Sigmoid volvulus is associated with a decrease in enteric plexuses and ganglion cells: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: Although sigmoid volvulus (SV) causes acute obstruction, its pathogenesis and mechanism of torsion are unknown, and few reports have described its pathological findings. Here, we evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics of volvulus and factors contributing to volvulus of the sigmoid colon. METHODS: We compared 14 patients with SV (10 men and 4 women; median age, 78.5 years) with 14 age- and sex-matched control patients for differences in clinical characteristics, focusing on dysmotility (enteric visceral myopathy, neuropathy, and mesenchymopathy). RESULTS: Of the 14 SV patients, 7 had recurrent volvulus, 11 had an associated condition, and 5 required emergency surgery. Atrophy and fibrosis of the inner muscle were more prevalent in the SV than control patients (p = 0.041). Median extent (per centimeter of muscularis propria) of the myenteric plexus (12.5 versus 17.5, p < 0.001) and submucous plexus (15.0 versus 25.5, p < 0.001) was lower in the SV patients, as were the median numbers of myenteric (9.7 versus 30.4, p < 0.001) and submucous ganglion cells (10.0 versus 23.2, p < 0.001). Inflammatory neuropathy was more prevalent in the SV than control patients (p = 0.046); whereas, the prevalence of mesenchymopathy did not differ (p = 0.481). CONCLUSIONS: A decrease in the extent of enteric plexus and ganglion cells precedes the clinical manifestation of SV. Although further elucidation is needed, this decrease may play an important role in the diagnosis of SV and in identifying the mechanism leading to torsion in SV.

[A case of liver metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer treated effectively by second-line chemotherapy].

A case of successful chemotherapy for a metachronous liver metastasis following resection for sigmoid colon cancer is presented. A 51-year-old man underwent sigmoidectomy, ileocecal resection, and descending colon colostomy for sigmoid colon cancer with ileum invasion. Six courses of FOLFOX4 were performed as adjuvant chemotherapy. One year after sigmoidectomy, a liver metastasis was detected on computed tomography (CT) examination. Chemotherapy with FOLFOX+bevacizumab was restarted. Three courses were administered, but hepatic dysfunction occurred after the second and third courses, and FOLFOX was discontinued. Subsequent chemotherapy was reinitiated with FOLFIRI+bevacizumab. After 9 courses, the carcinoembryonic antigen level was normalized and appeared to be decreased by imaging studies. Upon the patient's request, only oral S-1 was administered. After 2 courses, CT revealed that the diameter of the tumor had increased by 2 cm. Therefore, right lobectomy of the liver, colostomy closure, and anastomosis were performed. During these procedures, a nodule was found in the omentum and was removed. Rapid intra-operative diagnosis revealed peritoneal dissemination. The pathological diagnosis was liver metastasis of sigmoid colon cancer, with necrosis and fibrosis seen in approximately one-half of specimens. The surgical margins were negative. Neither metastatic cancer nor dissemination were found in the resected greater omentum.

[A case of rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases successfully treated by repeated hepatectomy].

A 61-year-old man was diagnosed with rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases in December 2009, and low anterior resection of the rectum was performed. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with 6 courses of oxaliplatin, Leucovorin, and 5-FU (FOLFOX4) and bevacizumab was initiated, followed by 5 courses of fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and bevacizumab. Right posterior segment (S6, S7) hepatectomy with enucleation of S2, S3 and S5 was performed, and chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 (11 courses) was administered. New metastases in the S5 segment were observed in August 2011 and right hepatic lobectomy was performed. The patient then underwent 8 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX4. However, left hepatic lobe lateral segment and caudate lobe metastases then appeared. Subsequent repeated chemotherapy with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab (3 courses) and irinotecan plus cetuximab was interrupted in August 2013 owing to adverse events resulting in rapid growth of hepatic metastases. The patient underwent hepatic left lateral segmentectomy and left caudate lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient has currently survived 4 years and 7 months after the initial surgery.

[Self-expanding antireflux stents for malignant esophageal stenosis - a report of three cases].

