[Vascular relationships of the right great splanchnic nerve in the thorax]. / Rapports vasculaires thoraciques du nerf grand splanchnique droit.

AIM: The surgical assumption of responsibility of the pancreatic pain requires either a truncular coelioscopic or radicular neurectomy of greater splanchnic nerves (gsn). The goal of our work is to describe the way and relations of the right gsn which are variable and rarely described. This constitutes an undeniable peroperational hemorrhagic risk during splanchnicectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After a double side thoracotomy and a bilateral sterno-clavicular desarticulation on 15 adult cadaveric subjects preserved by method of Winckler we removed the sterno-costal drill plate as well as the ventral rib arch and proceeded to a mediastinal evisceration of the thorax. Then we respected only the thoracic aorta and the oesophagus, the azygos venous system, the thoracic duct and the thoracic sympathetic chain. In some of the subjects, the azygos vein was injected (after catheterization of its stick) using gelatine coloured with blue paint. We studied the way and vascular relations of the right gsn. We measured the transverse distances between the origin of the gsn on one hand and the longitudinal axes of the azygos vein and the thoracic duct on the other hand. RESULTS: The relations of the right gsn trunk during its way related to the azygos vein in particular its constitutive origin and its affluents: ascending lumbar vein and twelfth intercostal vein. Sometimes the thoracic duct even a lymphatic node was near the gsn in the posterior infra-mediastinal space. A classification of the way and vascular relations of the right gsn in the thorax identified 3 anatomical types. The average distances separating the right gsn on one hand from the azygos vein and the thoracic duct on the other hand were respectively 5.7 mm and 11.2 mm. CONCLUSION: The vascular relations of the right gsn are very variable from one subject to another but primarily venous, sometimes lymphatic. They concerned the great thoracic vessels whose respect is essential in particular at the time of mini-invasive access procedure for a cœlioscopic splanchnicectomy.

Long-term survival (superior to 20 years) after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma: report of two cases.

Pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDA) is associated with dismal survival. This study reports two cases of very long survival after pancreatectomy for PDA. These were two male patients with pT30M0 and pT2N0M0 tumour. Both received adjuvant treatment and are currently alive after 21y 6 months and 22 y 2 months respectively. Very long term survival for PDA can be achieved for some patients who benefit from R0 resection.

Mixed adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma arising in a gastric duplication cyst.

Malignant transformation of duplication cyst is a rare condition. The authors report the original case of a degenerated gastric duplication cyst in a 67-year-old patient. The histologic examination revealed a gastric duplication cyst infiltrated with both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Local carcinomatosis was found at laparotomy. The patient died six months after complete macroscopic resection of the lesion, with metastatic disease.

[Anicteric cholestasis: imaging and diagnostic strategy]. / Une cholestase anicterique: l'apport de l'imagerie au diagnostic étiologique.

Cholestasis is due to abnormal biliary secretion, from hepatic or extra hepatic causes. The diagnostic strategy of anicteric cholestasis will be discussed, defining hepatic biologic abnormalities, and the role and sequence of imaging techniques based on clinical and biological findings. Main causes will be emphasized and illustrated with different radiological techniques (US, CT and MRI).

[Anatomic study and clinical application of the skin paddle of the serratus anterior free flap]. / Etude anatomique et applications cliniques des caractéristiques de la palette cutanée du lambeau libre de grand dentelé.

