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Biliary mucinous cystic neoplasms are very rare tumors of the biliary tract with malignant potential. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging, as clinical, biochemical and radiological features are not specific. Surgical resection with negative margins is the gold standard treatment for these uncommon lesions. A 55-year-old woman presented at the Third Department of Surgery (Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece) with a history of mild right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain and jaundice. A 2-cm lesion in the distal common bile was identified by imaging. Following discussion in our multidisciplinary board meeting the patient underwent a pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, and histopathological examination revealed an ovarian-stromal type intraductal mucinous cystic neoplasm of the extra hepatic biliary. Since biliary mucinous cystic neoplasms are characterized by malignant transformation and high rates of recurrence, surgical resection with negative margins is the treatment of choice for both non-invasive and invasive biliary mucinous cystic neoplasms.

Introduction Liver regeneration is an exceptionally complex process, orchestrated by a multitude of growth factors and cytoldnes. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleuldn-6 (11-6) have a pivotal role in the initiation of the regenerative response. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) exhibits a liver protective effect that enhances liver growth after injury. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of UDCA in the circulating levels of TNF-a and II-6 in rats undergoing extended 80% hepatectomy. Materials and methods Twenty-two male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned in an experimental (UDCA group) and a control group. Mice in the UDC:A-group received oral pretreatment of UDCA for two weeks preoperatively at a dosage of 25 mg/kg/day. An 80% hepatic resection was performed in both groups by resecting the middle, inferior right, and left lateral liver lobes. The experiment ended 48 hours postoperatively. Results UDCA pretreatment significantly depressed circulating levels of both TNF-a and Il-6 after the conclusion of the experiment as compared to the control group (p=0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). Furthermore, TNF-a levels were significantly reduced before the institution of liver injury (p=0.02). Mice in the UDCA-group exhibited better liver growth as demonstrated by significantly increased Ki-67 and mitotic rate (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). Finally, the liver regeneration rate (LRR) was significantly elevated in the experimental group (UDCA group, 54.5% vs control group, 35.8%; p=0.002) signifying enhanced liver growth kinetics. Conclusion UDCA reduces the expression of TNF-a and Il-6 during the priming phase of liver regeneration. An 80% hepatectomy model of acute liver failure exhibited enhanced liver regeneration in the experimental group, plausibly due to the immunomodulatory effects of UDCA.

Secondary pancreatic lesions are very uncommon. Resection of these metastatic lesions with a curative intent has been reported in selected patients; however, the survival benefit from these procedures has yet to be clearly determined. A 78-year-old male patient presented to our department with obstructive jaundice. Three years prior to presentation the patient had undergone right pneumonectomy, due to stage IIA, low-grade squamous cell lung carcinoma. After resection, the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy, with no evidence of local or systemic recurrence over the following 3 years. Abdominal computer tomography on admission revealed a 3-cm lesion located at the head of the pancreas, causing biliary obstruction. Endoscopic ultrasound biopsy revealed malignant cells, suspicious for squamous cell carcinoma. Due to the limited extent of the metastatic disease and in view of the patient's good condition, surgical resection was proposed and the patient successfully underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histological examination of the resected specimen confirmed a squamous cell carcinoma, with an immunochemical profile similar to that of the primary lung tumor. Therefore, pancreatic resection with curative intent may be feasible in selected patients with secondary metastatic tumors. However, further studies are required in order to determine the benefit of these major procedures in terms of survival outcomes.

This is a report of a case who was admitted and operated on for a strangulated femoral hernia. The hernia sac contained a gangrenous appendix, which was excised and the hernia was repaired with sutures without complication. De Garengeot's hernia, although very rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of cases with strangulated hernia and should receive the optimal treatment.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of a 48-year-old white woman who presented with a huge cutaneous protruding tumor of the thoracic wall below her left breast. CASE PRESENTATION: The lesion was excised with clear margins from the adjacent skin, and subcutaneous tissue was left to heal with second intention. A histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a well-differentiated infiltrative cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Our patient neglected to attend our Oncological Department to receive chemotherapy. Today, 12 months after surgery, she is alive and without evidence of disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma can reach a huge size if left untreated. Surgery is the primary mode of treatment, followed by chemotherapy if applicable.

Since early 1990's, when it was inaugurally introduced, laparoscopic splenectomy has been performed with excellent results in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Nowadays laparoscopic splenectomy is the approach of choice for both benign and malignant diseases of the spleen. However some contraindications still apply. The evolution of the technology has allowed though, cases which were considered to be absolute contraindications for performing a minimal invasive procedure to be treated with modified laparoscopic approaches. Moreover, the introduction of advanced laparoscopic tools for ligation resulted in less intraoperative complications. Today, laparoscopic splenectomy is considered safe, with better outcomes in comparison to open splenectomy, and the increased experience of surgeons allows operative times comparable to those of an open splenectomy. In this review we discuss the indications and the contraindications of laparoscopic splenectomy. Moreover we analyze the standard and modified surgical approaches, and we evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes.

