The Cancer Genome Atlas Validation of Ancillary Tests for Classifying Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ancillary tests such as BRAF(V600E) mutation or immunohistochemical (IHC) assays have been utilized as complements to morphological criteria in diagnosing subsets of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Utilizing results from analysis by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we evaluated the diagnostic value and feasibility of these ancillary tests in diagnosing follicular variant PTC (FVPTC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and tissue samples were analyzed from 370 PTC patients, who had undergone thyroidectomy between December 2003 and July 2014. PTC was limited to conventional PTC (CVPTC), tall cell variant PTC (TCPTC), and FVPTC. Using multivariate analyses, FVPTC cases were compared to CVPTC and TCPTC cases. Surgical specimens were pyrosequenced for BRAF(V600E) mutation or stained for IHC markers such as CD56, galectin-3, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), or CD31. For the validation, a comprehensive analysis was performed for BRAF(V600E) mutation and quantitative mRNA expressional difference in TCGA. RESULTS: Demographic differences were not observed between 159 CVPTC, 103 TCPTC, and 108 FVPTC cases. BRAF(V600E) mutation predominated in CVPTC+TCPTC group, but not in FVPTC group (78.4% vs. 18.7%, p<0.001), as suggested by TCGA (57.4% vs. 12.1%, p<0.0001). IHC markers significantly distinguished FVPTC cases from CVPTC+TCPTC cases. CD56 exhibited more intense staining in FVPTC cases (21.1% vs. 72.0%, p<0.001). Galectin-3 and CK19 yielded limited values. CD31 correlated with lymphovascular invasion (r=0.847, p<0.001). In analysis of TCGA, mRNA differential expression of these genes revealed their corresponding upregulation or downregulation. CONCLUSION: BRAF(V600E) mutation or TCGA-validated IHC assay could be recommended as ancillary tests for classifying PTC.

Acute Care Surgery Model for Emergency Cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: Acute care surgery (ACS) models have evolved worldwide over the last decade. However, South Korea has an established trauma system and does not consider the ACS model. This study compares the management and outcome of emergency cholecystectomy in the ACS model to those of traditional on-call attending surgeon model for emergency surgery. METHODS: Retrospectively collected data for patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy from May 2013 to January 2015 was analyzed to compare data from a traditional on-call system (OCS) and ACS. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four patients were enrolled in the study (62 patients ACS vs. 62 patients OCS). Hospital stay (days) (ACS=4.29±2.49 vs. OCS=4.82±4.48, p=0.46) and stay in emergency room (minutes) (ACS=213.10±113.99 vs. OCS=241.10±150.73, p=0.20) did not differ significantly between groups. Operation time (minutes) was significantly shorter in the ACS than OCS group (389.97±215.21 vs. 566.35±290.14, p<0.001). Other clinical variables (sex, open-conversion rate, whether the operation was performed at night/holiday, intensive care unit admission rate) did not differ between groups. There was no mortality and readmission. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the ACS led to shorter operation time and no increase of postoperative mortality and complication.

Clinical Manifestations of Childhood Intussusception with Ubiquitous Ultrasonography: Comparison with Small Bowel and Ileocecal Type

We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcome of ileocecal and small bowel intussusceptions (ICI and SBI) in the pediatric patients. From August 2003 to July 2010, 144 children with intussusception were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and imaging study findings. A total of 86 children with ICI and 58 children with SBI were diagnosed. Children with SBI were older than ICI (36.6+/-24.6 months vs. 24.2+/-21.6 months, p=0.002). Typical symptoms such as irritability, abdominal mass, bloody stool were more frequent in ICI than SBI (p<0.05) patients. In the ICI group, intussusceptums were reduced with air reduction (84.5%), surgery (17.4%), and spontaneity (1.2%). All patients in the SBI group were reduced spontaneously. SBI occurred in older age and was reduced spontaneously more frequently than ICI. Conservative management with close observation with follow-up by ultrasonography is recommended for SBI.

