Accuracy of preoperative T2 gallbladder tumor localization and the adequate surgical resection.

INTRODUCTION: The agreement between the radiologic and histopathologic tumor locations in T2 gallbladder cancer is critical. There is no consensus regarding the extent of curative resection by tumor locations. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2019, a consecutive series of 118 patients with pathological T2 gallbladder cancer who underwent surgery were retrospectively analyzed in terms of the accordance between radiologic and histopathologic tumor locations, the extents of hepatic resection and the numbers of harvested lymph nodes. Radical resection was defined as liver resection with harvesting of at least four lymph nodes. RESULTS: The accuracy of preoperative tumor localization was only 68%. After radical resection, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 59.4%; after nonradical resection, the figure was 46.1% (p = 0.092). In subanalyses, the 5-year OS was marginally better for patients who underwent liver resection or from whom at least four lymph nodes were harvested than those who did not undergo liver resection or from whom three or fewer lymph nodes were harvested (58.2% vs. 39.4%, p = 0.072; 59.9% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.072, respectively). In patients with peritoneal side tumor, the 5-year OSs of those who did and did not undergo liver resection were 67% and 41.2%, respectively (p = 0.028). In multivariate analysis, perineural invasion and radical resection were independently prognostic of OS. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of preoperative tumor localization was 68%. Hepatic resection, lymph node dissection harvesting of at least four lymph nodes are required for curative resection for gallbladder cancer, regardless of tumor location.

Safety of performing distal pancreatosplenectomy in patients who underwent distal gastrectomy previously: a multicenter cohort analysis with systematic literature review.

Purpose: In patients who have previously undergone subtotal gastrectomy (STG), the remnant stomach is supplied with arterial blood through the splenic artery. It is currently unclear whether the remnant stomach can be safely preserved when performing distal pancreatosplenectomy (DPS) in these patients. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of performing DPS in patients who had undergone a previous STG. Methods: A multicenter cohort study was performed to identify patients who underwent DPS. Electronic medical data of Clinical Data Warehouse from 7 representative high-volume centers in 5 cities were retrospectively reviewed. A propensity score-matched analysis was performed to match patients who had no history of upper abdominal surgery with patients who had undergone a previous STG. Results: Fourteen DPS patients who had a history of STG (STG group) were studied and matched to 70 patients who underwent DPS without any history of upper abdominal surgery (non-STG group). All patients in the STG group had the remnant stomach preserved. In most patients, the blood vessel supplying blood to the remnant stomach was the left inferior phrenic artery. There was no significant difference in the incidence of stomach-related complications or length of hospital stay between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that the remnant stomach could be safely preserved when performing DPS in patients with a prior STG. However, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the vascular structure of the remnant stomach through preoperative imaging study and closely observe changes to the blue stomach during the operation.

Superior gallstone dissolubility and safety of tert-amyl ethyl ether over methyl-tertiary butyl ether.

BACKGROUND: The use of methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) to dissolve gallstones has been limited due to concerns over its toxicity and the widespread recognition of the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The adverse effects of MTBE are largely attributed to its low boiling point, resulting in a tendency to evaporate. Therefore, if there is a material with a higher boiling point and similar or higher dissolubility than MTBE, it is expected to be an attractive alternative to MTBE. AIM: To determine whether tert-amyl ethyl ether (TAEE), an MTBE analogue with a relatively higher boiling point (102 °C), could be used as an alternative to MTBE in terms of gallstone dissolubility and toxicity. METHODS: The in vitro dissolubility of MTBE and TAEE was determined by measuring the dry weights of human gallstones at predetermined time intervals after placing them in glass containers with either of the two solvents. The in vivo dissolubility was determined by comparing the weights of solvent-treated gallstones and control (dimethyl sulfoxide)-treated gallstones, after the direct infusion of each solvent into the gallbladder in both hamster models with cholesterol and pigmented gallstones. RESULTS: The in vitro results demonstrated a 24 h TAEE-dissolubility of 76.7%, 56.5% and 38.75% for cholesterol, mixed, and pigmented gallstones, respectively, which represented a 1.2-, 1.4-, and 1.3-fold increase in dissolubility compared to that of MTBE. In the in vitro experiment, the 24 h-dissolubility of TAEE was 71.7% and 63.0% for cholesterol and pigmented gallstones, respectively, which represented a 1.4- and 1.9-fold increase in dissolubility compared to that of MTBE. In addition, the results of the cell viability assay and western blot analysis indicated that TAEE had a lower toxicity towards gallbladder epithelial cells than MTBE. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that TAEE has higher gallstone dissolubility properties and safety than those of MTBE. As such, TAEE could present an attractive alternative to MTBE if our findings regarding its efficacy and safety can be consistently reproduced in further subclinical and clinical studies.

