A high preoperative Glasgow prognostic score predicts a high likelihood of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in patients with colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although the use of laparoscopic resection for colon cancer (LRC) has been increasing, conversion to open surgery sometimes becomes necessary because of intraoperative difficulties. Although the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) is well known to be a predictor of outcome in patients with various cancers, it is unclear whether the preoperative GPS can predict the need for conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors predictive of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in patients with colon cancer. METHODS: Data from 308 consecutive patients who underwent LRC between January 2006 and March 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. Preoperative clinical factors in patients who had undergone LRC were compared between conversion and non-conversion groups, and multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify preoperative factors that might predict conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. RESULTS: Among 308 patients who had undergone LRC, conversion to open surgery was necessary in 28 (9.1%). Sixteen of the latter patients (6.8%) had GPS 0 (among a total of 234) and 6 (11.5%) had GPS 1 (among a total of 52). The proportion of patients with GPS 2 who required conversion was 27.2% (6/22), which was significantly higher than for those with GPS 0 or 1. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that GPS 2 (odds ratio [OR] 3.352; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.049-10.71; p = 0.041) and preoperative ileus (OR 7.405; 95% CI 2.386-22.98; p = 0.001) were independent factors predictive of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A high preoperative GPS is an independent factor predictive of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery in patients with colon cancer.

Clinical Significance of the C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio for Survival After Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to estimate the clinical significance of the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) for prediction of postoperative survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). BACKGROUND: The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), calculated from the serum levels of CRP and albumin, is well known to be a valuable inflammation-based prognostic system for several types of cancer. A recent study has demonstrated that the CAR is also useful for prediction of treatment outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Uni- and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to detect the clinical characteristics that were most closely associated with overall survival (OS). All recommended cutoff values were defined using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare OS curves between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 627 patients who had undergone elective CRC surgery were enrolled. Multivariate analysis using the results of univariate analyses demonstrated that CAR (>0.038/≤0.038) was associated with OS (hazard ratio 2.596; 95% confidence interval 1.603-4.204; P < 0.001) along with pathological differentiation (others/well or moderately), carcinoembryonic antigen level (>8.7/≤8.7, ng/ml), stage (III, IV/0, I, II), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (>2.9/≤2.9), and GPS (2/0, 1). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test demonstrated a significant difference in OS curves between patients with low CAR (≤0.038) and those with high CAR (>0.038; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CAR is as useful for predicting the postoperative survival of patients with CRC as previously reported inflammation-based prognostic systems, such as GPS and NLR.

Patient with adult-onset type II citrullinemia beginning 2 years after operation for duodenal malignant somatostatinoma: Indication for liver transplantation.

We report a 51-year-old female patient with adult-onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2) who had a history of pancreatoduodenectomy for duodenal somatostatinoma with metastases to regional lymph nodes at age 49 years, paying special attention to indications for liver transplantation. At age 50 years, she developed hepatic encephalopathy with elevation of plasma ammonia and citrulline levels. A diagnosis of CTLN2 was made by DNA analysis of the SLC25A13 gene and treatment with conservative therapies was begun, including a low-carbohydrate diet and supplementation with arginine and sodium pyruvate. However, despite these treatments, frequent attacks of encephalopathy occurred with markedly elevated plasma ammonia levels. While we were apprehensive regarding the risk of recurrence of somatostatinoma due to immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation, the patient was in a critical condition with CTLN2 and it was decided to perform living-donor liver transplantation using a graft obtained from her son. Her postoperative clinical course was uneventful and she has had an active life without recurrence of somatostatinoma for 2 years. This is the first case of CTLN2 with somatostatinoma. As the condition of CTLN2 patients with rapidly progressive courses is often intractable by conservative therapies alone, liver transplantation should be considered even after surgery for malignant tumors in cases with neither metastasis nor recurrence.

Single-stage intraoperative transhepatic biliary stenting in patients with unresectable hepatobiliary pancreatic tumors.

