Novel Clean End-to-End Anastomosis Method, Without Opening the Stomach Lumen, in Totally Laparoscopic or Robotic Pylorus-Preserving Gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: Intra-abdominal infection is a common postoperative complication of laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomies (PPGs). Many studies have reported that intra-abdominal infectious complications after gastrectomy adversely affect patient survival outcomes. To prevent gastric fluid leakage into the abdominal cavity, we developed a novel anastomosis method in which the stomach lumen is not opened (termed the non-opened clean end-to-end anastomosis method [NoCEAM]) and evaluated its feasibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subsequent to lymphadenectomy, the oral and anal resection lines were sutured using an intraoperative endoscope. After closing the stomach circumferentially with clips, the specimen was rolled outward like a "donut." We resected the specimen circumferentially using a linear stapler, and anastomosis was completed simultaneously. We examined the feasibility of this procedure ex vivo, using three porcine stomachs, and in vivo, using one pig. Subsequently, we applied the procedure to 13 consecutive patients with middle-third early gastric cancer utilizing laparotomic, laparoscopic, and robotic PPG. RESULTS: NoCEAM was completed in all porcine models and human cases. In the human cases, the mean operation time (±standard deviation) was 279±51 minutes, and mean blood loss volume was 22±45 mL. The mean number of linear staples used was 5.06±0.76. None of the patients had complications, and all were discharged on the eighth postoperative. The serum total protein, serum albumin, and hemoglobin levels did not change significantly after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: NoCEAM is feasible and safe for performing totally laparoscopic or robotic PPG. It may reduce postoperative complications, such as intra-abdominal infections.

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm presenting as a massive cystic liver tumor mimicking mucinous cystic neoplasm of the liver: A case report and literature review.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) preferentially arise in the bronchopulmonary tree or the gastrointestinal tract. Notably, primary hepatic NENs are extremely rare. The present study describes a case of hepatic NEN presenting as a giant hepatic cystic lesion. A 42-year-old woman presented with a large liver tumor. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography revealed a cystic tumor (18 cm) in their left liver. The tumor exhibited liquid components and mural solid nodules with enhanced effects. The lesion was diagnosed as mucinous cystic carcinoma (MCC) preoperatively. The patient underwent a left hepatectomy, and the postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has been alive without recurrence for 36 months postoperatively. The pathological diagnosis was NEN G2. This patient had ectopic pancreatic tissue in the liver and thus the ectopic pancreatic origin of the tumor was suspected. The present study describes a case of resected cystic primary NEN of the liver that was difficult to differentiate from mucinous cystic neoplasms. As primary liver NENs are extremely rare, further studies are needed to establish their diagnosis and treatment.

Tumor Budding as a Predictive Marker of Relapse and Survival in Patients With Stage II Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tumor budding (TB) has recently been recognized worldwide as a prognostic predictor in several solid cancers. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between TB and clinicopathological characteristics, postoperative relapse, and survival in patients with stage II colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 213 patients with stage II colon cancer were retrospectively enrolled at Saitama Medical Center, Dokkyo Medical University from 2010 to 2016. TB was evaluated in hotspot areas on hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides at the invasive front of the tumor to define a low-grade group (BD1) and a high-grade group (BD2 or BD3). RESULTS: High-grade TB was found in 38.3% of cases, and was associated with pT4, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and tumor relapse (p=0.02, p=0.03, p=0.002, respectively). Patients with highgrade TB showed worse relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates than patients with low-grade TB (5-year RFS: High 75.6% vs. Low 92.1%, p=0.001; 5-year OS: High 93.7% vs. Low 93.7%, p=0.001). On multivariate analysis for predictors of RFS and OS, high-grade TB was significant for both RFS and OS (RFS, p=0.003; OS, p=0.005). Patients with high-grade TB experienced lung and liver relapses significantly more frequently than patients with low-grade TB (p=0.03 each). Among patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), no patients showed lung or liver relapse even in the presence of high-grade TB. CONCLUSION: TB may offer a useful predictor of relapse in patients with stage II colon cancer after surgery, and AC should be considered for patients with high-grade TB.

