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BACKGR OUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy represents the gold standard technique for the treatment of lithiasic gallbladder disease. Although it has many advantages, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not risk-free and in special situations there is a need for conversion into an open procedure, in order to minimize postoperative complications and to complete the procedure safely. The aim of this study was to identify factors that can predict the conversion to open cholecystectomy. METHODS: We analyzed 1323 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy over the last five years at St. Orsola University Hospital-Bologna and Umberto I University Hospital-Rome. Among these, 116 patients (8.7%) were converted into laparotomic cholecystectomy. Clinical, demographic, surgical and pathological data from these patients were included in a prospective database. A univariate analysis was performed followed by a multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, the factors significantly correlated with conversion to open were the ASA score higher than 3 and the comorbidity, specifically cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic renal failure (P

The impact of diabetes and cardiovascular comorbidity on laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been long debated, evaluating them as risk factors for conversion to an open procedure especially in patients with acute cholecystitis: an "early" procedure, as suggested by 2013 Tokyo guidelines, has been compared to a "very delayed" one in patients under anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy or treated for diabetes and referred by medical wards to surgery after the acute period.We selected 240 patients operated for acute cholecystitis by laparoscopy over the last 4 years at St. Orsola University Hospital-Bologna and Umberto I University Hospital-Rome, comparing 98 diabetic/cardiovascular patients versus 142 subjects as control group: the selection was based on operative timing, "early" (73 patients treated within 3 days) and "very delayed" (167 patients operated after 6 weeks).In the "early" subgroup there was no difference comparing diabetic/cardiovascular patients (31 pts) versus control group (42 pts) while in the "very delayed" subgroup among diabetic/cardiovascular patients (67 pts) there was significantly male predominance, ASA III/IV prevalence and less positive imaging findings versus control group (100 pts). In both subgroups, the conversion rate was significantly higher for diabetic/cardiovascular patients ("early"=25.8% and "very delayed"=8.95%) compared to control groups ("early"=4.76% and "very delayed"=1%), showing a trend (p=0.058) towards an increased conversion rate in the early approach among diabetic/cardiovascular group.Our study showed a significantly increased conversion rate to an open cholecystectomy for diabetic/cardiovascular patients affected by cholecystitis, especially within 3 days by the acute episode.

A number of reports indicated that Aurora-A or Aurora-B overexpression represented a negative prognostic factor in several human malignancies. In thyroid cancer tissues a deregulated expression of Aurora kinases has been also demonstrated, but no information regarding its possible prognostic role in differentiated thyroid cancer is available. Here, we evaluated Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNA expression and its prognostic relevance in a series of 87 papillary thyroid cancers (PTC), with a median follow-up of 63 months. The analysis of Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNA levels in PTC tissues, compared to normal matched tissues, revealed that their expression was either up- or down-regulated in the majority of cancer tissues. In particular, Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNA levels were altered, respectively, in 55 (63.2%) and 79 (90.8%) out of the 87 PTC analyzed.A significant positive correlation between Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNAs was observed (p=0.001). The expression of both Aurora genes was not affected by the BRAFV600E mutation. Univariate, multivariate and Kaplan-Mayer analyses documented the lack of association between Aurora-A or Aurora-B expression and clinicopathological parameters such as gender, age, tumor size, histology, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and BRAF status as well as disease recurrences or disease-free interval. Only Aurora-B mRNA was significantly higher in T(3-4) tissues, with respect to T(1-2) PTC tissues. The data reported here demonstrate that the expression of Aurora kinases is deregulated in the majority of PTC tissues, likely contributing to PTC progression. However, differently from other human solid cancers, detection of Aurora-A or Aurora-B mRNAs is not a prognostic biomarker in PTC patients.