Gasless Laparoscopic Assisted Transumbilical Appendectomy / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the safety and feasibility of gasless laparoscopic assisted transumbilical appendectomy (GLATUA). METHODS: Data for 62 GLATUA and 84 laparoscopic appendectomies (LA) for uncomplicated appendicitis, which had been performed over a 12 month period in a single institution, were compared retrospectively. The GLATUAs were carried out through an umbilical incision. The abdominal wall was retracted upward using an "L"-shaped retractor and the inflamed appendix was found by gasless laparoscopic vision. A transumbilical extracorporeal appendectomy was then performed. The LAs were performed using a three-port system. RESULTS: The GLATUA group had a shorter mean operative time (44.1+/-22.1 vs. 51.5+/-24.7 min, p=0.06), mean time for resuming a soft diet (29.0+/-9.2 vs. 41.3+/-20.7 hrs, p<0.01) and hospital stay (3.0+/-0.9 vs. 3.6+/-1.7, p<0.01) than the LA group. There was no significant difference in complication rates (6.5% vs. 3.6%, p=0.44). The mean medical costs of the GLATUA group were 66.7% of the LA group. CONCLUSION: GLATUA is a safe, feasible and more cost-effective alternative technique for surgery in uncomplicated acute appendicitis than LA.

Significance of CD133 as a cancer stem cell markers focusing on the tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cell lines / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: The cancer stem cell hypothesis states that the capacity of a cancer to grow and propagate is dependent on a small subset of cells. To determine the significances of the cancer stem cell markers CD133, CD44, and CD24 using a comparative analysis with a focus on tumorigenicity. METHODS: Four pancreatic cancer cell lines, Capan-1, Mia-PACA-2, Panc-1, and SNU-410 were analyzed for the expressions of CD133, CD44, and CD24 by flow cytometry. The tumorigenicity was compared using tumor volumes and numbers of tumors formed/numbers of injection in nonobese diabetic severe combined deficiency mice. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was used to confirm that xenograft explants originated from human pancreatic cancer cells. RESULTS: CD133 was positive in only Capan-1, CD44 positive in all, CD24 partially positive in Panc-1. After injecting 2 x 10(6) cells, all mice administered Capan-1 or Mia-Paca-2 developed tumors, 3 of 5 administered Panc-1 developed tumors, but no mouse administered SNU-410 developed any tumors. The volumes of Capan-1 tumors were seven times larger than those of Mia-Paca-2 tumors. When 2 x 10(5) or 2 x 10(4) of Capan-1 or Mia-Paca-2 was injected, tumors developed in all Capan-1 treated mice, but not in Mia-Paca-2 treated mice. Furthermore, xenograft explants of Capan-1 expressed CD133+CD44+ and Capan-1 injected mice developed lung metastasis. FACS analysis showed that xenograft explants originated from human pancreatic cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: CD133 positive cells have higher tumorigenic and metastatic potential than CD44 and CD24 positive cells, which suggests that CD133 might be a meaningful cell surface marker of pancreatic cancer stem cells.

CD44 and CD133 as Cancer Stem Cell Markers for Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Currently, the two most influential gastric stem cell marker candidates are CD44 and CD133. The aim of this study was to make a comparison and determine the appropriate marker for use in gastric cancer stem cell research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the expressions of CD44, CD133, and CD24 from the gastric cancer cell lines MKN45, MKN74, KATO-III, NCI-N87, SNU-1, SNU-216, SNU-601, SNU-638, and SNU-688 using flow cytometry. In addition, we measured the change in viability after applying 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) to the MKN45, MKN74, KATO-III, and NCI-N87 cell lines using a Cell Counting Kit 8. RESULTS: CD133 expression was above moderate in the KATO-III, SNU-216, SNU-601 cell lines, whereas it was below 1% in the remaining cell lines. CD44 was expressed at levels above 5% in all gastric cancer cell lines. The effect of 5-FU on viability and CD133 or CD44 expression in the cell lines were not related. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of CD133 positive cells was insufficient in the gastric cancer cell lines. Therefore, of the cell lines tested, CD44 was the most appropriate tumor maker for research on gastric cancer stem cells.