Surgical site infection after laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer is associated with compromised long-term oncological outcome.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the influence of infectious complications, particularly surgical site infection (SSI), on long-term oncological results after elective laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 199 patients who underwent laparoscopic elective resection with negative resection margins for stage I-III colorectal cancer were retrospectively examined. The postoperative course was recorded based on hospital records, and cancer relapse was diagnosed based on radiological or pathological findings under a standardized follow-up program. The severity of complications was graded using Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification. RESULTS: SSI was found in 25 patients (12.6%), with 12 (6.0%) showing anastomotic leak. The postoperative relapse-free survival (RFS) rate was significantly lower in patients with SSI (49.2%) than in patients without SSI (87.2%, P<0.001). Differences in RFS were found after both colectomy and rectal resection (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). RFS did not differ between patients who had major SSI CD (grade III) and those who had minor SSI CD (grades I or II). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified the occurrence of SSI and pathological stage as independent co-factors for RFS (P<0.001 and P=0.003). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that postoperative SSI compromises long-term oncological results after laparoscopic colorectal resection. Further improvements in surgical technique and refinements in perioperative care may improve long-term oncological results.

The updated five-year overall survival and long-term oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicity assessment of the FACOS study.

PURPOSE: We previously reported the first evidence of oncological benefits from a Japanese phase II trial of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer (the FACOS study). We herein report the long-term survival and persistent oxaliplatin-related peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) for patients enrolled in this trial. METHODS: Patients were scheduled to receive the mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX regimen in the adjuvant setting. The five-year overall survival (OS) rate and persistent PSN were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients (mFOLFOX6, n = 73; CAPOX, n = 57) were eligible. The 5-year OS rate was 91.4%. No significant difference in the OS rate was observed between regimens (mFOLFOX6, 94.4%; CAPOX, 87.4%; P = 0.25). The incidence of PSN during adjuvant treatment was 55.4% in grade 1 (G1), 30.0% in G2, and 4.6% in G3. No patients showed G3 PSN at 12 months, but G1 or G2 residual PSN after 5 years was observed in 21.8% (G1, 20%; G2, 1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Updated results from the FACOS study support the benefits of oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy in terms of the long-term survival among Japanese patients with stage III colon cancer. However, long-term persistent PSN occurs in about 20% of survivors, counterbalancing the favorable OS.

Early detection of infectious complications using C-reactive protein and the procalcitonin levels after laparoscopic colorectal resection: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The predictive values of the C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels for postoperative infectious complications were investigated in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 154 consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) were prospectively studied. The CRP and PCT levels on the first postoperative day (POD1) and the fourth postoperative day (POD4) were measured. Any correlations between the CRP and PCT levels on POD1 and POD4 with the occurrence of infectious complications were examined. RESULTS: Infectious complications occurred in 18 (11.7%) patients. CRP on POD1 and CRP and PCT on POD4 were significantly higher in patients who developed infectious complications than in those who did not. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of CRP on POD1 and CRP and PCT on POD4 were 0.597, 0.763 and 0.768, respectively. The cut-off values of CRP and PCT levels on POD4 were 14.33 mg/dl and 0,264 ng/ml, respectively. Whereas the positive predictive value of an elevated CRP level was high, the negative predictive value of an elevated PCT was high. CONCLUSION: The CRP and PCT levels on POD4 are both considered to be useful for the early detection of infectious complications after laparoscopic resection of CRC.

How pregnancy and childbirth affect the working conditions and careers of women surgeons in Japan: findings of a nationwide survey conducted by the Japan Surgical Society.

PURPOSE: To identify the conflicts between a career as a surgeon and pregnancy and childbirth for women in Japan. METHODS: The Japan Surgical Society conducted a nationwide survey on pregnancy and childbirth among its members who are women. The questionnaire included items regarding demography, working styles, and pregnancy and childbirth, including adverse events and harassment. RESULTS: The response rate was 29.9% (1068 responses, median age, 37 years). Among the responders, 61% were married and 47% had children (average number of children, 1.7). Half of the respondents reported having experienced sexual harassment and 62% reported having received unwelcome comments about pregnancy. About 20% had undergone fertility treatment. In total, 51% had pregnancies, with miscarriages in 33% of these. The top answer for the best timing for pregnancy and childbirth was after becoming board-certified. Nearly one-third of first-time mothers experienced adverse events during pregnancy and delivery, and 28% quit or changed their job because of their pregnancy and the birth of their first child. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese women who choose a career as a surgeon face obstacles during pregnancy and childbirth. It is vital to share the findings of this study and understand the issues associated with pregnancy and childbirth regardless of gender. Interventions are essential to ensure that every pregnant surgeon has a safe working environment to allow unobstructed development of her career.

