Impact of gut microbiota on liver transplantation.

The gut microbiota has been gaining attention due to its interactions with the human body and its role in pathophysiological processes. One of the main interactions is the "gut-liver axis," in which disruption of the gut mucosal barrier seen in portal hypertension and liver disease can influence liver allograft function over time. For example, in patients who are undergoing liver transplantation, preexisting dysbiosis, perioperative antibiotic use, surgical stress, and immunosuppressive use have each been associated with alterations in gut microbiota, potentially impacting overall morbidity and mortality. In this review, studies exploring gut microbiota changes in patients undergoing liver transplantation are reviewed, including both human and experimental animal studies. Common themes include an increase in Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae species and a decrease in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteriodes, while a decrease in the overall diversity of gut microbiota after liver transplantation.

Multimodal assessment after total neoadjuvant therapy versus standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer accurately predicts complete responders.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare local regrowth rates after total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) versus standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (SNCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients that were strictly selected and assessed with a multimodal approach. Secondary outcomes were 4-year disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. METHODS: Locally advanced rectal cancer patients without distant metastases treated at Koç Healthcare Group between January 2014 and January 2021 were included. Patients were assessed for complete response with a combination of digital rectal exam, endoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging with a dedicated rectum protocol. The systemic evaluation was performed with an upper abdomen MRI using intravenous hepatobiliary contrast agent and a thorax CT. RESULTS: Of the 270 patients with LARC, 182 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Ninety-seven (53.3%) underwent TNT, while 85 (46.7%) underwent SNCRT. A cumulative combination of pathological and sustained clinical complete response was significantly higher in the TNT group than in the SNCRT (45.4% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 48 months, seven patients in the W&W group had regrowth [TNT: 4 (10.8%) vs. SNCRT: 3 (23.1%), p = 0.357]. Based on pathological examination, complete/near complete mesorectum rates (p = 1.000) and circumferential resection margin positivity rates (p = 1.000) were similar between the groups. The 4-year DFS and OS rates were comparable. The patients with clinical or pathological complete response had significantly longer overall survival (p = 0.017) regardless of the type of neoadjuvant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal assessment after TNT effectively detects complete responders, resulting in low local recurrence and increased cumulative complete response rates. However, these outcomes did not translate into a survival advantage.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the New Cleveland Clinic Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: This study aims to adapt and validate the Cleveland Clinic Colorectal Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (CCF-CaQL) in Turkish, addressing the significant need for reliable, language-specific QoL measures for colorectal cancer (CRC) in Turkiye. This effort fills a critical gap in CRC patient care, enhancing both patient-provider communication and disease-specific QoL assessment. METHODS: The CCF-CaQL was translated into Turkish, verified for accuracy, and reviewed for clarity and relevance. Eligible patients who underwent colorectal surgery for cancer between July 2021 and July 2022 from six hospitals completed the CCF-CaQL and SF-36 questionnaires. For analysis, confirmatory factor analysis using Smart PLS 4 and descriptive statistics were employed. The questionnaire's reliability and validity were assessed using Cronbach alpha, composite reliability, and the heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) ratio, along with multicollinearity checks and factor loadings. Nonparametric resampling was used for precise error and confidence interval calculations, and the Spearman coefficient and split-half method were applied for reliability testing. RESULTS: In the study involving 244 colorectal cancer patients, confirmatory factor analysis of the CCF-CaQL indicated effective item performance, with one item removed due to lower factor loading. The questionnaire exhibited high internal consistency, evidenced by a Cronbach alpha value of 0.909. Convergent validity was strong, with all average variance extracted (AVE) values exceeding 0.4. Discriminant validity was confirmed with HTMT coefficients below 0.9, and no significant multicollinearity issues were observed (VIF values < 10). Parallel testing with the SF-36 scale demonstrated moderate to very strong correlations, affirming the CCF-CaQL's comparability in measuring quality of life. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the CCF-CaQL was validated for assessing quality of life in colorectal cancer patients. This validation confirms its reliability and cultural appropriateness for use in Turkiye. The disease-specific nature of the CCF-CaQL makes it a useful tool in clinical and research settings, enhancing patient care by accurately monitoring treatment effects and interventions in the Turkish colorectal cancer patient population.