SUBJECT: Several authors used musculocutaneous free flaps of serratus anterior. However, the localization and dimensions of its skin paddle are not clearly defined in the literature. Thus, we realized an anatomical study trying to prove the reality of this skin paddle and its localisation, before considering clinical applications. PATIENT AND METHODS: Twenty-six dissections on 13 fresh anatomical subjects were realized. The protocol consisted in catheterization the thoracic branch of the thoracodorsal artery to inject a mixture of iodized product and methylene blue. The results were obtained by direct measurement of the blue cutaneous area and by radiographic evaluation of the radiopaque area, compared to reproducible anatomical reference marks. RESULTS: Twenty-five dissections were interpretable with superposable results. The skin paddle was always located compared to the 5th, 6th and 7th ribs between the anterior axillary line and the mamelonnary line. The area of the skin paddle was 11,75 cm of length (10-14), 10,75 cm of width (9-12) and 125 cm(2) from surface (110-140). Then, we realized between January and December 2003 several clinical applications of this anatomical study. We report 12 cases of free flaps of serratus anterior with skin paddle for the monitoring of the flap (4 musculocutaneous, 5 osteo-musculo-cutaneous, 3 of fascia with skin paddle). CONCLUSION: This study comes to the support from the anatomical observations from Salmon, the per-operational observations of several authors and our own clinical experiment. It certifies the autonomy of cutaneous vascularization by branches resulting from the surface fascia of the muscle. It specifies the localization and dimensions of the skin paddle of the serratus anterior flap in its muscular, osteo-muscular or fascial form, which still increases its versatility of use.

[Solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: a clinical study of five cases, and review of the literature]. / Tumeurs pseudopapillaires et solides du pancréas : à propos de cinq cas et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas are rare and their origin is unknown. The aim of this work was to report five new cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of data from patients operated on from 1983 to 2002 in a university hospital specialized in pancreatic surgery. Patients were identified in a prospectively constituted database of pathologic examinations. RESULTS: Five patients (three men and two women, aged from 15 to 69 years) underwent pancreatectomy for a solid pseudopapillary tumor, which was discovered fortuitously by imaging in three cases. Tumor diameter ranged from 4 to 15 cm. Diagnosis was made preoperatively in only one patient. There were three pancreaticoduodenectomies and two left pancreatectomies, with extension to the transverse colon due to vascular reasons in two cases. Only one significant complication occurred (one colonic fistula). With a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 6 years, all patients are alive without recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Solid pseudopapillary tumors are not exceptional in men. Complete resection can need extension to neighboring organs but allows good long-term survival.

[Idiopathic brachial neuralgia after cesarean section]. / Névralgie amyotrophiante idiopathique de l'épaule au décours d'une césarienne.

We report a case of idiopathic brachial nevralgia of the right shoulder in a 30-year-old female, after caesarean section, under spinal anaesthesia. Two days after surgery, intense cervical pain appeared on the second day, associated with rapid collapse of muscular shoulder belt. Full recovery occurred in four months.

Percutaneous ethanol injection vs. resection in patients with small single hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective case-control study with cost analysis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous ethanol injection and hepatic resection are the most widely used curative therapeutic options for patients with compensated liver disease and small hepatocellular carcinoma. AIM: To compare percutaneous ethanol injection and hepatic resection in a selected group of consecutive French patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma, smaller than or equal to 50 mm, in terms of survival, recurrence rate of malignancy and direct costs. METHODS: The analysis of two contemporary cohorts of Child-Pugh A or B patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma of < or = 50 mm treated by percutaneous ethanol injection (n=55) or hepatic resection (n=50). RESULTS: Long-term survival was not significantly different between the two groups when the size of hepatocellular carcinoma was less than 30 mm. However, the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 30 mm was higher after hepatic resection than after percutaneous ethanol injection (P=0.044). The cumulative direct costs were significantly higher in patients treated by hepatic resection than in those treated by percutaneous ethanol injection regardless of the tumour size. The calculated costs per month of survival in patients treated with percutaneous ethanol injection and hepatic resection were 999 vs. 3865 euros, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ethanol injection is more cost effective than hepatic resection in patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma smaller than 30 mm. However, in patients with a larger tumour, long-term survival is higher after hepatic resection.