Myxoid stroma is associated with postoperative relapse in patients with stage II colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fibrosis surrounding cancer cells has been shown to affect cancer cell metastatic behavior. The present study aimed to explore the utility of myxoid stroma as a predictive factor for postoperative relapse in patients with stage II colon cancer. METHODS: The present study retrospectively investigated 169 patients who underwent curative surgical resection of stage II colon cancer. The fibrotic stroma was classified according to Ueno's criteria, and the patients were divided into the myxoid (MY) group and the non-MY (NMY) group. We also recorded tumor budding (TB) and investigated the combination of MY and TB for postoperative relapse. Postoperative survival was also explored. RESULTS: Thirty-two (18.9%) patients had MY. MY was significantly associated with tumor budding (TB) and postoperative relapse (p <  0.001 and p <  0.001, respectively). The 5-year RFS rates in MY group and NMY group were 52.1 and 94.6% (p < 0.0001), and the 5-year OS rates in MY group and NMY group were 74.6 and 93.3% (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that both MY and TB were significant risk factors for postoperative relapse (p < 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively), and that only TB was a significant risk factor for OS (p = 0.043). Furthermore, compared with patients with either one of MY or TB, patients with both MY and TB had postoperative relapse more frequently (11.4% vs. 53.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that MY is a predictive marker for postoperative relapse in patients with stage II colon cancer.

Comparison of postoperative plasma D-dimer levels between patients undergoing laparoscopic resection and conventional open resection for colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: D-dimer is widely used in clinical pretests for venous thromboembolism exclusion, and its elevation suggests the presence of thrombus. The extent of hypercoagulability after colorectal surgery has not been systematically compared between patients who have undergone laparoscopic surgery and open surgery. The present study measured D-dimer levels sequentially in patients undergoing colorectal surgery and compared the extent of hypercoagulability between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery. METHODS: A prospective cohort study involving 169 patients who underwent resection of colorectal cancer at Saitama Medical Center, Dokkyo Medical University, was conducted between January 2013 and September 2014. To measure D-dimer level, peripheral blood was obtained on postoperative day (POD) 1, POD4, and POD7. Enoxaparin sodium was administered twice daily as the routine prophylactic anticoagulant therapy on POD2 to 7. RESULTS: D-dimer levels on POD1, POD4, and POD7 were significantly higher after open surgery than after laparoscopic surgery. Older age, pathologically advanced stage cancer, greater intraoperative blood loss and higher preoperative D-dimer levels were significantly associated with higher D-dimer levels on POD1, POD4, and POD7. Patients who completed the course of postoperative enoxaparin injections had significantly lower D-dimer levels on POD7 than those who did not receive postoperative enoxaparin injections. Multiple regression analyses of postoperative D-dimer level showed that laparoscopic surgery was a significant and independent factor affecting D-dimer level on POD4 and POD7. CONCLUSION: This study showed that postoperative D-dimer levels were lower after laparoscopic surgery than after open surgery. The limited invasiveness of laparoscopic surgery may be beneficial to reduce the risk of postoperative deep vein thrombosis.

