Category Archives: Case Report

Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Diagnosed and Treated Early, in Prejaundice Phase

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0036

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma, Klatskin tumor or proximal bile duct cancer, is a tumor growing in the right hepatic duct, left hepatic duct or at their confluence. It is a relatively rare but devastating disease. The tight stricture of the biliary ducts and the development of obstructive jaundice are the main characteristics of the disease. In the early phase, symptoms are nonspecific and jaundice is not present, leading to delayed diagnosis and denying the possibility of curative treatment. We present the case of a 74 years old woman who was referred to us with ambiguous symptomatology and without jaundice. The ultrasound and CT scan showed dilation of the left biliary tree, without increase of the cholestatic enzymes. Magnetic resonance cholangiography depicted a tumor in the left hepatic duct (3X3 cm.) with enlargement of the bile ducts above. The surgical treatment consisted of left hepatectomy and hilar lymph nodes dissection. The pathology findings showed a cholangiocarcinoma with a few hilar nodes involvement. Our approach was potentially curative. Unfortunately these situations are seldom because in the majority of cases the patients have obstructive jaundice at presentation and the tumors are unresectable. We consider that a magnetic resonance cholangiography made when we suspect a bile duct tumor, leads us to an early diagnosis and gives us the possibility of a potential curative surgical treatment.

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Rare Case of Immature Gastric Teratoma

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0037

Introduction: Teratomas are rare and complex tumors with components from more than one of the three germ cell layers. Teratomas range from benign, well-differentiated (mature) cystic lesions to those that are solid and malignant (immature). The incidence of all teratomas is estimated at 1:10,000–1:20,000 newborns. Gastric teratomas represent only 1-2% of all teratomas.
Case presentation: We report a case of gastric teratoma of a 2 month-old boy who presented with abdominal distension. Diagnosis was established by physical examination, ultrasonography and computed tomography. The tumor measured 13/10/5.5 cm and weighted 390 grams and was surgically excised. Histological examination revealed an immature gastric teratoma. We also reviewed existing clinical and genetic data on gastric teratomas. Association of gastric teratomas with other congenital anomalies or tumors is very rare. Reported cases include: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (involved:11p15, IGF2), Hodgkin disease (developed 3 yrs. post-resection) and focal neuroblastoma. Recent theories include extraembryonic cells; also have been hypothesized to originate from pluripotent cells present in the gastric wall.
Conclusion: Gastric teratomas are extremely rare tumors. Complete resection induce a good outcome.

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Cephalic Duodeno-Pancreatectomy With Pancreatic-Gastric Anastomosis With Double Purse String, in Patient with Lithiasis and Tumoral Jaundice – Case Report

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0047

Introduction: One of the most feared complications after cephalic duodeno-pancreatectomy remains pancreatic fistula. In recent years, various methods of pancreatico-digestive reconstruction were performed in order to reduce the rate of pancreatic fistula. One of these methods is pancreatico-gastric reconstruction by using two purse string threads.
Case report: We present in this article a patient with jaundice with mixed etiology: tumoral and lithiasic. Subjectively, the patient accused sclerose-skin-jaundice, right upper quadrant and epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography revealed dilatation of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, a dilated Wirsung duct and a tumor at the biliopancreatic confluence, leading to a suspicion of vaterian ampulom. Upper endoscopy revealed a tumor protruding in the descending duodenal segment. Intraoperatively a tumor suggestive of vaterian ampulom and duct stones was shown. Surgical treatment consisted of coledocolitotomy, cephalic duodeno-pancreatectomy with pancreatic-gastric anastomosis, performed by using two purse string threads. The postoperative evolution was favorable.
Conclusion: Pancreatico-gastric anastomosis using two purse string threads is a simple, safe and quick procedure, avoiding the application of sutures through the pancreatic parenchyma and thus reducing the rate of pancreatic fistula.

