Rectal cancer patients with downstaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection do not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Whether adjuvant chemotherapy is beneficial for rectal cancer patients who respond well to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and undergo radical resection is controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on the oncological outcomes of ypT0-2N0 rectal cancer patients after NCRT and radical resection, and identify the prognostic factors. METHODS: The clinical and pathological data of rectal cancer patients with ypT0-2N0 who underwent NCRT and radical resection between January, 2010 and June, 2018 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The oncological outcomes of the chemotherapy (chemo) group and the non-chemotherapy (non-chemo) group were compared. Multivariate analysis, using a Cox proportional hazard model, was performed to identify independent predictors of oncological outcome. RESULTS: Of the 121 rectal cancer patients enrolled, 90 patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with no fewer than 3 cycles (the chemo group), and the other 31 patients with fewer than 3 cycles (the non-chemo group). There was no significant difference in the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) rates between the two groups (DFS: 79.1% vs. 82.9%, P=0.442; OS: 87.5% vs. 78.2%, P=0.667). cT4 is an independent risk factor for OS (HR =4.227, 95% CI: 1.128-15.838, P=0.02) and DFS (HR =4.878, 95% CI: 1.752-13.578). Preoperative consolidation chemotherapy with Capeox or FOLFOX after NCRT significantly improved the DFS rate (HR =0.212, 95% CI: 0.058-0.776, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Rectal cancer patients with ypT0-2N0 who underwent NCRT and radical resection did not benefit significantly from postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. For these patients, cT4 was an independent risk factor for OS and DFS. Preoperative consolidation chemotherapy with Capeox or FOLFOX after NCRT can significantly improve DFS.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection versus transanal local excision for rectal carcinoid: a comparative study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the short-term clinical outcomes between endoscopic submucosal dissection and transanal local excision for rectal carcinoid tumors. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2012, 31 patients with rectal carcinoid underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection at our hospital. They were compared with a matched cohort of 23 patients who underwent transanal local excision for rectal carcinoid between 2007 and 2012. Short-term clinical outcomes including surgical parameters, postoperative recovery, and oncologic outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean size of tumors was significantly bigger in the transanal local excision group (0.8 ± 0.2 versus 1.1 ± 0.5 cm; P = 0.018). En bloc resection was achieved for 30 patients (97 %) in the endoscopic submucosal dissection group and all the patients in the transanal local excision group. The operation time was longer in the transanal local excision than that in the endoscopic submucosal dissection group (40.0 ± 22.7 min versus 12.2 ± 5.3 min; P < 0.001). Complications in the transanal local excision group were five cases of acute retention of urine. There was no local recurrence or distant metastasis in either group during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: For the treatment of rectal carcinoid tumors with diameter <1 cm, endoscopic submucosal dissection has better short-term clinical outcomes than transanal local excision in terms of faster recovery and possibly a lower morbidity rate. Transanal local excision may be the first therapeutic choice of scar-embedded rectal carcinoid tumors.

Predictive Factors for Surgical Intervention in Patients over the Age of 80 with Adhensive Small-Bowel Obstruction.

