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Although Blastocystis sp. has been classically considered a commensal parasite with limited pathogenicity, recent studies suggest that its pathogenic potential is high. We report the case of a 9-year-old Spanish male who presented with peritonitis secondary to acute appendicitis with abundant intra-abdominal turbid-free fluid. A standard appendectomy was performed, and a sample of the fluid was taken for microbiological culture. Multimicrobial flora was isolated in peritoneal fluid culture. The antibiotic resistance study showed that all the microorganisms were sensitive to meropenem. On the 5th postoperative day, a control blood test showed relative eosinophilia and a persistently elevated C-reactive protein. A stool parasitological study showed abundant cysts morphologically compatible with Blastocystis hominis . The hematoxylin & eosin and Giemsa study identified abundant parasitic cysts in the appendix. The patient evolved favorably and is currently asymptomatic and under follow-up. Regarding acute appendicitis, there is only one report in the literature of peritonitis of appendiceal origin associated with Blastocystis sp. In conclusion, although infrequent, parasitosis should be considered as a potential etiological agent of acute appendicitis, even in nonendemic areas. Relative eosinophilia or persistently elevated acute phase reactants despite adequate antibiotic coverage should help to establish diagnostic suspicion., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: The diagnostic suspicion of an atypical lipomatous tumour (ALT) is difficult. The aim of this study is to delve into the most controversial diagnostic aspects of the subject., Material and Method: Observational, longitudinal and retrospective study of a series of 96 deep adipose tumours (75 lipomas and 21 TLA) from 2006 to 2016: demographic, clinical, imaging and pathological variables were analysed and compared, as well as other variables related to treatment and oncological outcomes of the patients. A descriptive analysis of the collected variables was performed for the statistical study. To evaluate the potential predictor variables of malignancy, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, including those that were statistically significant in the univariate analysis., Results: Older age at diagnosis, lower limb location and larger size were significantly more frequent in ALTs. MRI findings showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, the same clinical variables were confirmed as predictors of malignancy. In the ROC curve, an optimal cut-off point of 134.0mm was used as a predictor of malignancy., Conclusions: Advanced age, location in the lower limbs and larger size are risk factors for malignancy in the differential diagnosis of deep lipomas and atypical lipomatous tumours. No radiological variable on MRI reached significance as a predictor of malignancy in our series., (Copyright © 2024 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: The diagnostic suspicion of an atypical lipomatous tumour (ALT) is difficult. The aim of this study is to delve into the most controversial diagnostic aspects of the subject., Material and Method: Observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study of a series of 96 deep adipose tumours (75 lipomas and 21 TLA) from 2006 to 2016: demographic, clinical, imaging and pathological variables were analysed and compared, as well as other variables related to treatment and oncological outcomes of the patients. A descriptive analysis of the collected variables was performed for the statistical study. To evaluate the potential predictor variables of malignancy, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, including those that were statistically significant in the univariate analysis., Results: Older age at diagnosis, lower limb location and larger size were significantly more frequent in ALTs. MRI findings showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, the same clinical variables were confirmed as predictors of malignancy. In the ROC curve, an optimal cut-off point of 134.0 mm was used as a predictor of malignancy., Conclusions: Advanced age, location in the lower limbs and larger size are risk factors for malignancy in the differential diagnosis of deep lipomas and atypical lipomatous tumours. No radiological variable on MRI reached significance as a predictor of malignancy in our series., (Copyright © 2024 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To describe the results of nonsurgical and surgical treatment of enchondromas of the distal phalanx of the hand., Methods: Eleven enchondromas of the distal phalanx were retrospectively reviewed. Five patients underwent surgery (curettage and autogenous cancellous bone graft from the iliac crest) and 6 patients were treated nonsurgically. Clinical records and radiographs were reviewed for each patient. We recorded complications and cosmetic and functional results. Radiographic healing in surgical patients was scored according to the classification of Tordai and to the criteria of Wilhelm and Feldmeier. The average follow-up of the nonsurgical and surgical cases was 45 and 62 months, respectively., Results: Eight patients were women. Average age at diagnosis was 40 years. Nine patients presented with a pathological fracture. The demographic characteristics of the surgical group and nonsurgical group were similar. Among the cases treated nonsurgically (6), 1 had 2 pathological fractures after diagnosis. At final follow-up, the average pain on a visual analog scale was 2.8. With the exception of 1 patient, the range of motion of the fingers was normal or minimally reduced. Among the surgical cases (5), there were no complications in the bone graft donor site, 2 patients developed infections in the operated finger, and no postoperative pathological fractures were found. At final follow-up, the average pain was 3.2. Joint mobility was normal in 3 patients. Postoperative radiological examination revealed complete bone healing in all patients (grade I in the Tordai classification). No local recurrence was seen. According to the criteria of Wilhelm and Feldmeier, there were 3 excellent, 1 good, and 1 satisfactory results in the surgical group, and 2 excellent, 3 good, and 1 satisfactory results in the nonsurgical group., Conclusions: Surgical and nonsurgical treatment in distal phalanx enchondromas appear to be associated with satisfactory results, although each has their own advantages and disadvantages., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A chondroblastoma-like osteosarcoma (CLO) in the proximal epiphysis and metaphysis of the tibia in a 30-year-old male is presented. With a wrong diagnosis of chondroblastoma, an aggressive curettage was performed. Later, the patient refused en-bloc resection. Seven years after surgery, there has been no local recurrence, and the patient is living an ordinary and active life. CLO is a very uncommon and controversial histologic subtype of osteosarcoma that can be misdiagnosed as chondroblastoma and therefore incorrectly treated. However, aggressive curettage with its functional advantages could be a reasonable option in selected cases.

