Incidence of synchronous appendiceal neoplasm in patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of synchronous appendiceal neoplasm in patients with colorectal cancer, and to determine its clinical significance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pathological reports and medical records were reviewed of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma who underwent oncological resection of the tumor together with appendectomy at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand between September 2000 and April 2008.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This study included 293 patients with an average age of 62 years (range 19–95) and 51 percent were male. Of the patients studied, 228 (78 percent) had right hemicolectomy, whereas the others (22 percent) had surgery for left-sided colon cancer or rectal cancer. One patient (0.3 percent) had epithelial appendiceal neoplasm (mucinous cystadenoma) and 3 patients (1.0 percent) had metastatic colorectal cancer in the mesoappendix. However, the presence of synchronous appendiceal tumors and/or metastasis did not alter postoperative management, as these patients had received adjuvant therapy and were scheduled for surveillance program because of nodal involvement.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The incidence of synchronous primary appendiceal neoplasm and secondary (metastatic) appendiceal neoplasm in colorectal cancer patients was 0.3 and 1.0 percent, respectively. However, these findings did not change the postoperative clinical management.</p

First Colombian Multicentric Newborn Screening for Congenital Toxoplasmosis

Congenital toxoplasmosis can result in permanent sequel as blindness or neurological damage in children and it seems to be more severe in South America than in other continents. There is a lack of information about this frequency in Colombia, where no control program is established, although it is a recognized cause of potentially preventable congenital blindness. We propose the first Colombian multicentric study to determine the frequency and impact of congenital toxoplasmosis. More than 15,000 newborns in seven cities were studied. Newborns were tested at birth by doing a cord blood test for toxoplasmosis. Additionally, children from mothers with history of toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy were recalled for a follow-up. The program identified fifteen children otherwise undiagnosed; three of these children died as consequence of congenital toxoplasmosis. The frequency of the congenital infection varied significantly between cities, being higher in Armenia and Florencia, intermediate in Bogota, Bucaramanga and Barranquilla and very low in western cities such as Cucuta and Riohacha. For the first time a significant correlation was found between mean rainfall at the city and the incidence of this congenital infection

Collision tumor in form of primary adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma of the duodenum

<em>Collision tumor</em> is a rare phenomenon characterized by coexistence of completely distinct and independent tumors at the same body location. Collision tumors have been reported in different sites. However, they are extremely uncommon in the duodenum. We report the case of a 52-year old man with a collision tumor in the third portion of the duodenum with two distinct tumors of primary adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma, and both tumors coexisting within a single metastatic lymph node. Immunohistochemistry studies were performed to conclude that this was a case of collision cancer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first collision tumor case reported to date at this location, and the first report of lymph node with a collision metastasis from a collision tumor. Such tumor is very rare and may thus provide diagnostic challenges. This report also provides a review of other cases on duodenal collision tumors

Colonic carcinoid tumors: a clinicopathologic study of 23 patients from a single institution Tumores carcinóides do cólon: estudo clinicopatológico de 23 doentes de uma única instituição

