Defining and Predicting Early Recurrence in 957 Patients With Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To establish an evidence-based cut-off to differentiate between early and late recurrence and to compare clinicopathologic risk factors between the two groups. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: A clear definition of "early recurrence" after pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection is currently lacking. METHODS: Patients undergoing pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2000 and 2013 were included. Exclusion criteria were neoadjuvant therapy and incomplete follow-up. A minimum P-value approach was used to evaluate the optimal cut-off value of recurrence-free survival to divide the patients into early and late recurrence cohorts based on subsequent prognosis. Potential risk factors for early recurrence were assessed with logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of 957 included patients, 204 (21.3%) were recurrence-free at last follow-up. The optimal length of recurrence-free survival to distinguish between early (n = 388, 51.5%) and late recurrence (n = 365, 48.5%) was 12 months (P < 0.001). Patients with early recurrence had 1-, and 2-year post-recurrence survival rates of 20 and 6% compared with 45 and 22% for the late recurrence group (both P < 0.001). Preoperative risk factors for early recurrence included a Charlson age-comorbidity index ≥4 (OR 1.65), tumor size > 3.0 cm on computed tomography (OR 1.53) and CA 19-9 > 210 U/mL (OR 2.30). Postoperative risk factors consisted of poor tumor differentiation grade (OR 1.66), microscopic lymphovascular invasion (OR 1.70), a lymph node ratio > 0.2 (OR 2.49), and CA 19-9 > 37 U/mL (OR 3.38). Adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 0.28) and chemoradiotherapy (OR 0.29) were associated with a reduced likelihood of early recurrence. CONCLUSION: A recurrence-free interval of 12 months is the optimal threshold for differentiating between early and late recurrence, based on subsequent prognosis.

A Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm Originating from the Gallbladder: A Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the gallbladder are extremely rare, benign, unilocular or multilocular cystic tumors that contain septations. Mucinous cystadenoma, a subtype of mucinous cystic neoplasm, is defined as epithelial cystic proliferations composed of cells that contain intracytoplasmic mucin. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old African American woman was admitted to the hospital because of progressive lower back pain and inability to walk. She was scheduled for a kyphoplasty. However, the day before surgery, she reported severe abdominal pain radiating to her right shoulder. On further workup, results of abdominal ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass in the lumen of the gallbladder. The kyphoplasty was postponed and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Pathologic evaluation of the gallbladder revealed a multiloculated mucinous cystic neoplasm. DISCUSSION: Mucinous cystadenoma of the gallbladder account for 0.02% of the total number of cases in the hepatobiliary system. They are more frequently seen in middle-age women with a mean age at presentation of 45 years. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor, but it typically presents as acute or chronic right upper quadrant pain, epigastric pain, and nausea and vomiting. The multilocular form is more common than unilocular. The cystic lesions can be filled with serous, hemorrhagic, mucinous, or mixed fluids. Clinicians should be suspicious of mucinous cystadenoma of the gallbladder when common gallbladder disease is excluded because malignant features can be present in the lesion.

An Interview with Dr. John L. Cameron, the Hall of Famer of Pancreatic Cancer.

The Society of Surgical Alimentary Tract (SSAT) Resident Education Committee aim is to facilitate resident participation in the annual meeting and foster the education of the next generation of gastrointestinal. The SSAT "Residents Corner" was developed as a video-blog highlighting areas of interest for surgical trainees looking to focus on a career in gastrointestinal surgery. The topics covered are to make surgical education more accessible, one way is to highlight leaders in the field who discuss their journey. A 10-min video of a surgical mentor is recorded and archived on the SSAT site under a video series called "Mentor of the Month." A synopsis of a video published online February 2018 featuring Dr. John Cameron interviewed by one of his trainee, Dr. Vanita Ahuja. Dr. Cameron shares his thoughts on his accomplishments, challenges, and advice for young surgeons and the future of pancreatic surgery. The interview offers an insight into the mind of one of the greatest leaders of surgery of our time.