James R. Hines

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approaches.

The hospital records and radiographs of 44 patients diagnosed as having superior mesenteric artery syndrome were reviewed using strict clinical and radiographic criteria. Only six (14.6 percent) of the patients fulfilled these criteria, suggesting over-diagnosis of the disorder. An acute change in clinical status, such as an operation or complication of a medical disease, appeared to precipitate the superior mesenteric artery syndrome in these patients, all of whom had chronic debilitating diseases. In four of the six patients conservative therapy failed, and they required surgical decompression.

Prognostic indicators in cystosarcoma phylloides

Cystosarcoma phylloides is a breast neoplasm that has a frequently unpredictable clinical course. We made a retrospective study of 25 patients with this disease in an attempt to evaluate the indicators of aggressive behavior. In our series, older patient age, nulliparity, rapid tumor growth, pain, and large size of tumors increased the suspicion of malignancy but were not always reliable indicators of malignancy. Skin ulceration, tumor necrosis, and infiltrating tumor margins were the most ominous characteristics. High-grade tumors, that is, those with increased cellularity, vascularity, mitotic figure, and pleomorphism, often indicated aggressive behavior. Mixed mesenchymal components were sometimes related to a malignant course. We found a 24 percent incidence of associated breast cancer. Carcinoma of the ipsilateral breast was found in four patients and later in the contralateral breast in two patients. Of our 25 patients, 10 (40 percent) had recurrence and 4 (16 percent) died from disease. Recurrences after treatment usually occurred within 3 years. Patients must be followed carefully for local recurrence or metastases, since the clinical course is not predictable. Forty percent of the lesions were diagnosed as being malignant. Local excision was associated with recurrence in six of eight patients and was clearly inadequate treatment. Quadrantectomy was effective for benign peripheral lesions when a generous margin could be obtained. From these data, we believe that mastectomy is indicated in all patients with malignant lesions and in those with large benign lesions.

Colostomy and Colostomy Closure

A series of 181 adult patients subjected to colostomy was studied, almost all of whom had disease rather than injury. The complication rate was 28 per cent. One hundred of these patients had a subsequent colostomy closure with a complication rate of 17 per cent. Of the patients who had both procedures, 35 (35 per cent) had one or more significant complications. The causes and prevention of these complications are described.

Parathyromatosis in hyperparathyroidism

Recurrent hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy may present a difficult diagnostic problem. A rare etiology is parathyromatosis (multiple nodules of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue scattered through the neck and mediastinum) due to spillage of otherwise benign parathyroid tissue during surgery. We present a case of recurrent hyperparathyroidism and parathyromatosis due to tissue spillage during surgical removal of probable double adenomas, a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Thus, parathyromatosis must be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent or persistent hyperparathyroidism, distinguished from parathyroid carcinoma by histologic criteria. The surgeon must be careful of parathyroid spillage during surgery, even of benign tumors of the parathyroids.

Scleroderma of the colon with obstruction: report of a case.

SummaryA case of a patient who had colonic obstruction caused by scleroderma is described. The obstruction initially was treated by means of a colostomy, and later subtotal colectomy was carried out. This is the fifth report of a patient with symptomatic colonic scleroderma successfully treated by colonic resection. A review of colonic scleroderma is included.

Adenocarcinoma arising in a diverticular abscess of the colon: report of a case.

SummaryA case of a patient with adenocarcinoma in an abscess cavity that resulted from perforated diverticulitis of the descending colon is described. Serial barium-enema studies over a nine-year period show the diverticulosis, perforation, abscess cavity, and finally the adenocarcinoma in the abscess cavity. Although it is infrequent, the possibility of carcinoma must be considered in cases of patients who have unhealed pericolonic abscess cavities.

Some Unusual Manifestations of Parathyroid Disease

Hyperparathyroidism can masquerade as many diseases, can be associated with many diseases, and can present technical difficulties in surgical removal of diseased glands. Twelve cases reflect some of the interesting problems in each of these areas.

Phytobezoar: A recurring abdominal problem

Phytobezoars often follow gastric surgery for peptic ulcer disease. Billroth I resections have a high incidence of gastric bezoars, especially if accompanied by vagotomy. The larger opening of a Billroth II resection may result in intestinal bezoars with obstruction in the narrow terminal ileum. Gastric bezoars can be treated with enzymes or can be broken up by endoscopy; only rarely is operative removal required. Intestinal bezoars can be treated by long-tube and enzyme instillation but usually require laparotomy. If possible, the bolus should be milked into the cecum, but enterotomy or even resection may be required. Prevention is the best treatment and can be carried out by instructing patients who have had gastric surgery to avoid the fibrous portion of oranges and grapefruit and to avoid persimmons.

Vagotomy and double pyloroplasty for peptic ulcer.

Seventy patients with peptic ulcers (55 duodenal and 15 gastric) were treated by truncal vagotomy and doulbe pyloroplasty during the past four years. Clinical and experimental data as presented lead us to believe that transecting the pylorus twice produces an incontinent pyloric sphincter and a larger gastric outlet than is found in other methods of pyloroplasty. This decreases gastric stasis and has led to a lower ulcer recurrence rate (1.5%). In addition the untoward postoperative sequelae are minimal. The 70 patients treated (for the most pare consecutive cases) exhibited the usual complications of peptic ulcer disease. Thirty-three had intractable pain, 23 bleeding (15 massive), 13 obstruction, and one acute perforation. There were no operative or postoperative deaths and the only serious postoperative complication was unrelated to the double pyloroplasty. During the followup period four patients have died of unrelated diseases. Of the remaining 66 patients one developed a probable recurrent peptic ulcer which has responded to medical management. Four patients have intermittent dumping, three have mild diarrhea and one has failed to gain weight, Constipation and weight gain are more common complaints. It would appear that vagotomy with double pyloroplasty is a safe and effective operation for peptic ulcers and that further clinical trials are warranted.