Efficacy of the Milan criteria as a prognostic factor in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to apply the principles of the "Milan criteria" to patients undergoing hepatic resection for CRLM and to evaluate the efficacy of prognostic factors. METHODS: The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for CRLM from April 2007 to April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Time to aggressive treatment failure (TATF) was defined as the time interval from the initial surgery until the first unresectable recurrence or recurrence that could only be treated with doublet or lower dose chemotherapy, or death. The risk factors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS), TSF, TATF, and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, the Milan criteria significantly predicted long-term OS, TATF, TSF, and RFS. Moreover, the Milan criteria were able to stratify patients with CRLM into distinct prognostic groups with regard to long-term OS, TATF, TSF, and RFS. CONCLUSIONS: Milan criteria, a simple index, are a factor contributing to all the survival time and are a very important factor in discussing the prognosis of CRLM.

Overexpression of hydroxyproline via EGLN/HIF1A is associated with distant metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

For pancreatic cancer, the probability of distant metastasis can help choose the best course of treatment. The aim of this study is to establish the efficacy of hydroxyproline as a biomarker for distant metastasis for pancreatic cancer and to clarify the mechanism of EGLN/HIF1A axis that controls the invasion and metastasis. Metabolites (hydroxyproline) and genes (EGLN2 and EGLN3) were identified by metabolome analysis of the serum with pancreatic cancers with and without distant metastasis. The mechanism of EGLN/HIF1A axis including angiogenesis was examined in pancreatic cancer cells. Hydroxyproline associated with these mechanisms was evaluated to suggest the association with overall survival in pancreatic cancer. Decreased expression of EGLN2 and EGLN3 in pancreatic cancer, via the HIF1A and TGF ß1 pathway, was associated with the induction of angiogenic factors, increased vascular invasion, and poor overall patient survival. Hydroxyproline concentrations were regulated via the HIF1A pathway by EGLN2 and EGLN3, and that increased concentrations of hydroxyproline promote the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. These results suggested that the expression of hydroxyproline through the HIF1A pathway induced by EGLN2 and EGLN3 could be a surrogate marker for treatment and might predict distant metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

Right trisectionectomy for liver metastasis of granulosa cell tumor: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Granulosa cell tumor (GCT) is a type of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumor with low-grade malignancy, which can recur long after primary resection. All reports on GCTs in the liver describe cases of metastases, while there are no previous reports of primary GCTs originating from the liver. We report a case of GCT, with recurrence of liver metastasis long after ovariectomy, which was subsequently resected by a right trisectionectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old woman presented with a history of surgical resection of an ovarian tumor performed 30 years previously; no details of the tumor were available. When she was 68 years old, an abdominal ultrasound revealed a small liver mass, which was diagnosed as a hepatic hemangioma with slow growth. Outpatient follow-up was discontinued for 5 years, and the patient was not examined again until the age of 76 years. At this point, the tumor had substantially increased in size, and surgical resection was required owing to suspicion of malignancy. The patient was then referred to our hospital. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a large tumor, approximately 18 cm in size, occupying the right lobe and medial section of the liver. After percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization, a right trisectionectomy was performed. The histopathological findings of the resected specimen showed that the tumor cells had "coffee bean-like" nuclear grooves, which are characteristic of a GCT. Acidophilic non-structural Call-Exner bodies were also observed. Inhibin-α, CD99, and CD56 markers of sex cord-stromal tumors were detected on immunohistological examination; all pathology suggested a GCT. We considered the tumor to be a liver metastasis of a previous ovarian GCT that was resected 30 years prior by ovariectomy. There was no recurrence for > 15 months after the hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of a GCT in the liver, which was identified to be a liver metastasis. Right trisectionectomy was subsequently performed for tumor resection. Clinicians should be aware that ovarian GCTs may recur in the liver, and that GCT recurrence may occur long after ovariectomy of the primary ovarian GCT.