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to evaluate the safety and utility of intraoperative transhepatic biliary stenting (ITBS) in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (UMBO) diagnosed intraoperatively. METHODS: In this study, 50 patients who underwent ITBS for UMBO between April 2001 and May 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. For 26 patients who underwent preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), the expandable metallic stent (EMS) was inserted intraoperatively by the PTBD route in a single stage. For 24 patients, the intrahepatic bile ducts were intentionally dilated by injection of saline via the endoscopic nasobiliary drainage or the percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage route, and the puncture was performed under intraoperative ultrasound guidance followed by guidewire and catheter insertion. Thereafter, the EMS was placed in the same manner. The initial postoperative complications and long-term results of ITBS were evaluated. RESULTS: In all cases, ITBS was technically successful. Stenting alone was performed in 22 patients and stenting combined with other procedures in 28 patients. Hospital mortality occurred for three patients (6 %), and complication-related mortality occurred in two cases (4 %). There were nine cases (18 %) of postoperative complications. The median survival time was 179 days, and the EMS patency time was 137 days. During the follow-up period, EMS occlusion occurred in 23 cases (46 %). Best supportive care was a significant independent risk factor for early mortality within 100 days after ITBS (p = 0.020, odds ratio, 9.398). CONCLUSIONS: Single-stage ITBS is feasible for palliation of UMBO and seems to have a low complication rate.

Usefulness of an inflammation-based prognostic score (mGPS) for predicting survival in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: An inflammation-based prognostic score, the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), has been established as a useful tool for predicting postoperative outcome in patients with cancer. However, no studies have investigated the usefulness of the mGPS for prognostication in patients undergoing palliative surgery for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (UMBO). The present study was conducted to investigate whether the mGPS is useful for predicting the postoperative survival of patients undergoing intraoperative placement of an expandable metal stent for UMBO, or not. METHODS: The mGPS was calculated as follows: patients with both an elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (>1.0 mg/dL) and hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) were allocated a score of 2. Patients with only an elevated CRP level were allocated a score of 1, and patients without an elevated CRP level (≤1.0 mg/dL) were allocated a score of 0. Postoperative survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test. The significance of risk factors for postoperative survival was evaluated with the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with mGPS 0 (n = 36) and 1 (n = 7) had better postoperative survival (p = 0.017) than patients with mGPS 2 (n = 17). The 6-month and 1-year survival rates of patients with mGPS 0 and 1 were 58.1 and 27.3 %, and those for patients with mGPS 2 were 25.0 and 6.2 %, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that mGPS (0, 1/2) was a significant risk factor for postoperative survival (hazard ratio 3.271; 95 % CI 1.109-9.649; p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: The mGPS is not only one of the most significant predictors of postoperative survival for UMBO patients receiving intraoperative biliary stenting but also a useful indicator capable of dividing such patients into two independent groups before surgery.

Inflammation-based prognostic system predicts postoperative survival of colorectal cancer patients with a normal preoperative serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen.

BACKGROUND: Although carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a valuable indicator for estimating the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), some patients with advanced CRC show no elevation of the CEA level. On the other hand, inflammation-based prognosis, assessed by the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), has been established as one of the important prognostic factors of survival after surgery for several types of cancer. We estimated the postoperative survival of CRC patients with a normal preoperative serum level of CEA on the basis of the GPS. METHODS: Among 491 patients who had undergone elective CRC surgery, 271 with a normal preoperative serum CEA level (≤5.0 ng/ml) were enrolled. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship to overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare the survival curves between patients with GPS 0 (group A), and 1 or 2 (group B). RESULTS: Univariate analyses using clinical characteristics revealed that lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, platelet count, the serum levels of CEA and C-reactive protein, tumor, node, metastasis staging system (stage 0, I, II/III, IV), and the GPS (0/1, 2) were associated with overall survival. Among these characteristics, multivariate analysis demonstrated that the GPS and platelet count were associated with overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test demonstrated a significant difference in overall survival between groups A and B (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Even if CRC patients have a normal preoperative serum level of CEA before surgery, the GPS is able to predict their postoperative survival.

Preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with survival after surgery for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of preoperative thrombocytosis on survival after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Four hundred fifty-three patients who had undergone CRC surgery were retrospectively identified from institutional database. On the basis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, they were classified into two groups: group A, with a preoperative platelet count of ≤300 (×10(9) /L), and Group B, with a preoperative platelet count of >300 (×10(9) /L). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship to overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare the survival curves between groups A and B. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in overall survival between the two groups (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis of selected preoperative clinicolaboratory characteristics showed that overall survival was associated with the platelet count (Group A/B) (odds ratio, 1.642; 95% CI, 1.025-2.629; P = 0.039) as well as the number of tumors (1/≥2), and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). CONCLUSION: Preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with survival after surgery in CRC patients, and is able to divide such patients into two independent groups before surgery.

