Prognostic Implications of Primary Tumor Resection in Stage IVB Colorectal Cancer in Elderly Patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors in stage IVB colorectal cancer in elderly patients, focusing on the influence of treatment modalities, including palliative chemotherapy and primary tumor resection. METHODS: A cohort of 64 patients aged over 65 years who presented with stage IVB colorectal cancer at the Gangneung Asan Hospital between July 1, 2001, and December 31, 2009, was analyzed. Demographics, tumor location, tumor grade, performance status, levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and distant metastatic site at diagnosis were analyzed. Using the treatment histories, we analyzed the prognostic implications of palliative chemotherapy and surgical resection of the primary tumor retrospectively. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 30 male (46.9%) and 34 female patients (53.1%); the median age was 76.5 years. Primary tumor resection was done on 28 patients (43.8%); 36 patients (56.2%) were categorized in the nonresection group. The median survival times were 12.43 months in the resection group and 3.58 months in the nonresection group (P < 0.001). Gender, level of CEA, level of AST, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, tumor location, and presence of liver metastasis also showed significant differences in overall survival. On multivariate analysis, male gender, higher level of CEA, higher AST level, and no primary tumor resection were independent poor prognostic factors. In particular, nonresection of the primary tumor was the most potent/poor prognostic factor in the elderly-patient study group (P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 2.33 to 21.99; hazard ratio, 7.16). CONCLUSION: In stage IVB colorectal cancer in elderly patients, resection of the primary tumor may enhance survival.

Colorectal micropapillary carcinomas are associated with poor prognosis and enriched in markers of stem cells.

Colorectal micropapillary carcinoma has recently been reported as an aggressive variant of adenocarcinoma with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis, but has not been well investigated in terms of survival analysis. This study analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics, including survival data, of the patients with micropapillary carcinoma. We hypothesized that the aggressive features of micropapillary carcinoma might be related to the presence of more tumor cells with stem cell phenotype in colorectal cancer. Fifty-five (10%) micropapillary carcinoma cases were identified among 561 cases of colorectal cancer. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics, including survival data and immunohistochemical profiles of stem cell markers (SOX2, NOTCH3, CD44v6, CD166, ALDH1) of micropapillary carcinomas with those of randomly selected 112 conventional adenocarcinomas lacking micropapillary carcinoma components (non-micropapillary carcinoma) in the colorectum. To exclude the possibility of dilution of control group by patients with microsatellite instability-high carcinomas, we divided non-micropapillary carcinomas into microsatellite instability-high carcinoma and microsatellite stable tumors. Micropapillary carcinomas were characterized by more frequent lymphovascular invasion (P<0.0001) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.0001), higher pathological T and tumor node metastasis stages (P=0.047 and P=0.001), and more frequent SOX2 (P=0.038) and NOTCH3 expressions (P=0.005). Overall 5-year survival rate for patients with micropapillary carcinoma (37%) was significantly lower than for microsatellite instability-high carcinoma and microsatellite stable carcinoma patients (92 and 72%, P<0.0001). The presence of the micropapillary carcinoma component was shown to be associated with a significantly worse survival rate in univariate (P<0.0001) and multivariate (P=0.003, Cox hazard ratio 2.402) analyses. In conclusion, recognition of the micropapillary carcinoma component in colonic adenocarcinoma is very important, because the micropapillary carcinoma has been associated with a significantly worse prognosis. We also found a higher expression rate of cancer stem cell markers in micropapillary carcinomas, suggesting their potential contribution to the survival disadvantage of micropapillary carcinoma.

A case of a mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from a rectal diverticulum.

The occurrence of an adenocarcinoma arising from a rectal diverticulum that causes mechanical ileus is very rare. Recently, we diagnosed a case of a mucinous adenocarcinoma in a rectal diverticulum after an emergent abdominal perineal resection and permanent colostomy by laparotomy. Here, we present a case report and a review of the literature.

Lemierre's syndrome in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Internal jugular vein thrombosis is usually associated with intravenous drug abuse, long-term venous catheterization, local infection, or spontaneous occlusion. The antiphospholipid syndrome is now recognized as one of the commonest causes of acquired arterial or venous thrombosis. Lemierre's syndrome is an uncommon but potentially lethal complication of internal jugular vein thrombosis after an oropharyngeal infection. A 34-year-old man presented with fever and progressive, painful right neck swelling 6 days after an episode of pharyngitis. Clinical studies including radiological and laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. Although Lemierre's syndrome is a well-known cause of internal jugular vein thrombosis, association with antiphospholipid syndrome is very rare.

Aneurysm of the popliteal artery in neurofibromatosis.

The neurofibromatoses are a heterogeneous set of genetic disorders having clinical manifestations that involve the skin, the nervous system, or both. In addition, the disease can be confounded by a broad spectrum of complications, such as various kinds of osseous lesion, vascular lesions, aqueduct stenosis, optic glioma, and learning disabilities. Neurofibromatosis results in vascular involvement in approximately 10% of cases. Stenotic lesions predominate, but aneurysms have been documented as well. Rarely noted, however, have been peripheral aneurysms. In this report, we discuss the case of a 66-year-old woman with type 1 neurofibromatosis and a popliteal artery aneurysm who was operated upon because of threatened limb ischemia. Histological findings confirmed neurofibromatous invasion of the vessel wall.

Mesenteric involvement of acute-stage Buerger's disease as the initial clinical manifestation: report of a case.

