Short- and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment for inguinal lymph node metastasis in rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma.

AIM: The significance of lymphadenectomy and its indications in patients with inguinal lymph node metastasis (ILNM) of anorectal adenocarcinoma is unclear. This study aimed to clarify the surgical outcomes and prognostic factors of inguinal lymphadenectomy for ILNM. METHOD: This study included patients who underwent surgical resection for ILNM of rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma with pathologically positive metastases between 1997 and 2011 at 20 participating centres in the Study Group for Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer organized by the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. Clinicopathological characteristics and short- and long-term postoperative outcomes were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: In total, 107 patients were included. The primary tumour was in the rectum in 57 patients (53.3%) and in the anal canal in 50 (46.7%). The median number of ILNMs was 2.34. Postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo Grade III or higher were observed in five patients. The 5-year overall survival rate was 38.8%. Multivariate analysis identified undifferentiated histological type (P < 0.001), pathological venous invasion (P = 0.01) and pathological primary tumour depth T0-2 (P = 0.01) as independent prognostic factors for poor overall survival. CONCLUSION: The 5-year overall survival after inguinal lymph node dissection was acceptable, and it warrants consideration in more patients. Further larger-scale studies are needed in order to clarify the surgical indications.

Ligation of left gastric vein may cause delayed gastric emptying after pancreatoduodenectomy: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine which running pattern of the left gastric vein (LGV) is most frequently ligated in subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (SSPPD) and how LGV ligation affects delayed gastric emptying (DGE) after SSPPD. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 105 patients who underwent SSPPD between January 2016 and September 2021. We classified the running pattern of LGV as follows: type 1 runs dorsal to the common hepatic artery (CHA) or splenic artery (SpA) to join the portal vein (PV), type 2 runs dorsal to the CHA or SpA and joins the splenic vein, type 3 runs ventral to the CHA or SpA and joins the PV, and type 4 runs ventral to the CHA or SpA and joins the SpV. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify differences between patients with and without DGE after SSPPD. RESULTS: Type 1 LGV running pattern was observed in 47 cases (44.8%), type 2 in 23 (21.9%), type 3 in 12 (11.4%), and type 4 in 23 (21.9%). The ligation rate was significantly higher in type 3 (75.0%) LGVs (p < 0.0001). Preoperative obstructive jaundice (p = 0.0306), LGV ligation (p < 0.0001), grade B or C pancreatic fistula (p = 0.0116), and sepsis (p = 0.0123) were risk factors for DGE in the univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that LGV ligation was an independent risk factor for DGE (odds ratio: 13.60, 95% confidence interval: 3.80-48.68, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Type 3 LGVs are often ligated because they impede lymph node dissection; however, LGV preservation may reduce the occurrence of DGE after SSPPD.

Management of inguinal lymph node metastases from rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma.

AIM: The surgical treatment of inguinal lymph node (ILN) metastases secondary to anorectal adenocarcinoma remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the surgical treatment and management of ILN metastasis according to its classification. METHODS: This retrospective, multi-centre, observational study included patients with synchronous or metachronous ILN metastases who were diagnosed with rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma between January 1997 and December 2011. Treatment outcomes were analysed according to recurrence and prognosis. RESULTS: Among 1181 consecutively enrolled patients who received treatment for rectal or anal canal adenocarcinoma at 20 referral hospitals, 76 (6.4%) and 65 (5.5%) had synchronous and metachronous ILN metastases, respectively. Among 141 patients with ILN metastasis, differentiated carcinoma, solitary ILN metastasis and ILN dissection were identified as independent predictive factors associated with a favourable prognosis. No significant difference was found in the frequency of recurrence after ILN dissection between patients with synchronous (80.6%) or metachronous (81.0%) ILN metastases. Patients who underwent R0 resection of the primary tumour and ILN dissection had a 5-year survival rate of 41.3% after ILN dissection (34.1% and 53.1% for patients with synchronous and metachronous ILN metastases, respectively, P = 0.55). CONCLUSION: The ILN can be appropriately classified as a regional lymph node in rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma. Moreover, aggressive ILN dissection might be effective in improving the prognosis of low rectal and anal canal adenocarcinoma with ILN metastases; thus, prophylactic ILN dissection is unnecessary.

