Turkish HPB Surgery Association consensus report on hepatic cystic Echinococcosis (HCE).

Objectives: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is one of the important problems of the Eurasian region. We aimed to prepare a consensus report in order to update the treatment approaches of this disease. This study was conducted by Turkish HPB Surgery Association. Material and Methods: This study was conducted with the modified Delphi model. For this purpose, we conducted a three-stage consensus-building approach. Results: Six topics, including diagnosis, medical treatment, percutaneous treatment, surgical treatment, management of complications and posttreatment follow-up and recurrences in HCE were discussed. Conclusion: The expert panel made recommendations for every topic.

Long-term outcome after living donor liver transplantation compared to donation after brain death in autoimmune liver diseases: Experience from the European Liver Transplant Registry.

Knowledge of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs) is scarce. This study analyzed survival in LDLT recipients registered in the European Liver Transplant Registry with autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and the non-autoimmune disorder alcohol-related cirrhosis. In total, 29 902 individuals enrolled between 1998 and 2017 were analyzed, including 1003 with LDLT. Survival from >90 days after LDLT for AILDs in adults was 85.5%, 74.2%, and 58.0% after 5, 10, and 15 years. Adjusted for recipient age, sex, and liver transplantation era, adult PSC patients receiving LDLT showed increased mortality compared to donation after brain death (DBD) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36-2.80, p < .001). Pediatric PSC patients showed also increased mortality >90 days after LDLT compared to DBD (HR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.04-8.70, p = .043). Multivariate analysis identified several risk factors for death in adult PSC patients receiving LDLT including a male donor (HR = 2.49, p = .025). Adult PSC patients with LDLT versus DBD conferred increased mortality from disease recurrence (subdistribution hazard ratio [subHR] = 5.36, p = .001) and biliary complications (subHR = 4.40, p = .006) in multivariate analysis. While long-term outcome following LDLT for AILD is generally favorable, PSC patients with LDLT compared to DBD might be at increased risk of death.

Perceptions of porta-celiac vascular models for hepatic surgery and their use in residency training.

BACKGROUND: Primary aspect of hepatic navigation surgery is the identification of source vascular details to preserve healthy liver which has a vascular anatomy quite challenging for the young surgeons. The purpose was to determine whether three-dimensional (3D) vascular pattern models of preoperative computed tomography (CT) images will assist resident-level trainees for hepatic surgery. METHODS: This study was based on the perception of residents who were presented with 5 different hepatic source vascular patterns and required to compare their perception level of CT, and 1:1 models in terms of importance of variability, differential of patterns and preoperative planning. RESULTS: All residents agree that models provided better understanding of vascular source and improved preplanning. Five stations provided qualitative assessment with results showing the usefulness of porta-celiac models when used as anatomical tools in preplanning (p = 0.04), simulation of interventional procedures (p = 0.02), surgical education (p = 0.01). None of the cases had scored less than 8.5. Responses related to understanding variations were significantly higher in the perception of the 3D model in all cases, furthermore 3D models were more useful for seniors in more complex cases 3 and 5. Some open-ended answers: "The 3D model can completely change the operation plan" One of the major factors for anatomical resection of liver transplantation is the positional relationship between the hepatic arteries and the portal veins. CONCLUSION: The plastic-like material presenting the hepatic vascularity enables the visualization of the origin, pattern, shape, and angle of the branches with appropriate spatial perception thus making it well-structured.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas: Case series with a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The solid pseudopapillary neoplasms are quite rare tumors of the pancreas, comprising roughly 1-2% of all pancreatic neoplasms. It has a low malignant potential and usually affects young females. Despite increasing number of articles in the last decade, there is still debate on the pathogenesis, malignant potential and optimal surgical strategy for the solid pseudopapillary neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical recordings of 326 patients who were operated due to pancreatic mass were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, surgical and pathologic characteristics of the tumor, postsurgical course, long-term survival, and other relevant data were extracted from patients' charts. RESULTS: Majority of the patients were female in consistency with the classic data in the literature. All the patients underwent curative intent resections. Tumors were commonly localized in the tail of the pancreas making distal pancreatectomy the most commonly performed surgical procedure. Mean tumor diameter was 5.8 centimeters with tumor sizes ranging from 1 to 19 cm. CONCLUSION: The solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas is a rare tumor with low malignant potential, which is more common in females of reproductive age, with abdominal pain being their most common presentation. The short-term outcomes in patients following surgical R0 resection are excellent. However, proximal placement of the tumor and female gender may have slightly worse prognosis. We hope that our findings from a series of patients represent a contribution to the existing literature on SPN, and authors declare their willingness to provide further details for future meta-analyses.