A case with mesenteric desmoid tumor after laparoscopic resection of stage I sigmoid colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal desmoid tumors are rare and generally occur in some patients with familial adenomatous polyposis or secondary to an external stimulus such as surgical trauma. We report herein a case of intra-abdominal desmoid tumor in the jejunal mesentery after laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for colon cancer with pathological stage I. Follow-up computed tomography (CT) 18 months after primary surgery showed a nodular and enhanced soft tissue density mass, 20 mm in size, in the mesentery at the left side of the abdomen. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels were within the normal range. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography did not suggest cancer recurrence. Another CT scan, done 1 month later, revealed that the tumor had enlarged to 25 mm in size. Although the pathological diagnosis was not obtained, we suspected recurrence of the sigmoid colon cancer and applied chemotherapy using capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab. After 3 cycles of chemotherapy, however, the tumor had enlarged further. Therefore, the surgical resection of the tumor was performed to determine the diagnosis and to achieve possible curative resection of the tumor. The tumor existed in the mesentery of the jejunum, 100 cm from the ligament of Treitz, and showed invasive growth. We resected 40 cm of the jejunal segment together with the tumor. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of fibroblast, myofibroblast, and infiltrating the inflammatory cell and diagnosed as desmoid tumor by immunostaining (desmin+/-, ß-catenin+, CD117-, vimentin+). At 33 months after the resection of the desmoid tumor, neither the sigmoid colon cancer nor desmoid tumor has had a recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: After surgery for gastrointestinal cancer, it is difficult to differentiate between intra-abdominal desmoid tumor and recurrence. The possibility of intra-abdominal desmoid should be considered along with tumor recurrence during postoperative surveillance after resection of gastrointestinal cancer, especially when the risk of recurrence is low.

Portal encasement: Significant CT findings to diagnose local recurrence after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the utility of portal encasement as a criterion for early diagnosis of local recurrence (LR) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: A total of 61 patients who underwent PD for PDAC were included in this retrospective study. Portal stenosis was evaluated by sequential postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans and correlated with disease recurrence. In addition to the conventional LR diagnostic criterion of a growing soft tissue mass, LR was evaluated using portal encasement as an additional diagnostic criterion. Portal encasement was defined as progressive stenosis of the portal system accompanied by a soft tissue mass, notwithstanding the enlargement of the mass. RESULTS: Benign portal stenosis was found on the first postoperative CT imaging in 16 patients. However, stenosis resolved a median of 81 days later in all but one patient whose stenosis was due to portal reconstruction during PD. Portal encasement could be distinguished from benign portal stenosis based on the timing of emergence of the portal stenosis. Portal encasement developed in 13 of the 19 patients with LR, including 6 patients in whom the finding of portal encasement led to the diagnosis of LR a median of 147 days earlier with our diagnostic criterion compared with the conventional diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Portal encasement should be considered as a promising diagnostic criterion for earlier diagnosis of LR after PD for PDAC.

Therapeutic effects of oxaliplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: a single-center, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) has now become the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). NACRT has decreased local relapse (LR) rate in patients with LARC; however, distant relapse has recently attracted much attention. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficiency of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for LARC. METHODS: Data on patients with cT3/4 and N+ rectal cancer who were treated in our institution from April 2010 to February 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients who received 2-9 cycles of oxaliplatin-based NAC and 28 patients who received NACRT (45 Gy delivered in 25 fractions and 5-fluorouracil-based oral chemotherapy) were analyzed. The primary and secondary endpoints of the present study were the 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and the local and distant relapse rates, respectively. RESULTS: Regardless of the kind of neoadjuvant therapy, no patient experienced any grade 3-4 therapy-related adverse events. The frequent toxic events were grade 1 diarrhea in patients with NACRT and neutropenia in patients with NAC. A significantly higher proportion of patients with NAC underwent laparoscopic surgery and anterior resection (p = 0.037 and p = 0.003, respectively). The percentages of patients with lymph node yield less than 12 in the NAC group, and those in the NACRT group were 26 and 68%, respectively (p = 0.002). Comparing the NAC with the NACRT groups, the local relapse and distant relapse rates were 7.4 and 7.1% and 7.4 and 18%, respectively. There were no significant differences in 3-year RFS and 4-year overall survival (OS) between NAC and NACRT (3-year RFS 85.2 vs. 70.4%, p = 0.279; 4-year OS 96.3 vs. 89.1%, p = 0.145, respectively). With an analysis excluding patients who received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, no patients who received NAC had a distant relapse, and there was a significant difference in 3-year RFS compared with the NACRT groups (94.4 vs. 63.2%, p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: These outcomes suggest that the therapeutic effect of oxaliplatin-based NAC is at least equal to that of NACRT and that NAC is a feasible and promising option for LARC.

Analysis of gender-based differences among surgeons in Japan: results of a survey conducted by the Japan Surgical Society. Part. 2: personal life.