Fluorescence imaging visualizes three sets of regional lymph nodes in patients with lower rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To demonstrate the usefulness of a fluorescence imager (photodynamic eye; PDE) for observation of lymph flow in lower rectal cancer (LRC). METHODOLOGY: Between October 2006 and January 2010, PDE observations were performed in 14 patients with LRC. After induction of general anesthesia, a total of 2mL of indocyanine green (ICG) (2.5mg/mL) was injected into the submucosal layer on the dentate line or the anal margin of the LRC. RESULTS: Preoperative PDE observation was able to demonstrate several lymph flows running to the bilateral inguinal areas from the perianal area immediately after ICG injection in 13 of the patients (92.9%). Although these flows were pooled in the bilateral inguinal areas, there was no pooling of such lymph flows in the perianal area. Intraoperative PDE observation was able to demonstrate not only mesenteric lymph nodes in all patients but also bilateral lateral lymph nodes in 13 patients (92.9%). Although 6 patients had undergone sphincter-preserving surgery (SPS), no local recurrence was observed in such patients during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: PDE is able to visualize three sets of regional lymph nodes in patients with LRC, suggesting that it would be useful for determining the effectiveness of SPS for such patients.

A novel approach for sentinel lymph node identification using fluorescence imaging and image overlay navigation surgery in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: We reported a novel technique of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification using fluorescence imaging of indocyanine green injection. Furthermore, to obtain safe and accurate identification of SLN during surgery, we introduce the image overlay navigation surgery and evaluate its efficacy. METHODS: This study enrolled 50 patients with a tumors <2 cm in diameter. Initially, we obtained three-dimensional (3-D) imaging from multidetector-row computed tomography (MD-CT) by volume rendering. It was projected on the patient's operative field with the clear visualization of lymph node (LN) through projector. Then, the dye of indocyanine green (ICG) was injected subdermally in the areola. Subcutaneous lymphatic channels draining from the areola to the axilla were visible by fluorescence imaging immediately. Lymphatic flow was reached after LN revealed on 3-D imaging. After incising the axillary skin on the point of LN mapping, SLN was then dissected under the guidance of fluorescence imaging with adequate adjustment of sensitivity and 3-D imaging. RESULTS: Lymphatic channels and SLN were successfully identified by Photodynamic eye (PDE) in all patients. And the sites of skin incision also were identical with the LN being demonstrated by 3-D imaging in all patients. The mean number of SLN was 3.7. The image overlay navigation surgery was visually easy to identify the location of SLN from the axillary skin. There were no intra- or postoperative complications associated with SLN identification. CONCLUSIONS: This combined navigations of fluorescence and 3-D imaging revealed more easy and effective to detect SLN intraoperatively than fluorescence imaging alone.

Erythropoietin strongly protects the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury in a pig model.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated, for the first time, the protective effect of erythropoietin (EPO) against liver ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury in a pig model. METHODOLOGY: Partial hepatic ischemia was maintained for 60 min in a pig. Pigs were allocated to 4 groups (n=5 each): (1) Control group with I-R injury (Vehicle); (2) EPO group with I-R injury, given three injections of EPO at 5000 IU/kg (EPO5000x3); (3) EPO group with I-R injury, given a single injection of EPO at 5000 IU/kg (EPO5000x1); and (4) EPO group with I-R injury, given three injections of EPO at 500 IU/kg (EPO500x3). Liver function tests (AST, ALT, LDH), and TUNEL assay were performed. RESULTS: Three hours after I-R injury, AST levels in the Vehicle, EPO5000x3, EPO5000x1, and EPO500 x3 groups were 1494.2 +/- 711.3 U/L, 307.3 +/- 127.6 UL, 296.5 +/- 9.2 U/L, and 474.6 +/- 242.0 UL, respectively (one-factor ANOVA, p = 0.020). At 3h the ALT and LDH levels in the Vehicle group were significantly higher than those in the EPO5000x3 and EPO5000x1 groups. Apoptotic indices in the Vehicle, EPO500x3, EPO5000x1, and EPO500x3 groups 3 h after I-R injury were 2.40 +/- 0.93, 1.36 +/- 0.12, 1.11 +/- 0.17, and 1.51 +/- 0.33, respectively. The apoptotic indices of the EPO5000x1 and EPO500x3 groups were significantly lower than that of the Vehicle group. CONCLUSIONS: EPO treatment significantly ameliorated liver I-R injury in this pig model. The protective effect was exerted by the inhibition of apoptosis. These results will open the door for the clinical application of EPO in liver surgery.

