Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Ampulla of Vater: A Case Report.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the ampulla of Vater are extremely rare. Here, we discuss the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and treatment options of a recently experienced case of NET of the ampulla of Vater in light of the literature. A 56-year-old woman presented with recurrent upper abdominal pain. Ultrasonography (USG) of the whole abdomen showed multiple gallstones along with a dilated common bile duct (CBD). For evaluating the dilated CBD, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed, which revealed the double-duct sign. Subsequently, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a bulged-out ampulla of the Vater. Biopsy and histopathological examination of the growth yielded the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. A Whipple procedure was performed. Macroscopically, a 2 cm growth was noted involving the ampulla of Vater, and microscopic findings were consistent with a well-differentiated NET, grade 1 (low grade). The diagnosis was further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining (pan-cytokeratin positive, synaptophysin positive, and focally chromogranin positive). Her postoperative course was uneventful except for delayed gastric emptying. A detailed evaluation and a high index of suspicion are required for the diagnosis of this rare tumor. Treatment is relatively easier after a proper diagnosis.

Effect of early and delay starting of enteral feeding in post-pancreaticoduodenectomy patients.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: This study was undertaken to see the effect of early starting of enteral feeding after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). The results were compared with existing nutritional practice in which enteral feeding started, usually after 7 to 8 postoperative day (PODs) in our institute. METHODS: Thirty patients whome underwent a PD from January 2016 to December 2016 were included in the study. They were divided into two groups, I and II. In group I (n=15), enteral feeding was started from the 2nd POD through the nasojejunal feeding tube along with parenteral partial nutrition support. In group II (n=15), no enteral feeding was given up to seventh and eighth PODs, except the perenteral feeding. Post-operatively, serum albumin levels, total lymphocyte count, total bilirubin levels, serum alkaline phosphate levels were measured for two weeks postoperatively in all the patients for assessing nutritional, immunological and cholestasis status. The mortality, morbidity and lengths of post-operative hospital stay were also recorded. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the serum albumin level and lymphocyte count decreased from the pre-operative level on the third POD and it gradually increased from the seventh POD onwards in both groups. However, they remained persistently higher in group I than group II. The total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase decreased to normal levels within the seventh POD in Group I. However, they remained higher than normal levels on POD 14 in Group II. The morbidity and hospital stay was significantly lower in group I than group II. CONCLUSIONS: Early enteral feeding should be considered after PD. This is because it will improve nutritional, immunological status and cholestasis. Therefore, it reduces morbidity and shortens the hospital stay.

Surgical treatment of type IV choledochal cysts.

The benefit of total resection of the dilated bile duct has remained unclear. We describe here our surgical management of 13 patients with type IV choledochal cysts. All six younger patients (25-35 years old) underwent resection of the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) and hepaticojejunostomy (HJ), whereas three of the seven older patients (50-68 years old) underwent resection of the EHBD resection and HJ, with the remaining four older patients undergoing total resection of the dilated bile duct and removal of a pancreatobiliary maljunction (PBMJ) in the form of a S4a+S5 hepatectomy (so-called Taj Mahal) and/or pancreas head resection with second portion pancreaticoduodenectomy. No malignancies were detected in the dilated bile duct after resection in the younger patients, but cancer of the gallbladder and/or the dilated bile duct was found in two (27.5%) of the older patients. No cancers were detected during the long-term follow up (1974-2008) in those patients who underwent EHBD resection plus partial hepatectomy, but cancer developed in the remnant duct in one of the older patients who underwent EHBD resection alone. Based on our findings, we recommend that type IV choledochal cysts should be treated by total excision of the dilated bile duct, including the PBMJ, due to its frequent association with malignancy, and to prevent the development of cancer in the remnant duct and improve the long-term survival rate.

Liver retransplantation with external biliary diversion for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 1: a case report.

PFIC1, originally described as "Byler disease," is characterized by cholestatic feature and chronic diarrhea. Many patients require LT for the cure, but intractable diarrhea and prolonged growth retardation after LT are serious complications limiting the ultimate outcome of LT for this disease. EBD has recently been shown to be a promising and effective treatment. Recently, we successfully treated a five-yr-old boy with PFIC1 employing EBD after re-transplantation. The patient received LDLT at the age of one yr. Six months after initial transplantation, he developed repeated attacks and diarrhea followed by the development of liver dysfunction and ascites. Liver biopsy at three yr after LDLT revealed the features of chronic graft rejection. With a diagnosis of chronic graft rejection with liver failure, we performed a repeat LDLT with EBD in which the jejunal loop used for hepaticojejunostomy was taken out of the body surface through the abdominal wall. Ten months after surgery, he is doing well, having no attack of diarrhea.

Conserving the zoological resources of Bangladesh under a changing climate.