PURPOSE: To assess the true conditions and perceptions of the personal lives of men and women working as surgeons in Japan. METHODS: In 2014, all e-mail subscribed members of the Japan Surgical Society (JSS, n = 29,861) were invited to complete a web-based survey. The questions covered demographic information, work environment, and personal life (including marital status, childcare, and nursing care for adult family members). RESULTS: In total, 6211 surgeons (5586 men and 625 women) returned the questionnaires, representing a response rate of 20.8%. Based on the questionnaire responses, surgeons generally prioritize work and spend most of their time at work, although women with children prioritize their family over work; men spend significantly fewer hours on domestic work/childcare than do their female counterparts (men 0.76 h/day vs. women 2.93 h/day, p < 0.01); and both men and women surgeons, regardless of their age or whether they have children, place more importance on the role of women in the family. CONCLUSIONS: The personal lives of Japanese surgeons differed significantly according to gender and whether they have children. The conservative idea that women should bear primary responsibility for the family still pertains for both men and women working as surgeons in Japan.

Analysis of gender-based differences among surgeons in Japan: results of a survey conducted by the Japan Surgical Society. Part 1: Working style.

PURPOSE: To assess the working styles of men and women working as surgeons in Japan. METHODS: In July, 2014, the Japan Surgical Society invited all their members (n = 29,861), through an internet campaign, to participate in a nationwide survey of surgeons. The items investigated in this descriptive study included demographic information and working styles, based on a questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 6211 surgeons participated (response rate 20.8%, 5586 men and 625 women). The largest age stratum was 40-49 years for men and 30-39 years for women. Overall, respondents identified their labor contract, including salary and work hours, as the highest priority for improvement. Women with children were more likely to be part-time employees, work fewer hours, and take fewer house calls/on-calls than their male counterparts. Moreover, women of all ages earned a lower annual income than men, irrespective of whether they had children. Perception scores for discrimination related to work and promotion were significantly higher among women than men (p < 0.01 and p = 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference in working style was observed between men and women working as surgeons in Japan.

Obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum due to a diospyrobezoar: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Duodenal obstruction occurs mainly due to physical lesions such as duodenal ulcers or tumors. Obstruction due to bezoars is rare. We describe an extremely rare case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum caused by a diospyrobezoar 15 months after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer 15 months before admission experienced abdominal distension and occasional vomiting. The symptoms worsened and ingestion became difficult; therefore, he was admitted to our department. Computed tomography (CT) performed on admission revealed a solid mass in the third portion of the duodenum and dilatation of the oral side of the duodenum and remnant stomach. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a bezoar deep in the third portion of the duodenum. We could neither remove nor crush the bezoar. At midnight on the day of EGD, he experienced sudden abdominal pain. Repeat CT revealed that the bezoar had vanished from the duodenum and was observed in the ileum. Moreover, small bowel dilatation was observed on the oral side of the bezoar. Although CT showed neither free air nor ascites, laboratory data showed the increase of leukocyte (8400/µL) and C-reactive protein (18.1 mg/dL), and abdominal pain was severe. Emergency surgery was performed because conservative treatment was considered ineffective. We tried advancing the bezoar into the colon, but the ileum was too narrow; therefore, we incised the ileum and removed the bezoar. The bezoar was ocher, elastic, and hard, and its cross-section was uniform and orange. The postsurgical interview revealed that the patient loved eating Japanese persimmons (Diospyros kaki); therefore, he was diagnosed with a diospyrobezoar. His postoperative progress was good and without complications. He left the hospital 10 days after surgery. EGD performed 4 weeks after surgery revealed no abnormal duodenal findings. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a rare case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum caused by a diospyrobezoar 15 months after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction for early gastric cancer.

Alternative treatments for prophylaxis of colorectal cancer in familial adenomatous polyposis.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare, hereditary disease characterized by the presence of 100 or more adenomas distributed throughout the colon and rectum. If untreated, colorectal cancer develops in almost 100% of FAP patients. As prophylactic treatment, proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis remains the surgical treatment of choice. High rates of postoperative complications, however, have been reported with this procedure, including bowel dysfunction, incontinence, and reduced female fecundity. Some novel strategies for preventing hereditary colon cancers have been reported. This review summarizes alternative treatments, including the laparoscopic approach, chemoprevention, endoscopic management, and subtotal colectomy combined with endoscopic treatment, for prophylaxis of colorectal cancer in FAP patients.

