Updated European guidelines for clinical management of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), gastric adenocarcinoma, proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS) and other rare adenomatous polyposis syndromes: a joint EHTG-ESCP revision.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary adenomatous polyposis syndromes, including familial adenomatous polyposis and other rare adenomatous polyposis syndromes, increase the lifetime risk of colorectal and other cancers. METHODS: A team of 38 experts convened to update the 2008 European recommendations for the clinical management of patients with adenomatous polyposis syndromes. Additionally, other rare monogenic adenomatous polyposis syndromes were reviewed and added. Eighty-nine clinically relevant questions were answered after a systematic review of the existing literature with grading of the evidence according to Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Two levels of consensus were identified: consensus threshold (≥67% of voting guideline committee members voting either 'Strongly agree' or 'Agree' during the Delphi rounds) and high threshold (consensus ≥ 80%). RESULTS: One hundred and forty statements reached a high level of consensus concerning the management of hereditary adenomatous polyposis syndromes. CONCLUSION: These updated guidelines provide current, comprehensive, and evidence-based practical recommendations for the management of surveillance and treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis patients, encompassing additionally MUTYH-associated polyposis, gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach and other recently identified polyposis syndromes based on pathogenic variants in other genes than APC or MUTYH. Due to the rarity of these diseases, patients should be managed at specialized centres.

Findings in magnetic resonance imaging for restaging locally advanced rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the prognostic value of restaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy and compare long-course chemoradiotherapy (LC-CRT) to short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery (SCRT-delay). METHODS: This retrospective study included 267 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) operated on between January 2016 and April 2019, all of whom received either LC-CRT or SCRT-delay in the neoadjuvant setting. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) based on radiological response assessed using the magnetic resonance tumor regression grade (mrTRG). RESULTS: In the LC-CRT group, cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 94.8%, 86.4%, and 79.0%, while in the SCRT-delay group, they were 83.3%, 68.9%, and 68.9% (P = 0.017). For CSS in the LC-CRT group, cumulative rates were 96.9%, 90.3%, and 85.0%, and in the SCRT-delay group, they were 88.6%, 81.4%, and 81.4% (P = 0.222). There were no significant differences in total histological response rates or local recurrence rates between the treatment groups. The good and moderate response group (mrTRG 1-3) had significantly better cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS compared to the poorer response group (mrTRG 4-5) (P = 0.023 for OS and P = 0.048 for CSS). CONCLUSION: Unfavorable MRI response is a sign of poor prognosis in LARC. SCRT-delay is comparable to LC-CRT concerning the oncological outcome.

The ability of magnetic resonance imaging to predict lymph node metastases and the risk of recurrence in rectal cancer.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected lymph nodes in rectal cancer. METHOD: We evaluated 806 rectal cancer patients consecutively operated on between 2015 and 2018 at Helsinki University Hospital. In total, 485 patients met the inclusion criteria of presenting with stage I-III disease and were intended for curative treatment at the time of diagnosis. The effect of MRI-detected clinical lymph node status (cN) on cumulative overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Negative predictive value (NPV) of MRI-lymphnode negativity was 74.8%. Positive predictive value of lymph node metastasis was only 48.6%. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, OS (p = 0.989), DSS (p = 0.911), and DFS (p = 0.109) did not significantly differ according to MRI nodal status. However, cumulative disease-free survival significantly (p < 0.001) differed according to the histopathological lymph node metastasis status (pN). CONCLUSIONS: MRI detected lymph node positivity appears insufficiently precise and cannot predict disease recurrence or survival. Therefore, it should not serve as an independent risk factor when considering neoadjuvant treatment options for rectal cancer patients.

