Gallbladder schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. The species is associated with hepatosplenic disease. Schistosomiasis involving the gallbladder alone is highly unusual, with a few cases reported.

BRAZILIAN CONSENSUS ON INCIDENTAL GALLBLADDER CARCINOMA.

Background: Incidental gallbladder cancer is defined as a cancer discovered by histological examination after cholecystectomy. It is a potentially curable disease. However, some questions related to their management remain controversial and a defined strategy is associated with better prognosis.

LIVER RESECTION IN BRAZIL: A NATIONAL SURVEY.

Background: Liver surgery has developed significantly in the past decades. In Brazil, the interest on it has grown significantly, but there is no study regarding its clinical practice. Despite intrinsic limitations, surveys are well suited to descriptive studies and allow understanding the current scenario.

Complex biliary stones management: cholangioscopy versus papillary large balloon dilation - a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Study Aims:  Endoscopic removal of biliary stones has high success rates, ranging between 85 % to 95 %. Nevertheless, some stones may be challenging and different endoscopic methods have evolved. Papillary large balloon dilation after sphincterotomy is a widely used technique with success rates ranging from 68 to 90 % for stones larger than 15 mm.

PANCREATODUODENECTOMY: BRAZILIAN PRACTICE PATTERNS.

Background: Pancreatoduodenectomy is a technically challenging surgical procedure with an incidence of postoperative complications ranging from 30% to 61%. The procedure requires a high level of experience, and to minimize surgery-related complications and mortality, a high-quality standard surgery is imperative.

Aim: To understand the Brazilian practice patterns for pancreatoduodenectomy.

COMPARING THE ENZYME REPLACEMENT THERAPY COST IN POST PANCREATECTOMY PATIENTS DUE TO PANCREATIC TUMOR AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

Background: Among late postoperative complications of pancreatectomy are the exocrine and endocrine pancreatic insufficiencies. The presence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency imposes, as standard treatment, pancreatic enzyme replacement. Patients with chronic pancreatitis, with intractable pain or any complications with surgical treatment, are likely to present exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or have this condition worsened requiring adequate dose of pancreatic enzymes.

Prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression in pancreas cancer and nodal metastasis.

Background: Identification of molecular markers in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) has the potential to guide targeted therapy. The objective of this study is to determine the prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression (membrane and cytoplasmic) in resected PA and its correlation with lymph node metastasis and survival.

Methods: EGFR overexpression was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the pattern of expression was compared between the primary tumour, adjacent normal pancreas and involved lymph nodes.

Thromboembolism prevention in surgery of digestive cancer.

Background: The venous thromboembolism is a common complication after surgical treatment in general and, in particular, on the therapeutic management on cancer. Surgery of the digestive tract has been reported to induce this complication. Patients with digestive cancer have substantial increased risk of initial or recurrent thromboembolism.

Biliary tract schwannoma: a rare cause of obstructive jaundice in a young patient.

Schwannoma is a tumor derived from Schwann cells which usually arises in the upper extremities, trunk, head and neck, retroperitoneum, mediastinum, pelvis, and peritoneum. However, it can arise in the gastrointestinal tract, including biliary tract. We present a 24-year-old male patient with obstructive jaundice, whose investigation with computed tomography abdomen showed focal wall thickening in the common hepatic duct, difficult to differentiate with hilar adenocarcinoma.

The influence of transforming growth factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9 and CXCR4 proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition on overall survival of patients with gastric cancer.

Aims: Determination of prognostic parameters that are predictive of survival of gastric cancer (GC) may allow better identification of patients who could benefit from current chemotherapy regimens. To assess the correlation between tumour progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we assayed the expression levels of selected molecules involved in EMT [CD44, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9 and C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR4)], and correlated these with overall patient survival (OS) and disease stage.

Methods And Results: Medical records and pathological biopsy results of 137 patients with GC were evaluated retrospectively.

Selected patients with metastatic melanoma may benefit from liver resection.

Background: In the last few years there has been expanding use of hepatic resection for non-colorectal metastases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the experience of liver resection for patients with metastatic melanoma.

Methods: Eighteen patients with metastatic melanoma were explored for possible surgical resection.

Prognostic score in gastric cancer: the importance of a conjoint analysis of clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic factors.

Background: This study was designed to establish a prognostic score for gastric cancer that takes into account factors related to the tumor, the patient, and the treatment.

Methods: Two hundred thirty patients with gastric adenocarcinoma admitted t o the Department of Abdominal Surgery at Hospital do Câncer A. C.

Acute pancreatitis associated with neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas.

Context: Endocrine tumors are a less commonly known cause of acute pancreatitis. This report presents the case of a patient who have had acute pancreatitis secondary to a pancreatic endocrine neoplasm. The majority of the cases previously reported were non-functioning tumors and the pancreatitis tended to be mild.

Serous oligocystic adenoma of the pancreas.

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are uncommon lesions but are becoming increasingly prevalent. Herein we report a case of an oligolocular cystic lesion in the head of the pancreas in a young female that had undergone a cystenteroanastomosis 10 years ago. She underwent a duodenopancreatectomy with an uneventful recovery.