Clinical significance of the maximum standardized uptake value on positron emission tomography to predict treatment response and outcomes in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

PURPOSES: The association between the reduction rate of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on positron emission tomography (PET) during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) and the prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 62 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent curative surgery after NACRT at Kobe University between 2008 and 2021. The SUVmax reduction rate was calculated from preoperative and postoperative PET scans, and its association with the prognosis was investigated. RESULTS: The cutoff value for SUVmax reduction rate was 61.5%. Twenty patients had an SUVmax reduction rate > 61.5% (SUV responder group) and 38 patients had an SUVmax reduction rate ≤ 61.5% (SUV nonresponder group). Regarding pathological outcomes, the rate of a good histological response was significantly higher in the SUV responder group than in the SUV nonresponder group (80.0% vs. 21.1%, p < 0.001). Both the overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly better in the SUV responder group than in the SUV nonresponder group (OS, p = 0.035; RFS, p = 0.019). In the SUV responder group, only 1 case of recurrence was observed, with a median follow-up period of 56 months. CONCLUSION: The rate of SUVmax reduction during NACRT might predict the long-term prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

[A Case Report of Appendiceal NET G1 Diagnosed by Histopathological Examination after Appendectomy for Acute Appendicitis].

A 36-year-old woman was diagnosed with acute appendicitis after a close examination of her abdominal pain and nausea. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, and pathological examination revealed a NET G1. They were localized lesions on the tips and body of the appendix, with no additional resection because the tumor size was less than 2 cm and no risk factors for recurrence and metastasis(vascular invasion, NET G2 or higher, or invasion of the mesentery). The patient was followed up with contrast-enhanced CT every 6 months and has been recurrence-free for 2 years postoperatively.

[A Case Report of Pancreatic Tail Carcinoma with Positive Periotoneal Washing Cytology with Recurrence-Free Survival after Surgery and Chemotherapy].

A woman in her 70s underwent distal pancreatectomy(D2 dissection)for a pancreatic tail carcinoma after a close examination of the cause of her poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Intraoperative rapid peritoneal washing cytology showed no malignant findings, but histopathological examination revealed Ptb, TS2, tub2, pT3, ly1, v3, ne3, mpd0, pS0, pRP1, pOO0, pPCM0, pDPM0, pN0, pM0, pCY1, pStage ⅡA, R0(Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Protocol 7th Edition). The patient was treated with S-1 therapy for 6 months postoperatively and is alive 1 year and 9 months without recurrence. The prognosis after resection of pancreatic cancer with positive peritoneal washing cytology is said to be worse than that of patients with negative, because of the high recurrence rate of peritoneal metastasis. We report a case of pancreatic tail carcinoma with positive peritoneal washing cytology with recurrence-free survival after surgery and chemotherapy.

