Perioperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone for resectable gastroesophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: A regimen of epirubicin, cisplatin, and infused fluorouracil (ECF) improves survival among patients with incurable locally advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. We assessed whether the addition of a perioperative regimen of ECF to surgery improves outcomes among patients with potentially curable gastric cancer. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the stomach, esophagogastric junction, or lower esophagus to either perioperative chemotherapy and surgery (250 patients) or surgery alone (253 patients). Chemotherapy consisted of three preoperative and three postoperative cycles of intravenous epirubicin (50 mg per square meter of body-surface area) and cisplatin (60 mg per square meter) on day 1, and a continuous intravenous infusion of fluorouracil (200 mg per square meter per day) for 21 days. The primary end point was overall survival. RESULTS: ECF-related adverse effects were similar to those previously reported among patients with advanced gastric cancer. Rates of postoperative complications were similar in the perioperative-chemotherapy group and the surgery group (46 percent and 45 percent, respectively), as were the numbers of deaths within 30 days after surgery. The resected tumors were significantly smaller and less advanced in the perioperative-chemotherapy group. With a median follow-up of four years, 149 patients in the perioperative-chemotherapy group and 170 in the surgery group had died. As compared with the surgery group, the perioperative-chemotherapy group had a higher likelihood of overall survival (hazard ratio for death, 0.75; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.93; P=0.009; five-year survival rate, 36 percent vs. 23 percent) and of progression-free survival (hazard ratio for progression, 0.66; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with operable gastric or lower esophageal adenocarcinomas, a perioperative regimen of ECF decreased tumor size and stage and significantly improved progression-free and overall survival. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN93793971 [controlled-trials.com].).

Potential of surface-coil MRI for staging of esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of external surface-coil MRI as a new method of imaging the esophagus and esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION: The results for the 10 patients investigated indicate that by using a high-resolution axial T2-weighted sequence (small field of view, thin section images), MRI provides detailed imaging of the anatomic layers of the esophageal wall and tumor. Three independent radiologists found good correlation in the morphologic appearance and extent of tumor between MRI and matched histology sections. This study illustrates the potential of the technique as an alternative form of local staging for esophageal cancer.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) is a benign, nonmetastasizing proliferation of myofibroblasts with a potential for local infiltration, recurrence and persistent local growth. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 51 year-old female, who had excision of a gallbladder tumour. Histopathology showed it to be IMT of the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: The approach to these tumours should be primarily surgical resection to obtain a definitive diagnosis and relieve symptoms. IMT has a potential for local infiltration, recurrence and persistent local growth.

Small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumours and ampullary cancer in Type 1 neurofibromatosis.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disorder with variable penetrance; approximately 50% of cases present as new mutations CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 56 year-old man with Von Recklinghausen's disease, carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and incidental benign gastrointestinal stromal tumours of the jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence between ampullary carcinoid, ectopic pancreatic tissue in the jejunum and neurofibroma of the jejunum in NF-1 has been previously described however; the association of synchronous carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the jejunum in NF-1 has not been previously reported.

Spontaneous mesenteric haematoma; diagnosis and management.

Spontaneous mesenteric haematomas are rare. They have been reported to be associated with coagulopathies, connective tissue disorders, past trauma, arteriopathy and pancreatitis. However, some cases have been reported in which there is no apparent underlying aetiology. Here we report such a case and we review the literature that discusses optimal diagnosis and management. In this case, spontaneous haemostasis occurred by intra-abdominal tamponade and the regression of the haematoma was monitored with regular imaging.

Gallbladder agenesis with midgut malrotation.

A 28-year-old female presented with a 4 year history of intermittent right upper quadrant pain. Clinical examination and ultrasound suggested a diagnosis of cholelithiasis and the patient was eventually booked for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperatively the patient was found to have gallbladder agenesis and small bowel malrotation with the duodenojejunal flexure to right of midline. The gallbladder fossa was filled with fibrous tissue. Both gallbladder agenesis and midgut malrotation are rare congenital abnormalities. Gallbladder agenesis has a similar presentation to more common gallbladder pathologies, such as cholecystitis. This case illustrates the limitations of and our over reliance on radiological imaging. Moreover, it highlights the need to have a high index suspicion of gallbladder agenesis when ultrasound is inconclusive. Further investigations and imaging with modalities such as MRI should be used to reduce the risks associated with unnecessary surgical intervention.