The Clinical Analysis of 12 Cases of Bezoars

PURPOSE: Bezoars are the uncommon result of ingestion of poorly digestible or indigestible substances. It is defined as retained concretions of animal or vegetable material in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to review and analyze in these cases with reviewing literature. METHODS: The medical records of 12 cases, treated between May 1999 and April 2009, were reviewed. The clinical characteristics, as well as the diagnostic evaluations and results of medical and surgical treatment, were also analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 12 cases, 6 men and 6 women, the bezoars were in the stomach, jejunum and ileum or in both stomach and jejunum in 1, 2, 7 and 2 cases, respectively. 4 patients (33.3%) had a history of gastric or duodenal ulcer following previously received gastric surgery such as subtotal gastrectomy or truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty. In 3 cases, the bezoars were found in operative field under the impression of intestinal obstruction due to adhesive ileus, which could not be found by preoperative radiologic evaluation. Among the 12 cases, 11 cases were successfully treated by operative and endoscopic removal, but 1 case expired due to sepsis. CONCLUSION: A bezoar occurs mainly in patients who have previously undergone a gastric operation. Surgeons should keep in mind the possibility of bezoars in patients presenting an intestinal obstruction following a past gastric operation. The principle of treatment for bezoars used to be surgery, but recently gastric bezoars are often treated by gastrofiberscopy.

Volume Replacement with Polyglactin 910 Mesh for Breast Reconstruction after Endoscopy-Assisted Breast Conserving Surgery for Treating Early Breast Cancer: the Early Results / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: We introduce a new technique using a Vicryl(R) mesh made with Polyglactin 910 for breast reconstruction after performing endoscopy-assisted breast conserving surgery. METHODS: From July 2006 to July 2008, we performed endoscopiy-assisted breast surgery in 30 patients with early breast cancer. (Thirty [fourteen] patients [who] underwent endoscopy-assisted breast conserving surgery). Of the total patients, 14 underwent reconstruction procedure (volume replacement with the use of a Vicryl(R) mesh) and 16 underwent reconstuction without Vicryl(R) mesh. We were evaluated for their quality of life (QOL), the surgery-related complications and the cosmetic outcomes. Three patients were excluded from the study; two patients required mesh removal due to infection and the other patient had a total mastectomy performed due to a positive resection margin. RESULTS: The median age of the patient was 49.4 year (range 36-60 year) and all of the patients had a diagnosis of early breast cancer (less than stage IIb). In general, the patients were satisfied with the outcome for their QOL. The patients were especially satisfied with the cosmetic outcome. The patients' satisfaction increased with longer follow-up, as compared to that for the shorter intervals. At 10 months after surgery, there was encapsulated granulation tissue within a collection of tissue fluid, as seen on ultrasonography. At 20 months after surgery, the skin and breast shape both recovered. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that for relatively short follow-up period, breast reconstruction with using Polyglactin 910 mesh, which is made from oxidized regenerated cellulose, resulted in satisfactory cosmetic results and a good quality of life after breast conservative surgery.

Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding from the Appendix Diagnosed by Abdominal Multidetector Computed Tomography: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Appendiceal bleeding is a kind of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. For treatment, it is essential to identify the location of the lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Appendiceal bleeding has some diagnostic difficultie. It is a very rare condition, and colonoscopy shows only the appendiceal orfice. Recently, multidetector computed tomography has increasingly been used in the diagnostic evaluation of most vascular diseases. Herein, we report the case of an appendiceal bleeding diagnosed by using abdominal multidetector computed tomography, and we present a the literature.

