Solitary Hepatic Eosinophilic Granuloma Accompanied by Eosinophilia Without Parasitosis: Report of a Case.

A 43-year-old Japanese woman visited for a hepatic tumor incidentally found. We suspected eosinophilic granuloma of the liver (EGL) due to visceral larva migrans (VLM). However, neither past history nor medical interview indicated a risk of parasitosis. Blood testing revealed eosinophilia, serum examination showed normal results for immunoglobulin E, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay yielded negative for Toxocara and Anisakis. Gastric and colonic endoscopy revealed normal features. Several imagings showed central necrosis of the tumor. After informed consent, laparoscopic resection was performed. Histopathological examination showed EGL without parasites. No recurrence had occurred postoperatively. Most reports documented that EGL are caused by VLM. However, parasites are not always demonstrable on serum, histopathological, or immunochemical examinations. When acting as allergens to induce type I responses, microscopic agents other than parasites in the intestinal tract could induce eosinophilic inflammation in the liver. Accumulation of more cases should help clarify other pathogeneses for EGL.

[A Case Report of Successful Chemotherapy with Tegafur/Gimeracil/Oteracil and Nab-Paclitaxel for Gastric Cancer with Chronic Renal Failure].

An 80-year-old Japanese woman with chronic renal failure was diagnosed with gastric cancer and 2 primary colon cancers. The colon cancers were treated with laparoscopic colectomy, but the gastric cancer metastasized to the liver with inoperable dissemination. After operative treatment of the colon cancers, 1 year of combination chemotherapy consisting of tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (TS-1®) and nab-PTX was administered to treat the advanced gastric cancer. Tegafur is a well-known prodrug of 5-FU. Serum densitometry of 5-FU was performed to determine the correct dose of TS-1®. After completion of chemotherapy, no tumor was detected on gastroscopy or dynamic computed tomography. The patient was well with no recurrence 6 months after completion of chemotherapy. CDDP, CPT-11, 5-FU, PTX, and DTX are known chemotherapy agents for treating gastric cancer. Renal excretion is not involved in the metabolism of CPT-11, 5-FU, PTX, or DTX. These agents are metabolized in the liver. CPT-11 metabolism depends on individual hepatic enzymes. Therefore, we believe that nab-PTX and TS-1® are safe and effective agents for patients with chronic renal failure and advanced gastric cancer. Additionally, we also conclude that using serum densitometry of 5-FU to guide the administration of TS-1® can improve both safety and efficacy.

Aneurysm of Pancreatic Artery in Association with Celiac Axis Stenosis: Report of a Case and Review of the Literatures.

A 63-year-old Japanese woman with a history of pemphigus was referred to us for abnormal findings of dynamic abdominal CT where three aneurysms of splenic artery and pancreaticoduodenal artery, celiac axis compression, and gall stone. Superior mesenteric artery supplied hepatic arterial flow via pancreaticoduodenal artery. Avoiding transarterial embolization to prompt arterial ischemia of liver/pancreas head/duodenum, she laparotomically underwent cholecystectomy, splenectomy, transection of median arcurate ligament, and ligation of splenic and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery all at once. Postoperative course was uneventful except drainage of abdominal abscess, and she remained well without aneurysm recurring 40 months post. Important point of treatment for pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm associated with celiac artery occlusion/stenosis is both preventive solutions for rupture of aneurysm and hepatic/duodenal/pancreatic arterial ischemia. Remaining main arterial supply for the liver via pancreaticoduodenal artery from superior mesenteric artery would prompt recurrent aneurysm of pancreaticoduodenal artery. When a clinician encounters a case of pancreatic aneurysm associated with celiac axis occlusion, the case should be treated using with multimodality such as interventional radiology, and vascular surgery.

Efficacy of single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy in adults and adolescents using an endolinear stapler.

