Prognostic significance of lymph node metastasis in pancreatic tail cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Distal pancreatectomy (DP) with lymph node (LN) dissection is the standard procedure for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the tail (Pt-PDAC). However, the optimal surgery including extent of LN dissection is still being debated. The present study investigated the incidence and prognostic impact of LN metastasis on patients suffering from Pt-PDAC. Patients and method: This multicenter, retrospective study involved 163 patients who underwent DP for resectable Pt-PDAC at 12 institutions between 2013 and 2017. The frequency of LN metastasis and the effect of LN dissection on Pt-PDAC prognosis were investigated. Results: There were high incidences of metastases to the LNs along the splenic artery in the patients with Pt-PDAC (39%). The rate of metastases in the LNs along the common hepatic, left gastric, and celiac arteries were low, and the therapeutic index for these LNs was zero. In pancreatic tail cancer located more distally, there were no metastases to the LNs along the common hepatic artery. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size was the only independent factor related to recurrence-free survival (HR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.33-3.05, p = 0.001). The level of pancreas division and LN dissection along the common hepatic artery did not affect the site of tumor recurrence or recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: LN dissection along the hepatic artery for Pt-PDAC has little significance. Distal pancreatic transection may be acceptable in terms of oncological safety, but further examination of short-term outcomes and preservation of pancreatic function is required.

Clinical evaluation of a surgical difficulty score for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis proposed in the Tokyo Guidelines 2018.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We evaluated the difficulty score of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) proposed in the Tokyo guidelines 2018 (TG18) and analyzed the most appropriate scoring method. METHODS: We reviewed 127 patients who underwent LC for AC from January 2018 to March 2022. According to TG18, surgical difficulty was scored for five categories consisting of 25 intraoperative findings. The median, highest, and mean score of the five categories were analyzed for their association with surgical outcomes. RESULTS: The difficulty score distribution (0/1/2/3/4/5/6) was as follows: median (8/34/43/30/12/0/0), highest (1/1/32/42/36/15/0) and mean (19/49/49/10/0/0/0). In all three scoring methods, higher difficulty scores were significantly correlated with longer operative time, more blood loss, and higher occurrence of subtotal cholecystectomy in trend tests. The areas under the curve (AUCs) for prediction of prolonged operative time minutes and increased blood loss were similar in all three scoring methods. For conversion to subtotal cholecystectomy, the AUC was significantly better for the highest than median and mean score (p = .015 and p = .002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The difficulty score in TG18 appropriately reflects the surgical difficulty of LC for AC. The median, highest, and mean scores of the five categories are all available, and the highest scores are simple and versatile.

Application of a novel surgical difficulty grading system during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of bile duct injury and vasculo-biliary injury while performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is an unsolved problem. Clarifying the surgical difficulty using intraoperative findings can greatly contribute to the pursuit of best practices for acute cholecystitis. In this study, multiple evaluators assessed surgical difficulty items in unedited videos and then constructed a proposed surgical difficulty grading. METHODS: We previously assembled a library of typical video clips of the intraoperative findings for all LC surgical difficulty items in acute cholecystitis. Fifty-one experts on LC assessed unedited surgical videos. Inter-rater agreement was assessed by Fleiss's κ and Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC). RESULTS: Except for one item ("edematous change"), κ or AC exceeded 0.5, so the typical videos were judged to be applicable. The conceivable surgical difficulty gradings were analyzed. According to the assessment of difficulty factors, we created a surgical difficulty grading system (agreement probability = 0.923, κ = 0.712, 90% CI: 0.587-0.837; AC2  = 0.870, 90% CI: 0.768-0.972). CONCLUSION: The previously published video clip library and our novel surgical difficulty grading system should serve as a universal objective tool to assess surgical difficulty in LC.

The novel early predictive marker presepsin for postoperative pancreatic fistula: A pilot study.

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) is a major and serious complication that occurs after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the use of a novel biomarker, presepsin, for predicting clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) after PD. A prospective pilot study was conducted using 30 consecutive patients who underwent PD. Risk factors and candidates for predictive biomarkers for CR-POPF were statistically analyzed. CR-POPF (grade B and C; determined according to the guidelines of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula) occurred in 15 patients (50%). Univariate analysis revealed that certain underlying conditions, including non-pancreatic cancer, smaller pancreatic ducts and soft pancreas texture were significantly associated with CR-POPF (P=0.005, P=0.004 and P=0.014, respectively). Furthermore, on day 1 post surgery (POD1), white blood cell count (P=0.040), levels of serum amylase (P=0.002) and serum presepsin (P=0.012), and the concentration of presepsin in drainage fluid (P<0.001) were significantly increased in CR-POPF compared with non-CR-POPF cases. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that, on POD1, serum amylase and the concentration of presepsin in drainage fluid had an area under the curve value exceeding 0.8. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher concentration of presepsin in the drainage fluid was an independent predictive marker for CR-POPF (odds ratio, 14.503; 95% confidence interval, 1.750-120.229; P=0.013). To the best of our knowledge, the present study demonstrated for the first time that presepsin concentration in drainage fluid is a useful marker of CR-POPF after PD.