Randomized controlled study of the effect of octreotide on pancreatic exocrine secretion and pancreatic fistula after pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Octreotide is known to decrease the rate of postoperative complication after pancreatic resection by diminishing exocrine function of the pancreas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of octreotide in decreasing exocrine excretion of pancreas and preventing pancreatic fistula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized trial was conducted involving 59 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for either malignant or benign tumor, 29 patients were randomized to receive octreotide; 30 patients allotted to placebo. All pancreaticojejunal anastomosis was performed with external stent of negative-pressured drainage and the amount of pancreatic juice through the external stent was measured until postoperative 7th day. Pancreatic fistula was recorded. RESULTS: There were no differences in demographics, pancreatic texture and pancreatic duct diameter between the octreotide and placebo group. The median output of pancreatic juice was not significantly different between both groups during 7 days after surgery. When the patients were stratified according to the diameter of pancreatic duct (duct ≤5 mm, > 5 mm), there were no significant differences in daily amount of pancreatic juice, however, when stratified according to pancreatic texture, median output of pancreatic juice was significantly lower in patients with hard pancreas compared with those with soft pancreas from 5 day to 7 day after surgery (p < 0.05). No significant differences in pancreatic fistula and postoperative complications were found between the octreotide and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic octreotide is not effective to inhibit the exocrine secretion of the remnant pancreas and does not decrease the incidence of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Prognostic factors after curative resection hepatocellular carcinoma and the surgeon's role.

PURPOSE: Patient, surgical, and tumor factors affect the outcome after surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The surgical factors are only modifiable by the surgeon. We reviewed our experience with curative resection for HCC in terms of surgical factors. METHODS: After analyses of the prospectively collected clinical data of 256 consecutive patients undergoing surgical resection for HCC, prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified; all patients were stratified by tumor diameters > or <5 cm and their outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses showed that microvascular invasion, estimated blood loss, blood transfusion, and the number of tumors were independent adverse prognostic factors for DFS, whereas microvascular invasion, serum alpha fetoprotein, and tumor diameter were independent adverse prognostic factors for OS. Blood transfusion had borderline significance (P = 0.076). After stratification by tumor diameter, blood transfusion was only associated with poor DFS and OS in patients with tumor diameters > 5 cm. CONCLUSION: Tumor recurrence after liver resection for HCC depends on tumor status, bleeding, and transfusions, which subsequently lead to poor patient survival. Surgeons can help improve the prognosis of patients by minimizing blood loss and transfusion, particularly in patients with larger tumors.

Comparison between operative versus non-operative management of traumatic liver injury.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare operative versus non-operative management of patients with liver injury and to ascertain the differences of the clinical features. METHODS: From April 2000 to July 2012, 191 patients were admitted to Seoul St. Mary's Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital for liver injuries. Of these, 148 patients were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed using computed tomography (CT). The liver injury was graded in accordance with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma liver injury scoring scale. Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent surgery and those treated with non-operative management (NOM). There was a comparison between these two groups concerning the clinical characteristics, grade of liver injury, hemodynamic stability, laboratory findings, and mortality. RESULTS: According to the 148 patient records evaluated, 108 (72.9%) patients were treated with NOM, and 40 (27.1%) underwent surgery. Patients treated with NOM had significantly fewer severe injuries as rated using the Revised Traumatic Injury Scale, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Scale. Grade of liver injury and number of patients with extravasation of contrast dye on CT and hemoperitoneum were higher in the operative group than in the NOM group. There were significant differences between the two groups for: heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, and mean hemoglobin levels at admission and after 4 hours. The operative group experienced a significantly higher mortality than the NOM group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that hemodynamic stability and the following should be considered for deciding the treatment for liver injuries: grade of liver injury, amount of blood loss, and injury scales scores.

