Tarik Artis

Alteration in mean platelet volume and platicrit values in patients with cancer that developed thrombosis.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of thrombocyte volume and tendency to thrombosis can be mentioned in case of MPV elevation. Cancers are one of the important groups of thrombotic diseases. In the present study, MPV value was scrutinized in patients with cancer that developed thrombosis. Totally 43 patients followed in Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, in who thromboembolus has been developed, were prospectively recruited in the study. Thrombocyte, MPV, and platicrit (PCT) values were recorded at the time of cancer diagnosis and thrombosis development. Frequency analysis, crosstabs, and paired samples t test were used. Analyses showed that MPV values at the time of thrombosis development were significantly low as compared to those at the time of cancer diagnosis (P = .041). Thrombocyte count and PCT values were also low but not significant. The result of the present study is likely to show that thrombocytes have ignorable effect on thrombosis development in patients with cancer.

Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor containing an intimate mixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Reports on risk factors, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of the tumor as well as the experience in its treatment are limited. METHOD We present a case of primary carcinosarcoma of the liver in a 69-year-old man who complained of right hypochondrial pain and weight loss for two months. RESULTS Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 14 x 12 cm mass in segments 7-8 and 4 of the liver with vena hepatica invasion. An ultrasonography-guided biopsy showed osteoid tissue without osteoblastic rimming. Vascular structures accompanied the osteoid tissue. The patient underwent surgery after a diagnosis of hemangioma. Intraoperative frozen sections revealed a carcinosarcoma associated with an osteosarcoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma components. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative diagnosis of this rare primary hepatic malignant tumor may be difficult by biopsy owing to intratumoral heterogeneity. Highly mature areas of the osteosarcomatous component may lead to misdiagnosis of metaplastic bone tissue. Clinicopathologic features of this rare entity are discussed.

[Retrospective evaluation of the alveolar echinococcosis cases between 1980-2010 in Erciyes University Hospital].

OBJECTIVE Alveolar echinococcosis is an uncommon parasitic disesae confined to the Northern Hemisphere. There is limited data regarding the incidence of the disease in Kayseri. METHODS Clinicopathologic features of the cases with the diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis reviewed between 1980-2010. RESULTS Twenty-nine cases of alveolar echinococcosis were found. There were no significant distribution differences during the study period. 28 of the 29 cases were localised in the liver, whereas one case was localised in the omentum. Sixteen of the 29 cases were male (55%) and 13 were female (45%). The age distribution of these cases varied between 33 and 80. Thirteen cases resided in Kayseri, 2 cases resided in Erzurum, 1 each case resided in Adana, Ardahan, Kars, Niğde, Nevşehir and Yozgat. We could not obtain information from the remaining 8 cases. Abdominal pain was the main symptom in 8 cases, jaundice in 2 cases and fatigue and fever in one case on admission. One case was detected incidentally. All of the cases were diagnosed by histologic examination. CONCLUSION The data about the alveolar echinococcosis is limited due to its low prevelance. Alveolar echinococcosis cases were detected in Kayseri with a lower incidence than in the East Anatolian region. This report will add data about the incidence of the alveolar echinococcosis.