Factors affecting operative morbidity and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for presacral tumours: a multicentric cohort study from the Turkish Collaborative Group for Quality Improvement in Colorectal and Pelvic Surgery.

AIM: Data regarding the operative management of presacral tumours present various dilemmas due to their rarity and heterogeneous nature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the management strategy, factors associated with operative morbidity and long-term postoperative outcomes in a large group of patients undergoing surgery for presacral tumours. METHOD: This study was designed as a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Records of patients who underwent surgery for presacral tumours at 10 tertiary colorectal centres between 1996 and 2017 were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty seven patients (44 men) with a mean age of 46 years and body mass index of 27 kg/m2 were included. Fifty eight per cent of the patients had low sacral lesions (below S3). The operative approaches were transabdominal (17%), transsacral (65%) and abdominosacral (17%). The postoperative morbidity was 19%. Thirty per cent of the patients had a malignant tumour. Longer duration of symptoms (p = 0.001), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p = 0.01), abdominosacral operations (p = 0.0001) and presacral tumours located above S3 (p = 0.004) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Overall long-term postoperative recurrence and mortality were 6% and 5%, respectively, within a 3-year mean follow-up period in patients with presacral malignant tumours. CONCLUSION: Reduced physical condition, omission of symptoms prior to surgery, combined resections and high sacral tumours are the risk factors associated with postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for presacral tumours. Meticulous planning of the operation and intensified perioperative care may improve the outcomes in high-risk patients.

Is there no need to discuss adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer patients with high tumor budding and lymphovascular invasion?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic associations of tumor budding (Bd) as well as other potential prognosticators including lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in T3/4aN0 colon cancer patients and to investigate their impact on the outcome. METHODS: The patients were enrolled in three groups according to the number of budding as Bd1 (0-4 buds), Bd2 (5-9 buds), and Bd3 (> 10 buds). These groups were retrospectively compared in terms of demographic features, other tumor characteristics, operative outcomes, recurrences, and survival. The mean follow-up time was 58 ± 22 months. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were divided as follows: 97 in Bd1, 41 in Bd2, and 56 in Bd3 groups. The Bd3 group was associated with significantly higher LVI and larger tumor size. The rate of recurrence increased progressively from 5.2% in Bd1 to 9.8% in Bd2 and to 17.9% in Bd3 group (p = 0.03). More importantly, the 5-year overall survival (OS: Bd1 = 92.3% vs. Bd2 = 88% vs. Bd3 = 69.5%, p = 0.03) and disease-free survival (DFS: Bd1 = 87.9% vs. Bd2 = 75.3% vs. Bd3 = 66%, p = 0.02) were significantly worse in Bd3 group. In addition, in the subgroup of patients with the presence of Bd3 and LVI together, the 5-year OS (60% vs. 92%, p = 0.001) and DFS (56.1% vs. 85.4%, p = 0.001) were significantly worse. In multivariate analysis, Bd3+LVI was significantly associated with poor OS and DFS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with T3/4aN0 colon cancer, high tumor budding negatively affects long-term oncological outcomes. These findings strongly suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy be considered for the patients with Bd3 and LVI together.

Mid-transverse Location in Primary Colon Tumor: A Poor Prognostic Factor?

