An uncommon presentation of metastatic melanoma: a case report.

Metastases to the spleen are rare and are generally part of a multi-visceral metastatic disease. The most common sources of splenic metastases include breast, lung and colorectal malignancies as well as melanoma and ovarian carcinoma. Solitary splenic metastasis is very uncommon.

Nodal metastasis and recurrence in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Despite the majority of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients has benign clinical courses, some PTMCs have a clinical presentation similar to conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for lymph node metastasis at presentation and prognostic parameters influencing nodal recurrence in PTMC. From January 1998 to October 2013, 556 consecutive patients had a diagnosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in our surgical department.

Gastric cancer in the young: is it a different clinical entity? A retrospective cohort study.

Background. The rate of gastric cancer in young patients has increased over the past few decades. The aim of this study was to search for independent risk factors related to patients of younger age.

Systematic review with meta-analysis of studies comparing intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves versus visualization alone during thyroidectomy.

Background: The role of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid surgery is still debatable. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the potential improvement of IONM versus RLN visualization alone (VA) in reducing the incidence of vocal cord palsy.

Methods: A literature search for studies comparing IONM versus VA during thyroidectomy was performed.

Systematic review with meta-analysis of prospective randomized trials comparing minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) and conventional thyroidectomy (CT).

Background: Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) has gained acceptance among surgeons as its feasibility has been well documented. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis has been to assess and validate the safety and feasibility of MIVAT when compared to conventional thyroidectomy (CT) and to verify other potential benefits and drawbacks.

Methods: A literature search for prospective randomized trials comparing MIVAT and CT was performed.

Meta-analysis of studies comparing single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy and conventional multiport laparoscopic appendectomy.

Background: There is no consensus that single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILS-A) is on a par with conventional multiport laparoscopic appendectomy (CMLA). The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of SILS-A when compared with CMLA.

Methods: A literature search for studies comparing SILS-A and CMLA was performed.

Acute diverticulitis in the young: the same disease in a different patient.

Background. Natural history and risk factors for diverticulitis in young patients are still debatable. This study aimed to assess whether difference exists in patients aged 50 and younger when compared to older patients and to identify risk factors for acute diverticulitis in the young.

Early prediction of hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy using combined intact parathyroid hormone and serum calcium measurement.

Backgrounds: Concomitant intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and serum calcium measurement is deemed to be useful in predicting hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. This study aimed to prospectively assess the diagnostic accuracy of combined iPTH and serum calcium measurement in predicting early postoperative hypocalcemia.

Methods: From January 2010 to January 2011, 112 patients underwent total thyroidectomy in our department.

Meta-analysis of prospective randomized studies comparing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CMLC).

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has gained acceptance among surgeons as there is a trend to minimize the invasiveness of laparoscopy. The aim of this meta-analysis has been to assess the feasibility and safety of SILC when compared to conventional multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CMLC).

Methods: A literature search for trials comparing SILC and CMLC was performed.

Factors predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with diffuse peritonitis from perforated colonic diverticulitis.

Aim: Diverticulitis free perforation still remains a major life-threatening condition. Herein we evaluate factors influencing prognosis of patients with perforated colonic diverticulitis and the current validity of Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) in predicting mortality.

Material Of Study: From January 2000 to October 2010, 39 patients were operated on for generalized peritonitis from perforated diverticulitis

Results: Five postoperative deaths (12.

Unusual metachronous isolated inguinal lymph node metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon.

This study aimed to describe an unusual case of metachronous isolated inguinal lymph nodes metastasis from sigmoid carcinoma. A 62-year-old man was referred to our department because of an obstructing sigmoid carcinoma. Colonoscopy showed the obstructing lesion at 30 cm from the anal verge and abdominal CT revealed a sigmoid lesion infiltrating the left lateral abdominal wall.