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Fanconi Anemia — Case Report of Rare Aplastic Anemia at Child

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0027

Introduction: Fanconi anemia is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by congenital abnormalities, defective haematopoiesis, and a high risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and cancers. FA was first described in 1927 by the Swiss pediatrician Guido Fanconi. The diagnosis is based on morphological abnormalities, hematologic abnormalities (pancytopenia, macrocytic anemia and progressive bone marrow failure) and genetic tests (cariograma).
Case report: We present the case of a child with Fanconi anemia. Although skin and bone morphological abnormalities were present from birth, diagnosis was suspected at 11 years old.
Conclusions: Fanconi anemia is a heterogeneous condition that can present a variety of congenital defects but invariably results in defective haemopoiesis, which is the major cause of morbidity and mortality.

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The Oscar Ramirez Procedure, a Solution for Treating Incisional Hernias with Big Abdominal Wall Defect

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0026

Background: Incisional hernias are important complications of abdominal surgery. Normally they are followed by the growth of the hernia sac and an increase of the abdominal wall defect with loss of domain of the herniated organs.
Case report: We report a case of a 51 year old female, admitted in the 1st Surgical Clinic of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Tîrgu Mureș with a large median reducible incisional hernia and a wall defect of 10/12 cm. The abdominoplasty was performed using the Oscar Ramirez technique, which consists of a longitudinal incision along the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle, at approximately 1–2 cm from the external edge of the rectus abdominis. This procedure allows the abdominal wall closure. This case is part of a lot of 4 patients who received this treatment using the aforementioned procedure in the past 2 months. Postoperative recovery was favorable, bowel movements were present on the second day after the surgery, the subcutaneous drains were shortened on the fifth day and removed on the sixth. There were no immediate postoperative complications or up to a month after the surgery. The patient was discharged on the seventh day.
Conclusions: This technique can be used alone in case of large abdominal wall defects, or prequeling an on-lay mesh procedure addressed to a weak abdominal wall, case in which the functional result is superior to a substitutional mesh.

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An unusual Case of Cardiac Syncope and Acute Coronary Syndrome – A Case Report

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0011

Introduction: We aimed to present a case of acute coronary syndrome with unexpected etiology complicated by syncope and arrhythmias, confirmed by imagistic examinations as cardiac parasitosis. Cardiac parasitic diseases are rare diseases, whose diagnosis and therapy should be adapted to each case. Imaging techniques allow precise diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis, providing essential structural details on the damage degree of heart structures, allowing optimization of complex treatment in these cases.
Case presentation: A 67-year old, obese and diabetic woman presented with cardiac syncope, arrhythmias and acute chest pain. Imagistic examinations excluded intracoronary thrombosis and confirmed a severe structural damage of myocardial tissue, consisting in replacement of the myocardial structure by many cysts caused by parasitic infestation with echinococcus multilocularis and echinoccocus granulosus originating from the liver. CT scan confirmed severe distruction of the left ventricular myocardium by policysts, that led to thinning of inferior and apical left ventricle wall without any possibility of surgical excision. Therefore a specific chemotherapy with albendazole was initiated. Follow up at 2 months indicated a favorable evolution, with serological decrease of echinococcal antibodies and reduction of cysts volume.
Conclusion: In cases of angina and arrhythmias with non-atherosclerotic etiology, imaging techniques can diagnose the anatomopathological substrate of the disease and represent a valuable tool for the follow up.

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The value of Histopathological Diagnosis in Rupoid Psoriasis Accompanied by Fever. A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0010

Psoriasis is a common dermatosis, however the rupoid type is considered as an exceptional form of this disease. Rupoid scabs are very rare in dermatological daily practice, usually being seen as secondary to syphilis in immunosuppressed patients. Rupoid psoriasis is characterized by thick and multilayered crusts that are resistant to local therapy and present a sudden onset. Severe arthropathy is a common manifestation. We did not found in literature any association of rupoid psoriasis with intermittent fever. We present the case of a patient who exhibited a rush of rupoid boards with severe arthralgia accompanied by intermittent fever. The suspicion of malignant syphilis was raised considering the clinical signs and symptoms and the specific social context of STDs. This suspicion was unconfirmed by TPHA negative reaction and histopathological appearance that showed changes typical of psoriasis. Clinical manifestations were successfully controlled with methotrexate.

