and tumor myeloid cell populations and inflammatory gene expression were measured. Circulating myeloid cells, cytokines, and corticosterone were also quantified. Results Wounding increased tumor mass, early tumor infiltration of macrophages, and tumor inflammatory gene expression. While wounding attenuated tumor growth–induced increases in circulating myeloid cells, no effects of wounding on circulating cytokine/endocrine measures were observed. Conclusions These results indicate that modest skin immune/inflammatory processes can enhance distal tumor growth and alter innate tumor immunity. The implication for this work is that, in the presence of a tumor, the benefits of tissue-damaging procedures that occur clinically must be weighed against the potential consequences for tumor biology.

PURPOSE The main purpose of this study was to report a case of panscleritis after gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT). METHODS We describe the case of a 33-year-old man with a history of unilateral anterior uveitis and glaucoma, who developed panscleritis after GATT surgery. RESULTS Uneventful GATT surgery was performed in a glaucomatous left eye. On the second postoperative day, the patient developed tenderness on palpation of the eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed significant diffuse hyperemia, elongated and tortuous upper bulbar conjunctival/scleral vessels, and exudative retinal detachment at the superior nasal quadrant, with diffuse scleral thickening. The patient was diagnosed as having panscleritis, which was attributed to the GATT surgery. Although the scleritis resolved completely with intravenous and oral methylprednisolone treatment, localized retinal detachment persisted. CONCLUSIONS Surgery-induced posterior scleritis may occur following minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries such as GATT. Control of uveitis for at least 3 months before surgery is indicated in patients with uveitis if GATT surgery is planned.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a common endemic disease in Tunisia. Abdominal location is rare. Early diagnosis of abdominal TB remains difficult due to its non-specific clinical presentations. The aim of our study is to highlight the characteristics of the different presentations, to characterize tools contributing to a positive preoperative diagnosis, and finally to assess the role of surgery in the management of this entity. Materials and methods A retrospective review from 2005 to 2015 identified 90 cases of confirmed abdominal TB managed in the Department of General Surgery of the Habib Thameur Hospital. The diagnosis was established by histopathology examination for all cases. This study was approved by the ethical committee. Results The mean age of the patient was 44.13 years with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.34. We collected 56 cases of peritoneal TB, 12 cases of abdominal lymph node TB, 10 cases of intestinal TB, four cases of hepatic TB, and two cases of gallbladder's TB. For six patients, an association of many localizations was noted. The diagnosis was suspected on clinical, biological, and morphological arguments, but the confirmation was always made by surgical exploration and pathological examination of removed specimens. Surgical management was urgent in complicated cases (13.3%). Laparoscopy was performed in 71 cases (78.9%). Laparoscopic features of peritoneal TB were specific and always confirmed by histological examination. Conclusion Despite the wide range of examination available for the preoperative exploration of abdominal TB, diagnosis is usually late and difficult. TB is a medical condition. However, surgical exploration is frequently needed in the management.

Objective To determine whether advanced imaging is cost-effective compared to primary bilateral neck exploration in the management of non-localizing primary hyperparathyroidism. Study design Cost-effectiveness analysis. Methods Cost-effectiveness analysis based on decision tree model and available Medicare financial data using data from 347 consecutive patients having parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism with either 1) positive, concordant ultrasound and sestamibi or 2) negative sestamibi and negative ultrasound. Results Bilateral neck exploration (BNE) costs $9578 and has a success rate of 97.3%. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) + minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) was modeled to have a total cost of $8197 with a success rate of 98.6%. SPECT/computed tomography (CT) + MIP was modeled to have a total cost of $8271 and a 98.9% success rate. Four-dimensional (4D)-CT + MIP was modeled to cost $8146 with a success rate of 99%. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (IECR) (as compared to BNE) were -536.1, -605.5, and -701.6 ($/percent cure rate) for SPECT, SPECT/CT, and 4D-CT respectively. One-way sensitivity analyses demonstrate the change in IECR and cut-off points (IECR = 0) for four major variables. Conclusions In patients with non-localizing primary hyperparathyroidism, advanced imaging is associated with cost-savings compared to routine bilateral neck exploration. Increased cost-savings were predicted with increased imaging accuracy and decreased imaging costs. Increasing time for BNE or decreasing time for MIP were associated with increased cost savings. Level of evidence III Laryngoscope, 2020.