The strategy for Mirizzi syndrome type II with laparoscopic surgery: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Mirizzi syndrome is an unusual condition involving gallstones. Laparotomy is recommended for the treatment of Mirizzi syndrome type II due to the risk of biliary duct injury. We herein report tips for performing laparoscopic surgery for Mirizzi syndrome type II as a treatment option. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to abdominal pain and a fever. The diagnosis of Mirrizi syndrome type II was made. Therefore, an endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage tube was placed, and laparoscopic surgery was performed. During the operation, the gallbladder wall was excised at the Hartmann's pouch, and a gallstone was extracted. A fistula between the gallbladder and bile duct was confirmed, and the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome type II was made. Partial resection of the gallbladder was performed, and the neck of the gallbladder was sutured. The postoperative course was uneventful. DISCUSSION: The preoperative diagnosis is important for Mirizzi syndrome, and the combination of various modalities, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, can increase the diagnostic rate. It is often difficult to recognize the anatomy during surgery for Mirizzi syndrome due to severe inflammation. Therefore, it is best to dissect the gallbladder from the bottom, perform excision at the Hartmann's pouch, remove the gallstone and suture the gallbladder wall. Replacement of the biliary tube can aid in recognizing the anatomy and bile duct. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery for Mirizzi syndrome is a viable treatment option following an accurate preoperative diagnosis and the recognition of the anatomy during the operation.

Retrospective Risk Analysis for Anastomotic Leakage Following Laparoscopic Rectal Cancer Surgery in a Single Institute.

PURPOSE: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most serious complications after laparoscopic low anterior resection (LALAR) for rectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the risk factors for AL after LALAR. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 103 patients who underwent LALAR in a single institute between October 2008 and January 2018. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the clinicopathological factors associated with AL. RESULTS: The overall incidence of AL was 9.7% (10/103). After anastomosis using the double-stapling technique, a transanal tube was placed in 88 patients (85.4%). A diverting stoma was created in 26 patients (25.2%). The univariate analysis showed that a younger age (P = 0.014), higher stage (P = 0.048), deeper depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.028), larger tumor circumference (P = 0.024), longer operation time (P = 0.015), and early postoperative diarrhea (P = 0.002) were associated with AL. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed early postoperative diarrhea (odds ratio [OR] 16.513, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.393-113.971, P = 0.004) a younger age (10-year increments; OR 0.351, 95% CI 0.147-0.839, P = 0.019), operative time (10-min increments; OR 1.089, 95% CI 1.012-1.172, P = 0.022), and higher stage (OR 10.605, 95% CI 1.279-87.919, P = 0.029) were independent risk factors for AL CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that tumor progression accompanied by a high stage, long operative time, and insufficient bowel preparation and early postoperative diarrhea due to a large tumor circumference may be risk factors of AL after LALAR for rectal cancer.

A long-term survivor of undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver successfully treated with surgical treatments: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver is extremely rare. The biological characteristics and standard strategy for its treatment have not been established yet. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 45-year-old man was admitted because of fever elevation and shivering. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a hypovascular cystic mass in segments 6 and 7 of the liver measuring 11.5 × 9.0 cm with ring enhancement and partial solid component. A diagnosis of liver abscess was made, and percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage was performed. Reddish brown-colored pus showed no bacteria or amoebas. However, cytology demonstrated malignant cells. After additional examinations of magnetic resonance imaging and the positron emission tomography, extended posterior sectionectomy with cholecystectomy was performed. The excised specimen showed a solid and irregular tumor with extensive central necrosis. A pathological examination revealed diffuse proliferation of oval- and spindle-shaped malignant cells. Immunohistochemically, the malignant cells were diffusely positive for AE1/AE3 and vimentin and focally positive for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and cytokeratin 19; however, hepatocyte-specific antigen, glypican 3, cytokeratin 7, and CD56 were negative. Therefore, a diagnosis of undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver was made. He has remained well without any recurrence for three years since the operation. DISCUSSION: Undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver might grow rapidly, resulting in necrosis with a cystic component. Therefore, it can be difficult to distinguish from liver abscess. CONCLUSION: This disease has markedly different clinical and biological features from common primary malignant tumor of the liver. However, if the tumor is a solitary mass, surgical resection might lead to a good prognosis.

