Ioana Lupescu

Curative Intent Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma - 844 Cases Treated in a General Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center

Background: The objective of this study is to assess the outcome of the patients treated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a General Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center. Methods: This retrospective study includes 844 patients diagnosed with HCC and surgically treated with curative intent methods. Curative intent treatment is mainly based on surgery, consisting of liver resection (LR), liver transplantation (LT). Tumor ablation could become the choice of treatment in HCC cases not manageable for surgery (LT or LR). 518 patients underwent LR, 162 patients benefited from LT and in 164 patients radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was performed. 615 patients (73%) presented liver cirrhosis. Results: Mordidity rates of patient treated for HCC was 30% and mortality was 4,3% for the entire study population. Five year overall survival rate was 39 % with statistically significant differences between transplanted, resected, or ablated patients (p 0.05) with better results in case of LT followed by LR and RFA. Conclusions: In HCC patients without liver cirrhosis, liver resection is the treatment of choice. For early HCC occurred on cirrhosis, LT offers the best outcome in terms of overall and disease free survival. RFA colud be a curative method for HCC patients not amenable for LT of LR.

The Romanian National Program for Liver Transplantation - 852 Procedures in 815 Patients over 17 Years (2000-2017): A Continuous Evolution to Success

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) has become an established treatment for end-stage liver disease, with more than 20.000 procedures yearly worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of Romanian National Program of LT. Methods: Between April 2000 and April 2017, 817 pts received 852 LTs in Romania. Male/female ratio was 487/330, while adult/pediatric ratio was 753/64, with a mean age of 46 years (median 50 yrs; range 7 months - 68 yrs). Main LT indications were HBV cirrhosis (230 pts; 28.2%), HCC (173 pts; 21.2%), and HCV cirrhosis (137 pts; 16.8%). Waiting time and indications for LT, patient and donor demographics, graft features, surgical procedures, and short and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Results: DDLT was performed in 682 pts (83.9%): whole LT in 662 pts (81%), split LT in 16 pts (2.3%), reduced LT in 2 pts (0.2%), and domino LT in 1 pts (0.1%). LDLT was performed in 135 pts (16.5%): right hemiliver in 93 pts (11.4%), left lateral section in 28 pts (3.4%), left hemiliver in 8 pts (1%), left hemiliver with segment 1 in 4 pts (0.5%), and dual graft LDLT in 2 pts (0.2%). Overall major morbidity rate was 31.4% (268 pts), while perioperative mortality was 7.9% (65 pts). Retransplantation rate was 4.3% (35 pts): 27 whole LTs, 3 reduced LTs, 3 split LTs, and 2 LDLT. Long-term overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year estimated survival rates for patients were 87.9%, 81.5%, and 79.1%, respectively. One-, 3-, and 5-year overall mortality on waiting list also decreased significantly over time from 31.4%, 54.1% and 63.5%, to 4.4%, 13.9% and 23.6%, respectively. Conclusions: The Romanian National program for liver transplantation addresses all causes of acute and chronic liver failure or liver tumors in adults and children, using all surgical techniques, with good long-term outcome. The program constantly evolved over time, leading to decreased mortality rate on the waiting list.

An Unusual Presentation of Plasma Cells – Castleman Disease: A Case Report

Abstract We present the case of a 76 year old female patient admitted in the Department of Cardiology for physical asthenia, profuse sweating and dyspnea with orthopnea for about one month. Clinical and paraclinical assessments performed at admission confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. Surgical intervention was performed and 400 mL of clear effusion were drained. Post-operative evolution was marked by recurrence of symptoms, requiring after 3 weeks a new drainage of 600 mL of clear effusion, and biopsy of the pericardium was performed. Pathological exam described serous pericarditis with chronic inflammatory infiltrate, xanthogranulomatous reaction intricated in the pericardium and mesothelial hyperplasia. The patient was subsequently transferred to the Department of Internal Medicine for further investigations. Physical examination showed a patient with altered general status, pallor, vesicular murmur absent in both bases, presenting cutaneous hyperpigmentation at the level of the right hemi-abdomen and hip with posterior extension, and a peripheral indurated erythematous plaque. The patient presented nodular masses of 3 cm in the right latero-cervical and bilateral axillary regions, non-adherent to the superficial structures, as well as adenopathic blocks in both inguinal regions. CT scan of the thorax and abdomen showed moderate bilateral pleuresia, minimal pericardial effusion (15 mm) and multiple adenopathies on both sides of the diaphragm. Skin biopsy was performed, as well as bone marrow aspirate and excision of a right axillary lymph node. Pathological exams and immunohistochemistry tests confirmed the diagnosis of Plasma Cells Castleman disease.

LAPAROSCOPIC ASSISTED ILEOCECAL RESECTION FOR AN APPENDICEAL MUCOCELE WITH 5-YEAR POSTOPERATIVE FOLLOW-UP OF THE PATIENT

Case Report: One case of appendiceal mucocele (AM) with a large implantation base into the cecum was accurately preoperatively diagnosed by abdomino-pelvic ultrasonography, computed tomography, and colonoscopy. Laparoscopic approach of AM was anticipated for diagnosis confirmation and resection. Due to a large appendiceal base of AM and close proximity of the ileocecal valve to the edge of the mass, visualized by intraoperative ultrasound, the patient was submitted to ileocecal resection. A 6-cm minilaparotomy was used for extraction of the specimen and performance of an extracorporeal ileocolic hand sewn anastomosis. Malignancy was ruled out on frozen sections of the operative specimen. The postoperative patient’s evolution was simple, with rapid recovery and short hospitalization. After more than 5 years of follow-up patient remained asymptomatic and disease-free with no malignancy detected.