Benign retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking a pancreatic cystic tumor: case report and literature review

A rare case of benign retroperitoneal schwannoma mimicking a pancreatic cystic tumor is reported herein. The tumor mass, based on a computed tomography scan and an abdominal echo examination, was initially suspected to be a mucinous cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. However, the surgical and pathohistological findings made a final diagnosis of benign pancreatic schwannoma. The patient is doing well at a 2-year follow-up. The tumor, 18x17x15 cm in size, represented the largest among reported pancreatic schwannomas. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of reported cases of pancreatic schwannoma was carried out to summarize corresponding findings, including benign or malignant forms, adherence to other tissues, cystic change of the tumor, as well as relation to von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis.     

Carcinoid tumor occurring in cystic teratoma of the kidney: a case report

Although carcinoid tumors have occurred rarely in benign teratomas of the ovary and the testis, we believe this case is the first reported of carcinoid arising in a benign cystic teratoma of the kidney. The patient was admitted to the Tagawa Hospital with a left abdominal mass and severe epigastric pain. Retrograde and intravenous pyelograms revealed marked dilatation of the left kidney; a renal tumor was diagnosed clinically. At operation, a polycystic tumor weighing 1400g was removed. Histologically, a carcinoid tumor was evident among teratoid tissues, such as columnar epithelium, cartilage, smooth muscle, and mucous secretory glands. The patient did not have a carcinoid syndrome and had an uneventful recovery.     

Pleural pneumatocoeles mimicking congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung. A case report

The beta-specific mRNA were identified in the suppressor cell-line of murine and suppressor hybridoma of mouse origin by mRNA-DNA hybridization and isolation of cDNA with DNA and antibody probes.     

Retrovesical leiomyosarcoma responsive to preoperative chemoradiotherapy: a case report

A 70-year-old man with dysuria was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large solid tumor in the retrovesical space. Transurethral needle biopsy revealed leiomyosarcoma. Since the size of the tumor decreased markedly by intraarterial chemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate and pirarubicin, in combination with radiotherapy (40 Gy), surgical extirpation of the tumor was performed. Neither infiltration to the adjacent organs or lymph node metastasis was recognized. The patient had been free of recurrence for 12 months after operation.     

Intrapulmonary cystic lymphangioma: report of a case

We describe herein the case of a 52-year-old man found to have a solitary pulmonary lymphangioma. Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a nodule with homogeneous density and a well-defined border in the lower lobe of the right lung. T2-Weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a nodule with homogeneously high signal intensity. The tumor was removed by partial resection, and pathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of primary lymphangioma of the lung.     

Gastric injury by caustics: a case report

The authors get the idea from the observation of a case of ingestion of muriatic acid, recently happened by Clinical Surgery II of the IRCCS Polyclinic "San Matteo" of Pavia in order to examine carefully the matter. The rareness of the shown case is given by the whole involvement of only the stomach, without damages for the oropharynx and the esophagus. The total gastrectomy executed 6 months after the ingestion of the acid has given to the patient the whole recovery. The follow-up checked for a periodical time of 6 months for a period of about five years, permits to observe the normal intestinal canalization without stenitical symptoms or zonas with degenerative risk.     

