ObjectiveTo determine the incidence, significance, and anatomy of spermatic cord and round ligament lipomas. MethodsThis was a retrospective review of 280 hernia repairs on 217 patients performed by a single surgeon (M.E.A.) from January 1996 to January 2000. The incidence of cord lipoma and relationship to inguinal hernia were evaluated. Further, when identified at the time of laparoscopic preperitoneal hernia repair, the anatomy of the lipomas was studied both at the time of surgery and again on review of videotapes. ResultsOne hundred ninety-nine laparoscopic and 81 open inguinal hernia repairs were performed on 192 male patients and 25 female patients. Sixty-three lipomas of the cord were identified for an incidence of 22.5%. Overall, 18 cord lipomas were found in groins without hernias, and these were identified before surgery in 10 (2 by physical examination, 7 by groin ultrasound, and 1 by magnetic resonance imaging). The remaining nine were misidentified as a hernia before surgery. Fourteen of these patients presented with groin pain and four were asymptomatic. Forty-five lipomas were associated with hernias and were characterized as a hernia by examination in 43 instances. There were 32 (51%) cord lipomas associated with indirect hernias, 11 (17%) with direct hernias, and 1 each with pantaloon and femoral hernias. Nine lipomas were found in women, seven presenting with groin pain and six found without an associated peritoneal defect. Two patients presented with symptomatic cord lipomas after laparoscopic hernia repair. A lipoma of the cord is herniated fat that appears to originate from the retroperitoneal fat outside and posterior to the internal spermatic fascia and protrudes through the internal ring lateral to the cord. They are generally not visible by transperitoneal inspection unless manually reduced.

Ultrasound is a useful adjunct in evaluating the groin for hernia, and can be performed by surgeons.

Choledocholithiasis can be managed safely by laparoscopic techniques, augmenting with ERCP as necessary. This protocol minimizes the number of procedures and decreases the hospital stay.

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Pancreatic islet cell tumors represent a diverse group of neuroendocrine lesions. These tumors may be singular or multiple, benign or malignant, sporadic, or part of the constellation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Tumors such as insulinomas and gastrinomas produce gastrointestinal peptides that lead to diagnosis. Nonfunctioning lesions may be found incidentally or by screening patients at high risk for such tumors. Successful management of patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors relies on accurate localization and sound operative technique. With proper preoperative localization, advanced laparoscopic methods can be used to manage patients with these pancreatic neoplasms. Preoperative localization of pancreatic islet cell tumors was difficult in the past. Standard imaging and localizing modalities, such as computed tomography scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography, transabdominal sonography, and portal venous sampling, yield only 24% to 75% accuracy. Consequently, many biochemically suspected lesions cannot be imaged with current techniques. Decreased tactile sensation of laparoscopy adds complexity to intraoperative identification. Endoscopic sonography and laparoscopic sonography provide accurate preoperative and intraoperative localization to enhance laparoscopic and open resection. The authors treated two patients with islet cell neoplasms using endoscopic sonography to preoperatively visualize the tumors and laparoscopic sonography to guide laparoscopic enucleation. Their approach and difficulties are discussed.