A case of aortoduodenal fistula presenting with postoperative lymphatic leakage.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Secondary aortoduodenal fistula (sADF) is a complication of prosthetic graft replacement of the abdominal aorta which often follows a fatal course. This report details our experience with a case of lymphatic fistula that developed after sADF repair. The fistula was refractory to conservative treatment but ultimately responded to lipiodol lymphangiography. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old man had undergone prosthetic graft replacement to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm in 2012 and a thoracic aortic aneurysm in 2015. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed in 2020, and examination for worsening anemia revealed that the abdominal aortic graft had eroded into the horizontal duodenum. The patient was treated with prosthetic graft replacement and duodenectomy. A refractory lymphatic fistula was noted after surgery, which made ascites accumulation difficult to control, but the patient's condition rapidly improved following therapeutic lymphangiography. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Surgery is the first-line therapy for sADF, but clinicians must stay vigilant for infection recurrence and aortoenteric fistulae after a repair, and this requires patient-specific postoperative management. Our modifications, intended to minimize contamination of the operative field in the present case, also facilitated our ability to subsequently treat a refractory lymphatic fistula, which is a rare postoperative complication of the procedure. CONCLUSION: Procedural modifications to sADF repair aimed at minimizing perioperative contamination are crucial for preventing infection recurrence. Given the extent of invasion, the surgery can cause various postoperative complications, requiring individualized strategies for management and treatment. Therapeutic lymphangiography is one such approach, which holds promise as a first-line treatment for refractory lymphatic fistula.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy after distal gastrectomy: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) after gastrectomy requires more attention during surgery than ordinary PD due to anatomical variation with different types of gastrointestinal anastomoses, the complication of anatomical dissection, and the extent of adhesions present. Herein, we describe the PD strategies we used in three patients who strategy for three patients who had previously undergone distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer treatment. DISCUSSION: Generally, reconstruction following PD in patients who have undergone a prior Billroth I reconstruction is simple, as there is no previous afferent loop. By comparison, reconstruction after a Billroth II or R-Y reconstruction requires special consideration of the point of circulation and length of the remnant intestine used for pancreaticojejunostomy, choledochojejunostomy or gastrojejunostomy. CONCLUSION: There is no consensus regarding the best method for performing PD and reconstruction in patients with a prior history of gastrectomy. The appropriateness of using the existing afferent loop for reconstruction depends on whether the jejunum is of sufficient length for bile duct and pancreatic anastomosis. Regardless of the approach used, it is necessary to avoid excessive tension during reconstruction. Based on our experience and previous studies published in the English literature, we propose that reconstruction needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Secondary aorto-duodenal fistula successfully treated with a novel surgical method: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary aorto-duodenal fistula (sADF) is a complication of abdominal aorta artificial blood vessel replacement that often leads to death. However, an optimal operative method has not yet been established. We describe a patient who underwent artificial blood vessel reimplantation and duodenectomy after endovascular aneurysmal repair (EVAR) with positive outcomes. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 84-year-old man underwent artificial blood vessel replacement in 2015. In September 2016, he visited our emergency department and was diagnosed with sADF based on computed tomography. Urgent EVAR was performed, followed by duodenal segmental resection on the next day without opening the syringeal part to minimize the pollution of the operative field. Artificial blood vessel reimplantation and omental flap transposition were performed. As of 2020, about 3 years after surgery, there has been no relapse of the infection. DISCUSSION: Using our novel operative method, we can minimize exposure of the artificial blood vessel and surrounding tissue to intestinal juice and pus. We believe that this reduces the risk of postoperative artificial blood vessel reinfection. CONCLUSION: Controlling bleeding by EVAR and resection of the duodenum and artificial blood vessels as a group without opening the syringeal part can contribute to positive long-term results as this method minimizes the pollution of the duodenectomy surgical field.

Unresectable Advanced Gastric Cancer with Skin Invasion followed by Total Gastrectomy after Second-Line Chemotherapy.

Conversion surgery has been reported but few cases have undergone surgical R0 resection after second-line chemotherapy. We report a case of an unresectable locally advanced gastric cancer in a patient who finally underwent the operation (R0) after second-line chemotherapy. The 77-year-old male was diagnosed with gastric cancer (cT4 [SI; Skin, Liver] N0M0 c Stage IIIA) with invasion to the skin of the abdominal wall, and chemotherapy was initially performed because of his poor performance status and due to the large defect in the abdominal wall that might occur if an operation was performed. Partial response (PR) was observed after S-1+CDDP (SP) therapy, which was then stopped after which progressive disease (PD) was observed. Ramucirumab+Paclitaxel (RAM/PTX) therapy was chosen as second-line therapy, and PR was obtained again, following which total gastrectomy was performed (D2 dissection of lymph nodes, Roux-en-Y reconstruction, and combined resection of the partial skin and the affected region of the liver). At 30 months postoperatively, no recurrence has occurred and the patient is alive after the operation without chemotherapy.

[Effectiveness of Ramucirumab Therapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer after Stent Placement for Esophagogastric Junction Carcinoma Obstruction-A Case Report].

According to the REGARD and RAINBOW trials, ramucirumab(RAM)was introduced as second-line therapy for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. Endoscopic metallic stent placement and angiogenesis inhibitor administration carry the risk of gastrointestinal perforation. The outcomes of patients who undergo endoscopic placement of metallic stents during RAM treatment have not yet been fully assessed. A 60's man was diagnosed with advanced esophagogastric junction cancer(por) with Virchow's lymph node metastases. His tumor was classified as cT4a(SE), N1(#1), M1, stage Ⅳ. He received chemotherapy, but the size of the primary tumor and metastases increased. After stenting for gastric outlet obstruction, he received a paclitaxel(PTX)plus RAM regimen as third-line treatment. Because of CTCAE Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy, PTX was discontinued after 10 courses. For 11 months, tumor control without adverse events was maintained. The patient was then switched to CPT-11 as fourth-line treatment.