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Purpose: Although sigmoid volvulus (SV) causes acute obstruction, its pathogenesis and mechanism of torsion are unknown, and few reports have described its pathological findings. Here, we evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics of volvulus and factors contributing to volvulus of the sigmoid colon. Methods: We compared 14 patients with SV (10 men and 4 women; median age, 78.5 years) with 14 age- and sex-matched control patients for differences in clinical characteristics, focusing on dysmotility (enteric visceral myopathy, neuropathy, and mesenchymopathy). Results: Of the 14 SV patients, 7 had recurrent volvulus, 11 had an associated condition, and 5 required emergency surgery. Atrophy and fibrosis of the inner muscle were more prevalent in the SV than control patients ( p = 0.041). Median extent (per centimeter of muscularis propria) of the myenteric plexus (12.5 versus 17.5, p < 0.001) and submucous plexus (15.0 versus 25.5, p < 0.001) was lower in the SV patients, as were the median numbers of myenteric (9.7 versus 30.4, p < 0.001) and submucous ganglion cells (10.0 versus 23.2, p < 0.001). Inflammatory neuropathy was more prevalent in the SV than control patients ( p = 0.046); whereas, the prevalence of mesenchymopathy did not differ ( p = 0.481). Conclusions: A decrease in the extent of enteric plexus and ganglion cells precedes the clinical manifestation of SV. Although further elucidation is needed, this decrease may play an important role in the diagnosis of SV and in identifying the mechanism leading to torsion in SV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. They can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, and rarely outside the digestive tract. We herein report a case of primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor that was resected from the liver of a 56-year-old male, which is the sixth description of a primary hepatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The tumor was shown to be completely limited within the liver by radiological, intraoperative and pathological examinations. The pathological results demonstrated an intermediate risk gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and immunohistochemical expression of CD117 was positive. Although rare, we suggested that GISTs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hepatic nodules, and that not all hepatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors should automatically be considered to be metastases from a primary gastrointestinal site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 7-year-old boy underwent uncomplicated laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Incidentally, he was found to have a spindle cell tumor with CD117 immunopositivity, consistent with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the appendix. Although commonly reported in adults, pediatric GISTs are rare gastrointestinal malignancies that occur in only 1.4-2.7 % of children and adolescents []. Due to the paucity of reports, data are insufficient to adequately characterize tumor behavior, recurrence, and survival. We present the first case of pediatric GIST in the appendix. In addition, a review of the literature for CD117 confirmed pediatric GISTs was conducted to summarize its clinical features and current treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]