Prognostic Impact of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Stage I-II Rectal Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation and immune response play crucial roles in tumor growth; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a known systemic inflammatory scoring system. Previous studies have reported that NLR is a prognostic biomarker in various human cancers. The aim of this study was to determine whether the NLR predicts tumor recurrence in patients with stage I-II rectal cancer after curative resection. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 130 consecutive patients with stage I-II rectal cancer who underwent curative resection between January 2006 and March 2015 at our institution without any preoperative treatment. We investigated whether clinicopathologic factors including NLR were associated with cancer recurrence after curative surgery. RESULTS: There were four cases (3.1%) of cancer-specific deaths and 16 cases (12.3%) of recurrence; the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 85.6%. NLR, pathologic T-category, and lymphatic invasion were significantly associated with disease-free survival. Multivariate analysis further showed that these three factors were independently associated with disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative NLR could predict tumor relapse in stage I-II rectal cancer and might be a useful biomarker for predicting recurrence in patients undergoing curative resection.

Benefits of laparoscopic surgery compared to open standard surgery for gastric carcinoma in elderly patients: propensity score-matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is frequently performed, and laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) is also widely performed for gastric cancer. Elderly population with gastric cancer has increased in East Asia, including in Japan. METHODS: We examined 1131 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic and open standard surgeries (OG). A total of 921 patients of age < 75 years (non-E group) and 210 patients of age ≥ 75 years (E group) underwent surgery for gastric cancer. The mortality, morbidity, and prognosis of LG and OG were compared by propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: Mortality and morbidity in the E group were significantly higher than those in the non-E group (p < 0.05). Propensity score-matching revealed that the incidence of postoperative complications of grade ≥ 2 in the OG subgroup was significantly higher than that in the LG subgroup in the E group (p < 0.05). The overall survival rate of the LG subgroup was significantly higher than that of the OG subgroup in both the non-E and E groups (p < 0.05). The depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the number of dissected lymph nodes were dependent factors for survival in the non-E group, whereas the depth of tumor invasion was the only dependent factor for survival in the E group in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of patients who underwent LG showed significantly good prognosis in both the non-E and E groups, although the E group patients who underwent OG subgroup showed higher severe complication incidences than those who underwent LG subgroup.

Long-Term Outcome of Definitive Chemoradiotherapy and Induction Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery for T4 Esophageal Cancer with Tracheobronchial Invasion.

BACKGROUND: T4 esophageal cancer (EC) that invades the trachea or bronchus often has poorer prognosis than other T4 ECs. We investigated the long-term results of definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) or induction chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (iCRT-S) in patients with T4 EC with tracheobronchial invasion (TBI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2003 to 2013, 71 patients with T4 EC with TBI were treated in our institution; 58 underwent dCRT, and 13 underwent iCRT-S. The long-term results associated with survival were retrospectively analyzed, and prognostic factors were examined by univariable and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival for all patients with T4 EC with TBI treated by dCRT or iCRT-S was 57, 29, and 19%, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that clinical lymph node (LN) metastasis and the treatment period were significant prognostic factors. Clinical LN positivity had significantly poorer prognosis than LN negativity. The treatment outcome in the later period was significantly better than that in the earlier period. In particular, the outcome after dCRT revealed significantly better prognosis in the later compared with the earlier period, whereas the outcome after iCRT-S did not show such a difference. With respect to treatment modality, no significant difference in survival was observed between dCRT and iCRT-S. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical LN negativity and later treatment period were significantly good prognostic factors for T4 EC with TBI. The recent improvements in dCRT outcomes may help to achieve survival comparable to that of iCRT-S.

