Peritoneal carcinomatosis arising from rectal or colonic adenocarcinoma treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): two different diseases.

PURPOSE: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer (CRC) has poor survival. Multi-modal treatment including systemic chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can be used in selected patients with curative intent. The majority published works consider PC of CRC origin as a homogenous disease. Aim of this study is to stress the different biological behaviors and survival of PC according to colonic or rectal origin. METHODS: Data of CRS and HIPEC procedures for PC of CRC origin performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center-Madrid (Spain) have been collected, dividing patients into two groups according to colonic or rectal PC. Clinical, operatory, and postoperatory variables of the two groups have been analyzed to compare survival-related rates and PC origin. RESULTS: In the years 2004-2015, 114 procedures of CRS followed by HIPEC for peritoneal metastasis of different origin have been performed; of these, 36 procedures were for colorectal PC (31 patients in colonic and 5 in rectal group). Two groups are homogenous after analysis of clinical, operatory, and follow-up data. Median survival (OS) is significantly higher in colonic compared to rectal group (47.83 vs. 22.0 months, p 0.008). 3- and 5-year survival rate is 74 and 50% in colonic group vs. 20 and 0% in rectal group. CONCLUSION: Rectal origin PC has a more aggressive behavior compared to colonic origin, reflecting in a worst prognosis of patients affected by rectal origin PC. According to our data and literature, indications of multi-modal treatment including CRS and HIPEC should be more restrictive for rectal cancer PC. Authors should differentiate colonic and rectal origin of PC when reporting cases in the literature.

MRI and endoscopic ultrasonography in the staging of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the diagnostic precision of endoscopic ultrasounds (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer. METHODS: a prospective, blind study was carried out in 17 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer (GC) using endoscopic biopsy from November 2002 to June 2003. Patients underwent preoperative MRI and EUS. The reference test used was pathology, and laparotomy for non-resectable cases. RESULTS: MRI (53%) was better than EUS in the assessment of gastric wall infiltration (35%). MRI (50%) was also superior to EUS (42%) for N staging. After pooling stages T1-T2 and T3-T4 together, results improved for both MRI (67 and 87.5%, respectively) and EUS (67 and 62.5%, respectively) (p < 0.05). N staging--lymph node invasion--results were correct in 50% for MRI as compared to EUS (42%). In classifying positive and negative lymph nodes EUS was superior to MRI (73 versus 54%). CONCLUSIONS: MRI was the best method in the assessment of gastric wall infiltration. EUS was superior to MRI for T1 staging, and in the assessment of lymph node infiltration.

Exceptional bilateral adrenalectomy after secondaries from colorectal cancer.

We report a very uncommon case of bilateral adrenal metastasis treated at our institution. The patient was 65 years old, with a history of low anterior resection for colorectal cancer in 2001. One year later, he was diagnosed with bilateral adrenal metastasis, based on the results of abdominal computed tomography-scan. A bilateral adrenalectomy extended to distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful. He is alive and free of disease 12 months after adrenalectomy. We conclude adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer should be managed surgically, even if they are bilateral.

[Follow up of a spontaneous ventral subarachnoid spinal haematoma by means of magnetic resonance]. / Seguimiento con resonancia magnética de un hematoma medular subaracnoideo ventral espontáneo.

INTRODUCTION: Subarachnoid spinal haematomas are uncommon when compared with epidural and subdural hematomas. Since bleeding is into the cerebro spinal fluid, its composition and pulsatility make it difficult for the blood to coagulate. It is even rarer for bleeding to be spontaneous, with no demonstrable cause on laboratory and neuro imaging investigations. Usually occupation of the vertebral canal by a haematoma indicates the need for surgical decompression to free the spinal cord or medulla oblongata. Magnetic resonance is the technique of choice to study disorders of the spinal cord and soft tissues, due to the clear contrast imaging. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 70 year old woman with acute lumbar pain followed by motor deficit in both legs. Magnetic resonance showed a collection of blood in the subarachnoid space ventral to the medullar oblongata. In spite of doing laboratory and radio imaging investigations, no cause could be found for the bleeding. Hematomas ventral to the spinal cord can be treated medically as there is less risk of spinal compression at this site, since the subarachnoid space is greater. The patient improved with conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance following treatment showed that the subarachnoid hematoma had resolved.