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status, Performance Status, and Survival Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the nutritional and performance status of Pancreatic Cancer (PanCa) patients and to determine the relationship between these parameters and their survival time.Material and Methods: Ninety-six PanCa patients [59.6% F, 61.4% M; mean age: 60.7 (min:28, max:80) years] were followed up for 6-24 months. The Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Eastern Comparative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale were performed. Anthropometric measurements [height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), calf circumference (CC) and triceps skin fold thickness (TSF)], hand grip strength (HGS) were recorded. Survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves.Results: Malnutrition was observed in 85.5% (n = 82) and 54.2% of all patients had poor performance status. A positive correlation was observed between malnutrition and ECOG scale of the patients (P < .01). Antropometric measurements for women and men, respectively, were 34.4 ± 3.03-34.6 ± 3.43 cm for CC; 26.9 ± 3.47-26.05 ± 3.37 cm for MUAC; 20.5 ± 6.3-13.02 ± 7.7 mm for TSF; - 31.02 ± 7.64-20.13 ± 6.04 kg for HGS. Survival time of patients with SGA-A and B was 38.0 ± 6.6 months and of those with SGA-C was 12.0 ± 3.1 months (P = .000).Conclusion: Malnutrition negatively affected both performance status and survival time among PanCa patients.

Prognostic Value of Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio in Pancreatic Cancer.

Lymph node involvement in pancreatic adenocancer is one of the strongest predictors of prognosis. However, the extent of lymph node dissection is still a matter of debate and number of dissected nodes varies widely among patients. In order to homogenize this diverse group of patients and more accurately predict their prognosis, we aimed to analyze the effect of metastatic lymph node ratio as an independent prognostic factor. We retrospectively analyzed medical recordings of 326 patients with pancreatic cancer who were treated in a tertiary medical oncology center over a 10-year period. Both in univariate and multivariate analyses, metastatic lymph node ratio proved to be a strong predictor of prognosis which was unaffected from heterogeneity of our patient population and can be used to facilitate predict prognosis of patients who underwent lymph node dissection to various extents and with future studies it can emerge as a successful tool for creating prognostic subgroups of the disease.

Management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries: Multiple logistic regression analysis of predictive factors affecting morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: Iatrogenic bile duct injuries remain a challenge for the surgeons to overcome. The predictive factors affecting morbidity and mortality are important for determining the best management modality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients who referred to Ege University Faculty of Medicine after laparoscopy associated iatrogenic bile duct injury are grouped according to Strasberg-Bismuth classification system. The type and number of prior attempts, concomitant complications, and treatment modalities are analyzed using the SPSS version 18 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). The variables with p<0.10 were considered for univariate analysis and then evaluated for predictive factors by forward Logistic Regression method using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: According to the analysis of 105 patients who were referred during 2004-2014, the type and number of prior attempts are considered predictive factors in sepsis. In multiple logistic regression analysis, abscess formation, concomitant vascular injury, and serum bilirubin level are significantly effective in predicting mortality. CONCLUSION: The management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries should be carefully planned with a multidisciplinary approach. The predictive factors affecting morbidity and mortality are important in determining the best modality for managing iatrogenic bile duct injuries. Abscess formation, vascular injury, and serum bilirubin level are the potential risk factors. Therefore, we can strongly recommend immediate assessment of patients for prompt diagnosis and referring to an HPB center, to avoid further injuries.

Predictive Factors for Survival in Children Receiving Liver Transplants for Wilson's Disease: A Cohort Study Using European Liver Transplant Registry Data.

Liver transplantation (LT) is a rescue therapy for life-threatening complications of Wilson's disease (WD). However, data on the outcome of WD patients after LT are scarce. The aim of our study was to analyze a large pediatric WD cohort with the aim of investigating the longterm outcome of pediatric WD patients after LT and to identify predictive factors for patient and transplant survival. This is a retrospective cohort study using data of all children (<18 years) transplanted for WD enrolled in the European Liver Transplant Registry from January 1968 until December 2013. In total, 338 patients (57.6% female) transplanted at 80 different European centers (1-26 patients per center) were included in this study. The median age at transplantation was 14.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 11.2-16.1 years); patients were followed up for a median of 5.4 years (IQR, 1.0-10.9 years) after LT. Overall patient survival rates were high with 87% (1-year survival), 84% (5-year survival), and 81% (10-year survival); survival rates increased considerably with the calendar year (P < 0.001). Early age at LT, living donation, and histidine tryptophan ketoglutarate preservation liquid were identified as risk factors for poor patient survival in the multivariate analysis. LT is an excellent treatment option for pediatric patients with WD and associated end-stage liver disease. Longterm outcome in these patients is similar to other pediatric causes for LT. Overall patient and graft survival rates improved considerably over the last decades. To improve future research in the field, the vast variability of allocation strategies should be harmonized and a generally accepted definition or discrimination of acute versus chronic WD needs to be found.