Efficacy of Peak Hounsfield Units of the Visceral Fat Area in Predicting Postoperative Complications after Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been reported to remain high. This study sought to measure the peak Hounsfield units (HUs) of visceral attenuation in patients undergoing PD and to assess the quality of adipocytes by comparing these measurements with perioperative factors. METHODS: Patients undergoing PD were retrospectively identified (n = 108). Abdominal perimeter, subcutaneous fat area (SFA), visceral fat area (VFA), and peak HU of the VFA were measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) or complications. Histopathological examination was performed for qualitative diagnosis of the stromal tissue. RESULTS: The overall rate of POPF was 16%, and severe complications occurred in 23% of the cases. A criterion for peak HU of the VFA only independently predicted POPF (p = 0.007) in the multivariate analysis. A criterion for peak HU of the VFA (p = 0.015) was associated with an increased rate of postoperative severe complications in the univariate analysis. The peak HU of the VFA was significantly correlated with abdominal perimeter (p < 0.001) and VFA (p < 0.001). The peak HU of the VFA was significantly correlated with adipocyte diameter (p < 0.001) and the ratio of stromal connective tissue area around the adipocytes (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The peak HU of the VFA was an independent factor contributing to severe complications, including POPF after PD. It reflects the amount of stromal connective tissue around the adipocytes.

The "Tenting Sign of the Hepatic Vein" Is Important for Laparoscopic Anatomical Hepatectomy Along the Major Hepatic Vein.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hepatectomy has rapidly evolved and has become a viable alternative to open hepatectomy. However, the dissection of liver parenchyma via the laparoscopic caudal approach (parenchymal transection from the caudal to cranial direction under a laparoscopic caudal view) has several limitations. To avoid these limitations in anatomical hepatectomy along the hepatic vein with the caudal approach, it is important to recognize the "tenting sign of the hepatic vein," which helps to identify the running of the main trunk of the hepatic vein. TECHNICAL PRESENTATION: In the bifurcation of the hepatic vein, there is a possibility of splitting of the hepatic vein branch or disorientation between the main trunk and branch. Therefore, it is vital that when the branch is pulled, the main trunk of the hepatic vein appears to be toward the direction of the branch. As a result, the main trunk appears in the direction from the original route to the pseudo route. In the caudal approach, this phenomenon is called "tenting sign of the hepatic vein." Therefore, liver dissection should be performed in the contralateral and cranial sides of the main trunk, with the "tenting sign of the hepatic vein" in mind. This report describes specific cases of the "tenting sign of the hepatic vein." CONCLUSION: The "tenting sign of the hepatic vein" from the caudal approach is essential knowledge for safe and reliable anatomical laparoscopic hepatectomy and can lead to expansion of indications in the future.

Risk Factors for Life-threatening Grade C Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreatoduodenectomy Compared to Grade B.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate risk factors for the development of grade C compared to grade B cases of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicopathological data from 43 patients who developed grade B or C POPF were retrospectively analyzed. The following types of factors were analyzed: Patient-related, surgery-related, and pancreas-related, including the value of the drain amylase and the detection of gram-negative rod bacteria within the first 7 postoperative days (PODs). RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that male sex (p=0.0492) and detection of gram-negative rods within the first 7 PODs (p=0.0010) were risk factors for development of grade C POPF. Only detection of gram-negative rods within the first 7 PODs was a significant factor after multivariate analysis (p=0.0027). CONCLUSION: Sensitive and specific predictive criteria for early detection of grade C POPF should be developed to allow for a management approach appropriately tailored to this condition.

Resection of a pancreatic capillary lymphatic malformation through a partial pancreatectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic vascular malformation causes epigastric pain, pancreatitis, portal vein hypertension, bleeding, and rupture. It is a rare disease, with most pancreatic vascular malformations being arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and the other types of malformations being rare. We report a case of capillary lymphatic malformation (CLM) in the pancreatic uncinate process. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old woman, who presented with complaints of repeated upper abdominal pain, was admitted to our institution. Contrast-enhanced dynamic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed that the tumor in the pancreatic uncinate process had a poor contrast effect in the arterial phase and a small contrast effect in the equilibrium phase, which are suggestive of a benign disease-like vascular malformation. However, we suspected that it could possibly be a malignant tumor because the tumor size tended to increase over time; thus, we decided to perform a surgery. We resected the tumor through a partial resection of the pancreas. Macroscopically, the cut surface of the tumor had a spongioid appearance. Histopathological examination findings showed a mixed shape of small capillaries and lymphatic ducts. The patient was diagnosed with CLM according to the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) classification, based on the histological appearance and immunostaining findings. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: We reported a case of pancreatic vascular malformation, specifically a CLM, which was completely resected through a partial pancreatectomy.

[A Case of Remarkably Effective Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer with Multiple Bone Metastasis].

