[Brain Metastasis Following Conversion Surgery for Sigmoid Colon Cancer-A Case Report].

A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with KRAS-mutant type sigmoid colon cancer with metastasis in the lung, liver, left adrenal gland, and para-aortic lymph node(T3N1M1b, Stage ⅣB[Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition]). Laparoscopic transverse colostomy was performed to treat colonic obstruction. Subsequently, a combination regimen of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin plus bevacizumab was administered. After 5 courses of chemotherapy, the S8 liver tumor disappeared completely. Sigmoidectomy, para-aortic lymph node dissection, and left adrenal gland resection were performed. After 3 months, right S3 segmental pneumonectomy and right S8 and S10 partial pneumonectomy were performed. R0 resection for the primary lesion and metastatic lesions of the chest and abdomen was achieved. Following the conversion surgery, he was administered the adjuvant chemotherapy regimen of uracil-tegafur plus Leucovorin. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, he presented to our hospital complaining of vomiting and dizziness. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple brain metastases. Thus, we should be mindful of the possibility of brain metastasis in cases of unresectable colon cancer showing satisfactory response to chemotherapy with an indication of conversion surgery.

[Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumor G2 of Measuring Less Than 1 cm in Diameter with Lymph Node Metastases-A Case Report].

A 40-year-old man visited our hospital with rectal submucosal tumors measuring 5 mm and the 7 mm as detected by colonoscopy, following which an endoscopic submucosal resection was performed. Pathological examination revealed that the tumors was neuroendocrine tumor(NET); the tumor measuring 5 mm was NET G1 without lymphatic and venous invasion, while the 7 mm size was NET G2 with venous invasion but without lymphatic invasion. Lymph node and distant metastasis were not observed by computed tomography. Informed consent was obtained and he agreed to undergo additional rectal resection. Laparoscopic low anterior resection was performed and pathological examination enabled a diagnosis of rectal neuroendocrine tumor with regional lymph node metastases(T1a, N1, M0, Stage ⅢB[Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition]). Post-surgery, he was followed up for 3 years, without recurrence. This report suggests that the determination of treatment plan for rectal neuroendocrine tumor measuring less than 1 cm in diameter should be done carefully.

[A Case of Adenocarcinoma Arising from an Ectopic Pancreas of the Stomach Presenting as Pyloric Stenosis].

The patient was a 37-year-old man who visited a neighborhood clinic complaining of nausea and upper abdominal pain. Since examination revealed abdominal distention, he was referred to our hospital. Abdominal computed tomography at our hospital revealed retention of gastric contents and contrast-enhancing wall thickening localized to the pyloric region. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed stenosis involving the entire circumference of the pylorus. However, multiple biopsies failed to reveal any evidence of malignancy. Four dilatations were performed, with no improvement. Therefore, the patient was referred to the Department of Surgery. Since malignant disease could not be ruled out, laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed the presence of ectopic pancreatic tissue in the proper muscle layer of the pylorus. Adenocarcinoma invading and proliferating into the surrounding ectopic mucosal lesion was observed. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma arising from ectopic pancreas. The possibility of ectopic pancreatic cancer may need to be considered in patients with pyloric stenosis caused by a submucosal tumor-like lesion.

[R0 Resection following Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis Close to the Inferior Vena Cava and Hepatic Vein Confluence-A Case Report].

A 78-year-old man was diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer, and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy was performed. On pathological examination, he was diagnosed with RAS-wild type sigmoid colon cancer with regional lymph node metastasis (T3, N1, M0, Stage ⅢB[Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition]). Computed tomography revealed S8 and S7 liver metastasis, 3 months after the initial surgery. The location of the S8 tumor was close to the inferior vena cava(IVC), right hepatic vein(RHV)and segment Ⅷ hepatic vein(V8). He was administered cetuximab plus modified FOLFOX6. After 6 courses of chemotherapy, the S8 and S7 liver tumor shrank. S8 plus 4 plus 1 and S7 partial hepatectomy was performed and R0 resection was achieved. The RHV and V8 were resected, while right superficial and middle hepatic veins were preserved. An IVC invasion was not observed. He was administered 12 courses of adjuvant modified FOLFOX6. After the partial hepatectomy, he has been followed up for 1.5 years with no recurrence.