Objective: 1) To recall the epidemiology and signs of osteochondromas of the proximal humerus (OPH); 2) determine treatment indications; 3) and make recommendations for surgical treatment., Methods: Retrospective, observational and longitudinal study of 20 solitary and 12 multiple osteochondromas of the proximal humerus. We analyzed the epidemiological, clinical and imaging characteristics and treatment results with an average time of follow-up of the operated cases of 45 months., Results: Eleven (55%) males and 9(45%) females with an average age of 21 years presented solitary osteochondromas. Twelve (60%) cases were operated on at a mean age of 23 years because they were symptomatic or, in one case, malignancy was suspected. Two solitary osteochondromas could have spontaneously regressed. Multiple osteochondromas were found in 11(92%) males and one (8%) female of whom 3required surgery. There were no complications or recurrences. Functional outcome was excellent in all patients., Discussion: Osteochondromas of the proximal humerus are relatively common, although most publications are case reports or short series., Conclusions: Osteochondromas of the proximal humerus do not differ from those in other locations. Symptomatic cases and those in which malignancy is suspected would be operated, the former preferably at the end of growth. The surgical treatment is summarized in planning the approach, using CT and/or MRI, extraperiosteal en bloc resection, and eventual bone reconstruction, ideally with allograft., (Copyright © 2018 SECOT. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The biological and molecular events that underlie bone marrow fibrosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes are poorly understood, and its prognostic role in the era of the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) is not yet fully determined. We have evaluated the clinical and biological events that underlie bone marrow fibrotic changes, as well as its prognostic role, in a well-characterized prospective patient cohort (n=77) of primary MDS patients. The degree of marrow fibrosis was linked to parameters of erythropoietic failure, marrow cellularity, p53 protein accumulation, WT1 gene expression, and serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10, but not to other covariates including the IPSS-R score. The presence of bone marrow fibrosis grade 2 or higher was associated with the presence of mutations in cohesin complex genes (31.5% vs. 5.4%, p=0.006). By contrast, mutations in CALR, JAK2, PDGFRA, PDGFRB,and TP53 were very rare. Survival analysis showed that marrow fibrosis grade 2 or higher was a relevant significant predictor for of overall survival, and independent of age, performance status, and IPSS-R score in multivariate analysis., Competing Interests: The sponsors were not involved in study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the report for publication. The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

We presented three patients with trochanteric tuberculosis and described the clinical and imaging findings of the infection. Histology revealed a necrotizing granulomatous bursitis and microbiology confirmed tuberculosis. All cases were successfully treated with bursectomy and curettage of the trochanteric lesion and antituberculous chemotherapy including isoniazid, pyrazinamide, rifampicin, and ethambutol.

Objective: To review a poorly studied pathology in the scientific literature., Material and Methods: An observational, longitudinal and ambispective study of a series of 51 intramuscular lipomas in 50 patients. The frequency distribution of qualitative variables, and the median and the interquartile range (IQR) for continuous variables were calculated. The relationship between the size of the lipomas (recoded into two values) and the study variables were analyzed using the Fisher exact test., Results: Men made up 62% of the series, and the median age was 61 years, with 55% of the total being overweight. About half of the patients were diagnosed in the upper limb. More than three-quarters (78%) were strictly intramuscular lipomas. Location, clinical and image presentation, treatment and results are described., Discussion: Intramuscular lipomas have their own particular characteristics. Nevertheless, MRI is sometimes unable to distinguish them from well differentiated liposarcomas. Using size as the only criterion for referring a patient with a soft tissue injury to a reference center is still debatable., Conclusions: Patients with intramuscular lipomas, although they may be typical in their presentation, especially when they are large and show findings that can be confused with a well-differentiated low grade liposarcoma, should be treated in experienced centers., (© 2013 SECOT. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To report three cases of atherosclerotic embolic vascular disease with clinical presentation in the lower urinary tract. This disease is not frequent; it mainly affects the skin, kidneys and skeletal muscle. Other organs of the urinary tract are rarely affected and they are exceptionally the clinical site of debut without previous known involvement of other areas., Methods/results: The first patient presented with hematuria associated with an ultrasound/cystoscopical image suspicion for neoplasia. Pathologic report of the transurethral resection chips showed polypoid cystitis with some small size arteries occupied by cholesterol needles, associated with inflammation, ulcers and hematic extravasation. The second patient underwent cystoprostatectomy for a transitional cell carcinoma and, incidentally, numerous cholesterol emboli were found, mainly in the lamina propria, but also in other layers of the bladder wall, prostate, urethra, veru montanum, and one seminal vesicle; this two latter sites have not being reported in previous publications. The third patient showed the embolus within a prostate biopsy core., Conclusions: This unfrequent disease may present as a bladder or prostatic process and be diagnosed by biopsy of these organs. It may simulate a bladder neoplasia on ultrasound or cystoscopy and should be included among related or etiologic entities of polypoid cystitis, a well-known simulator of neoplasia.

