Acute pancreatitis is a complex inflammatory disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. This review aims to integrate the current knowledge of pancreatic morphology and immunology with the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, providing a comprehensive understanding of this critical condition. We conducted an extensive literature review, synthesizing data from recent studies and authoritative sources on pancreatic anatomy, histology, immunology, and the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. We also incorporated epidemiological data, clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and prognostic factors. The pancreas exhibits a complex morphology with intricate interactions between its exocrine and endocrine components. Its unique immunological landscape plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and orchestrating responses to pathological conditions. In acute pancreatitis, the disruption of intracellular calcium signaling leads to premature enzyme activation, triggering a cascade of events including mitochondrial dysfunction, ATP depletion, and the release of proinflammatory mediators. This process can escalate from localized inflammation to systemic complications. The interplay between pancreatic morphology, immune responses, and pathophysiological mechanisms contributes to the varied clinical presentations and outcomes observed in acute pancreatitis. Understanding the intricate relationships between pancreatic morphology, immunology, and the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is crucial for developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This integrated approach provides new insights into the complex nature of acute pancreatitis and may guide future research directions in pancreatic disorders.

Acute pancreatitis is a complex inflammatory disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. This review aims to integrate current knowledge of pancreatic morphology and immunology with the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, providing a comprehensive understanding of this critical condition. We conducted an extensive literature review, synthesizing data from recent studies and authoritative sources on pancreatic anatomy, histology, immunology, and the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. We also incorporated epidemiological data, clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and prognostic factors. The pancreas exhibits a complex morphology with intricate interactions between its exocrine and endocrine components. Its unique immunological landscape plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and orchestrating responses to pathological conditions. In acute pancreatitis, disruption of intracellular calcium signaling leads to premature enzyme activation, triggering a cascade of events including mitochondrial dysfunction, ATP depletion, and release of pro-inflammatory mediators. This process can escalate from localized inflammation to systemic complications. The interplay between pancreatic morphology, immune responses, and pathophysiological mechanisms contributes to the varied clinical presentations and outcomes observed in acute pancreatitis. Understanding the intricate relationships between pancreatic morphology, immunology, and the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is crucial for developing more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This integrated approach provides new insights into the complex nature of acute pancreatitis and may guide future research directions in pancreatic disorders.

Background: Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with peritoneal metastases remains a therapeutic frontier marked by limited systemic efficacy and a persistent unmet clinical need for effective locoregional strategies. Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) has emerged as a novel minimally invasive platform designed to enhance intraperitoneal drug distribution and overcome biological barriers to chemotherapy delivery. Methods: We performed a PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating clinical outcomes of PIPAC in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Primary endpoints included histologic regression (PRGS ≤ 2), severe toxicity, and 12-month overall survival, complemented by exploratory analyses of treatment feasibility, disease burden dynamics, and bidirectional therapy strategies. Results: PIPAC demonstrated a consistent signal of biologic activity, with pooled histologic response rates indicating meaningful tumor regression despite advanced disease. Severe toxicity remained low across studies, supporting the favorable tolerability of repeated intraperitoneal treatment. Survival outcomes were clinically relevant for a heavily pretreated population, while feasibility analyses suggested that PIPAC may facilitate downstream surgical opportunities in selected patients. Exploratory findings further supported the concept of intraperitoneal disease modulation, reflected by reductions in peritoneal cancer index and integration within multimodal treatment pathways. Conclusions: Beyond a purely palliative intervention, PIPAC may represent a biologically active component of personalized treatment strategies for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. These findings redefine the therapeutic narrative from symptom control toward disease modulation and treatment escalation, underscoring the need for prospective trials to refine patient selection and optimize multimodal sequencing.