Malignant lymphoma incidentally diagnosed due to the perforation of the small intestine caused by a fish bone: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The ingestion of a foreign body is relatively common. However, it rarely results in the perforation of gastrointestinal tract. We herein report an unusual case of malignant lymphoma incidentally diagnosed after the perforation of the small intestine by a fish bone. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 90-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated free air and ascites in the abdominal cavity. In the pelvic cavity, a radiopaque linear shadow about 35mm in diameter was shown in the small intestine, and the stricture was exposed to the abdominal cavity. Therefore, a diagnosis of perforation of the small intestine due to ingestion of a foreign body and panperitonitis was made. Emergent laparotomy was performed. The intraoperative findings revealed perforation of the small intestine with a fish bone in the jejunum. Local inflammation at the perforation site was seen, and circulated wall thickness was observed at the distal side of the jejunum. Partial resection of the jejunum and anastomosis of jejuno-jejunostomy was performed. A pathological examination and immunohistochemical study of the resected specimen resulted in a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma of follicular lymphoma Grade 1. DISCUSSION: It is very difficult to identify the existence malignancy accompanied with gastrointestinal perforation with ingestion of a foreign body. CONCLUSION: In cases suspected of involving malignancy, careful observation during surgery is needed in order to avoid missing the accompanying malignancy.

A novel surgical technique for bleeding duodenal varices after failure of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Duodenal varices are a low-frequency cause of gastrointestinal bleeding; however, greater than 40 % mortality has been reported after the initial bleeding episode. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes a 72-year-old woman with bleeding duodenal varices treated by surgery after failure of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO). The patient presented with profuse melena. Emergent upper endoscopy was immediately performed, and bleeding duodenal varices in the second portion of the duodenum were seen. Endoscopic band ligation was attempted first followed by B-RTO; however, the combined procedures failed. Laparotomy under general anesthesia was then performed, and the venous collaterals were cannulated using an 18-gauge needle. Following intraoperative angiography, the venous collateral was ligated on the peripheral side of the needle entry point, and ethanolamine oleate was injected into the afferent collateral vessel. Endoscopic examination on postoperative day 4 showed embolization of the duodenal varices. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 11. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is simple and effective, and we believe it is a potential alternative surgical treatment for duodenal varices with portal hypertension.

Sarcopenia is a risk factor for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Sarcopenia, initially proposed as decreased of muscle mass and strength, is associated with aging and malignant diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there is a correlation between sarcopenia and the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive naive patients with HCC who underwent curative resection or radiofrequency ablation. To eliminate the influence of cause or the severity of liver damage, subjects were limited to those with HCC with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis and Child-Pugh class A liver function. Patients were assessed using computed tomographic measurement of muscle mass at the level of the third lumbar (L3) vertebrae, the L3 skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI). Sarcopenia was defined by using previously published, sex-specific cut-off value. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was present in 61 of 92 patients. Patients' median age was 71.5 years (range, 47-84), and the baseline characteristics of patients were comparable between patients with and without sarcopenia except for sex, serum albumin level, prothrombin time, diabetes mellitus and body mass index. Recurrence rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 39.1%,77.1%,81.7% for patients with sarcopenia and 23.5%,59.5% and 75.7% for patients without sarcopenia, respectively (P = 0.03). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that sarcopenia and preoperative α-fetoprotein of more than 40 ng/mL were significant independent factors for recurrence. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is a risk factor for recurrence in patients with HCC who were treated with curative treatment.

Curative resection of gallbladder cancer with liver invasion and hepatic metastasis after chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1: report of a case.

A 62-year-old woman diagnosed with gallbladder cancer exhibiting broad liver invasion and metastasis to Couinaud's hepatic segments 4 and 8 (S4 and S8) consulted her regular doctor. Owing to the presence of liver metastases, she received treatment with gemcitabine plus S-1. After four cycles of chemotherapy, the size of the main lesion dramatically decreased and the two liver metastases disappeared. After six cycles of chemotherapy, the patient was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment. Upon admission, there was no evidence of any distant metastasis, based on a detailed radiological examination. Therefore, we performed cholecystectomy and central bisegmentectomy of the liver after obtaining the patient's informed consent. Pathological examination demonstrated viable cancer cells with granuloma formation and calcification in the gallbladder, as well as regenerative changes without viable cancer cells in S4 and S8 of the liver. Gemcitabine plus S-1 was again administered as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. One and a half years after the surgery, there were no signs of recurrence. In patients selected according to their response to chemotherapy, surgical treatment might therefore be effective against gallbladder cancer with metastasis.

[A case of effective treatment with S-1/gemcitabine chemotherapy and resection for advanced pancreatic cancer with peritoneal dissemination].

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain. An abdominal computed tomography(CT)scan revealed pancreatictail cancer with peritoneal dissemination. We administered systemic chemotherapy consisting of S-1 and gemcitabine. After 10 courses, the peritoneal dissemination had disappeared and tumor marker levels returned to almost normal values. Thus, we considered the patient to have an effective response, so we performed a distalpancreatectomy and partial resection of the stomach, transverse colon, and left adrenal gland. Eleven months after the operation, the patient is alive with no recurrence.