The Bismuth-Corlette (BC) classification is used to categorize hilar cholangiocarcinoma by proximal extension along the biliary tree. As the right hepatic artery crosses just behind the left bile duct, we hypothesized that BC IIIb tumors would have a higher likelihood of local unresectability due to involvement of the contralateral artery.A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database identified patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma taken to the operating room for intended curative resection between April 2008 and September 2016. Cases were assigned BC stages based on preoperative imaging.Sixty-eight patients were included in the study. All underwent staging laparoscopy after which 16 cases were aborted for metastatic disease. Of the remaining 52 cases, 14 cases were explored and aborted for locally advanced disease. Thirty-eight underwent attempt at curative resection. After excluding cases aborted for metastatic disease, the chance of proceeding with resection was 55.6% for BC IIIb staged lesions compared to 80.0% of BC IIIa lesions and to 82.4% for BC I-IIIa staged lesions (P 0.05). About 44.4% of BC IIIb lesions were aborted for locally advanced disease versus 17.6% of remaining BC stages.When hilar cholangiocarcinoma is preoperatively staged as BC IIIb, surgeons should anticipate higher rates of locally unresectable disease, likely involving the right hepatic artery.

A cross-sectional analysis of data derived from patients undergoing knee surgery at a single institution was conducted. The objectives of the study were to (1) compare how the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function (PROMIS PF) computer adaptive test performs against the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Form in evaluating functional status, and (2) to determine demographic, clinical, and psychosocial correlates of each outcome measure in an urban population undergoing a variety of knee surgeries. We hypothesized that there would be a strong correlation between PROMIS PF and IKDC, with minimal floor and ceiling effects, and similar clinical correlates. The sample consisted of 412 patients undergoing knee surgery. Bivariate and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to identify significant independent predictors. The PROMIS PF and IKDC scores were strongly correlated (r s = 0.71, p

Background and aims Diagnostic laparoscopy is commonly performed for diagnosis of right lower abdominal pain and its use is increasing in the emergency setting. Some studies have reported that diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic appendicectomy have advantages over conventional surgery. Many emergency surgeons now perform diagnostic laparoscopy for both clinically diagnosed appendicitis and when the diagnosis is in doubt. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the use of diagnostic laparoscopy is justified and safe for those admitted with right lower abdominal pain. Methods and results Data were collected prospectively on consecutive patients attending the acute surgical receiving unit with right iliac fossa pain or a suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis. A total of 284 patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. Of them 233 (82%) had a positive finding at laparoscopy, 207 (88%) underwent appendicectomy, the majority of which were carried out laparoscopically. Surgical trainees performed the majority of operations and this did not have a negative impact on operative findings (p 0.856), operation performed (0.642), or operative duration (0.831). No intra-operative complications were sustained. Ultrasound examination was carried out in 49 patients, while CT was carried out in 24. Conclusion The results of the present study highlight the utility of early diagnostic laparoscopy as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the acute setting.

Purpose/Aim: Postoperative adhesions remain an undesirable and commonly symptomatic side effect of abdominopelvic surgeries. Animal models of postoperative adhesions typically yield heterogeneous adhesions throughout the abdominal cavity and are not easily quantified. Here we present a novel method of postoperative adhesion assessment and report its reliability and measurement error.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A model of cecal abrasion with partial sidewall attachment was performed on female rats. After 1, 2, 4, or 7 days of recovery, the rats were euthanized and their abdominopelvic cavities were systematically evaluated for postoperative adhesions. The necropsy was recorded through the surgical microscope. Four raters were trained to use a ballot to capture key factors of the adhesions as they viewed the recordings. Their ratings were compared for measurement error and reliability (using Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients, respectively) and for the ability to discriminate differences in experimental groups. A subset of the data was analyzed to determine practical utility.RESULTS: The rating system was shown to have low measurement error and high inter-rater reliability for all parameters measured. Applied practically, the system was able to discriminate groups in a manner that was expected.CONCLUSIONS: We have developed and validated a rating system for postoperative adhesions and shown that it can detect group differences. This method can be used to quantify postoperative adhesions in rodent models.