Prognostic Factors after Major Resection for Distal Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although diagnosis and surgical treatment for distal common bile duct cancer have enormously advanced, survival is not satisfactory and its prognostic factors are still being debated. Thus, we evaluated the outcomes and prognostic factors after major resection for distal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (dCC). METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients who underwent major resection such as pancreaticoduodenectomy for dCC were retrospectively analyzed. We investigated clinical features, postoperative complications, survival, and prognostic factors of dCC. CONCLUSIONS: One hundred and three (66.9%) male and 51 (33.1%) female patients were enrolled and their mean age was 59.6 (31-78) years. Among them, 97 patients (63.0%) underwent Whipple's procedure, 45 (29.2%) pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, 7 (4.5%) total pancreatectomy, and 5 (3.3%) hepatopancreaticoduodenectomy, respectively. Mean follow-up duration was 26.6 (0.4-108.5) months. The postoperative morbidity and mortality were 42.2% and 1.3%, respectively. Five-year survival rate was 32.8% and mean survival duration was 47.2 (39.1-55.3) months. Type of biliary drainage (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage), lymph node status (positive), and cellular differentiation (moderate or poor) were significant indicators for death in multivariate analysis of resectable dCC. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate or poor cellular differentiation and lymph node metastasis may be independent poor prognostic factors for resectable dCC.

Management of the Left Renal Vein in the Surgery for Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Ligation 1 Case, Reno-splenic Venous Anastomosis 1 Case

Surgery for the inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) is a technically challenging procedure and it's associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Injuries of the vena cava, the duodenum, the left ureter and the renal vein are common in an operation for IAAA. Herein, we report 2 cases of ligation of the left renal vein during repair of the IAAA. Cases: The 1st case was a 75- year-old male patient, who had an abrupt onset of abdominal pain and a pulsatile abdominal mass. An 8.5 cm sized IAAA and left hydronephrosis were detected via CT angiogram. During the operation, the left renal vein was mobilized and then divided to gain access to the aneuysmal neck. We couldn't reconstruct the divided left renal vein. On the follow-up CT scan, the left renal vein drained into the left paravertebral plexus, and no renal congestion was demonstrated. The 2nd patient was a 72-year-old male who experienced sudden abdominal pain and a growing pulsatile mass on the abdomen. A huge IAAA 10.5 cm in diameter was detected in CT scan. During the repair of IAAA, the left renal vein was divided and ligated to expose the neck of the aneurysm. The divided left renal vein was anastomosed to the splenic vein in an end-to-side fashion instead of performing direct reconstruction. On follow-up CT scan, neither left renal congestion nor significant increment of the portal venous flow was noted. The two patients were doing well at the 15th and 10th postoperative month, respectively.

Autologous Arteriovenous Fistula Formation with Basilic Vein Transposition of Forearm

PURPOSE: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are crucial for hemodialysis in patients with end stage renal disease. However, the lack of suitable forearm cephalic veins has led the surgeons to perform alternative procedures, such as transposition of basilic vein or prosthetic A-V graft. To increase the use of the autologous vein in AVF, we tried a technique of basilic venous transposition of the forearm. METHOD: From 2005.1.1 to 2006.6.30, Six patients had AVFs created with a transposed basilic vein of the forearm. We estimated postoperative clinical outcomes such as primary patency rate and operative complications. RESULT: Three of six patients were male and the mean age was 66.2 yr. Two patients were having their first AVF operation, and the others were having their second AVF operation. The mean follow-up period was 14.8 months. Early graft failure was occurred in one (16.7%). The 1-year primary and secondary patency rates were 66.7%, 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Autologous AVF formation with basilic vein transposition of the forearm was a feasible surgical technique by increasing the chances autologous AVF formation, this procedure could save the vessels on the upper arm for later AVF creation, and so it avoids using artificial grafts. However, this technique needs further study of more detailed clinical outcomes in large series including the long term patency rate, surgical complications, and comparative results to other AVF formation techniques.