Open surgery versus laparoscopic surgery after stent insertion for obstructive colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery vs. open surgery after insertion of a colonic stent for obstructive colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between April 2005 and August 2013, 58 patients underwent surgery after the insertion of a colonic stent for obstructive colorectal cancer. We analyzed the outcomes of the patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery vs. those who underwent open surgery. RESULTS: We compared blood loss, operative time, hospital stay, and complications in 26 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery and 32 patients who underwent open surgery. Blood loss was significantly less in the laparoscopic surgery group, but operative time was significantly shorter in the open surgery group. The length of hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic surgery group than in the open surgery group, but the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference in postoperative surgical complications between the groups. CONCLUSION: The patients who underwent laparoscopic resection had less blood loss, although no significant difference was found in postoperative morbidity or mortality. Thus, laparoscopic resection after stent insertion is a feasible and safe option for patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.

Surgical resections of ulcerative colitis associated with dysplasia or carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients have an increased risk of colorectal dysplasia and carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical features and surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis associated with dysplasia or carcinoma. METHODS: We operated on 41 UC patients since April 2000. Twelve of the cases were associated with dysplasia or carcinoma. Ten patients were male and two were female; the median age was 58.0 years, and the average duration of disease was 19.2 years. Nine cases were pancolitis type and three were left-sided type. Six cases were remission-relapsing type and six were chronic inflammation type. In 10 of 12 cases, dysplasia or carcinoma was diagnosed before the operations. Nine cases were primary operations and two were second-time operations. RESULTS: Among ten patients who underwent primary operations, four patients had open surgery and six patients had hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). Seven patients received anus/anal sphincter-preserving operations with reconstruction by the ileal pouch technique. Ileal pouch anal-canal anastomosis (IPACA) was performed in five cases and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) in two cases. Abdomino-peritoneal resection was performed in two cases, proctcolectomy with permanent ileostomy in one case, and right hemicolectomy in one case. A 39-year-old patient was unresectable due to dissemination of the carcinoma. A 55-year-old patient who underwent IPACA showed night soiling postoperatively. Other patients who received IPAA and IPACA showed favorable anal function postoperatively. Histological examination showed low-grade dysplasia in two cases, high-grade dysplasia in three cases, and adenocarcinoma in seven cases. In the seven cases of adenocarcinoma, four, two, and one cases were stage 1, 3, and 4 according to TNM classification. Three of five cases with dysplasia were detected by surveillance colonoscopy. All patients with carcinoma were symptomatic and did not undergo surveillance colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: IPACA by HALS was safely performed as an anal-preserving operation in UC patients with dysplasia or carcinoma. Non-anal-preserving operations for aged patients showed a preferable postoperative course. Surveillance colonoscopy is essential for detecting dysplasia before the development of carcinoma.

[Colorectal cancer].

Recent advances in chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy for colorectal cancer have made neoadjuvant treatment an eligible therapeutic option for selected cases of marginally resectable colorectal cancer. However, marginally resectable colorectal cancer is not well defined. The authors suggest that a primary lesion is marginally resectable if extended resection such as pelvic exenteration and pancreaticoduedenectomy are not completely curative. Even if the lesion itself is resectable, it is marginally resectable if it has unfavorable prognostic factors such as numerous metastases to the regional lymph nodes. Rectal cancer invading beyond mesorectal fascia, or having bilateral or multiple lateral lymph node metastasis, may also be marginally resectable. All locally recurrent lesions may be marginally resectable because the prognosis after surgical resection is poor. Multiple liver metastases, liver metastasis for which resection requires vascular reconstruction, and technically resectable liver metastasis with unfavorable prognostic factors, are also thought to be marginally resectable. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens including oxaliplatin and irinotecan combined with bevacizumab, cetuximab and panitumumab may be effective for hastening the curability of such marginally resectable tumors. For primary advanced rectal cancer and locally recurrent rectal cancer, neoadjuvant radiation combined with chemotherapy using oxaliplatin and irinotecan are being explored. A number of clinical trials are currently ongoing, and are expected to clarify the effectiveness of neoajuvant treatment for marginally resectable colorectal cancer.