Louisiana Research Day Program Book 2025

Case Studies: Section 1

Case Studies: Section 1

Kenny-Khai Vo, OMS-II; Marci Peck, OMS-II; Nick Villar, OMS-II; Jenna Dittmar, PhD VCOM-Louisiana, Department of Anatomical Sciences 82 PREVALENCE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS (DISH): A CADAVER STUDY

Kenny-Khai Vo, OMS-II; Jenna Dittmar, PhD VCOM-Louisiana, Department of Anatomical Sciences 83 CASE REPORT: 59-YEAR-OLD MALE WITH HIGH-GRADE METASTATIC NEUROENDOCRINE CARCINOMA OF THE LIVER AND PANCREAS WITH COMORBIDITY OF DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS (DISH)

Background: Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) is a form of arthritis, leading to ossification of soft tissue within ligaments and joints, especially the anterior longitudinal ligament. Although the etiology of DISH isn’t fully understood, the criteria used for diagnosis, based on study conducted by Luo and Varacallo in 2023, is the continuous ossification of at least 4 vertebrae that lack disc degeneration and ankylosing of facets to disc. In this report, 30 cadavers were dissected and marcroscopically examined for DISH. Diagnosing criteria, x-ray findings, and macroscopic examinations were used to support each diagnosis. 13 of the 30 cadavers were determined to have DISH, which is a prevalence of 43% with a mean age of 78.8 years, although 16 of the cadavers had some form ossification within the vertebral column. Of the 13 cadavers determined to have DISH, 8 were male (27%) and 5 were female (17%). Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of DISH is 14.2% starting at age 40, with an increasing prevalence with advancing age. Our analysis found that the ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament was most frequent from segments T6-T12 on both the right and left sides of the vertebral column. T10 being the most

affected vertebra being ossified in 15 cadavers on the right side and in 7 cadavers on the left side. The higher prevalence with aging, in males, and on the right side of the vertebral column align with previous studies. We will discuss the possible etiologies of DISH, its common manifestations, and how comorbidities may contribute to the condition within this report.

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are a rare form of cancer that typically are slow growing and asymptomatic. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 3% of all cancers found in the United States are in the pancreas, 2% of those found are PNETs. PNETs can be classified in the non-functioning or functioning, depending if the tumor is associated with clinical sequelae of excessive hormone secretion. We report the case of high grade metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of the liver and pancreas in a 59 year old male cadaver with comorbidity of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). During cadaveric dissection allowing for macroscopic examination, the patient’s liver and pancreas were enlarged including visible metastasis to the surrounding lymph nodes. The liver is the most common site of metastasis for PNETs. Also visualized, the patient had a gastrojejunostomy believed to be due to the enlarged pancreas inhibiting duodenal function. Within this report, we will discuss the etiology of PNETs and the possible form of PNET the patient possessed, such as insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, VIPoma, or somatostatinoma, with the support of future histological studies. Additionally, we

will discuss PNETs’ common manifestation and how the patient’s condition contributes to their comorbidities.

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2025 Research Recognition Day