[Long-Term Disease Control with Capecitabine plus Bevacizumab Therapy for an Elderly Patient with Unresectable Colon Cancer-A Case Report].

An 83-year-old man visited our hospital with liver tumors detected by abdominal ultrasonography. On investigation, he was diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer with metastasis in the supraclavicular lymph node, liver, and para-aortic lymph node(T3N1M1b, Stage ⅣB[Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition]). He was administered combination therapy with capecitabine and bevacizumab owing to the increased age and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 1. After 8 courses of chemotherapy, the primary tumor and liver metastases shrank. As he developed Grade 2 hand-foot syndrome, the dose of capecitabine was decreased to 75%(1,500 mg/m2)from the 11th course and to 50% (1,000 mg/m2)from the 31st course. Until 2 years after initiation of the chemotherapy, the patient showed progression-free survival. Heparinoid-containing moisturizer and steroid ointment were administered for treatment of hand-foot syndrome. This report suggests that capecitabine plus bevacizumab therapy can maintain the quality of life and is safe with dose reduction and treatment of adverse reactions for elderly patients with colon cancer.

For how long do denervated muscles in children retain the ability to regenerate?: Restoration of elbow flexion and shoulder function by partial nerve transfer in a child with long-standing poliomyelitis-like paralysis.

BACKGROUND: In infant poliomyelitis or poliomyelitis-like paresis, there has been no means of treating residual paralysis and the policy has been to wait until an affected infant has grown sufficiently to enable tendon transfer or arthrodesis. However, recent reports have described relatively good results for early surgical intervention in the form of nerve transfer. METHODS: In a 4-year and 6-month-old child we transferred a partial ulnar nerve for elbow flexor reconstruction even 3 years and 10 months after the onset of poliomyelitis-like palsy and also transferred partial accessory and radial nerves for shoulder function restoration 6 months after the first operation. RESULTS: Elbow flexor restored M4 on the British Medical Research Council scale. The shoulder subluxation resolved, however, the strengths of the deltoid and infraspinatus remained almost M1. At the most recent clinical examination, the patient was 18 years old and the active range of motion of patient's left elbow was 0°-125°, and those of the whole shoulder girdle were abduction 35°, flexion 60°, extension 30° and external rotation 0°. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes we achieved may support partial nerve transfer techniques as viable treatment options for persistent long-standing motor deficits following poliomyelitis-like palsy in children. However, we recommend performing partial nerve transfer as early as possible after recovery from flaccid paralysis and also use of nerves that derive from narrow spinal cord segments. After denervation, children's neuromuscular systems seem to have the ability to regenerate after a much longer period than has generally been believed. This speculation is based on only a single case report; thus, more experience is needed before this generalization can confidently be made.

[Pathological Complete Response Following Chemotherapy for Sigmoid Colon Cancer with Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastasis-A Case Report].

A man in his 50s visitedour hospital with complaints of frequent urination, painful micturition, macrohematuria, and weight loss. On examination, he was diagnosed with RAS-wild-type sigmoid colon cancer invading the urinary bladder, ureter, andexternal iliac artery, with para-aortic lymph node metastasis(T4b, NX, M1a, Stage ⅣA according to the Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition guidelines)andsigmoid -vesical fistula. Thus, sigmoidcolostomy was performed. Postoperatively, S-1 plus oxaliplatin was administered. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, the primary tumor and para-aortic lymph node metastases shrunk. Moreover, after 8 courses of chemotherapy, further shrinkage of the primary tumor and paraaortic lymph node metastases was confirmed; however, tumor markers in the blood increased. Therefore, the patient received 3 additional courses of S-1 plus oxaliplatin plus cetuximab, which resultedin complete response. Sigmoidectomy, partial cystectomy, ureterectomy, resection of the external iliac artery, andreconstruction using a prosthetic vascular graft were performed. Subsequent pathological examination revealed no viable cancer cells(pathological response), achieving R0 resection. The patient has been followedup for 2.5 years after the curative resection, with no recurrence.

[Trastuzumab Combination Chemotherapy Followed by R0 Resection for Locally Advanced Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Gastric Cancer-A Case Report].