Idiopathic segmental infarction of the greater omentum as a cause of acute abdomen report of two cases and review of the literature.

The segmental infarction of the greater omentum is a rare cause of acute abdomen. Its etiology is uncertain although several predisposing factors have been underlined such as congenital venous anomalies, sudden change of position and substantial meal. The clinical picture simulates an appendicitis or cholecystitis, thus being difficult to make a preoperative diagnosis. However, ultrasonography or computed tomography scan can help us make this diagnosis and then we alternatively perform a conservative treatment, laparoscopic approach or resection by laparotomy. We present two cases, preoperatively diagnosed by ultrasonography and computed tomography scan that were treated by laparotomy resection. We also review the published cases in the medical literature.

Results of 22 years of experience in radical surgical treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As there is still no effective parasiticide, treatment of hydatid cysts continues to be surgical. The possibility of treatment by PAIR. (puncture-aspiration-instillation-reaspiration) or laparoscopy has intensified the debate on the need for radical surgery. This study aims to show that radical surgical resection of the hepatic hydatid cyst is a safe and very effective technique, based on our results after 22 years of experience. METHODOLOGY: Between 1974 and 1996 in 2 large Madrid hospitals we operated on 459 patients with 630 hydatid cysts. As technical advances and experience may vary results, patients were divided into 2 groups according to the period when they had undergone surgery: group A between 1974 and 1984; and group B between 1985 and 1996. Results of radical surgical resection and changes over the course of evolution of this technique were analyzed. RESULTS: A progressive drop was observed in morbidity and mortality. There were no deaths related to technical complications amongst total cystopericystectomy cases. Between 1990 and 1996 mortality was 0%, 2% of patients presented biliary fistula and 4% infection of the residual cavity. Mean hospital stay was 15.2 days. Only 1 patient of the 459 presented recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: As regards morbidity and mortality, technical advances and accumulated experience permit safe treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts by radical resection, with an almost nil recurrence rate. This makes it the technique of choice over others such as partial resection, PAIR or laparoscopy.

Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors: an entity which is infrequent and difficult to diagnose.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor of the pancreas is currently considered to be a tumor which is an entity of its own, different from classic pancreatic ductal carcinoma. It is basically characterized by slow growth and low malignancy potential, as well as by the production of mucin. The aim of this study is to contribute to world literature some clarification of its natural history, clinical presentation, the most useful diagnostic tests, methods of detection of stromal invasion and handling of treatment. METHODOLOGY: Of 297 pancreatectomies undertaken at the "12 de Octubre" hospital between May 1985 and January 1998, only 1 case of Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumor was found. We have revised 127 cases published in 10 series over the last 10 years. We also contribute a review of our own case. RESULTS: These tumors, which are very infrequent, produce non-specific symptoms, with long latency periods from the first symptom up to stromal invasion. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed alterations in 100% of cases where this was undertaken. Tumor-related mortality was zero amongst patients with non-invasive tumor who underwent surgery. None of the cases published presented upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. This indicated the correct surgery and led us to our diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the low frequency and difficulty of diagnosis, the sensitivity of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, the difficulty of early detection of stromal invasion, and the high survival rate in cases where resection is done before this occurs. Early diagnosis and treatment is therefore of utmost importance.

Graft mass and volume calculation in living related donors for liver transplantation.

Living related liver transplantation is one of the strategies currently used to increase the donor pool. A preoperative and non-invasive estimate of the donor's liver volume is needed to ensure sufficient functional liver reserve for survival after resection, and to obtain a graft of adequate volume to suit the recipient's features. A method based on a preoperative abdominal computerised axial tomography of the donor, that enables the volume and mass of the whole liver, and the graft, to be calculated is herein described. The compatibility of the estimate with real graft mass after its removal has been proved, and the accuracy of the calculi has been compared with other published methods. Moreover, progressive growth of the recipient liver remnant has been demonstrated in subsequent explorations.