IDEAL study: magnetic resonance imaging for suspected deep endometriosis assessment prior to laparoscopy is as reliable as radiological imaging as a complement to transvaginal ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the value of using one-stop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) vs standard radiological imaging as a supplement to transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) for the preoperative assessment of patients with endometriosis referred for surgery in a tertiary care academic center. METHODS: This prospective observational study compared the diagnostic value of the standard preoperative imaging practice of our center, which involves expert TVS complemented by intravenous urography (IVU) for the evaluation of the ureters and double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) for the evaluation of the rectum, sigmoid and cecum, with that of expert TVS complemented by a 'one-stop' MRI examination evaluating the upper abdomen, pelvis, kidneys and ureters as well as rectum and sigmoid on the same day, for the preoperative triaging of 74 women with clinically suspected deep endometriosis. The findings at laparoscopy were considered the reference standard. Patients were stratified according to their need for monodisciplinary surgical approach, carried out by gynecologists only, or multidisciplinary surgical approach, involving abdominal surgeons and/or urologists, based on the extent to which endometriosis affected the reproductive organs, bowel, ureters, bladder or other abdominal organs. RESULTS: Our standard preoperative imaging approach and the combined findings of TVS and MRI had similar diagnostic performance, resulting in correct stratification for a monodisciplinary or a multidisciplinary surgical approach of 67/74 (90.5%) patients. However, there were differences between the estimation of the severity of disease by DCBE and MRI. The severity of rectal involvement was underestimated in 2.7% of the patients by both TVS and DCBE, whereas it was overestimated in 6.8% of the patients by TVS and/or DCBE. CONCLUSIONS: Complementary to expert TVS, 'one-stop' MRI can predict intraoperative findings equally well as standard radiological imaging (IVU and DCBE) in patients referred for endometriosis surgery in a tertiary care academic center. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Esophagocoloplasty for congenital, benign and malignant diseases. Surgical and long-term functional results.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this report is to evaluate the results of 100 consecutive esophagocoloplasties performed for congenital, benign and malignant diseases. METHODS: From 1982 until 1993 one hundred consecutive esophagocoloplasties were performed. Fifty eight for benign diseases: 22 congenital atresias (group A), 36 acquired benign lesions (group B), and 42 for malignancy (group C). As 72% of the patients had undergone previous gastric or esophageal surgery, coloplasty had to be performed in 48 patients by necessity. In 85 patients the colon graft was vascularized by the ascending branch of left colic artery and in 95 the reconstruction was fashioned in isoperistaltic way. RESULTS: Fifty one complications occurred in 42 patients resulting in a hospital mortality of 8%. However, for all benign diseases (group A + B) mortality rate was 0, being 19% in malignancy (group C). Morbidity was significantly higher in group A + C as compared to group B (p < 0.0009). Anastomotic leak was the most frequent complication occurring in 13 patients however healing spontaneously in 11 patients (84.6%). Early revisional surgery was performed in 11 patients. Functional results were evaluated according to a new grading system, including the four main symptoms (dysphagia, pain, regurgitations, diarrhoea) and weight status, the latter for adult patients. Fifty one patients from group A and B were followed for at least one year and evaluated. The were divided in two groups: 25 pediatrics (0.18 years). Anastomotic stenosis occurred in 19 patients but resolved after one or more dilatations in 16 at final follow-up. Dysphagia decreased from 43.1% 3 months postoperatively to 17.6% at last follow-up (p < 0.01). In adult patients there was a strong correlation between dysphagia and weight loss (p < 0.02). This correlation was not found in children. No differences were detectable when comparing preoperative mean weight of adult patients with mean weight of adult patients with mean weight at last follow-up. Of all 51 patients, 82.3% had an excellent (grade 1) or very good (grade 2) result at final evaluation versus 49% at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.0001). Only one patient had an unsatisfactory final result. CONCLUSIONS: Esophagocoloplasty is a valuable and for some patients an essential technique in reconstruction of esophageal continuity. Mortality can be kept very low, especially in benign diseases, guaranteeing satisfactory results in the majority of patients, despite an initial substantial perioperative morbidity.

Advanced esophageal carcinoma.

From 1976 until 1990 a total of 212 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were referred for surgical treatment. Resectability was 84.1% (161 of 191). Actuarial 5-year survival in patients with negative lymph nodes was 51.2% versus 12.4% in lymph node-positive patients. Therefore advanced carcinoma was defined to compromise all patients with involved regional (N1) or distal lymph nodes (M+Ly) as well as patients with T4 tumors or solid organ metastasis (M+org) irrespective of their lymph node status. Comparing complete (R0) versus incomplete (R1-R2) resections for stage III and IV carcinoma revealed 20% and 0% five-year survivals, respectively. There was no 5-year survival in the stage IV group. When excluding solid organ metastasis, the median survival shifted from 8.5 months after incomplete (R1-R2) to 20 months after complete (R0) resection. In 1991 three-field lymphadenectomy was initiated that included bilateral cervical lymphadenectomy. Thirty-seven patients have been treated so far (23 squamous cell carcinoma, 14 adenocarcinomas). Cervical lymph nodes were positive in 24.3% with an incidence up to 28.5% for distal-third carcinoma. Subsequently, 6 patients (16%) moved from M0 to M+Ly status. Our results confirm the key role of surgery not only in improving survival and locoregional tumor control but in refining the accuracy of staging advanced carcinomas provided complete resection is possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)