Didem Baskın

A case of incomplete Currarino triad with malignant transformation

Abstract A case of an incomplete Currarino triad is reported. The baby underwent an emergency laparotomy due to a life-threatening intestinal obstruction caused by severe rectal stenosis. During the posterosagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), a presacral teratoma was identified and resected. The tumor recurred three times; she initially responded to chemotherapy, but nonetheless died at the age of 4 years. In cases with evidence of anorectal stenosis, a presacral mass should be suspected. PSARP is the best choice of treatment for both the anorectal anomaly and excision of the presacral mass. The presacral region should be followed up closely for recurrence of the tumor.

Retrosternal hernia (Morgagni) with colonic perforation due to incarceration

Retrosternal (Morgagni) hernias in children are usually asymptomatic or may be associated with mild respiratory distress or gastrointestinal symptoms. Incarceration of bowel in a retrosternal hernia is unusual. This report describes a complete colonic obstruction with incarceration and perforation in a Morgagni hernia.

Division of the genitofemoral nerve and late orchiectomy: effects on the contralateral testis in ipsilateral testicular torsion

Abstract Unilateral torsion of the spermatic cord has been demonstrated to damage the contralateral testis; however, the pathogenesis has not yet been examined in detail. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of unilateral torsion on the contralateral testis in rats by performing ipsilateral division of the genitofemoral nerve (GFN) and/or late orchiectomy. Male 25-day-old, prepubertal Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: (1) sham operation; (2) unilateral testicular torsion; (3) simultaneous unilateral testicular torsion and ipsilateral GFN division; (4) unilateral testicular torsion and orchiectomy on the 4th day after torsion; and (5) simultaneous unilateral testicular torsion and GFN ipsilateral division, and orchiectomy on the 4th day after torsion. Torsions performed were 720°, all on the right testes. On day 55 after torsion, which represents the early postpubertal period of the rat, the contralateral testes were removed. Tubular biopsy score (TBS) was calculated, and seminiferous tubular diameters (STD) were measured. Students t-test was used for statistical analysis. There was no contralateral testicular damage in the control group, but in all of the study groups destructive changes were found in the left gonad after torsion of the right testicle. The mean TBS of the study groups was higher than that of the control group. STD values were lower in the study groups, but the differences were not statistically significant between groups. In prepubertal rats, unilateral torsion causes histologically measurable changes in the contralateral testis. Ipsilateral division of the GFN and late orchiectomy did not cause any significant alterations in terms of contralateral damage. Further investigations are needed to determine the role of the GFN in testicular torsion.

An unusual foreign body in the bowel lumen causing obstruction in a neonate

Most of the foreign bodies swallowed by children pass the entire gastrointestinal tract without any complication. Neonatal intestinal foreign bodies are extremely rare. A newborn with a small bowel obstruction caused by a fresh grape is reported.