Evaluating Potential Racial Inequities in Low-dose Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US, and significant racial disparities exist in lung cancer outcomes. For example, Black men experience higher lung cancer incidence and mortality rates than their White counterparts. New screening recommendations for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) promote earlier detection of lung cancer in at-risk populations and can potentially help mitigate racial disparities in lung cancer mortality if administered equitably. Yet, little is known about the extent of racial differences in uptake of LDCT. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential racial disparities in LDCT screening in a large community-based cancer center in central North Carolina. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of the initial patients undergoing LDCT in a community-based cancer center (n = 262). We used the Pearson chi-squared test to assess potential racial disparities in LDCT screening. RESULTS: Study results suggest that Black patients may be less likely than White patients to receive LDCT screening when eligible (χ2 = 51.41, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, and decision makers is needed to promote LDCT equity.

Validation of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response Criteria After Thermal Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors can be successfully eradicated with thermal ablation (TA). We assessed the validity of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response (LR-TR) criteria with a retrospective analysis of a single-center database of patients with small HCC tumors (<3 cm in diameter) who underwent both laparoscopic TA and liver transplantation (LT) from 2004 to 2018. Postablation MRIs were assigned LR-TR categories (nonviable, equivocal, and viable) for ablated lesions and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categories (probable or definite HCC) for untreated lesions. Interpretations were compared with the histopathology of the post-LT explanted liver. There were 45 patients with 81 tumors (59 ablated and 22 untreated; mean size, 2.2 cm), and 23 (39%) of the ablated tumors had viable HCC on histopathology. The sensitivity/specificity of LR-TR categories (nonviable/equivocal versus viable) of ablated tumors was 30%/99%, with a positive predictive value (PPV)/negative predictive value (NPV) of 93%/69%. The sensitivity varied with residual tumor size. The sensitivity/specificity of LI-RADS 4 and 5 diagnostic criteria at detecting new HCC was 65%/94%, respectively, with a PPV/NPV of 85%/84%. The interrater reliability (IRR) was high for LR-TR categories (90% agreement, Cohen's ĸ = 0.75) and for LI-RADS LR-4 and LR-5 diagnostic categories (91% agreement, Cohen's ĸ = 0.80). In patients with HCC <3 cm in diameter, LR-TR criteria after TA had high IRR but low sensitivity, suggesting that the LR-TR categories are precise but inaccurate. The low sensitivity may be secondary to TA's disruption in the local blood flow of the tissue, which could affect the arterial enhancement phase on MRI. Additional investigation and new technologies may be necessary to improve imaging after ablation.

Impact of neoadjuvant therapy on postoperative outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection provides the only potentially curative treatment of pancreatic cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation (NAT) is used to downstage patients with borderline resectable tumors. The objective of this study was to examine the postoperative morbidity and mortality of NAT after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). METHODS: Using the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Targeted Pancreatectomy data, we identified patients who underwent a PD for PDA from 2014 to 2015. Patients were grouped by receipt of NAT 90 days before PD. Bivariable and multivariable analyses was used to compare postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 3748 patients with PDA underwent PD; 926 (24.7%) received NAT. Those in the NAT group had more major vein resections, and longer operating times (all P < 0.001). On pathologic staging, those in the NAT group had smaller tumors (T1, 10.9% vs 5.1%; P < 0.001) and fewer nodes positive (N0, 49% vs 28%; P < 0.001). There were no differences in 30-day postoperative mortality or overall complications. On multivariable analysis, patients who received NAT had a lower likelihood of pancreatic fistula (OR, 0.67; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: NAT does not increase the overall postoperative morbidity or mortality of PD for PDA. There is a decreased likelihood of pancreatic fistulas in patients that receive neoadjuvant therapy.

Delayed Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis Has a Lower 30-Day Adverse Event Rate: Analysis From the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients requiring colectomy often have a staged ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA). There are no prospective data comparing timing of pouch creation. We aimed to compare 30-day adverse event rates for pouch creation at the time of colectomy (PTC) with delayed pouch creation (DPC). Methods: Using prospectively collected data from 2011-2015 through the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, we conducted a cohort study including subjects aged ≥18 years with a postoperative diagnosis of UC. We assessed 30-day postoperative rates of unplanned readmissions, reoperations, and major and minor adverse events (AEs), comparing the stage of the surgery where the pouch creation took place. Using a modified Poisson regression model, we estimated risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking status, diabetes, albumin, and comorbidities. Results: Of 2390 IPAA procedures, 1571 were PTC and 819 were DPC. In the PTC group, 51% were on chronic immunosuppression preoperatively, compared with 15% in the DPC group (P < 0.01). After controlling for confounders, patients who had DPC were significantly less likely to have unplanned reoperations (RR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.24-0.75), major AEs (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-0.99), and minor AEs (RR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.32-0.73) than PTC. Conclusions: Patients undergoing delayed pouch creation were at lower risk for unplanned reoperations and major and minor adverse events compared with patients undergoing pouch creation at the time of colectomy. 10.1093/ibd/izy082_video1izy082.video15776112442001.

Increasing Rates of Surgery for Patients With Nonmalignant Colorectal Polyps in the United States.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Despite the availability of endoscopic therapy, many patients in the United States undergo surgical resection for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. We aimed to quantify and examine trends in the use of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps in a nationally representative sample. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample for 2000 through 2014. We included all adult patients who underwent elective colectomy or proctectomy and had a diagnosis of either nonmalignant colorectal polyp or colorectal cancer. We compared trends in surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps with surgery for colorectal cancer and calculated age, sex, race, region, and teaching status/bed-size-specific incidence rates of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. RESULTS: From 2000 through 2014, there were 1,230,458 surgeries for nonmalignant colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer in the United States. Among those surgeries, 25% were performed for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. The incidence of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps has increased significantly, from 5.9 in 2000 to 9.4 in 2014 per 100,000 adults (incidence rate difference, 3.56; 95% confidence interval 3.40-3.72), while the incidence of surgery for colorectal cancer has significantly decreased, from 31.5 to 24.7 surgeries per 100,000 adults (incidence rate difference, -6.80; 95% confidence interval -7.11 to -6.49). The incidence of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps has been increasing among individuals age 20 to 79, in men and women and including all races and ethnicities. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of a large, nationally representative sample, we found that surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps is common and has significantly increased over the past 14 years.

Morbidity and mortality after surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite evidence that most nonmalignant colorectal polyps can be managed endoscopically, a substantial proportion of patients with a nonmalignant colorectal polyp are still sent to surgery. Risks associated with this surgery are not well characterized. We describe 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality and explore risk factors for adverse events in patients undergoing surgical resection for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. METHODS: We analyzed data collected prospectively as part of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Our analysis included 12,732 patients who underwent elective surgery for a nonmalignant colorectal polyp from 2011 through 2014. We report adverse events within 30 days of the index surgery. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality was .7%. The risk of a major postoperative adverse event was 14%. Within 30 days of resection, 7.8% of patients were readmitted and 3.6% of patients had a second major surgery. The index surgery resulted in a colostomy in 1.8% and ileostomy in .4% of patients. Patients who had surgical resection of a nonmalignant polyp in the rectum or anal canal compared with the colon had a risk ratio of 1.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.28) for surgical site infection and 6.51 (95% confidence interval, 4.97-8.52) for ostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for a nonmalignant colorectal polyp is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the risks and benefits associated with surgical management of nonmalignant colorectal polyps will better inform discussions regarding the relative merits of management strategies.