Feasibility and validation of the targeted axillary dissection technique in the axillary staging of breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy: Definitive results.

AIM: to study the feasibility and value of "Targeted Axillary Dissection" (TAD) in cN1 breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), in order to avoid unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Design: Prospective observational study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients with histologically confirmed cN1 staging BC and treated with NACT between January 2016 and August 2019 who accomplished clinical response. METHOD: Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) positive axillary nodes were marked with a metallic clip prior to neoadjuvant treatment. All patients were summited to TAD and ALND. Analysis of data: We performed [1]: a feasibility analysis of clinical, radiological and pathological variables, as well as difficulties and complications of the TAD [2]; a diagnostic test study of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), clipped lymph node biopsy (BCLIP) and their combination (TAD), using ALND as the Gold Standard. RESULTS: 60 patients were included. 43 patients (71.7%) had a complete clinical lymph node response to NACT. Neither limitations nor complications in clip placement were found. Intraoperative location of the clipped node was problematic in 7 cases (11.7%). The pathological complete response rate (pCR) was 30.5% (18 patients) and ypN0 staging rate was 38.3% (23 patients). Sensitivity values of each technique were: SLNB: 80.9% (95%CI: 61.8-100); BCLIP: 80.8% (95%CI: 63.7-97.8); TAD: 92.6% (95%CI: 80.9-100) with negative predictive values of: SLNB: 84.6% (95%CI: 68.8-100); BCLIP: 81.0% (95%CI: 63.7-97.8); TAD: 91.3% (95%CI: 77.6-100). CONCLUSION: TAD is feasible and valid to rule out axillary metastatic involvement in cN1 breast cancer patients who respond to NACT.

Development of a predictive score of axillary lymph node dissection based on targeted axillary dissection in patients with breast cancer diagnosis, affected lymph nodes, and neoadjuvant treatment.

AIM: To determine predictive factors of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) results in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), and subsequent staging using Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Case-control study between January 2016 and August 2019. Patients with BC, cN1 staging, marked with a metallic clip prior to NACT, and subsequently staged with TAD and ALND were included. They were divided into 2 groups: ALND patients with or without metastatic involvement (group 1 and group 2, respectively). We carried out a univariate analysis comparing clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological variables, and a logistic regression, (dependent variable: positive result of ALND; independent variables: number of suspicious lymph nodes in diagnostic ultrasound, positive hormone receptors, HER2 positive, complete clinical-radiological response to NACT, positive TAD, and biopsy of ≤2 nodes in TAD). A score for prediction of a metastatic ALND was proposed, with an internal validation study. RESULTS: 60 patients were included: Group 1: 33 (55.0%); Group 2: 27 (45.0%). Tumor size (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67; 95%CI 1.02-2.74), number of suspected nodes in ultrasound (OR = 2.20; 95%CI 1.01-4, 77), HER2 positive (OR 0.04; 95%CI 0.003-0.54), clinical-radiological response to NACT (OR = 0.07; 95%CI 0.01-0.75), and positive TAD (OR 15.48; 95%CI 1.68-142.78) were independent predictors of a positive result in ALND. We developed a "positive ALND predictive score", with good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: p = 0.65), and discrimination (AUC = 0.93; 95% CI 0, 87-0.99), with highest Youden index (0.7) at cut-off point of 17% risk of positive ALND (sensitivity = 100%; specificity = 70%). CONCLUSION: Tumor size, number of suspected nodes, positive HER2, response to NACT, and metastatic TAD are independent predictors of ALND. The predictive score for positive ALND would be a good indicator to safely omit ALND.

Early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery: prospective observational study of the utility of inflammatory markers and determination of pathological levels.

Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) are acute-phase reactants that indicate the presence and severity of an infection. The aim of this study was to verify the utility of CRP and PCT as tools for early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. A prospective observational study including 95 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with anastomosis, where patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not AL happened. Different variables were compared using a uni- and multivariate analyses to identify the risk factors for AL. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were added to establish a cut-off point for CRP and PCT. The inflammatory marker levels were analysed in other complications different from AL. AL was detected in 11 patients (14%), 7 required an emergency reoperation. The overall morbidity rate was 42.1% and the mortality was 3.2%. In the univariate study, increased CRP on days 3 and 5, male sex and intraoperative complications were significantly associated with AL. In the multivariate study, CRP on day 5 was the only factor related to AL. AUC at ROC curves showed that CRP results ≥ 15.3 mg/dL on day 3 and 9.1 mg/dL on day 5 were predictors of AL. Normal CRP and PCT values had a high negative predictive value. CRP on postoperative day 5 is a reliable marker for early detection of anastomotic leakage in colorectal surgery. Both CRP and PCT on days 3 and 5 have a high negative predictive value.Trial registration: The study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. Code: NCT04632446.

Ultrasound staging in breast cancer: A decision-making oriented approach to axillary metastatic burden prediction.

PURPOSE: The possibility of avoiding axillary lymphadenectomy (AL) in patients with breast cancer (BC) after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and low metastatic burden (< ó = 2 positive lymph nodes) has put into question the role of axillary ultrasound due to the risk of overtreatment after positive axillary lymph node biopsy with low metastatic burden. Our aim was to identify clinical and ultrasound features to detect low and high metastatic burden. METHODS: A retrospective study of 405 BC patients with primary surgical treatment with axillary ultrasound examination and subsequent AL after positive fine needle aspiration (FNA) or SLNB. The low and high tumor burdens after AL were correlated with clinical and ultrasound variables: lymph node morphology (UN1 to UN5), number of suspicious lymph nodes, and Berg level. RESULTS: Positive FNA, lymph node morphology UN4 (focal thickening with displacement of the fatty hilum) or UN5 (complete replacement of the fatty hilum) and >2 suspicious lymph nodes were significantly associated with "high metastatic burden". Lymph node morphology UN2 and UN3, even after FNA+, lymph node morphology UN4 after FNA-, and suspicious lymph nodes at Berg level I were low metastatic burden criteria. Lymph node morphology UN5, lymph node morphology UN4 after FNA+, two nodes or more with UN4/UN5 morphology, and suspicious lymph nodes at Berg levels II and III with FNA+ were associated with high metastatic burden. CONCLUSIONS: Axillary lymph node ultrasound data for patients with early BC allows predicting the axillary metastatic burden, guiding the optimal clinical management of the axilla.

Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. An uncommon scenario.

We present the case of a patient with an inflammatory bowel disease to whom a pelvic desmoid tumor is discovered during an infertility study.

The problem of axillary staging in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Role of targeted axillary dissection and types of lymph node markers. / El problema de la estadificación axilar en el cáncer de mama tras quimioterapia neoadyuvante. Papel de la disección axilar dirigida y tipos de marcadores ganglionares.

Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) consists of a new axillary staging technique that combines sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and clipped lymph node biopsy (CLNB) in the same surgery, in order to re-stage patients with breast cancer and positive axillary lymph nodes undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAQT). Prior to the NAQT, the affected lymph node is punctured and a solid marker is left inside echo-guided, in order to biopsy it in the subsequent surgery. There are numerous types of markers: metallic (steel, titanium or polyglycolic acid clips), radioiodine or ferromagnetic seeds, which differ in the method of location (wire, gamma-detection or magnetic probe). The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review about the current status of the TAD, as well as to explain the different techniques and types of axillary marking, based on the current available evidence.

Is the number of rib fractures a risk factor for delayed complications? A case-control study.

AIM: To analyse factors that may predict the appearance of rib fracture complications during the first days of evolution and determine whether the number of fractures is related to these complications. METHOD: Retrospective case-control study of patients admitted with a diagnosis of rib fractures between 2010 and 2014. Two groups were established depending on the appearance or not of pleuropulmonary complications in the first 72 h, and the following were compared: age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), number and uni- or bilateral involvement, mechanism of trauma, days of hospital stay, haemoglobin on discharge minus haemoglobin on admission, pleuropulmonary complications during admission (pneumothorax, haemothorax or pulmonary contusion) and placement of pleural drainage. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-one cases of rib fractures were admitted in the period mentioned. There were no differences in the patients' baseline characteristics (age, sex and Charlson Comorbidity Index) between the two groups. Differences were found in the number of fractures (2.98 ± 1.19 in the group without complications vs 3.55 ± 1.33 in the group with complications, p = 0.05) and in the drop in the level of haemoglobin (0.52 ± 0.91 mg/dl vs 1.22 ± 1.29 mg/dl, p = 0.01). The length of hospital stay varied considerably in each group (5.35 ± 4.05 days vs 7.86 ± 6.96 days), but without statistical significance (p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: The number of fractured ribs that best predicted the appearance of complications (delayed pleuropulmonary complications and greater bleeding) was 3 or more.