Role of radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Studies have claimed that in the surgical treatment of pancreas body and tail cancer, radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) is associated with effective tangential margin and extensive lymph node dissection. In the present study, the authors have compared the surgical outcomes between RAMPS and conventional distal pancreatosplenectomy (DPS) in patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas body and tail, and also identified prognostic factors associated with survival after surgery. METHODS: Retrospective review of 92 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for pancreas body and tail adenocarcinoma with curative intent between 1995 and 2010. Median follow-up duration was 16.1 months. RESULTS: Of the 92 patients, 38 patients received RAMPS and 54 patients received DPS. Patients who underwent RAMPS had a greater number of retrieved lymph nodes than patients undergoing DPS [median 14 (5-52) vs. 9 (1-36), p < 0.05]. Conventional DPS, no adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT), and non-curative resection were associated with poor overall survival (OS) on univariate analysis. After multivariate analysis for these variables, only the lack of adjuvant CRT and resection margin status were found to adversely affect OS. CONCLUSIONS: While the RAMPS procedure is effective in performing an extensive LN dissection, it is not associated with better retroperitoneal resection margin or retrieval of more positive LNs, and it does not lead to better curability or OS survival compared to DPS. Lack of adjuvant CRT and resection margin status are poor prognostic factors in patients with pancreas body and tail cancer.

Long-term effects of pancreaticoduodenectomy on glucose metabolism.

BACKGROUND: To analyse the association between pancreatogenic diabetes and the volume of the remnant pancreas after pancreaticoduodenectomy and to identify clinicopathologic factors correlated with pancreatogenic diabetes. METHODS: Among the patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenenctomy from 2003 to 2004, 55 patients who survived by 2009 and were able to measure the volume of the pancreas pre- and post-operatively by CT volumetry were included in this study. Twelve patients had diabetes before surgery. Median follow-up duration was 55.2 and 67.3 months for CT volumetry, pancreatogenic diabetes, respectively. RESULTS: Among 43 patients without preoperative diabetes, nine patients (21%) developed newly diabetes after surgery. Among 12 patients with diabetes, 10 patients had worsened glucose control. The immediate post-operative Vol% was 46.5% and the last Vol% was 31.5% (P < 0.001). Preoperative diabetes, malignant pathology, absence of post-operative pancreatic fistula, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were correlated with a lower Vol%. Atrophic changes were observed in 29 patients and hypertrophic changes in 13 patients. Comparative analysis according to the change in the Vol% revealed no differences in the clinicopathological factors associated with new-onset pancreatogenic diabetes or aggravation of preoperative diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: While some patients had a hypertrophic pancreas at the last follow-up, which reflected the capacity for pancreatic regeneration and some factors were associated with a lower volume of the remnant pancreas, the volume of the remnant pancreas seem not to be associated with pancreatogenic diabetes. There were no clinicopathologic factors identified associated with the risk for pancreatogenic diabetes.

Clinical significance of pathologic subtype in curatively resected ampulla of vater cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ampullary cancer is considered to have a better prognosis than cancers of the distal bile duct and pancreas, and recent publications emphasize the prognostic importance of the histologic differentiation of the intestinal and pancreatobiliary types of ampullary cancer. The aims of this study were to identify those factors that affect recurrence after curative resection and to investigate differences between the clinicopathologic features of these two pathologic subtypes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of patients that underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for ampullary carcinoma from February 1995 to March 2009 at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred and four patients that underwent curative resection for ampullary carcinoma were enrolled in this study. One pathologist reviewed all pathologic reports and histopathologic findings. Data on clinicopathologic factors and disease free and overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year disease free survival rates of the 104 study subjects were 62.2% and 57.7%, respectively, and overall survival rates were 69.4% and 60.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that an advanced T stage (P = 0.049), the presence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003), poor differentiation (P = 0.039), and the pancreatobiliary type (P = 0.022) significantly increased the risk of recurrence. Furthermore, the pancreatobiliary type was found to be more associated with an advanced T stage (P = 0.009), regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.007), and perineural invasion (P = 0.026) than the intestinal type. In addition, pathologic subtype analysis showed that Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and lymph node metastasis were important predictors of recurrence in patients with the intestinal (P = 0.013) and pancreatobiliary types, respectively (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: An advanced T stage, nodal metastasis, poor differentiation, and the pancreaticobiliary type were found to be independent predictors of recurrence after curative resection of ampullary carcinoma by multivariate analysis. In addition, the pancreatobiliary type tended to present in a more advanced T stage and more frequently with regional lymph node involvement and perineural invasion than the intestinal type. Furthermore, CEA level and lymph node metastasis were found to be independent predictors of recurrence for the intestinal and pancreatobiliary types, respectively.

