Retroperitoneal Perforation Caused by Migration of a Pancreatic Spontaneous Dislodgement Stent into Periampullary Diverticula.

An 85-year-old woman underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for obstructive jaundice. Selective bile duct cannulation was unsuccessful because of periampullary diverticula (PAD). A pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent (PSDS) (5F diameter, 3 cm, straight type) was inserted to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. Three days after ERCP, she complained of abdominal pain, and computed tomography revealed retroperitoneal perforation because of PSDS migration to the PAD. If the papillary orifice is observed at the diverticular rim or in the diverticula, a pigtailed PSDS on the duodenal side or flanged stent on the pancreatic ductal side should be inserted in order to prevent this rare adverse event.

A new strategy with a grading system for liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The optimal indications, including timing, for resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRCLM) remain controversial. The Japanese Society of Cancer of the Colon and Rectum has proposed "H-classification" based on the maximum size and number of CRCLM, and has advocated the "CRCLM-grade system", which involves adding the presence of primary lymph node metastasis status to H-classification. We evaluated clinicopathological factors in order to elucidate the optimal indications for and timing of hepatectomy. METHODOLOGY: Ninety-six patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for CRCLM between August 1995 and May 2009 were retrospectively analyzed with respect to characteristics of primary colorectal metastatic hepatic tumors, operation details and prognosis. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified depth of invasion in primary colorectal cancer (within sub-serosal (non-se) vs. beyond serosal (se)) and CRCLM-grade as independent risk factors. We then performed analyses using the combination of non-se/se and CRCLM-grade. Kaplan-Meier analysis identified significant differences between non-se+gradeA and se+gradeA, between non-se+gradeB and se+gradeB, and between non-se+gradeC and se+gradeC groups. CONCLUSIONS: We could retrospectively predict survival in CRCLM patients by adopting this new simple classification. This method may allow more precise assessment of operative indications and timing for both operations and perioperative adjuvant treatment.

Predictors of poor prognosis by recurrence patterns after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in Child-Pugh classification A.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevention of recurrence is important for improving long-term outcome for HCC. To identify candidates for postoperative adjuvant therapy after curative hepatectomy for HCC in Child-Pugh classification A (Child A). METHODOLOGY: Of 157 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for Child A HCC, 93 had recurrence and were divided into 2 groups: group A, ≤2 tumors, each <3 cm in size at the time of intrahepatic recurrence; group B, ≥3 tumors or tumor ≥3 cm in size at the time of intrahepatic recurrence and/or extrahepatic recurrence. Clinicopathological and survival data were analyzed retrospectively in each group to identify poor prognostic factors. RESULTS: The 1-year recurrence rate was 50%, and the time to recurrence was shorter in group B (10 months) than in group A (20 months) Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were poorer in group B (83%, 52%, and 35% respectively; p < 0.001) than in group A (100%, 96%, and 71% respectively) Cancer spread (vascular invasion and/or intrahepatic metastasis) was significantly affecting the recurrence pattern of Group B (p=0.0238) on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy af ter curative hepatectomy for HCC in Child A should be given to patients with microscopic vascular invasion and/or intrahepatic metastasis.

Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for small malignant liver tumors: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hepatectomy (Lap-Hx) has been increasingly performed for patients with liver tumors as surgical techniques and devices have progressed. However, the long-term outcomes of Lap-Hx for malignant liver tumors are not oncologically guaranteed. This study compared the short- and long-term outcomes between Lap-Hx and open hepatectomy (Open-Hx) for malignant liver tumors by matched-pair analysis. METHODS: The indications for Lap-Hx at our department are a tumor size of <5 cm and fewer than two lesions without macroscopic vascular invasion or the need for biliary reconstruction. In total, 135 patients underwent Lap-Hx for malignant liver tumors through December 2013. We compared the short- and long-term outcomes between Lap-Hx and Open-Hx in patients who met the above-mentioned indications. RESULTS: With respect to short-term outcomes, the operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein level after Lap-Hx were significantly better than those after Open-Hx in both the patients who underwent partial resection and those who underwent lateral sectionectomy. In patients who underwent partial resection, the incidence of postoperative complications after Lap-Hx was significantly lower than that after Open-Hx; in particular, wound infection and respiratory complications were significantly lower. Furthermore, when the tumor was located in the posterosuperior segments, the operation time for Lap-Hx was not shorter than that for Open-Hx. With respect to long-term outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma, neither overall nor disease-free survival differed between the two groups. With respect to long-term outcomes of colorectal liver metastases, the disease-free survival rate was similar between Lap-Hx and Open-Hx; however, the overall survival rate was significantly better for Lap-Hx than for Open-Hx. CONCLUSIONS: Lap-Hx is a good option for selected patients with malignant liver tumors. The short- and long-term outcomes of Lap-Hx also are considered to be acceptable.