Objectives The aim of this was to determine survival after starting neoadjuvant therapy for patients who became ineligible for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods and materials Since January 1993, 215 patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma began treatment with planned OLT. Treatment included external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with fluorouracil, bile duct brachytherapy, and postradiotherapy fluorouracil or capecitabine before OLT. Adverse findings at the staging operation, death, and other factors precluded OLT in 63 patients (29%), of whom 61 completed neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Results By October 2012, 56 (89%) of the 63 patients unable to undergo OLT had died. Twenty-two patients (35%) became ineligible for OLT before the staging operation, 38 (60%) at the staging operation, and 3 (5%) after staging. From the date of diagnosis, median overall survival was 12.3 months. Survival was 17% at 18 months and 7% at 24 months. Median survival after fallout was 6.8 months. Median survival after the staging operation was 6 months. Two patients lived for 3.7 and 8.7 years before dying of cancer or liver failure caused by persistent biliary stricture at the site of the original cancer, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that time from diagnosis to fallout correlated with overall survival (P=0.04). Conclusions In highly selected patients initially suitable for OLT, the mortality rate for cholangiocarcinoma was high in patients who became ineligible for OLT. Their survival, however, was comparable to expected survival for patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease treated with nontransplant therapies. The most common reason for patient fallout was adverse findings at the staging operation.

Background Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours (MOGCTs) are usually detected at an early stage, with patients achieving a satisfactory prognosis. However, the role of staging surgery in the treatment of apparent early-stage MOGCTs remains controversial. Aims To investigate the role of staging procedures in apparent early-stage patients. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective review of 102 patients who were diagnosed with MOGCTs and had malignant lesions confined to their ovaries, between January 1997 and October 2014 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software which included survival analysis by Kaplan–Meier method and Fisher's exact test. Results Three patients relapsed and one died. The five-year overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were 98.7% and 96.4%, respectively. Eighty-nine patients (87.3%) received adjuvant chemotherapy and only 23 patients (22.5%) were completely staged. In total, 3/49 (6.1%), 1/44 (2.3%) and 0/49 (0.0%) patients were diagnosed with malignant cells in peritoneal fluid, pelvic lymph nodes and omentum, respectively. Positive tumour cells were not correlated with recurrence. Univariate analysis revealed that neither complete staging surgery nor individual factors were useful prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Conclusions The staging surgery could be omitted for apparent early-stage patients affected by MOGCTs without adverse impact upon survival.