Buerger's disease is almost always a disease of the blood vessels in the extremities. Conversely, mesenteric involvement of Buerger's disease is rare, and no true series have been reported. We report the case of a 37-year-old man with clinical symptoms of upper extremity Buerger's disease, who underwent surgery for extensive small bowel infarction. Histopathologic findings revealed that the mesenteric arteries were swollen and infiltrated with neutrophils, but not associated with fibrinoid necrosis. The lumen was occluded by a highly cellular thrombus with the appearance of a microabscess. These findings were compatible with acute-stage mesenteric Buerger's disease and postoperative studies revealed multiple occluded segments in the small and medium-sized arteries of both legs and the left arm, suggestive of Buerger's disease in the extremities.

Compartment syndrome after compression sclerotherapy.

Acute limb compartment syndrome is a condition in which raised pressure within a closed fascial space reduces capillary perfusion below a level necessary for tissue viability. Although it is a rare but potentially disastrous complication of orthopedic injury to the extremities, it may occur spontaneously without a history of trauma, and any insult that tends to increase resistance to flow in the capillary bed in any anatomical situation may result in a compartment syndrome. We report an extremely rare case of compartment syndrome following compression sclerotherapy.

Staged surgery for chronic primary aortoduodenal fistula in a septic patient.

Aortoenteric fistula is one of the most challenging problems that confront the vascular surgeons. Controversy remains over the optimal treatment because of the continued publication of series with high mortality, amputation, and aortic disruption rates. A positive preoperative blood culture is the best predictor of mortality with increased amputation rates due to infection of the extra-anatomic bypass. Therefore, in selected cases with sepsis, a prudent management protocol is required. We report a 68-yr-old male presenting with a chronic primary aortoduodenal fistula extensively involving the duodenum and Gram-negative sepsis. We planned a staged operation. Initially, an emergency laparotomy and control of the aorta allowed stabilization of the patient, identification of the fistula, and direct in situ placement of the prosthetic graft followed by an en bloc resection of the aneurysm and the surrounding structures. After he recovered from sepsis and had been stabilized, a staged extra-anatomic bypass followed by transabdominal removal of the temporarily placed graft was done. This management plan will allow the highest success rate and may be a prudent management protocol for these difficult cases.

Severe lactic acidosis and thiamine deficiency during total parenteral nutrition--case report.

We encountered a case of total parenteral nutrition-associated lactic acidosis that did not respond to sodium bicarbonate or other conventional emergency treatments. He was characterized by minimal food intake before surgery, delayed gastric emptying after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy due to pancreas head cancer and long-term total parenteral nutrition without food intake and vitamin supplements after surgery. After thiamine administration, the patient very quickly recovered with dramatic reestablishment of the acid-base balance. We emphasize the need to supplement total parenteral nutrition with thiamine-containing vitamins for the patients whose food intake does not meet nutritional requirements and to intravenously replenish using high-dose thiamine simultaneously with the manifestation of signs and symptoms of severe lactic acidosis with unknown cause. In conclusion, thiamine deficiency should be included in the differential diagnosis of lactic acidosis for the patients who received total parenteral nutrition without food intake and vitamin supplements.

Role of diagnostic laparoscopy in managing acute mesenteric venous thrombosis.

We describe two cases with acute mesenteric venous thrombosis in which diagnostic laparoscopy helped to diagnose the possible bowel infarction. These patients presented with abdominal pain out of proportion to physical findings, and computed tomography demonstrated thrombus in the superior mesenteric vein. Anticoagulation with heparin followed by diagnostic laparoscopy was done immediately after the diagnosis was established. According to the laparoscopic findings, one was managed with full anticoagulation without laparotomy and the other was managed with full anticoagulation and surgical resection. Considering that delay in diagnosis and surgical exploration is still frequent and is a significant contributory factor to the reported high mortality rate, diagnostic laparoscopy in an early position in the management algorithm for acute mesenteric venous thrombosis can furnish a rapid precise diagnosis of bowel infarction. It can also reduce the unnecessary laparotomies in these difficult cases.

Leakage of jejunal end of roux limb after total gastrectomy: management with a placement of a covered metallic stent: case report.

Postoperative leakage is a serious complication in patients after gastric surgery. It can lead to a rapid deterioration in the patient's condition and quality of life. Treatment is guided by the type of anastomosis and the patient's clinical status. The role of interventional radiology in gastrointestinal tract is evolving. Metallic stent placement has shown encouraging results for the palliation of gastrointestinal tract obstruction and fistula in malignant patients. We encountered a case of the leakage of jejunal end of Roux limb after total gastrectomy. This patient required a drainage procedure with long-term parenteral nutrition. We performed peroral placement of a covered metallic stent to avoid surgery and long-term parenteral nutrition, and he resumed adequate oral intake immediately after stent placement. This minimally invasive procedure is very promising for the treatment of a gastrointestinal fistula to avoid surgery and long-term parenteral nutritional support in selected cases.

Role of endoscopy in the diagnosis of aneurysm-duodenal fistula.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms complicated by enteric fistulae are uniformly fatal clinical conditions and therefore should be placed high on the list of possible diagnoses in any patient with aneurysmal disease and gastrointestinal bleeding. A number of different diagnostic techniques have been proposed, but most of them are usually of little help or even misleading. METHODOLOGY: Between May 2000 and April 2002, endoscopy was performed in 290 consecutive patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We retrospectively evaluated that endoscopy may provide an important diagnostic clue in aneurysm-enteric fistulae. RESULTS: Three patients with gastrointestinal bleeding presented with aneurysmal disease complicated by duodenal fistula formation. Two patients presented with aortoduodenal fistula, and the last one hepatic artery aneurysm with duodenal fistula formation. In all of our cases, endoscopic findings were suggestive and helpful for the preoperative diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that prompt aggressive surgical intervention is mandatory for survival and more than 90% of aneurysmal disease with duodenal fistula formation should be within range of the endoscopists, aggressive and thorough endoscopy with a high index of clinical suspicion seems to be the most important diagnostic test in these difficult cases.