Surgical treatment of extrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological features of extrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after hepatectomy in order to schedule optimal treatment strategies for better long-term outcomes. METHODS: A cohort of 206 patients who had undergone curative hepatectomy for HCC was analysed; 133 patients had developed relapse. Among them, 101 patients had intrahepatic recurrence only (IHR), and 32 patients had extrahepatic recurrence (EHR). Clinicopathological and survival data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The overall survival rate after hepatectomy was better in the IHR than in the EHR group (p<0.0001). The recurrence-free interval after hepatectomy was significantly shorter in the EHR than in the IHR group (258 vs. 487 days, p<0.0043). Patients in the EHR group were more likely to have a high PIVKA II, a large tumour, and microscopic portal vein invasion when compared with patients in the IHR group. Microscopic portal vein invasion was the most important independent risk factor for EHR after hepatectomy (p=0.0295). Patients with more than two risk factors for EHR showed poor prognosis in comparison with patients without any risk factors (p<0.001). In the EHR group, patients who underwent repeated resection had significantly better survival than patients receiving only the best supportive care (539 vs. 133 days, p=0.0098). Furthermore, among EHR patients with concomitant IHR, patients with controllable IHR had significantly better survival than those with uncontrollable IHR (524 vs. 147 days, p=0.0131). CONCLUSIONS: EHR of HCC was associated with early recurrence, and risk factors for the occurrence of EHR included the presence of high PIVKA II, large tumours, and microscopic portal vein invasion. Resection of recurrent tumour and local control of concomitant IHR may improve the prognosis of EHR patients.

Outcomes and predictors of microvascular invasion of solitary hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is an important risk factor for early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but preoperative prediction of MVI is difficult. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken on 167 patients with primary solitary HCC who underwent initial hepatectomy. Independent predictors of MVI were identified, and factors affecting disease-free survival in patients with MVI were clarified. RESULTS: Of the 167 patients, 20 patients (12%) had MVI. Recurrence rates of HCC after hepatectomy in MVI patients were significantly worse than in patients without MVI (P < 0.0361). Univariate analysis revealed that positive L3-AFP, PIVKA-II ≥ 150 mAU/mL and tumor size ≥3 cm preoperatively were associated with positive MVI. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of MVI were PIVKA-II ≥ 150 mAU/mL (odds ratio [OR], 5.19; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.44-24.87; P = 0.0109) and positive L3-AFP (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.19-10.75; P = 0.0229). Among the MVI-positive group, the 1-, 2- and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 78%, 58%, and 58% in patients with surgical margin (SM) ≥ 10 mm and 38%, 29%, and 29% in those with SM < 10 mm, respectively (P = 0.0263). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PIVKA-II ≥ 150 mAU/mL and positive L3-AFP on preoperative examination are at high risk for MVI.

Reconsideration of the indications for adjuvant chemotherapy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer after initial hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) remains a matter of debate. Despite the lack of clear evidence supporting its effectiveness after curative hepatectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy has been widely used clinically. The purpose of this study was to clarify the indications for adjuvant chemotherapy in order to develop an appropriate treatment strategy for CRLM. METHODS: The clinicopathological factors of 110 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for CRLM between April 2000 and March 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic factors of CRLM were identified and then CRLM was stratified according to the number of prognostic factors into the high-score group (H-group: score 2 or 3) and the low-score group (L-group: score 0 or 1), and the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy was analyzed in each group. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified pT4 (p = 0.0047), lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC) (p = 0.0165), and H2-classification (p = 0.0051) as factors related to a poor prognosis. The overall 5-year survival rate was markedly higher in the L-group (68 %) than in the H-group (26 %, p < 0.0001). Moreover, in the L-group, patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy had the same prognosis as those who received adjuvant chemotherapy. As for recurrence, tumor relapse more often was treated by resection in the L-group than in the H-group (p = 0.0339). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with no more than two factors of the H2-classification, invasion depth pT4, and lymph node metastasis in CRC.

Surgical outcomes and clinical characteristics of elderly patients undergoing curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients (≥ 70 years old) undergoing curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Clinicopathological data and treatment outcomes in 100 elderly patients (≥ 70 years old) and 120 control patients (≤ 70 years old) with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy between 2000 and 2011 were retrospectively collected and compared. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was similar between the two groups, but the disease-free survival rate was worse in the elderly group when compared with the control group. Prognostic factors for overall and disease-free survival were the same when comparing the two groups. The elderly group had higher rate of females (p = 0.0230), higher hepatitis C virus infection rate (p = 0.0090), higher postoperative pulmonary complication rate (p = 0.0484), lower rate of response to interferon (IFN) therapy (p = 0.0203) and shorter surgical time (p = 0.0337) when compared with the control group. The overall recurrence rate was higher in the elderly group than in the control group (p = 0.0346), but the rate of recurrence within 2 years after the operation was similar when comparing the two groups. CONCLUSION: The survival of elderly patients with HCC was similar to that of younger patients. However, the disease-free survival was worse in elderly patients than in younger patients. Aggressive antiviral therapy (e.g. IFN therapy) may be necessary to improve the disease-free survival, even in elderly patients. Additionally, clinicians should be aware of the risk of pulmonary complications in elderly patients after hepatectomy.