Use of a standard open stent or self-expanding metal stent for patients with malignant dysphagia is associated with a risk of gastroesophageal reflux especially when placed across the esophagogastric junction. We report 3 cases of malignant esophageal stenosis treated with a long cover-type Niti-STM stent with an antireflux mechanism. Case 1: A 87-year-old man presented with dysphagia due to esophageal cancer at the middle thoracic esophagus. Two months after surgery using a standard open stent, the dysphagia relapsed because of tissue overgrowth. Case 2: A 73-year-old woman presented with lung cancer and severe dysphagia due to enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Case 3: A 66-year-old man presented with dysphagia due to esophageal cancer at the lower thoracic esophagus. All 3 patients received an antireflux stent across the esophagogastric junction. In cases 1 and 2, dysphagia was relieved immediately without complications. In case 3, the patient experienced severe reflux and chest pain associated with stent placement and could not ingest any solid food. We conclude that the antireflux stent may be useful for palliation in patients with severe malignant esophageal obstruction; however, patients should be informed about the risk of failure to prevent reflux.

[A case of Stage IV gastric cancer was successfully treated with multi combination chemotherapy with S-1].

Stage IV gastric cancer has poor prognosis, and median survival time (MST) is reported to range from 6 to 13 months. We report a case of long-term survival in a Stage IV gastric cancer patient who was successfully treated with multi combination chemotherapy with S-1. A 73-year-old woman presenting with gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis and peritoneal dissemination at the sigmoid colon underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and sigmoidectomy. She received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and CDDP after surgery. During the twelfth administration of S-1 and CDDP, she developed an anaphylactic reaction against CDDP; therefore, only S-1 was administered for the next 6 courses. Thirty one months postgastrectomy, a left ovarian metastasis (about 4 cm) was detected by computed tomography. Two courses of S-1 and CPT-11 were administered; however, the ovarian metastasis grew to twice its initial size. She underwent hysterectomy and bilateral ovariectomy. The pathological diagnosis was metastatic tumors in the uterus and ovary(Krukenberg tumor). After the second surgery, S-1 and docetaxel therapy was initiated. A metastasis (S2, 5mm diameter) appeared in the right lung around 65 months after the gastrectomy. The patient received a total of 28 courses, up until 69 months post-gastrectomy. At present, she hopes to finish the chemotherapy and is consulting a palliative care facility. At 80 months post-gastrectomy, she has no symptoms because the lung metastasis exhibits slow growth (15 mm diameter), and is maintaining her quality of life (QOL).

[Preoperative chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer].

In the present study, we evaluated the outcome of preoperative treatment with S-1 and CDDP for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Fifty-five cases of advanced gastric cancer received pre-operative treatment with S-1 and CDDP. The tumor control rate( PR and CR according to RECIST criteria) was 55%. The clinical response and histological response to the treatment and curative resection were closely related to favorable postoperative survival. We noted that patients who demonstrated CR or PR received S-1 as postoperative treatment, whereas those with SD or PD were more likely to receive paclitaxel as postoperative treatment. Preoperative treatment with S-1 and CDDP was not only an effective initial treatment, but also demonstrated favorable results in a S-1 in vivo sensitivity test.

[Insertion of percutaneous transhepatic biliary endoprosthesis for unresectable lower cholangiocellular carcinoma following cholangitis due to endoscopic biliary plastic stent obstruction].

The patient was an 87-year-old woman who was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which was treated with an anticoagulant, and with chronic kidney disease. The patient was diagnosed as having liver dysfunction and lower cholangiocellular carcinoma (cStage I) on ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Since it was impossible to perform curative resection owing to the patient's decreased cardiac and renal function, we performed palliative endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) with a plastic stent (PS), and the patient was discharged 11 days later. However, the patient was readmitted because of fever (>38.0°C) and vomiting 124 days after ERBD. We assumed that the patient had developed cholangitis due to PS obstruction. Moreover, her blood culture was positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. We were unable to replace the PS as the tumor had increased in size and hemorrhage from the papilla of Vater continued after the stent had been removed. The signs of inflammation improved after treatment of sepsis with antibiotics and immunoglobulins, and we performed percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage( PTCD) and eventually inserted a percutaneous transhepatic biliary endoprosthesis (PTBE) with an expandable metallic stent (EMS). The patient died 2 months later; no stent occlusion was observed. Our experience suggests that endoscopic biliary stents should be selected bearing in mind the patency of the stent and the prognosis.

[A case of successful radical resection of rectal cancer with neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy].

