Laparoscopy and primary diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: a diagnostic challenge.

Primary diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare malignancy with an estimated incidence of 200 to 400 new cases annually in the USA. We describe a case of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma arising in a 65-year old man who presented ascites of unknown origin. The importance of laparoscopy with subsequent histology of biopsy specimens in the diagnosis of this disease is emphasized.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty: technique and analysis of the first 140 cases.

Background: The use of laparoscopic surgery to perform bariatric operations offers advantages to morbidly obese patients. Between January 1999 and June 2001, 140 patients underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic VBG using the Handport System.

Methods: In the 110 females (78.

Hand-assisted staging laparoscopy for suspected malignancies of the pancreas.

Fewer than 20% of patients with pancreatic cancer have resectable tumours at the time of diagnosis. In two patients with a pancreas neoplasm a laparoscopic staging work-up was performed. Because of the described limitations of laparoscopy, we propose to switch to a hand-assisted procedure.

The persistent Müllerian duct syndrome: a molecular approach.

A rare form of male pseudohermaphroditism is characterized by the persistence of Müllerian derivatives in phenotypic males. To determine the etiology of this syndrome, we studied the expression of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in six boys, including three brothers, with the persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. All except one presented with an inguinal hernia containing the Müllerian derivatives, and in two boys the hernial sac contained the contralateral testis.