Efficacy of multi-slice computed tomography cholangiography before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injury is one of the serious surgical complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Clear biliary tract imaging to detect the anomaly of the bile ducts before operation is thought to be useful to prevent this complication. The objective of this study was to investigate the preoperative feasibility of using multi-slice computed tomography scanning after drip infusion cholangiography-computed tomography (DIC-CT) for LC. METHODS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomies were carried out in 33 patients and DIC-CT and magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) were also carried out in all of these patients. We evaluated the recognition of the junction of the cystic duct and detection of anomalies of the extrahepatic bile ducts using the latter two methods. RESULTS: In 33 patients, DIC-CT showed the junction of the cystic duct in 31 (94%) and MRC in 25 (76%) patients, respectively. Anomalies of the extrahepatic bile ducts or the cystic duct were detected in four (12%) patients by DIC-CT, but MRC could show only one of these lesions. There were no major adverse reactions in either examination. CONCLUSION: DIC-CT is an efficacious preoperative technique as compared with MRC for the biliary tract imaging. DIC-CT may be of benefit for both patients scheduled to undergo LC and their surgeons.

[A case of primary small intestinal cancer accompanied by virchow lymph node metastasis undergoing TS-1 treatment].

A 72-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of left neck lymph node swelling. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed wall thickening of the small intestine and multiple lymph node metastases. Barium meal study of the small intestine showed circular stenosis. The patient was operated on under a diagnosis of tumor of the small intestine and left neck lymph node swelling. Needle biopsy of the left neck lymph node and partial resection of the small intestine was done without regional lymph node dissection because of Virchow lymph node metastasis. On the resected material a 5 x 4 cm type 2 tumor was identified. Pathological findings included poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma, si (bladder), n 4, P 0, ly 3, v 3, H 0, M(-), Stage IV. The patient received the chemotherapy with TS-1. TS-1(80 mg/body/day) orally administered for 4 weeks followed by a drug-free 2-week period as one course. CT revealed that the metastatic lesion had shrunk markedly after the second course. A complete response (CR) was observed after one year. There were no drug side effects. At present, 3 years and 9 months after the operation, cervical and abdominal CT reveals no evidence of enlargement of the cervical and intraperitoneal lymph nodes.

Gastric cancer occurred after coronary artery bypass grafting using the right gastroepiploic artery.

We recently encountered a rare case where gastric cancer developed in the long-term postoperative stage after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) and distal partial gastrectomy was performed to treat the cancer. The patient was a 64-year-old man. In November 2001, he underwent three-vessel CABG, involving bypassing between the right coronary artery (RCA) and the RGEA, to treat an old myocardial infarction. In May 2003, he was admitted to our hospital because of exacerbation of diabetes mellitus and anemia. Gastric endoscopy revealed gastric cancer affecting the pylorus. Preoperative abdominal angiography showed the RGEA graft remained well patent. In June 2003, he underwent distal partial gastrectomy and regional lymph node dissection. Because the RGEA had been freed adequately to the point of bifurcation of the gastroduodenal artery during the previous CABG, the RGEA graft was preserved during distal partial gastrectomy. When the RGEA is used for CABG, it seems advisable to free the RGEA adequately to a point of bifurcation of the gastroduodenal artery. If done so, regional lymph node dissection around the RGEA is easier to perform when gastric cancer has occurred in these cases, eventually reducing the risk for injury of the graft. Following CABG with the RGEA, it seems essential to perform periodical checks for gastric cancer to facilitate early detection of gastric cancer. The necessity of close follow-up of these cases is endorsed by the fact that healing of gastric cancer by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is highly probable if the cancer is detected at early stages.

[A case of paraaortic lymph nodes metastases responding to TS-1 following surgery for gastric cancer].