Adrenal adenoma and hematoma mimicking a collision tumor at MR imaging

Fas ligand (FasL), a cell surface molecule belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family, binds to its receptor Fas, thus inducing apoptosis of Fas bearing cells. In the present study we assessed the expression of Fas, activation molecule interleukin (IL)-2 receptor alpha chain (CD25) and an index of functional activity such as thymidine uptake under mitogen stimulation of tumor associated lymphomonocytes (TALM) from 7 neoplastic effusions of advanced cancer patients. The same parameters were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 7 patients with cancer of different sites and in 7 normal subjects. The proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), measured as [3H]-thymidine uptake, of TALM was significantly lower than that of PBMC of cancer patients. The expression of CD25 on unstimulated fresh TALM was slightly higher than that of PBMC from normal subjects: after 24 h of PHA stimulation the CD25 was expressed both on TALM and PBMC from normal subjects. The expression of Fas was assessed on unstimulated TALM, PBMC from cancer patients and normal subjects immediately after (by 2 h, t0) the cell separation, and at different times (24 h and 48 h) thereafter, and on PHA-stimulated TALM, PBMC from cancer patients and normal subjects after 24 h and 48 h of culture (in RPMI 1640). At all times (t0, 24 h and 48 h) the Fas expression by unstimulated TALM was significantly higher than that of PBMC from normal subjects: the Fas expression by PBMC from cancer patients was roughly in the same range as PBMC from normal subjects. At 24 h the Fas expression by PHA-stimulated TALM was significantly higher than that of PBMC from normal subjects, whereas at 48 h the difference was not significant. The TALM studied by us showed to be functionally defective and expressing relatively high levels of Fas showing the characteristics to be considered as a target for FasL expressing tumor cells, which in this way may escape immune control.     

Neurinoma of the facial nerve mimicking a parotid tumour. A case report

A case of a facial neurinoma localized in the right parotid gland is presented. Neurinomas derived from the facial nerve are very rare especially when extracranially located. Despite imaging and other investigations, extirpation of the tumour and histopathological examination are the only way to establish the diagnosis. Neurinomas are encapsulated and can be dissected without interruption of nerve branches.     

Rosai-Dorfman disease mimicking multiple meningioma: case report

Rosai-Dorfman disease is a rare idiopathic histioproliferative disease affecting the lymph nodes. Extranodal involvement has also been recognized, but central nervous system manifestations are extremely rare. Only 12 patients with intracranial involvement have been reported previously, and they all presented with clinical and radiological findings suggestive of meningioma. We report multiple meningeal nodules in a patient presenting with seizures whose pathological findings at surgery confirmed the diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease. A review of all previously reported intracranial lesions is presented.     

Acinar pancreatic tumor with metastatic fat necrosis: report of a case and review of rheumatic manifestations

This report deals with a pancreatic tumor associated with metastatic fat necrosis. Our patient displayed the full gamut of nodular panniculitis, polyarthritis, fever, eosinophilia, hyperlipasemia, lytic bones lesions, and marrow fat necrosis. The rheumatologic features are reviewed. Elevated serum lipase is a most helpful laboratory confirmation. The tumor in our patient presented a difficult problem in classification. Although the appearance under light microscopy was most compatible with islet cell carcinoma or islet cell carcinoid, the ultrastructural characteristics were those of acinar carcinoma.     

Gastric leiomyoblastoma: literature review and report of a case

The extended V-Y flap, a modified V-Y advancement flap, is very useful in closing relatively large defects on the face. Its extension limb is hinged down as a transposition flap on the end of the V-Y advancement flap to close the most distal portion of the defect. We applied this flap in closing a defect following excision of skin tumors on the face with excellent cosmetic results in 11 patients. However, this flap tended to make a distortion at the base of the flap in the primary closure site. By drawing figures, we concluded that the distortion was due to the characteristic of this technique as a V-Y advancement-rotation flap or V-Y advancement flap with rotation.     

Giant recurrent desmoid tumor: a case report

A case of giant recurrent intra-abdominal desmoid tumor is presented. A history of childbirth, antecedent surgery, multiple episodes of recurrence, resistance to excisional and radiation therapy, represent common features of desmoid tumors. The size of the recurrence (15.4 kg), the intra-abdominal presentation of the tumor, involvement of the chest wall and focal infiltration of the small bowel are unusual features of this case.     

Granular cell tumor of the duodenum: a case report

Granular cell tumor (GCT) in the duodenum is an extremely rare disease: only one case has been listed in a review, to date. We reported a 47-yr-old Japanese male case with GCT of the duodenum. Clinically, melena caused by bleeding from the tumor was the only symptom. The tumor cells showed abundant, granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Although this tumor was clinically and histologically benign, highly developed tumor microvessels were demonstrated both angiographically and histologically, suggesting malignant potential of the tumor.     