The diffuse sclerosing variant (DSV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma is known for its high aggressiveness, high incidence of lymph node metastases, and high incidence of pulmonary metastases, and thus its consequently poorer prognosis. In this study, we undertook a retrospective analysis of papillary thyroid carcinomas to assess whether DSV can be considered a predictive factor for prognosis. We performed a retrospective evaluation of the Department's database of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who had undergone total thyroidectomy from January 1992 to December 2000. Group I consisted of 83 DSV patients and Group II was 168 pure papillary carcinoma (PC) patients. A significant prevalence of multinodular thyroid disorder on diagnosis was found for PC (P < 0.05), whereas with DSV, there was a significantly higher prevalence of post-thyroiditis nodular thyroid disorder than with PC (P < 0.001). The incidence of laterocervical lymph node pathology on diagnosis was significantly higher for DSV (P < 0.05). In 3.6 per cent of PC patients and 15.7 per cent of DSV patients, we observed recurrences in the regional lymph nodes (P < 0.001). We found 1.2 per cent distant metastases in PC patients and 7.2 per cent in DSV patients (P < 0.05). One PC patient (0.6%) and three DSV patients (3.6%) died of tumor-related causes (P < 0.05). Our study demonstrated that diffuse sclerosing carcinoma leads to a poorer prognosis to the extent that its classification as an autonomous clinical pathological entity is justified. In conclusion, we can state that DSV is a form of papillary thyroid tumor characterized by its higher aggressiveness, diffuse intrathyroid growth, and high incidence of lymph node and pulmonary metastasis. Ultimately, this means a poorer prognosis. In the presence of risk factors indicating a possible increase in biological aggressiveness, adequate postoperative treatment and close follow-up become essential.

Although thyroglossal duct cysts represent a common developmental abnormality of the thyroid gland, malignant transformation is rare and occurs in only 1% of cases. This article describes four clinical cases observed at the Surgical Science Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome between 1996 and 2000. Histologic examination indicated two pure papillary carcinomas, a sclerosing papillary carcinoma, and a follicular variant of papillary carcinoma. In all cases, treatment involved removal of the body of the hyoid bone and total thyroidectomy, which we associated with removal of the thyroglossal duct cyst. In one case, laterocervical lymphectomy was performed. Carcinoma multifocality was found in one patient. We recommend associating total thyroidectomy with removal of the tumor of the thyroglossal duct and of the body of the hyoid bone, because the carcinoma may be multifocal and there may be lymphatic invasion of the thyroid and to ensure a correct follow-up.

Objective: To conduct a retrospective study of 39 patients with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with histologic vascular invasion (VI) and 361 patients without any sign of vascular invasion (VI). Summary Background Data: In the present study, we undertook a retrospective analysis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid to assess whether histologically determined vascular invasion can be considered a predictive factor for prognosis. Methods: By means of a retrospective study, we evaluated the department’s database of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who had undergone total thyroidectomy from January 1993 to December 1999. Results: Group I consisted of papillary carcinoma without any sign of vascular invasion (VI) comprising 361 patients. Group II consisted of papillary carcinoma with vascular invasion (VI) comprising 39 patients. At the time of diagnosis, we observed no metastases in patients with VI, whereas a pulmonary metastasis was observed in 1 patient with VI (P 0.0023). In 3.6% patients with VI and in 20.5% patients with VI, we observed recurrences in the regional lymph nodes (P 0.001); we observed 6 (1.66%) distant metastases in patients with VI and in the 12.8% patients with VI (P 0.001). Three patients with VI (7.7%) and 2 patients with VI (0.6%) died of tumor-related causes; these figures were found to be statistically significant (P 0.001). Conclusions: In papillary carcinoma, it should be noted that histologic vascular invasion may be considered as a sign of an increased tendency toward hematogenic invasion and consequent increase in the relative percentage of metastases; ultimately, this means a poorer prognosis. In the presence of risk factors indicating a possible increase in biologic aggressiveness, adequate postoperative treatment and close follow up become essential.

Background and Objectives To determine whether thyroid carcinoma in elderly patients presents any peculiar characteristics, whether the greater biological aggressiveness of the neoplasm modifies the surgical treatment selected, and whether age greater than 70 years represents an independent prognostic factor. Methods Retrospective analysis of case histories from the Department of Surgery of “La Sapienza” University of Rome; 403 patients subjected to total thyroidectomy between 1993 and 1999, with a minimum follow-up period of 3 years subdivided into three groups: group I (patients aged between 20 and 50 years), group II (patients aged between 51 and 70 years) and group III (patients aged >70 years). The surgical and postoperative treatment is uniform in all study groups. Results Age greater than 70 years entails a significant increase in mortality; the mortality rate in the three groups was found to be 3%, 9% and 54%, respectively. Prognosis is significantly worse in the elderly patients group (group III) than in group I (P ≤ 0.001) and in group II (P ≤ 0.001); group II mortality was significantly higher than that of group I (P = 0.005); in group III, the neoplasm displays features of greater biological aggressiveness (greater incidence of undifferentiated forms, presence of lymph nodes at diagnosis and vascular invasion, locally advanced forms, greater incidence of stage IV). Conclusions Statistical analysis shows that the greater biological aggressiveness of the neoplasm in elderly patients worsens the prognosis, although an age exceeding 70 years itself represents an unfavourable prognostic factor; total thyroidectomy does not present any counter-indications in elderly patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2004;88:217–222. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