A man in the 60s visited our hospital with the complaints of epigastralgia and weight loss. Following an investigation, he was diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-positive gastric cancer with invasion to the pancreas (T4b[pancreas], N2, M0, Stage ⅣA[Union for International Cancer Control 8th edition]). Preoperatively, he was administered a chemotherapeutic regimen of S-1 and cisplatin plus trastuzumab. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, computed tomography revealed invasion to the abdominal wall and pyloric stenosis; however, invasion to the pancreas was obscured, and the lymph node metastases had shrunk. He underwent laparoscopic gastro-jejunostomy. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, his condition was considered stable. A laparoscopic distal gastrectomy was performed together with resection of the abdominal wall invasion. The pathological stage was pT4b(abdominal wall), pN0, M0, Stage ⅢA, and R0 resection was achieved. The patient was administered 4 courses of adjuvant capecitabine plus oxaliplatin therapy and 4 courses of capecitabine monotherapy. He has been followed-up for 1.5 years since the curative resection and has not developed recurrences. This case suggests the usefulness of multimodal therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer.

[A Case of Small Bowel Perforation Caused by Malignant Lymphoma after Methotrexate Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis].

A 73-year-old woman had a history of medication, including methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, for 5 years. She had chronic epigastralgia for 2 weeks and found to have multiple submucosal tumors on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in another hospital. She had a strong abdominal pain thereafter and diagnosed as having gastrointestinal perforation on the basis of CT scans. Abdominal examination revealed disseminated peritonitis, and emergency laparoscopic surgery was performed on the day of admission. A 1 cm perforation of the ileum was identified, and a 5 cm mass of the mesentery near the perforation was also identified. Small bowel partial resection, including both lesions, was performed. From the intraoperative findings, methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders(MTX-LPD)was suspected, and methotrexate was discontinued after the surgery. At a later date, the pathological result from both the surgical specimen and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was diffuse large B cell lymphoma(DLBCL). CT scan, PET-CT scan, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed 1-2 months after surgery, and no tumor was identified. Currently, 6 months after the surgery, the patient is still alive without any progression of the lymphoma.

[A Case of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Carcinoid Tumor Involving Diagnostic Difficulties].

A patient in his 60s had undergone laparoscopic anterior resection for the treatment of carcinoma of the rectum in February 2016. Histopathologic examination revealed the lesion as a pT2(MP)n(-)M0, fStage Ⅰrectal cancer. One year post-surgery, contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)revealed enhancement of parts of the intrapancreatic distal bile ducts. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP)showed filling defects at the same site. Magnetic resonance imaging( MRI)with an endorectal coil(ERC)was then performed to identify reproducible bile duct filling defects. Neither cytology nor biopsy yielded any findings that definitely indicated malignancy. Intraductal ultrasonography(IDUS)led to the suspicion of a nonepithelial tumor or an enlarged lymph node. Repeated biopsies via ERC were performed based on the absence of evidence of malignancy and revealed the presence of some atypical cells within the lesions. Although no definitive diagnosis could be made, the patient was scheduled for surgery in June 2017 after obtaining his consent. Upon taping of the common bile duct during surgery, a tumor was palpable on the dorsal aspect of the pancreas. The bile duct tumor was completely excised and submitted for intraoperative diagnosis; the pancreatic dorsal aspect appeared to be totally split. There was no evidence of atypia in the neoplasm, which was therefore considered to be benign; however, malignancy could not be completely ruled out because the patient had presented with elevated serum levels of carbohydrate antigen(CA)19-9 once before the operation. After intraoperative consultation with the patient's family members, who were reluctant to provide consent for pancreaticoduodenectomy, we completed the operation with resection of the bile duct tumor, followed by choledochojejunostomy. The tumor was found to be chromogranin A(+), cluster of differentiation(CD)56(+/-), CA19-9(+, solely ductal structure), carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)(+, solely ductal structure), and intranuclear p53(-), with an MIB- 1 index of<2%. With regard to neuroendocrine markers, a region that could potentially have been a carcinoid tumor, based on the findings on hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining, and a lumenized superficial region showed positivity in toto. Therefore, the lesion as a whole was diagnosed as a G1 carcinoid neuroendocrine tumor(NET). However, the superficial lumenized layer was positive for both CA19-9 and CEA; therefore, the tumor was thought to concurrently have epithelial characteristics. The lateral stumpwas negative, while the status of the ablated region remained unclear. After discussing the histopathologic examination results with the patient and his family members, the patient's follow-upwas decided to consist of periodic checkups without any further surgical intervention. The patient has since remained free of recurrence. Carcinoid tumor of the bile duct is extremely rare but should be considered in cases involving bile duct tumors that show enhancement on imaging prior to surgery and for which no definitive diagnosis can be established despite repeated biopsy explorations.