Long-term survival among colorectal cancer patients in Finland, 1991-2015: a nationwide population-based registry study.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in Finland has risen steadily. Given development in cancer treatments in recent decades, disease-specific data on the long-term prognosis of patients may be obsolete. Thus, this study aimed to report 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and relative survival based on tumour spread and site among CRC patients diagnosed between 1991 and 2015 in Finland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based registry study among 59 465 CRC patients identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry. RESULTS: The 5-year DSS for all CRC patients was 56.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 56.3-57.1%] for 1991 through 2015. Tumour site-specific survival has improved for the period 2006-2015 versus 1991-2005 for right-sided colon cancer from 54.8% (95% CI 53.8-55.8%) to 59.9% (95% CI 58.7-61.1%), for left-sided colon cancer from 54.1% (95% CI 52.9-55.3%) to 61.0% (95% CI 59.8-62.2%) and for rectal cancer from 53.6% (95% CI 52.2-55.0%) to 62.3% (95% CI 61.3-63.3%). The 5-year relative survival for the period 2006 through 2015 was 93.6% for localised disease (stage I); 84.2% for locally advanced tumour invading adjacent structures (stage II); 68.2% for regional disease with regional lymph node metastases (stage III); and 14.0% for metastatic disease (stage IV). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that survival for CRC has improved in recent decades in Finland, mirroring observations from other Western countries. However, the classification of tumour spread within the Finnish Cancer Registry differs slightly from the TNM classification, thereby limiting the generalisability of these results.

The prognostic value of extramural venous invasion in preoperative MRI of rectal cancer patients.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of extramural venous invasion observed in preoperative MRI on survival and recurrences. METHOD: In total, 778 rectal cancer patients were evaluated in multidisciplinary meetings in Helsinki University Hospital during the years 2016-2018. 635 patients met the inclusion criteria of stage I-III disease and were intended for curative treatment at the time of diagnosis. 128 had extramural venous invasion in preoperative MRI. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 2.5 years. In a univariate analysis extramural venous invasion was associated with poorer disease-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] 2.174, 95% CI 1.118-4.224, P = 0.022), whereas circumferential margin ≤1 mm, tumour stage ≥T3c or nodal positivity were not. Disease recurrence occurred in 17.3% of the patients: 13.4% had metastatic recurrence only, 1.7% mere local recurrence and 2.2% both metastatic and local recurrence. In multivariate analysis, extramural venous invasion (HR 1.734, 95% CI 1.127-2.667, P = 0.012) and nodal positivity (HR 1.627, 95% CI 1.071-2.472, P = 0.023) were risk factors for poorer disease-free survival (DFS). Circumferential margin ≤1 mm was a risk factor for local recurrence in multivariate analysis (HR 5.675, 95% CI 1.274-25.286, P = 0.023). CONCLUSION: In MRI, circumferential margin ≤1 mm is a risk factor for local recurrence, but the risk is quite well controlled with chemoradiotherapy and extended surgery. Extramural venous invasion instead is a significant risk factor for poorer DFS and new tools to reduce the systemic recurrence risk are needed.

Accuracy of Finnish Cancer Registry colorectal cancer data: a comparison between registry data and clinical records.

BACKGROUND: The population-based Finnish Cancer Registry (FCR) is an important resource for research and healthcare politics in Finland. The aim of this study was to validate the accuracy of the colorectal cancer (CRC) data within the FCR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: FCR data are based on independent cancer report forms (CRFs) from both clinicians and pathologists. Data from patients diagnosed with CRC during a randomized, population-based CRC screening program between 2004 and 2012 were extracted from the FCR and compared to data extracted from the original clinical patient records of these individuals by two gastrointestinal surgeons. The study focused on tumour characteristics and primary treatment. Accuracy was measured by calculating Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ), which considers the possibility of agreement by chance. RESULTS: Altogether, 1475 patients were studied. κ was 0.74 for stage, 0.87 for tumour location (right/left), 0.78 for a more detailed location, 0.72 for tumour histology, 0.46 for surgical removal of the primary tumour, and 0.43 for chemotherapy. Among those who underwent surgery, the radicality of surgical treatment had a κ of 0.24. In total, 173 (12%) patients were lacking a CRF from a clinician. CONCLUSION: The FCR data had good accuracy regarding tumour characteristics, but poor accuracy in treatment information. The main reason for this suboptimal accuracy was missing CRFs from treating clinicians. Awareness of these findings is crucial when research and decision making is based on FCR data. Measures have since been taken to improve the completeness of FCR recording.