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a group of relatively rare infections, usually caused by two or more pathogens. It affects the skin and subcutaneous tissues of lower and upper limbs, perineal area (Fournier’s gangrene), and the abdominal wall. Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical management are of high significance for the management of this potentially lethal disease. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in patients who presented, during the last decade, at four University Surgical Departments in the area of Athens, Greece, with an admission diagnosis of NE Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were gathered, and the preoperative and surgical treatment, as well as the postoperative treatment was analyzed for these patients. Results: A total of 62 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 63.7 (47 male patients). Advanced age (over 65 years) (P < 0.01) and female sex (P = 0.04) correlated significantly with mortality. Perineum was the mostly infected site (46.8%), followed by the lower limbs (35.5%), the upper limbs, and the axillary region (8.1%). Diabetes mellitus was the most common coexisting disease (40.3%), followed by hypertension (25.8%) and obesity (17.7%). The most common symptom was local pain and tenderness (90.3%). Septic shock occurred in eight patients (12.9%) and strongly correlated with mortality (P < 0.01). Laboratory data were used to calculate the LRINEC score of every patient retrospectively; 26 patients (41.9%) had LRINEC score under 6, 20 patients (32.3%) had LRINEC score 6-8, and 16 patients (25.8%) had LRINEC score >9. Surgical debridement was performed in all patients (mean number of repeated debridement 4.8), and in 16 cases (25.8%) the infected limb was amputated. The mean length of hospital stay was 19.7 days, and the overall mortality rate of our series was 17.7%. Conclusion: Diagnosis of NF requires high suspect among clinicians, as its clinical image is non-specific. Laboratory tests can depict the severity of the disease; therefore, they must be carefully evaluated. Urgent surgical debridement is the mainstay of treatment in all patients; the need of repetitive surgical debridement is undisputed.

Gas gangrene is a life-threatening condition implying necrosis of dermis and hypodermis, along with necrosis of the superficial muscular aponeurosis. Fournier s gangrene is a subtype of the disease affecting the perineal and genital area. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical presentation, diagnosis, medical, and surgical treatment of three cases of gas gangrene affecting uncommon locations in the human body, treated with extensive surgical debridement followed by the vacuum assisted closure method in two of these cases. Three cases of gas gangrene affecting uncommon locations treated surgically in our Department are presented. In one case the perineal and scrotal region was infected with invasion of the lateral abdominal wall and the peritoneal cavity. In the second case the axillary regions were infected bilaterally and in the third case the left axillary and subscapular regions were infected after a left arm disarticulation. All cases were treated successfully with successive surgical debridement and/or the vacuum-assisted closure method. Gas gangrene is a curable disease if diagnosed early and treated effectively with successive surgical wound cleaning and debridement. The vacuum assisted closure method can be helpful in promoting wound healing.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is an important diagnostic tool in patients with thyroid lesions. Several systems have been proposed for the cyropathologic diagnosis of the thyroid nodules. However cases with indeterminate cytological findings still remain a matter of debate. In this review we analyze all literature regarding Thyroid Cytopathology Reporting systems trying to identify the most suitable methodology to use in clinical practice for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules. A review of the English literature was conducted, and data were analyzed and summarized and integrated from the authors’ perspective. The main purpose of thyroid FNA is to identify patients with higher risk for malignancy, and to prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign conditions. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is the most widely used system for the diagnosis of thyroid FNA specimens. This system also contains guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of indeterminate or suspicious for malignancy cases. In conclusion, patients who require repeated FNAs for indeterminate diagnoses will be resolved by repeat FNA in a percentage of 72%-80%.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the surgical technique, postoperative complications, and possible recurrence after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) in comparison with open ventral hernia repair (OVHR), based on the international literature. Database: A Medline search of the current English literature was performed using the terms laparoscopic ventral hernia repair and incisional hernia repair. Conclusions: LVHR is a safe alternative to the open method, with the main advantages being minimal postoperative pain, shorter recovery, and decreased wound and mesh infections. Incidental enterotomy can be avoided by using a meticulous technique and sharp dissection to avoid thermal injury.

Background Previous clinical studies advocated that probiotics beneficially affect acute radiation-induced diarrhea. These encouraging results were attributed to the restoration of the intestinal flora; however, there is lack of evidence if and how probiotics influence the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Aims The present study was conducted to investigate the potential supporting role of a synbiotic preparation (combination of pro- and pre-biotics) on experimentally-induced acute radiation diarrhea from the perspective of mucosal inflammation and histological injury. Methods Ninety adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups. Group A (non-irradiated), group B (non-irradiated/synbiotic supplemented), group C (irradiated), and group D (irradiated/synbiotic supplemented) were followed up to a week after the beginning of the experiment. Group E (irradiated) and group F (irradiated/synbiotic supplemented) were followed up for four days. On the last day of the experiments tissues were harvested for structural and molecular assessments. Results Synbiotic administration could not avert the occurrence of diarrhea, but significantly attenuated its severity. This effect was associated with the significant downregulation of neutrophil accumulation and lipid peroxidation during the acute phase. During the subacute phase, synbiotic treatment significantly improved both the histological profile and radiation mucositis. These mechanisms significantly contributed to the rehabilitation of the intestinal absorptive function as further indicated from the significantly reduced weight loss. Conclusions Given the optimization of the intestinal flora exerted by synbiotics, the resolution of diarrhea relies on the suppression of the “reactive” and the augmentation of “regenerative” components of acute radiation-induced intestinal response.

Simultaneous development of adenocarcinoma and primary B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the colon is rare; only one case has so far been reported out of 13 cases with the coexistence of colonic adenocarcinoma with involvement of the colon by lymphoma. We hereby present three more cases, two females (aged 75 and 71 years) and a male (aged 72 years). All three underwent colectomy based on a preoperative biopsy revealing colonic carcinoma. Histological examination of the resection specimens disclosed a colonic adenocarcinoma in two cases, whereas a tubulovillous adenoma with superficial foci of intraepithelial adenocarcinoma was seen in the third case. Moreover, in all three cases, a coexisting MALT lymphoma was diagnosed in the colon (1 case), in both colon and adjacent lymph nodes (1 case) or in colonic lymph nodes and omentum (1 case). In the last case, a post-operative bone marrow biopsy revealed extensive infiltration of the bone marrow, due to which the patient received postoperative chemotherapy. Diagnostic and treatment issues are briefly discussed. (C) 2012 Baishideng. All rights reserved.