Epidemiology, therapy and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma between 2010 and 2019 in Piedmont, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. It is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and therefore its prognosis remains poor with a low 5-year survival rate. HCC patients have increasingly complex and constantly changing characteristics, thus up-to-date and comprehensive data are fundamental. AIM: To analyze the epidemiology and main clinical characteristics of HCC patients in a referral center hospital in the northwest of Italy between 2010 and 2019. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical data of all consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of HCC recorded at "Santa Croce e Carle" Hospital in Cuneo (Italy) between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. To highlight possible changes in HCC patterns over the 10-year period, we split the population into two 5-year groups, according to the diagnosis period (2010-2014 and 2015-2019). RESULTS: Of the 328 HCC patients who were included (M/F 255/73; mean age 68.9 ± 11.3 years), 154 in the first period, and 174 in the second. Hepatitis C virus infection was the most common HCC risk factor (41%, 135 patients). The alcoholic etiology rate was 18%, the hepatitis B virus infection etiology was 5%, and the non-viral/non-alcoholic etiology rate was 22%. The Child-Pugh score distribution of the patients was: class A 75%, class B 21% and class C 4%. The average Mayo end-stage liver disease score was 10.6 ± 3.7. A total of 55 patients (17%) were affected by portal vein thrombosis and 158 (48%) by portal hypertension. The average nodule size of the HCC was 4.6 ± 3.1 cm. A total of 204 patients (63%) had more than one nodule < 3, and 92% (305 patients) had a non-metastatic stage of the disease. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging distribution of all patients was: 4% very early, 32% early, 23% intermediate, 34% advanced, and 7% terminal. Average survival rate was 1.6 ± 0.3 years. Only 20% of the patients underwent treatment. Age, presence of ascites, BCLC stage and therapy were predictors of a better prognosis (P < 0.01). A comparison of the two 5-year groups revealed a statistically significant difference only in global etiology (P < 0.05) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this study analyzing patients with a new diagnosis of HCC between 2010-2019, hepatitis C virus infection was the most common etiology. Most patients presented with an advanced stage disease and a poor prognosis. When comparing the two 5-year groups, we observed a statistically significant difference only in global etiology (P < 0.05) and AFP levels (P < 0.01).

Human herpes virus 8-negative effusion-based lymphoma in a patient with persistent serous effusions.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common histologic diagnosis among the aggressive lymphomas, accounting for 30% of all lymphomas. Human herpes virus 8-negative effusion-based lymphoma (HHV8-negative EBL) is a rare form of lymphoma, under recognized and still not well characterized in the literature. In contrast to primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), HHV8-negative EBL is characterized by malignant effusion in essentially serous body cavity with no detectable contiguous tumor masses and is no associated with human immunodeficiency virus and HHV8 infections. The presence of comorbid medical conditions can hide this type of lymphoma and made diagnosis more challenging. Here, we describe a rare case of an 82-year-old male suffering from peritoneal and pleural effusion and Hepatitis B virus related cirrhosis diagnosed with HHV8-negative EBL.

Incidence rates and case fatality rates of portal vein thrombosis and Budd-Chiari Syndrome.

Little information is available on the incidence of splanchnic vein thrombosis and on mortality rates during the acute phase of the disease. We performed a large epidemiologic study on hospital admissions for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and the Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) between 2002 and 2012 in Northwestern Italy. Primary and secondary discharge diagnoses of PVT and BCS were identified using the 9th edition International Classification of Diseases codes 453.0, 572.1 and 452. Hospitalisations for recurrent events were not included. Information was collected on age and gender, vital status at discharge, duration of hospitalisation, and up to five secondary discharge diagnoses. Comorbidity was evaluated using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). A total of 3535 patients with PVT and 287 with BCS were hospitalized. The overall gender-specific incidence rates for PVT were 3.78 per 100,000 inhabitants in males and 1.73 per 100,000 inhabitants in females; for BCS 2.0 and 2.2 per million inhabitants, respectively. In-hospital case fatality was 7.3 % in patients with PVT and 4.9 % in patients with BCS. Age, non-abdominal solid cancer, and CCI were independently associated with in-hospital mortality in both PVT and BCS after stepwise regression analysis, male gender and haematologic cancer were associated with mortality in BCS patients only. In this large study we confirmed the low incidence of BCS and we found an incidence of PVT higher than previously reported. This incidence was stable during the period of observation. In-hospital mortality is not negligible, in particular in PVT patients.

Hepatic brucelloma.