The critical view of safety and bile duct injuries in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a photo evaluation study on 1532 patients.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCC) carries a 0.3-1.8% risk of bile duct injury (BDI). This study investigated if intraoperative photo documentation of the critical view of safety (CVS) is related to lower rates of BDIs and postoperative complications in LCC. METHODS: Surgeons were instructed to take photos of the view before clipping the cystic duct and artery. Two independent raters scored the photos 0-6 using predefined criteria for CVS. Mean scores of ≥4.5 were satisfactory. RESULTS: The study consisted of 1532 patients undergoing LCC between April 2018 and October 2019. CVS was satisfactory in 354 (23.1%), unsatisfactory in 823 (53.7%), and photos were missing in 355 (23.2%) patients. Patients with satisfactory CVS had the lowest BDI rate compared with unsatisfactory CVS or missing photos (0.3% vs. 1.0% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.012). Four major BDIs (Strasberg D-E) occurred, but none in patients with satisfactory CVS. Patients with satisfactory CVS had the lowest postoperative complication rate compared with patients with unsatisfactory CVS or without photos (4.8% vs. 7.9 vs. 9.9%, p = 0.011). Of patients with acute cholecystitis, 15.7% had satisfactory CVS, whereas 26.8% without cholecystitis had satisfactory CVS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative photo documentation of satisfactory CVS is associated with lower rates of BDIs and complications.

Mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation versus no bowel preparation for elective colectomy (MOBILE): a multicentre, randomised, parallel, single-blinded trial.

BACKGROUND: Decreased surgical site infections (SSIs) and morbidity have been reported with mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation (MOABP) compared with no bowel preparation (NBP) in colonic surgery. Several societies have recommended routine use of MOABP in patients undergoing colon resection on the basis of these data. Our aim was to investigate this recommendation in a prospective randomised context. METHODS: In this multicentre, parallel, single-blinded trial, patients undergoing colon resection were randomly assigned (1:1) to either MOABP or NBP in four hospitals in Finland, using a web-based randomisation technique. Randomly varying block sizes (four, six, and eight) were used for randomisation, and stratification was done according to centre. The recruiters, treating physicians, operating surgeons, data collectors, and analysts were masked to the allocated treatment. Key exclusion criteria were need for emergency surgery; bowel obstruction; colonoscopy planned during surgery; allergy to polyethylene glycol, neomycin, or metronidazole; and age younger than 18 years or older than 95 years. Study nurses opened numbered opaque envelopes containing the patient allocated group, and instructed the patients according to the allocation group to either prepare the bowel, or not prepare the bowel. Patients allocated to MOABP prepared their bowel by drinking 2 L of polyethylene glycol and 1 L of clear fluid before 6 pm on the day before surgery and took 2 g of neomycin orally at 7 pm and 2 g of metronidazole orally at 11 pm the day before surgery. The primary outcome was SSI within 30 days after surgery, analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population (all patients who were randomly allocated to and underwent elective colon resection with an anastomosis) along with safety analyses. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02652637, and EudraCT, 2015-004559-38, and is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between March 17, 2016, and Aug 20, 2018, 738 patients were assessed for eligibility. Of the 417 patients who were randomised (209 to MOABP and 208 to NBP), 13 in the MOABP group and eight in the NBP were excluded before undergoing colonic resection; therefore, the modified intention-to-treat analysis included 396 patients (196 for MOABP and 200 for NBP). SSI was detected in 13 (7%) of 196 patients randomised to MOABP, and in 21 (11%) of 200 patients randomised to NBP (odds ratio 1·65, 95% CI 0·80-3·40; p=0·17). Anastomotic dehiscence was reported in 7 (4%) of 196 patients in the MOABP group and in 8 (4%) of 200 in the NBP group, and reoperations were necessary in 16 (8%) of 196 compared with 13 (7%) of 200 patients. Two patients died in the NBP group and none in the MOABP group within 30 days. INTERPRETATION: MOABP does not reduce SSIs or the overall morbidity of colon surgery compared with NBP. We therefore propose that the current recommendations of using MOABP for colectomies to reduce SSIs or morbidity should be reconsidered. FUNDING: Vatsatautien Tutkimussäätiö Foundation, Mary and Georg Ehrnrooth's Foundation, and Helsinki University Hospital research funds.

