The Curious Case of the Choledochal Cyst-Revisiting the Todani Classification: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Choledochal cysts (CCs) are rare occurrences presenting as dilatations of biliary structures, which can present as single or multiple dilatations and can appear as both intra- and extrahepatic anomalies. The most widespread classification of CCs is the Todani classification, but there have been numerous reports of cysts that do not fall into any of the types described. We present such a case-a male patient 36 years of age who underwent preoperative CT, MRCP, and ERCP, which mistakenly indicated a type II Todani CC, and intraoperatively was found to be located at the confluence of the hepatic ducts and encompassed the origin of the common bile duct. Complete resection of the cyst and the proximal segment of the common bile duct was performed, and reconstruction was carried out by Roux-en-Y double-tutorized hepaticojejunostomy. Considering the risk of malignant transformation, the frequent preoperative misdiagnosis, as well as the technically challenging surgery required in such cases, we advocate for a revision of the classification and raise awareness of the need for guidelines regarding the proper short-term and long-term management of this disease to ensure adequate quality of life and disease-free survival for patients.

Multivariate Risk Analysis of RAS, BRAF and EGFR Mutations Allelic Frequency and Coexistence as Colorectal Cancer Predictive Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Biomarker profiles should represent a coherent description of the colorectal cancer (CRC) stage and its predicted evolution. METHODS: Using droplet digital PCR, we detected the allelic frequencies (AF) of KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and EGFR mutations from 60 tumors. We employed a pair-wise association approach to estimate the risk involving AF mutations as outcome variables for clinical data and as predicting variables for tumor-staging. We evaluated correlations between mutations of AFs and also between the mutations and histopathology features (tumor staging, inflammation, differentiation, and invasiveness). RESULTS: KRAS G12/G13 mutations were present in all patients. KRAS Q61 was significantly associated with poor differentiation, high desmoplastic reaction, invasiveness (ypT4), and metastasis (ypM1). NRAS and BRAF were associated with the right-side localization of tumors. Diabetic patients had a higher risk to exhibit NRAS G12/G13 mutations. BRAF and NRAS G12/G13 mutations co-existed in tumors with invasiveness limited to the submucosa. CONCLUSIONS: The associations we found and the mutational AF we reported may help to understand disease processes and may be considered as potential CCR biomarker candidates. In addition, we propose representative mutation panels associated with specific clinical and histopathological features of CRC, as a unique opportunity to refine the degree of personalization of CRC treatment.

Laparoscopic vs. open resection for colon cancer-quality of oncologic resection evaluation in a medium volume center.

Despite concerns regarding oncologic safety, laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer has been proven in several trials in the lasts decades to be superior to open surgery. In addition, the benefits of laparoscopic surgery can be offered to other patients with malignant disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality of oncologic resection for non-metastatic, resectable colon cancer between laparoscopic and open surgery in terms of specimen margins and retrieved lymph nodes in a medium volume center in Romania. A total of 219 patients underwent surgery for non-metastatic colon cancer between January 2017 and December 2020. Of these, 52 underwent laparoscopic resection, while 167 had open surgery. None of the patients in the laparoscopic group had positive circumferential margins (P=0.035) while 12 (7.19%) patients in the open group (OG) had positive margins. A total of three patients in the laparoscopic group (5.77%) and seven patients (4.19%) in the OG had invaded axial margins. While the number of retrieved lymph nodes was not correlated with the type of procedure [laparoscopic group 16.12 (14±6.56), OG 17.31 (15±8.42), P=0.448], the lymph node ratio was significantly higher in the OG (P=0.003). Given the results of the present study, it is safe to conclude that laparoscopic surgery is not inferior to open surgery for non-metastatic colon cancer in a medium volume center.

Reconstructive challenges of sinonasal tumors: A case report.

Sinonasal tumors are an uncommon pathological entity and applying the optimal treatment may represent a challenge, even for experienced physicians. A various number of techniques and materials may be used in the reconstruction of craniofacial defects following surgery for extensive sinonasal cancer. The aim of the present study was to present the case of a 33-year-old male patient diagnosed with a large sinonasal tumor and discuss the challenges faced while selecting the most suitable rehabilitation technique. In the present case, it was decided that the optimal solution was to use a craniofacial prosthesis in order to cover the entire defect, as well as a temporoparietal flap. In summary, reconstructive interventions must always be adapted to each individual patient and a multimodal approach may lead to a highly satisfactory outcome, for both the patient and the surgical team. All the reconstructive solutions available must always be kept in mind and adapted to the individual requirements of each case, taking into consideration both the extent of the tumor and the comorbidities of the patient, as there is no one solution that is considered as optimal for all patients.

Treatment of Achalasia in the Evidence-Based Medicine Era - A Quest in Search for a Proper Attitude by Reviewing the Present Guidelines.