Autologous Arteriovenous Fistula Formation with Basilic Vein Transposition of Forearm

PURPOSE: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are crucial for hemodialysis in patients with end stage renal disease. However, the lack of suitable forearm cephalic veins has led the surgeons to perform alternative procedures, such as transposition of basilic vein or prosthetic A-V graft. To increase the use of the autologous vein in AVF, we tried a technique of basilic venous transposition of the forearm. METHOD: From 2005.1.1 to 2006.6.30, Six patients had AVFs created with a transposed basilic vein of the forearm. We estimated postoperative clinical outcomes such as primary patency rate and operative complications. RESULT: Three of six patients were male and the mean age was 66.2 yr. Two patients were having their first AVF operation, and the others were having their second AVF operation. The mean follow-up period was 14.8 months. Early graft failure was occurred in one (16.7%). The 1-year primary and secondary patency rates were 66.7%, 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Autologous AVF formation with basilic vein transposition of the forearm was a feasible surgical technique by increasing the chances autologous AVF formation, this procedure could save the vessels on the upper arm for later AVF creation, and so it avoids using artificial grafts. However, this technique needs further study of more detailed clinical outcomes in large series including the long term patency rate, surgical complications, and comparative results to other AVF formation techniques.

The Efficacy of the Prophylactic Use of Octreotide after a Pancreaticoduodenectomy

This study was performed to analyze the efficacy of the prophylactic use of octreotide (Novartis, Stein, Switzerland) for pancreatic fistula following a pancreaticoduodenectomy. The medical records of 190 patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea between January 2000 and December 2002 were reviewed. Patients were divided into either the octreotide (n = 81) or control group (n = 109). The octreotide group received subcutaneous injections of 100 microgramg of octreotide every 12 hours for more than five days after surgery. The control group was not treated with octreotide. The criterion of pancreatic fistula was the drainage of the amylase rich fluid, over 500 U/mL in the three days after surgery. The morbidity and mortality rates were 32.1% and 1.2% in the octreotide group and 31.2% and 0% in the control group, respectively. Pancreatic fistula was the second most common complication (8.4%). In the univariate analysis, octreotide was ineffective in reducing pancreatic fistula (p = 0.26). However, in the multivariate regression analysis, combined gastrectomy (p = 0.018), cellular origin of the disease (p = 0.049), and use of octreotide (p = 0.044) were the risk factors that increased the frequency of pancreatic fistula. Therefore, the routine use of octreotide after a pancreaticoduodenectomy should be avoided until a worldwide consensus is established.

Expression of S100A4 in Invasive Adenocarcinoma and Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas / 한국간담췌외과학회지

PURPOSE: A pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most fatal cancers, as the majority of the patients present with locally advanced or metastatic tumors in the late stages of the disease. However, there is no simple, sensitive, noninvasive, and inexpensive test for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. In recent studies, S100A4 has emerged as an important protein in the tumorgenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinomas. METHODS: The possibility of the expression of S100A4 as a new tumor marker of pancreatic adenocarcinomas was confirmed using immunohistochemistry to 32-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, 20 IPMN (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm), 8 serous cystadenomas, 5 chronic pancreatitis and 3 neuroendocrine tumors. RESULTS: Thirty-one (96.9%) ductal adenocarcinoma cases and 11 (55.5%) IPMN expressed S100A4, whereas all normal pancreatic tissues (47 cases), chronic pancreatitis and endocrine tumors did not. The expression of S100A4 was associated with the degree of dysplasia in IPMN, but not with the differentiation of ductal adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of S100A4 in adenocarcinomas and early emerging IPMN may suggest its potential as a diagnostic marker for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Insulinomas of Pancreas