In cases of advanced rectal cancer, preoperative chemoradiotherapy( CRT) serves to improve the local control rate, survival rate, radical resection rate, and/or probability of sphincter muscle preservation. According to the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines 2010 for the treatment of colorectal cancer, preoperative CRT is the standard treatment for rectal cancer in Europe and the United States. However, there is insufficient evidence in support of its efficacy and safety in Japan, and therefore, CRT needs to be evaluated in properly designed clinical trials. Recently, several studies have reported on the efficacy of preoperative CRT in Japan. Herein, we report a case of rectal cancer in which radical resection was successfully performed with neo-adjuvant CRT.

[Long-term survival of a case with advanced sigmoid colon cancer and Virchow's lymph node metastasis].

A 63-year-old man presented with a tumor in his left supraclavicular fossa. Aspiration biopsy of the tumor revealed metastasis of an adenocarcinoma. Further examination indicated the presence of advanced sigmoid colon cancer with metastases to Virchow's lymph nodes and the para-aortic lymph nodes. Sigmoidectomy with D3 lymph node dissection was performed. Histological examination revealed moderately and well differentiated adenocarcinomas( double cancers) that had invaded the subserosa as well as metastases of the para-aortic lymph nodes. Twelve days after the operation, systemic chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 (8 courses), followed by FOLFIRI (8 courses) was administered. Six months later, CT examination determined that the metastases of Virchow's lymph nodes and the para-aortic lymph nodes had completely disappeared. Capecitabine was administered for approximately 1 year, and complete response was achieved. However, a pancreatic tumor measuring 2×3 cm was detected 44 months after the operation. Distal pancreatectomy was performed and pathological examination that included immunohistochemical staining (CK7 and CK20) of the tumor indicated the primary pancreatic cancer. The patient was treated with chemoradiotherapy after the operation and survived for 5 years and 9 months after the initial operation.

[A case of gastric cancer accompanied by disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow successfully controlled by S-1 and cisplatin combination therapy].

We report a case of gastric cancer accompanied by disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow treated with S-1 and cisplatin( CDDP) combination chemotherapy. The patient was a 68-year-old woman who was detected as having disseminated intravascular coagulation( DIC) during an examination for gastric cancer and she was diagnosed as having disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow by lumbar puncture. She was immediately treated with S-1 and CDDP combination chemotherapy( S-1, 80 mg/body orally administered[ po] on days 1-21 and CDDP, 60 mg/body intravenously [iv] administered on day 8) and her DIC improved on the fourth day. Subsequently, the patient was treated with 3 courses of combination chemotherapy and she survived for 184 days from the initiation of the treatment. Although disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow is associated with a poor prognosis, we believe that the duration of survival of our patient was extended due to initiation of chemotherapy at an early stage.

[Examination of the effect of anesthesia on radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma-a patient survey on anesthesia for radiofrequency ablation].

PURPOSE: Radiofrequency ablation(RFA) is minimally invasive and is easy to perform. In the RFA procedure, puncture and passing of the electrical current are painful. Therefore, some facilities use general anesthesia for RFA. In order to evaluate the use of general anesthesia for RFA of hepatocellular carcinoma, a questionnaire survey was conducted. METHODS: With the cooperation of Tokyo liver-tomo-no-kai(Tokyo Liver Association), a questionnaire survey was conducted for patients who underwent RFA. In the survey, data on the following were obtained "type of anesthesia used", "number of RFA treatment points", "duration of treatment", "length of impact of pain", and "if you need to receive RFA treatment again, how would you feel about this." RESULTS: The ratio of local anesthesia (LA) to general anesthesia (GA) was 113:24. The ratios of the numbers of patients who felt pain to those who felt no pain were 64:49 (LA) and 0:24 (GA). The ratios of the patients who wished to not receive RFA again to the patients who were comfortable with receiving RFA were 65:45 (LA) and 4:20 (GA). CONCLUSION: GA achieves better pain control compared to LA, and the patients who receive GA have greater tolerance of RFA.

[Four cases of airway obstruction successfully treated by airway stenting].