Adhensive small-bowel obstruction (SBO) remains a common cause of admission to surgical wards around the world. Given the growing elderly population, the number of elderly patients with adhensive SBO can be expected to increase substantially. Timely and appropriate treatment would improve morbidity and mortality rates in elderly patients with adhensive SBO. However, accurately determining which patients should undergo surgical treatment during the hospitalization remains difficult. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for surgical intervention in patients aged over 80 years presenting with SBO due to postoperative adhesions. A clinical and radiological data for the assessment of patients presenting with adhensive SBO were collected. A logistic regression model was applied to identify risk factors that would predict the need of surgical intervention. A total of 21 patients (13 males, 8 females) were treated during a 3.5-year period. The mean age was 85.5 ± 4.7 years, ranging from 80 to 97 years. There is no significant difference in age (group 1 87.6 ± 5.9 years vs. group 2 84.8 ± 4.3 years, p = 0.262) between two groups. Serious coexisting diseases were noted in 13 (61.9 %, 13/21) patients. Primary hypertension, cardiac diseases, and diabetes mellitus were common coexisting conditions. However, there is no significant difference in comorbidities (40 vs. 68.8 %, p = 0.325) between group 1 and group 2. Adhensive SBO was successfully treated with conservative treatment in 16 patients (76.2 %, 16/21, group 2), whereas conservative treatment failed in 5 patients (23.8 %, 5/21, group 1), who subsequently underwent laparotomy. Postoperative complication rate was 14.3 % (wound infection, 1/5) and mortality was 0 % (0/5) in group 1. One patient death was recorded in group 2 (1/16, 6.3 %). The overall mean hospital stay was 10.0 ± 5.9 days (range 3-27 days). Group 1 had a longer hospital stay than group 2. However, the difference did not reach the significant level (12.8 ± 8.2 vs. 9.1 ± 5.9 days, p = 0.274). On univariate analysis, the need for surgical intervention was significantly associated with granulocyte percentage (2.768, 0.961-7.975, p = 0.059), CT findings of free intraabdominal fluid (28.000, 1.988-394.405, p = 0.014), and level of albumin (0.265, 0.073-0.970, p = 0.045). On multivariate analysis, the predictive factor was free intraabdominal fluid (28.000, 1.988-394.405, p = 0.014). Conservative treatment remains a major consideration in patients over the age of 80. Although major cases of adhensive SBO are successfully treated with conservative methods, some fail to respond, and the independent risk factor for surgical indication is free intraabdominal fluid.

Appropriate treatment of acute sigmoid volvulus in the emergency setting.

AIM: To investigate an appropriate strategy for the treatment of patients with acute sigmoid volvulus in the emergency setting. METHODS: A retrospective review of 28 patients with acute sigmoid volvulus treated in the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai from January 2001 to July 2012 was performed. Following the diagnosis of acute sigmoid volvulus, an initial colonoscopic approach was adopted if there was no evidence of diffuse peritonitis. RESULTS: Of the 28 patients with acute sigmoid volvulus, 19 (67.9%) were male and 9 (32.1%) were female. Their mean age was 63.1 ± 22.9 years (range, 21-93 years). Six (21.4%) patients had a history of abdominal surgery, and 17 (60.7%) patients had a history of constipation. Abdominal radiography or computed tomography was performed in all patients. Colonoscopic detorsion was performed in all 28 patients with a success rate of 92.8% (26/28). Emergency surgery was required in the other two patients. Of the 26 successfully treated patients, seven (26.9%) had recurrent volvulus. CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy is the primary emergency treatment of choice in uncomplicated acute sigmoid volvulus. Emergency surgery is only for patients in whom nonoperative treatment is unsuccessful, or in those with peritonitis.

Massive presacral bleeding during rectal surgery: from anatomy to clinical practice.

AIM: To investigate control of two different types of massive presacral bleeding according to the anatomy of the presacral venous system. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in 1628 patients with middle or low rectal carcinoma who were treated surgically in the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China from January 2008 to December 2012. In four of these patients, the presacral venous plexus (n = 2) or basivertebral veins (n = 2) were injured with massive presacral bleeding during mobilization of the rectum. The first two patients with low rectal carcinoma were operated upon by a junior associate professor and the source of bleeding was the presacral venous plexus. The other two patients with recurrent rectal carcinoma were both women and the source of bleeding was the basivertebral veins. RESULTS: Two different techniques were used to control the bleeding. In the first two patients with massive bleeding from the presacral venous plexus, we used suture ligation around the venous plexus in the area with intact presacral fascia that communicated with the site of bleeding (surrounding suture ligation). In the second two patients with massive bleeding from the basivertebral veins, the pelvis was packed with gauze, which resulted in recurrent bleeding as soon as it was removed. Following this, we used electrocautery applied through one epiploic appendix pressed with a long Kelly clamp over the bleeding sacral neural foramen where was felt like a pit Electrocautery adjusted to the highest setting was then applied to the clamp to "weld" closed the bleeding point. Postoperatively, the blood loss was minimal and the drain tube was removed on days 4-7. CONCLUSION: Surrounding suture ligation and epiploic appendices welding are effective techniques for controlling massive presacral bleeding from presacral venous plexus and sacral neural foramen, respectively.

[Emergence application of colonoscopic placement of self-expandable metal stent without fluoroscopic monitoring].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of colonoscopy-guided placement of self-expandable metallic stent without fluoroscopic monitoring in the emergence management for acute malignant colorectal obstruction. METHODS: Clinical data of 42 patients (24 males and 18 females with a mean age of 64.3 years) undergoing colonoscopy-guided placement of self-expandable metallic stents without fluoroscopic monitoring for acute malignant colorectal obstruction between January 2010 and June 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The obstruction was located in the rectum (n=19), sigmoid (n=9), descending colon (n=8), splenic flexure (n=1), hepatic flexure (n=3), and ascending colon (n=2). Technical success was achieved in all the 42 patients (100%). The mean time of operation was (11.8±10.4) min (range 1.1-51.0 min). No serious procedure-related complication occurred. Minor bleeding occurred in 3 cases (7.1%). One patient died on the second day after surgery because of heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy-guided placement of self-expandable metallic stents without fluoroscopic monitoring in emergence management for acute malignant colorectal obstruction is effective and safe with shorter operative time.

Preoperative carcinoembryonic antibody is predictive of distant metastasis in pathologically T1 colorectal cancer after radical surgery.

AIM: To identify the predictors of distant metastasis in pathologically T1 (pT1) colorectal cancer (CRC) after radical resection. METHODS: Variables including age, gender, preoperative carcinoembryonic antibody (CEA) level, tumor location, tumor size, lymph node status, and histological grade were recorded. Patients with and without metastasis were compared with regard to age, gender, CEA level and pathologic tumor characteristics using the independent t test or χ(2) test, as appropriate. Risk factors were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Metastasis occurred in 6 (3.8%) of the 159 patients during a median follow-up of 67.0 (46.5%) mo. The rates of distant metastasis in patients with pT1 cancer of the colon and rectum were 6.7% and 2.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). The rates of distant metastasis between male and female patients with T1 CRC were 6.25% and 1.27%, respectively (P < 0.001). The most frequent site of distant metastasis was the liver. Age (P = 0.522), gender (P = 0.980), tumor location (P = 0.330), tumor size (P = 0.786), histological grade (P = 0.509), and high serum CEA level (P = 0.262) were not prognostic factors for lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis revealed that age (P = 0.231), gender (P = 0.137), tumor location (P = 0.386), and tumor size (P = 0.514) were not risk factors for distant metastasis after radical resection for T1 colorectal cancer. Postoperative metastasis was only significantly correlated with high preoperative serum CEA level (P = 0.001). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, high preoperative serum CEA level (P = 0.004; odds ratio 15.341; 95%CI 2.371-99.275) was an independent predictor for postoperative distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: The preoperative increased serum CEA level is a predictive risk factor for distant metastasis in CRC patients after radical resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy may be necessary in such patients, even if they have pT1 colorectal cancer.

[Colonoscopic restoration for sigmoid vovulus in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the emergency therapeutic strategy for sigmoid vovulus in the elderly. METHODS: Clinical data of 14 elderly patients with sigmoid vovulus were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age was(79.1±7.2) years(range, 70-93), and 11 patients (78.6%) were male. Emergency decompression and restoration with colonoscopy was performed in all the patients with a success rate of 100%. No patient required emergent surgery. Four patients(28.6%) recurred and they were managed well by repeat colonoscopic restoration. CONCLUSION: Emergency colonoscopic restoration is the first treatment of choice for sigmoid vovulus in the elderly because it is safe and effective, and can be performed repeatedly.

[Association of tumor budding with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in T2 rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the association of tumor budding with clinicopathological features and prognosis in T2 rectal cancer. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of 123 patients who underwent potentially curative resection for T2 rectal carcinoma between 2001 and 2005 at the Changhai Hospital were collected. All pathology slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for microscopic examinations. The maximum value of tumor buds(MV) and average value of tumor buds(AV) were calculated, which were classified as low value (≤5), median value (5 < bud value < 10), and high value (≥10). RESULTS: Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis revealed that MV(P=0.000), AV(P=0.001), and lymphatic invasion (P=0.006) were independent predictors for lymph node metastasis in T2 rectal cancer. Neural invasion and poorly differentiation were significantly associated with MV(P<0.05). Neural invasion, vascular invasion and poorly differentiation were were significantly associated to AV (P<0.01). Disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with low AV, median AV and high AV was 110.5 months, 95.8 months, and 60.0 months respectively. There were significance differences in DFS of low AV with median and high AV(P<0.05). DFS of patients with low MV, median MV and high MV was 115.1 months, 98.5 months, and 86.0 months respectively. There were significance differences in DFS between low and high AV, and median and high MV(P<0.01 and P<0.05), while no significant difference existed between low and median MV. CONCLUSION: Tumor budding is a useful marker to indicate high invasiveness of rectal cancer and a valuable prognostic predictor.

[Computed tomography pelvimetry as a predictor of technical difficulty in total mesorectal excision].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the limiting effect of pelvic diameters on the technical difficulty of total mesorectal excision(TME) for rectal cancer by computed tomography pelvimetry. METHODS: From January 2009 to January 2011, 69 patients with rectal cancer underwent TME in the Department of Proctology at the Changhai Hospital in Shanghai. There were 55 males and 14 females. Using three dimensional reconstruction software, pelvic dimensions of rectal cancer patients were measured based on pelvic MDCT thin-slice computed tomography. All the patients were measured for 15 pelvic parameters, including the length of pelvic inlet, the length of pubic symphysis, the interspinous distance, the distance from sacral promontory to tip of coccyx, etc. All the procedures were open surgery, including anterior resection(n=19), low anterior resection and ileostomy(n=29) and abdominal perineal resection(n=21). Duration of the operation and blood loss at surgery were recorded as evaluation indicators of the technical difficulty of total mesorectal excision. By univariate analysis significant pelvic parameters were selected. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between pelvic parameters and blood loss or duration of operation. RESULTS: The mean operative time was(139.9±32.4) min and the mean intraoperative blood loss was (228.8±150.6) ml. Multivariate analysis showed that the interspinous distance, the length of pelvic inlet, the distance from sacral promontory to the tip of coccyx were the main factors affecting the operation time, and that the length of pubic symphysis and the distance from sacral promontory to the tip of coccyx were the main factors affecting the amount of blood loss (all P<0.05). Among the 3 procedures, the multivariate analysis for low anterior resection appeared to be most valuable, in which operative time was associated with the distance from sacral promontory to the tip of coccyx and the interspinous distance (adjusted coefficient of determination of the regression equation, Rc(2)=0.460, P=0.003). Factors associated with intraoperative blood loss were the length of pelvic inlet, the distance from sacral promontory to the tip of coccyx, and the sacrum-pubis angle(Rc(2)=0.358, P=0.022). Comprehensive analysis of the measurement parameters showed that the ratio between the length of pelvic inlet and the distance from sacral promontory to the tip of coccyx was associated with the operative time and blood loss. This ratio was significantly higher in female patients than that in males. In females with a ratio greater than 1, the operative time was significantly shorter(P=0.050), and the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in males with a ratio greater than 0.9(P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Operative time and intraoperative blood loss for total mesorectal excision are more favorable in patients with a wide and shadow pelvis. Surgical difficulty is increased in deep and narrow pelvis or those with major sacrum curvature. The difficulty of total mesorectal excision procedure can be predicted by measuring the length of pelvic inlet and the distance from sacral promontory to the tip of coccyx.