Biallelic germline nonsense variant of MLH3 underlies polyposis predisposition.

PURPOSE: Some 10% of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and 80% of attenuated polyposis (AFAP) cases remain molecularly unexplained. We scrutinized such cases by exome-wide and targeted methods to search for novel susceptibility genes. METHODS: Exome sequencing was conducted on 40 unexplained (mainly sporadic) cases with FAP or AFAP from Finland. The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene MLH3 (MutL Homolog 3) was pinpointed and prompted a subsequent screen of ~1000 Swedish patients referred to clinical panel sequencing for colon tumor susceptibility. RESULTS: Three homozygous carriers of a truncating variant in MLH3, c.3563C>G, p.Ser1188Ter, were identified among the index cases from the Finnish series. An additional biallelic carrier of the same variant was present in the Swedish series. All four patients shared a 0.8-Mb core haplotype around MLH3, suggesting a founder variant. Colorectal polyps from variant carriers showed no instability at mono-, di-, tri-, or tetranucleotide repeats, in agreement with previous findings of a minor role of MLH3 in MMR. Multiple loci were affected by loss of heterozygosity, suggesting chromosomal instability. CONCLUSION: Our results show that a biallelic nonsense variant of MLH3 underlies a novel syndrome with susceptibility to classical or attenuated adenomatous polyposis and possibly extracolonic tumors, including breast cancer.

Comparison of sporadic and FAP-associated desmoid-type fibromatoses.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a rare disease of which 7.5-16% have been reported to be related to familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We sought to compare the characteristics and treatment of sporadic and FAP-related desmoid-type fibromatoses. METHODS: Altogether 220 patients were included in the study after receiving a diagnosis of desmoid-type fibromatosis by the Pathology Department of Helsinki University Hospital, with adequate follow-up. Patients were included from January 1, 1980 until April 30, 2015. RESULTS: FAP-related tumors were found in 22 (10%) patients. FAP-related desmoid-type fibromatoses were larger, more commonly multiple, and more often intra-abdominally situated. Surgery was the treatment of choice for 179 (90%) of the sporadic patients and for 18 (82%) of FAP-related patients. Resections with non-involved margins (R0) were more common in sporadic desmoid-type fibromatoses (55% vs. 23%, P = 0.048). The risk of recurrence was 25% in sporadic- and 44% in the FAP-related group. Three (14%) patients with FAP-related desmoid-type fibromatoses died from the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The predictors for FAP occurrence among desmoid tumor patients are large tumor size, intra-abdominal location, multiple tumors, and patient's young age. Desmoid-type fibromatosis patients suffer a high recurrence rate, also among those experiencing sporadic tumors, but the risk of death due to the tumor is low. Conversely, desmoid disease represents a substantial cause of death among FAP patients.

When should a drain be left in the abdominal cavity upon surgery?

Passive or active drainage can be used after abdominal surgery. Drains aim at eradicating infected or inflammatory tissue fluids and to alarm of undesired events such as bile, pancreatic, or bowel leak. Drains may, however, occlude or be situated away from the postoperative dilemma. Furthermore, drains themselves are susceptible to cause or maintain infection by retrograde contamination, may irritate the peritoneum causing excess ascites formation, and cause pain. Recent scientific evidence suggests that drains are unnecessary after most abdominal operations. Thus, drains should be used only in certain specific operation types such as pancreatic and emergency surgery. In other operations drains can be omitted if no clear risk factors are present.