BACKGROUND: Some investigators recently introduced transumbilical single-incisional laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA), however, those SILA require expensive surgical instruments, or difficult technique. We uniquely propose performing SILA using with endolinear stapler, and compare the clinical results of the present SILA with those of conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In brief, the skin of the umbilical hollow is cut, the anterior layer of the rectus sheath and subcutaneous fat is exfoliated widely, and the linea alba is opened. Two low-profile 5-mm-diameter trocars are stabbed through the right rectus sheath, and a 12-mm-diameter trocar is inserted from the opened linea alba. Using a 5-mm laparoscope, and endolinear stapler, the appendix is dissected. Some clinical and operative data of 16 cases treated the present SILA are compared with those of 35 cases treated conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. RESULTS: We performed the present SILA for 16 patients consisted of young women mostly, compared with cases treated conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (mean, 26-year-old vs 51-year-old, p < 0.0001). The results of the SILA we have proposed in adults and adolescents are good in terms of operation time (mean, 64 minutes vs 89.3 minutes, p = 0.049), duration of hospitalization (mean, 4.2 days vs 8.1 days, p = 0.0038), and low frequency of intra- and postoperative complications (one patient of postoperative umbilical granuloma). CONCLUSIONS: We assume that convenience of surgical procedure of the present SILA would affect the shortness of operation time, and that minimal invasive surgical stress of the present SILA would reduce perioperative stress of appendicitis, and ameliorate adolescents with appendicitis earlier. We believe that the SILA we have proposed offers advantages in diversion of conventional surgical instruments, similarity to conventional manipulation of laparoscopic forceps, usage of an endoscopic stapler able to cut cecum in cases of advanced appendicitis extending to the cecum, and obviation of extra-abdominal appendectomy demanding excessive traction of the appendix.

Carcinosarcoma of the liver: report of a case.

A 64-year-old Japanese woman without a history of viral hepatitis was admitted for investigation of a huge liver mass. The tumor, measuring 14 × 12 × 22 cm, had invaded the diaphragm, right lung, and inferior vena cava. Serum examinations demonstrated high levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and the Child-Pugh score was A. She underwent right lobectomy of the liver and partial resection of the right diaphragm, right lung, and inferior vena cava. Radio- and chemotherapy were also given, but she died of recurrence 3 months after surgery. Microscopically, the tumor exhibited intermingled adenocarcinomatous and atypical mesenchymal components. The carcinomatous component was positive for cytokeratins 7, 19, and 20, chromogranin A, epithelial membrane antigen, c-KIT, and vimentin. The sarcomatous component was positive for vimentin and c-KIT. A review of 36 cases of hepatic carcinosarcoma revealed the following: chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis in 57 % of the patients; increased serum CA19-9 levels in 30 %; a mean tumor diameter of 10 cm; invasion of the adjacent organs or metastasis to distant organs in 47 %; wide intrahepatic infiltration in 44 %; and 50 % survival of only 5 months. Significant differences were seen according to tumor diameter (diameter >5 cm; p < 0.05), wide intrahepatic infiltration (p < 0.05), and extrahepatic invasion/metastasis (p < 0.01). Neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy contributed to prognosis, but surgical resection resulted in some improvement (p < 0.05).

Incisional intercostal hernia with prolapse of the colon after right partial nephrectomy.

A 75-year-old woman with a history of myocardial infarction, gallstones, and right renal cancer was referred to our department because of right flank pain. She had a surgical scar on the right abdomen between the 10th and 11th ribs; computed tomography demonstrated intercostal herniation of the colon. Recognizing the possibility of adhesions of the hernia and colon, we used a median skin incision and patched a polyester mesh coated with absorbent collagen. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, with no pain for 6 months postoperatively. Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernias with abdominal contents commonly develop after trauma or thoracic surgery. Incisional intercostal hernias seldom develop after nephrectomy; the present case is only the fourth report. We conjecture that a costochondral incision can induce subluxation of the costotransverse joint, intercostal nerve injury, and atrophy of the intercostal and abdominal oblique muscles. Surgeons must therefore recognize the potential, albeit rare, for intercostal hernia after nephrectomy.

Nutritional risk index as an independent predictive factor for the development of surgical site infection after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

PURPOSE: Malnutrition has been considered a risk factor for the development of a surgical site infection (SSI). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between preoperative nutritional screening scores and the development of SSI after pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS: We examined 64 patients who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy. Their clinical data, nutritional risk index (NRI), and nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS-2002) score were recorded. SSIs were diagnosed according to the definitions of wound infection established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and were confirmed by a microbiological examination. Data were analyzed using the Fisher exact probability method and a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: SSIs developed in 21 patients (33 %). Eleven patients had wound infections, and 14 patients had an intra-abdominal abscess. A univariate analysis of perioperative factors revealed that a pancreatic fistula, the NRS-2002, and the NRI were significantly associated with the development of SSI (p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a pancreatic fistula and the NRI were independent risk factors for SSI. By analyzing the pre- and intra-operative factors after excluding the 11 patients with pancreatic fistulas, the NRI was still an independent risk factor for SSI. CONCLUSION: The present study showed the NRI to be an independent factor for predicting the risk of SSI after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma associated with burned-out nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