BACKGROUND: The location of colonic tumors has been linked to different clinical and oncologic outcomes. Transverse colon cancers are generally included as right colon cancers. Furthermore, hepatic and splenic flexure tumors are usually included as components of the transverse colon. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at comparing the clinicopathologic characteristics and long-term outcomes between mid-transverse and right and left colon cancers and determining the prognostic impact of the primary tumor location in the mid-transverse colon. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SETTINGS: Two specialized colorectal centers were included. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent curative surgery for colon cancer were analyzed. Tumors located in the transverse colon, excluding the flexures, were defined as mid-transverse colon cancers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, operative outcomes, pathologic results, and long-term outcomes were the primary outcome measures. RESULTS: Of the 487 patients, 41 (8.4%) had mid-transverse, 191 (39.2%) had right, and 255 (52.4%) had left colon cancers. For mid-transverse colon cancers, the mean length of hospital stay, mean length of the resected specimen, and the mean number of harvested lymph nodes were significantly higher. For patients with stage I to III cancer, the 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were significantly worse in the mid-transverse colon cancers than in the right and left colon cancers (overall survival: 55.5% vs 82.8% vs 85.9%, p = 0.004, and disease-free survival; 47.7% vs 72.4% vs 79.5%, p = 0.003). After adjustment for other clinicopathologic factors, mid-transverse colon cancers were significantly associated with a poor prognosis (HR = 2.19 [95% CI, 1.25-3.83]; p = 0.006). LIMITATIONS: Molecular and genetic information were unavailable in this retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: In our case series, colon cancers located in the mid-transverse colon showed poorer prognosis than cancers in other locations. The impact of tumor location in the mid-transverse colon on prognosis, including molecular and genetic markers, should be investigated further in prospective studies. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B631. LOCALIZACIN TRANSVERSA MEDIA EN EL TUMOR DE COLON PRIMARIO UN FACTOR DE MAL PRONSTICO: ANTECEDENTES:La ubicación de los tumores de colon se ha relacionado con diferentes resultados clínicos y oncológicos. Los cánceres de colon transverso se incluyen generalmente como cánceres de colon derecho. Además, los tumores del ángulo hepático y esplénico suelen incluirse como un componente del colon transverso.OBJETIVO:Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar las características clínico-patológicas y los resultados a largo plazo entre los cánceres de colon transverso medio y derecho e izquierdo y determinar el impacto pronóstico de la ubicación del tumor primario en el colon transverso medio.DISEÑO:Este fue un estudio retrospectivo.AJUSTE ENTORNO CLINICO:Se incluyeron dos centros colorrectales especializados.PACIENTES:Se analizaron los pacientes que fueron sometidos a cirugía curativa por cáncer de colon. Los tumores ubicados en el colon transverso, excluidos los ángulos, se definieron como "cánceres de colon transverso medio".PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO VOLARACION:Las características demográficas, los resultados quirúrgicos, los resultados patológicos y los resultados a largo plazo fueron las principales medidas de resultado valoracion.RESULTADOS:De los 487 pacientes, 41 (8,4%) tenían cáncer de colon transverso medio, 191 (39,2%) derecho y 255 (52,4%) cáncer de colon izquierdo. Para los cánceres de colon transverso medio, la duración media de la estancia hospitalaria, la duración de la muestra resecada y el número medio de ganglios linfáticos extraídos fueron significativamente mayores. Para los pacientes en estadio I-III, las tasas de supervivencia general y sin enfermedad a 5 años fueron significativamente peores en los cánceres de colon transverso medio que en los cánceres de colon derecho e izquierdo (supervivencia general: 55,5% frente versus a 82,8% frente versus a 85,9%, p = 0,004 y supervivencia libre de enfermedad; 47,7% frente a 72,4% frente a 79,5%, p = 0,003, respectivamente). Después del ajuste por otros factores clínico-patológicos, los cánceres de colon transverso medio se asociaron significativamente con un pronóstico desfavorable (Razón de riesgo: 2,19; intervalo de confianza del 95%: 1,25-3,83; p = 0,006).LIMITACIONES:La información molecular y genética no estuvo disponible en este estudio retrospectivo.CONCLUSIONES:En nuestra serie de casos, los cánceres de colon localizados en el colon transverso medio mostraron un peor pronóstico que los cánceres en otras localizaciones. El impacto de la ubicación del tumor en el colon transverso medio sobre el pronóstico, incluidos los marcadores moleculares y genéticos, debe investigarse más a fondo en estudios prospectivos. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B631. (Traducción-Dr Adrián Ortega).