Desmoid tumor patients carry an elevated risk of familial adenomatous polyposis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of desmoid tumors among patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is at least 10%, and the prevalence of FAP among desmoid patients varies between 7.5-16%. METHODS: Data included 106 desmoid patients identified from the database of the Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital, years 2000-2012. We evaluated the risk of FAP among patients by using endoscopy and we identified individuals with attenuated FAP by APC gene mutation test. We compared sporadic desmoid patients' and FAP patients' clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Ten of 106 patients already had FAP diagnosis before the desmoid. Eleven patients had had FAP screening already earlier due to desmoid and three of them were found to have FAP. Total of 52 patients participated into prospective screening of FAP. No new cases of FAP were found. The risk of FAP among desmoid tumor patients was 4.8%. In the FAP desmoid group, there were more males and patients were younger than in the sporadic group. Intra-abdominal desmoids were more common in the FAP group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with desmoid carry an elevated risk of FAP and therefore screening is indicated. Asymptomatic patients with desmoid situated in extra truncal region may not need to be screened.

Impact of Screening on Survival in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

GOALS: Our aim was to determine whether the screening of family members of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients significantly influences survival, and to gauge the extent of FAP-related causes of death. BACKGROUND: The screening of families with FAP has been shown to be profitable in reducing colorectal cancer-related mortality, but conclusions about the screening effect on overall survival has been controversial. STUDY: This is a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study, and the primary outcome of interest was overall mortality and survival. A total of 154 families with at least 1 clinically diagnosed FAP patient between 1963 and 2015 were included. There were altogether 194 probands and 225 call-ups. During the follow-up period, 2639 person-years with 92 deaths among probands were observed and 3634 person-years and 30 deaths among call-ups. We report crude mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios together with descriptive statistics. We compared the survival of probands and call-ups to the population by relative survival method. RESULTS: The crude mortality rate among probands was 34.9 per 1000 person-years and 8.3 among call-ups. The standardized mortality ratios for call-ups was 2.47 (confidence interval, 1.69-3.46) and for probands 4.07 (confidence interval, 3.29-4.96) (P=0.014). The relative survival of probands was significantly lower than call-ups (P=0.0018), and 20-year relative survival for call-ups was 94% (88% to 100%). Over two thirds of all deaths were FAP related. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of screened family members of FAP patients is comparable to the general population within 20 years after diagnosis. Therefore, participation in surveillance should not be delayed when a family member with FAP has been detected.

Impact of mesorectal extranodal tumor deposits in magnetic resonance imaging on outcome of rectal cancer patients.

AIM: Mesorectal extranodal tumor deposits (TDs) are identified in many rectal cancers. Their radiological features differ from metastatic lymph nodes, and they can be detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of rectal cancer TDs detected with MRI and their impact on overall (OS), cancer-specific (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) and the local recurrence rate. METHOD: In this retrospective cohort study, we screened all 525 consecutive rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery during 2017-2018 in a tertiary center. Patients with synchronous metastases or who had not undergone MRI were excluded. We analyzed the OS, CSS, and DFS as well as local recurrences. RESULTS: Of the 480 included patients, TDs were detected in the images of 81 (16.9 %). Extramural venous invasion (EMVI) and TDs were frequently found together (n = 50, 61.7 % of all cases with TDs). The presence of TDs alone [hazard ratio (HR) 1.66 (1.03-2.68)] or TDs and/or EMVI [HR 1.63 (1.01-2.62)] were risk factors for adverse DFS in multivariate Cox regression analysis. The OS and CSS rates were poorer among patients with TDs compared to those without, p = 0.009 and p < 0.001, respectively. TDs were also a risk factor for local recurrence in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: TDs detected with imaging are a risk factor for impaired DFS and associated with impaired CSS and OS of rectal cancer patients and should be taken into consideration in clinical decision-making.