CONTEXT: Colonic carcinoids, excluding those arising in the appendix, have proved to be extremely rare. Due to their rarity, the characteristics and behavior of this unusual malignancy remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To review the clinicopathologic features of patients operated on carcinoid tumors of the colon. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (12 males and 11 females) were operated on colonic carcinoids. The mean age of the patients was 63.0 ± 12.9 years (42 to 85 years). The clinical and histopathological data of patients who were pathologically diagnosed as having carcinoid tumors and submitted to surgical treatment over a 30-year period (1977-2007) were gathered. Actuarial patient survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with carcinoid-specific death as the outcome. RESULTS: The mean time elapsed between onset of symptoms and surgical treatment was 8.3 months (1.5 to 20 months). The most frequent symptoms or signs encountered were abdominal pain followed by anorexia or weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal tenderness, palpable abdominal mass, and rectal bleeding. No carcinoid syndrome was noted. The lesion was located in the cecum in 16 (69.6%) patients, in the sigmoid in 3 patients (13.0%), in the ascending colon in 3 patients (13.0%), and in the transverse colon in one patient (4.3%). Twenty-one (91.3%) patients were operated on curative intent. Spreading of the disease to the liver and peritoneum was found in two (8.7%) patients who submitted to intestinal bypass. The mean size of the largest mass was 3.7 ± 1.2 cm (1.5 to 6.2 cm). There were multiple (two or more) lesions in three cases (13.0%). In the resected cases, the lymph nodes were compromised in 10 patients (47.6%) and disease-free in 11 (52.4%). Venous invasion and neural infiltration were both present in five (23.8%) patients. The tumors had penetrated the muscularis propria in all resected cases. Four (17.4%) patients had a second non-carcinoid primary tumor. Three (13.0%) patients died due to postoperative complications and five (21.7%) patients died from metachronous metastases or local recurrence. Fifteen patients (65.2%) remain alive without evidence of active disease. The mean follow-up period was 12 years (1.2 to 18 years), whereas the mean global survival was 50.7 ± 34.2 months and the crude survival rate at 5 years was 62.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Carcinoid tumors of the colon are frequently right-sided and may be clinically occult until an advanced stage is reached. Based on the relatively poor survival rates reported, it is recommended that, in addition to standard surgical resection, vigorous surveillance for metastatic disease must be performed, particularly during the first 2 years after surgery. In addition, these patients require evaluation of the entire gastrointestinal tract for evidence of coexisting malignancy, along with an extended period of follow-up, because tumor recurrences after 5 years are not uncommon.<br>CONTEXTO: Carcinóides cólicos, excluindo aqueles que se originam no apêndice cecal, são extremamente raros. Devido a esta raridade, as características e comportamento desta neoplasia permanecem indefinidas. OBJETIVO: Rever as características clinicopatológicas de doentes operados por carcinoma cólico. MÉTODO: Vinte e três doentes (12 homens e 11 mulheres) foram operados. A média de idade dos doentes foi de 63,0 ± 12,9 anos (42 a 85 anos). Os dados clínicos e histopatológicos dos doentes com diagnóstico patológico de tumor carcinóide e submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico no período de 30 anos (1977-2007) foram obtidos a partir dos prontuários. A sobrevivência atuarial dos doentes foi estimada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier, considerando-se como óbito específico aquele devido ao tumor carcinóide. Resultados - A média de tempo decorrida entre o início dos sintomas e o tratamento cirúrgico foi de 8,3 meses (1,5 a 20 meses). O sintoma mais frequente encontrado foi dor abdominal seguida por anorexia ou perda de peso, diarréia, massa abdominal palpável e sangramento pelo reto. Não foram observados doentes com síndrome carcinóide. A lesão estava localizada no ceco em 16 (69,6%) doentes, no cólon sigmóide em 3 (13,0%), no colo ascendente em 3 (13,0%) e no cólon transverso em 1 (4,3%). Vinte e um (91,3%) doentes foram operados com intenção curativa. Disseminação da doença para o fígado e peritônio foi encontrada em dois (8,7%) doentes que foram submetidos ao desvio intestinal. A média do tamanho das lesões intestinais foi 3,7 ± 1,2 cm (1,5 a 6,2 cm). Lesões múltiplas (duas ou mais) ocorreram em três (13,0%) casos. Nas lesões ressecadas, os linfonodos estavam comprometidos em 10 (47,6%) e livres em 11 (52,4%). Invasão venosa e infiltração neural estavam ambas presentes em cinco (23,8%) doentes. A neoplasia penetrava a muscularis propria em todos as lesões ressecadas. Quatro (17,4%) doentes apresentaram outra neoplasia maligna primária. Três (13,0%) doentes faleceram devido a complicações pós-operatórias e outros cinco (21,7%) morreram devido às metástases metacrônicas ou recidiva local. Quinze doentes (65,2%) permanecem vivos e sem sinais de doença ativa. A média do período de seguimento foi de 12 anos (1,2 a 18 anos), a média de tempo de sobrevivência foi de 50,7 ± 34,2 meses e o índice de sobrevivência de 5 anos foi 62.7%. CONCLUSÕES: Os tumores carcinóide do cólon localizam-se, geralmente, no cólon direito e podem ser clinicamente ocultos até que atinjam estádios avançados. Devido ao índice relativamente baixo de sobrevivência, é recomendado que, além da ressecção cirúrgica padronizada, seja realizada vigilância intensa para doença metastática, especialmente durante os 2 primeiros anos após a operação. Doentes com carcinóide do cólon necessitam de avaliação de todo o trato gastrointestinal para verificar a presença de outras neoplasias malignas primárias, além de seguimento pós-operatório por período maior de tempo, pois a recidiva após 5 anos não é incomum