[A Case of Complete Response to Computed Tomography-Guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis of Pain Associated with Postoperative Recurrence of Colon Cancer].

The patient was a man in his 40s, who had undergone laparoscopic ileocecal resection with lymph node dissection(D3)for cecal cancer in January 2012. Histopathological examination of the resected specimens had revealed StageⅡ primary tumor with subserosal invasion and positive metastasis in 1-3 regional lymph nodes(pT2[SS]n1[+]). The pathological stage was Ⅲa(fStage Ⅲa), and the tumor showed RAS gene mutation. The patient was administered 5 cycles of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with oral tegafur/uracil(UFT)in combination with calcium folinate(UZEL). Abdominal computed tomography( CT)performed 1.5 years postoperatively revealed liver metastasis, and a laparoscopic partial hepatectomy was performed in August 2015. In addition, a node in the greater omentum, located in the inferior surface of the liver, was also resected. Histopathological examination of the resected specimens revealed peritoneal metastasis, based on the identification of the same type of adenocarcinoma as the colon cancer. The patient was given 8 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin(CapeOX). Then, he presented with colonic ileus, caused by recurrent dissemination, and underwent a laparoscopic transverse colectomy in October 2015. Multiple perineal disseminations were found intraoperatively, and chemotherapy was initiated with irinotecan plus tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil(S-1)plus bevacizumab(IRIS/BV)for the recurrent and unresectable disease. After 27 cycles of this regimen, lung metastasis was detected; in addition, progression of the para-aortic node metastasis around the celiac plexus was also observed, and the patient was considered as having pro- gressive disease(PD). Treatment with trifluridine/tipiracil(TAS102)was started in September 2017. Prior to the initiation of this regimen, the dose of opioid rescue medication previously started for back and abdominal pain was rapidly increased. Accordingly, the base dose was increased, but the pain could not be controlled, and the major pain was consistently located along the area of innervation in the celiac plexus. Therefore, celiac plexus neurolysis(CPN)was performed as a local therapy. A CT-guided injection technique was used to administer urografin, bupivacaine, and absolute ethanol to complete the procedure. The patient was discharged without major complications, and the base opioid dose was gradually reduced. Since the patient did not require any rescue medication during daytime on some days, the reduction of the base opioid dose was significantly effective in improving the patient's quality of life(QOL). In patients with pain possibly caused by metastasis to the para-aortic nodes, this local therapy technique may be considered.

The relationship between preoperative needle electromyography findings and muscle power restoration after surgery in severe carpal tunnel syndrome patients.

PURPOSE: Needle electromyography provides essential information about the functional aspects of the muscle. But little attention has been given in the literature to needle electromyography examinations in carpal tunnel syndrome. We examined the relationship between preoperative needle electromyography findings and functional recovery of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle in severe carpal tunnel syndrome patients. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 49 patients, 58 hands, who fit the following 5 criteria: (1) idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome; (2) pre-op MMT grade of the APB muscle was M0 or M1; (3) APB-CMAP (compound muscle action potential) was not evoked in a median nerve conduction study; (4) needle electromyography of the APB muscle had been done; (5) underwent carpal tunnel release only. The patients were divided into two groups according to the results of pre-op needle electromyography: voluntary motor unit potential of the APB muscle was evoked [MUP(+) group]or not [MUP(-) group]. We evaluated APB muscle strength at one year after surgery, and patient satisfaction and functional evaluations (CTSI-FS) at more than one year after. RESULTS: The APB muscle recovery rate to M3 or higher was 100% in the MUP(+) group, and 57% in the MUP(-) group. Patient satisfaction was also high and functional recovery was sufficient in the MUP(+) group. No patients requested a second opponensplasty. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that post-op restoration of thumb function relates to whether or not the MUP ofthe APB muscle is evoked. Single-stage opponensplasty may be unnecessary if the MUP of the APB muscle is; evoked. Needle electromyography is therefore useful in consideration for opponensplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level Ⅲ, case-control study.