Is elective cancer surgery feasible during the lock-down period of the COVID-19 pandemic? Analysis of a single institutional experience of 404 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the feasibility and short-term clinical outcomes of surgical procedures for cancer at an institution using a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-free surgical pathway during the peak phase of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center study, including cancer patients from all surgical departments, who underwent elective surgical procedures during the first peak phase between March 10 and June 30, 2020. The primary outcomes were the rate of postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and 30-day pulmonary or non-pulmonary related morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease. RESULTS: Four hundred and four cancer patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were analyzed. The rate of patients who underwent open and minimally invasive procedures was 61.9% and 38.1%, respectively. Only one (0.2%) patient died during the study period due to postoperative SARS-CoV2 infection because of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The overall non-SARS-CoV2 related 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 19.3% and 1.7%, respectively; whereas the overall SARS-CoV2 related 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Under strict institutional policies and measures to establish a COVID-19-free surgical pathway, elective and emergency cancer operations can be performed with acceptable perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Comparative study between ghost ileostomy and defunctioning ileostomy in terms of morbidity and cost-effectiveness in low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare ghost ileostomy (GI) and defunctioning ileostomy (DI) in patients who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer in terms of postoperative morbidity, rehospitalization rates, and total costs. METHODS: Patients with an anastomosis level between 5 and 10 cm from the anal verge after LAR were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics, operative outcomes, postoperative morbidity, rehospitalization rates, and total costs were compared. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients were enrolled as follows: 42 patients in the GI group and 81 patients in the DI group. Anastomotic leakage (AL) was identified in three patients who underwent GI, and in all of them, GI was easily converted to DI. There were 96.3% of the patients with DI rehospitalized at least one time because of surgery-related and/or stoma-related complications or stoma closure. When we did not take into account the patients who were rehospitalized for stoma closure, the rates of rehospitalization were 4.7% and 22.2% in the GI and DI groups, respectively (P= 0.01). The mean total costs calculated by removing additional surgical procedures and adding all of the rehospitalization costs were 25,767 USD and 41,875 USD in the GI and DI groups, respectively (P= 0.0001). CONCLUSION: GI may be a safe and cost-effective method in patients who underwent LAR with low or medium risk factors for AL. It is possible to avoid unnecessary ileostomy and reduce unwanted outcomes due to it, such as postoperative complications, rehospitalizations, and increased total costs by performing GI.

Metastasis to lymph nodes around the vascular tie worsens long-term oncological outcomes following complete mesocolic excision and conventional colectomy for right-sided colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oncologic outcomes after complete mesocolic excision (CME) in colon cancer are under investigation. The aim of our study was to compare CME and conventional colectomy (CC) in terms of pathological and oncological outcomes for right colon cancer and to evaluate the impact of lymph node metastasis around the vascular tie on survival. METHODS: Consecutive patients with right colon cancer who had CME or CC between January 2011 and August 2018 at two specialized centers in Turkey were included. Statistical analyses were performed with respect to demographic characteristics, operative and pathologic outcomes, harvested and metastatic lymph nodes around the vascular tie (LNVT), recurrences, and survival. RESULTS: There were 91 patients in the CME group (58 males, mean age 64 ± 16 years) and 192 patients in the CC group (96 males, mean age 66 ± 14 years). The mean number of harvested lymph nodes (CME: 42 ± 15 vs CC: 34 ± 13, p = 0.01) and LNVT were higher in the CME group (CME: 3.2 ± 2.2 vs CC: 2.4 ± 1.6, p = 0.001). LNVT metastases were 7.7% and 8.3% in the CME and CC groups, respectively (p = 0.85). Three-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 96.4% and 90.9% in the CME group and 90.4% and 87.6% in the CC group in stage I-III patients (p > 0.05). In stage III patients, the 3-year overall survival (92.5% vs 63.5%, p = 0.03) and disease-free survival (85.6% vs 52.1%, p = 0.008) were significantly better in LNVT-negative patients than in LNVT-positive patients. CONCLUSION: LNVT metastasis seems to be the key factor associated with poor disease-free and overall survival in right colon cancer regardless of the radicality of surgery.

Live surgical demonstrations for minimally invasive colorectal training.