Validation of the targeted axillary dissection technique in the axillary staging of breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy: Preliminary results.

AIM: To study the feasibility and validity of ultrasound-guided pre-chemotherapy marking of metastatic axillary lymph nodes followed by targeted axillary dissection (TAD), in breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective diagnostic test study conducted between January 2016 and March 2018. Patients with breast cancer and indication for NACT, cN1 or cN2 axillary staging, were included. A clip was placed in the affected lymph node prior to NACT. A sentinel lymph-node biopsy (SLNB) and a clipped lymph-node biopsy (BCLIP) were conducted, followed by axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Location rate (LR) and negative predictive value (NPV) were evaluated, taking SLNB, BCLIP and their combination (TAD) as evaluated tests and metastatic involvement in the ALND specimen as the gold standard. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were included in the study. Sentinel lymph node could only be detected in 19 cases (LR = 80.61%), whereas BCLIP was successful in 22 (LR = 95.65%). The sentinel lymph node coincided with the marked lymph node in 14 patients (60.9%). We found a NPV for the SLNB of 0.85 (95%CI: 0.61-1.0), whereas for TAD it was 1.00 (95%CI: 0.74-1.0). CONCLUSION: TAD is a feasible test for axillary restaging after NACT, with a higher success rate than SLNB.

[Nutritional factors associated with complications in major abdominopelvic surgery]. / Factores nutricionales asociados a complicaciones en cirugía mayor abdominopélvica.

INTRODUCTION: major abdomino-pelvic surgery includes a series of procedures that carry a high percentage of postoperative complications. Our objective is to identify the factors related to post-surgical complications, classified according to Clavien-Dindo classification, with special attention to nutritional factors in patients who undergo major abdomino-pelvic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: retrospective observational study between July 2012 and December 2013. A total of 255 patients undergoing major abdomino-pelvic surgery (colorectal, gastric, obesity or total cystectomy) were selected on a scheduled basis. Four types of variables were collected: sociodemographic, baseline, diagnostic and outcome variables, including perioperative complications that were classified in 5 grades according to the Clavien-Dindo scale, and for the analysis of results, two groups of patients were separated: The group with complications grade 0 and I and group 2 with complications III to V. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22.0. RESULTS: patients had a mean age of 65 years. Twenty patients (7.8%) returned in the first 30 days after surgery and 8 patients (3.1%) died. 152 cases (59.6%) were classified in group 1 and 103 cases (40.4%) in group 2. When analyzing both groups, we found significant differences in the operative variables: type of surgery and laparoscopic or open approach. Regarding the physiological and nutritional parameters, we observed significant differences in the following factors: preoperative BMI, preoperative albumin, preoperative hemoglobin and day of onset of postoperative tolerance. CONCLUSION: in our study we have identified modifiable factors, such as hemoglobin and preoperative albumin, BMI and early onset of oral tolerance, related to postoperative morbidity. Preoperative nutritional status is related to postoperative complications in major abdomino-pelvic surgery.