Clinical usefulness of endo intestinal clips during Pringle's maneuver in laparoscopic liver resection: a technical report.

BACKGROUND: Control of bleeding is important in parenchymal transection during laparoscopic liver resection. We suggest a new technique using Endo intestinal clips for the intestinal tract to achieve easy, safe hepatoduodenal ligament clamping during laparoscopic liver resection. METHODS: In this study, 10 consecutive patients underwent pure laparoscopic liver resection. Pringle's maneuver was performed using Endo intestinal clips directly on the hepatoduodenal ligament. RESULTS: Laparoscopic Pringle's maneuver using Endo intestinal clips is very easy and safe. In this series, Pringle's maneuver was used a mean of 3.4 times (range, 1 to 5) in each case. Mean operative time was 271.0 minutes (range, 105 to 415 min) and mean volume of intraoperative blood loss was 119.5 mL (range, 10 to 320 mL). No intraoperative or postoperative morbidity or mortality was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Pringle's maneuver using Endo intestinal clips can be performed easily and safely during laparoscopic liver resection.

Evaluation of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis after liver resection: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic prophylaxis is frequently administered after liver resection to prevent postoperative infections. However, very few studies have examined the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis after liver resection. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in patients after liver resection. METHODS: A total of 241 patients scheduled to undergo liver resection were randomly assigned to the non-postoperative antibiotic group (n = 95) or the antibiotic group (n = 95). The antibiotic group was given flomoxef sodium every 12 hours for 3 days after the operation. The end point was signs of infection, surgical site infection, or infectious complications. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in signs of infection (21.3% vs 25.5%, P = .606), the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (11.7% vs 17.0%, P = .406), infectious complications (7.5% vs 17.0%, P = .073), surgical site infection (10.6% vs 13.8%, P = .657), and remote site infection (2.1% vs 8.5%, P = .100). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis cannot prevent postoperative infections after liver resection, and it is thought that antibiotic prophylaxis is unnecessary and costly.

Multiple metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas: a first case report and review of the literature.

A 60-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with swelling of the right leg. After surgery, leiomyosarcoma of the right leg was diagnosed. Computed tomography showed two hypovascular masses in the pancreatic body and tail that were heterogeneously enhanced compared with the pancreatic parenchyma. On endoscopic ultrasonography, the tumors in the pancreatic body and tail both exhibited regular margins and were visualized as well-circumscribed masses with uneven interiors. Distal pancreatectomy was performed under a presumptive diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic leiomyosarcoma diagnosed based on the findings of EUS-FNA. On laparotomy, peritoneal washing cytology yielded negative results, and no dissemination was observed. Ultimately, metastatic pancreatic leiomyosarcoma was histologically diagnosed.

A case of gastric cancer after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: As newer immunosuppressive regimens have steadily reduced in the incidence of acute rejection and have extended the life expectancy of allograft recipients, posttransplant de novo malignancies have become an important cause of death in cadaveric donor transplantation. Also, according with the recent accumulation of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the number of posttransplant recipients with de novo malignancy will be anticipated to increase. CASE REPORT: A 60 year-old man underwent LDLT for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty months after LDLT, he was found to have gastric cancer by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. He underwent segmental gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination of the explanted stomach revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with subserosal invasion in the gastric wall and perigastric lymph node metastasis. Three years and eight months after the gastric surgery, the patient is alive with no recurrence of gastric cancer or HCC under no adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that early detection is the only key in curing cancer in general, we should make effort to detect cancer in their early stage, especially in case of LDLT recipients.

Resection margin with anatomic or nonanatomic hepatectomy for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: When hepatectomy is used as a primary treatment for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRCLM), the balance between surgical curability and functional preservation of the remnant liver is of great importance. METHODS: A total of 108 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for CRCLM were retrospectively analyzed with respect to tumor extent, operative method, and prognosis, including recurrence. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates (OS) for all patients were 90.5%, 77.8%, 63.2%, and 51.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) level after hepatectomy (<36 or ≥36 mAU/mL) and presence of recurrence as independent prognostic factors of OS (P = 0.0458 and 0.0249, respectively), and tumor depth of colorectal cancer (

