A rare coexistence of adrenal cavernous hemangioma with extramedullar hemopoietic tissue: a case report and brief review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are rare, benign, non-functioning neoplastic tumors. To our knowledge, 55 cases have been reported in the literature to date.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the first case of a large, non-functioning adrenal cavernous hemangioma that was incidentally found during the preoperative staging workup of a 75 year old woman with left breast adenocarcinoma. Imaging with US, CT scan and MRI showed a heterogeneous 8 cm mass with non-specific radiological features that was located on the left adrenal gland. The mass was surgically excised and pathology revealed an adrenal hemangioma with areas of extramedullar hemopoiesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although adrenal hemangiomas are rare and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult, they should always be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal neoplasms.</p

Mixed acinar-endocrine carcinoma of the pancreas: a case report and review of the literature

and review of the literatur

Special problems encountering surgical management of large retroperitoneal schwannomas

Abstract Background Retroperitoneal schwannomas are rare, usually benign tumors that originate in the neural sheath and account for only a small percentage of retroperitoneal tumors. The aim of this clinical study is to present our experience in managing retroperitoneal schwannomas with a review of the current literature and to point out the surgical technical difficulties we faced, due to the tumor's strange behavior that eroded the vertebra in two cases without causing malignant invasion. Methods We reviewed the medical files of 69 patients treated in our department for retroperitoneal tumors from January 1991 until December 2006. Five patients had retroperitoneal schwannomas according to pathology report. Results There were two male and three female patients, with a mean age of 56 years (range 44–67 years). All patients were asymptomatic and none suffered from von Recklinghausen disease. Imaging workup included ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. One patient, after having a non-diagnostic computed tomography fine needle aspiration (CT-FNA), underwent exploratory laparotomy and incisional biopsy that established the diagnosis of schwannoma. After complete excision of the tumors, postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Tumors' maximum diameter was 12.7 cm (range 7–20 cm). No recurrences were detected during the follow up period (6–75 months). Conclusion Preoperative establishment of diagnosis is difficult in case of retroperitoneal schwannomas, however close relationship of retroperitoneal tumors with adjacent neural structures in imaging studies should raise a suspicion. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice. Histology and Immunohistochemistry confirms the diagnosis.</p

A rare coexistence of adrenal cavernous hemangioma with extramedullar hemopoietic tissue: a case report and brief review of the literature

Background: Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are rare, benign, non-functioning neoplastic tumors. To our knowledge, 55 cases have been reported in the literature to date. Case presentation: We report the first case of a large, non-functioning adrenal cavernous hemangioma that was incidentally found during the preoperative staging workup of a 75 year old woman with left breast adenocarcinoma. Imaging with US, CT scan and MRI showed a heterogeneous 8 cm mass with non-specific radiological features that was located on the left adrenal gland. The mass was surgically excised and pathology revealed an adrenal hemangioma with areas of extramedullar hemopoiesis. Conclusion: Although adrenal hemangiomas are rare and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult, they should always be included in the differential diagnosis of adrenal neoplasms

Surgical Challenges in the Treatment of Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava: Analysis of Two Cases and Brief Review of the Literature

Background: Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin. Optimal treatment should include complete resection of the malignant lesion with preservation of venous return. We present our experience from two patients treated in our hospital in the last 3 years. Methods and Results: The first case is that of a 54-year-old woman, with a 9 cm a primary IVC leiomyosarcoma extending from the level of the right renal vein to the common iliac veins. The patient underwent radical tumor resection and reconstruction of the IVC with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch. She received adjuvant chemotherapy and is free of recurrence almost 3 years after surgery. The second case is that of a 56-year-old woman presenting with back pain due to an 8-cm retroperitoneal mass in close proximity to the right renal vein. She underwent exploratory laparotomy, where initially the effort of en bloc resection of the mass failed. Eventually, partial resection of the IVC was performed and the defect was primarily repaired. Pathological examination confirmed primary leiomyosarcoma of the IVC. She received adjuvant chemotherapy, but was referred to our hospital with local recurrence 6 months after the operation and is suffering from disseminated abdominal disease almost a year postsurgery. Conclusion: Radical surgical en bloc resection is the mainstay of treatment for IVC leiomyosarcomas. Extensive vascular reconstruction techniques may be necessary to restore adequate venous return to the IVC after tumor resection, and combination with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has been shown to prolong disease-free survival rates