Formation of gastrocolic fistula during treatment for peptic ulcer.

We report a case of gastrocolic fistula (GCF) caused by a gastric ulcer and rare endoscopic findings indicating the early stages of GCF formation. The patient was a 58-year-old man who was hospitalized with upper abdominal pain. He was diagnosed as having a gastric ulcer, and was prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), but did not comply with the medication. One year later, he was again referred with recurrent abdominal pain. Endoscopic examination showed what appeared to be a portion of exposed colonic wall located in the center of an active gastric ulcer, and repeated endoscopy after PPI treatment for 8 days demonstrated a typical GCF. A preoperative diagnosis of GCF was made, and the patient underwent wide gastrectomy with partial resection of the transverse colon.

Gastrografin reduces the need for additional surgery in postoperative small bowel obstruction patients without long tube insertion: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a well-known major postoperative complication requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment to avoid additional invasive surgical procedures. Water-soluble contrast medium is often given not only for diagnosis but also for treatment. Although numerous studies have investigated the significance of this treatment, no consensus has yet been established regarding its indications and efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether Gastrografin can reduce the need for additional surgery in patients with postoperative SBO (PSBO). METHODS: We carried out a comprehensive electronic search of the literature (Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed and the Web of Science) up to February 2017 to identify studies that had shown efficacy of Gastrografin in reducing the need for surgery in patients with PSBO. To integrate the individual effects of Gastrografin, a meta-analysis was done using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity was analyzed using I 2 statistics. RESULTS: Twelve studies involving a total of 1153 patients diagnosed as having PSBO were included in this meta-analysis. Not all patients received long-tube insertion. Among 580 patients who received Gastrografin, 100 (17.2%) underwent surgery, whereas among 573 patients who did not receive Gastrografin, 143 (25.0%) underwent surgery. Giving Gastrografin significantly reduced the need for surgery (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.95; P = 0.02; I 2 = 52%) in comparison with patients who did not receive Gastrografin. CONCLUSION: Results of this meta-analysis show that giving Gastrografin reduces the need for surgery in PSBO patients without long-tube insertion.

Protective effect of Sivelestat in a porcine hepatectomy model prepared using an intermittent Pringle method.

The effect of Sivelestat, a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury was examined in a pig hepatectomy model. An internal jugular vein-splenic vein bypass was prepared in male pigs and about 40% hepatic resection (left lobe) was performed under 15-min liver ischemia and 5-min intermittent reperfusion. Six animals received Sivelestat (10 mg/kg/h) intravenously and six control animals received physiological saline (10 mg/kg/h) from commencement of laparotomy. Hemodynamics, blood chemistry, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, nitrite/nitrate (NOS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were compared between the groups. The effects of Sivelestat on NOS generation and expression of iNOS mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA were also assessed in J774 cells. Expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in hepatic tissues was examined using RT-PCR. The blood pressure of control animals was significantly lower immediately and 3 h after ischemia-reperfusion, compared with that at commencement of laparotomy, whereas there was no decrease of blood pressure in animals administered Sivelestat. Serum AST (P=0.0045), NOS (P=0.0098), and TNF-alpha (P=0.041) levels were significantly lower 3 h after hepatectomy in animals receiving Sivelestat. Sivelestat inhibited NOS production in J774 cells, but did not inhibit expression of iNOS mRNA or TNF-alpha mRNA. In hepatic tissues, Sivelestat showed a greater tendency to inhibit expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and fewer TUNEL-positive cells were present in the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium after Sivelestat treatment, although these differences were not statistically significant. We conclude that Sivelestat inhibits production of TNF-alpha and NO by inhibiting neutrophil elastase, and thus reduces hepatic injury and stabilizes hemodynamics after ischemia-reperfusion.

