Preoperative difficulty factors in delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Tokyo Guidelines 2018 surgical difficulty score analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) recommend early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for low-risk acute cholecystitis (AC); however, some patients undergo delayed LC (DLC) after conservative treatment. DLC, influenced by chronic inflammation, is a difficult procedure. Previous studies on LC difficulty lacked objective measures. Recently, TG18 introduced a novel 25 findings difficulty score, which objectively assesses intraoperative factors. The purpose of this study was to use the difficulty score proposed in TG18 to identify and investigate the predictors of preoperative high-difficulty cases of DLC for AC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 patients with DLC after conservative AC treatment. The surgical difficulty of DLC was evaluated using a difficulty score. Based on previous studies, the highest scores in each category were categorized as grades A-C. RESULTS: The severity of AC was mild in 51 patients and moderate in 49. Surgical outcomes revealed a distribution of difficulty scores, with grade C indicating high difficulty, showing significant differences in operative time, blood loss, achieving a critical view of safety, bailout procedures, and postoperative hospital stay compared with grades A and B. Regarding the preoperative risk factors, multivariate analysis identified age >61 years (p = .008), body mass index >27.0 kg/m2 (p = .007), and gallbladder wall thickness >6.2 mm (p = .001) as independent risk factors for grade C in DLC. CONCLUSION: The difficulty score proposed in TG18 provides an objective framework for evaluating surgical difficulty, allowing for more accurate risk assessments and improved preoperative planning in DLC for AC.

[Two Cases of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer and Lower Rectal Cancer Resected Successfully That Enabled Anus Preservation after Preoperative Chemotherapy].

We reported 2 cases of colorectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)with the aim of curative resection or anal preservation. Case 1: A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer with sacral invasion. Because of the sacral invasion, we performed preoperative chemotherapy. He was treated with 12 courses of CapeOX plus Bmab and 3 courses of capecitabine plus radiation therapy(45 Gy in total). After chemoradiation therapy, a lower anterior resection was performed. The pathological finding was pT3pN0pM0, pStage Ⅱ. Case 2: A 69-year-old man was diagnosed with lower rectal cancer. Colonoscopy revealed a tumor near the dentate line. Because the patient desired anal preservation, we performed preoperative chemotherapy. He was treated with IRIS plus Bmab. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, the tumor had reduced in size. The pathological findings were no residual tumor cell, pN0. In our hospital, we have preserved the anus in 2 patients after NAC. Including the above 2 cases, we have performed curative resection in 7 cases. The mean observation period after surgery was 30 months; 1 case died from cancer recurrence(41 months after resection)and other 6 cases lived without cancer relapse.

[A Case of Histological Complete Remission after Chemotherapy for Paraaortic Lymph Node Recurrence after Colon Cancer Surgery].

In September 2013, a 50-year-old woman presented to our hospital with right abdominal pain as the main complaint. Careful examinations led to the diagnosis of ascending colon cancer. In October 2013, resection of the right half colon and removal of the D3 lymph nodes were performed. As postoperative adjunctive chemotherapy, 6 courses of CAPOX therapy were initiated. PET-CT conducted 17 months after the surgery revealed an enlarged right para-aoric lymph nodes and abnormal FDG accumulation. Lymph node recurrence was diagnosed. In April 2015, 10 courses of CAPOX plus BEV therapy, followed by 12courses of capecitabine single agent, were initiated. PET-CT revealed complete remission of the right para-aoric lymph nodes. However, abnormal FDG accumulation was detected in the right ovary and uterine corpus. After careful examinations in March 2017, we performed expanded total hysterectomy, bilateral resection of the appendicular organs, resection of body reticular region, and removal of the lymph nodes and those at the right side of the aorta for the ovarian and uterine cancer. Pathologically, intimal cancer in the right ovary and uterine corpus was diagnosed. Examination of the right para-aoric lymph nodes resected at the same time showed complete remission on images, although histological complete remission was found with scarring. Currently, 63 months after the initial surgery, the patient is alive without recurrence.

[Two Cases of Rectal Cancer Resected Curatively after Chemotherapy with CapeOX plus Bmab].

We report 2 cases of locally far-advanced rectosigmoid cancer that were initially unresectable, but were successfully excised after treatment with CapeOX plus Bmab chemotherapy(capecitabine, L-OHP, and bevacizumab). Case 1: A 72-year-old man who complained of severe constipation initially received sigmoid colostomy because of far-advanced rectosigmoid cancer. After 4 courses of CapeOX plus Bmab chemotherapy administration, the size of the primary tumor remarkably decreased and curative resection could be performed. There has been no signs of recurrence for 27 months. Case 2: A 73-year-old man who complained of tenesmus initially received ileostomy because of far-advanced rectosigmoid cancer that directly invaded the appendix, ileum, and urinary bladder. After he received 3 courses of CapeOX plus Bmab chemotherapy, the primary tumor was found to have shrunk remarkably. Therefore, surgery was performed and the tumor was resected curatively. From these experiences, we conclude that some patients with locally far-advanced colorectal cancer can be treated effectively with CapeOX plus Bmab chemotherapy in a neoadjuvant setting.

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the stomach: usefulness of computed tomographic volumetry.

We report herein the case of a 70-year-old man who was found to have a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the stomach following sigmoid colon resection. Preoperative gastroscopic and barium examinations revealed a submucosal tumor, measuring 10 cm, on the upper part of the stomach. Using computed tomography (CT) images (i.e., computed tomographic volumetry) the doubling time of this tumor was calculated, accurately, as 3.3 months, which suggested a high growth rate and malignancy. A laparotomy and partial gastric resection were performed. Histologically, the tumor consisted of spindle-shaped cells with oval nuclei. In immunohistochemical studies, the tumor cells were positive with respect to c-kit, CD34, and vimentin, but negative with respect to smooth muscle actin and S-100 protein. There were 15-16 mitoses per 50 high-power fields (HPFs), and the Ki-67 antigen (MIB-1) index was 25.5% in the most active areas, which also indicated malignancy. The final pathological diagnosis of this tumor was malignant GIST. The patient was found to have hepatic metastasis 27 months after the surgery, and he subsequently received a hepatic subsegmentectomy. To our knowledge, there are very few reports concerning the growth rate of GISTs. Computed tomographic volumetry is useful for the follow-up of small or irregularly shaped gastric submucosal tumors, and for making decisions regarding surgical intervention.