Adenomatoid tumor of the heart: report of a case

We report a case of an adenomatoid tumor involving the heart. The lesion was found incidentally at the time of cardiac surgery, measured 1.0 cm, and was poorly demarcated from the adjacent myocardium. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of aggregates of relatively large, epithelioid cells that coalesced to form tubular spaces and occasionally branched into anastomosing channels. The neoplastic cells were strongly immunoreactive with antibodies against cytokeratin. The pathologic features of this unusual cardiac tumor are diagnostic of an adenomatoid tumor, a relatively rare benign neoplasm of mesothelial origin usually found in association with the genital tract. Although rare cases of adenomatoid tumors found outside of the genital tract have been described, including two recently reported pleural tumors, it has not been described to involve the heart.     

Laparoscopic enucleation of a pancreatic insulinoma: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 48-year-old Japanese woman in whom a pancreatic insulinoma was successfully treated by laparoscopic enucleation. The patient presented after developing episodic neurohypoglycemic symptoms, and an insulinoma in the pancreatic tail, 1.0 cm in diameter, was diagnosed by the results of biochemical and radiological examinations. A laparoscopic intraoperative ultrasonogram demonstrated a solitary hypoechogenic tumor in the pancreatic tail. After the tail and body of the pancreas with the spleen were mobilized, laparoscopic enucleation was performed without any complications. The total operative time was 225min and the estimated blood loss was 20 ml. Serial blood sugar measurements demonstrated a sharp rise in blood sugar levels at the time of enucleation. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. She has remained well for 33 months following surgery without any hypoglycemic symptoms.     

Prenatal ultrasonographic findings of intra-abdominal cystic lymphangioma: a case report

The integrity and functional capacity of the urethral sphincter is one of the important prerequisites of urinary incontinence in women. Urodynamic investigations revealed repeatedly that the maximum closure pressure in the median portion of the urethra corresponds to the maximal thickness of the external urethral sphinctor (rhabdosphincter urethrae). This striated muscle is adapted to maintain a relatively steady tonus which assists the closure mechanism of the urethra [4]. In the submitted study the authors focused attention on the ultrasonic visualization of the internal urethral sphincter in order to assess the relationship between the size of this sphincter and the stress type of incontinence (genuine stress incontinence-GSI). The investigation comprised thirty women with confirmed GSI and a control group of thirty asymptomatic volunteers. During perineal ultrasonic examination of women in a supine position by means of an ACUSON 128 XP 10 apparatus using a convex probe with a frequency of 5 MHz the authors recorded statistically significant differences in the areas and maximal thickness of the urethral sphincter in women with stress incontinence and symptom-free women. From the results ensues that the size of this muscle is much smaller in women suffering from GSI.     

Signet-ring cell melanoma mimicking adenocarcinoma. A case report

The fine needle aspiration findings in a lymph node involved by signet-ring cell melanoma, a very rare variant of malignant melanoma, are reported. The patient had a history of superficial spreading melanoma of the right foot, treated 10 years earlier by below-the-knee amputation. He presented with a right groin mass. Fine needle aspiration of the mass yielded poorly cohesive, large cells with eccentric nuclei and abundant, eosinophilic cytoplasm; many of them exhibited a signet-ring appearance. Melanin pigments were identified in a small proportion of tumor cells, and a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma was made. The subsequent lymph node excision revealed a metastatic tumor composed of polygonal and signet-ring cells that were positive for S-100 protein and HMB-45 but not cytokeratin. Nearly all reported cases of signet-ring cell melanoma occurred as metastatic or recurrent disease. It is important not to mistake signet-ring cell melanoma for adenocarcinoma in aspiration cytology, and a constellation of clinical features and of histochemical and immunohistochemical findings enables a correct diagnosis to be reached.     

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the greater omentum: case report and review of the literature

Omental leiomyosarcomas are rare intra-abdominal tumors. This report describes a case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the greater omentum discovered on abdominal CT scan. The mass was removed via laparotomy and an omentectomy performed. At 2 years postoperatively there is no sign of tumor recurrence or metastasis.