To evaluate the prognosis of papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) of the thyroid.Prospective study.Teaching hospital, Italy.89 patients treated for papillary micro carcinoma of thyroid and followed up for at least 6 years (range 6-12).Total thyroidectomy and, for lymph node metastases, laterocervical lymphadenectomy.Sex distribution, mode of onset of disease, diameter of tumour, histological type, histological stage, presence of lymph node metastases at the time of operation and type of operation.When the disease presented with laterocervical lymph nodes it was histologically more aggressive and included follicular (n = 3) and sclerosing (n = 4) types.Papillary microcarcinoma has an excellent prognosis if managed initially by total thyroidectomy.

The study aims were to characterize patients with insular thyroid cancer and to provide data on patient outcome after surgical therapy. We compared nine patients with insular thyroid cancer at the Department of Surgical Science of “La Sapienza” University of Rome with 27 patients of similar age and tumor size who had follicular and papillary cancer, for a minimum follow-up period of 24 months (range, 24–72 months). All of the patients examined underwent total thyroidectomy. Vascular invasion was observed in 44.4 per cent of insular carcinomas ( P < 0.05 vs papillary carcinomas). No significant differences were observed regarding diagnostic method, multifocality, tumor nodes metastases (TNM), or stage. The death rate of patients with insular carcinoma (33.3%) was found to be higher than that of patients with follicular carcinoma ( P < 0.05) and papillary carcinoma ( P < 0.01). Relapsing lymph-node pathologies were observed in 4 patients (44.4%) with insular carcinoma ( P < 0.05 vs those with follicular and papillary carcinomas). Distant metastases were observed in 66.6 per cent of insular carcinomas ( P < 0.005 vs follicular carcinoma and P < 0.001 vs papillary carcinoma). At the end of follow-up, 2 patients (22.2%) with insular carcinoma were disease-free ( P < 0.001 vs those with follicular and papillary carcinomas). Our study demonstrates an unfavorable prognostic role of the insular phenotype of thyroid cancer, such that this tumor can be classified as an autonomous clinical and pathological entity.

Total parathyroidectomy with autograft represents an optimal surgical technique in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Relapsing hyperparathyroidism due to miliary-type nodular formations scattered over the autograft site represents a complication that is rarely described in the literature. We examined five case histories of patients relapsing as a result of miliary-type nodular formations in the autograft site; in four cases the relapse was localized in the upper limb and in one case in a pouch of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The patients underwent removal of the hyperfunctioning parathyroid formations accompanied by demolition of the surrounding muscle tissue. The relapsing hyperparathyroidism caused by multiple miliary-type nodular formations is a rare occurrence, akin to parathyromatosis. The increasingly widespread use of total parathyroidectomy with autograft to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism can lead to an increase in the incidence of this complication. Correct surgical technique and a careful selection of the parathyroid tissue to be autografted can prevent this complication. Furthermore, extensive demolition of the muscle tissue in the autograft site can prevent further relapses. Intraoperative rapid parathormone assay was found to be predictive of the disease's persistence and recurrence.

In this study the authors examine the experience of their department in treating parotid tumours, evaluating in particular the various surgical techniques as a function of the prognosis and the incidence of relapses. Between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 2002, 336 patients with parotid tumour were observed in the Department of Surgical Sciences of "La Sapienza" University in Rome. Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with benign tumours and 65 with malignant tumours were analysed. As far as histological forms were concerned, the benign forms presented a prevalence of pleomorphic adenomas (55.2%) and of Warthin's tumours (36.4%). In the case of malignant tumours, the highest incidence was found for mucoepidermoid carcinomas (29.3%). In the case of benign neoplasms, the surgical strategy opted for was preneural parotidectomy performed in 148 cases (61.9%). Relapsing pleomorphic adenomas were observed in 11.65% of patients controlled, and relapsing Warthin's tumours in 8.7%. In malignant tumours, total parotidectomy was performed in principle, with possible enlargement modulated as a function of tumour stage; owing to causes related to the neoplasm, 18 patients (38.3%) died. In the treatment of benign parotid tumours, preneural parotidectomy is the preferred surgical strategy as it significantly reduces the relapse rate and, when performed by skilled surgeons, is characterized by a complication rate comparable to that of conservative surgery. In the treatment of malignant tumours, total parotidectomy is the basic procedure; extension of the action and the use of ancillary techniques are dependent on tumour stage.