[A Case of Phrenic Nerve Paralysis During Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Rectal Cancer].

A man aged 66 years presented with pneumaturia as a major complaint. Cancer of the sigmoid colon with infiltration to the urinary bladder was diagnosed and the patient underwent colectomy of the sigmoid colon and partial cystectomy of the bladder in May 2015. Histopathologic examinations revealed pT4b, Si(bladder), pN(-), cM0, fStage II . Because intestinal sub-obstruction and lymphatic invasion were present, CapeOX was administered as an adjunctive chemotherapy for the high-risk Stage II cancer. Because Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy appeared as a side effect, the dose was decreased to 80% from the 3 cycle. After the 7 cycle, cough and disturbed breathing appeared. The chest CT scans did not reveal drug-induced interstitial pneumonia, but indicated an elevated right diaphragm and zosteroid changes in the medial lobe of the right lung due to discoid atelectatic condition. The Grade 1 respiratory symptoms were mild, and the lung field was considered to exhibit no problems. Thus, the 8 cycle was administered. The symptoms disappeared after about 2 weeks following completion of oral administration of capecitabine. The diaphragm also recovered to its original height. In the attached document, the frequency is unknown and "dyspnea" is written for L-OHP and capecitabine, respectively. It is unknown whether phrenic nerve paralysis occurs. However, because other organic lesions were absent and the symptoms appeared during chemotherapy, the possibility is not deniable. At present, 2 years postoperatively, recurrent lesions in the mediastinum and recurrent respiratory difficulties are absent. Generally, although phrenic nerve paralysis is not considered to be a specific side effect, it was considered that for respiratory difficulties, CT reveals not only the affected condition in the lung fields, but is also useful for detection.

[A Case of Unresectable Advanced Rectal Cancer with a Pancreatic Tumor That Was Successfully Treated with FOLFIRINOX].

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital department in September 2014 because of a positive fecal occult blood test.Colonoscopy showed a type 2 tumor in half of the AV 15 cm rectosigmoid colon.Histology of the biopsy indicated a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and the RAS gene test found wild type.On CT examination, there were multiple liver lung metastases and a 30mm diameter tumor with pancreatic duct extension to the pancreatic body.A PET-CT examination had a high SUVmax at the same site.Because of the location of the tumor EUS-FNA was not used.However, the possibility of pancreatic body cancer could not be denied after the CT examination.Treatment by radical resection was impossible because of the spread of the cancer so we selected chemotherapy.Undeniable pancreatic metastasis of rectal cancer, pancreatic cancer was used as a prognostic factor as double cancer of rectal cancer and pancreatic cancer, from that UGT1A1 test side effects appearance was a low-risk decision, was selected FOLFIRINOX in the treatment regimen.After 25 cycles, the pancreatic body tumor and liver metastases and also the primary tumor were reduced, the multiple lung metastases disappeared, and disease control was good.Side effects were diarrhea on the day of administration of irinotecan, but this was controllable by administering oral loperamide when starting the infusion.Grade 3 or more peripheral neuropathy has not developed, and this regimen is continuing.Pancreatic cancer is a solid cancer with a poor prognosis; if you do not reach the tissue diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer, was a case in which no choice but to select a regimen to carcinoma of the prognostic.

[Resection of the Right External Iliac Artery and Vein after Local Recurrence of Cecal Cancer].

A 62-year-old woman was admitted with abdominal pain and distention in July 2013. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a small bowel obstruction caused by an ileocecal tumor, and colonoscopy revealed a type 3 cecal tumor. Because an ileus tube was not effective to relieve her symptoms, she was transferred to the Department of Surgery for an emergency operation. Open resection of the ileocecal tumor along with the right ureter and psoas was performed. Histological examination showed that cancer cells were present in the radial margin. The patient was treated with a post-operative course of chemotherapy (capecitabine and oxaliplatin), but the level of carcinoembryonic antigen was increasing; positron emission tomography (PET) revealed a local cancer recurrence. Although the right external iliac artery and reconstructed right ureter were encased by the tumor, there were no signs of lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis. Because the tumor was localized, we decided to perform a re-excision. Intraoperatively, the right external iliac vein was difficult to separate from the tumor. Therefore, we resected the right ureter, kidney, and right external iliac artery and vein en bloc. The right external iliac artery and vein were replaced with grafts. Histopathologically, the reconstructed right ureter was completely invaded by the tumor, and cancer cells had invaded the nearby adventitia of the artery, but the surgical margin was negative. Four months after the second operation, peritoneal dissemination was detected on PET. The patient was followed-up in an outpatient clinic without chemotherapy.

