IgG4-related disease involving the esophagus: a clinicopathological study.

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a recently coined systemic disease characterized by specific histopathologic findings of an intense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis in the presence of predominant IgG4-positive plasma cells. Although IgG4-related disease has been described in many organs, involvement of the esophagus is very rare. In this study, we describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of eight patients with IgG4-related esophagitis. We evaluated chronic esophagitis specimens with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate obtained over the past 6 years (from January 2011 to February 2017) using a chart review, pathologic examination, and IgG4 immunohistochemical staining. The diagnoses of the specimens were either confirmed as IgG4-related esophagitis (IgG4-RE) or chronic esophagitis, not otherwise specified (CENOS), and the clinicopathologic data from each group were compared. Eight patients were diagnosed with IgG4-RE and 10 controls were identified and diagnosed with CENOS. In the IgG4-RE group, esophageal strictures were identified in three patients, two patients had postmyotomy treated achalasia, one patient had erosive esophagitis and another presented with an esophageal nodule. Only one patient had an unremarkable mucosa on endoscopy. In the CENOS group, four patients had esophageal strictures, six had erosive esophagitis, one patient had mild esophagitis. The IgG4-RE group had significantly higher numbers of IgG4-positive plasma cells (66.9 ± 21.9 vs. 4.7 ± 2.4 per high power field; P< 0.001) and a greater IgG4: IgG ratio 0.76 ± 0.13 vs. 0.06 ± 0.05; P< 0.001) when compared to CENOS patients. Two of the patients with recurrent esophageal strictures in the IgG4-RE group showed initial response to steroid therapy and are currently on immunosuppressive therapy which has significantly reduced the need for multiple esophageal dilatations. The presentation of IgG4-related esophageal disease can vary and the key to diagnosis is dependent on histopathology. These observations highlight the need for IgG4 immunohistochemical staining of esophageal biopsies especially in patients with mucosal ulceration, chronic inflammation, and plasmacytosis on biopsy. This will prevent unwarranted esophagectomies and failed medical treatment due to lack of recognition of this entity.

Anatomic segmental hepatic resection is superior to wedge resection as an oncologic operation for colorectal liver metastases.

Hepatic wedge resection for colorectal liver metastasis has been reported to have a high incidence of positive surgical margins. Anatomic segmental resection is now widely practiced, although there are few data comparing segmental and wedge resection in terms of tumor clearance or long-term outcome. There were 267 patients who underwent liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer between July 1985 and October 1998 at our institution who had either a wedge (n = 119) or segmental (n = 148) resection. Patient, tumor, and treatment data were compared, actuarial survival was determined, and prognostic factors were analyzed. Anatomic segmental resection was associated with similar blood loss, operative time, and complications as wedge resection. Segmental resection had a significantly lower rate of positive margins (2% vs. 16%) compared to wedge hepatectomy (P <0.001). On univariate analysis, segmentectomy resulted in longer survival with a median of 53 months vs. 38 months for wedge hepatectomy (P = 0.015). Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level, positive margin of resection, and the presence of extrahepatic disease independently predicted survival on multivariate analysis. Anatomic segmental resection is a safe procedure and is superior to wedge resection as an oncologic operation for colorectal liver metastasis because it results in better tumor clearance and improved survival.