Association Between Constipation and a Reduction in Lower Limb Muscle Strength in Preoperative Patients with Thoracic Spinal Tumors

Objective To investigate the clinical symptoms experienced by patients with thoracic spinal tumors and verify the associated symptoms that are predictive of a decline in muscle strength in the lower limbs.Methods A single-center,retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on in-patients diagnosed with epidural thoracic spinal tumors between January 2011 and May 2021.The study involved a review of electronic medical records and radiographs and the collection of clinical data.The differences in clinical manifestations between patients with constipation and those without constipation were analyzed.Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with a decline in muscle strength in the lower limbs.Results A total of 227 patients were enrolled,including 131 patients with constipation and 96 without constipation.The constipation group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who experienced difficulty walking or paralysis compared to those without constipation prior to surgery(83.2%vs.17.7%,χ~2=99.035,P 0.001).Constipation(OR=9.522,95%CI:4.150±21.849,P 0.001)and urinary retention(OR=14.490,95%CI:4.543±46.213,P 0.001)were independent risk factors for muscle strength decline in the lower limbs.Conclusions The study observed that patients with thoracic spinal tumors who experienced constipation symptoms had a higher incidence of lower limb weakness.Moreover,the analysis revealed that constipation and urinary retention were independent risk factors associated with a preoperative decline in muscle strength of lower limbs.

Modified surgical techniques in total en bloc spondylectomy for thoracic and lumbar tumors with a single posterior approach

Objective To investigate the operation key points,instrument improvement and shortterm effects in total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) via a single posterior approach for thoracic and lumbar tumors.Methods A series of modified

Thymic lipofibroadenomas:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Thymic lipofibroadenomas are extremely rare.In this study,we investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of thymic lipofibroadenomas.CASE SUMMARY This study included three patients with thymic lipofibroadenomas.We retrospectively analyzed the patient data to determine the clinicopathological characteristics of thymic lipofibroadenomas.The study included one man and two women[mean age,43(33–59)years].All patients were non-smokers and presented with well-defined anterior mediastinal tumors.The cut surfaces of the tumors were solid,with a mixture of yellow and white areas.Microscopic evaluation of resected specimens showed scattered cord-like structures of epithelial cells embedded within abundant fibrotic and hyaline stroma admixed with variable quantities of adipose tissue.One patient showed hyperplastic thymic tissue in a part of the tumor.CONCLUSION Thymic lipofibroadenomas are an extremely rare type of benign thymic tumor.Surgical removal of lipofibroadenomas is usually curative.

Bronchiolar adenoma with unusual presentation:Two case reports

BACKGROUND The clinicopathological features,immunohistochemical characteristics,and genetic mutation profile of two unusual cases of distal bronchiolar adenoma are retrospectively analyzed and the relevant literature is reviewed.CASE SUMMARY Case 1 was a 63-year-old female patient who had a mixed ground-glass nodule,with mild cells in morphology,visible cilia,and bilayer structures in focal areas.Immunohistochemical staining for P63 and cytokeratin(CK)5/6 revealed the lack of a continuous bilayer structure in most areas,and no mutations were found in epidermal growth factor receptor,anaplastic lymphoma kinase,ROS1,Kirsten rat sarcoma,PIK3CA,BRAF,human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2),RET,and neuroblastoma RAS genes.Case 2 was a 58-year-old female patient who presented with a solid nodule,in which most cells were observed to be medium sized,the nuclear chromatin was pale and homogeneous,local cells had atypia,and cilia were found locally.Immunohistochemical staining for P63 and CK5/6 showed no expression of these proteins in mild cell morphology whereas the heteromorphic cells showed a bilayer structure.The same nine genes as above were analyzed,and HER2 gene mutation was identified.CONCLUSION Some unresolved questions remain to be answered to determine whether the lesion is a benign adenoma or a part of the process of malignant transformation from benign adenoma of the bronchial epithelium.Furthermore,whether lesions with atypical bilayer structures are similar to atypical hyperplastic lesions of the breast remains to be elucidated.Moreover,clarity on whether these lesions can be called atypical bronchiolar adenoma and whether they are invasive precursor lesions is needed.Future studies should examine the diagnostic significance of HER2 gene mutation as a prognostic indicator.

Synchronous granulocytic sarcoma of the breast and spine： a case report and review of the literature

Granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma is a rare tumour derived from myeloid cell precursors. It is generally seen before or after or together with the onset of myelocytic leukaemia. Immunohistochemical staining of myeloperoxidase is necessary for a definite diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma. Recognition of this entity ensures an early aggressive chemotherapy that causes regression of the tumour.1-3 We present an unusual case of a 40-year-old woman who presented with back pain, numbness in the legs, and fatigue for 2 weeks. She was diagnosed as having synchronous granulocytic sarcomas of the breast and spine, confirmed surgically and histopathologically. After a subsequent systemic chemotherapy the patient was completely asymptomatic during a 20-month follow-up. We also reviewed the literature about the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this condition.