The best way to start a paper like this is with a citation from W. Edwards Deming: Without data, you're just another person with an opinion. In the era of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) every surgical procedure has to be backed up by solid statistical data to offer our patients the best treatment. But is EBM always the path to truth? We decided to analyze the literature for achalasia and see if the guidelines and the data are reliable enough to justify a certain attitude. Practically, we engaged in this endeavor not because we do not trust the statements of the guidelines, but to see if a surgeon can find by themselves the proper attitude in this disease. Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus characterized by deficient relaxation of the inferior esophageal sphincter that results in dysphagia. There are several methods of treatment, with various statements in the guidelines. Currently, every treatment should be sustained by data and statistics, evidence-based medicine being mandatory when a method is preferred over another. This article reviews several studies and also the available guidelines in search for an answer to the question which procedure is the best.

Posterior Circular Stapled GastroJejunostomy After Duodenopancreatectomy.

Anastomotic fistulae are the most common and dreaded postoperative complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) and slow recovery of bowel function are contributing causes for postoperative pancreatic fistula (PoPF) that should be taken into consideration. The present study evaluates data from 17 consecutive cases that underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma with pancreaticojejunal anastomosis and circular stapled mechanical gastrojejunal anastomosis instead of the standard terminolateral technique. Three patients developed Grade A DGE (one also developed grade B PoPF) and one patient required reinsertion of the nasogastric tube due to Grade B PoPF. Overall, the incidence of DGE was 23.5%. Three patients developed Grade B pancreatic fistulae that were successfully managed conservatively. Twelve patients resumed early bowel movement within 4 days, two reinterventions were required for postoperative bleeding. Mean hospital stay was 11.5 days. Patients with DGE had a mean hospital stay of 14.5 days. No gastrojejunostomy leak was encountered. Mortality was nil. Therefore we consider the posterior circular stapled gastrojejunostomy a simple, reproducible, safe technical alternative for avoiding DGE and consequently help lower the risk of PoPF, increased costs associated with prolonged hospital stay and an improved postoperative quality of life.

How Many Times Can One Go Back to the Drawing Board before the Accurate Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Glucagonoma?

Glucagonomas are neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that arise from the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets. They are typically slow-growing tumors associated with abnormal glucagon secretion, resulting in one or more non-specific clinical features, such as necrolytic migratory erythema (NME), diabetes, diarrhea, deep vein thrombosis, weight loss, and depression. Here, we report the case of a 44-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus, presenting with a pruritic and painful disseminated cutaneous eruption of erythematous plaques, with scales and peripheral pustules, misdiagnosed as disseminated pustular psoriasis and treated for 2 years with oral retinoid and glucocorticoids. During this period, the patient complained of weight loss of 32 kg and diarrhea and developed deep vein thrombosis. These symptoms, together with an inadequate response to therapy of the skin lesions, led to the reassessment of the initial diagnosis. Laboratory tests confirmed elevated plasma glucagon levels (>1000 pg/mL) and computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a 35/44 mm tumor in the pancreatic tail. Due to considerable disease complications and the COVID-19 pandemic, the surgical removal of the tumor was delayed for nearly 2 years. During this time, somatostatin analogue therapy efficiently controlled the glucagonoma syndrome and likely prevented tumor progression. As in other functional pancreatic NETs, the early clinical recognition of hormonal hypersecretion syndrome and the multidisciplinary approach are the keys for best patient management.

Clinical Impact of the Administration of FOLFIRINOX Beyond Six Months in Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Cohort Study.

Background Although a toxic regimen, FOLFIRINOX is one of the most efficient chemotherapy regimens in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There is no standard number of cycles in locally advanced or metastatic stages. Materials and method The present retrospective study reports the experience of a single center with this regimen administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The authors of this retrospective study analyzed the data on patients with this diagnosis treated in our clinic during 2017-2021. Forty-two patients were included in the study, 21 who received six courses or less and 21 who received more than six courses. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed according to this stratification. The oncological response was also reported according to dose reduction and treatment delay, irrespective of the number of courses administered. Results Median PFS was 7.5 months, and median OS was 13.6 months in the entire studied population. When patients were compared according to the number of courses received (under six vs. over six), there were obvious differences (PFS: 5.17 months vs. 11.2, p = 0.8, OS: 8 months vs. 17.3 months, p = 0.6). However, when stratifying survival by treatment delay and the presence or absence of dose reduction, better results were seen with lower doses (p<0.001) and treatment temporization (p=0.03). The general incidence of hematologic and neurologic toxicity was higher than the ones reported in the literature. Conclusion The study revealed that patients benefit from the administration of FOLFIRINOX for more than six months, but that the administration of full dose and the maintaining dose intensity does not necessarily favor the patient.