PURPOSE: The diagnosis and treatment of insulinoma are very important because the tumor can induce critical and permanent neurological deficit. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the clinical features of insulinomas and to establish the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. METHODS: 17 patients, preoperatively diagnosed with insulinomas and who had undergone surgical management between January, 1998 and March 2004, at the Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, were analyzed. RESULTS: After the operation the 17 patients were diagnosed pathologically; 13 insulinoma, 2 nesidioblastosis, 1 endocrine tumor and 1 endocrine carcinoma. The male to female ratio was 7: 10, with a mean age of 52.3 years. All the patients had symptoms of Whipple triad. The mean duration of symptoms to surgery was 18 months. The preoperative mean blood sugar, plasma insulin, C-peptide and insulin to glucose ratio were 39.6 mg/dl, 47.4muU/ml, 4.8 ng/ml and 1.02 respectively. Preoperative localization was achieved in 15 patients by combining ultrasonography, angiography, abdominal CT and intra-arterial calcium stimulated venous sampling and sensitivity of those examinations were 60, 61.5, 73.3 and 91.7%, respectively. Intraoperative localization was also performed by a combination of manual palpation and intraoperative ultrasonography in 15 patients, with retrospective sensitivities of 86.6 and 100% respectively. The frequenies of head, body and tail were 6: 3: 6. In 2 nesidioblastosis patients, the localization failed both pre- and intraperatively. The types of operations included 11 enucleations, 3 distal pancreatectomies, 2 blind subtotal pancreatectomies and a distal pancreatectomy combined with an extended left hemihepatectomy and intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for one patient accompanied by multiple liver metastase. 13 insulinomas were benign, small (mean diameter 1.5 cm, maximum 2.3 cm) and solitary, with the exception of one patient with MEN I. The symptoms of hypoglycemia and the laboratory values were improved in all patients after the operation. CONCLUSION: Insulinomas may be readily localized using sensitive diagnostic tools, such as intra-arterial stimulated venous sampling or intraoperative ultrasonography with manual palpation. If possible, enucleation may be a curative and feasible procedure for benign insulinomas. However, in the case of a highly suspicious nesidioblastosis, a blind partial pancreatectomy may be used as a trail method.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Embolus to the Distal Common Bile Duct / 한국간담췌외과학회지

Obstruction of the common bile duct (CBD) by direct extension of a tumor is occasionally found in patients with a hepatic neoplasm, but a bile duct tumor embolus caused by intrabiliary transplantation of a free floating tumor is a rare complication of a hepatocellular carcinoma. A patient of ours was recently observed with a fragment of tumor from a primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that obstructed the distal CBD. A-46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a distal CBD mass, measuring 1.2x1.5 cm, found by a biliary computed tomography (CT) scan. Four month prior to his admission, he had undergone a right hemihepatectomy for a HCC accompanied by direct intrahepatic bile duct invasion, without obstructive jaundice. On admission, there were no abnormal findings in the physical and laboratory examinations. An Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and papillotomy had been performed, which showed an irregular shaped filling defect in the distal CBD. Endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD) was carried out for biliary decompression. Partially extracted soft tissue from the CBD by ERCP revealed a HCC. On performed a pylorus- preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, a 1cm sized tumor remnant was found attached to the mucosa of the intrapancreatic portion of the bile duct, but without any invasive growth into the submucosa. The tumor may have been an intrabiliary transplantation from the HCC in the right lobe through the bile duct. When an obstructive mass is found in the distal CBD, tumor embolus should be considered, and a radical pancreaticoduodenectomy can be adopted as a safe and effective treatment modality.