We present a case of hepatic abscess caused by Brucella melitensis (or hepatic brucelloma) diagnosed in a 59-year-old man 33 years after an episode of acute brucellosis that had completely resolved. Recovery from symptoms and a decrease in lesion size seen on radiological assessment were achieved through prolonged combined antibiotic therapy, without the need for surgery. Hepatic brucelloma is a rare complication of brucellosis, which is the most common zoonosis globally, mainly occurring in specific endemic areas and causing a range of clinical manifestations. In this Grand Round, we review the clinical manifestations, diagnostic approach (through laboratory, radiology, and histology findings), differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of hepatic brucelloma.

Epidemiology, clinical-treatment patterns and outcome in 256 hepatocellular carcinoma cases.

AIM: To analyze the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: We analyzed clinical, pathological and therapeutic data from 256 consecutive patients, examined at S. Croce Hospital in Cuneo-Piedmont, with a diagnosis of HCC between 30(th) June 2000 and 1(st) July 2010. We analyzed the hospital imaging database and examined all medical records, including the diagnosis code for HCC (155.0 according to the ICD-9M classification system), both for inpatients and outpatients, and discovered 576 relevant clinical records. After the exclusion of reports relating to multiple admissions for the same patient, we identified 282 HCC patients. Moreover, from this HCC series, we excluded 26 patients: 1 patient because of an alternative final diagnosis, 8 patients because of a lack of complete clinical data in the medical record and 17 patients because they were admitted to different health care facilities, leaving 256 HCC patients. To highlight possible changes in HCC patterns over the ten-year period, we split the population into two five-year groups, according to the diagnosis period: 30(th) June 2000-30(th) June 2005 and 1(st) July 2005-1(st) July 2010. Patients underwent a 6-mo follow up. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-six HCC patients were included (male/female 182/74; mean age 70 years), 133 in the first period and 123 in the second. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was the most common HCC risk factor (54.1% in the first period, 50.4% in the second; P = 0.63); in the first period, 21.8% of patients were alcoholics and 15.5% were alcoholics in the second period (P > 0.05); the non-viral/non-alcoholic etiology rate was 3.7% in the first period and 20.3% in the second period (P < 0.001). Child class A patients increased significantly in the second period (P < 0.001). Adjusting for age, gender and etiology, there was a significant increase in HCC surveillance during the second period (P = 0.01). Differences between the two periods were seen in tumor parameters: there was an increase in the number of unifocal HCC patients, from 53 to 69 (P = 0.01), as well as an increase in the number of cases where the HCC was < 3 cm [from 22 to 37 (P = 0.01)]. The combined incidence of stage Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer 0 (very-early) and A (early) HCC was 46 (34.6%) between 2000-2005, increasing to 62 (50.4%) between 2005-2010 (P = 0.01). Of the patients, 62.4% underwent specific treatment in the first group, which increased to 90.2% in the second group (P < 0.001). Diagnosis period (P < 0.01), Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer stage (P < 0.01) and treatment per se (P < 0.05) were predictors of better prognosis; surveillance was not related to survival (P = 0.20). CONCLUSION: This study showed that, between 2000-2005 and 2005-2010, the number of HCV-related HCC decreased, non-viral/non alcoholic etiologies increased and of surveillance programs were more frequently applied.

A shift from distal to proximal neoplasia in the colon: a decade of polyps and CRC in Italy.

BACKGROUND: In the last years a trend towards proximalization of colorectal carcinomas (CRC) has been reported. This study aims to evaluate the distribution of CRC and adenomatous polyps (ADP) to establish the presence of proximalization and to assess the potential predictors. METHODS: We retrieved histology reports of colonic specimens excised during colonoscopy, considering the exams performed between 1997 and 2006 at Cuneo Hospital, Italy. We compared the proportion of proximal lesions in the period 1997-2001 and in the period 2002-2006. RESULTS: Neoplastic lesions were detected in 3087 people. Proximal CRC moved from 25.9% (1997-2001) to 30.0% (2002-2006). Adjusting for sex and age, the difference was not significant (OR 1.23; 95% CI: 0,95-1,58). The proximal ADP proportion increased from 19.2% (1997-2001) to 26.0% (2002-2006) (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.17-1.89). The corresponding figures for advanced proximal ADP were 6.6% and 9.5% (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.02-2.17). Adjusting for gender, age, diagnostic period, symptoms and number of polyps the prevalence of proximal advanced ADP was increased among people ≥ 70 years compared to those aged 55-69 years (OR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.032.16). The main predictor of proximal advanced neoplasia was the number of polyps detected per exam (> 1 polyp versus 1 polyp: considering all ADP: OR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.59-2.93; considering advanced ADP OR 1.63; 95% CI: 1.08-2.46). Adjusting for these factors, the difference between the two periods was no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: CRC do not proximalize while a trend towards a proximal shift in adenomas was observed among people ≥ 70 years.