Surgical resection of metastasis to the pancreas.

PURPOSE: Metastasis to the pancreas is rare, and the benefit of resection for pancreatic metastasis is poorly defined. The aim of this study was to review our experiences of the operative management of metastasis to the pancreas. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2009, 11 patients (8 men and 3 women; median age, 54 years) were admitted to our institution with a metachronously metastatic lesion to the pancreas and later underwent pancreatic resection. The clinical features and outcomes of treatments were examined. RESULTS: The primary cancers were renal cell carcinoma (RCC, n = 7), carcinoid tumor (n = 2), rectal cancer and leiomyosarcoma. Six patients underwent distal pancreatectosplenectomy, 3 pancreaticoduodenectomy and 2 patients underwent enucleation for small RCC. One patient died of metastatic RCC at 53 months after surgery and ten patients remain alive; four patients without disease at 7 to 69 months postoperatively, and the other six with disease at 11 to 68 months. Median postoperative survival of all patients was 34 months. CONCLUSION: Patients with a low surgical risk should be considered for pancreatic metastasectomy if curative resection is possible. Primary cancer type, which is associated with survival benefit, would be the best candidate for surgical resection of metastases to the pancreas.

Significance of CD133 as a cancer stem cell markers focusing on the tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cell lines.

PURPOSE: The cancer stem cell hypothesis states that the capacity of a cancer to grow and propagate is dependent on a small subset of cells. To determine the significances of the cancer stem cell markers CD133, CD44, and CD24 using a comparative analysis with a focus on tumorigenicity. METHODS: Four pancreatic cancer cell lines, Capan-1, Mia-PACA-2, Panc-1, and SNU-410 were analyzed for the expressions of CD133, CD44, and CD24 by flow cytometry. The tumorigenicity was compared using tumor volumes and numbers of tumors formed/numbers of injection in nonobese diabetic severe combined deficiency mice. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was used to confirm that xenograft explants originated from human pancreatic cancer cells. RESULTS: CD133 was positive in only Capan-1, CD44 positive in all, CD24 partially positive in Panc-1. After injecting 2 × 10(6) cells, all mice administered Capan-1 or Mia-Paca-2 developed tumors, 3 of 5 administered Panc-1 developed tumors, but no mouse administered SNU-410 developed any tumors. The volumes of Capan-1 tumors were seven times larger than those of Mia-Paca-2 tumors. When 2 × 10(5) or 2 × 10(4) of Capan-1 or Mia-Paca-2 was injected, tumors developed in all Capan-1 treated mice, but not in Mia-Paca-2 treated mice. Furthermore, xenograft explants of Capan-1 expressed CD133+CD44+ and Capan-1 injected mice developed lung metastasis. FACS analysis showed that xenograft explants originated from human pancreatic cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: CD133 positive cells have higher tumorigenic and metastatic potential than CD44 and CD24 positive cells, which suggests that CD133 might be a meaningful cell surface marker of pancreatic cancer stem cells.

