Masses in and around pancreas constitute an important clinical entity in gastrointestinal surgical practice. Most common being adenocarcinoma of head of pancreas followed by inflammatory masses due to chronic pancreatitis. Accurate diagnosis is of central importance as therapeutic strategies range from observation to complete surgical removal including total pancreatectomy.Several tumor markers are available which could help in prognostication and diagnosis of carcinoma pancreas. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA 19-9) is traditionally accepted best marker available. The role of new tumor marker platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been defined recently in prognostication of carcinoma pancreas. Role of PLR in diagnosing and its efficacy after combining it with CA 19-9 is not known. The aim of study was to assess the demographics of histologically proven neoplastic and inflammatory pancreatic head masses in our department. To assess the role of CA19-9 and platelet lymphocyte ratio(PLR) in determining nature of pancreatic head mass. Data consisted of histologically proven 45 patients .23 having head mass due to chronic pancreatitis and 22 because of neoplastic lesions. Demographics in terms of age, sex, previous pain episodes, presence of jaundice, history of alcohol intake were compared in both groups. Also tumor markers CA 19-9 and PLR individually and in combination were compared in both groups. Cancer pancreas significantly (p<0.001) occurred in older age group, was significantly associated with jaundice (p00.005) and weight loss (p<0.001). Accuracy in diagnosis of cancer pancreas was similar with CA 19-9 and PLR (68.89 %), where as combining CA 19-9 with PLR showed increased sensitivity(81.82 %) and accuracy(71.11 %) in diagnosing cancer pancreas. Other combinations showed no advantage. PLR is at least as good as CA 19-9 as diagnostic marker to differentiate between malignant and inflammatory head mass of pancreas.

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis, which commonly mimics pancreatic carcinoma. Immunoglobulin G4-associated cholangitis (IAC) is a rare type of autoimmune pancreatitis associated with bile duct involvement, which can present with or without pancreatic involvement. Usually, the bile duct involvement is in the form of multiple intra-and extra-hepatic strictures mimicking primary sclerosing cholangitis. Rarely, there can be an isolated stricture which mimics cholangiocarcinoma. Differentiating these from cholangiocarcinoma, though extremely difficult, is of critical importance since it can be treated without surgical intervention. Most cases with rare presentation mimicking cholangiocarcinoma have been reported in elderly patients. We present one such rare presentation of autoimmune pancreatitis in a young 13-year-old patient in whom hepaticojejunostomy was done for a hilar stricture, which later turned out to be related to IAC. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of its kind from India.

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are one of the most common congenital anomalies dealt by surgeons. The reported incidence of ARMs range between 1:3,300 and 1:5,000 live births. These defects are invariably detected and treated in infancy or early childhood. There is a group of patients among these who have fistulous external opening from the rectum. These may not present in child hood and may continue to live with fecal incontinence till adult hood. One of such anomalies is rectovaginal fistulas which comprises of only 4% of all anomalies. Delayed management in such cases increases surgical and functional complications. Traditionally high and intermediate anorectal anomalies are treated by posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). This involves cutting of sphincter muscles in the midline and then placement of rectum in the sphincter complex. The continence results of this operation are less than ideal. Laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through (LAARP) has potential advantage of precise placement of the rectum inside the sphincter complex without dividing and weakening the muscles, diminished soft tissue scarring around the rectum leading to improved rectal compliance. Three adult female patients with ARMs were managed through LAARP procedure. It involves dissection around rectum, identification and ligation of fistula tract, creation of neoanus and pull through of rectum into neoanus. Results-Continence was good in all our patients which they regained after 3 to 4 days of surgery. On follow up which ranged from 6 months to 2 years all were passing well formed stools 1-2 times a day and have symmetric anal contraction with strong squeeze on digital rectal examination. Conclusion-LAARP offers an excellent option to the patients of ARM over conventional posterior sagittal anorectal approach because if its theoretical advantages of early recovery and better continence. Long term followup is needed to substantiate these results.