Survival of children after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in childhood differs from adult HCC because it is often associated with inherited liver disease. It is, however, unclear whether liver transplantation (LT) for HCC in childhood with or without associated inherited disease has a comparable outcome to adult HCC. On the basis of data from the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR), we aimed to investigate if there are differences in patient and graft survival after LT for HCC between children and adults and between patients with underlying inherited versus noninherited liver disease, respectively. We included all 175 children who underwent LT for HCC and were enrolled in ELTR between 1985 and 2012. Of these, 38 had an associated inherited liver disease. Adult HCC patients with (n = 79) and without (n = 316, matched by age, sex, and LT date) inherited liver disease served as an adult comparison population. We used multivariable piecewise Cox regression models with shared frailty terms (for LT center) to compare patient and graft survival between the different HCC groups. Survival analyses demonstrated a superior longterm survival of children with inherited liver disease when compared with children with HCC without inherited liver disease (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.90; P = 0.03) and adults with HCC with inherited liver disease (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.06-1.25; P = 0.09). There was no survival difference between adults with and without inherited disease (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.66-1.66; P = 0.84). In conclusion, the potential survival advantage of children with an HCC based on inherited disease should be acknowledged when considering transplantation and prioritization for these patients. Further prospective studies accounting for tumor size and extension at LT are necessary to fully interpret our findings. Liver Transplantation 24 246-255 2018 AASLD.

Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit oxidative stress in a rat model of liver regeneration.

PURPOSE: Lipid peroxidation and consequent reactive oxygen species in the setting of oxidative stress have crucial roles in liver regeneration, which may adversely affect the regeneration itself and lead to liver failure. The aim of the current study is to investigate whether omega-3 fatty acid supplementation inhibits oxidative stress in an experimental model of liver regeneration. METHODS: Forty rats were allocated to four groups. Rats in group A received a sham operation. Rats in group B were subjected to right portal vein ligation (RPVL) and saline infusion. Rats in groups C and D were subjected to RPVL and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with an all-in-one admixture containing a soybean oil based lipid emulsion. Rats in group D were additionally supplemented with omega-3 fatty acid infusion. Oxidative stresses in the blood and liver were measured by glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide. RESULTS: Omega-3 supplementation to the TPN solution significantly corrected alterations in the blood and tissue concentrations of oxidants and anti-oxidants during regeneration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to the TPN solution revealed promising results in removal of oxidative stress that emerges during liver regeneration.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: recommendations of Turkish multidisciplinary neuroendocrine tumor study group on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs) are a relatively rare, heterogeneous group of diseases in which important advances have been observed in the diagnosis and treatment as well as in our understanding of the biology and genetics of the disease in recent years. Given the insufficient scientific data available on evidence-based management of GEPNETs and the differences in circumstances in individual countries, a multidisciplinary study group was established to provide guidelines for the management of GEPNETS. This study group consisted of a medical oncologist, endocrinologist, surgeon, pathologist, gastroenterologist, and a nuclear medicine specialist, who aimed to prepare a practical guide in the light of existing scientific data and international guidelines, to be used in common clinical practice.

Progress in surgical and nonsurgical approaches for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex and heterogeneous malignancy, frequently occurs in the setting of a chronically diseased organ, with multiple confounding factors making its management challenging. HCC represents one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally with a rising trend of incidence in some of the developed countries, which indicates the need for better surgical and nonsurgical management strategies. DATA SOURCES: PubMed database was searched for relevant articles in English on the issue of HCC management. RESULTS: Surgical resection represents a potentially curative option for appropriate candidates with tumors detected at earlier stages and with well-preserved liver function. The long-term outcome of surgery is impaired by a high rate of recurrence. Surgical approaches are being challenged by local ablative therapies such as radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation in selected patients. Liver transplantation offers potential cure for HCC and also correction of underlying liver disease, and minimizes the risk of recurrence, but is reserved for patients within a set of criteria proposed for a prudent allocation in the shortage of donor organs. Transcatheter locoregional therapies have become the palliative standard allowing local control for intermediate stage patients with noninvasive multinodular or large HCC who are beyond the potentially curative options. The significant survival benefit with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib for advanced HCC has shifted the direction of research regarding systemic treatment toward molecular therapies targeting the disregulated pathways of hepatocarcinogenesis. Potential benefit is suggested from simultaneous or sequential multimodal therapies, and optimal combinations are being investigated. Despite the striking progress in preclinical studies of HCC immunotherapy and gene therapy, extensive clinical trials are required to achieve successful clinical applications of these innovative approaches. CONCLUSION: Treatment decisions have become increasingly complex for HCC with the availability of multiple surgical and nonsurgical therapeutic options and require a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach.