The patient was a 56-year-oldwoman. She presentedto a nearby doctor with a chief complaint of dysphagia andwas diagnosed with esophageal cancer by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, resulting in a referral to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealeda semicircular type 1 lesion 29 to 32 cm from the incisors, andshe was diagnosedwith squamous cell carcinoma by biopsy. Computedtomography (CT)andpositron emission tomography(PET)scans revealedthe enlargement and accumulation of lymph nodes along the lesser curvature of the stomach; thus, she was diagnosed with metastasis. In addition, multiple accumulations were found in the 7th cervical vertebrae as well as in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 8th thoracic vertebrae, leading to the diagnosis of bone metastasis. She was finally diagnosed with middle intrathoracic esophageal cancer T2N1M1, Stage Ⅳ; thus, we performedchemorad iotherapy(CRT)with 5-FU andCDDP (FP). The main lesion was markedly reduced in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy after CRT, and no apparent malignancy was found in endoscopic biopsy, so the diagnosis was endoscopic complete response. The CT scan also showed marked reductions in both the main lesion and the lymph nodes. As for the bone metastasis, some areas of bone consolidation remained, but they were diagnosed as partial responses since they were shrunk. Since then, FP has been continuously administeredon a regular basis andit has been about 2 years without any appearance of new lesions or re-exacerbation.

Resection of Hepatic Lesions Perfused by the Cholecystic Vein Using Indocyanine Green Navigation in Patients with cT2 Gallbladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Various approaches to hepatectomy have been proposed for cT2 gallbladder cancers (GBC), but the optimal management strategy remains unclear. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using an indocyanine green (ICG)-based intraoperative navigation system during hepatic resection for cT2 GBC. METHODS: From September 2007 to December 2017, 24 consecutive patients diagnosed with cT2 GBC underwent hepatic resection using ICG navigation. After cannulation of the cholecystic artery, ICG diluted with dissolution liquid was injected and ICG fluorescence illumination was visualized with the HyperEye Medical System. And additional histopathological examination was performed on the most recent 15 of the 24 patients for detection of microscopic liver metastasis. RESULTS: For all patients, the disease-free survival rate was 59.1% at 5 years and overall survival rate was 86.2% at 5 years. Microscopic liver metastasis was detected in the resected liver in 3 (20%) of 15 patients, whose site of liver was S6, S5, and S5, respectively. The weight of the liver resected using ICG navigation was significantly smaller than that of S4a/S5 segmentectomy (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Resected hepatic lesion using ICG imaging was possible to perform hepatectomy including liver micro-metastasis without excess or deficiency. This procedure might be novel intraoperative imaging method to provide valuable information on the optimal surgical approach to cT2 GBC.

Surgical Technique of Pancreatic Parenchyma Transection-Delayed Approach (PPTDA) in Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The combination of major hepatectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), that is, a hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD), is the only curative treatment for bile duct cancer with extensive horizontal tumor spread invading both the hepatic hilum and the intrapancreatic bile duct. However, this aggressive procedure remains controversial with regard to the balance between the survival benefit and high risk of mortality and morbidity, especially the risk for postoperative hepatic failure and postoperative pancreatic fistula. Here, we describe the efficacy of a novel modified technique of HPD with delayed division of the pancreatic parenchyma for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and focus on the surgical technique and the short-term outcomes, with a representative case. TECHNICAL PRESENTATION: This new surgical technique involves dissection of the pancreatic parenchyma and relevant mesoduodenum at the final step after dissecting the required parts on the inferior side and superior side of the tumor, enabling excision of the resected specimen. This technique described herein can prevent saponification of the resected surface of the pancreas by dissecting the pancreatic parenchyma toward the latter half of the surgical procedure as much as possible. The results suggest that there may also be a relationship between this technique and the prevention of postoperative pancreatic fistula. CONCLUSION: This new surgical technique of HPD may be able to prevent postoperative pancreatic fistula by performing intraoperative dissection of the pancreatic parenchyma as late as possible, which in turn, may improve the safety of HPD.

