Non-metastatic colon cancer: French Intergroup Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatments, and follow-up (TNCD, SNFGE, FFCD, GERCOR, UNICANCER, SFCD, SFED, SFRO, ACHBT, SFP, AFEF, and SFR).

INTRODUCTION: This article is a summary of the French intergroup guidelines regarding the management of non-metastatic colon cancer (CC), revised in November 2022. METHODS: These guidelines represent collaborative work of all French medical and surgical societies involved in the management of CC. Recommendations were graded in three categories (A, B, and C) according to the level of evidence found in the literature published up to November 2022. RESULTS: Initial evaluation of CC is based on clinical examination, colonoscopy, chest-abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (CT) scan, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay. CC is usually managed by surgery and adjuvant treatment depending on the pathological findings. The use of adjuvant therapy remains a challenging question in stage II disease. For high-risk stage II CC, adjuvant chemotherapy must be discussed and fluoropyrimidine monotherapy or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy proposed according to the type and number of poor prognostic features. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (FOLFOX or CAPOX) is the current standard for adjuvant therapy of patients with stage III CC. However, these regimens are associated with significant oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity. The results of the recent IDEA study provide evidence that 3 months of treatment with CAPOX is as effective as 6 months of oxaliplatin-based therapy in patients with low-risk stage III CC (T1-3 and N1). A 6-month oxaliplatin-based therapy remains the standard of care for high-risk stage III CC (T4 and/or N2). For patients unfit for oxaliplatin, fluoropyrimidine monotherapy is recommended. CONCLUSION: French guidelines for non-metastatic CC management help to offer the best personalized therapeutic strategy in daily clinical practice. Each individual case must be discussed within a multidisciplinary tumor board and then the treatment option decided with the patient.

Parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy for presumed noninvasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and outcomes of parenchyma-sparing pancreatectomy (PSP), including enucleation (EN), resection of uncinate process (RUP), and central pancreatectomy (CP), as an alternative to standard pancreatectomy for presumed noninvasive intraductal papillary and mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). BACKGROUND: Pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy are associated with significant perioperative morbidity, a substantial risk of pancreatic insufficiency, and may overtreat noninvasive IPMNs. METHODS: From 1999 to 2011, PSP was attempted in 91 patients with presumed noninvasive IPMNs, after complete preoperative work-up including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasonography. Intraoperative frozen section examination was routinely performed to assess surgical margins and rule out invasive malignancy. Follow-up included clinical, biochemical, and radiological assessments. RESULTS: Overall PSP was achieved with a feasibility rate of 89% (n = 81), including 44 ENs, 5 RUPs, and 32 CPs. Postoperative mortality rate was 1.3% (n = 1), and overall morbidity was noteworthy (61%; n = 47). Definitive pathological examination confirmed IPMN diagnosis in 95% of patients (n = 77), all except 2 (3%), without invasive component. After a median follow-up of 50 months, both pancreatic endocrine/exocrine functions were preserved in 92% of patients. Ten-year progression-free survival was 76%, and reoperation for recurrence was required in 4% of patients (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, PSP for presumed noninvasive IPMN in experienced hands is highly feasible and avoids inappropriate standard resections for IPMN-mimicking lesions. Early morbidity is greater than that after standard resections but counterbalanced by preservation of pancreatic endocrine/exocrine functions and a low rate of reoperation for tumor recurrence.

Neither preoperative computed tomography nor intra-operative examination can predict metastatic lymph node in the hepatic pedicle in patients with colorectal liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND: In patients operated on for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), metastatic lymph node (LN) of the hepatic pedicle is a major prognostic factor. Efficiency of preoperative computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative examination for the diagnosis of metastatic LN of hepatic pedicle is prospectively evaluated. METHODS: From January 2008 to June 2010, 76 patients underwent liver resection for CRLM, with systematic LN pedicle dissection. Preoperative CT scan evaluated prospectively location, size, and aspect of LN, whereas the surgeon assessed size and consistency of LN Results of CT and intraoperative findings were compared with pathologic findings to determine sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV). RESULTS: A total of 241 nodes were analyzed (3.2 ± 2.1 LN per patient). Systematic LN dissection increased the operative time by a mean of 20 ± 12.5 min, without any specific morbidity or mortality related to the LN clearance. Metastatic LN in the hepatic pedicle was observed in 15 (20%) patients and were unrelated to the number, size, and location of CRLM. NPV and PPV of the preoperative CT scan was 85 and 56%, respectively. Intraoperative evaluation of LN had a high NPV of 91% with a low PPV of 43%. Even with the combination of CT and intraoperative evaluation, 27% of the patients with a pathological metastatic LN were not suspected. CONCLUSIONS: Because neither the preoperative CT nor the surgical evaluation accurately predicts metastatic LN in the hepatic pedicle, accurate oncological staging require a systematic pedicular LN clearance during liver resection for CRLM.

Surgery for intestinal Crohn's disease recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Operative therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) recurrence is supposed to be more complex and demanding than primary resection. The purpose of this study was to assess a postoperative course after reoperation for the recurrence of CD. METHODS: From 1998 to 2008, 61 patients underwent reoperation for the recurrence of CD. First, risk factors for postoperative morbidity, with special reference to major postoperative complications, were analyzed. Second, a case-matched study was used to compare the postoperative morbidity of 54 ileocolonic resections for the recurrence of CD (reoperation group) with 57 identical primary ileocolonic resections (primary resection group) according to matching criteria (age, fistulizing or stenotic disease, pre-operative steroids therapy, pre-operative general status, and surgical approach). RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was nil. Postoperative complications were observed in 23 cases (38%). Of these cases, 6 (10%) had major complications (2 anastomotic leakages and 6 intra-abdominal abscesses requiring radiological drainage). Univariate analysis did not identify risk for major complication. None of the 14 patients with temporary stoma developed a major complication (NS). A case-matched study showed a higher morbidity rate (21/54 vs 5/57; P = .0006) with a greater risk of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess (9/59 vs 1/59; P = .007) and a longer postoperative hospital stay in reoperation versus the primary resection group (9 vs 7 days; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Reoperation for CD recurrence is demanding and complex with a frequent need for an associated surgical procedure (because of the severity of the disease and/or adherences). It also is associated with a higher morbidity rate and a longer hospital stay than primary resection. For these reasons, the indication of temporary defunctionning stoma should be discussed systematically in these patients.