PURPOSE: Live surgical demonstrations are considered an effective educational tool providing a chance for trainees to observe a real-time decision-making process of expert surgeons. No data exists evaluating the impact of live surgical demonstrations on the outcomes of minimally invasive colorectal surgery. This study evaluates perioperative and short-term postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing minimally invasive colorectal surgery in the setting of live surgical demonstrations. METHODS: Patients undergoing minimally invasive colorectal surgery which was performed as live surgical demonstrations (the study group) performed between 2006 and 2018 were reviewed. These patients were case-matched with those undergoing operations in routine practice (the control group). The study and control group were compared for intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-nine live surgery cases in the study group were case-matched with its thirty-nine counterparts as the control group. Operating time was longer (200 vs 165 min; p = 0.002) and estimated intraoperative blood loss was higher in the study group (100 vs 55 ml; p = 0.008). Patients in the study group stayed longer in the hospital (6 vs 5 days; p = 0.001). While conversion (n = 4 vs n = 1, p = 0.358) and intraoperative complications (n = 6 vs n = 2, p = 0.2) were more frequent in the study group, these outcomes did not reach statistical significance. Overall complications were higher in the study group (n = 22 vs n = 9, p = 0.003). One patient underwent a reoperation due to postoperative bleeding, and one mortality occurred in the live surgery group. CONCLUSIONS: Live surgical demonstrations in minimally invasive colorectal surgery seem to be associated with increased risk of operative morbidity.

Laparoscopic colon resection in patients with situs inversus totalis: Is it the same operation as in patients without situs inversus totalis?

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare condition. In this case, a patient who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for repeated sigmoid colon diverticulitis with SIT was presented. Laparoscopy surgery in patients with this condition has some important technical differences than standard laparoscopic procedures. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to request surgical experience to perform safe laparoscopic surgery in patients with SIT.

Hyperthermic intraperitonal chemotherapy is an independent risk factor for development of acute kidney injury.

PURPOSE: Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) or hyperthermic intrapleural chemotherapy (HIC) has been established as the new treatment modality for selected patients with peritoneal and pleural malignancies. The purpose of the study was to compare the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients who received intravenous cisplatin alone, HIPEC and underwent surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included 104 patients who underwent different therapeutic procedures including systemic cisplatin, surgery and HIPEC or HIC using cisplatin for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from a variety of primary tumors at Koc University Hospital and American Hospital between January 2015 to December 2017. RESULTS: AKI developed in 18 (17.3%) patients. Baseline creatinine was significantly increased in 3 groups after therapies. The development of AKI was highest in patients treated with HIPEC compared to patients treated with intravenous cisplatin and patients who underwent surgery. AKI developed 31.2% in the HIPEC group (10 of 32 patients), 11.7% in the surgery group (4 of 34 patients) and 10.5% in intravenous cisplatin group (4 of 38 patients), respectively (p 0.04). CONCLUSION: HIPEC may not be so safe with regard to kidney function. Every attempt should be taken to decrease kidney damage during this procedure.

The effect of neoadjuvant therapy on the size, number, and distribution of mesorectal lymph nodes.

The current therapeutic approach to patients with locally advanced rectal cancer is neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision. We aimed to investigate the number, size, and distribution of metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes within the mesorectum; whether neoadjuvant therapy has any impact on the number and size of the lymph nodes; and the impact of metastatic lymph node localization on overall and disease-free survival. Specimens from 50 consecutive patients with stage II/III rectal cancer receiving either neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were investigated. Lymph node dissection was carried out by careful visual inspection and palpation. The localization of the each lymph node within the mesorectum and the relation with the tumor site were noted. The size and the number of lymph nodes retrieved decreased significantly with neoadjuvant therapy. Majority of the metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes were located at or proximally to the tumor level and posterior side of the mesorectum. No relation was observed between the overall and disease-free survival, and the localization of the metastatic lymph nodes. Presence of lymph node metastases proximal to the tumor level has no impact on survival compared with the presence of lymph node metastasis only in the peritumoral region of the mesorectum. Although neoadjuvant therapy decreases the size and the number of lymph nodes, reaching an ideal number of lymph nodes for accurate staging is still possible with careful naked eye examination and dissection of perirectal fat. As the majority of metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes are located in peritumoral and proximal compartment, and posterior side of the mesorectum, these regions should be the major interest of dissection.