Uvod: Implementacija brojnih neuroradioloških modaliteta je značajno uticala na način i efikasnost sprovođenja dijagnostike tumora mozga. Na osnovu neinvazivno dobijenih podataka može se postaviti diferencijalna dijagnoza, ali do sada nije potvrđena nijedna neuroradiološka metoda koja može samostalno i konačno da postavi definitivnu patohistološku (PH) dijagnozu. Stereotaksična biopsija je neurohirurška procedura kojom se, bez bitnog narušavanja integriteta i funkcije moždanog tkiva, može obezbediti reprezentativni uzorak intrakranijalne tumorske promene radi sprovođenja PH i drugih specifičnih analiza, u cilju postavljanja tačne dijagnoze i potom primene adekvatnog lečenja. Cilj: Cilj ove studije je da se utvrditi mogućnost uzorkovanja reprezentativnog tkiva za postavljanje PH dijagnoze uz pomoć stereotaksične biopsije kod pacijenata sa tumorom mozga, kao i da se utvrdi vrsta i učestalost eventualnih komplikacija same procedure i postojanje korelacije između PH nalaza dobijenog stereotaksičnom biopsijom i rezultata sprovedenih neuroradioloških ispitivanja. Materijal i metode: Sprovedeno istraživanje je bilo kliničko, prospektivno, a uzorak je činilo ukupno 50 pacijenata koji su bili hospitalizovani na Klinici za neurohirurgiju KCV zbog dijagnostikovane tumorske promene mozga i postavljene indikacije za stereotaksičnu biopsiju, u periodu od septembra 2016. godine do januara 2018. godine. Svi pacijenti koji su uključeni u studiju su u sklopu sprovedene dijagnostičke obrade imali načinjen magnetno rezonanantni (MRI) pregled glave na osnovu kojeg su se određivale morfološke karakteristike tumora i vršila procena prirode tumorske promene mozga, a kod ukupno 25 pacijenata je dodatno načinjena MR spektroskopija (MRS) dijagnostikovane tumorske promene sa ciljem određivanja biohemijskog profila i dodatne procene i karakterizacije tkiva. Nakon sprovedene detaljne onkološke obrade i adekvatne pripreme, se sprovodila kompjuterizovanom tomografijom (CT) navođena stereotaksična biopsija sa ramom u cilju uzorkovanja adekvatnog tkiva za PH analizu. U toku istraživanja procena uspešnosti uzorkovanja reprezentativnog tkiva se vršila pregledom bioptata od strane patologa, a nakon procedure se kliničkim pregledom i kontrolnim CT pregledom glave utvrđivao stepen komplikacija. Rezultati: Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali da su fokalni neurološki deficit i moždani sindrom bili najčešći klinički simptomi i znaci kod pacijenata kod kojih je indikovana stereotaksična biopsija tumora mozga. Prema MRI nalazu najzastupljenije su bile difuzne tumorske promene sa 36% udela u uzorku, zatim solitarne sa 34% i multifokalne sa 20%, a potom multicentrične tumorske promene koje su predstavljale 10% uzorka. Takođe, na osnovu MRI i MRS nalaza je oko 80% tumora procenjeno kao najverovatnije glijalnog porekla. U 95,9% slučaja je postavljena precizna PH dijagnoza. Nepromenjeno stanje svesti i neurološki nalaz su imali 92% pacijenata nakon biopsije, a kod 3 pacijenta (6%) je došlo do razvoja prolaznog neurološkog deficita, dok je jedan pacijent (2%) razvio trajan neurološki deficit. Ukupan morbiditet vezan za proceduru je stoga 2%, a nije zabeležen ni jedan smrtni slučaj (mortalitet 0%) tokom sprovođenja studije. Zaključak: Stereotaksična biopsija je dokazana i veoma pouzdana procedura sa malim brojem komplikacija i niskom stopom morbiditeta i mortaliteta, kojom se omogućava dobijanje reprezentativnog uzorka tumorskog tkiva za postavljanje sigurne patohistološke dijagnoze. Intraoperativna PH analiza dela uzorka tkiva dodatno poboljšava uspešnost pri uzorkovanju i postavljanju definitivne PH dijagnoze. Savremene neuroradiološke metode imaju visoku specifičnost u razlikovanju biološke prirode tumorskih promena, ali se ne mogu koristi nezavisno od PH analize uzorka tkiva, Introduction: The implementation of numerous neuroradiological techniques has significantly influenced the way and the efficiency in which the diagnosis of brain tumor is established. Based on non-invasive imaging data, a differential diagnosis can be made, but no neuroradiological method has been established so far, which can finally make a definitive diagnosis. Stereotactic biopsy is a neurosurgical procedure that can provide a representative sample of any intracranial tumor in order to performe histopathological and other specific examinations, and to set the exact diagnosis and then apply adequate treatment, but without significantly impairing the integrity and function of brain tissue. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of stereotactic biopsy and ability of providing the representative tissue in order to establish a pathohistological diagnosis in patients with brain tumors. Also, the aim is to determine the type and frequency of possible complications of the procedure itself and the correlation between the pathohistological findings obtained and the results of the conducted neuroradiological examinations. Materials and methods: This research was clinical, prospective and included a total of 50 patients who were hospitalized at the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, from September 2016 to January 2018, due to diagnosed brain tumor for which the stereotactic biopsy is indicated. In all patients magnetic resonance (MRI) examination of the head was used to determine morphological characteristics and assesse the nature of the brain tumor tissue, and in a total of 25 patients MR spectroscopy was additionally made with the goal of determining the biochemical profile and additional tissue assessment and characterization. After detailed oncological assessment, completed laboratory and radiological diagnostics, a CT guided framebased stereotactic biopsy was performed for the purpose of sampling tumor tissue for pathohistological analysis. During the research, the success rate of biopsy in providing the representative tissue and establishing the diagnosis was performed by a pathologist, and after the procedure, a clinical and a control head CT examination was used to review the rate of complications. Results: The results obtained showed that focal neurological deficit and psychoorganic syndrome were the most common clinical symptoms and signs in this study. According to MRI, the most common were diffuse brain tumors with 36% of the sample, then solitary with 34% and multifocal with 20%, followed by multicentric tumors representing 10% of the study sample. Also, based on MRI and MRS findings, approximately 80% of tumors are estimated to be most likely of glial origin. In 95.9% of cases, a complete pathohistological (PH) diagnosis was established. The unchanged neurological status was observed in 92% of patients after biopsy, and 3 patients (6%) developed a transient neurological deficit, while only one patient (2%) developed a permanent neurological deficit. The total morbidity associated with the procedure is therefore 2%, and no deaths (mortality 0%) related to the procedure during the study is recorded. Conclusion: Stereotactic biopsy is highly reliable procedure with a small number of complications and a low morbidity and mortality rate, which allows us to acquire the representative sample of brain tumor tissue and to establish a pathohistological diagnosis. Intraoperative PH analysis of acquired tissue samples further enhances the sampling performance and the setting of definitive PH diagnosis. Modern neuroradiological modalities have a high specificity in distinguishing the biological nature of brain tumors, but they still can not be used independently of the pathohistological analysis of the tissue sample.