Background: Venous resection during pancreatoduodenectomy is increasingly performed to achieve margin-negative resection in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma involving the portomesenteric venous axis. However, its impact on oncologic and perioperative outcomes remains debated. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Comparative observational studies evaluating pancreatoduodenectomy with venous resection versus standard pancreatoduodenectomy were included. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included disease-free survival (DFS), R1 resection rate, and major postoperative morbidity. Secondary outcomes included R1 resection rate and major postoperative morbidity. Random-effects models were applied, and subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Nine studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Venous resection was not associated with inferior overall survival compared with standard pancreatoduodenectomy (pooled HR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.94–1.09). Disease-free survival was significantly shorter in the venous resection group (pooled HR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.02–1.44), and venous resection was associated with a higher likelihood of R1 resection (pooled OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.22–1.70). Major postoperative morbidity did not differ significantly between groups (pooled OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.94–1.22). Subgroup analyses demonstrated inferior survival outcomes following segmental compared with tangential venous resection. Conclusions: Venous resection during pancreatoduodenectomy can be performed safely in experienced centers without compromising overall survival or increasing major postoperative morbidity. Shorter disease-free survival and higher R1 rates appear to reflect advanced local tumor biology rather than the vascular procedure itself. The extent of venous involvement plays a critical role in prognosis and should be considered in surgical decision-making and future study design.

Background and objective: Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is a rare condition with varied symptomology and etiology. Less than one-third of patients with IPA present on the emergency department (ED) admission with the traditional triad of fever, back pain, and restricted hip motion (or limp), leading to delays in diagnosis and management. This case report aims to bring awareness among healthcare professionals regarding the atypical presentation and introduce a potential differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with fever and back pain. The intention is to provide insights into the signs and symptoms that may indicate the presence of an iliopsoas abscess and prompt additional investigations. Case report: Here, we describe a case of primary iliopsoas abscess associated with drug-induced acute liver failure in our ED. The patient complained of pain in the left lumbar region and fatigue that started two weeks before this presentation, claiming that, during the previous night, the pain suddenly worsened. She had a fever, pain at palpation in the right hypochondriac and left lumbar regions, accompanied by fever and vomiting, jaundiced skin, and sclera at the examination in ED. On abdominal ultrasonography, the diagnosis of acute cholangitis was suspected. The laboratory test shows leukocytosis with neutrophilia, thrombocytosis, hepatocytolysis syndrome, and hyperbilirubinemia with the predominance of indirect bilirubin. We performed then abdominal and pelvic computed tomography, which confirmed the diagnosis of cholelithiasis observed with the diameter of the bile duct within normal limits but also showed an abscess-like collection fused to the interfibrillar level of the left iliopsoas muscle; a diagnosis we most likely would have been missed. After that, the patient was hospitalized in the General Surgery Department, and surgery drainage of the abscess was performed. The patient's evolution was excellent; she was discharged after 11 days. Conclusions: The case presented here exemplifies how iliopsoas abscess, a rare cause of back pain, can quickly go unrecognized, especially in the emergency department. Our experiences will raise awareness among doctors in emergency departments about this uncommon but essential diagnosis. With advancements in diagnostic tools and techniques, we aspire that more cases of iliopsoas abscess will be accurately diagnosed.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare but aggressive neuroendocrine thyroid malignancy in which early diagnosis is essential for improving clinical outcomes. Although calcitonin (CT) remains the standard diagnostic biomarker, its interpretation may be limited by false-positive elevations, assay variability, and indeterminate cut-off values. Consequently, alternative biomarkers such as procalcitonin (PCT), circulating microRNA-375 (miR-375), and fine-needle aspiration washout calcitonin (FNA-CT) have gained increasing interest. Methods: A systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of circulating and tissue-related biomarkers for MTC. Eligible studies reporting sufficient diagnostic accuracy data were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR−), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results: Five diagnostic datasets were included in the quantitative synthesis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84–0.94) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97–0.997), respectively. The pooled LR+ was 84.78, while the pooled LR− was 0.10. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 857.30, indicating excellent discriminatory diagnostic performance. SROC analysis demonstrated near-perfect overall diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.986. Procalcitonin-based approaches showed the most consistent diagnostic performance across studies, while combined CT + PCT strategies achieved the highest overall diagnostic accuracy. Emerging biomarkers such as miR-375 and FNA-CT also demonstrated promising results, although evidence remains limited. Conclusions: Biomarker-based diagnostic strategies demonstrate excellent diagnostic accuracy for medullary thyroid carcinoma. Among the evaluated biomarkers, procalcitonin-based approaches, particularly combined CT + PCT strategies, showed the most robust and clinically relevant diagnostic performance. These findings support the potential integration of procalcitonin into future diagnostic algorithms for MTC. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to validate diagnostic thresholds and standardize biomarker assessment protocols.