Within an area health service, elective laparoscopic resection for colon and rectal cancer had improved short-term outcomes in comparison with open surgery.

Parathyroid cysts are rare and even more rarely cause a neck mass resembling a goitre. Such large parathyroid cysts may involve the mediastinum, growing to a sufficient size to produce symptoms related to obstruction, and if functioning, primary hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid cysts should be considered in the list of differential diagnoses of anterior neck masses to allow for appropriate preoperative investigation to avoid unnecessary confusion at the time of operation. We report a case where a functioning parathyroid cyst presented as a retrosternal goitre to emphasize the potential pitfalls associated with their diagnosis and management.

CSI-EMR with submucosal injection of succinylated gelatin is safe and superior to conventional EMR, consistently resulting in en bloc resections larger than 50 x 40 mm. With experience, total procedure duration is comparable.

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Radiation enteritis is a significant complication of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to the pelvis, particularly in patients having high dose radiotherapy (>80 Gy) and in those with a low pelvic peritoneal reflection allowing loops of small bowel to enter the radiation field. Laparoscopic insertion and subsequent removal of a pelvic tissue expander before and after external beam radiotherapy is a relatively convenient, safe and effective method for displacing loops of bowel out of the pelvis. We report on a patient with prostate cancer who ordinarily would not have been a candidate for EBRT due to loops of bowel low in the pelvis. With laparoscopic insertion and subsequent removal of a tissue expander, he was able to have radiotherapy to the prostate without developing radiation enteritis.

HK-ESD with SG submucosal injection is superior to CSI-EMR for en bloc excision of 50 mm diameter lesions in a porcine model. The technique is rapidly learnt. This novel approach may lower the barrier to colonic ESD for Western endoscopists.

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