The authors describe the first ever reported case of a malignant pecoma of the uterus infiltrating the ovary, the tube and two bowel loops. This extremely rare tumour usually shows a benign behaviour and seems to arise from the perivascular epithelioid cells (PEC).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of different strategies of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for the treatment of lower limb claudication.Five study groups were prospectively studied. Group 1: 9 patients not undergoing IPC; Group 2; six patients undergoing IPC 1 hour/thrice-a-day/4 months; Group 3: six patients undergoing IPC 2 hours/once-a-day/4 months; Group 4; six patients undergoing IPC 1 hour/thrice-a-day/2 months; Group 5: six patients undergoing IPC 2 hours/once-a-day/2 months.All patients completed the planned treatment schedule and stated a compliance of 33% in group 2, 83% in group 3, 66% in group 4 and 100% in group 5. Peak systolic velocity of the popliteal artery blood flow increased over baseline values particularly when IPC lasted 4 months (group 2: 85%, group 3: 81% vs. group 4: 76%, group 5: 73%). These beneficial effects lasted 10 months and vanished 14 months after the end of IPC treatment. The absolute claudication distance increased at the end of the treatment of 101% in group 2, 94% in group 3, 86% in group 4, and 83% in group 5, and it was still increased over the baseline values 14 months after the end of the treatment. No differences have been observed whether the treatment was performed once- or thrice-a-day.ICP treatment performed two hours once-a-day for four months provide excellent results with satisfactory treatment compliance. However, these effects are not durable and vanish about one year after the end of IPC treatment.

The aim of this work was to analyze patients suffering from primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) treated by traditional and miniaccess surgery, to demonstrate the validity and limits of intraoperative assay of PTH (iPTH). Between January 2000 and December 2001, at the Surgical Science Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome, 29 patients affected by HPT, one of whom was a recidivist, underwent surgery for HPT and had a mean follow-up of 15 months (range, 6-24 months). The research showed that a decrease of50% in iPTH values is indicative of resolution of clinical signs in 95% of cases. The use of iPTH in HPT for solitary adenoma in both classical and mini-invasive surgery yields a 100% success rate in terms of persistence, recidivism, and postoperative normocalcemia. iPTH is of assistance to the surgeon and allows treatment through mini-invasive access. In the case of solitary adenoma, iPTH is not only a biochemical histological examination but also a predictive test of normocalcemia.

This study analyses the diagnostic value of preoperative diagnostic imaging examinations in the identification and location of pathological parathyroid glands. We examined 77 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism using ultrasonography of the neck and Tc99m-MIBI scintigraphy for preoperative assessment purposes. All patients underwent surgical treatment. We compared the diagnostic imaging results with those furnished by histological examinations. TC99m-MIBI scintigraphy revealed the presence of a pathological parathyroid gland in 74/77 cases (96.1%) compared with 75/77 cases (97.4%) diagnosed by ultrasonography. The two examinations combined detected pathological glands in 100% of cases. The location of the pathological gland was correct in 57 cases (74.0%) at scintigraphy and in 56 cases (72.7%) at ultrasonography. In one case (1.3%) persistent hyperparathyroidism was demonstrated. There were no cases of relapse. In this study preoperative evaluation by ultrasonography and scintigraphy displayed great sensitivity in identifying and locating pathological parathyroid glands. Surgical neck exploration is still the gold standard in the correct location of pathological parathyroid glands measuring less than 5 mm.

We report a case of synchronous bilateral renal carcinoma treated by partial nephrectomy on the right and total nephrectomy on the left. Follow-up at 42 months after surgery showed no recurrence of the disease. The increasing use of diagnostic imaging techniques such as ultrasound tomography, computerised tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance now allows even small-sized renal formations to be identified. Synchronous bilateral renal tumour has a favourable prognosis, especially when compared with single or asynchronous renal tumours. The recommended intervention is total monolateral nephrectomy combined with partial nephrectomy. The treatment of neoplasms at a more advanced stage, of such a nature as to necessitate bilateral nephrectomy or chemotherapy, results in a significant increase in mortality. Recently, biological therapy has been proposed as a more promising short-term option using interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and gamma.