The diagnostic value of 99m-Tc GSA scintigraphy for liver function and remnant liver volume in hepatic surgery: a retrospective observational cohort study in 27 patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to analyze hepatic hypertrophy after portal vein embolization (PVE) and Associating Liver Partition with Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) to determine whether clinical circumstances associated with major hepatic resections correlated with remnant growth. METHODS: Data was abstracted from a retrospectively maintained database on 27 patients undergoing hepatic resection followed by PVE and the ALPPS procedure between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016. The increasing rate of liver volume and remnant liver LU15 was defined as the percentage-point difference between the liver volume and remnant liver LU15 before and after the intervention or surgery. And correlation between kinetic growth rate (KGR) of liver and future remnant liver volume or remnant liver LU15 was analyzed. RESULTS: The degree of hypertrophy (DH) of volume and LU15 was significantly greater after ALPPS (volume: 40.3% and LU15: 65.0%) than after PVE (volume: 22.7% and LU15: 48.8%) (P < 0.05). KGR of volume and LU15 was significantly greater after ALPPS (volume: 19.0 cm3/day and 2.00%/day) (LU15: 0.61 /day and 1.82%/day) than after PVE (volume: 3.89 cm3/day and 0.42%/day) (LU15: 0.19 /day and 0.63%/day) (P < 0.001). An inverse correlation between KGR and initial remnant liver volume was observed. And a positive correlation between KGR and LU15 was observed. CONCLUSION: Future remnant liver volume and KGR was greater after the ALPPS procedure than after PVE. Liver hypertrophy is related to the expected remnant liver volume and total liver function. This study suggested that total liver function and initial remnant liver volume might be a new indication of hepatectomy after PVE and ALPPS in the case of insufficient remnant liver volume.

Superficial Surgical Site Infection in Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery: Subcuticular Suture Versus Skin Staples.

PURPOSE: Postoperative superficial surgical site infection is a major complication in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. We aimed to compare the efficacy of subcuticular sutures versus staples for skin closure in preventing superficial surgical site infection in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery at our hospital from October 2006 to March 2011 and from April 2012 to March 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Superficial surgical site infection incidence was evaluated in patients who received subcuticular sutures and those who received staples for skin closure. Propensity score matching analysis was used to adjust bias from confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 691 patients were included. Patients with skin staple closures (n = 346) were compared with patients with subcuticular suture closures (n = 345). After a propensity score matching analysis, a significant difference in superficial surgical site infection incidence was found between the skin stapler group (11.3%) and subcuticular sutures group (2.6%). The same comparison was performed by a subgroup analysis and supported this finding in patients after hepatectomy without biliary reconstruction, pancreatoduodenectomy, or open laparotomy surgeries and in patients with body mass index < 25. CONCLUSIONS: Subcuticular suturing after hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery was more efficacious in reducing postoperative superficial surgical site infection incidence than staples for skin closure.

[A Case of an Elderly Patient Who Experienced Long-Term Survival after Receiving S-1 for Synchronous Advanced Gallbladder and Stomach Cancer].

The reported patient was a 90-year-old woman with anorexia. She was diagnosed with advanced gallbladder cancer that occurred concurrently with stomach cancer. Subsequent to intestinal bypass surgery, S-1(80mg/day)was administered for 14 days, followed by 7 days of rest for one course. Tumor marker levels returned to normal after 4 months. Computed tomography results indicated that, in regard to the gallbladder cancer, the patient had stable disease after 8 months. In addition, gastroscopy revealed a complete response of the gastric cancer after a year. The patient was able to continue treatment as an outpatient until she experienced aspiration pneumonia. The administration of S-1 was terminated after 4 years and 4 months. Treatment with S-1 monotherapy is considered safe for elderly patients, and has the additional benefit that it is deliverable as an outpatient treatment.

Intermittent transcatheter therapy through a new indwelling catheter system for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This paper describes the technical details of the new indwelling catheter system, which we refer to as System-i, and provides an overview of our experience with this system at our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The system is implanted via the left brachial artery. The feeding artery of the tumor is catheterized at each treatment, and the system can be used for multiple treatments via more than one feeding artery. Between January 2004 and January 2013, System-i was used to administer 398 treatments in 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The technical aspects and outcomes of treatment procedures were evaluated. RESULTS: Implantation was successful in all cases. System-i was used for a median number of 11 treatments per patient over a median period of 5.7 months, and 71.6 % of all treatments were administered on an outpatient basis. CONCLUSION: System-i provides an effective and safe method for selective catheterization of feeding arteries for administration of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or infusion in patients with HCC. Treatment regimens can be individualized without limiting the number of treatments or treatment locations, and patients can be treated on an outpatient basis.