Renal function and urological complications after radical hysterectomy with postoperative radiotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy for cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to clarify renal functional changes long term and serious urological complications in women with cervical cancer who undergo radical hysterectomy followed by pelvic radiotherapy and/or platinum-based chemotherapy to treat the initial disease. METHODS: Data on 380 women who underwent radical hysterectomy at the National Kyushu Cancer Center from January 1997 to December 2013 were reviewed. Main outcome measures were the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and monitored abnormal urological findings. RESULTS: Postoperative eGFR was significantly lower than preoperative eGFR in 179 women with surgery alone and in 201 women with additional pelvic radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (both P < 0.01). Two types of univariate analyses for eGFR reduction in women after treatment showed that older age, advanced stage, pelvic radiotherapy, and platinum-based chemotherapy were significant variables on both analyses. Two types of multivariate analyses showed that platinum-based chemotherapy or pelvic radiotherapy were associated with impaired renal function (odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.08-3.54 and odds ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.12-7.24, for the respective analyses). There was a higher rate of bladder wall thickening in women with pelvic radiotherapy had than those without it (17.4% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.01). One serious urological complication (intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder) occurred among women who underwent pelvic radiotherapy (0.6% vs. 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should be aware that eGFR is reduced after platinum-based chemotherapy and/or postoperative pelvic radiotherapy. Serious and life-threatening urological complications are rare, but surgeons should be aware of the possibility during the long follow-up.

Final report of KSCC0803: feasibility study of capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The impact of oral capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with resected colon cancer was unclear. We previously planned and conducted a prospective feasibility study (KSCC0803) and reported on the safety of oral capecitabine as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with resected stage III colon cancer. The purpose of the current study was to assess the survival results from that study. METHODS: The study subjects were Japanese patients with resected stage III colon cancer. The protocol adjuvant regimen consisted of oral capecitabine 1250 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-14 of a 3-week cycle for a total of eight cycles. The 3- and 5-year disease free survival (DFS) rates and overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed in the eligible cohort. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were registered between September 2008 and August 2009 and treated with the protocol regimen. The median follow-up time was 60.7 months. The 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 71.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 61.7-79.8%] and 69.7% (95% CI: 59.4-77.8%), respectively. The 3- and 5-year OS rates were 92.6% (95% CI: 85.2-96.4%) and 84.5% (95% CI: 75.1-90.5%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The survival results in this study are in line with those of previously reported, reliable, studies. The safety and tolerability of the protocol regimen have already been confirmed. Oral capecitabine is acceptable as adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese patients with resected stage III colon cancer.

S-1 Adjuvant Chemotherapy Earlier After Surgery Clinically Correlates with Prognostic Factors for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy is commonly administered postoperatively for stage II and III advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: This study included 113 patients treated with S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for stage II and III advanced gastric cancer. These patients were divided into 4 groups: group A (n = 63), who had a longer duration (≥6 months) and earlier S-1 administration (≤6 weeks) after surgery; group B (n = 16), who had a longer and later S-1 administration (>6 weeks) after surgery; group C (n = 27), who had a shorter duration (<6 months) and earlier S-1 administration after surgery; and group D (n = 7), who had a shorter and later S-1 administration after surgery. RESULTS: The recurrence rates in groups A, B, C, and D were 15.7, 43.8, 44.4, and 57.1 %, respectively (A vs. B, p < 0.05, A vs. C and D, p < 0.01). The survival time of group A was significantly longer than that of other groups (p < 0.005). In addition, the survival time of patients with severe complications was significantly shorter than that of patients with non-severe complications (p < 0.05). An earlier S-1 administration after surgery was the only independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of advanced gastric cancer was significantly related to the start of S-1 adjuvant treatment within 6 weeks after surgery.

Hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma after proton beam therapy: A case report.

