松本 志郎

INTRODUCTION: Black adrenal adenoma (BAA) is a rare, benign adrenal lesion with a black or brown appearance. This is the first report of this lesion in a patient with a synchronous esophageal cancer and highlights the importance of considering a false positive finding on a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, which might otherwise preclude resection. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 73-year-old male was diagnosed with mid-esophagus carcinoma. Computed tomography scan revealed an enlarged left adrenal gland. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormones levels were normal. To characterize the adrenal lesion, a PET scan was obtained which showed high uptake of 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG), consistent with a metastasis, suggesting T3N2M1, clinical stage IV esophageal cancer. After two courses of neo-adjuvant therapy, sub-total esophagectomy and left adrenalectomy were performed. The adrenal tumor was soft, and black in color, diagnosed as a BAA on histology. The pathologic stage of the esophageal cancer was T3N0M0, Stage II. Six months after surgery, he is alive without recurrence. DISCUSSION: High FDG uptake by an adrenal lesion on PET scan, as in this patient, usually suggests a metastatic lesion. Although rare, patients with esophageal cancer and adrenal metastases have been reported to have long-term survival, so it is important to characterize an adrenal lesion when found. CONCLUSION: Most adrenal lesions with high FDG uptake are malignant, but BAA is also positive on PET scan. Although rare, BAA should be considered in patients with solitary adrenal lesions with high uptake on PET scan, even in the presence of a malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: Gastric leiomyomas are benign mesenchymal tumors, comprising about 2.5% of gastric neoplasms, which can be difficult to differentiate from gastrointestinal stromal tumors which have malignant potential. Granular cell tumors in the abdominal wall are also rare. Since mesenchymal tumors are difficult to diagnose by imaging, further studies are needed to establish the diagnosis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 60-year-old asymptomatic woman underwent routine upper endoscopy and was found to have a gastric submucosal lesion. Computed tomography scan also showed an abdominal wall mass. The appearance of both lesions on imaging studies were similar, but it was unclear if the two lesions had the same origin. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of the gastric lesion was insufficient to establish the diagnosis. Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative resection of the gastric lesion and ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of the abdominal wall mass enabled pathological diagnosis of both lesions. DISCUSSION: Diagnostic imaging findings of these two lesions were similar. Histologic and immunohistochemical studies are essential to establish a definitive diagnosis. Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery may be an effective minimally invasive approach, allowing both pathological diagnosis and complete resection of a gastric submucosal tumor, especially when endoscopic-ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration or biopsy fails to make the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery can be an effective minimally invasive approach to resect some lesions. This is first report of the patient with a synchronous gastric leiomyoma and an intramuscular granular cell tumor in the abdominal wall.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous esophageal perforation, or Boerhaave's syndrome, is a life-threating condition which usually requires emergent surgery. An upside down stomach is defined as a gastric volvulus in a huge supradiaphragmatic sac. In general, this condition can result in ischemia and perforation of the stomach. This is the first report of a patient with Boerhaave's syndrome and an upside down stomach. CASE PRESENTATION: A 79-year-old woman presented with sudden epigastric pain following hematemesis. Evaluation of the patient showed both an esophageal perforation and an upside down stomach. Surgical drainage and irrigation of the mediastinum and pleural cavities were undertaken emergently. Due to the concurrent gastric volvulus, a gastrostomy was placed to fix and decompress the stomach. The patient had an uneventful hospital course and was discharged. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Boerhaave's syndrome is a rare but severe complication caused by excessive vomiting, due to a sudden elevation in intraluminal esophageal pressure resulting in esophageal perforation. Acute gastric volvulus can result in ischemia and perforation of the stomach, but has not previously been reported with esophageal perforation. The most likely mechanism associating an upside down stomach with Boerhaave's syndrome is acute gastric outlet obstruction resulting in vomiting, and subsequent esophageal perforation. Perforation of the esophagus as well as perforation of the stomach must be considered in patients with an upside down stomach although both upside down stomach and Boerhaave's syndrome are rare clinical entities.

We report a case of acquired hemophilia A (AHA) after esophageal resection. The patient was an 80-year-old woman whose preoperative activated partial-thromboplastin time (APTT) was well within the normal range, at 34.9 s. She underwent thoracic esophagectomy and gastric pull-up for superficial esophageal cancer (operative time, 315 min; intraoperative blood loss, 245 ml). Intrathoracic and subcutaneous bleeding occurred spontaneously on postoperative day (POD) 39. The APTT was prolonged, at 140 s, and factor VIII inhibitor was 36 Bethesda U/ml. Treatment with recombinant activated factor VII, prednisolone, and cyclophosphamide resulted in remission within 2 months. This case supports an association between surgery and the triggering of factor VIII inhibitors. The diagnosis of AHA requires clinical acumen and must be considered in any patient with bleeding and a prolonged APTT.

We present three patients with T2 acinar cell carcinomas (ACC) (two of which were small) and discuss their clinical and pathological features. Case 1: A 34 year-old woman had a 2.6 cm iso- or hyperdense tumor. Enucleation was performed but final diagnosis was ACC and a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Case 2: A 35 year-old woman was found to have a 4.5 cm hypervascular tumor in the tail of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy was performed. Case 3: A 61 year-old man suffered from acute pancreatitis and was found to have an encapsulated 2.5 cm hypervascular tumor in the head of pancreas. Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. These three patients with T2 ACCs had common characteristics including well-demarcated exophytic tumors with slow and limited progress, distinctively different from large ACCs and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. ACCs are important in the differential diagnosis of homogeneously or heterogeneously enhancing small pancreatic tumors.

Several options exist for reconstruction after total esophagectomy in patients with esophageal carcinoma. However, the options for a major resection after previous head and neck surgery in these patients are extremely limited. The procedure performed in 2 patients requiring esophagectomy after resection for previous head and neck malignancies is described. Both patients underwent previous chemoradiation therapy and free jejunal transfer for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Esophagectomy and reconstruction with a cervical gastrojejunal anastomosis combined with deltopectoral flaps were performed after the diagnosis of esophageal disease. Soft tissue defects were closed with a modified deltopectoral flap using de-epithelization. The deltopectoral flap is effective not only for cutaneous resurfacing, but also to promote delayed wound healing after radiation therapy. This report demonstrates a useful multidisciplinary approach for resection and reconstruction in patients after a previous free jejunal transfer.