Clinical validation of the ISGPF classification and the risk factors of pancreatic fistula formation following duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy by one surgeon at a single center.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pancreatic fistula remains a troublesome complication after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), and many authors have suggested factors that affect pancreatic leakage after PD. The International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) published a classification, but the new criteria adopted have not been substantially validated. The aims of this study were to validate the ISGPF classification and to analyze the risk factors of pancreatic leakage after duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy by a single surgeon. METHODS: All patient data were entered prospectively into a database. The risk factors for pancreatic fistula were analyzed retrospectively for 247 consecutive patients who underwent conventional pancreatoduodenectomy or pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy between June 2005 and March 2009 at the Samsung Medical Center by a single surgeon. Duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy was performed on all patients. The ISGPF criteria were used to define postoperative pancreatic fistula. RESULTS: Conventional pancreatoduodenectomy was performed in 84 patients and pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy in 163. Postoperative complications occurred in 144 (58.3%) patients, but there was no postoperative in-hospital mortality. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 105 (42.5%) [grade A, 82 (33.2%); grade B, 9 (3.6%); grade C, 14 (5.7%)]. However, no difference was evident between the no fistula group and the grade A fistula group in terms of clinical findings, including postoperative hospital stays (11 versus 12 days, respectively, p = 0.332). Mean durations of hospital stay in the grade B and C fistula groups were significantly longer than in the no fistula group (21 and 28.5 days, respectively; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that a soft pancreas and a long operation time (>300 min) were individually associated with pancreatic fistula formation of grades B and C. CONCLUSIONS: Although the new ISGPF classification appears to be sound in terms of postoperative pancreatic leakage, grade A fistulas lack clinical implications; thus, we are of the opinion that only grade B and C fistulas should be considered in practice. A soft pancreatic texture and an operation time exceeding 300 min were found to be risk factors of grade B and C pancreatic fistulas.

Clinicopathologic analysis of adenosquamous/squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVES: Adenosquamous/squamous cell carcinoma (AS/SCC) of the gallbladder is rarely encountered and accounts for 1.4-10.6% of all gallbladder carcinomas (GBCs). This study was conducted to investigate the clinicopathologic features of AS/SCC of gallbladder. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 16 cases of pathologically proven AS/SCC of the gallbladder among 404 patients who underwent surgery for GBC from October 1994 to March 2009. Forty-eight conventional GBC patients were selected as controls after matching for age and gender. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 60.2 years and half were male. Tumor stages in the case group were significantly more advanced than the control group (P < 0.001). R0 resection rates in cases and controls were 50% and 81.2% (P = 0.022). Overall 1-year survival in the case group was significantly poorer than in the control group (18.8% vs. 87.3%, P < 0.001). However, no significant difference in disease-free survival rates was found between cases and controls after R0 resection (P = 0.072). CONCLUSIONS: AS/SCC of the gallbladder is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which results in non-curative surgical resection and a poorer prognosis than conventional GBC. However, curative surgical resection of AS/SCC of the gallbladder might result in disease-free survival rates that are comparable with those of conventional GBC.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor with hepatic metastasis.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare tumor that affects young females with low malignant potential and good prognosis with more than 90% survival at 5 years. Metastasis is very rare. We report the case of a 74-year-old female who had pancreatic solid-pseudopapillary tumor and synchronous hepatic metastasis.

Risk factors influencing recurrence, patterns of recurrence, and the efficacy of adjuvant therapy after radical resection for gallbladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDS: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is an aggressive neoplasm, and resection is the only curative modality. Recurrence frequently occurs after the curative resection of advanced GBC. Adjuvant treatment, particularly radiotherapy, is recommended and is used without any evidence of a beneficial effect. The aim of this study was to characterize patterns of recurrence and to identify the factors that influence recurrence and the efficacy of adjuvant therapy after the curative resection of GBC. METHODS: The records of patients that underwent surgical resection with curative intent for gallbladder carcinoma from October 1994 and August 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Recurrence patterns, times to recurrence, and survival rates were analyzed. Sites of recurrence were identified retrospectively and categorized as locoregional or distant. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six patients underwent surgical resection with curative intent for gallbladder adenocarcinoma. The 5-year recurrence rates of stages IA, IB, IIA, and IIB patients were 0%, 24.3%, 44.9%, and 58.3%, retrospectively. Positivity for lymph node metastases was found to have predictive significance for disease-free survival (p = 0.009). Regional lymph node recurrence (27.7%) was observed most frequently. There was no significant disease-free survival rates between the no adjuvant therapy and the adjuvant therapy groups. CONCLUSIONS: The regional lymph nodes and the liver were found to be the most common sites of recurrence after curative resection. Lymph node metastases were identified as an independent predictor of tumor recurrence by multivariate analysis. Based on the disease-free survivals observed in this study, the authors find it would be difficult to advocate the routine use of adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Prognostic factors and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine prognostic factors for survival after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) and to compare outcomes after surgery alone versus surgery plus adjuvant therapy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 219 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for PC with curative intent between 1995 and 2007. Data were collected prospectively. Postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) consisted of fluorouracil or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy; the median radiation dose was 45 Gy. RESULTS: The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 24.3% and 14.2%, respectively. Median OS was 14.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 12-16 months]. Patients with metastatic lymph nodes experienced improved median survival (16 vs 10 months; P < 0.001) and 3-year OS (3-year OS 28% vs 8%) after adjuvant CRT compared with those who had no CRT. Patients who underwent non-curative resection had the same effect (median OS, 13 vs 8 months; P = 0.037). Lymph node metastasis and non-curative resection showed no significance on multivariate analysis. Poor differentiation [risk ratio (RR) = 2.10; P < 0.001] and tumor size >3 cm (RR = 1.57; P = 0.018) were found to be adverse prognostic factors; adjuvant CRT had borderline significance (RR = 0.70; P = 0.087). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant CRT benefited a subset of patients with resected PC, particularly those with lymph node metastasis and those undergoing non-curative resection. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with tumors larger than 3 cm and poor differentiation had poor prognosis.

