Pediatric Urachal Anomalies: Monocentric Experience and Mini-Review of Literature

Background: Surgery is the current mainstay for the treatment of urachal anomalies (UA). Recent literature data support the theory of a spontaneous resolution within the first year of life. The aim of this study, comprising solely surgically treated children, was to identify age specific patterns regarding symptoms and outcomes that may support the non-surgical treatment of UA. Methods: Retrospective review on the clinico-laboratory characteristics of 52 children aged < 17 years undergoing resection of symptomatic UA at our pediatric surgical unit during 2006–2017. Data was dichotomized into age > 1 (n = 17) versus < 1 year (n = 35), and complicated (pre-/post-surgical abscess formation or peritonitis, n = 10) versus non-complicated course (n = 42). Results: Children aged < 1 year comprised majority (67%) of cohort and had lower complication rates (p = 0.062). Complicated course at surgery exclusively occurred in patients aged > 1 year (p = 0.003). Additionally, complicated group was older (p = 0.018), displayed leukocytosis (p < 0.001) and higher frequencies regarding presence of abdominal pain (p = 0.008) and abdominal mass (p = 0.034) on admission. Regression analysis identified present abdominal pain (OR (95% CI), 11.121 (1.152–107.337); p = 0.037) and leukocytosis (1.435 (1.070–1.925); p = 0.016) being associated with complicated course. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that symptomatic disease course follows an age-dependent complication pattern with lower complication rates at age < 1 year. Larger, studies have to clarify, if waiting for spontaneous urachal obliteration during the first year of life comprises a reasonable alternative to surgery.

A fetus excised from the small intestinal mesentery of a neonate (fetus in fetu): a case report

Background Fetus in fetu is a rare congenital anomaly. Its incidence is 1/500,000 births. So, pediatric surgeons may encounter this pathology only once or twice during their professional careers. Case presentation We present a rare case of a fetus extracted from the small intestinal mesentery of a healthy neonate who was explored after delivery. The extracted fetal mass included a fully differentiated skull and limbs with a celomic cavity. The fetal mass was supplied by a main feeding vessel branching from the superior mesenteric artery. Conclusion Fetus in fetu, despite being a rare variant, must be kept in mind when dealing with a neonatal abdominal mass showing bony parts on radiography.

Abdominal cyst of unclear aetiology: gastrointestinal stromal tumour or reactivation of abdominal tuberculosis

Differential diagnosis of a new abdominal mass is broad and includes infection, malignancy and other inflammatory processes. Definitive diagnosis may be challenging without invasive biopsy, as history, physical exam and imaging may be non-specific. A 69-year-old man with a history of abdominal tuberculosis presented with a new painful abdominal cyst consistent with reactivation of tuberculosis versus new malignancy. Investigations revealed 4+ acid-fast bacilli from the aspirate suggestive of tuberculosis, but no improvement was noted on antituberculous therapy. Core needle biopsy noted c-KIT-positive spindle cells, diagnostic for a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, while cultures grew non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Pseudocyst of Abdomen Presenting as a Huge Abdominal Mass after Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Case Report

A ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a major surgical modality to relieve intracranial pressure in patients with hydrocephalus. Shunt obstruction and infection are the most common complications following shunt surgery whereas VP shunt-associated pseudocyst formation is a rare complication. These are the cystic space without the epithelial lining, filled with fluid around the distal tip of the catheter. In this case report, we present you a 47-year-old male who underwent VP shunt placed a year back presented with huge abdominal swelling, headache, and weight loss. CT scan of the abdomen showed abdominal pseudocyst with the peritoneal end of the shunt within the cyst. Though the exact mechanism is not known, abdominal adhesion, multiple revisions, obstruction, or dislodgement are thought to predispose to the formation of a pseudocyst.

Extragenital endometrial stromal sarcoma of transverse mesocolon: A diagnostic conundrum

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare uterine neoplasm infrequently arising in extra-genital sites. Herein, we report an extremely rare case of primary extra-genital ESS of transverse mesocolon occurring in a 51-year-old female presenting with gradually increasing abdominal mass. The clinical diagnosis considered was a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Intra-operatively, the mass was confined exclusively to the transverse mesocolon. Microscopy revealed a cellular tumor composed of oval to elongate neoplastic cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, inconspicuous nucleoli and were immunoreactive for CD10, progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), and PAX8; negative for KIT, CD34, SMA, S100, synaptophysin, chromogranin, WT-1, and calretinin. A distinct arborizing network of arterioles along with foci of endometriosis was also seen. We present this case for its extreme rarity and the challenges entailed in its diagnosis.

Wandering spleen with torsion presenting as a rare case of acute abdomen

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical occurrence characterized by the absence of spleen in its normal anatomic place. Patients may present with acute abdomen, abdominal mass, and chronic abdominal pain. Prompt diagnosis and intervention are necessary. Here, we report a case of a woman who presented with acute abdominal pain secondary to a wandering spleen complicated by torsion of its vascular pedicle. Keywords: Wandering spleen; torsion; splenectomy

An Uncommon Recurrent Metastasis of Ovarian Immature Teratoma to the Small Bowel

Immature ovarian teratomas are rare ovarian germ cell tumors associated with a variable potential of distant metastasis. The acquisition of mature phenotypes upon post-treatment recurrence of immature teratomas has been previously described. In this study, we report, for the first time, a rare case of a recurrent ovarian immature teratoma with mature deposits in the small bowel. An incidental pelvi-abdominal mass was identified in a 30-year-old pregnant patient during antenatal ultrasonography. The mass, which was resected through salpingo-oopherectomy, was histopathologically characterized as an immature teratoma of grade 2 and treated with 3 cycles of chemotherapy. After 3 years of completing treatment, the patient suffered from severe anemia which was investigated by capsule endoscopy that identified a bleeding source in the ileum. Imaging studies revealed an intrabdominal mass that was resected laparoscopically. The pathological assessment of the mass identified a submucosal/intramuscular teratoma with mature elements indicative of a recurrent metastasis of immature teratoma associated with post-chemotherapy retroconversion. The secondary mass was then managed with adjuvant chemotherapy.