Introducción: la cirugía mayor abdominopélvica es un proceso que conlleva un alto porcentaje de complicaciones posquirúrgicas. Nuestro objetivo es identificar los factores relacionados con las complicaciones posquirúrgicas, catalogadas según la clasificación de Clavien-Dindo, con atención especial a los factores nutricionales en los pacientes que se intervienen de cirugía mayor abdominopélvica.Material y método: estudio observacional retrospectivo, realizado entre julio de 2012 a diciembre de 2013. Se seleccionaron a 255 pacientes sometidos a cirugía mayor abdominopélvica (cirugía colorrectal, gástrica, obesidad o cistectomía total) de forma programada. Se recogieron cuatro tipos de variables: sociodemográficas, de situación basal, de diagnóstico y de resultado, incluyendo las complicaciones perioperatorias que fueron clasificadas en 5 grados según la escala de Clavien-Dindo y, para el análisis de resultados se separaron dos grupos de pacientes: el grupo con complicaciones de grados 0 y I y el grupo 2 con complicaciones III a V. El análisis estadístico se ha realizado mediante IBM SPSS versión 22.0.Resultados: los pacientes tuvieron una edad media de 65 años. Reingresaron 20 pacientes (7,8%) en los primeros 30 días tras la cirugía y 8 pacientes (3,1%) murieron. Ciento cincuenta y dos casos (59,6%) fueron clasificados en el grupo 1 y 103 casos (40,4%) en el grupo 2. Al analizar ambos grupos, encontramos diferencias significativas en las variables operatorias: tipo de cirugía y abordaje laparoscópico o abierto. Respecto a los parámetros fisiológicos y nutricionales, observamos diferencias significativas en los siguientes factores: IMC prequirúrgico, albúmina prequirúrgica, hemoglobina prequirúrgica y día de inicio de tolerancia postoperatoria.Conclusión: en nuestro estudio hemos identificado factores modificables, como la hemoglobina y albúmina preoperatoria, el IMC y el inicio temprano de tolerancia oral, relacionadas con la morbilidad posoperatoria. El estado nutricional preoperatorio tiene relación con las complicaciones posquirúrgicas en cirugía mayor abdominopélvica.

Genetic Factors Associated with Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: a Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, there seems to be a relationship between different genetic polymorphisms and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We perform a systematic review of the current literature about the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and the presence of PONV. METHODS: Two bibliographic searches were carried out in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) of studies, preferably prospective, about PONV following abdominal surgery. It was completed with a backward citation searching. A total of 73 articles were found of which 6 were selected after their critical lecture using CASPe network criteria. Relative frequency and relative risk were taken in each study according to the polymorphism. RESULTS: Studies about 5-HT3B gene receptor polymorphisms, ABCB1 transporter, and dopamine D2 receptor showed a significant association with the presence of PONV (p = 0.02, 0.01, and 0.034 respectively). In relation to cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6) polymorphisms, two of the three analysed articles showed a significant association with postoperative vomiting (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms could play an important role in PONV. The AAG deletion in both alleles of the 5-HT3B receptor gene, the Taq IA polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor, and the presence of three or more functional alleles of CYP2D6 seem to be related with a higher incidence of PONV, especially in the first 24 h after surgery. The 2677TT and 3435TT genotypes of the ABCB1 transporter could reduce the PONV due to their association with a greater effectiveness of ondansetron. However, new quality studies are needed to consider this relationship.

Population-based screening improves histopathological prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) based on clinical symptoms is usually established in its advanced stages. One strategy for reducing mortality is the early detection and removal of preneoplastic and initial neoplastic lesions, even before the first symptoms appear, by means of population-based screening campaigns. The aim of the present study is to determine whether CRC diagnosed via a screening campaign has more favourable histopathological prognostic factors than when diagnosed in the symptomatic phase. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective study of all the patients undergoing programmed CRC surgery at the JM Morales Meseguer Hospital (Spain) is between 2004 and 2010. The patients were divided into two groups: one diagnosed from clinical symptoms and one through a screening campaign. The following factors were compared: tumour size; degree of tumour invasion of the wall; lymph node, perineural and lymphovascular involvement; tumour stage; and grade of differentiation. RESULTS: Compared to the symptomatic group, the screen-detected patients had smaller-sized tumours (lesions of less than 5 cm in 84 vs 69.55%, p < 0.001), a lower degree of colorectal wall invasion (T0-1 in 36 vs 9.02%, p < 0.001), less lymph node involvement (N0 in 72 vs 58.76%, p > 0.05), less vascular invasion (7.20 vs 15.22%, p = 0.79) and less perineural invasion (6.4 vs 20.70%, p < 0.001). The TNM staging in the screening group was lower than in the symptomatic group (stage 0-1 in 50.40 vs 18.58%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CRC diagnosed through a population-based screening programme presents more favourable histopathological characteristics than that diagnosed from the appearance of symptoms.

Is cholecystectomy the treatment of choice for acute acalculous cholecystitis? A systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is currently no consensus with regard to the use of cholecystectomy or percutaneous cholecystostomy as the therapy of choice for acute acalculous cholecystitis. The goal of this study was to review the scientific evidence on the management of these patients according to clinical and radiographic findings. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature from 2000 to 2016 was performed. The databases of PubMed, Índice Médico Español, Cochrane Library and Embase were searched according to the following inclusion criteria: publication language (English or Spanish), adult patients, acalculous etiology and appropriate study design. RESULTS: A total of 1,013 articles were identified and ten articles were selected for review. These included five observational controlled studies and five case series which described the outcome of patients treated with percutaneous cholecystostomy and emergency cholecystectomy. No prospective or randomized studies were identified using the search criteria. The data from the literature and analysis of results suggested that percutaneous cholecystostomy may be a definitive therapy for acute acalculous cholecystitis with no need for subsequent elective cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous cholecystostomy may be the first treatment option for patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis except in cases with a perforation or gallbladder gangrene. Patients at low surgical risk may benefit from cholecystectomy but both treatment options may be effective. Percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis may be a definitive therapy with no need for a subsequent elective cholecystectomy. However, the overall quality of studies is low and the final recommendations should be considered with caution.

[Clinical and pathological features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in a single institution: A descriptive study and review of the literature]. / Perfil clínico y anatomopatológico de los tumores estromales gastrointestinales de un hospital de área: Estudio descriptivo y revisión de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: This study was aimed to assess the main clinical, pathological and therapeutic characteristics of a cohort of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). METHODS: Observational study including 66 patients diagnosed with GIST admitted to our hospital between 2002 and 2015. Parameters related to medical history, clinical manifestations, medical and surgical treatment, histopathology, and morbi-mortality were studied. A review of the literature was included to correlate with the results. RESULTS: The most frequent location of GIST in our patients was the stomach (65.2%), in which the gastric fondo was the predominant region. The most common clinical manifestation was gastrointestinal hemorrhage (45.5%), followed by incidental finding after imaging or invasive procedures (33.3%). 58 patients underwent surgery (90.6%), 15.5% were urgent. A total of 69% of the GISTs had a size between 2 and 10cm. The one-year mortality was 7.9%, all cases related to local or remote extension, or surgical complications. CONCLUSION: There is a large clinical variability among GIST cases. The first choice of treatment is surgery, which is feasible in most cases and should be as conservative as possible. The prognosis varies depending on the size and proliferation index, thus close follow-up should be performed. No tumor marker is clearly associated with a poor prognosis. New molecular biology studies are needed in order to find therapeutic targets.

Perioperative complications following bariatric surgery according to the clavien-dindo classification. Score validation, literature review and results in a single-centre series.

BACKGROUND: There is no unified system for reporting surgical complications after bariatric surgery. One increasingly used system for notifying postoperative complications is the Clavien-Dindo classification, which focuses on their therapeutic implications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to validate and apply the Clavien-Dindo scale to a series of cases of bariatric surgery and systematically review its use worldwide. SETTING: University hospital. METHODS: A cohort of 321 patients with morbid obesity (Mean BMI: 45.4±5.5 kg/m2) underwent surgery by the same team of surgeons, fundamentally using a laparoscopic gastric bypass. Initially, the Clavien-Dindo scale was translated and validated for its acceptability and reproducibility using the Kappa index. The scale was then applied to the whole of the bariatric series. A systematic review was also conducted in the literature regarding the use of the Clavien-Dindo classification after bariatric surgery. Lastly, a comparison was made with our results. RESULTS: The classification was validated without any difficulty. Most of the postoperative complications are grades I (8.4%) and III (7.8%). We found it used in 15 series (including our own), which accounts for 10,347 patients. The overall results are analogous to our series. CONCLUSIONS: The Clavien-Dindo scale has been validated and translated into Spanish. Application is quick and simple and enables comparisons to be made between centers and series. Our results are similar to those reported by other authors.