Prognostic factors for primary duodenal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review the clinical features of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma (PDA) patients and to identify factors that influence survival. The natural history of PDA and the factors that affect patient outcome remain poorly defined. METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of 53 patients treated for PDA from January 1995 to May 2007. RESULTS: Altogether, 28 of the 53 patients (resectability 52.8%) underwent curative resection and 25 (47.2%) surgical palliation (bypass surgery or biopsy). Overall, the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 34.4% and 28.6%, respectively. Survival was significantly higher for patients who underwent curative resection (median survival 39 months; 3- and 5-year survivals 52.9% and 44.1%, respectively) than for those who underwent palliative surgery (median survival 8 months; 3-year survival 0%) (p < 0.001). T stage (p = 0.032) and nodal metastasis (p = 0.002) had significant negative effects on the survival of patients who underwent curative resection according to univariate analysis. However, multivariate analysis revealed that only nodal metastasis (p = 0.015) was significantly associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: The resectability of PDA was associated with increased survival, and metastasis to lymph nodes was found to be associated with reduced survival of patients with PDA. Findings indicate that an aggressive surgical approach should be pursued.

What is an adequate extent of resection for T1 gallbladder cancers?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze clinicopathologic and surgical features and to determine what should be an adequate extent of resection for T1 gallbladder cancers. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Simple cholecystectomy offers adequate treatment for T1a cancers; however, it remains debatable whether T1b cancers should be treated by simple cholecystectomy or by radical resection. METHODS: Two hundred ninety patients with gallbladder cancer underwent surgical resection. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 patients with pathologic stage T1 (27 [52%] with T1a and 25 [48%] with T1b). Clinicopathologic features, extents of resection, and survival rates were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: No lymph node metastasis or lymphovascular or perineural infiltration was observed in those with T1a disease, but 2 of the 25 patients with T1b disease (3.8%) had lymph node metastasis and 1 patient (1.9%) had lymphatic infiltration. Twenty-one of the 52 study subjects (40.3%) underwent simple cholecystectomy. No peritoneal dissemination occurred regardless of the surgical method (laparoscopy or open surgery). Of the 23 radically resected patients (44.2%) in T1b group, 6 patients (11.5%) underwent cholecystectomy and hepatoduodenal lymph node dissection (CholeLN), and 17 patients (32.7%) underwent CholeLN combined with wedge resection of IVb and V segments of liver, common bile duct resection, or pancreaticoduodenectomy. No difference in locoregional recurrence, metastasis, or survival rate was observed regardless of combined resection of an adjacent organ. The overall survival rate for all patients was 96.2%, and for T1a and T1b these were 96.3% and 96%, respectively. CONCLUSION: When early gallbladder carcinoma is suspected on the basis of imaging findings, further evaluation of the depth of invasion by endoscopic ultrasonography or intraoperative frozen biopsy is advised. Then, if the disease stage is determined to be T1a, laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy alone is curative, and if T1b, cholecystectomy with hepatoduodenal lymph node dissection without combined resection of an adjacent organ is recommended.