BACKGROUND: Data are lacking on trends in bariatric surgery and the frequency of incidental findings in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: Report on trends in bariatric surgery as well as our experience in incidental findings along with a literature review (mainly on gastrointestinal stromal tumor). DESIGN: Retrospective chart and literature review. SETTINGS: Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at King Khalid University Hospital and analyzed the data collected from 2009 to 2019. We collected data on age, body mass index (BMI), H pylori infection, type of bariatric surgery performed, and type and location of incidental findings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidental findings during or after bariatric surgery (in pathology specimen). SAMPLE SIZE: 3052 bariatric surgeries, 46 patients with incidentalomas. RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation for the age of the 46 patients with incidentalomas was 42.1 (13.9) years and the mean (SD) preoperative BMI was 43.4 (6.4) kg/m ² . Of 3052 bariatric surgeries performed, the most common type was sleeve gastrectomy (93.9%), followed by gastric bypass surgery (4.58%) and gastric banding (1.47%). The total frequency of incidentalomas was 1.5%; 10.8% of patients had gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), with the stomach being the commonest site for incidental findings. Eighty percent of the patients with GIST were positive for H pylori ( P =.01 vs negative patients). CONCLUSION: The number of incidentalomas and other findings were consistent with other reports. All these findings suggest that bariatric surgeons should take special care before, during, and after a laparoscopic operation in obese patients. LIMITATIONS: Since this is a single-center, retrospective study, we did not collect data on important variables such as gender, socioeconomic status of the patient, and family history of obesity, and we did not perform a preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Colorectal cancer is ranked third among the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and fourth among the leading causes of cancer death in the world. However, only a few case reports are found in the literature regarding skin metastasis originating from rectal cancer, which usually shows widespread disease and poor prognosis. Approximately, 0.8% of the patients will have skin lesion as the first indication of a silent internal malignancy, which is rare. We report a complicated case of a 45-year-old male patient who referred to our highly specialized governmental hospital for diversion loop colostomy as well as biopsies of rectal and inguinal skin areas followed by palliative radiation therapy to the pelvis. Histopathological exam of rectal biopsies revealed moderately differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma, while the skin of the right inguinal area showed metastatic cutaneous rectal adenocarcinoma. Unfortunately, palliative radiation therapy was not started as the patient passed away secondary to respiratory failure which ended by cardiopulmonary arrest. A patient who is having new or evolving skin lesions with an oncology history should be well investigated as cutaneous metastasis is a strong possibility.

Introduction: Soft tissue tumors of Schwann cells in either the peripheral or cranial nerves are known as schwannomas or also as neurilemmomas. Limited data exists regarding psoas muscle schwannoma in the literature. Therefore, we have done an extensive literature review and found a total number of 46 cases of intra-psoas schwannoma including our case, which are summarized in this article along with reporting our new case. Presentation of case: We report a very rare case of primary left intra-psoas muscle schwannoma in a 39-year-old Saudi gentleman, smoker with an unremarkable medical and surgical history. The patient presented to the emergency department with exacerbated chronic lower abdominal pain since almost 2 years. After conforming the diagnosis, the patient was admitted electively and underwent uneventful laparoscopic hand-assisted resection. Discussion: Schwannomas are neurogenic tumors which known to be solitary, benign, well circumscribed, encapsulated, and slow-growing tumors. Multiple imaging modalities are used to detect such a tumor. Although there is no consensus on the best surgical approach, endoscopic mini-laparotomy, laparoscopy (anterior [as in our case] or lateral), and robotic resection were reported with good outcomes. Conclusion: Retroperitoneal schwannoma and intra-psoas muscle variant are a rare entity, with slow growing rate and risk of malignant transformation. Therefore, high index of suspicion, good follow-up, and large-cohort studies are encouraged. Highlights:

Sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease (SPND) is an acquired chronic disease with no precise etiopathogenesis. The morbidity associated with the disease necessitates the implementation of new techniques, such as sinus laser therapy (SiLaT), to improve disease management. However, surgical techniques as of now are preferred as the mainstay mode of treatment. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate and report the healing outcome of the application of SiLaT on patients with SPND at a tertiary center. All patients who underwent SiLaT for primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus from February 2012 to December 2019 were included in the study and followed up for at least six months. Forty-one participants (37 males (90.2%) and four females (9.8%)) were included. Of the participants, 58.5% presented with chief complaints of painful swelling with mucopurulent discharge. Most of the participants were students (43.9%). SiLaT was the primary intervention for 82.9% of the participants. The mean duration of hospital stays, resumption of regular activity, and complete wound healing by secondary intention were 30±21.5 hours, 18.4±14.3 days, and 6.5±6.6 weeks, respectively. Around 95.1% of wounds healed without complications. The overall recurrence rate was 24.4%, while the recurrence rate with SiLaT being the primary intervention was 11.8%. Only three (7.32%) patients experienced wound infections as postoperative complications. The visual analog scale (VAS) score decreased postoperatively in the first and second weeks to 3.9±3.2 and 1.9±1.9, respectively, and 78.1% of the total patients showed satisfaction post-surgical interventions. The current study showed that the SiLaT technique is a feasible technology with promising results to evolve. Further studies are encouraged.

BACKGROUND:Lumbar hernias continue to be rare and challenging regarding optimal treatment protocols. While computed tomography scan is considered the best imaging modality for assessment, we think there is a role for ultrasound in establishing a diag...

BACKGROUND: The appendix is a small organ with no particular known function. Primary appendiceal neoplasms (ANs) are rare. While the prevalence is increasing worldwide over the past two decades, no apparent increase in the prevalence of ANs has been reported in the Arabian Gulf States. Recently, a significant decline in the age at diagnosis of some types of ANs has been reported worldwide, with a female predominance. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the prevalence and clinicopathological characteristics of ANs within our institution in Saudi Arabia and compare them to limited existing studies from different regions as well as the Arabian Gulf States. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort SETTING: Tertiary care center in Riyadh PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent appendectomy and had the appendix submitted for histopathological evaluation between May 2015 and June 2020 were included to allow for a follow-up of 5 years or more at the time of data collection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics, clinical presentations, surgical interventions, histopathological findings, complications, and recurrence rates. SAMPLE SIZE: 25 AN patients RESULTS: Of 1110 patients, 25 had ANs (13 female and 12 male participants) with a mean (standard deviation) age of 54.6 (14.1) years. Only 40% presented with acute appendicitis, 64% had comorbidities, and less than 50% underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. Histopathologically, 72% were low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs). Complications were minimal grades (Clavien-Dindo classification), with 80% experiencing none. The mean hospital stay was 9.96 days. Local recurrence occurred in 8% of cases, and distant metastasis was documented in one adenocarcinoma case. However, the 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 88% and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ANs is increasing in Saudi Arabia with the higher prevalence of LAMNs. The pathological examination of the resected appendix played a pivotal role in the diagnosis of ANs. LIMITATIONS: Data collected retrospectively, a single institution, and a small population. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.