Morbidity After Mechanical Bowel Preparation and Oral Antibiotics Prior to Rectal Resection: The MOBILE2 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Surgical site infections (SSIs)-especially anastomotic dehiscence-are major contributors to morbidity and mortality after rectal resection. The role of mechanical and oral antibiotics bowel preparation (MOABP) in preventing complications of rectal resection is currently disputed. Objective: To assess whether MOABP reduces overall complications and SSIs after elective rectal resection compared with mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) plus placebo. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 university hospitals in Finland between March 18, 2020, and October 10, 2022. Patients aged 18 years and older undergoing elective resection with primary anastomosis of a rectal tumor 15 cm or less from the anal verge on magnetic resonance imaging were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes were analyzed using a modified intention-to-treat principle, which included all patients who were randomly allocated to and underwent elective rectal resection with an anastomosis. Interventions: Patients were stratified according to tumor distance from the anal verge and neoadjuvant treatment given and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive MOABP with an oral regimen of neomycin and metronidazole (n = 277) or MBP plus matching placebo tablets (n = 288). All study medications were taken the day before surgery, and all patients received intravenous antibiotics approximately 30 minutes before surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was overall cumulative postoperative complications measured using the Comprehensive Complication Index. Key secondary outcomes were SSI and anastomotic dehiscence within 30 days after surgery. Results: In all, 565 patients were included in the analysis, with 288 in the MBP plus placebo group (median [IQR] age, 69 [62-74] years; 190 males [66.0%]) and 277 in the MOABP group (median [IQR] age, 70 [62-75] years; 158 males [57.0%]). Patients in the MOABP group experienced fewer overall postoperative complications (median [IQR] Comprehensive Complication Index, 0 [0-8.66] vs 8.66 [0-20.92]; Wilcoxon effect size, 0.146; P < .001), fewer SSIs (23 patients [8.3%] vs 48 patients [16.7%]; odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.27-0.77]), and fewer anastomotic dehiscences (16 patients [5.8%] vs 39 patients [13.5%]; odds ratio, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.21-0.72]) compared with patients in the MBP plus placebo group. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this randomized clinical trial indicate that MOABP reduced overall postoperative complications as well as rates of SSIs and anastomotic dehiscences in patients undergoing elective rectal resection compared with MBP plus placebo. Based on these findings, MOABP should be considered as standard treatment in patients undergoing elective rectal resection. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04281667.

Impact of hospital volume on failure to rescue for complications requiring reoperation after elective colorectal surgery: multicentre propensity score-matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It has previously been reported that there are similar reoperation rates after elective colorectal surgery but higher failure-to-rescue (FTR) rates in low-volume hospitals (LVHs) versus high-volume hospitals (HVHs). This study assessed the effect of hospital volume on reoperation rate and FTR after reoperation following elective colorectal surgery in a matched cohort. METHODS: Population-based retrospective multicentre cohort study of adult patients undergoing reoperation for a complication after an elective, non-centralized colorectal operation between 2006 and 2017 in 11 hospitals. Hospitals were divided into either HVHs (3 hospitals, median ≥126 resections per year) or LVHs (8 hospitals, <126 resections per year). Patients were propensity score-matched (PSM) for baseline characteristics as well as indication and type of elective surgery. Primary outcome was FTR. RESULTS: A total of 6428 and 3020 elective colorectal resections were carried out in HVHs and LVHs, of which 217 (3.4%) and 165 (5.5%) underwent reoperation (P < 0.001), respectively. After PSM, 142 patients undergoing reoperation remained in both HVH and LVH groups for final analyses. FTR rate was 7.7% in HVHs and 10.6% in LVHs (P = 0.410). The median Comprehensive Complication Index was 21.8 in HVHs and 29.6 in LVHs (P = 0.045). There was no difference in median ICU-free days, length of stay, the risk for permanent ostomy or overall survival between the groups. CONCLUSION: The reoperation rate and postoperative complication burden was higher in LVHs with no significant difference in FTR compared with HVHs.