Larger tumor size predicts nodal involvement in patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Aims And Background: Lymph node metastases are rare in patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma, with an average incidence of 5.5% of all cases reported in the literature. In the present study we focused on the search for risk factors predictive of lymph node involvement in patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma to plan the most appropriate management and follow-up.

Rectal perforation from endometriosis in pregnancy: case report and literature review.

This case report describes a woman with spontaneous rectal perforation from decidualized endometriosis in pregnancy. A 37-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital at 30 wk of pregnancy with symptoms suggestive of pyelonephritis, which persisted until 33 wk of gestation when delivery of a premature male baby was performed through a cesarean section. On postoperative day 2, an abdominal computed tomography showed free air in the peritoneal cavity and a pelvic abscess.

Oncocytic cell tumors of the thyroid: factors predicting malignancy and influencing prognosis, treatment decisions, and outcomes.

Background: The distinction between malignant and benign thyroid oncocytic cell tumors (OCTs) before and during surgery still represents a diagnostic challenge. We focused on the search for specific factors that predict malignancy and influence the prognosis of OCTs, and for their most appropriate management.

Methods: From January 1998 to May 2007, 57 patients underwent thyroidectomy in our surgical department because of OCT.

Sternohyoid muscle flap interposition in the treatment of an acquired tracheoesophageal fistula.

Background: Tracheoesophageal fistula caused by prolonged intubation is a rare clinical entity. We report the case of a patient successfully treated by interposition of a sternohyoid muscle flap.

Methods: Tracheoesophageal fistula secondary to prolonged ventilatory assistance developed in a 61-year-old woman who had a septic shock related to fecal peritonitis.

Risk factors for nodal metastasis and recurrence among patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: differences in clinical relevance between nonincidental and incidental tumors.

Background: Papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) is a subgroup of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) measuring 1.0 cm or less in diameter. Herein we focused on the search for risk factors predicting nodal metastasis and recurrence in PMCs, analyzing differences in presentation, treatment, and prognosis between nonincidental and incidental tumors.

A rare case of vagus nerve schwannoma.

Schwannomas of the vagus nerve are very rare and the differential diagnosis is extremely difficult. They are very often asymptomatic and imaging techniques are helpful, but fine needle biopsy is often inconclusive. Total resection is the treatment of choice.

Potential utility of xenobiotic mitogens in the context of liver regeneration in the elderly and living-related transplantation.

Although liver regeneration occurring after partial hepatectomy (PH) is greatly reduced in aged mice, liver hyperplasia induced by xenobiotic mitogens was found to be age independent. Here, we investigated the potential utility of mitogens in stimulating liver regeneration in old mice subjected to two-third PH. Although virtually no hepatocytes entered S phase 48 h after PH, pretreatment (2 h prior to surgery) with 1,4-bis(2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)benzene (TCPOBOP), a ligand of constitutive androstane receptor, induced an increase of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and enhanced the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen .

Curative surgery for gastric cancer in the elderly: treatment decisions, surgical morbidity, mortality, prognosis and quality of life.

Aims And Background: Surgical risk is deemed to be higher in the aged population because there are often comorbidities that may affect the postoperative result. This consideration is important for the treatment decision-making for gastric cancer in the elderly. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing mortality, morbidity, survival and quality of life after curative surgery for gastric cancer in patients aged 75 years and older, and to plan their appropriate management.

Synchronous isolated splenic metastasis from colon carcinoma and concomitant splenic abscess: a case report and review of the literature.

This study aimed to describe a case in which an isolated splenic metastasis was synchronous with the colonic primary and a concomitant splenic abscess was associated. A wide review of the literature was also performed. A 54-year-old woman with abdominal pain and fever was admitted to our department.

Intratumoral sampling variability in hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

The differential diagnosis between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and regenerative liver nodules and other primary liver tumors may be very difficult, particularly when performed on liver biopsies. Difficulties in histological typing may be often minimized by immunohistochemistry. Among the numerous markers proposed, CK18, Hep Par1 and glypican 3 (GPC3) are considered the most useful in HCC diagnosis.