Genetic polymorphisms of interleukin 1ß gene and sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors susceptibility.

AIM: To evaluate the association between the interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) polymorphisms and the pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) development. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted analyzing IL-1ß polymorphisms using germline DNA collected in a population-based case-control study of pancreatic cancer (51 pNET cases, 85 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases, 19 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and 98 healthy controls). RESULTS: The distribution of genotypes for the -511 C/T polymorphism in the pNET patient groups showed significant difference compared to the control group. It is known that the carriers of the IL-1ß -511T allele have increased concentrations of IL-1ß. The -511 CT and TT high-expression genotypes were over-represented in pNET patients. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested a possible role of IL-1ß -511 C/T genotypes in the pathogenesis of pNETs since the presence of the IL-1ß -511 CT and TT genotypes and the T allele was associated with an increased risk of pNET only.

Prevention and acute management of biliary injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Expert consensus statement.

Gallstone disease is very common and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures all over the world. Parallel to the increase in the number of laparoscopic cholecystectomies, bile duct injuries also increased. The reported incidence of bile duct injuries ranges from 0.3% to 1.4%. Many of the bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy are not due to inexperience, but are the result of basic technical failures and misinterpretations. A working group of expert hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons, an endoscopist, and a specialist of forensic medicine study searched and analyzed the publications on safe cholecystectomy and biliary injuries complicating laparoscopic cholecystectomy under the organization of Turkish Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Association. After a series of e-mail communications and two conferences, the expert panel developed consensus statements for safe cholecystectomy, management of biliary injuries and medicolegal issues. The panel concluded that iatrogenic biliary injury is an overwhelming complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and an important issue in malpractice claims. Misidentification of the biliary system is the major cause of biliary injuries. To avoid this, the "critical view of safety" technique should be employed in all the cases. If biliary injury is identified intraoperatively, reconstruction should only be performed by experienced hepatobiliary surgeons. In the postoperative period, any deviation from the expected clinical course of recovery should alert the surgeon about the possibility of biliary injury.

Genetic polymorphisms of inflammatory response gene TNF-α and its influence on sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors predisposition risk.

The diagnosed incidence of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) is increasing; however, their etiology remains poorly understood. PNETs are a rare, heterogeneous group of tumors arising from the endocrine cells of the pancreas, and genetic risk factors for sporadic pNETs are inadequately understood. It is known that pNETs secrete biogenic amines, hormones and growth factors, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) being one of them. Furthermore, cytokines and other proinflammatory mediators have been implicated in inflammatory pancreatic diseases including pancreatitis and cancer. The aim of our study was to analyze TNF-α promoter gene polymorphisms as risk factors for pNETs using germline DNA collected in a population-based case-control study of pancreatic cancer [42 pNET cases, 78 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases, 17 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and 98 healthy controls] conducted in the Athens, Greece and Izmir, Turkey areas. For subsequent analysis, we excluded cases and controls with known genetic syndromes. The CC genotype at the -1031 position was more frequent in pNET and IPMN patients (p=0.0002 and p=0.009, respectively), suggesting its possible role in pNET development. Furthermore, the AA genotype at the -308 position was overrepresented in IPMN cases (p=0.03), and AA genotype at the -238 position was more frequent in PDAC cases (p=0.03) compared to healthy individuals. With regard to tumor characteristics, no statistically significant association was detected. Our findings suggest the putative role of TNF-α -1031 polymorphism in the development of pNET and IPMN, whereas the -308 polymorphism seems to be overrepresented among IPMN cases and -238 polymorphism among PDAC cases.