Recurrence after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for pseudomyxoma peritonei: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease characterized by progressive build-up of mucinous deposits inside the abdominal cavity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of disease recurrence on overall survival in patients with PMP after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: One-hundred thirty-two consecutive PMP patients treated with CRS + HIPEC at Helsinki University Hospital between 2008 and 2017 were included. The impact of clinicopathological and treatment-related characteristics on recurrence and overall survival was evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up time in the study was 5.04 (range = 0.05-11.60) years. In 121 (91.7%) patients, the disease was classified as low grade and 11 (8.3%) had high-grade disease. In the low-grade group, 26 (21.5%) patients developed a recurrence during follow-up compared to 6 (54.5%) patients in the high-grade group. In the low-grade group, cumulative survival was 98.2%, 91.4%, and 91.4% at 3, 6, and 8 years, respectively. In the high-grade group, cumulative survival was 90.0% and 78.8% at 3 and 6 years, respectively. In patients with recurrent disease, the cumulative survival was 100%, 84.6%, and 84.6% at 3, 6, and 8 years in the low-grade category and 80.0% and 60.0% at 3 and 6 years in the high-grade category, respectively. In the low-grade group, a statistically significant correlation with recurrence but not with overall survival was identified with peritoneal cancer index (PCI), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and the number of affected regions. CONCLUSION: The recurrence of low-grade PMP does not significantly affect overall survival of patients. Disease extent may not be a prognostic indicator after curative CRS and HIPEC in low-grade PMP.

Short- and Long-Term Survival among Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients in Finland, 2006-2015: A Nationwide Population-Based Registry Study.

This population-based registry study aimed to report 30-day and one-year postoperative survival, five-year overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) among elderly (≥75 years old) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. All new colorectal cancer cases from 2006-2015 were included and followed until death or the end of follow-up (end of 2016). Among 27,088 CRC patients, 11,306 patients were ≥75 years old. Among patients ≥ 75 years, 36.8% (n = 4160) had right-sided colon cancer, 21.9% (n = 2478) left-sided colon cancer, and 32.3% (n = 3650) rectal cancer. In this study population, 932 patients were aged ≥ 90. The 30-day postoperative OS for patients aged 75-79 was 96.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 95.3-96.9) falling to 93.2% (95% CI 92.0-94.4) for patients aged 80-84. The one-year postoperative OS among patients aged 75-79 was 86.3% (95% CI 84.7-87.9) compared with 80.5% (95% CI 78.7-82.3) among patients aged 80-84. Five-year OS among patients aged 75-79 was 47.6% (95% CI 46.0-49.2) and 36.6% (95% CI 34.8-38.4) among patients aged 80-84, compared with 61.7% (95% CI 60.9-62.5) among younger patients (<75 years old). Survival among elderly CRC patients (≥75 years old) was in general fairly good when compared with younger patients, especially among patients aged 75-79 and 80-84 with localized or locally advanced disease.

Stoma reversal after Hartmann's procedure for acute diverticulitis.

BACKGROUND: Hartmann's procedure is a treatment option for perforated acute diverticulitis, especially when organ dysfunction(s) are present. Its use has been criticized mostly out of fear of high permanent stoma rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of stoma reversal, reasons behind nonreversal, and safety of reversal surgery. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study of patients undergoing urgent Hartmann's procedure due to acute diverticulitis between the years 2006 and 2017 with follow-up until March 2021. RESULTS: A total of 3,319 episodes of diverticulitis in 2,932 patients were screened. The Hartmann's procedure was performed on 218 patients, of whom 157 (72%) had peritonitis (48 (22%) with organ dysfunction). At 2-years, 76 (34.9%) patients had died with stoma, 42 (19.3%) were alive with stoma, and 100 (45.9%) had undergone stoma reversal. The survival of patients with and without reversal were 100% and 42.7% at 1-year, 96.0% and 35.0% at 2-years and 88.9% and 20.7% at 5-years, respectively. The risk factors for nonreversal were old age, a need for outside assistance, low HElsinki Staging for Acute Diverticulitis stage, and higher C-reactive protein level upon hospital admission. The most common reasons for nonreversal in surviving patients were patient not willing to have the operation 18 (41%) and dementia 10 (23%). Twelve (12%) patients had a major complication after reversal (Clavien-Dindo IIIb-IV) and 90-day mortality after reversal was 0%. CONCLUSION: After the Hartmann's procedure for acute diverticulitis, one-third died, half underwent stoma reversal, and one-fifth did not undergo stoma reversal within 2 years. Patients who survive with stoma are either not willing to have reversal or have severe comorbidities excluding elective surgery. The Hartmann's procedure remains a viable option for high-risk patients with perforated acute diverticulitis.