A 58-year-old man underwent distal gastrectomy with a D2 lymph adenectomy for advanced gastric cancer (pStage IIIB). Seven months later, abdominal CT revealed multiple paraaortic lymph nodes metastases. Radiation therapy was not effective, so TS-1 chemotherapy was started (each treatment course consisted of daily oral administration of 100 mg TS-1 for 4 weeks followed by 2 drug-free weeks). The CT findings revealed that the metastatic lesion had shrunk markedly after the first course. A complete response was observed after the fifth course, and was maintained thereafter. The serum level of CEA decreased from 337 to 2.7 ng/ml after the third course, but gradually rose again and stayed between 30 and 50 ng/ml. Although the re-elevation of serum CEA level suggested the existence of a recurrent lesion, no sign of recurrence was found by radiographical or endoscopic examinations. Leukocytopenia and anemia (grade 2) were the only observed adverse effects. This patient continues to undergo outpatient treatment with good QOL.

Advanced lung cancer invading the left atrium wall treated with pneumonectomy and combined resection of the left atrium using stapling devices: report of two cases.

In chest surgery, stapling devices are primarily used to close bronchi. However, they are also used for dissection and suturing between lung lobes, resection and plication of lung tissue (including bullae), combined resection of the superior vena cava, closure of the pulmonary great vessels, closure of the left atrium following combined resection of the left atrium, and so on. We recently treated two cases of advanced lung cancer, which had invaded the left atrial wall, with pneumonectomy and combined resection of the left atrium using stapling devices, and obtained favorable results. For combined resection of the left atrium, it is safer to use stapling devices than vascular clamps, since the latter involve the risk of dislocation during use. Furthermore, since stapling devices require no margin for suturing, the left atrium can be resected at a point sufficiently distant from the cancer, thus allowing for highly radical resection. Stapling devices are also useful because they can be manipulated even within narrow operative fields. When dealing with lung cancer requiring combined resection of the left atrium, pneumonectomy is needed in most cases. When performing surgery for these cases, it is essential to first close and divide the bronchi and pulmonary arteries and veins as far as possible so that adequate adherence around the left atrium can be developed and the entire lung can be lifted up, followed by resection of the left atrium with a stapling device applied to the left atrium without any tension.

Pedunculated giant gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach showing extragastric growth: report of a case.

We report an unusual case of a pedunculated gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach with extragastric growth. An 84-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for investigation of anemia. Barium meal examination showed a defect occupying the lesser curvature of the stomach from the middle of the corpus to the fornix and an abdominal computed tomography scan, showed a lesion, 20 cm in diameter, touching the surface of the spleen. Laparotomy revealed a tumor located between the liver and spleen. As the tumor appeared to be connected with the posterior wall of the gastric corpus by a pedicle, it was resected with a pedunculated lesion of the stomach. Based on the pathological findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a GIST of uncommitted type, with low-grade malignancy.

Successful resection of locally advanced rectal carcinoma combined with preoperative chemoradiation.

Chemoradiation increases the local control and colostomy-free survival in patients with advanced anal canal carcinomas. We recently experienced a 50-year-old female patient with locally advanced carcinoma of the rectum invading to the sacrum, which could not be surgically resected. Therefore, we performed a colostomy and transarterial infusion of anti-tumor drugs including 50 mg cisplatin and 10 mg mitomycin C via the inferior mesentery artery in September 1999. She then underwent radiotherapy with a total dose of 64 Gy for the primary tumor. After the radiotherapy the patient received 125 mg/body of 1-leucovorin by 2-hour infusion and, one hour after starting the 1-leucovorin infusion, she received an intravenous bolus of 250 mg/body of 5-fluorouracil. This regimen was conducted biweekly for 13 courses followed by oral administration of 400 mg 5'-deoxyfluorouridine for one year. Since the chemoradiation resulted in a successful response, the patient underwent curative resection of the primary tumor in June 2001. The resected tumor (32 x 35 mm) had clean margins. Although the carcinoma cells had disappeared, fibrous lesions were observed over a broad area. Based on these pathologic findings, the treatment effect was judged as grade Ib.