[A Case of Resection of Para-Aortic Lymph Node Recurrence and Peritoneal Recurrence Following Sigmoid Colon Cancer Surgery].

In June 2010, a 73-year old man diagnosed with sigmoid colon cancer underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy. The histopathological diagnosis was tub2, pSS, n (-), stageⅡ.Vascular invasion was present; however, at the patient's request, no adjuvant chemotherapy was administered.Computed tomography (CT) performed at the outpatient follow-up 4 years and 6 months after the surgery revealed a para-aortic lymph node metastasis in the caudal aspect of the left renal artery branch point. No other definite mass shadows were detected. Positron emission (PET)-CT revealed high tracer accumulation (SUVmax) not only in the CT-identified lymph node, but also near the site of the anastomosis in the bowel. Considering that no tracer accumulation was detected at any other sites and the patient's compliance with medication and scheduled visits was poor, surgical resection rather than chemotherapy was adopted as the treatment strategy. No metastases other than at the sites identified by the diagnostic imaging were found during the surgery. Since the findings on palpation did not rule out the possibility that the nodule near the anastomotic site was present inside the intestinal tract, lymph node dissection, resection of the intestinal tract including the anastomotic site, and re-anastomosis were performed. The most likely diagnosis based on the histopathological findings was dissemination for both the adenocarcinoma and the nodule near the anastomotic site. At present, the patient is being treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. In the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) Guidelines for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer, the recommended therapeutic intervention is surgical resection of hematogenous metastases; however, no treatment is specified for lymph node metastases. In general, chemotherapy is administered for distant metastases. However, we have found no reports of cases in which a complete remission has been achieved. There are reports of improvement of survival by surgical resection in cases with solitary lymph node metastasis or isolated dissemination of colorectal cancer. These observations suggest that surgical therapy may have contributed to the improved prognosis in the present case.

[A Case of Advanced Breast Cancer in Which Marked Improvement of Joint Pain Was Obtained with Stepwise Dose Reduction of Trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1)].

A 51-year-old woman had previously received treatment for breast cancer at another hospital but had refused early and aggressive treatment. Therefore, she was treated with symptomatic therapy. As her disease progressed, the patient wished to receive palliative care, and was transferred to a palliative care hospital. However, based on her general condition, it was determined that aggressive treatment should not be abandoned, and she was referred to our hospital for treatment. During her initial visit, the patient was found to have left breast cancer with chest wall invasion, right breast metastasis, multiple liver and lung metastases, left pleural effusion accompanied by pleural dissemination, and left upper limb edema. There was no evidence of bone metastases. The patient's pain was managed with oral oxycodone sustained-release tablets (320 mg daily), using high-dose (80 mg) oral oxycodone hydrochloride hydrate as rescue medication. The results of immunohistochemical testing, confirmed by her previous hospital, were ER (-), PgR (-) and HER2/neu positive. First-line treatment was initiated with paclitaxel (PTX) plus trastuzumab (Tmab), and the response was rated as stable disease (SD). During the course of treatment, she developed drug-induced interstitial pneumonia, which was probably caused by the taxane. Therefore, the first-line treatment was discontinued and T-DM1 was initiated as second-line treatment. However, beginning with cycle 3 of the T-DM1 treatment, the patient began complaining of joint pain, mainly in the upper limbs. Therefore, the dose of oxycodone sustained-release tablets was increased to 600 mg per day. However, the patient's joint pain showed no improvement and it was considered unlikely that the pain was due to bone metastases. It was suspected that the pain was an adverse reaction to T-DM1, and the dose of T-DM1 was reduced by one step in cycle 7 of treatment. This resulted in a dramatic improvement of the patient's symptoms. Since oxycodone sustained-release tablets was being used at a high dose, sleepiness caused by the drug interfered with her activities of daily living. Consequently, as part of an opioid rotation scheme, topical fentanyl citrate was used concomitantly, and the initial daily oxycodone sustained-release tablets dose of 600 mg was reduced to 40 mg and administered in combination with fentanyl citrate (12mg). These findings suggest that uncontrollable joint pain can occur as an adverse reaction to T-DM1.

[Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Associated with a Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule--A Case Report].

A 72-year old woman visited our hospital complaining of an umbilical mass and a foul smell from the umbilical region. During the evaluation, a massive immobile tumor was palpated in the center of the lower abdomen in addition to an umbilical mass with necrosis. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a massive ovarian tumor accompanied by an umbilical tumor and cyst with peritoneal dissemination, metastases in the liver and spleen and a urachal tumor. There were no symptoms or imaging findings of gastrointestinal obstruction. While searching for the primary focus, it was determined that the ovarian tumor was not of ovarian origin. Under these circumstances, colonoscopy was the only remaining diagnostic modality. However, evaluation of the large intestine was impossible due to compression by the tumor, and diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon did not allow smooth insertion of the colonoscope. Therefore, an excisional biopsy of the umbilical tumor was performed. The most likely diagnoses based on the histopathological findings were colorectal cancer and urachal cancer. Therefore , mFOLFOX6 was selected for chemotherapy because it has been reported to be effective against both urachal and colorectal cancer. At the time of writing, good tumor control had been achieved in the lesions evaluated. Cases of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule have sporadically been reported. The most common primary foci for peritoneal metastases are the stomach, pancreas and ovary. However, in the present case, these sites were ruled out and the primary focus remained unidentified, making it difficult to select appropriate treatment. We present this case with a discussion of the literature.

[A case of remnant gastric cancer seven years after initial diagnosis].

A 79-year-old woman was admitted with cholangitis caused by a common bile duct stone (CBDS), and the CBDS was removed by endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). The patient had undergone distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer located in the lower body of the stomach in 2006. A flat, elevated lesion of the cardiac region was noted in the preoperative examination; however, this lesion was not treated because there was no clear evidence of malignancy upon histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen. Following esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 2013, the macroscopic findings had changed to infiltrative cancer. The lesion was considered to be a submucosal(sm)cancer, and the patient underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy and remnant gastrectomy. The histopathological examination of the surgical specimens revealed a well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, type 0-IIb+0-IIa, tub1>tub2, pT1b1, ly0, v0, n0.

[Carcinosarcoma of the esophagus - a case report].

The patient was a 79-year-old male complaining of fever, loss of appetite, cough, and a feeling of obstruction when swallowing. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted as an emergency case the same day. Because an esophagus space-occupying lesion was observed on chest computed tomography(CT), in addition to evidence of pneumonia, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. A tumor, protruding into the lumen of the esophagus, was seen in the midesophagus, 25-30 cm from the incisors. Because of the narrow lumen, only a fine caliber fiber could be passed. Biopsy results indicated only necrotic tissue, and a repeat biopsy was performed, with similar histological findings. No esophagobronchial fistulas were observed during bronchoscopy. We therefore diagnosed the patient with aspiration pneumonia, secondary to esophageal narrowing by a tumor. A preoperative diagnosis of cancer could not be made, and no distant organ metastasis was detected, but surgery was indicated because of the narrowing of the esophagus, regardless of the possibility of cancer. After the pneumonia improved, total thoracic esophagectomy was performed through a right thoracolaparotomy, plus a 3- region cervico-thoraco-abdominal lymph node dissection. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed autolysis of the superficial layer with progression to necrosis and associated inflammation. The majority of the tumor was composed of spindle-shaped atypical cells, but because a very small transitional area between squamous cell carcinoma and sarcoma was noted, a diagnosis of carcinosarcoma was made. Depth of invasion was sm3, and no regional lymph node metastasis was detected. The patient's disease was classified as pT1b(sm3)N0M0, StageI. No definite diagnosis was made preoperatively. Although carcinosarcoma of the esophagus is rare, the endoscopic findings are characteristic. We report this case with a review of the literature.