Despite the widespread use of proton beam therapy (PBT) as locoregional therapy, there is currently a lack of histological evidence about the therapeutic effect of PBT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We present a case of hepatectomy and histological examination of HCC initially treated by PBT. A 76-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C underwent routine ultrasound surveillance, which revealed a 22-mm HCC in segment 4 of the liver. His hepatic reserve was adequate for surgical resection of the tumor; however, he chose to undergo PBT because of his cardiac disease. The patient received 66 Gy in 10 fractions with no toxicity exceeding grade 1. Six months after completion of PBT, contrast computed tomography showed that the tumor had increased in size to 27 mm, and the marginal part of the tumor, but not the central region, was enhanced. Additionally, two new hypervascular nodules were present in segments 5 and 6. The patient underwent surgical treatment 7 months after PBT. The operation and postoperative clinical course were uneventful. Nine months later, however, computed tomography demonstrated new, small, enhanced nodules in the remnant liver (segments 3, 5 and 6) and sacrum. In conclusion, PBT is a valuable treatment for HCC; however, it is difficult to evaluate therapeutic effect of HCC during the early post-irradiation period and provide an alternative treatment if PBT is not effective, especially in HCC cases with good liver function.

Comparison of symptomatic anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic and open low anterior resection for rectal cancer: a propensity score matching analysis of 1014 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: This observational study was conducted to compare the rate of symptomatic anastomotic leakage (AL), as defined by precise criteria, between laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with mid-to-low rectal cancer using a relatively novel statistical technique. METHODS: A total of 1014 consecutive low anterior resection (LAR) patients were registered, of whom 936 were included in this prospective, multicenter, and cohort study (UMIN-CTR, Number 000004017). Patients with rectal cancer within 10 cm from the anal verge underwent either open or laparoscopic LAR at one of the 40 institutions in Japan from June 2010 to February 2013. The primary endpoint of this study was to compare the rate of symptomatic AL between the two groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM). The secondary endpoint was to analyze the risk factors for symptomatic AL in open and laparoscopic surgery. RESULTS: After PSM, the incidence of symptomatic AL in open and laparoscopic surgery was 12.4 and 15.3 %, respectively (p = 0.48). AL requiring relaparotomy occurred after 3.8 % of open surgeries and 6.2 % of laparoscopic surgeries (p = 0.37). Multivariate analysis identified male gender as an independent risk factor for symptomatic AL following laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.001; odds ratio 5.2; 95 % CI 2.0-13.8), and male gender (p = 0.004; odds ratio 2.6; 95 % CI 1.3-5.6), tumor size (p = 0.002; odds ratio 1.2; 95 % CI 0.7-0.9), and number of stapler firing (p = 0.04; odds ratio 4.1; 95 % CI 1.0-15.0) following open surgery. CONCLUSION: The rate of symptomatic AL was comparable following laparoscopic and open LAR in this large, multicenter, cohort study after PSM. Male gender was associated with an increased risk of symptomatic AL after laparoscopic LAR.

Transileocolic Portal Vein Embolization Increases Remnant Liver Volume After Major Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Transileocolic portal vein embolization (TIPE) may reduce the risk of liver failure after massive hepatectomy. However, convincing evidence of its usefulness in this regard is yet to be reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the use of TIPE after massive hepatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients who underwent TIPE were included. Pre- and postoperative liver volumetry was determined using a 3D simulator with computed tomography. RESULTS: After TIPE, the percent change in total liver volume was 104.0%±13.1% (p=0.08). Conversely, the percent increase in remnant liver volume (ml)/total liver volume (ml) and remnant liver volume (ml)/standard liver volume (ml) was 122.9%±18.6% (p<0.001) and 132.2%±19.6% (p<0.001), respectively. TIPE operation time was 125±84.6 min, with minimal blood loss in all cases. Postoperative hospitalization duration during TIPE was 4.5±2.6 days. No TIPE-related complications occurred in any patient. CONCLUSION: TIPE is beneficial and safe when preoperative volumetry indicates that the remaining liver volume is inadequate and inoperable.

Impact of resection for ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer and clinicopathologic analysis: A multicenter retrospective study in Japan.

Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of resection of ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer and to identify the clinicopathologic characteristics. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, we evaluated data on ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer obtained from patients at 20 centers in Japan between 2000 and 2014. We examined the impact of resection on the prognosis of patients with ovarian metastases and examined prognostic factors. Results: The study included 296 patients with ovarian metastasis. The 3-y overall survival rate was 68.6% for solitary ovarian metastases. In all cases of this cohort, the 3-y overall survival rates after curative resection, noncurative resection, and nonresection were 65.9%, 31.8%, and 6.1%, respectively (curative resection vs noncurative resection [P < 0.01] and noncurative resection vs nonresection [P < 0.01]). In the multivariate analysis of prognostic factors, tumor size of ovarian metastasis (P < 0.01), bilateral ovarian metastasis (P = 0.01), peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), pulmonary metastasis (P = 0.04), liver metastasis (P < 0.01), and remnant of ovarian metastasis (P < 0.01) were statistically significantly different. Conclusion: The prognosis after curative resection for solitary ovarian metastases was shown to be relatively favorable as Stage IV colorectal cancer. Resection of ovarian metastases, not only curative resection but also noncurative resection, confers a survival benefit. Prognostic factors were large ovarian metastases, bilateral ovarian metastases, the presence of extraovarian metastases, and remnant ovarian metastases.

Total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) in elderly patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 138 patients who underwent TLDG from April 2005 to March 2009. Of these 138 patients, 20 were older than 75 years of age, and 118 were 75 years of age or younger. RESULTS: The preoperative respiratory function and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) -physical status were significantly worse in the elderly patients than in the younger patients (P = 0.013). Hypertension and respiratory disease were more common in the elderly patients than in the younger patients (P = 0.032 / P = 0.005). The findings for the following parameters were similar in the two groups: intraoperative blood loss, operation time, severe postoperative complication rate, time required to start a solid diet, and duration of postoperative hospital stay. The rate of major complications was not different between the two groups, although minor complications were more commonly observed in the elderly patients. CONCLUSION: TLDG was found to be a safe procedure for elderly patients. This method can be used as one of the standard treatments for gastric cancer in elderly patients.

Stent Graft of Pseudoaneurysm Rupture After Subtotal Stomach-preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pseudoaneurysm rupture (PR) after subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSPPD) is a potentially fatal complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 122 patients who underwent SSPPD at the Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021. RESULTS: PR occurred in five patients (4.1%) after SSPPD. Preoperative diagnoses were cancers of the pancreatic head, distal bile duct, and gallbladder. All patients had postoperative Grade B or C pancreatic fistulas. PR occurred on postoperative days 8, 13, 20, 45, and 46. Bleeding sites were at the gastroduodenal artery transection, left gastric artery, and right hepatic artery. Four patients underwent peripheral stent graft placement, and one underwent haemostasis by coiling. Stent grafts for the gastroduodenal artery transected stamp were placed in the common hepatic artery, and in the superior mesenteric artery for PR in the right hepatic artery. All patients who underwent stent graft placement were treated with antiplatelet therapy; no complications or stent occlusion were observed in these patients. However, two patients died of cancer recurrence, 4 and 8 months after stent graft placement. The longest survival post stent graft placement was 50 months. CONCLUSION: Peripheral stent graft placement for the treatment of PR after SSPPD can maintain peripheral blood flow and haemostasis.

Surgical indications for gastrectomy combined with distal or partial pancreatectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the surgical indications for gastrectomy combined with distal or partial pancreatectomy (GP) in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: From January 1994 to December 2009, 29 patients with primary gastric cancer surgically invading the pancreas without distant organ metastasis underwent GP for R0 resection. The patients' characteristics, surgical data, and clinicopathological features were used for the analysis of survival and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The median disease-free survival and median survival time (MST) of all patients were 15 and 30 months, respectively. Only pN3 status (characterized by 7 or more pathologically metastatic lymph nodes) according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma, 14th edition, was shown to be a prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis. The MST of the patients with pN3 and the other patients were 12 and 51 months, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that pancreas invasion should not be considered a contraindication for gastrectomy and that patients with a small number of lymph node metastases (six or fewer) might be candidates for GP in the case of gastric cancer that requires pancreatectomy for R0 resection.