Laparoscopic Rectopexy: First Option for Rectal Prolapse?

BACKGROUND: Rectal prolapse (RP) is one of the benign anorectal diseases and impairs the quality of life due to co-existing constipation and incontinence problems. There is no consensus for the most accurate surgical method for its treatment. AIM: The objective was to evaluate the short- and long-term results of patients with rectal prolapse who underwent surgery in our clinic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed of 83 patients with RP who underwent surgery between 1997-2013 in terms of demographic data, surgical technique, complications, and early and late outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age was 45 years (± 18 years) and 60% (n = 50) of the patients were female. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.3 (± 4.1) kg/m2. The mean age was significantly higher in the transperineal approach (PA group) than transabdominal approach (TA group) (p < 0.05). The length of hospital stay was not affected by surgical technique (open or laparoscopic or perineal surgery), but in the subgroup analysis it was significantly shorter for laparoscopic rectopexy (p< 0.05). The median follow-up was 80 ± 38.6 months. Ten (12%) patients had recurrence during the follow-up period; however, recurrence was not associated with the type of surgical technique (p = 0.824). CONCLUSION: Giving consideration to patients additional symptoms and general condition before committing to a surgical method for RP may improve the success rate. Laparoscopic rectopexy should be considered as the first option in the treatment RP owing to its favorable early-term outcomes and acceptable rate of long-term recurrence.

Performance of CT in the locoregional staging of colon cancer: detailed radiology-pathology correlation with special emphasis on tumor deposits, extramural venous invasion and T staging.

PURPOSE: To investigate the performance of computed tomography (CT) in the local staging of colon cancer in different segments, with emphasis on parameters that have been found to be significant for rectal cancer, namely, extramural venous invasion (EMVI) and tumor deposits (TDs). METHODS: CT and pathology data from 137 patients were independently reviewed by radiology and pathology teams. The performance of CT in categorizing a given patient into good, versus poor prognostic groups was assessed for each segment, as well as the presence of lymph nodes (LNs), TDs and EMVIs. Discordant cases were re-evaluated to determine potential sources of error. Elastic stain was applied for EMVI discordance. RESULTS: The T staging accuracy was 80.2%. For T stage stratification, CT performed slightly better in the left colon, and the lowest accuracy was in the transverse colon. Under-staging was more common (in 12.4%), and most of the mis-staged cases were in sigmoid colon. According to the first comprehensive correlative analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT for detecting TDs were found to be 57.9%, 92.4%, 87.6%, respectively. These figures were 44.7%, 72.7%, and 63.5% for LN, and 58.5%, 82.1% and 73% for EMVI. The detection rate was better for multifocal EMVI. The detection rate was also comparable (although substantially underestimated) for LNs, with the half of the LNs missed by CT being < 5 mm. Four patients that were classified as TD by CT, disclosed to be LNs by pathology. Correlative analysis led to refinement of the pathology criteria, with subsequent modifications of the initial reports in 13 (9.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: Overall, CT performed well in the evaluation of colon cancer, as did TD and EMVI. It is advisable to include these parameters in CT-based staging. Radiologists should be aware of the pitfalls that occur more commonly in different segments.

Laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer: outcomes in 513 patients.