The prognostic significance of clinicopathological features and apoptosis inhibitor proteins in pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among tumors with unfavorable prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine potential prognostic factors in PDAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a total of 117 cases according to clinicopathological parameters and survivin and livin expression. We investigated the relationship between these parameters and their prognostic significance. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, lymph node metastasis, surgical margin positivity, tumor size over 4 cm and survivin expression were associated with poorer survival but livin expression was not correlated with survival-time. In multivariate analysis, only lymph node metastasis was independent factor predicting a poorer outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In present study, the lymph node metastasis was the strongest predictor of survival. Our finding suggest that survivin could be a target for the treatment of advanced stage resectable PDAC. Our results need to be supported by studies on larger series with advanced techniques.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Diagnosis and surgical management.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare but well-known clinical entity characterized by compression of the third or transverse portion of the duodenum against the aorta by the superior mesenteric artery, resulting in chronic, intermittent, or acute, complete or partial, duodenal obstruction. The treatment for this arteriomesenteric compression includes conservative measures and surgical intervention. The aim of the study was to evaluate our surgical management and outcomes of the patients with superior mesenteric artery syndrome. The cases with superior mesenteric artery syndrome admitted between January 2000 and January 2010 were retrospectively investigated from the patients' records. All six patients had a history of chronic abdominal pain, nausea, postprandial early satiety, vomiting, and weight loss. Diagnostic methods included barium esophagogastroduodenography, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and computed tomography. Medical management was the first step of treatment in all cases before surgery. Of those, four underwent Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy and two underwent gastroenterostomy. Postoperative periods were uneventful and mean duration of hospitalization after the operations was 7 days. Conservative initial treatment is usually followed by surgical intervention for the main problem that is the narrowing of the aortomesenteric angle in patients with superior mesenteric artery syndrome. This syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with chronic upper abdominal pain. Duodenojejunostomy is the most frequently used procedure with a high success rate.

Autoimmune pancreatitis and treatment approaches with case reports.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to review retrospectively the data of 10 patient who were treated and followed-up in our clinic and to review the current approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 10 patients retrospectively who were operated on and had the diagnosis of AIP histopathologically in the Ege University School of Medicine Department of General Surgery. RESULTS: Between June 2001-November 2010, 10 patients who were diagnosed as AIP were examined retrospectively. Radiologically, a pancreatic mass was found in the pancreatic head with ultrasound in 7 (70%) of 10 patients and suspicious lesions were identified in the head of the pancreas in 3 (30%) patients. All patients were operated on in our clinic with the preliminary diagnosis of pancreatic head tumor; 8 patients underwent Whipple's procedure, 1 patient underwent pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, and in 1 patient an exploratory pancreatic biopsy (frozen section) was carried out. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune pancreatitis is a disease with increasing incidence and characterized by lymphoplasmocytic cell infiltration and fibrosis. Patients with a pancreatic mass, if there is an autoimmune disease or chronic pancreatitis suspected in the detailed history, it is necessary to evaluate patients in terms of AIP serologically to protect the patients from an incoorectng diagnosis and morbidity of surgery.

Prognostic value of somatostatin receptor-2 positivitiy in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in reference to known prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Identification of the predictive factors for the prognosis of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors is important but rather challenging due to the rarity of the condition. This study aimed to examine the association between somatostatin receptor-2 positivity and known prognostic factors for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor to identify the value of somatostatin receptor-2 positivity itself as a predictive factor for prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 41 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor patients (24 females, 17 males) were retrospectively reviewed. The relations between somatostatin receptor-2 positivity and known prognostic factors including tumor stage, Ki-67 positivity, vascular or perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, presence of necrosis, and soft tissue extension were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty percent of the patients had histologically confirmed somatostatin receptor-2 positivity with 45% exhibiting focal and 15% showing diffuse staining characteristic. No significant relation was found between somatostatin receptor-2 positivity and any of the known prognostic factors for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: versus stage, p=0.67; vs. lymph node metastasis, p=0.51; vs. vascular invasion, p=0.11; vs. extension to surrounding soft tissue, p=0.54; vs. necrosis, p=0.23; vs. lymphatic invasion, p=0.25; and vs. perineural invasion, p=0.42. CONCLUSIONS: Somatostatin receptor-2 positivity, either focal or diffuse, does not seem to predict prognosis in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, growing evidence supports the benefits of somatostatin analogues as adjunctive treatment in this group of patients.

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm as a cause of gastrointestinal system bleeding: a case report with a brief review of the literature.

A hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is, by definition, a pulsatile hematoma due to a leakage of blood through a tear or disruption of the arterial wall, and the blood is contained only by the hepatic parenchyma or surrounding hematoma. It can be a very rare cause of gastrointestinal system bleeding. These pseudoaneurysms are usually very well managed by angiographic intervention. However, in some cases, surgery is inevitable. Herein, we present a 63-year-old female presenting with gastrointestinal system bleeding 45 days after surgery for cholangiocarcinoma. She was found to be bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery and underwent surgical intervention.