We report 4 cases of malignant airway obstruction treated by airway stenting. Three cases were caused by esophageal cancer and the fourth case by malignant lymphoma. Two patients with esophageal cancer received chemoradiotherapy after airway stenting and survived for 24 months and 54 months, respectively (without cancer recurrence). One patient with esophageal cancer died of airway bleeding 2 months after stent placement. The malignant lymphoma patient was treated by cyclophosphamide+doxorubicin+vincristine+prednisolone(CHOP) with rituximab. Airway obstruction due to malignancy is an urgent oncological situation that should be treated immediately. Airway stenting shows a marked and immediate improvement in dyspnea. Consequently, the induction of chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy is possible. Two patients were successfully treated by chemoradiotherapy, of which 1 survived for more than 4 years without any evidence of cancer recurrence. Additional chemoradiotherapy for patients who receive esophageal stenting is controversial because of the high frequency of adverse events. However, chemoradiotherapy after airway stenting may demonstrate acceptable anti-cancer effects with fewer adverse events. Airway stenting was an effective treatment for airway obstruction, and additional treatment is essential for longer survival.

[A case of lung metastasis from esophageal cancer resistant to fluorouracil and cisplatin combination therapy but responsive to radiation therapy].

At present, fluorouracil and cisplatin combination therapy is the standard chemotherapy against esophageal cancer, but the choice of second-line chemotherapy is controversial. Furthermore, the effect of radiation therapy against lung metastasis from esophageal cancer is unclear. We report a case of lung metastasis from esophageal cancer resistant to fluorouracil and cisplatin combination therapy but responsive to radiation therapy. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who had undergone an operation for esophageal cancer at another hospital. A single right lung metastasis appeared 1 year after the operation. Combined fluorouracil and cisplatin therapy was administrated for 5 courses, but the lung metastasis increased in size. Afterwards, she was admitted to our hospital. We treated her with 14 courses of S-1 and docetaxel combination therapy administered over 13 months. The lung metastasis was decreased for a period. Furthermore, radiofrequency ablation under computed tomography was performed against the lung metastasis re-growth at another hospital. Although the lung metastasis increased in size, no further metastases were detected during the clinical course. The patient was treated with radiotherapy for the lung metastasis re-growth. The tumor had almost disappeared by 10 months after the completion of radiotherapy. Currently, she is receiving palliative care as an outpatient and the lung metastasis has not been evident for 2 years since the completion of radiotherapy.

[Hepatic arterial infusion with subsequent hepatectomy for a sigmoid colon cancer patient with hepatic metastases-a case report].

It is common to use systemic chemotherapy, instead of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or other cytotoxic agents, for unresectable hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer patients. Nevertheless, systemic administration of anticancer agents such as FOLFOX or FOLFIRI is sometimes difficult to continue for infirm patients. A 71-year-old female who had undergone sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer received HAI for 12 months because of big bilobar hepatic metastases and poor performance status. Thereafter, a two-stage hepatectomy(first, left lobe: second, S7+8 and S5) was performed successfully. She has been alive for 2.5 years after the first operation but with two small lung metastases in the left lobe. Because of bad performance status and her weak social and familial conditions, treatment with standard systemic chemotherapy could not be continued. In such cases, HAI should be performed if the metastases are limited to the liver.

[A case of the long-term survivor of rectal cancer who suffered from successive metastases to ovarium, peritoneum, liver, bone and para-aortic lymphonode].

A 37-year-old female, who had undergone a low anterior resection for lower rectal cancer, had been received chemotherapy (FOLFOX4, FOLFIRI) for 2 years because of right ovarian metastasis occurred and removed 9 months after the first operation. One month after 2 years of continued chemotherapy, progressive metastases happened to occur successively (rt lunge, left ovarium, liver, para-aortic lymphonode, Virchow lymphonode and bone). Right upper lobe pnemonectomy was performed first, then, peritonectomy, total hysterectomy with left oophorectomy and a partial resection of the small bowel were done. IRIS, as postoperative chemotherapy, performed with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of CPT-11 and 5- FU resulted in getting a minimal response for about 10 months. Because of the hepatic arterial thrombosis at 10 months after the previous operation, we could not continue HAI with systemic chemotherapy, that was resulted in the progresion of mutiple metastases, and that the patient died 62 months after the first surgery. Immunohistochemical analyses with MIB-1 stainning of four surgical specimens revealed 80% positive cells in the cancerous tissues.

[A case of transverse colon cancer without a recurrence lesion after five years from resection of hepatic metastasis].