It is now well recognized that Bangladesh is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change and sea level rise. Low levels of natural resources and a high occurrence of natural disasters further add to the challenges faced by the country. The impacts of climate change are anticipated to exacerbate these existing stresses and constitute a serious impediment to poverty reduction and economic development. Ecosystems and biodiversity are important key sectors of the economy and natural resources of the country are selected as the most vulnerable to climate change. It is for these reasons that Bangladesh should prepare to conserve its natural resources under changed climatic conditions. Unfortunately, the development of specific strategies and policies to address the effects of climate change on the ecosystem and on biodiversity has not commenced in Bangladesh. Here, I present a detailed review of animal resources of Bangladesh, an outline of the major areas in zoological research to be integrated to adapt to climate change, and identified few components for each of the aforesaid areas in relation to the natural resource conservation and management in the country.

Long-term survival after treatment of gastric carcinoma with liver metastases. A case report.

A 58-year-old fish dealer presented with epigastric pain. Radiographic and endoscopic studies showed a Borrmann type I gastric carcinoma on the anterior surface of the body of the stomach near the greater curvature, and a metastatic work-up demonstrated two masses in the right lobe of the liver (segment 6 and 8). The preoperative diagnosis was gastric carcinoma with liver metastasis (stage IV). At laparotomy no tumors were found in the left lobe of the liver or the peritoneum, and subtotal gastrectomy, D2 lymph node dissection, and segment 6 and 8 partial resection was performed. Ligation of the right portal vein and intraoperative common hepatic artery chemotherapy (one shot) was performed to destroy any non-visible metastatic tumors in the right lobe of the liver. Histologically, both the gastric and the hepatic lesions were adenocarcinoma. An aneurysm of the common hepatic artery developed after another shot of chemotherapy through the celiac artery one month after the operation. The aneurysm ruptured, and a small fistula formed between the aneurysm and the duodenum. The aneurysm was successfully treated by aneurysmectomy, and the perforated duodenal wall was managed by catheter duodenostomy. The patient is alive and pursuing his previous occupation with no evidence of tumor recurrence. He has been attending the outpatient clinic for follow-up every 6 months for 17 years since the operation. Removal of the primary and metastatic lesions with portal vein ligation and intra-arterial chemotherapy is therefore effective as an active measure to prolong the survival time of gastric carcinoma patients with metastases limited to a single lobe of the liver.

Surgical treatment of hilar bile duct carcinoma: experience with 25 consecutive hepatectomies.

To evaluate our recent surgical policy regarding hilar bile duct carcinoma, we evaluated 62 cases treated between 1976 and 1993, and 25 cases treated between 1994 and 2000. In the late period we used percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization (PTPE) before extended right hepatectomy; S4a + S5 + S1 hepatectomy for elderly patients and those with poor liver function; and routine total caudate lobectomy including the paracaval portion and resection of the inferior portion of the medial segment (S4a). Sixty-five (74.7%) of the 87 patients underwent hepatectomy: 40 in the early period and 25 in the late period. Bile duct resection alone was performed in 22 patients, all in the early period. Resection was curative in 54.8% in the early period and 88.0% in the late period. The 3- and 5-year survival rates in the early period were 27.1% and 20.2%, respectively, as compared to 59.9% and 49.9% in the late period. Analysis of the 25 hepatectomies in the late period revealed improved survival times compared to patients treated by PTPE with extended right hepatectomy. No complications occurred after extended left hepatectomy or S4a + S5 + S1 hepatectomy, but four patients (16%) who underwent extended right hepatectomy plus PTPE died postoperatively. Our policy has resulted in improved outcome in patients with hilar bile duct carcinoma.

Analysis of the relationships between clinicopathologic factors and survival time in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study elucidated the relationships between various clinicopathologic factors and the outcome of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) treated by hepatic resection. METHODS: A total of 37 ICC patients were treated by hepatic resection in our department between March 1979 and March 2001. Eleven clinicopathological variables (age, sex, preoperative jaundice, operative curability, number of tumors, UICC [Union Internationale Contre le Cancer] pT factor, UICC pN factor, UICC pM factor, histological tumor type, 10-year period during which they initially examined, and adjuvant therapy) were selected for univariate and multivariate analysis to evaluate their influence on the outcome. RESULTS: The actuarial 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in the 37 resected cases were 54.1%, 34.0%, and 23.9%, respectively. The stage of the ICC influenced their overall survival rate. The univariate analysis revealed that curative resection (P = 0.0018), UICC pT factor (P = 0.0445), pN factor (P = 0.0029), pM factor (P = 0.0022), and histological type (P = 0.0030) were significant risk factors for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that noncurative resection, lymph node metastasis, and less differentiated histological type were significant risk factors for poor outcome. All 6 of the 37 patients who survived more than 5 years had undergone curative resection, all of their tumors were well differentiated, and none had lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Curative surgical resection remains the only effective approach to the treatment of ICC. Extensive resection is not indicated if lymph node metastasis can be identified preoperatively or intraoperatively. Current adjuvant therapy is ineffective, and it will be necessary to assess the efficacy of new adjuvant therapy strategies or the addition of new agents in terms of the outcome of ICC.