Clinical significance of the globulin-to-albumin ratio for prediction of postoperative survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

AIM: A previous study has revealed that the albumin/globulin ratio (GAR) before treatment is a predictor of cancer-specific survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical significance of GAR for prediction of postoperative survival in patients with CRC. METHODS: Nine hundred and forty-one patients who had undergone elective CRC surgery were enrolled. Uni- and multivariate analysis models were performed to detect the clinical characteristics that were most closely associated with overall survival (OS). All recommended cutoff values were defined using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the OS curves between the high GAR (GAR > 0.83) and low GAR (GAR ≤ 0.83) groups. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis using eight clinical characteristics selected by univariate analyses showed that the GAR was associated with OS (>0.83/≤0.83) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.979; 95% CI, 1.321-2.966; P = 0.001) along with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; >8.7/≤8.7, ng/mL; HR, 2.319; 95% CI, 1.569-3.428; P < 0.001), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9; >18.5/≤18.5, U/mL; HR, 1.727; 95% CI, 1.178-2.532; P = 0.005), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; >2.9/≤2.9; HR, 2.132; 95% CI, 1.454-3.126; P < 0.001), and the area under the ROC (AUROC) curve revealed that the GAR had the largest AUROC among these four clinical characteristics (GAR 0.711 > CEA 0.698 > CA19-9 0.676 > NLR 0.635). A significant difference in OS was observed between patients with low GAR and those with high GAR (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Globulin-to-albumin ratio is a useful predictor of postoperative survival in patients with CRC.

Relationship Between Preoperative Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and Survival After Surgery in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and postoperative survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relationships between clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) of patients with CRC were investigated using multivariate analysis. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed to decide the ideal cut-off values of clinical characteristics to divide patients into two groups, which were then compared using a survival curve analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and eleven patients with CRC undergoing surgery were enrolled. Multivariate analysis showed that ESR >40 mm/h (hazard ratio(HR)=2.601, 95% confidence interval(CI)=1.187-5.697; p=0.017) was associated with poorer OS, along with non-tubular pathology (p=0.034). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with ESR >40 mm/h had poorer postoperative survival than those without ESR elevation (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative elevation of ESR (>40 mm/h) can predict poorer postoperative survival in patients with CRC.

Staging the tumor and staging the host: A two centre, two country comparison of systemic inflammatory responses of patients undergoing resection of primary operable colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: How systemic inflammation-based prognostic scores such as the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) differ across populations of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. The present study examined the mGPS and NLR in patients from United Kingdom (UK) and Japan. METHODS: Patients undergoing resection of TNM I-III CRC in two centres in the UK and Japan were included. Differences in clinicopathological characteristics and mGPS (0-CRP≤10 mg/L, 1-CRP>10 mg/L, 2-CRP>10 mg/L, albumin<35 g/L) and NLR (≤5/>5) were examined. RESULTS: Patients from UK (n = 581) were more likely to be female, high ASA and BMI, present as an emergency (all P < 0.01) and have higher T stage compared to those from Japan (n = 559). After controlling for differences in tumor and host characteristics, patients from Japan were less likely to be systemically inflamed (OR: mGPS: 0.37, 95%CI 0.27-0.50, P < 0.001; NLR: 0.53, 95%CI 0.35-0.79, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Systemic inflammatory responses differ between populations with colorectal cancer. Given their prognostic value, reporting of systemic inflammation-based scores should be incorporated into future studies reporting patient outcomes.

Ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma arising from pancreas: a case report and review of the literature.