Surgical outcomes after resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and the indications of resection of synchronous or metachronous hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) are controversial. This study retrospectively reviewed the cases of CRC patients who underwent both liver and lung resection to define the appropriate indications for surgical resection in patients with hepatic and pulmonary metastases. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with both hepatic and pulmonary metastases from CRC underwent both liver and lung resection from January 1987 to December 2009. The relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) from the resection for the first metastasis were evaluated by a Kaplan-Meyer analysis. Prognostic factors were analyzed using the log-rank test and a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The median RFS and the 5-year RFS rate of all patients were 12 months and 2.6 %, respectively. The median survival time (MST) and 5-year OS rate of all patients were 66 months and 48.3 %, respectively. The MST of the patients with a long (>1 year) disease-free interval (DFI) could not be calculated, but their 5-year OS rate was 73.7 %. In contrast, the MST and 5-year OS rate of the patients with a short (<1 year) DFI were 29 months and 37.5 %, respectively. The short DFI was the only prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive surgical resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases from CRC should be undertaken in selective patients, including those with a long DFI.

Evaluation of oncological adequacy of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with special attention to lymph node dissection: a comparison with conventional open gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) with lymphadenectomy has been revealed to be a useful treatment for early gastric cancer but oncological adequacy is controversial. METHODOLOGY: To assess the quality of lymphadenectomy, we evaluated the number of dissected lymph nodes and the non-compliance rate (defined as an absence of nodal tissue at a node station that should have been resected) and compared the data obtained from 102 patients treated by LDG with those from 90 patients treated by open distal gastrectomy (ODG). RESULTS: The numbers of nodes of Categories 1 and 2, which correspond respectively to perigastric and retroperitoneal nodes, did not differ significantly between the LDG group and the ODG group. In the LDG group compared to the ODG group, there were significantly more right paracardial nodes (No. 1) but there were significantly fewer infrapyloric nodes (No. 6). However, the difference in infrapyloric nodes (No. 6) became insignificant when we re-analyzed and compared the ODG group and the patients (n=42) whose LDGs were performed by two experienced laparoscopic surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: The curability of gastric cancer on LDG was almost equivalent to that of ODG from the viewpoint of lymph node dissection, if the LDG is performed by two experienced laparoscopic surgeons. These data suggested that LDG with lymphadenectomy could possibly be adopted for advanced gastric cancer treatment under proper quality control, such as that provided by an experienced laparoscopic team.

Safe laparoscopic resection of a gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor close to the esophagogastric junction.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy is commonly performed for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Partial gastrectomy is usually achieved with a wedge resection to preserve gastric function; however, performing a wedge resection to excise a large tumor located close to the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) can result in deformation of the stomach and/or the stenosis of the EGJ if the gastric wall resection is excessive. We describe our procedure, in which the whole layer of the gastric wall was cut, maintaining a sufficient margin and confirming the distance between the tumor and the EGJ, by endoscopy and laparoscopy. The defect in the gastric wall was closed using linear staplers by hanging up the stay sutures. Five patients with GIST close to EGJ underwent this procedure, followed by a good postoperative course. Thus, we consider our procedure to be safe and effective for gastric GISTs close to the EGJ.

Novel case of laparoscopically resected gastric adenocarcinoma concurrent with lanthanum deposition.

A 73-year-old man taking lanthanum carbonate for hemodialysis showed progressing gastric mucosal changes with lanthanum deposition. Regular examination revealed concurrent gastric carcinoma. The extent and depth of its invasion were ambiguous because of the surrounding lanthanum deposition. Furthermore, there could be other potent carcinomas, and curative laparoscopic gastrectomy was performed.