A 64-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital because of liver dysfunction. He had no history of alcohol intake, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and he was negative for hepatitis viral markers. His body mass index was 30.6 kg/m2. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was 6.1. Liver biopsy revealed mild steatosis, moderate inflammation, ballooning degeneration, and portal fibrosis with bridging fibrosis; on the basis of these findings, the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was made. Thereafter, follow-up imaging study was performed every 4 months. At 16 months after liver biopsy, a 3 cm hepatic lesion was detected in the right hepatic lobe by computed tomography. Dynamic computed tomography revealed a hepatic tumor enhanced with contrast medium during the arterial phase and a low-density area during the portal phase. Based on the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, partial hepatectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed a moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by liver cirrhosis without steatosis or ballooning degeneration. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma arising from burned-out nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Long-term outcome of surgical treatment for ampullary carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to clarify the surgical indication and describe the long-term surgical outcome for ampullary carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: The long-term outcomes of 23 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival and overall survival after surgery were investigated. RESULTS: The cancer-specific 5-, 10- and 20-year survival rates after resection of the ampullary carcinoma were 52%, 43% and 43%, respectively, while the corresponding overall survival rates were 52%, 32% and 24%, respectively. Ten of the 11 patients with recurrent ampullary carcinoma died within 5 years after surgery. Four patients died because of pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, old age after curative resection of gastric cancer, and pneumonia at later than 5 years after the surgery. The risk factors for the short cancer-specific survival period were pancreatic invasion and lymph node metastasis, while those for the short overall survival period were pancreatic invasion and the tumor grade. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that recurrence of ampullary carcinoma within 5 years after its resection, especially in patients with pancreatic invasion or lymph node metastasis and development of other diseases after more than 5 years after the surgery should be carefully investigated.

Effect of interferon therapy on first and second recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: Several investigators have shown that interferon (IFN) therapy can suppress the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment. We investigated the effect of IFN therapy on the first and second HCC recurrence following hepatic resection of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC. METHODS: Subjects included 166 patients who had undergone curative resection for a single HCV-related HCC. We analyzed the outcome after initial hepatic resection and risk factors of a second HCC recurrence following treatment for the first HCC recurrence. RESULTS: Using multivariate analysis, a non-sustained virological response (non-SVR) was significantly associated with a high incidence of first HCC recurrence. The rate of second HCC recurrence tended to be higher in the non-SVR group than in the SVR group. In the patients with recurrence of multiple tumors or who received non-curative treatment for recurrent HCC, the second HCC recurrence rates were significantly higher. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that non-curative treatment for first HCC recurrence was an independent risk factor for a second HCC recurrence. Among the patients who received curative treatment for their first HCC recurrence, the rates of second recurrence were significantly higher in the non-SVR group than in the SVR group. Multivariate analysis also revealed that SVR was independently associated with prevention of a second HCC recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that on first HCC recurrence, a curative treatment should be considered in order to prevent a second recurrence if possible. In addition, IFN therapy contributes to improved prognosis after curative treatment, even in patients with recurrent HCC.

Effects of antiviral therapy on long-term outcome after liver resection for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) on long-term outcome in patients following curative treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: This study involved 70 of the 76 patients who had undergone liver resection for HBV-related HCC in our department; 6 patients were excluded due to non-curative resection or advanced cancer. The 70 patients were divided into three groups, as follows: 13 patients with high serum concentration of HBV DNA (≥4 log(10) copies/mL) and no antiviral therapy (high viral group); 46 patients who received antiviral therapy during the serial follow up (antiviral therapy group) because of high viral concentration (≥4 log(10) copies/mL); and 11 patients with low serum concentration of HBV DNA (<4 log(10) copies/mL) and no antiviral therapy (low viral group). RESULTS: Tumor-free survival rate was significantly higher in the low viral group than in the high viral group (P = 0.0058). Multivariate analysis revealed that a high serum concentration of HBV DNA (≥4 log(10) copies/mL) (risk ratio 6.717, 95% confidence interval 1.435-31.434, P = 0.0156) was an independent risk factor for a short tumor-free survival time. Tumor-free survival rate was significantly higher in the antiviral therapy group than in the high viral group (P = 0.0478). Multivariate analysis revealed that presence of multiple tumors (risk ratio 2.857, 95% confidence interval 1.403-5.816, P = 0.0038) was an independent risk factor for a short tumor-free survival time. The cumulative survival rate was significantly higher in the antiviral therapy group than in the high viral group (P = 0.0025). Multivariate analysis revealed that not undergoing antiviral therapy (risk ratio 0.121, 95% confidence interval 0.024-0.608, P = 0.0104) was an independent risk factor for a short survival time. CONCLUSIONS: A high serum concentration of HBV DNA (≥4 log(10) copies/mL) was a strong risk factor for HCC recurrence after resection of HBV-related HCC. Antiviral therapy with NAs improved the long-term outcome after resection of HBV-related HCC in patients with high serum concentrations of HBV DNA.