The objective of this study was to identify the lymph node involvement in apparently early ovarian cancer (OC) Materials and Methods: Patients with clinically apparent early OC who underwent staging surgery between August 2012 and August 2015 were prospectively identified. Patients' characteristics and tumor histopathology were evaluated.Twenty consecutive patients were operated for grossly apparent early ovarian carcinoma. All patients were surgically staged and underwent a systematic pelvic and para- aortic lymphadenectomy. There were eight patients (40%) with lymph node involvement. One of the eight lymph node metastasis was solely in para-aortic node, three patients had both positive-pelvic and aortic nodes, and the other metastasis was in ipsilateral pelvic lymph node. Positive lymph node involvement was significantly higher among patients with poorly differentiated tumor grade (62.5%) (p = 0.02).All patients diagnosed with early OC macroscopically confined to the ovaries should be considered for compre- hensive staging surgery including pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Challenges intrinsic to the accurate diagnosis of endometriosis contribute to an extended delay between the onset of symptoms and clinical confirmation. Intraoperative visualization, preferably with histologic verification, is considered by many professional organizations to be the gold standard by which endometriosis is diagnosed. Clinical diagnosis of symptomatic endometriosis via patient history, physical examination, and noninvasive tests, though more easily executed, is generally viewed as less accurate than surgical diagnosis. Technological advances and increased understanding of the pathophysiology of endometriosis warrant continuing reevaluation of the standard method for diagnosing symptomatic disease. A review of the published literature was therefore performed with the goal of comparing the accuracy of clinical diagnostic measures with that of surgical diagnosis. The current body of evidence suggests that clinical diagnosis of symptomatic endometriosis is more reliable than previously recognized and that surgical diagnosis has limitations that could be underappreciated. Regardless of the methodology used, women with suspected symptomatic endometriosis would be well served by a diagnostic paradigm that is reliable, conveys minimal risk of under- or over-diagnosis, lessens the time from symptom development to diagnosis, and guides the appropriate use of medical and surgical management strategies.