Non-occlusive small bowel necrosis in association with feeding jejunostomy after elective upper gastrointestinal surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Non-occlusive small bowel necrosis (NOSBN) has been associated with early postoperative enteral feeding. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of this complication in an elective upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgical patient population and the influence of both patient selection and type of feeding jejunostomy (FJ) inserted, based on the experience of two surgical units in affiliated hospitals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records were reviewed of 524 consecutive patients who underwent elective upper GI operations with insertion of a FJ for benign or malignant disease between 1997 and 2006. One unit routinely inserted needle catheter jejunostomies (NCJ), whilst the other selectively inserted tube jejunostomies (TJ). RESULTS: Six cases of NOSBN were identified over 120 months in 524 patients (1.15%), with no difference in incidence between routine NCJ (n = 5; 1.16%) and selective TJ (n = 1; 1.06%). Median rate of feeding at time of diagnosis was 105 ml/h (range, 75-125 ml/h), and diagnosis was made at a median of 6 days (range, 4-18 days) postoperatively. All patients developed abdominal distension, hypotension and tachycardia in the 24 h before re-exploratory laparotomy. Five patients died and one patient survived. CONCLUSIONS: The understanding of the pathophysiology of NOSBN is still rudimentary; nevertheless, its 1% incidence in the present study does call into question its routine postoperative use especially in those at high risk with an open abdomen, planned repeat laparotomies or marked bowel oedema. Patients should be fully resuscitated before initiating any enteral feeding, and feeding should be interrupted if there is any evidence of feed intolerance.

Adhesions after abdominal surgery in children.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to quantify the overall burden (operative and nonoperative) of small bowel obstruction caused by adhesions after laparotomy in children. METHODS: Data from the Scottish National Health Service Medical Record Linkage database were used to assess risk of an adhesion-related readmission in the 5 years after open abdominal surgery in children and adolescents younger than 16 years from April 1996 to March 1997. RESULTS: A total of 1581 children underwent abdominal surgery (ie, from duodenum downward). Patients undergoing surgery on the ileum had the highest risk of readmission because of adhesions in the subsequent 5 years after surgery (9.2%)--formation/closure of ileostomy had the greatest risk (25%); 6.5% of children were readmitted after general laparotomy, 4.7% after duodenal surgery, and 2.1% after colonic surgery. The incidence of readmissions was 0.3% after appendicectomy. The overall readmission rate was 5.3% (if appendicectomy was excluded) and 1.1% (if appendicectomy was included). CONCLUSION: This population-based study has demonstrated that children have a high incidence of readmissions owing to adhesions after lower abdominal surgery. The risks are related to the site and the type of the original surgery. The risk of further readmissions was highest in the first year but continued with time. The data enable surgeons to target antiadhesion strategies at procedures that lead to a high risk of adhesions.

Population-based analysis of the risk of adhesion-related readmissions after abdominal surgery in children.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of adhesion-related readmissions after abdominal surgery in children. METHODS: This was a population-based study. One thousand five hundred eighty-one children younger than 16 years underwent laparotomy in 1996. Patients were identified from the Scottish Morbidity Records database and followed up for 4 years. RESULTS: In children younger than 5 years, 4.2% had a readmission "directly" owing to adhesions. In children younger than 16 years, 1.1% had a readmission directly owing to adhesions. The highest risk of readmission followed surgery on the small intestine (9.3%), followed by abdominal wall surgery (5.8%), duodenal surgery (2.6%), colonic surgery (2.1%), and appendicectomy (0.3%). 55% of all readmissions occurred in the first year. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in readmission rates between younger and older children when comparing the organ on which surgery was initially performed. The highest readmission rate followed small intestinal surgery and the lowest followed appendicectomy. The risk of readmission was highest in the first year.

Splenectomy in mantle cell lymphoma with leukaemia: a comparison with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

We reviewed data on 63 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with leukaemia (n = 16) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL, n = 47), splenectomized over a 10-year period. Primary indications for surgery were cytopenia(s) or autoimmune phenomena and progressive or refractory disease with splenomegaly. The spleens removed were on average larger in MCL (median 2.6 kg) than in CLL (1.0 kg). Splenectomy improved the blood counts in 62% of patients with MCL and 47% with stage C CLL, both with cytopenias. The MCL patients showed a decrease in the leucocytosis (medians 60.3-29.1 x 10(9)/l before and after splenectomy), whereas there was an increase in the leucocytosis in CLL (medians 24.2-44 x 10(9)/l). With a median follow up post splenectomy of 10 months (range: < 1-128), 18 patients (four MCL and 14 CLL) have not required further therapy for up to 66 months. We conclude that splenectomy is a useful treatment in MCL and advanced CLL for the correction of cytopenias, reducing the leucocyte count and allowing prolonged periods of clinical remission without therapy. Differences seen between MCL and CLL in spleen size, and in response of the leucocytosis suggest a central role for the spleen in the evolution of MCL with leukaemia.