Objectives: To report our experience with one case of penile silicone granuloma, that has clinical interest for its unfrequent presentation., Methods/results: We report the case of a patient with sexual dysfunction secondary to subcutaneous injection of liquid silicone in the penis resulting in a penile granuloma and migration of the particles to the penile root and midline scrotal raphe. We proceeded to the surgical excision of the granuloma and migrated particles, repairing the penile defect with scrotal skin., Conclusions: Subcutaneous injection of liquid silicone is a practice that does not have any justification because of its devastating effects and requires major perations for the elimination of the injected material.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the bladder is an uncommon neoplasm, of which 49 cases have been described in the English literature, none of which has been studied for p53 protein expression. We studied three muscle-infiltrating cases of this tumor using immunohistochemical, in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The three cases were positive for epithelial markers and negative for lymphoid antigens in the tumoral syncytial areas. The intensive infiltrate of small cells was negative for epithelial and positive for lymphoid markers. This population was mainly made up of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, positive for TIA-1. p53 protein was intensely positive in more than 90% of the epithelial component nuclei, being negative in the lymphoid cells. PCR study did not show mutations on p53. Both lymphocytes and epithelium were negative for Epstein-Barr virus markers, such as the latent membrane protein and EBER (Epstein-Barr-encoded RNA). The prognosis was very good after radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, preserving the bladder despite the muscle infiltration. The presence of an intense cytotoxic T-lymphocyte population may be related to this good prognosis. Both aspects, p53 protein status and T-lymphoid population, had never been studied before in bladder lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma.

Objective: To compare the morbidity of conventional inguinal lymphadenectomy for epidermoid carcinoma of the penis using ligation versus ultrasonic sealing of the lymph nodes with Ligasure., Methods: 29 cases of carcinoma of the penis are analyzed; 8 underwent superficial and deep inguinal lymphadenectomy using the conventional procedure for ligation of lymph nodes (4 cases) and ultrasonic ligation with Ligasure (4 cases). The early and late complications are analyzed., Results: The operating time was found to be significantly shorter in patients treated with Ligasure, no lymphoceles were observed and lymphedema was reduced., Conclusions: The use of Ligasure for sealing the lymphatic vessels in inguinal lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the penis appears to have the advantages of a shorter operating time and reduced complications in comparison with conventional ligation.

Objective: To report a case of xanthogranulomatous cystitis, a rare disease especially in the western countries (12 of the 16 cases reported were Japanese and Korean)., Methods: A case of xanthogranulomatous cystitis in a 34-year-old female is presented. Patient evaluation included histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies., Results/conclusions: The lesion was localized to the bladder dome, anatomically related with the urachus. It consisted of collections of histiocytes with lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate. The adhesions observed in the omentum in this case indicate a possible relationship with a previous inflammatory process. Surgery is advocated in most of the cases with good results.

Aims: To provide evidence that lymphatic embolization is the mechanism for mesothelial inclusions in lymph nodes., Methods and Results: A 60-year-old man with alcoholic cirrhosis and ascites had an umbilical hernia resected. The herniorrhaphy specimen contained numerous dermal and submesothelial lymphatic vessels filled by cells similar to the cells that lined the hernia sac. Most of the cells in lymphatics were submesothelial reactive cells, whose cytoplasm stained with antibodies against cytokeratins (AE1-AE3; 8, 18), smooth muscle actin, vimentin, desmin and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). Some cells seemed to be superficial mesothelial cells, being positive with high molecular weight anticytokeratin antibody 34 beta E12. On ultrastructural study submesothelial cells with intermediate cytoplasmic filaments, rough endoplasmic reticulum and primitive cell junctions, and scanty superficial mesothelial cells with microvilli, tonofilaments and desmosomes were found in the lymphatics., Conclusions: Lymphatic dissemination of mesothelial and submesothelial cells is an uncommon and not well known phenomenon. Lymphatic dissemination is probably the route by which the mesothelial cells reach the lymphatic nodes. These cells may be mistaken for malignant cells.

Sigma undifferentiated carcinoma of the rectum is a neuroendocrine tumor embracing less than 1% of all primary malignant epithelial tumors in this location. Recent studies have demonstrated that these tumors are biologically aggressive neoplasias with early metastatic extension. We present one case of loco-regional invasion at the time of the intervention and with distal metastasis within a period of time shorter than one year. We perform a clinical, histological and immunohistochemical study and we comment on the histogenesis of these tumors, their prognosis and treatment, stressing the need of an early diagnosis, an aggressive treatment and an adequate follow-up.