Conversion to an open procedure during laparoscopic rectal resection correlates with an increased postoperative morbidity, however, without impairment of the short-term oncological outcome. The conversion rate is minimized by the growing experience of the operating surgeon and, therefore, is a marker of the learning curve.

The overall survival of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for metastases of RCC is affected rather by general health status than by tumor-related factors. There is a significant coincidence of thyroid and pancreatic metastases of RCC.

Adenocarcinoma arising from long-standing perianal CD fistulae is being increasingly reported. The outcome is poor following operative treatment, especially if perirectal lymph nodes are involved. Periodical cancer surveillance should be performed in all patients with long-standing perianal CD fistulae.

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An asymptomatic pilonidal disease does not require treatment. A pilonidal abscess should be incised. After regression of the acute inflammation, a definitive treatment method should be applied. An excision is the standard treatment method for the chronic pilonidal disease. Open wound healing is associated with a low postoperative morbidity rate; however, it is complicated by a long healing time. The minimally invasive procedures (e.g., pit picking surgery) represent a potential treatment option for a limited chronic pilonidal disease. However, the recurrence rate is higher compared to open healing. Excision followed by a midline wound closure is associated with a considerable recurrence rate and increased incidence of wound complications and should therefore be abandoned. Off-midline procedures can be adopted as a primary treatment option in chronic pilonidal disease. At present, there is no evidence of any outcome differences between various off-midline procedures. The Limberg flap and the Karydakis flap are most thoroughly analyzed off-midline procedures.

The incidence of the postoperative IASC is predominantly determined by preoperative disease severity. IASC have a detrimental influence on the long-term outcome following intestinal resections in patients with Crohn's disease, leading to increased number of repeat resection surgery.

Background: Pilonidal disease is an acute or chronic infection in the subcutaneous fatty tissue, mainly in the natal cleft. Its incidence in Germany in 2012 was 48 cases per 100 000 persons per year. Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective literature search. Results: The numerous minimally invasive techniques that are available for the treatment of pilonidal disease have the advantages of being relatively atraumatic and of enabling the patient to continue working almost without interruption. They are suitable for small lesions that have not been previously surgically treated. These techniques are associated with a higher recurrence rate than excisional methods (level of evidence [LoE]: Ib). It is not yet clear whether minimally invasive techniques employing laser or endoscopic technology can reduce the recurrence rate. In systematic meta-analyses, the duration of wound healing was shorter after off-midline techniques (the Karydakis procedure, the Limberg procedure, and others) than after excision with open wound treatment; the off-midline techniques should, therefore, be preferred for patients who have undergone previous surgery and for those with large lesions (LoE: Ia). Excision with midline suturing should not be performed (LoE: Ia). Postoperative permanent shaving cannot be recommended either (LoE: IV). Conclusion: Further randomized trials are needed to clarify the role of newer techniques in the treatment of pilonidal disease.

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