Surgical Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Primary Gallbladder Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Cancer of the gallbladder, which is the eighth most common malignancy of the digestive system in Korea, is almost always associated with an unfavorable prognosis, and the clinical outcome has not improved much over the past couple of decades. This study was intended to examine our surgical experience and to evaluate the prognostic significance of the clinicopathological factors for a primary carcinoma of the gallbladder. METHODS: The data of 202 patients with gallbladder carcinomas operated on at our surgical department over a period of 10 years from May 1994 to Dec. 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, the 5-year survival was 46.8% with the median survival of 58.8 months. The histopathological type and grade, TNM stage, stage grouping, symptom, CA 19-9 level, and jaundice were significant prognostic factors. Among the 85 patients with T2 cancer, the outcome after a resection was better than that after simple cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: A complete tumor resection and no lymph node involvement are associated with a good prognosis. The long-term survival may be achieved by an early diagnosis with a curative, radical resection. Additionally, a radical resection may be beneficial for patients with a T2 gallbladder carcinoma.

Surgical Treatment for Hepatolithiasis with Hidden Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE: Hepatolithiasis causes many complications as well as an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, which means that it should definitely be treated. However, it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis for a concurrent cholangiocarcinoma prior to surgery. This study examined the surgical treatment for a hepatoithiasis with a hidden intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis for patients who had undergone a hepatic resection for hepatolithiasis between September 1994 and July 2004 was made by comparing them in two groups. One group comprised of patients with hepatolithiasis only (group H) and the other group comprised of patients with hepatolithiasis and a hidden cholangiocarcinoma of which the preoperative diagnosis had failed (group HC). The prognostic factors, such as age, gender ratio (M: F), symptoms and the duration of their onset, tumor markers and total bilirubin, preoperative radiological findings, intraoperative findings, and operation type were analyzed. RESULTS: Group H consisted of 261 patients and the group HC consisted of 5. In group HC, 2 cases of tumor necrosis were misdiagnosed as a liver abscess, 1 case of hilar cholangiocarcinoma was misdiagnosed as severe cholangitis, and another case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was misdiagnosed as duct dilatation with periductal inflammatory proliferation. On the other hand, the presence of a history of a undergoing hepatobiliary surgery, the preoperative radiological findings of a liver abscess and lymphadenopathy, the type of surgery, and the site of the intrahepatic stones were statistically different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: A hidden cholangiocarcinoma should be suspected preoperatively in cases in whom there is a history of undergoing hepatobiliary surgery, the preoperative radiological findings of a liver abscess or lymphadenopathy. In addition, a meticulous exploration for a possible incidental tumor mass with an additional consultation of a frozen biopsy should be carried out intraoperatively to determine if the preoperative finding of a liver abscess is a tumor necrosis.

Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy under Local Anesthesia

PURPOSE: Transilluminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP) has emerged as a very attractive surgical procedure for varicose vein because of it's many advantages. However, it also has some problems such as hematoma, and skin perforation, and needs general or spinal anesthesia and hospitalization. To overcome these shortcomings, we performed TIPP under only local anesthesia using the tumescent method. METHOD: Eleven (12 limbs) patients were operated and we prospectively estimated the operative complication, pain, duration of hospital stay, side effects and amounts of lidocaine. Lidocaine was infiltrated for groin dissection, and tumescent anesthesia was used on the calf area for TIPP. Great saphenous veins were stripped in 9 limbs, and closed suction drains were inserted in the calf area in 11 limbs. We calculated the amounts of lidocaine, according to the unit area of TIPP, body weight, and body surface area. RESULT: The mean age of the 11 patients was 55.4+/-10.7 years, and 3 patients (27.3%) had risk factors for general anesthesia. Mean operation time was 54.9+/-9.2 minutes, the number of incisions including groin was 4.7+/-0.6, and the area of TIPP was 272.6+/-85.3 cm2. The total lidocaine used was 495.4+/-167.5 mg (1.45 mg/cm2, 8.3 mg/kg, 302.1 mg/BSA m2). Except 2 patients (16.6%) who complained of mild pain and 2 of hematoma (16.6%), there were no side effects of lidocaine or operative complication. Mean hospital stay was 5.8+/-1.4 hours. CONCLUSION: TIPP under local anesthesia might be a relative safe method, and it could reduce the risks and complications of general or spinal anesthesia, hospital stay, and hesitancy to operation.