Isolated segmental, sectoral and right hepatic bile duct injuries

The treatment of isolated segmental, sectoral and right hepatic bile duct injuries is controversial. Nineteen patients were treated over a 26-year period. Group one was comprised of 4 patients in whom the injury was primarily repaired during the original surgery; 3 over a T-tube, 1 with a Roux-en-Y. These patients had an uneventful recovery. The second group consisted of 5 patients in whom the duct was ligated; 4 developed infection, 3 of which required drainage and biliary repair. Two patients had good long-term outcomes; the third developed a late anastomotic stricture requiring further surgery. The fourth patient developed a small bile leak and pain which resolved spontaneously. The fifth patient developed complications from which he died. The third group was comprised of 4 patients referred with biliary peritonitis; all underwent drainage and lavage, and developed biliary fistulae, 3 of which resolved spontaneously, 1 required Roux-en-Y repair, with favorable outcomes. The fourth group consisted of 6 patients with biliary fistulae. Two patients, both with an 8-wk history of a fistula, underwent Roux-en-Y repair. Two others also underwent a Roux-en-Y repair, as their fistulae showed no signs of closure. The remaining 2 patients had spontaneous closure of their biliary fistulae. A primary repair is a reasonable alternative to ligature of injured duct. Patients with ligated ducts may develop complications. Infected ducts require further surgery. Patients with biliary peritonitis must be treated with drainage and lavage. There is a 50% chance that a biliary fistula will close spontaneously. In cases where the biliary fistula does not close within 6 to 8 wk, a Roux-en-Y anastomosis should be considered

Giant biliary mucinous cystadenoma of the liver

Biliary mucinous cystadenomas (BMC) of the liver are rare benign cystic tumors, however an estimated 20% undergo malignant transformation. They have recently been redefined as mucinous cystic neoplasms in the 2010 WHO classification. The preferred treatment is through radical resection, as there are high recurrence rates with other treatment modalities; however this is often not possible in patients with bilobar or giant cysts, and liver transplantation may be indicated. We present a patient with a giant biliary mucinous cystadenoma of the liver and discuss the management with reference to the literature. A 47 year-old woman presented with a 6-week history of moderate epigastric discomfort on a background of 12 months of symptom-free abdominal distension. A giant cystic bilobar tumor of the liver measuring 22 × 23 × 17 cm was diagnosed and characterised by ultrasound scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were elevated, though other laboratory data including tumor markers (CEA, aFP, CA19-9) were within normal limits. Total excision of the cyst was not possible due to its size and position, and the patient underwent cyst drainage, a sub-total cyst excision and omentoplasty. Histology confirmed a benign biliary mucinous cystadenoma with an ovarian stroma. Though the patient remained clinically well, routine post-operative computed tomography (CT) surveillance showed an 11 cm recurrent cyst at 6 months. A partial cyst resection with close follow-up, regular CA19-9 serology and ultrasound/CT imaging, may be a reasonable alternative for bilobar or giant cysts. However should any features pathognomonic of malignancy develop, then a liver transplantation is indicated

Perigastric extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma: A case report

Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a neoplasm of undifferentiated small round cells, which occurs in the bones and deep soft tissues of children and adolescents. We present a rare case of a 44-year-old woman with gastric ES presenting with epigastric pain and weight loss. Ultrasound and computed tomography scans indicated a solid/cystic mass in the pancreatic tail. At laparotomy, the tumor was found attached to the posterior surface of the stomach, completely free from the pancreas, with no lymphadenopathy or local metastases. The polynodal, partly pseudocystic, dark-red soft tumor was excised. Histopathology revealed an anaplastic small-round-cell tumor with strong membranous CD99 immunoexpression. Additionally, there was patchy immunostaining for S-100 protein, vimentin, protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and neuron-specific enolase, and weak focal CD117 cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. The patient had no adjuvant chemotherapy; her postoperative recovery was uneventful, and she remains symptom-free, and without any sign of recurrence at 20 mo. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third ever case of gastric ES

Cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas

Lymphangioma of the pancreas is an extremely rare benign tumour of lymphatic origin, with fewer than 60 published cases. Histologically, it is polycystic, with the cysts separated by thin septa and lined with endothelial cells. Though congenital, it can affect all age groups, and occurs more frequently in females. Patients usually present with epigastric pain and an associated palpable mass. Complete excision is curative, even though, depending on the tumour location, surgery may be simple or involve extensive pancreatic resection and anastomoses. The authors present a 49-year-old woman in whom a polycystic septated mass, 35 mm x 35 mm in size, was discovered by ultrasonography (US) in the body of the pancreas during investigations for epigastric pain and nausea. At surgery, a well circumscribed polycystic tumor was completely excised, with preservation of the pancreatic duct. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. Histology confirmed a microcystic lymphangioma of the pancreas. Immunohistochemistry showed cystic endothelial cells reactivity to factor VIII-RA (++), CD31 (+++) and CD34 (-). Postoperatively, abdominal pain disappeared and the patient remained symptomfree for 12 mo until now. Although extremely rare, lymphangioma of the pancreas should be taken into consideration as a differential diagnosis of a pancreatic cystic lesion, especially in women