Primary hepatic carcinoid: a case report and literature review.

Carcinoids are tumors derived from neuroendocrine cells and often produce functional peptide hormones. Approximately 54.5% arise in the gastrointestinal tract and frequently metastasize to the liver. Primary hepatic carcinoid tumors (PHCT) are extremely rare; only 95 cases have been reported. A 65-year-old man came to our attention due to occasional ultrasound findings in absence of clinical manifestations. His previous medical history, since 2003, included an echotomography of the dishomogeneous parenchymal area but no focal lesions. A computed tomography scan performed in 2005 showed an enhanced pseudonodular-like lesion of about 2 cm. Cholangio-magnetic resonance imaging identified the lesion as a possible cholangiocarcinoma. No positive findings were obtained with positron emission tomography. Histology suggested a secondary localization in the liver caused by a low-grade malignant neuroendocrine tumor. Immunohistochemistry was positive for anti chromogranin antibodies, Ki67 antibodies and synaptophysin. Octreoscan scintigraphy indicated intense activity in the lesion. Endoscopic investigations were performed to exclude the presence of extrahepatic neoplasms. Diagnosis of PHCT was established. The patient underwent left hepatectomy, followed by hormone therapy with sandostatine LAR. Two months after surgery he had a lymph nodal relapse along the celiac trunk and caudate lobe, which was histologically confirmed. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful, with a negative follow-up for hematochemical, clinical and radiological investigations at 18 mo post-surgery. Diagnosis of PHCT is based principally on the histopathological confirmation of a carcinoid tumor and the exclusion of a non-hepatic primary tumor. Surgical resection is the recommended primary treatment for PHCT. Recurrence rate and survival rate in patients treated with resection were 18% and 74%, respectively.

Proximalisation of colorectal carcinoma: a 10-year study in Italy.

INTRODUCTION: Proximalisation of colon carcinoma has been reported over the course of the last 60 years. Changes in site distribution are receiving increasing attention on account of their implications for screening programmes. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective observational study to determine whether the site distribution of colorectal carcinoma in Italy has varied in the last years and whether changes have been influenced by age and sex. METHODS: Findings of colonscopies conducted at Turin University from 1992 to 2001 were examined. Inclusion criteria were: outpatients, screening, presence of anaemia or gastrointestinal bleeding, weight loss, constipation or changes in evacuation frequency. Exclusion criteria were: uncompleted, surgical endoscopies or conducted for positive flexible sigmoidoscopy, with doubtful findings. Carcinomas and benign polyps were diagnosed histologically. Age, sex, date of examination, nature and location of lesions were recorded. Lesions were classed as carcinoma, and polyps <1 and >/=1 cm. Data were grouped into different year periods and compared with the chi square test. We compared 1992-1993 vs. 2000-2001 and 1992-1996 vs. 1997-2001. RESULTS: Of the 8,132 colonoscopies performed, 7,342 were included in the study. Proximal carcinomas moved from 12.2% in 1992-1993 to 14.9% in 2000-2001 (P = 0.57), proximal polyps rose from 16.6% to 22.1% (P < 0.0001). Furthermore proximal carcinomas moved from 16.5% in 1992-1996 to 14.4% in 1997-2001 (P = 0.48); proximal polyps rose from 18.4% to 27.8% (P < 0.005). In the period 1996-2001 there was higher female prevalence (P = 0.0011) and older age (P = 0.0191). DISCUSSION: We can suppose that proximalisation of carcinoma has not yet appeared in Italy.

Common bile duct schwannoma: a case report and review of literature.

Schwannoma is a myelin sheath tumor complicated with neurofibroma, neurofibromatosis and neurogenic sarcoma. Peripheral nerve sheath tumors represent 2%-6% of gastrointestinal tract stromal tumors (GIST), but there are deficient data about location of neurogenic tumors in the biliary system and only nine cases of schwannoma of the extrahepatic biliary tract have been reported. These tumors are clinically non-specific. They are usually symptomatic by compressing the close or adjacent structures when being retroperitoneal, and their preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. This paper reviews the literature data and describes a case of schwannoma of the common bile duct associated with cholestasis in a healthy young woman, diagnosed and treated in our department. This case is of interest on account of the complexity of its diagnosis and the atypical macroscopic growth pattern of the tumor.