Objective. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a diagnostic laparoscopy prior to primary cytoreductive surgery to prevent futile primary cytoreductive surgery (i.e. leaving >1 cm residual disease) in patients suspected of advanced stage ovarian 'cancer.Methods. An economic analysis was conducted alongside a randomized controlled trial in which patients suspected of advanced stage ovarian cancer who qualified for primary cytoreductive surgery were randomized to either laparoscopy or primary cytoreductive surgery. Direct medical costs from a health care perspective over a 6-month time horizon were analyzed. Health outcomes were expressed in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and utility was based on patient's response to the EQ-5D questionnaires. We primarily focused on direct medical costs based on Dutch standard prices.Results. We studied 201 patients, of whom 102 were randomized to laparoscopy and 99 to primary cytoreductive surgery. No significant difference in QALYs (utility = 0.01; 95% CI 0.006 to 0.02) was observed. Laparoscopy reduced the number of futile laparotomies from 39% to 10%, while its costs were (sic) 1400 per intervention, making the overall costs of both strategies comparable (difference (sic) - 80 per patient (95% CI - 470 to 300)). Findings were consistent across various sensitivity analyses.Conclusion. In patients with suspected advanced stage ovarian cancer, a diagnostic laparoscopy reduced the number of futile laparotomies, without increasing total direct medical health care costs, or adversely affecting complications or quality of life. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) are uncommon tumors with an annual incidence of about 1 per 100,000. Usually, SI-NETs have a slow progression, and patients often present with generalized disease. Many patients do well, and the disease has a relatively favorable 5-year survival rate. Some SI-NETs, however, have a more negative prognosis. This study aimed to establish prognostic factors for death identifiable at primary surgery. Methods A nested case-control study investigated 1150 patients from the cohort of all patients with a diagnosis of SI-NETs in Sweden between 1961 and 2001. The study cases consisted of all patients who died of SI-NETs during the study period. Each case was assigned a control subject matched by age at diagnosis and calendar period. Possible prognostic factors [gender, degree of symptoms, indication for surgery, World Health Organization (WHO) stage] were evaluated in uni- and multivariable analyses. Results The patients with symptomatic disease had an increased risk of dying. The indication for primary surgery influenced survival, showing a more negative prognosis for elective surgery. The WHO stage influenced survival, and stage 4 patients had an almost threefold risk of dying compared with stages 1 to 3b patients. Conclusions This study showed that preoperative symptoms are important in prognostication for SI-NETs. Hormonal symptoms generally signify a patient with a more advanced disease stage and a worse prognosis. Including symptomatic disease together with the WHO stage and grade could possibly increase the accuracy of prognostication.

The purpose of this study was to assess activation patterns of medial (MH) versus lateral (LH) hamstrings in female athletes who had undergone ACL reconstruction (ACLR) using a hamstrings-graft during single-limb functional testing. Eighteen athletes (1–6 years since ACLR) and 18 healthy controls were recruited from the Icelandic women’s top divisions in football, handball, and basketball. Activation of the MH and LH was monitored bilaterally using surface electromyography. Peak activation of the normalized signal was identified for two phases of the single-limb crossover (SLC) hop test and performance (distance jumped) registered. Self-reported knee symptoms and function were evaluated with the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). A repeated measures general linear model was used for main statistical data analyses, comparing variables of interests between limbs (within-subjects factor) and between groups. ACLR athletes had worse KOOS-symptoms scores (p

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical staging in stage I clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary (CCC).MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of 165 patients with stage I CCC treated with optimal or nonoptimal staging surgery.ResultsThe median follow-up period in this study was 67 months. No significant difference was detected in recurrence-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS) between patients optimally and nonoptimally staged (RFS: P = 0.434; OS: P = 0.759). The estimated 5-year RFS and OS rates were 92.1% and 95.3% in patients with stages IA/IC1 and 81.0% and 83.7% in stages IC2/IC3, respectively. The multivariate analysis indicated that stages IC2/IC3 predicted worse RFS and OS than stages IA/IC1 in stage I CCC patients (RFS: P = 0.011; OS: P = 0.011). Subsequently, we investigated the impact of surgical staging, respectively, in stages IA/IC1 and stages IC2/IC3. Significant differences were observed in PFS and OS between patients optimally and nonoptimally staged with stages IA/IC1 (RFS: P = 0.021; OS: P = 0.024), but no significant difference was found in those with stages IC2/IC3. The multivariate analysis indicated that nonoptimal staging surgery predicted worse RFS than the optimal staging surgery in stages IA/IC1 CCC patients (P = 0.033). In addition, we investigated the impact of surgical staging for stages IA/IC1 in the adjuvant chemotherapy group. The 5-year RFS and OS rates in patients optimally and nonoptimally staged with stages IA/IC1 in the adjuvant chemotherapy group were 97.8% and 100%, and 85.2% and 89.4%, respectively. The multivariate analysis indicated that nonoptimal staging surgery predicted worse RFS than the optimal staging surgery for stages IA/IC1 patients in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (P = 0.019).ConclusionsThe prognosis for women with stage 1A/IC1 is very good. Surgical staging category was the only independent prognostic factor for RFS in stages IA/IC1 CCC.