Miki Yamano

Unroofing technique for endoscopic resection of a large colonic lipoma.

A 77-year-old man presented with repeated episodes of melena. He had a medical history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation and cardiogenic brain infarction and took medications, i.e. an antiplatelet agent. Laboratory data revealed iron deficiency anemia. Colonoscopy revealed a yellowish smooth submucosal tumor, 50 mm in diameter, on the Bauhin valve. The lesion was soft and compressible. The overlying mucosa was erosive. CT scan showed a uniform mass with very low density in the ascending colon, corresponding to the above-detected lesion. The clinical diagnosis of colonic lipoma was established. Using a 25 mm electrocautery snare (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), we transected the upper portion of the mass to unroof the lesion. The mucosa layer was thick and hard. Fat tissue was observed extruding from the cut surface, consistent with the diagnostic hypothesis. After dissecting the overlying mucosa on the anal side by means of an IT knife (Olympus) in order to completely extrude the mass, the fat tissue was further exposed. It took about 26 min to perform the whole procedure. There were no procedure-related complications. Macroscopically, the resected lesion was a yellow solid tumor, 1.6 × 1.5 × 0.7 cm in diameter. Histopathologic examination of the excised specimen confirmed the diagnosis of a lipoma. The clinical course was uneventful. A follow-up endoscopy 1 month later showed a scarred mucosa at the resection site. Similarly, a follow-up CT scan 2 months later revealed no evidence of residual lipoma. The unroofing technique is safe, easy and suitable for the treatment of large lipomas.

A case of giant leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava with liver metastases: A surgical challenge

Introduction: Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare tumor that is hard to diagnose because there are no definitive symptoms. Case Report: A 72-year-old Japanese female presented with edema in both legs. Enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a heterogeneous tumor measuring 10×11×15 cm, which exerted pressure on the inferior vena cava. We preoperatively diagnosed the tumor as leiomyosarcoma in the middle region of the inferior vena cava. During resection of the tumor, the right and left renal veins and inferior vena cava were clamped for 32 minutes. A 90mm elliptical resection was taken from the inferior vena cava and replaced with a 20-mm straight vascular graft. Pathological examination indicated leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava and liver metastasis. The patient was put on anticoagulant drugs and discharged on the 14th postoperative day. Conclusion: We report a rare case of giant leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava with liver metastasis.

Pulmonary thrombosis associated with antidiuretic hormone replacement therapy due to secondary diabetes insipidus after traumatic brain injury: A case report.

INTRODUCTION Diabetes insipidus is a well-recognized complication of traumatic brain injury. The majority of patients with post-traumatic diabetes insipidus will require antidiuretic hormone (ADH) replacement therapy and tend to show dehydration. On the other hand, some negative effects of ADH on blood coagulation, such as increased platelet cohesion and the promotion of von Willebrand factor release, have also been reported. However, the incidence of thrombosis during antidiuretic hormone replacement therapy is disputed. PRESENTATION OF CASE A case of pulmonary thrombosis associated with ADH replacement therapy due to secondary diabetes insipidus after traumatic brain injury is presented here. DISCUSSION In our case, there were three factors that may have contributed to the observed thrombosis (dehydration, bed rest for a long period and ADH replacement therapy). CONCLUSION We believe that controlling urinary output and monitoring urinary and serum osmotic pressure are necessary for the management for diabetes insipidus patients after traumatic brain injury. In particular, we must carefully monitor the management of such patients during antidiuretic hormone replacement therapy.

Castleman's disease along the left tracheobronchial tree with a difficult preoperative diagnosis.

A 39-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an asymptomatic middle mediastinal tumor. A preliminary histological diagnosis of the tumor by bronchoscopy was difficult to obtain because the tumor was located along the left tracheobronchial tree, which is difficult to approach. The tumor was resected through a right anteroaxillary thoracotomy without any major complications, and histopathological examination revealed that the lesion was Castleman’s disease, hyaline-vascular type. Radiological findings of the lesion were typical; however, the rarity of the tumor made the imaging diagnosis difficult. If a lesion is located along the tracheobronchial tree, Castleman’s disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis.