Diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative local staging of rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE: This paper aims to investigate the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the pathologic stage of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and the role of MRI in selecting patients with a pathologic complete response (ypCR). METHODS: Restaging MRI (yMRI) examinations of 136 patients with LARC treated with neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. All examinations were performed on a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine with a pelvic phased-array coil. T2-weighted turbo spin-echo images and diffusion-weighted imaging were obtained. Histopathologic reports of the surgical specimens were the reference standard. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of yMRI in predicting the pathologic T-stage (ypT), N-stage, and ypCR were calculated. The inter-observer agreement was evaluated using kappa statistics. RESULTS: The yMRI results showed 67% accuracy, 59% sensitivity, 80% specificity, 81% PPV, and 56% NPV in identifying ypT (ypT0-2 versus ypT3-4). In predicting the nodal status, the yMRI results revealed 63% accuracy, 60% sensitivity, 65% specificity, 47% PPV, and 75% NPV. In predicting ypCR, the yMRI results showed 84% accuracy, 20% sensitivity, 92% specificity, 23% PPV, and 90% NPV. The kappa statistics revealed substantial agreement between the two radiologists. CONCLUSION: Utilization of yMRI showed high specificity and PPV in predicting the tumor stage and high NPV in predicting the nodal stage; in addition, yMRI revealed moderate accuracy in the T and N classifications, mainly due to underestimating the tumor stage and overestimating the nodal status. Finally, yMRI revealed high specificity and NPV but low sensitivity in predicting the complete response.

Intraoperative Temperature Monitoring with Zero Heat Flux Technology (3M SpotOn Sensor) in Comparison with Tympanic and Oesophageal Temperature and Hypotermia Risk Factors: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: Inadvertent hypothermia (body temperature below 35°C) is a common and avoidable challenge during surgery under anaesthesia. It is related to coagulation (clotting) disorders, an increase in blood loss, and a higher rate of wound infection. One of the methods for non-invasive monitoring of the core body temperature is the 3M SpotOn zero heat flux method. In this approach, sensors placed at the frontal region of the patient measure the skin temperature by creating an isothermic channel. The study aimed to determine the risk factors for hypothermia and compare the 3M SpotOn zero heat flux method with the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and oesophageal (food pipe) temperature measurement methods. DESIGN: Observational. DATA SOURCES: The patients' data were collected, including age, gender, weight, BMI, other illnesses, smoking history, type of anaesthesia, duration of surgery, operating room temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, blood loss, and transfusions. Body temperature was measured by the tympanic membrane method before and after surgery, oesophageal method during surgery, and SpotOn measurements throughout all three periods were recorded. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Inclusion criteria was: adult patients, both genders, who had undergone major abdominal cancer surgery at the trialists' institution, in whom the SpotOn zero heat flux, tympanic membrane, and oesophageal temperature measurement methods had all been used. Participant exclusion criteria was the absence of recorded data. RESULTS: In this study, inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia incidence was 38.1% in the recovery room. Although gender, presence of comorbidities, history of smoking, administration of epidural anaesthesia, and requirement of blood transfusion [red blood cells (RBCs) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP)] did not affect hypothermia significantly during admission to the recovery room, prewarming the patient throughout the operation prevented the occurrence of hypothermia significantly (p=0.004). Additionally, as the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status score worsened, the rate of hypothermia increased significantly (Frequency: 1st degree, 29.4%; 2nd degree, 47.5%; 3rd degree, 66.7%; X2 Slope- p=0.047). CONCLUSION: The most significant risk factor was found to be not prewarming the patient as a strict procedure, and as the ASA physical status score worsened, the rate of hypothermia increased significantly. Besides, the SpotOn method provided temperature measurements as good as the oesophageal temperature measurements. Clinical Trial registration: ISRCTN 14027708.

Wound Irrigation with Chlorhexidine Gluconate Reduces Surgical Site Infection in Pilonidal Disease: Single-Blind Prospective Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether incision irrigation with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) reduces surgical site infections (SSIs) in pilonidal disease surgery. Methods: Between 2013 and 2018, patients who underwent wide excision with primary closure for pilonidal disease were enrolled in this prospective observational multi-institutional cohort. The incision was irrigated with either saline or 0.05% CHG before skin closure. The infection risk of each patient was determined by the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. Post-operative site care and follow-up were carried out according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline by two surgeons blinded to the irrigation solution used. Surgical site infection rates in the saline and 0.05% CHG groups were compared. The secondary outcomes were seroma formation, incision dehiscence, and time to healing. Results: There were 129 patients in the control group and 138 patients in the CHG group. The mean age was 25.1 ± 5.4, and 225 patients (84.3%) were male. Surgical site infection was seen in 35 patients (13.1%): 26 (20.2%) in the control group and 9 (6.5%) in the CHG group (p = 0.001). There were no differences in seroma formation (n = 12; 9.3% in the control vs n = 12; 8.7% in the CHG group; p = 0.515) or incision dehiscence (n = 9; 7% in the control vs n = 9; 6.5% in the CHG group; p = 0.537). The primary healing rate was higher in the CHG group (n = 130; 94.2%) than in the control group (n = 104; 80.6%). Time to healing was 20.5 ± 7.8 days in the control group and 16 ± 4.3 days in the CHG group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Intra-operative incision irrigation with CHG decreased the SSI rate and time to healing in pilonidal disease surgery. Further randomized trials should focus on specific irrigation methods and procedures to build a consensus on the effect of incision irrigation on SSIs.

The Prognostic Implications of FIX and FLO Patterns in Mucinous Colon Carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Colon mucinous carcinomas (MUCs) have two morphological patterns: (i) glands lined by mucinous epithelium with direct contact to the stroma (FIX) and (ii) carcinoma cells floating in mucin (FLO). In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of these patterns. METHODS: Digital images were captured from the 38 MUC's tissue sections. A grid with 140 points was laid over the computer screen. Totally, 100 points, falling on tumor cells floating in mucin (FLO patterned cells) or on cells contacting stroma (FIX patterned cells), were counted. Tumors were grouped according to the median value of the FIX patterned cells. Cases with more than this value were grouped as FIX and less were grouped as FLO cases. The prognostic value of FIX and FLO pattern was evaluated. RESULTS: The median for FIX patterned cells was 66%, and the cases with lower values than this were grouped as FLO (N = 18; 47.37%), while the rest were grouped as FIX cases. There was no significant difference between FIX and FLO cases for overall survival cases (p = 0.167). For FIX cases, 62.7 and 51.3% of the patients were alive at second and third years, while this was 78.9 and 72.4% for the FLO group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study using a quantitative methodology depending on count pointing to evaluate FIX/FLO feature of MUCs to the best of our knowledge, although we could not observed any prognostic and clinicopathologic relationship statistically. This distinctive feature should be studied in larger cohorts with prognostic information, with a quantitative method, like the one that was applied in this study, in order to achieve strict conclusions.

Effect of triclosan-coated sutures on surgical site infections in pilonidal disease: prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of triclosan-coated sutures on surgical site infections after wide excision and primary closure for pilonidal disease. METHODS: One hundred seventy-seven patients were randomized into two groups: 91 in control and 86 in triclosan groups. In the control group, 1/0 monofilament polypropylene retention sutures, 3/0 polyglactin subcutaneous sutures, and 3/0 polypropylene skin sutures were used. In the triclosan group, 1/0 triclosan-coated monofilament polydioxanone, 3/0 triclosan-coated polyglactin, and 3/0 triclosan-coated monofilament polydioxanone were used. Postoperative care and follow-up was made by a surgeon according to Centers for Disease Control guideline. Surgical site infection rates between groups were compared. Secondary outcomes were seroma and wound dehiscence. RESULTS: Seroma was seen in 30 (16.9%) patients: 20 (23.3%) in the triclosan group and 10 (10.9%) in the control group (p = 0.030). Thirteen (7.3%) patients had superficial wound dehiscence: 5 (5.5%) patients in the control group and 10 (11.6%) patients in the triclosan group (p = 0.116). Overall surgical site infection (SSI) rate was 15.8% (n = 28): 19 (20.8%) patients in the control group and 9 (10.5%) patients in the triclosan group (p = 0.044). Healing was observed on mean 17.8 ± 6.7 days. Primary and secondary healing rates and time to healing were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Triclosan-coated sutures decreased surgical site infection rate but had no effect on time to healing in pilonidal disease. Seroma and wound dehiscence were more common in triclosan groups. Randomized trials are needed to clear the effect of triclosan-coated sutures on postoperative wound complications.

Treatment of intraoperatively detected peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin with cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) may be missed by preoperative imaging. We are presenting our experience with incidentally detected PC of colorectal origin treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) at the same operation. METHODS: Between January 2010 and September 2016, 19 patients underwent CRS and IPC due to incidentally detected PC of colorectal origin. Data were analyzed from a prospectively collected database. RESULTS: The median age was 59 (29-78). In three patients, PC was diagnosed during emergency surgery. The primary tumor was located in the rectum (three patients; one with recurrent disease), left colon (9 patients), and right colon (7 patients). All patients underwent CRS and IPC, and one patient operated laparoscopically. Median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 5 (range, 3-14), and complete cytoreduction (CC-0) was achieved in 14 patients. After CRS, 8 patients received early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC), 7 patients received hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), and 4 patients received both HIPEC and EPIC. The median hospital stay was 9 (6-29) days. Postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Median follow-up was 40.2 (12-94) months. Five-year overall survival was 63.2%. Estimated mean survival time is longer in patients who underwent complete cytoreduction compared to patients having CC-1 or CC-2 cytoreduction (87.7 vs. 20.3 months; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive surgery and IPC can be performed safely in patients with intraoperatively detected incidental PC of colorectal origin.

Infectious Complications after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review the post-operative and infectious complications and determine the risk factors associated with infections in cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2007 and December 2013, patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC with a curative intent were included in the study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System definitions were used to identify post-operative nosocomial infections. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-nine CRS and HIPEC procedures were performed. Overall, 155 complications were observed in 82 (48.5%) patients. Grade 3-4 morbidity rate was 25.5% (n = 43). Seventy infections occurred in 47 patients. Surgical site infection was the most common infectious complication. The most common micro-organism isolated from the cultures was Escherichia coli. Age (odds ratio [OR]1.039, confidence interval [CI] 1.006-1.073), the mean total number of staff scrubbing in the operation(OR 2.241, CI 1.415-3.548), and intensive care unit stay (OR 1.325, CI 0.953-1.842) were independent risk factors for infectious complications. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious complications are the most important cause of peri-operative morbidity and death in CRS and HIPEC. As well as patient and tumor characteristics, surgeon/center-related factors play an important role in infectious morbidity. Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis should be considered as a complex oncologic group at high risk of infectious complications.

The role of multidetector CT in local staging and evaluation of retroperitoneal surgical margin involvement in colon cancer.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate preoperative T and N staging and retroperitoneal surgical margin (RSM) involvement in colon cancer using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: In this retrospective study, preoperative MDCTs of 141 patients with colon adenocarcinoma were evaluated in terms of T and N staging and retroperitoneal surgical margin involvement by two observers. Results were compared with histopathology. RESULTS: In determining extramural invasion, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of MDCT were 81%, 50%, 95%, 26%, and 81% for observer 1 and 87%, 75%, 97%, 27%, and 84% for observer 2, respectively. Moderate interobserver agreement was observed (ĸ=0.425). In determining T stage of the tumor, accuracy of MDCT was 55% for observer 1 and 51% for observer 2. In the detection of lymph node metastasis, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of MDCT were 84%, 46%, 60%, 74% and 64% for observer 1 and 84%, 56%, 65%, 78%, and 70% for observer 2, respectively. Interobserver agreement was substantial (ĸ=0.650). RSM was involved in six cases (4.7%). When only retroperitoneal colon segments were considered, 1.6% of subjects demonstrated RSM involvement. Four of the six RSM-positive tumors were located on sigmoid colon and one tumor was on transverse colon and caecum. Considering all colon tumors, in the detection of RSM involvement, sensitivity and specificity of MDCT were 33% and 81% for observer 1 and 50% and 80% for observer 2. Interobserver agreement was moderate (ĸ=0.518). CONCLUSION: MDCT is a promising technique with moderate interobserver agreement in detection of extramural invasion, lymph node metastases, and RSM involvement in colon carcinomas.

Diffusion-weighted MRI and MR- volumetry--in the evaluation of tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted MRI and MR volumetry for the assessment of tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with rectal cancer who underwent preoperative CRT were prospectively examined for the study. This prospective study was approved by our institutional review board. DW- and high resolution T2-weighted imaging were performed before and after therapy. Two different diffusion gradients (b = 0 and b = 600, then separately b = 0 and b = 1000) were applied. The mean tumor volume and mean ADC values were measured before and after therapy. To evaluate the responders and nonresponders to neoadjuvant CRT, two criteria, ypT stage determined in the pathologic examination after treatment and histopathologic tumor regression grade (Ryan), were used as reference standards. The patients with a lower ypT stage than T stage in the first MRI before neoadjuvant CRT were evaluated as the responder group, while the patients with a higher or the same ypT stage relative to the first MRI T stage were evaluated as the nonresponder group. According to Ryan tumor regression grade, grade 1 was evaluated as the responders, whereas grades 2 and 3 were evaluated as the nonresponder group. The percentage ADC increase and percentage tumor volume regression were compared between the responders and nonresponders using two reference standards: T downstaging and tumor regression grade (TRG). RESULTS: Before CRT, the mean tumor ADC in the responder group was significantly lower than that in the nonresponder group (p < 0.001). At the end of CRT, the mean percentage of tumor ADC change in the responder group was significantly higher than that in the nonresponder group. The percentage tumor volume regression of the responders was significantly higher than that of the nonresponders (p = 0.001). The cut-off ADC value for discriminating between the responders and nonresponders after treatment was determined to be (b = 600) 1.03 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s and the sensitivity, 71%; specificity, 79%; accuracy, 74%; positive predictive value, 81%; negative predictive value, 68% respectively. The cut-off value for discriminating between the responders and the nonresponders after treatment was determined for b = 1000 as 1.20 × 10(-3)mm(2)/s and the sensitivity, 42%; specificity, 84%; accuracy, 60%; positive predictive value, 77%; negative predictive value, 53%. CONCLUSION: The increase in the mean tumor ADC and percentage tumor volume regression in patients with rectal cancer treated with preoperative CRT was correlated with good response. DW MR imaging is a promising non-invasive technique that can help predict and monitor early therapeutic response in patients with rectal cancer who undergo CRT.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastrointestinal tumors: where are we now?

The peritoneal stromal tissue which provides a rich source of growth factors and chemokines is a favorable environment for tumor proliferation. The pathophysiological mechanism of peritoneal carcinomatosis is an individual sequence consisting of genetic and environmental factors and remains controversial. The natural history of the disease reveals a poor median prognosis of approximately 6 mo; however aggressive surgery and multimodal treatment options can improve oncologic outcomes. Considering peritoneal carcinomatosis as though it is a locoregional disease but not a metastatic process, cytoreductive surgery and and intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been a curative option during recent years. Cytoreductive surgery implies a series of visceral resections and peritonectomy procedures. Although the aim of cytoreductive surgery is to eliminate all macroscopic disease, viable tumor cells may remain in the peritoneal cavity. At that point, intraperitoneal chemotherapy can extend the macroscopic disease elimination to microscopic disease elimination. The successful treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis requires a comprehensive management plan including proper patient selection, complete resection of all visible disease, perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy and postoperative systemic chemotherapy. Surgical and oncologic outcomes are strictly associated with extent of the tumor, completeness of cytoreduction and patient-related factors as well as multidisciplinary management and experience of the surgical team. In this review, pathophysiology and current management of peritoneal carcinomatosis originating from gastrointestinal tumors are discussed according to the latest literature.

Hyperglycemia is associated with lower levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in wound fluid.

AIMS: Wounds in patients with hyperglycemia show impaired healing. Plasminogen activation is crucial in several overlapping phases of wound healing process. In this study, we aimed i) to compare acute wound fluid in patients with hyperglycemia and normoglycemia, ii) to focus on the elements of plasminogen activation in the wound fluid, and iii) to determine if the acute wound fluid characteristics are associated with surgical site infections. METHODS: In a cohort of 54 patients, a closed suction drain was placed in the wound above the anterior abdominal wall fascia under the skin in order to collect postoperative acute wound fluid samples for 3 following days after colorectal surgery. Patients were classified as normoglycemic (n=25) or hyperglycemic (n=29; 17 with type 2 diabetes and 12 with stress induced hyperglycemia). Surgical site infection was defined according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria. The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAr), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) were measured in the wound fluid. RESULTS: Compared to normoglycemic subjects, patients with hyperglycemia had significantly lower levels of uPA and uPAr in the wound fluid despite similar or even higher circulating levels. There was no significant difference in IL-1ß, TNF-α, PAI-1 and FGF-1 levels. In the whole study population, the wound fluid levels of uPA and uPAr were negatively correlated with circulating glucose levels. No difference was detected in the wound fluid characteristics of patients with and without surgical site infection. CONCLUSION: Patients with hyperglycemia exhibit decreased levels of uPA and uPAr in the wound fluid, suggesting a local failure in plasminogen activation at the wound site.

Changes in the frequencies of abdominal wall hernias and the preferences for their repair: a multicenter national study from Turkey.

Abdominal wall hernias are a common problem in the general population. A Western estimate reveals that the lifetime risk of developing a hernia is about 2%. As a result, hernia repairs likely comprise the most frequent general surgery operations. More than 20 million hernias are estimated to be repaired every year around the world. Numerous repair techniques have been described to date however tension-free mesh repairs are widely used today because of their low hernia recurrence rates. Nevertheless, there are some ongoing debates regarding the ideal approach (open or laparoscopic), the ideal anesthesia (general, local, or regional), and the ideal mesh (standard polypropylene or newer meshes).

Expression and activity levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and in situ localization of caseinolytic activity in colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Matrix metalloproteinase-7 is capable of degrading several ECM and non-ECM molecules and contributes to colorectal cancer progression and metastasis. Here, we examined the significance of MMP-7 in colorectal tumors by detecting active and latent MMP-7 levels and localization of its caseinolytic activity. DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated expression levels, localization, and proteolytic activity of MMP-7 and local caseinolytic activity in colorectal tumor and paired normal tissues by using real time PCR, casein zymography, immunohistochemistry and in situ casein zymography, respectively. In addition the results were compared with clinicopathological variables. RESULTS: Real time PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that MMP-7 expressions were higher in colorectal tumor tissues than in normal tissues. Also, mRNA expressions of MMP-7 were positively correlated with tumor and pathological stages and negatively correlated with age. Furthermore, MMP-7 mRNA expression had a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 81.2% at a cut-off value of 0.0006, making it a potential marker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer. According to casein zymography, pro- and active MMP-7 levels were also elevated in tumor tissues. In addition, we assessed local caseinolytic activity using in situ casein zymography. Increased immunoreactivity of MMP-7 and local caseinolytic activity were found in neoplastic cells but not in stromal cells. CONCLUSION: We emphasized the significant role of MMP-7 in diagnosis and progression and/or development of colorectal cancer.

Management of enteroatmospheric fistulae.

A small-bowel enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF) is an especially challenging complication for patients with open abdomens (OAs) and their surgeons. Manipulation of the bowel during treatment (e.g. dressing changes) is one of the risk factors for developing these openings between the atmosphere and the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike enterocutaneous fistulae, EAFs have neither overlying soft tissue nor a real fistula tract, which reduces the likelihood of their spontaneous closure. Surgical closure is necessary but not always easy to do in the OA environment. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used successfully as an adjunct therapy to heal the wound around EAFs. This review discusses many aspects of managing EAFs in patients with OAs, and presents techniques that have been developed to isolate the fistula and divert effluent while applying NPWT to the surrounding wound bed.

Improvement of colonic healing by preoperative oral partially hydrolyzed guar gum (Benefiber) in rats which underwent preoperative radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy in rectal cancer could interfere with anastomotic healing. We investigated the effects of preoperative oral administration of Benefiber on the healing irradiated colonic anastomosis. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group I (control group), Group II (Benefiber® pretreatment group), Group III (preoperative radiotherapy group) and Group IV (preoperative radiotherapy and Benefiber® pretreatment group). All animals underwent 1 cm left colon resection and primary anastomosis. On the 3rd and 7th postoperative days, all the rats were anesthetized to assess the anastomotic healing clinically, mechanically, histologically and biochemically. RESULTS: The mean bursting pressure was significantly lower in-group III and significantly higher in-group II on day 7. The histologic parameters of anastomotic healing, such as epithelial regeneration and formation of granulation tissue, were significantly improved by use of preoperative Benefiber® on day 7. The amount of acid-soluble collagen concentrations significantly increased in-group IV compared to group III on day 3. The amount of salt-soluble collagen concentrations significantly increased in group II compared to group III on day 3. CONCLUSIONS: Colonic anastomotic healing can be adversely affected by preoperative radiotherapy, but orogastric feeding with Benefiber may improve the healing process.

Efficacy of high resolution magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative local staging of rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) for preoperative local staging in patients with rectal cancer who did not receive preoperative radiochemotherapy. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 30 patients with biopsy proved primary rectal cancer were evaluated by HRMRI. Two observers independently scored the tumour and lymph node stages, and circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement. The sensitivity, specificity, the negative predictive value and the positive predictive value of HRMRI findings were calculated within the 95% confidence interval. The area under the curve was measured for each result. Agreement between two observers was assessed by means of the Kappa test. RESULTS: In T staging the accuracy rate of HRMRI was 47-67%, overstaging was 10-21%, and understaging was 13-43%. In the prediction of extramural invasion with HRMRI, the sensitivity was 79-89%, the specificity was 72-100%, the PPV was 85-100%, the NPV was 73-86%, and the area under the curve was 0.81-0.89. In the prediction of lymph node metastasis, the sensitivity was 58-58%, the specificity was 50-55%, the PPV was 43-46%, and the NPV was 64-66%. The area under the curve was 0.54-0.57. When the cut off value was selected as 1 mm, the sensitivity of HRMRI was 38-42%, the specificity was 73-82%, the PPV was 33-42%, and NPV was 79-81% in the prediction of the CRM involvement. The correlation between the two observers was moderate for tumour staging, substantial for lymph node staging and predicting of CRM involvement. CONCLUSION: Preoperative HRMRI provides good predictive data for extramural invasion but poor prediction of lymph node status and CRM involvement. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None declared.

Complications and toxicities after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the perioperative complications, toxicity, mortality rates after cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and effects of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) used in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies. METHODS: Between September 2007 and March 2012, we performed 118 CRS and HIPEC with the closed abdominal technique on 115 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Systemic toxicities were graded according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 criteria and were analyzed from a prospectively collected database. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53.4 (range, 20-82) years; 76.3 % were female. PC was synchronous to primary cancer in 53.4 % of patients, metachronous in 41.5 %, and recurrent in 5.1 % of the patients. PCI was ≥15 in 53.4 % of the patients, and CC-0 cytoreduction was achieved in 68.5 % of the patients. Perioperative mortality was observed in 9 (7.6 %) patients. A total of 98 complications were observed in 46 (39.0 %) patients, and 4 patients underwent 6 reoperations for perioperative surgical complications. We observed toxicity in 25.4 % of the patients, nephrotoxicity in 18.6 %, and hematological toxicity in 13.6 % of patients. No significant difference was observed among age, gender, PCI and CC scores, origin of the primary tumor, and occurrence of toxicity and surgical complications. Prolonged operation times resulted in higher complication and/or toxicity rates (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC is a combined treatment strategy for peritoneal surface malignancies with acceptable complication and toxicity rates.

Transanal single-port access microsurgery (TSPAM).

Transanal single-port access microsurgery (TSPAM) is an emerging and feasible minimally invasive method for the transanal excision of large sessile adenomas and early-stage carcinomas of the rectum. Here we present our TSPAM experience on rectal adenomas (high-grade rectal adenomas in 5 cases and carcinoma in situ in 1 case). TSPAM is an innovative method that can be an affordable and disseminated alternative to transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the local excision of the rectal lesions.