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Left Bisegmentectomy for Liver Cirrhosis Associated Primary Hepatic Carcinoma With Preoperative Chemoembolization

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0009

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the liver, being linked in 80% of cases with viral hepatitis ”B” or “C”. Treatment remains a challenge especially in cases with associated hepatic cirrhosis, where preoperative arterial chemoembolization followed by liver resection is recommended.
Case report: We discuss the case of a 64 years old cirrhotic patient, diagnosed by echography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiography with hepatocellular carcinoma (64x52x46 mm). Preoperative chemoembolization was performed with Lipiodol and 5-FU by supra-selective catheterization of left hepatic artery, followed by favorable radiologic response. Two weeks after embolization, the patient was admitted in Surgical Clinic No. 1 Targu Mures where an atypical resection of the left hepatic lobe (bisegmentectomy II-III) was performed with Harmonic Scalpel. Early and late postoperative evolution was favorable.
Discussions: The principle of arterial chemoembolization is based on the fact that vasculature of primary hepatic tumors is predominantly arterial. Arterial obstruction may lead to ischemic necrosis while tumor embolization combination with a chemotherapeutic agent significantly improves its local concentration. Decrease in tumor size and its vasculature allows for safe hepatic resection especially in the cirrhotic liver.
Conclusion: In case of tumoral cirrhotic liver preoperative chemoembolization decreases intra and postoperative bleeding risk, providing a safe and oncological resection.

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Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography for Imaging Coronary Arteriovenous Malformation: a Case Report

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0006

Background: Coronary arteriovenous malformation is a rare congenital disease consisting mainly in a direct communication between a coronary artery and any one of the four cardiac chambers, coronary sinus, pulmonary arteries or veins. This disease can lead to various cardiovascular events, their severity depending on the degree of the malformation.
Case report: We present the case of a 56-year-old male patient, who was admitted to our institution with dyspnea, palpitation and chest pain, having a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and an abnormal electrocardiogram. Physical examination did not reveal any alterations and the cardiac enzymes were in normal ranges. Cardiac computed tomography was performed before any other invasive studies, with a 64-row scanner (Somatom Sensation multislice 64 equipment, Siemens) after intravenous administration of non-ionic contrast material. CT scan revealed a large (2–2.5 mm) coronary fistula originating from the LAD to the main pulmonary artery, and multiple significant atherosclerotic coronary lesions. Coronary angiography confirmed the arteriovenous malformation between LAD and pulmonary artery, associated with three vascular coronary artery disease.
Conclusions: Cardiac computed tomography angiography can help for a non-invasive diagnosis of the coronary artery malformations, in the same time revealing anatomic details which can be particulary useful for choosing the appropriate management strategy (surgical planning, interventional treatment or optimum medical treatment).

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Is There a Risk Factor More Responsible for Disaster?

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2015-0054

Background: Risk factors for peripheral arterial disease are generally the same as those responsible for the ischemic heart disease and in both cases are overlapping risk factors involved in the etiology of atherosclerosis, such as smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension.
Case report: We present a case of a 61 years old male, whose ischemic peripheral symptoms began in 2003, at the age of 49, presenting as a Leriche syndrome. The patient was subjected to first revascularization procedure consisting in aortic-bifemoral grafting in the same year. General examination revealed no risk factors except smoking. Only a year after, he returns with critical right lower limb ischemia due to bypass thrombosis, therefore two thrombectomies were performed followed by a right side femoro-popliteal bypassing with Dacron prosthesis. The patient’s condition was good until 2008 when a femoro-popliteal bypass using inverted autologus saphenous vein was imposed due to occlusion of the previous graft. In 2013 the patient was readmitted to hospital with left lower limb critical ischemia. A femoro-popliteal bypass was performed, followed by two thrombectomies and the amputation of the left thigh. Up to this date, the patient kept smoking.
Discussions: Although our patient has a low/medium risk level of atherosclerosis by Framingham score and a minimum Prevent III score, all the surgical revascularization procedures were not able to avoid the amputation.
Conclusions: There are enough reasons to believe that smoking as a single risk factor can strongly influence the unfavorable progression to amputation in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

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