Prognostic clinicopathological factors after curative resection of small bowel adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Small bowel adenocarcinoma is a relatively uncommon neoplasm that accounts for approximately 0.3% to 2.4% of digestive cancers. In comparison with carcinomas of the other areas of the gastrointestinal tract, the prognosis for small bowel adenocarcinoma is generally worse. The prognostic factors of small bowel adenocarcinoma were analyzed retrospectively, and the significance of operative procedure, lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy was evaluated. METHODS: From 1990 to 2009, 30 patients with small bowel adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery at Osaka Medical College Hospital were analyzed with respect to tumor extent, operation method, and prognosis. RESULTS: Overall 5-year survival was 52.5%, and the median survival time was 27.0 months. On univariate and multivariate analyses, the location (duodenum vs. jejunum and ileum), size (greater or less than 70 mm), and tumor, nodes, and metastasis (TNM) stage (stage 0 + I + II vs. III + IV) of the tumor were the significant prognostic factors. No differences in survival and recurrence rates were observed between patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy and those undergoing partial resection, between those undergoing mural lymphadenectomy and those undergoing extended lymphadenectomy, or between those with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. The combination of surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy did not control recurrence or improve the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In small bowel adenocarcinoma, location, size, and TNM stage of the tumors were the independent prognostic factors after curative resections. Partial resection with mural lymphadenectomy may be recommended as optimal surgery for small bowel adenocarcinoma.

Re-evaluation of the necessity of prophylactic drainage after liver resection.

Abdominal drainage after liver resection is considered unnecessary: however, there still exist a number of cases where drain is effective to prevent serious infectious complications. We re-evaluated the necessity of drain placement after liver resection from the retrospective analysis of postoperative complications with special reference to the need for drain insertion of 140 patients undergoing hepatectomy without intraoperative abdominal drainage from 2007 through 2010. Three patients required drain reinsertion in the early postoperative period (before postoperative Day 7); all had undergone extended right hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombus followed by postoperative liver failure. Risk factors for postoperative bile leakage included repeated hepatectomy, operative procedure with exposure of the major Glisson's sheath (i.e., central bisegmentectomy and anterior segmentectomy), and intraoperative bile leakage. However, because the onset of this complication was as late as postoperative Day 19.5, prophylactic drainage does not appear useful. Although not required routinely, prophylactic drainage might be useful in patients undergoing extended hepatectomy, a high-risk hepatectomy procedure exposing the major Glisson's sheath, those with positive intraoperative bile leakage, for hepatocellular carcinoma, and especially complicated with portal vein thrombus.

Clinicopathological risk factors for recurrence within one year after initial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) shows a high rate of recurrence after hepatectomy; predictive factors for early recurrence would help determine optimal therapeutic and management strategies. Among 163 patients with HCC undergoing hepatectomy with curative intent, 46 patients developed recurrence within 1 year. Clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed to identify predictive parameters for early recurrence. Survival rates in cases of recurrence within 1 year were worse than those of no recurrence within 1 year or recurrence after 1 year. Protein induced by vitamin K absence/antagonist II (PIVKA-II) greater than 150, positive fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (L3-AFP), and deviancy from Milan criteria (MC) on preoperative imaging were associated with high risk of early recurrence and total number of these three risk factors predicted the survival. With multivariate analysis, (1) preoperatively, positive factors of two or more among three items of PIVKA-II, L3-AFP, and deviancy from MC; (2) and postoperatively, pathological cancer spread (microscopic vascular invasion and/or intrahepatic metastasis) both represented risks for early recurrence. A combination of three preoperative factors, PIVKA-II, L3-AFP, and MC status, in conjunction with the postoperative factor of cancer spread status represents a significant indicator for recurrence within 1 year. Improving the prognosis of patients with HCC would depend on how to adequately treat those at high risk of early recurrence.

Appropriate treatment strategy for intrahepatic recurrence after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the appropriate treatment for intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Of 151 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for HCC, 82 had intrahepatic recurrence and were divided into two groups: group A, ≤2 tumors, each 3 cm in size; and group B, beyond the group A. Survival and treatment in each group were analyzed retrospectively to determine the best therapeutic modality for intrahepatic recurrence. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival and recurrence rate were 65% and 58%, respectively. Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after recurrence were better in group A (100%, 76%, and 54%) than in group B (74%, 23%, and 5.8%; p < 0.001). The clinical backgrounds were not different for each modality. Of the 43 patients in group A, 10 underwent hepatectomy, 21 ablation therapy, and 12 transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). The survival rate of hepatectomy was similar to that of ablation therapy and significantly better than that of TACE (p = 0.0248). Of the 39 patients in group B, the results of TACE were similar to other therapies after recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat hepatectomy and ablation therapy were more effective than TACE in the group with ≤2 tumors up to 3 cm in size at recurrence, while any treatment modality was more effective than best supportive care, but the outcome was poorer in the group with ≥3 tumors or tumor size ≥3 cm at recurrence.