[Total pancreatectomy for mucinous pancreatic tumor]. / Pancréatectomie totale pour tumeur mucineuse du pancréas.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To report our experience of total pancreatectomy (TP) in ten patients with mucinous pancreatic tumors (MPT), to discuss pre and peroperative investigations in the management of MPT, and operative, functional and carcinologic results after TP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study from January 1985 to January 2001 included ten patients, 5 men and 5 women (mean aged: 64 years). Six patients underwent one step TP for intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas (IPMT) in 5 cases, and multifocal mucinous cystadenoma in one case. Four patients underwent a second step TP for tumor recurrence (2 IPMT, and 2 cystadenocarcinomas) which occurred 12 to 121 months post operatively (mean: 49 months). RESULTS: Post TP diabetes was controlled by insulinotherapy (3 injections a day), except in one patient who needed insulin administration through a pump. One patient, with cystadenocarcinoma, died from cancer recurrence 18 months after TP and 140 months after the initial pancreaticoduodenectomy. One patient died from heart disease 34 months postoperatively. The 8 other patients were alive with a mean follow-up of 33 months (range 11-61 months). CONCLUSION: Curative surgery for mucinous tumors of the pancreas may require TP, which is indicated preoperatively according to imaging, or intraoperatively following surgical findings and frozen section of the pancreatic margin. Totalization of a previous partial pancreatectomy is mandatory in case of tumoral persistence or recurrence in the pancreatic remnant. Postoperative diabetes can be managed successfully by a specialized team.

Double common bile duct with ectopic drainage into the stomach. Case report and review of the literature.

A rare abnormal biliary tract consisting in a double common bile duct with an ectopic biliary tree draining into the stomach is described. This congenital anomaly, associated with lithiasis in the ectopic duct, was detected for the first time on MR-cholangiopancreatography. Only 23 cases of abnormal biliary drainage into the stomach have been reported in the literature. Embryogenesis and potential risks, such as lithiasis in the ectopic duct and the development of gastric carcinoma, are discussed.

[Duodenal somatostatinoma. Anatomic/clinical study of 12 operated cases]. / Le somatostatinome duodénal. Etude anatomoclinique de 12 cas opérés.

STUDY AIM: Duodenal somatostatinomas (DS) are very rare neuro-endocrine tumours. The aim of this retrospective and multicentric study was to report the clinical and pathological characteristics of these neoplasms in a series of 12 patients and to compare them with the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1987 to 1998, 12 patients were operated for a DS. There were seven women and five men ranging in age from 23 to 72 years (mean age: 56.6 years). Four patients had an associated von Recklinghausen's disease, one of them with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN type IIa) and medullary carcinoma of the thyroíd. The surgical procedures were pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 8), small bowel resection (n = 2), inferior gastrectomy (n = 1) and gastrojejunostomy with hepatic metastases biopsies (n = 1). The tumour was mainly located on the 2nd duodenum (n = 10), with a mean size of 2.7 cm (ranging from 0.4 to 6 cm) and with a pancreatic invasion in three patients. A metastatic disease was present at the time of diagnosis in eight patients. There were, according to Capella's classification, two patients in the groups I and II, and ten patients in group III (83%), respectively. RESULTS: There was one postoperative death after a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Three patients secondarily died from tumoral progression. Eight patients were alive, with a mean follow-up of 84 months (ranging from 5 to 290 months), at the end-point of the study. CONCLUSION: Duodenal somatostatinomas are rare neuroendocrine, generally non-functioning, well-differentiated tumours with a low grade of malignancy. The association with the von Recklinghausen's disease is frequent. The clinical somatostatinoma syndrome with diabetes, diarrhea and biliary lithiasis is rare. The treatment is surgical even with a metastatic disease. The 5-year survival rate is better than those of the pancreatic somatostatinomas or the duodenal gastrinomas.

[Video-laparoscopic diagnosis and follow-up of a peritoneal tuberculosis]. / Diagnostic et suivi vidéolaparoscopique d'une tuberculose péritonéale.

A 21-year-old woman suffering from abdominal pain and a fever of 39 degrees C was hospitalized. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic scan showed a large amount of ascites and one hepatic node. The serum CA 125 level was elevated. Protein Chain Reaction (PCR) searching tuberculosis antigen in ascitic fluid was normal. A diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis was supposed and an exploratory laparoscopic procedure performed. Peroperative observation of the ascites, with multiple sites of adhesion, and pathological examination of the hepatic nodule and peritoneum confirmed initial diagnosis. Antituberculous treatment was given for one year. A second laparoscopic procedure was performed and found no disease remaining.