A 56-year-old man was found to have a pancreatic tail tumor. His blood chemistry showed no infection with hepatitis B or C virus and no elevations of tumor markers or pancreatic hormones. Abdominal ultrasound showed an encapsulated, rather heterogeneous, hypoechoic tumor, 6.5 cm in maximum diameter, with a beak sign. Helical dynamic CT revealed an irregularly enhanced tumor with pooling of contrast medium in the delayed phase. Abdominal angiography showed a hypervascular tumor. With a tentative diagnosis of non-functional islet-cell tumor, the patient underwent resection of the pancreatic body and tail with splenectomy. The contour of the liver and its surface were normal. In microscopic examination, tumor cells arranged in a trabecular pattern with focal bile pigment resembling hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immunohistochemically, these tumor cells were positivefor HEPPAR-1, CAM5.2, cytokeratin 18 and COX-2, but negative for MUC-1, and cytokeratins 7, 20 and 8. These results supported a diagnosis of HCC without any adenocarcinoma component. The patient is currently doing well without any signs of recurrence in either the remaining pancreas or liver three years after surgery. We report the rare case with ectopic HCC in the pancreas with a review of the literature.

Is a patient with metastatic pancreatic tumor from rectal cancer a candidate for resection?

A 54-year-old man who had undergone Miles' operation for rectal cancer in 1999 was found to have four brain metastases, which were treated by partial resection and gamma knife therapy in February 2003. During follow-up, ultrasound (US) showed a hypoechoic lesion in the head of the pancreas, and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated low-density tumors in the pancreatic head and left adrenal gland. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed severe stenosis of the main pancreatic duct, and endoscopic ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic lesion in the pancreas head. This patient was also found to have a coin lesion in the middle of the right lung by chest CT. All lesions were considered resectable. The patient underwent pancreato-duodenectomy and left adrenectomy. Histologically, these tumors were diagnosed as metastases from the rectal cancer. Although the patient's postoperative course was uneventful, CT showed multiple metastases in the both lungs. These were not resectable, and the patient died eight months after surgery. In summary, patients with metastases from rectal cancer to multiple organs, including the pancreas, may not be candidates for pancreatic resection.

Perioperative Administration of Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine Daikenchuto Relieves Postoperative Ileus in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

AIM: Although it has been widely demonstrated that administration of Daikenchuto (DKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, improves gastrointestinal (GI) motility in patients undergoing abdominal surgery, few studies have investigated the efficacy of perioperative DKT administration for relief of postoperative ileus (PI) in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether perioperative administration of DKT relieves PI in patients with GI cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a comprehensive electronic search of the literature (Cochrane Library, PubMed, the Web of Science and ICHUSHI) up to December 2016 to identify studies that had shown the efficacy of perioperative DKT administration for relief of PI in patients with GI cancer. To integrate the individual effect of DKT, a meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models to calculate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity was analyzed using I2 statistics. RESULTS: Seven studies involving a total of 1,134 patients who had undergone GI cancer surgery were included in this meta-analysis. Among 588 patients who received DKT perioperatively, 67 (11.4%) had PI, whereas among 546 patients who did not receive DKT perioperatively, 87 (15.9%) had PI. Perioperative administration of DKT significantly reduced the occurrence of PI (RR=0.58, 95% CI=0.35-0.97, p=0.04, I2=48%) in comparison to patients who did not receive DKT or received placebo. CONCLUSION: The result of this meta-analysis suggests that perioperative administration of DKT relieves PI in patients undergoing surgery for GI cancer.

Usefulness of a laparoscopic approach for treatment of small-bowel obstruction due to intersigmoid hernia: a case report.

It is well known that intersigmoid hernia (ISH) is a rare condition. Here we describe our experience of laparoscopic surgery for small-bowel obstruction (SBO) due to ISH after sufficient decompression involving long-tube insertion.A 45-year-old woman with no history of abdominal surgery visited our hospital with epigastric pain. She was diagnosed as having SBO and underwent long-tube insertion as conservative therapy. However, her symptoms did not improve. Gastrografin contrast enema via the long-tube demonstrated a beak sign in the lower left abdomen and CT showed incarcerated small bowel was successively covered by sigmoid mesocolon, suggesting that the SBO was due to ISH, and she underwent laparoscopic surgery after sufficient decompression of the dilated small bowel.Intraoperative examination demonstrated incarceration of a loop of the small bowel in the intersigmoid fossa without strangulation. Because the incarcerated portion of the small bowel was not necrotized, herniation repair was performed by removing the incarcerated small bowel from the intersigmoid fossa without closure of the hernia orifice.The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is now free of symptoms and recurrence 12 months after surgery. Laparoscopic surgery after sufficient decompression is a useful treatment for SBO due to ISH.