Toshikatsu Taniki

Extrathymic malignancy in patients with myasthenia gravis

The presence of extrathymic malignancies was investigated in 296 thymectomised myasthenia gravis (MG) cases. In 5 of the 296 cases, extrathymic malignant tumours were observed. 4 of the 5 cases had thymomatous MG. 3 cases had malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Extrathymic malignancies were observed more frequently in thymomatous MG than in non-thymomatous MG. 59 cases (60 tumours), including our 5 cases, who had MG and extrathymic malignant tumours were compiled from the literature. In the 60 extrathymic malignancies, leukaemia and reticulo-endothelial sarcoma were the most frequent types.

Pulmonary varices: A case report and review of the literature

A case of a 47-year-old woman with pulmonary varix is reported herein. Saccular dilatation of the inferior pulmonary vein resembled a pulmonary perihilar mass which could not be palpated at the time of thoracotomy. Aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary vein, otherwise known as pulmonary varix, is rare. Only 71 such cases, including 17 cases in Japan, have been reported. Pulmonary varices may be classified into three types, namely: saccular type, tortuous type and confluent type. Most of the varices seen in patients with valvular disease have been of the confluent type (62 per cent), however tortuous type varices have also been seen in some cases (19 per cent). Pulmonary venous hypertension may be one of the major causes of confluent type pulmonary varices as regression of pulmonary varices after mitral valve replacement has been reported. None of the saccular type cases, however, were accompanied by valvular disease. This indicates that local factors may also be an important cause of saccular type varices.

Laparoscopic permanent sigmoid stoma creation through the extraperitoneal route.

About 50% of patients who have a permanent stoma experience some degree of parastomal hernia formation. To prevent this complication, the extraperitoneal route is considered to be more effective than the transperitoneal route in the case of open colorectal surgery. This technique also has superiority in avoiding postoperative intestinal obstruction. Although laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer has not been proved to be as safe as open surgery by a randomized-controlled trial, some studies have shown the equality of long-term results with laparoscopic low anterior resection and laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection. It is anticipated that cases of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection will increase in the near future. However, a laparoscopic technique for creation of a permanent stoma has hardly been discussed. Most operative procedures for laparoscopic stoma creation have been performed with transperitoneal route, which may cause parastomal hernia and/or intestinal obstruction. This report describes a laparoscopic technique for permanent sigmoid stoma creation through the extraperitoneal approach.

Resected xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis

Xanthogranulomatous changes in the pancreas are extremely rare. A 66-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of epigastralgia. Computed tomography scan revealed a 4-cm low-density area around the body of the pancreas. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that the mass appeared hyperintense on a T2-weighted image and isointense on a T1-weighted image. Based on a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. Sections examined from the mass showed an aggregation of many foamy histiocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. The surrounding pancreatic tissue showed fibrosis and chronic inflammation. These findings suggested a xanthogranulomatous inflammation, and resulted in a diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis.

A case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration with calcification and elevated serum values of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9

Pulmonary sequestration is uncommon. We report a case with radiographically visible calcification and elevated serum values of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19–9.

Testicular metastasis from malignant schwannoma of chest wall

Metastatic malignancy to the testes is unusual. Reports of testicular metastasis of neurogenic tumor are extremely rare. Only 28 cases with testicular metastasis of neurogenic tumor have been reported in the world literature. Cases of primary malignant schwannoma with testicular metastasis have not been reported previously. We present an unusual case of a thirty-seven-year-old man who had a malignant schwannoma of the chest wall with testicular metastasis.

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast: Is Breast Conserving Treatment Feasible?

Between 1968 and 1993, 43 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) were treated. We examined the extent of the cancer using multiple sections of surgical specimens and considered whether or not breast conserving treatment (BCT) is feasible for treatment of DCIS. In nine out of 40 patients (23%), extent of the cancer was classified as grade III, defined as extension over a 2.5-cm margin around the tumor. Among those nine cases, 67% (6/9) had extensive microcalcification on mammography. With respect to the correlation between the tumor size and the extent of the cancer, 29% (5/17) of the cases with a small size tumor, ie, 1.0 cm or less, showed grade III or greater. All tumors with a size of 1.1–2.0 cm showed grade II or lower, and 50% (4/8) of cases with a tumor size of 2.1 cm or more showed grade III or greater. Concerning the relationship between the histological subtype and the extent of the cancer, 22% (2/9) of comedo carcinomas and 23% (7/30) of noncomedo carcinomas showed grade III or greater. The histological extent thus showed no difference between comedo carcinoma and noncomedo carcinoma. It follows that, when BCT performed on DCIS consists of lumpectomy alone, BCT is feasible when the tumor size is 1.1–2.0 cm, without extensive microcalcification on mammography. However, BCT for comedo carcinoma should be approached with caution because of its malignant behavior, although there was no difference in histological extent between comedo and noncomedo carcinoma.

Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: Is breast conserving treatment feasible?

Between 1968 and 1993, 43 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) were treated. We examined the extent of the cancer using multiple sections of surgical specimens and considered whether or not breast conserving treatment (BCT) is feasible for treatment of DCIS. In nine out of 40 patients (23%), extent of the cancer was classified as grade III, defined as extension over a 2.5-cm margin around the tumor. Among those nine cases, 67% (6/9) had extensive microcalcification on mammography. With respect to the correlation between the tumor size and the extent of the cancer, 29%(5/17) of the cases with a small size tumor, ie, 1.0 cm or less, showed grade III or greater. All tumors with a size of 1.1-2.0 cm showed grade II or lower, and 50%(4/8) of cases with a tumor size of 2.1 cm or more showed grade III or greater. Concerning the relationship between the histological subtype and the extent of the cancer, 22%(2/9) of comedo carcinomas and 23%(7/30) of noncomedo carcinomas showed grade III or greater. The histological extent thus showed no difference between comedo carcinoma and noncomedo carcinoma. It follows that, when BCT performed on DCIS consists of lumpectomy alone, BCT is feasible when the tumor size is 1.1-2.0 cm. without extensive microcalcification on mammography. However, BCT for comedo carcinoma should be approached with caution because of its malignant behavior, although there was no difference in histological extent between comedo and noncomedo carcinoma.

A Case of Epiploic Appendagitis of the Ascending Colon

右下腹部痛を主訴とする36歳の男性で, 急性虫垂炎の診断の下に開腹したところ, 虫垂には異常所見は認めず, 上行結腸腹膜垂が暗赤褐色を呈し, 一部壊死状で茎部は非常に細く, 捻転に基づく血行障害による腹膜垂炎と考えられる症例を経験した.本症の原因としては, 腹膜垂の捻転による血行障害が重視されており, 自験例も同様の原因によるものであった.しかし本邦報告例の中には, 血行障害が原因ではないと考えられる例も散見される.この点より腹膜垂炎には2つのタイプがあり, 血行障害型腹膜垂炎と非血行障害型腹膜垂炎に分類できる.われわれが経験した上行結腸腹膜垂炎の1例を報告するとともに, 本症の原因を中心に若干の文献的考察を行った.