[MRI-cholangiopancreatography characteristics of cystic pancreatic tumors]. / L'apport de la cholangiopancréatographie-IRM dans les tumeurs kystiques du pancréas.

STUDY AIM: The purpose was to assess the value of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to evaluate the diagnosis and surgical resectability of pancreatic cystic tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For MRCP, thick RARE and thin HASTE heavily T2-weighted sequences were performed with a 1.5 Tesla MR unit in 42 patients. Diffusion-weighted echo-planar sequences were performed in 16 patients. Surgical and histopathological correlation was obtained in 15 patients. RESULTS: MRCP detected all cystic lesions of the pancreas: 15 intraductal papillary mucinous tumors, 10 serous cystadenomas, 2 benign mucinous cystadenomas, 1 solid pseudopapillary tumor and 14 small cystic lesions (less than 2 cm) with no clinical signs. MRCP provided complete visualization of the pancreatic duct, showed excrescences within the dilated main or branch pancreatic ducts, identified microlacunar mixed and macrolacunar patterns, as well as septa, communications and stenosis, without contrast agent. MRCP did not characterize serous or mucinous cystic lesions. Specific diagnostic criteria of the various types of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors were noted (main duct, branch duct and combined types) and illustrated with the imaging findings necessary for accurate differential diagnosis. CONCLUSION: MRCP is a useful noninvasive and essential method in preoperative staging of cystic tumors of the pancreas; it is a reasonable alternative to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endosonography, as it provides the necessary information for treatment: surgical decision and/or follow-up.

Prognostic and immunohistochemical validation of the capella classification of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: an analysis of 82 sporadic cases.

AIMS: To study the clinical outcome of 82 cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours classified according to the recent histological and prognostic classification of Capella. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-two surgical cases of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours were examined histologically with immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections using streptavidin-biotin complex and application of antibodies against chromogranin A and 10 hormonal peptides. Classification in four groups correlated with long follow-up and outcome of these cases. Histological examination showed 30 group I, four group II, 41 group III and seven group IV tumours. Twenty-one (70%) of group I tumours were insulinomas, whereas 25% of group III tumours were glucagonomas and 25% were unclassified. Most group IV tumours were unclassified, showing no immunohistochemical staining with any of the 10 hormonal peptides tested. Outcome was clearly correlated with tumour group. Among the 14 patients who died of the disease, four had group IV and 10 group III tumours. Thus, unclassified asymptomatic tumours without immunohistochemical staining had a poorer prognosis than asymptomatic tumours with staining. CONCLUSION: This study validates the Capella classification as easy to apply and useful in predicting clinical outcome.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy for metastatic ampullary and pancreatic tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To report the clinical presentation, diagnosis and results of aggressive surgical management in patients with metastatic ampullary and pancreatic tumors. METHODOLOGY: Twelve patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for ampullary or pancreatic metastases from January 1, 1987, to June 30, 1998, in 2 institutions. The primary cancer was renal cell carcinoma (n = 5), melanoma (n = 2), venous leiomyosarcoma (n = 1), carcinoid tumor (n = 1), colon carcinoma (n = 1), breast carcinoma (n = 1) and small-cell lung carcinoma (n = 1). The mean interval between primary treatment and metachronous pancreatic metastasis was 88 months. In 3 cases, pancreatic metastases were synchronous with the primary tumor. The main symptoms were jaundice (n = 8) and upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (n = 2). The principal investigations were computed tomography scan (n = 9), arteriography (n = 7), duodenoscopy (n = 6) and fine-needle aspiration (n = 4). A correct preoperative diagnosis was made for 8 patients. RESULTS: In all cases, the pancreatic tumor was resected with intention to cure or provide useful palliation, using pancreaticoduodenectomy for isolated tumors (n = 11) or total pancreatectomy for multiple lesions (n = 1). Three out of 12 patents had positive lymph nodes, and the resection margin was free of disease in all cases. There was no postoperative mortality. Survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy averaged 26 months. Overall survival of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy was 35% at 2 years and 17% at 5 years. One patient is still alive more than 10 years after pancreaticoduodenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreaticoduodenectomy can be performed safely, representing a suitable option for resection in patients with symptomatic or late isolated pancreatic metastases in the absence of widely metastatic disease. The best indications are solitary metastases from renal cell carcinoma, sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumors. However, there is no evidence of survival benefit after pancreaticoduodenectomy for synchronous tumors or metachronous tumors from melanoma or colon carcinoma.

Cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas of the pancreas: a multiinstitutional retrospective study of 398 cases. French Surgical Association.

OBJECTIVE: To review the features of patients with benign and malignant cystadenomas of the pancreas, focusing on preoperative diagnostic accuracy and long-term outcome, especially for nonoperated serous cystadenomas and resected cystadenocarcinomas. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Serous cystadenomas (SCAs) are benign tumors. Mucinous cystic neoplasms should be resected because of the risk of malignant progression. A correct preoperative diagnosis of tumor type is based on morphologic criteria. Despite the high quality of recent imaging procedures, the diagnosis frequently remains uncertain. Invasive investigations such as endosonography and diagnostic aspiration of cystic fluid may be helpful, but their assessment is limited to small series. The management of typical SCA may require resection or observation. Survival after pancreatic resection seems better for cystadenocarcinomas (MCACs) than for ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas. METHODS: Three hundred ninety-eight cases of cystadenomas of the pancreas were collected between 1984 and 1996 in 73 institutions of the French Surgical Association. Clinical presentation, radiologic evaluation, and surgical procedures were analyzed for 144 operated SCAs, 150 mucinous cystadenomas (MCAs), and 78 MCACs. The outcome of 372 operated patients and 26 nonoperated patients with SCA was analyzed. RESULTS: Cystadenomas represented 76% of all primary pancreatic cystic tumors (398/522). An asymptomatic tumor was discovered in 32% of patients with SCA, 26% of those with MCA, and 13% of those with MCAC. The tumor was located in the head or uncinate process of the pancreas in 38% of those with SCA, 27% of those with MCA, and 49% of those with MCAC. A communication between the cyst and pancreatic duct was discovered in 0.6% of those with SCA, 6% of those with MCA, and 10% of those with MCAC. The main investigations were ultrasonography and computed tomography (94% for SCA, MCA, and MCAC), endosonography (34%, 28%, and 22% for SCA, MCA, and MCAC respectively), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (16%, 14%, 22%), and cyst fluid analysis (22%, 31%, 35%). An accurate preoperative diagnosis of tumor type was proposed for 20% of those with SCA (144 cases), 30% of those with MCA, and 29% of those with MCAC. An atypical unilocular macrocyst was observed in 10% of SCA cases. The most common misdiagnosis for mucinous cystic tumors was pseudocyst (9% of MCAs, 15% of MCACs). Intraoperative frozen sections (126 cases) allowed a diagnosis according to definitive histologic examination in 50% of those with SCA and MCA and 62% of those with MCAC. For management, 93% of patients underwent surgery. Nonoperated patients (7%) had exclusively typical SCA. A complete cyst excision was performed in 94% of benign cystadenomas, with an operative mortality rate of 2% for SCA and 1.4% for MCA. Resection was possible in 74% of cases of MCAC. Mean follow-up of 26 patients with nonresected SCAs was 38 months, and no patients required surgery. For resected MCACs, the actuarial 5-year survival rate was 63%. CONCLUSIONS: Spiral computed tomography is the examination of choice for a correct prediction of tumor type. Endosonography may be useful to detect the morphologic criteria of small tumors. Diagnostic aspiration of the cyst allows differentiation of the macrocystic form of SCA (10% of cases) and the unilocular type of mucinous cystic neoplasm from a pseudocyst. Surgical resection should be performed for symptomatic SCAs, all mucinous cystic neoplasms, and cystic tumors that are not clearly defined. Conservative management is wholly justified for a well-documented SCA with no symptoms. An extensive resection is warranted for MCAC because the 5-year survival rate may exceed 60%.