BACKGROUND: Few reports have demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic resection in patients with rectal cancer (RC). The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of laparoscopic resection for RC, with an emphasis on perioperative variables and long-term oncological outcomes. METHODS: This prospective study was carried out between January 2005 and September 2010 and included 513 patients diagnosed with RC who underwent laparoscopic surgery. Patients with locally advanced RC (cT3/cT4 or N+) received neoadjuvant treatment. Adjuvant treatment was applied to patients with stage II/III disease or according to the neoadjuvant protocol. All patients were followed-up prospectively for the evaluation of complications and oncological outcome. Survival rate analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Sphincter-preserving surgery was performed on 389 patients, and the remaining 124 patients underwent abdominoperineal resection. Perioperative mortality occurred in only one patient (0.2 %), and 27 (5.3 %) intraoperative complications were recorded. The most common postoperative complication was anastomotic leakage (5.5 %). The conversion rate was 6.4 %. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 23.6 ± 13. The mean distance to the distal margin was 2.6 ± 1.9 (0-7) cm. Distal margin positivity was detected in 9 (1.7 %) patients. The circumferential margin was positive in 39 (7.6 %) cases. After a median follow-up period of 30 (1-78) months, recurrence occurred in a total of 59 patients (11.5 %). Local recurrence was detected in 16 patients (3.1 %), and both local and distant recurrence was found in 7 patients (1.4 %). Distant recurrence only was detected in 43 patients (8.4 %). The overall 5-year survival rate was 84 %, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 77.4 %. The local recurrence-free survival rate was 98.4 % at 2 years, 95.7 % at 3 years, and 94.3 % at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our results, together with the review of the literature, clearly demonstrate that laparoscopic resection for RC is a feasible method at specialized high-volume centers. The long-term outcomes are at least as good as those from open surgery as long as the principles of oncologic surgery are respected and faithfully performed.

A novel scoring system for the early detection of anastomotic leakage: bedside leak score-a pilot study.

Background: Anastomotic leakage is a major complication in colorectal surgery, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality rates. Despite substantial progress in surgical technique, anastomotic leakage rates remain stable. An early diagnosis of anastomotic leaks was proven to reduce adverse outcomes and improve survival. Objective: This study aims to find a novel scoring system for detecting anastomotic leaks using inflammatory and nutritional indicators after colorectal surgery. Our purpose was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of leak scores ((CRPPOD3)(CRPPOD1)∗preoperativealbuminlevel) in predicting postoperative complications. Design: The study included colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative surgery at Koc University Hospital between 2014 and 2018. Patients were categorized into two groups depending on the presence of anastomotic leaks and compared in terms of preoperative albumin levels, CRP levels in postoperative days 1 and 3, anastomotic leakage rates, length of hospital stay, and CRP quotient, which was calculated by dividing POD 3 CRP level to POD 1 CRP level. The bedside leak score is calculated by dividing the CRP quotient by the preoperative albumin level. The predictive value of bedside leak score, CRP quotient, and preoperative albumin levels in estimating anastomotic leakage was analyzed, and a cutoff value for the leak score was calculated. Results: A total of 184 patients were included in the study. The leak score, CRP POD 3-1 ratio, and preoperative albumin levels were found to successfully detect anastomotic leakage. The area under the curve for the leak score was calculated as 0.78. The optimal cutoff value was found to be 50.3 for the bedside leak score, which shows 90.9% sensitivity and 59.3% specificity. Conclusion: The leak score may represent a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting patients at risk for anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery and planning a better strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality rates and associated costs. However, further multicenter studies with large cohorts are necessary to confirm these results.

Comparison of neoadjuvant versus upfront surgery for treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to compare long term oncological outcomes of upfront surgery versus neoadjuvant treatment in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 183 patients who were operated for gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The patients received either standard gastrectomy or preoperative NACT + gastrectomy. Neoadjuvant therapy was administered with FLOT regimen (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin) or DCF regimen (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil). RESULTS: Of the patients receiving NACT, 33 received FLOT regimen and 14 received DCF regimen. The number of male patients was higher in both standard gastrectomy and NACT + gastrectomy groups (p=0.385). Leukopenia and neutropenia were the most common hematological toxicities, while anemia and nausea were the most frequent non-hematological side effects in the both of NACT group. The outcomes of the grades of postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification is similar between groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay after surgery between the groups (p=0,001). According to the disease stage, it was found no statistically significant difference in the OS and DFS between the NACT and standard gastrectomy groups. CONCLUSION: Although we found no significant difference between the patients undergoing standard gastrectomy and those undergoing NACT before gastrectomy, we believe that NACT may contribute to the favorable prognosis of patients with locally advanced disease with improved OS and DFS and this should be examined in future studies. KEY WORDS: FLOT, Gastric Cancer, Neoadjuvant Treatment.