Magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative assessment of the mesorectal nodal status of patients with rectal cancer - Can it be trusted?

PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a fundamental diagnostic modality for the evaluation of primary rectal cancer, but MRI assessment of nodal involvement remains a confounding factor. METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the accuracy of preoperative MRI in the assessment of nodal status by comparing histopathology reports to MRI findings on a node-by-node basis in 69 patients with rectal cancer. RESULTS: Primary surgery was performed in 40 (58.0%) patients; 29 (42.0%) study patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Histopathological examination revealed T1 tumour in 8 (11.6%) patients, T2 tumour in 30 (43.5%), and T3 tumour in 25 (36.2%). In total, 897 lymph nodes (LNs) have been harvested (13.1 ± 5.4 LNs per specimen). There were 77 MRI-suspicious LNs, 21 (27.3%) of which were histologically proven malignant. The sensitivity of MRI for assessing nodal involvement was 51.2% and specificity 93.4%. Of the 28 patients with MRI-suspicious LNs the diagnosis was correct in 42.8%. The MRI accuracy was 33.3% in "primary surgery" subgroup (n = 18, malignant LNs found in 6 patients). Diagnosis of MRI-negative LNs was correct in 90.2% of study patients; malignant nodes were found in 9.8% of patients initially classified as cN0. CONCLUSIONS: MRI prediction of nodal status in patients with rectal cancer has very low accuracy. Decisions regarding neoadjuvant CRT should not be based on MRI assessment of nodal status, but on the MRI evaluation of tumour depth invasion (T stage and relationship between the tumour and mesorectal fascia).

Tension pneumopericardium in a polytrauma patient.

INTRODUCTION: Tension pneumopericardium is a life-threatening condition, manifesting most commonly as hemodynamic instability caused by cardiac tamponade. Reduced cardiac output and blood pressure can lead to difficulties in the detection of arterial bleeding from associated injuries while the increased venous pressure can increase the rate of bleeding. CASE REPORT: This is the case of a patient after a car accident, with bilateral serial fractures, bilateral pulmonary contusion, bilateral pneumothorax, emphysema of the neck and chest, pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium, and other injuries. During treatment, the patient developed a gradually progressing hemodynamic instability, resulting in pulseless electrical activity. Further progression of the case is detailed in the paper. CONCLUSIONS: Tension pneumopericardium is a rare complication of a high-energy blunt thoracic trauma that manifests through hemodynamic instability. Its treatment requires early diagnosis and immediate decompression of the pericardial cavity, which should, where possible, be performed even before putting the patient on mechanical ventilation as ventilation bears a high risk of worsening the pneumopericardium due to the increased air pressure in the lungs. During diagnosis and treatment of associated injuries, we must bear in mind that the hemodynamic changes caused by pneumopericardium can mask typical signs of such injuries.

Parastomal and incisional hernia following laparoscopic/open abdominoperineal resection: is there a real difference?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to explore incidence and severity of parastomal hernia (PSH) formation during the first 2 years after open/laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (APR). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a single institution. All patients who underwent laparoscopic/open APR for low rectal cancer within a 10-year study period were assessed for study eligibility. RESULTS: In total, 148 patients were included in the study (97 patients after laparoscopic APR; 51 patients after open APR). There were no statistically significant differences between study subgroups regarding demographic and clinical features. The incidence of PSH detected by physical examination was significantly higher in patients after laparoscopic APR 1 year after the surgery (50.5% vs. 19.6%, p < 0.001) and 2 years after the surgery (57.7% vs. 29.4%, p = 0.001). The incidence of radiologically detected PSH was significantly higher in laparoscopically operated patients after 1 year (58.7% vs. 35.3%, p = 0.007) and after 2 years (61.8% vs. 37.2%, p = 0.004). The mean diameter of PSH was similar in both study subgroups. The incidence of incisional hernia was significantly higher in patients who underwent open APR after 1 year (25.5% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.002) and after 2 years (31.3% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of PSH development after laparoscopic APR appears to be significantly higher in comparison with patients undergoing open APR. Higher incidence of PSH should be considered a potential disadvantage of minimally invasive approach to patients with low rectal cancer.