Intricacies in the surgical management of appendiceal mucinous cystadenoma: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Mucinous cystadenoma is a type of mucocele of the appendix that is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Dogmatic consensus on the optimal surgical modus operandi of appendicular mucocele is lacking in the literature and this remains a subject of controversy. There is little agreement with regard to the best procedure (right hemicolectomy versus appendectomy) or the best surgical approach (laparoscopic versus laparotomy).</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 70-year-old Asian woman from Karachi who presented with pain in the right iliac fossa for 15 days. On physical examination, a mobile and firm mass was palpable in the right iliac fossa. A colonoscopy was performed which showed external compression of the cecum. A biopsy of the mucosa was normal. Computed tomography scan showed a mucocele of the appendix with minimal periappendiceal fat stranding. She underwent an initial diagnostic laparoscopy to evaluate any mucin spillage in the peritoneal cavity. Once no spillage was identified, an open appendectomy was then performed. Intra-operatively, a frozen section of the appendiceal sample was sent to ascertain the need for an extension of surgery to a right hemicolectomy. Absence of any malignancy on the frozen section obviated the need for a surgical extension. The final histopathological examination showed a mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix. The patient was symptom-free at one year after surgery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is important to distinguish between mucinous cystadenomas and mucinous cystadenocarcinomas. However, this distinction remains elusive in the pre-operative setting. A simple appendectomy using an intra-operative frozen section appears to be a reasonable surgical approach for selected cases with an intact mucocele of the appendix. However, long-term follow-up is warranted in such patients to evaluate the risks of using this approach.</p

HLA-G expression in basal cell carcinomas of the skin recurring after radiotherapy

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin represents the most common malignancy in the fair-skinned population worldwide. HLA-G is one of the molecules implicated in immunotolerance. To investigate the role of HLA-G in recurring BCCs, we constructed a tissue microarray containing 38 primary BCCs that underwent radiotherapy and 14 secondary BCCs recurring on the primary site after radiotherapy, and evaluated the HLA-G protein expression by immunohistochemistry. The HLA-G protein was most frequently expressed in aggressive sclerosing BCCs. Nodular BCC demonstrated the strongest HLA-G expression. Interestingly, tumor infiltrating mononuclear cells (TIMC) expressed the HLA-G molecule in BCCs that showed no recurrence. After comparing primary BCCs and BCCs relapsed after radiotherapy, we observed decreased HLA-G expression on tumor cells and the loss of HLA-G expression on TIMC in relapsed BCCs. After radiotherapy, immunobiology of BCC may change resulting in the down-regulation of HLA-G expression on tumor and on tumor-infiltrating cells

Head and Neck Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treated By Superficial X-Ray Therapy: An Analysis of 1021 Cases

To report a single-institutional experience with the use of Superficial X-Ray Therapy (SXRT) for head and neck non-melanoma skin cancer (N-MSC) and to compare outcomes by prescribed fractionation schedules.The medical records of 597 patients with 1021 lesions (720 BCC, 242 SCC, 59 SCC in situ) treated with kilovoltage radiation from 1979-2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The majority of patients were treated according to 1 of 3 institutional protocols based on the discretion of the radiation oncologist: 1) 22 x 2.5 Gy; 2) 20 x 2.5 Gy; 3) 30 x 2.0 Gy. "T" stage at first presentation was as follows: Tis (59); T1 (765); T2 (175); T3 (6), T4 (9); Tx, (7). All patients were clinical N0 and M0 at presentation. Chi-square test was used to evaluate any potential association between variables. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival with the Log Rank test used for comparison. A Cox Regression analysis was performed for multivariate analysis.The median follow up was 44 months. No significant difference was observed among the 3 prescribed fractionation schemes (p = 0.78) in terms of RTOG toxicity. There were no failures among SCC in situ, 37 local failures (23 BCC, 14 SCC), 5 regional failures (all SCC) and 2 distant failures (both SCC). For BCC, the 5-year LC was 96% and the 10-year LC was 94%. For SCC the corresponding rates of local control were 92% and 87%, respectively (p = 0.03). The use of >2.0 Gy daily was significantly associated with improved LC on multivariate analysis (HR: 0.17; CI 95%: 0.05-0.59).SXRT for N-MSC of the head and neck is well tolerated, achieves excellent local control, and should continue to be recommended in the management of this disease. Fractionation schedules using >2.0 Gy daily appear to be associated with improved LC

Cistoadenoma de apêndice: relato de caso e revisão da literatura sobre tumores mucinosos do apêndice vermiforme Cyst adenoma of appendix: case report and literature review about mucinous vermiform appendix neoplasms

INTRODUÇÃO: Mucocele do apêndice (MA) é uma lesão rara, caracterizada pelo acúmulo de secreção mucoíde em sua luz. Diagnóstico precoce é fundamental para evitar o extravasamento de secreção mucoíde na cavidade peritoneal, causando pseudomixoma peritoneal. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente sexo masculino, 62 anos com história de dor abdominal em fossa ilíaca direita há cerca de 6 meses. Realizou uma ultra-sonografia do abdome que evidenciou no flanco direito pequena estrutura cística compatível com MA. Colonoscopia, exames laboratoriais e dosagem do CEA encontravam-se sem alterações. O paciente foi submetido à laparotomia exploradora com ressecção do apêndice e do seu meso em monobloco. O exame histológico mostrou tratar-se de cistoadenoma do apêndice vermiforme. O paciente evoluiu sem intercorrências. DISCUSSÃO: A MA é um achado raro. As principais causas patológicas incluem cisto de retenção, mucocele secundária a epitélio hiperplásico, cistoadenomas e cistoadenocarcinomas. A doença é geralmente assintomática e o diagnóstico pré-operatório é raro. O tratamento para mucocele do apêndice é cirúrgico e a preocupação principal do cirurgião é evitar o extravasamento do conteúdo da mucocele na cavidade abdominal. CONCLUSÃO: A MA é uma entidade incomum e com alto potencial de complicação, usualmente curável com tratamento cirúrgico adequado.<br>INTRODUCTION: Appendiceal mucocele (AM) is a rare lesion that is characterized by an appendiceal lumen distended with mucus. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are mandatory to prevent spillage of the mucinous content into the peritoneal cavity, causing pseudomyxoma peritonei. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old male was presented with a 6-months history of recurrent right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Ultrasonography showed a lesion in the right lumbar region compatible with AM. Colonoscopy, routine laboratory tests and CEA were normal. The patient underwent an appendectomy and complete excision of the cystic lesion. Pathologic examination revealed a mucinous cyst adenoma of appendix. The patient was symptom free after treatment. DISCUSSION: AM is a rare condtion. Mucoceles are histologically subdivided into retention mucocele, mucocele secondary a hiperpalsic epithelium, mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. This disease is often asymptomatic and pre-operative diagnosis is rare. The treatment is essentially surgical and the surgeon need to avoid spillage of the mucinous content into the peritoneal cavity. CONCLUSION: AM is an uncomum entity and with high pontential of complication, usually curable with adequate surgical aproach