The treatment of hepatic metastasis of colon cancer was in progress by new biochemical agents. Generally, a resection was the first alternative treatment against hepatic metastasis of colon cancer, but new antitumor agents were more effective than conventional antitumor agents. Disappearance of metastasis for colon cancer treated with only antitumor agents was commenced to report. We were experienced a case of transverse colon cancer without a recurrence lesion after five years from the resection of hepatic metastasis. A case was a 77-year-old man. He was operated against transverse colon cancer in February 2003. Pathological stage was ss, n0, Stage II. In April 2004, serum CEA was increased. CT examination was not detected a hepatic metastasis but ultrasound examination and MRI detected the metastasis at S7 lesion in the liver. In July 2004, he was admitted to S-1 and PSK until October 2004. In December 2004, the lesion of hepatic metastasis was reduced and serum CEA was decreased. But in September 2005, the metastatic lesion was re-grown. A resection for hepatic metastasis was executed in November 2005. After the resection for hepatic metastasis, he was admitted to UFT/ UZEL from January 2006 to October 2006. Present time( June 2011), the lesion of recurrence was not detected by several examinations (CT, MRI, Ultrasound etc).

[A case of colon cancer with long-term survival treated by resection of recurrence on the rectum and chemotherapy for lung metastasis].

A 69-year-old male was operated on sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer (SS, N2, H0, P0, M0, stage IIIb) 7 years ago. Two years later, he was diagnosed for rectal cancer and bilateral lung metastases by TBLB. We performed Mile's operation, and the rectal focus was pathologically diagnosed with a recurrence of sigmoid colon cancer. After surgery, chemotherapy with FOLFOX was started for bilateral lung metastases, resulting in CR during the 22 months. But bilateral lung metastases were exacerbated, and then we administered several other chemotherapies. Five years have passed since chemotherapy started, although the focuses tended to progress. Right now, he has been a chemotherapy outpatient for last 5 years.

[A case of encephalopathy that was suspected to be caused by chemotherapy for colon cancer].

We report a case of encephalopathy that was suspected to be caused by chemotherapy for liver metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer. A 72-year-old male was suspected that he had drug-induced eukoencephalopathy because he was presented with physical disorders during the FOLFOX/bevacizumab therapy. Although a brain MRI revealed Alzheimer disease, leukoencephalopathy was not excluded from the diagnoses due to a fact that his findings could not be compared before and after the chemotherapy. If leukoencephalopathy was suspected, chemotherapy should have been discontinued as soon as possible. Although a partial response was achieved, chemotherapy had to be discontinued in this case. The cases whose physical and neurological disorders were at risk due to a past history need an examination for nervous system in order to make a comparison with the findings before and after chemotherapy.

[Loco-regional chemotherapy at the outpatient clinic for gastric cancer patients with home enteral nutrition].

In over the 10 years from 2000-2010, 21 gastric cancer patients received loco-regional chemotherapy with home enteral nutrition (HEN) at an outpatient clinic because of insufficient oral intake. These loco-regional chemotherapy regimens consisted of 5 intra-aortic chemotherapies, 4 hepato-arterial infusions and 12 intra-peritoneal chemotherapies. Five out of 8 cases that had measurable lesions showed PR, and 3 cases revealed PD. The patients received HEN with peptide central formula, 400-1,200 kcal/day in night time. The average duration of HEN was 12.9 months. The post-operative nutritional management was needed for continuation and securing of outpatient chemotherapy. The author reported an experience of the outpatient loco-regional chemotherapy with HEN for the gastric cancer patients who could not eat a sufficient volume of food.

[A case report of esophageal carcinoma developing esophago-brochial fistula successfully treated by esophageal bypass surgery].

We have experienced a case of esophageal carcinoma developing esophago-bronchial fistula that was successfully treated by esophageal bypass surgery followed by chemo-radiation. A man aged 64 years old with developed esophago- bronchial fistula after initial chemo-radiation was undergone a gastric bypass surgery to separate esophagus and bronchus. Though closure of fistula was just 4 months after definitive chemo-radiation, an oral feeding was possible until the death of the patient. Stent placement for esophageal carcinoma was less invasive treatment though chemo-radiation after a stent placement was accompanied by high incidence of stent associated morbidity. Since esophageal bypass surgery can definitely separate airway from esophagus, chemo-radiation with oral feeding can be easily carried out. Esophageal bypass surgery was a treatment recommendation for the patient with esophageal carcinoma invading trachea or bronchus.