Actual status of clinical diagnosis in patients with primary gallbladder cancer associated with adenomyomatosis.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to reveal differences in clinical diagnosis of gallbladder cancer among patients with or without adenomyomatosis (ADM) by analyzing demonstrated tumor patterns on imaging and diagnostic opportunities. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with gallbladder cancer were enrolled. Demonstrated imaging patterns were classified into mass lesion (ML), wall thickening (WT), and papillary lesion (PL). Clinical status during periodic follow up and other diagnostic opportunities were determined from medical records. RESULTS: All adenomyomatosis-associated cases were diagnosed at the T2 or higher stage. The distribution of demonstrated imaging patterns was significantly different between the adenomyomatosis-associated and non-adenomyomatosis-associated groups (p = 0.0002). No adenomyomatosis-associated gallbladder cancer had the PL pattern, which was readily identifiable and characteristic of early-stage cancer. The WT pattern presented difficulties for diagnosis, and the ML pattern was relatively specific, although most of these cases were at advanced stages. Approximately 40% of ADM patients were found to be in advanced stages of gallbladder cancer, in spite of undergoing periodic follow up. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the difficulty of early diagnosis of primary gallbladder cancer in the setting of concurrent ADM. Current results suggest the possible utility of preventive cholecystectomy for management of asymptomatic ADM patients.

Appraisal of simultaneous laparoscopic splenectomy and hepatic resection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with hypersplenic thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The management of hepatocellular carcinoma with hypersplenic thrombocytopenia remains controversial, because of the high surgical morbidity and mortality. Splenectomy has been reported to be useful for patients with hypersplenic thrombocytopenia, but the timing and route of splenectomy and hepatic resection remains unclear. This report evaluated the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for simultaneous splenectomy and hepatic resection in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with hypersplenic thrombocytopenia. METHODOLOGY: Among 65 patients with hypersplenic thrombocytopenia who underwent hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma, 20 patients underwent simultaneous splenectomy and hepatic resection. Initially, ten patients underwent the procedure by conventional laparotomy (open group) and ten patients underwent by laparoscopy (laparoscopic group). The clinicopathological results from the two groups were compared retrospectively. RESULTS: The blood loss in the laparoscopic group was significantly less and the postoperative morbidity rate in the laparoscopic group was lower than that in the open group. The duration of the postoperative hospital stay in the laparoscopic group was significantly shorter and rate of patients administered interferon in the laparoscopic group was significantly higher than that in open group. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous splenectomy and hepatic resection under laparoscopy is a safe and useful in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with hypersplenic thrombocytopenia.

Prediction of postoperative complications in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether advanced age was associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications and identify the predictive factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2010, 256 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC were investigated. Elderly patients were defined as those aged ≥75 y. The clinicopathologic data and outcomes after hepatectomy for 64 elderly and 192 younger patients were retrospectively collected and compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications (P = 0.936) or the long-term survival after hepatectomy (P = 0.641) between the elderly and younger patients. In multivariate analysis, the estimation of physiological ability and surgical stress-preoperative risk score (PRS) was an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity in the elderly patients (P < 0.01). Moreover, the patients were analyzed according to the PRS for the assessment of their general preoperative condition and liver damage grade based on the hepatic reserve. The rate of postoperative complications in the patients with a PRS ≥0.5 and liver damage B was significantly higher in the elderly patients (P < 0.01), whereas a PRS and liver damage grade did not affect the incidence of postoperative morbidity in the younger patients (P = 0.516). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatectomy for elderly patients with HCC is feasible as well as safe, and the preoperative assessment using the estimation of physiological ability and surgical stress scoring system, combined with the liver damage grade, can help to improve the safety of this procedure for elderly HCC patients.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver concomitant with primary colon cancer: report of a case.

A 55-year-old Japanese female was admitted to our hospital to treat colon cancer. Computed tomography revealed a 2.6 × 2.0 cm liver mass considered to be liver metastasis. She synchronously underwent right colectomy with D3 lymph node dissection and subsegmentectomy 8 under the diagnosis of advanced colon cancer with liver metastasis. The pathology examination revealed the liver nodule was pure squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), whereas histology of colon cancer was a well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma containing no squamous component. The patient underwent intensive checkup by imaging for a primary site of SCC. However, no lesion considered as possible primary site of SCC was found. Therefore, the liver nodule was finally diagnosed as a primary hepatic SCC. Primary SCC of the liver is a rare and high-grade malignant tumor. Recurrent multiple liver nodule was found at 13 months after surgery and the patient died of cancer 17 months after surgery.