The Utility of Next-Generation Sequencing in the Treatment Decision-Making for Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a fast and relatively inexpensive method to sequence a large number of genes with crucial importance in cancer medicine. Nowadays, NGS is frequently used in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in oncology; however, recently, it was demonstrated that only a few cancer sites actually benefit from this assessment. Moreover, the association of a mutant gene with a targeted drug is not always as predicted during in-vitro trials and is often not associated with tumor response. To predict the efficacy of such an association several classification systems have been developed. The present review aims to analyze the most important tumor agnostic treatment trials and assess how they shape selecting cancer patients for NGS. Moreover, it aims to determine how mutation-drug associations can be classified by their targetability and level of evidence of efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Key biomarkers within the colorectal cancer related inflammatory microenvironment.

Therapeutic approaches focused on the inflammatory microenvironment are currently gaining more support, as biomolecules involved in the inflammatory colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor microenvironment are being explored. We analyzed tumor and paired normal tissue samples from CRC patients (n = 22) whom underwent tumor resection surgery. We assessed 39 inflammation-involved biomolecules (multiplex magnetic bead-based immunoassay), CEA and CA19-9 (ELISA assay) and the tissue expression levels of occludin and also pErk, STAT1 and STAT3 transcriptional factors (western blot). Tumor staging has been established by histopathological evaluation of HE stained tumor tissue sections. We report 32 biomarkers displaying statistically significant differences in tumor vs. control. Additionally, positive statistical biomarker correlations were found between MMP2-IL8 and BAFF-IL8 (Pearson correlation coefficients > 0.751), while APRIL-MMP2, APRIL-BAFF and APRIL-IL8 were negatively correlated (correlation coefficients < - 0.650). While APRIL, BAFF, IL8 and MMP2 did not modulate with tumor stage, they were inversely related to the immune infiltrate level and CD163 tissue expression. We conclude that the significantly decreased APRIL and increased BAFF, IL8 and MMP2 expression were tumor-specific and deserve consideration in the development of new treatments. Also, the positive correlation between Chitinase 3-like 1 and IL8 (0.57) or MMP2 (0.50) suggest a role in tumor growth and metastasis pathways.

Human Eye Optics within a Non-Euclidian Geometrical Approach and Some Implications in Vision Prosthetics Design.

An analogy with our previously published theory on the ionospheric auroral gyroscope provides a new perspective in human eye optics. Based on cone cells' real distribution, we model the human eye macula as a pseudospherical surface. This allows the rigorous description of the photoreceptor cell densities in the parafoveal zones modeled further by an optimized paving method. The hexagonal photoreceptors' distribution has been optimally projected on the elliptical pseudosphere, thus designing a prosthetic array counting almost 7000 pixel points. Thanks to the high morphological similarities to a normal human retina, the visual prosthesis performance in camera-free systems might be significantly improved.

Colorectal Cancer Trends of 2018 in Romania-an Important Geographical Variation Between Northern and Southern Lands and High Mortality Versus European Averages.

PURPOSE: In Romania, one of the highest rates for colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality in Europe was estimated based on data available in 2008. Ever since, consistent data are missing. In this article, we tried to estimate the general burden of CRC in our country. METHODS: We collected data from all hospitalized recorded cases according to the ICD-10 revision (codes C18-C20), as both primary and secondary diagnoses, as reported by all the hospitals to the DRG National System, between 2016 and 2018. RESULTS: There were 50,890 persons hospitalized with CRC. The prevalence of hospitalized colorectal cancer was 108.24/100,000 inhabitants in 2016, 113.09/100,000 inhabitants in 2017, and 116.83/100,000 inhabitants in 2018. Distal localization prevailed. We registered 34.13/100,000 deaths by CRC within the mentioned period of time, almost twofold higher than average European range. There are significant geographical differences regarding CRC prevalence and mortality, with higher rates in the Northern and Central Regions, and a very low prevalence and mortality in Bucharest and Southern provinces. CONCLUSION: We note a high colorectal mortality rate in Romania, especially in the Northern and Central Regions, nearly double versus European ranges.

Possible Influence of Weight Gain and Creatinine Levels in Predicting Response to Nivolumab: A Multicenter Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Literature suggests that high body mass index can be correlated with better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. On the other hand, sarcopenia seems to be a negative predictive marker. Materials and methods: The present analysis is a retrospective, multicenter trial that included patients with metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab between 2018 and 2020. Patients were stratified by creatinine levels both at treatment initiation and at first follow-up (at three months) and by BMI for the same intervals, as recorded in the patients' charts. Creatinine was considered a surrogate marker for sarcopenia. IBM SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 57 (n = 57) patients were included in the trial. Overall response rate (ORR) for the entire population was 38.59% (p = 0.02). Patients with BMI lower than 25 had an ORR of 28.5% (p = 0.003), whereas patients with BMI higher than 25 had an ORR of 42.3% (p = 0.002). Patients who gained weight during treatment had a lower probability of having progressive disease (OR = 0.4 [95% CI; 0.4-1.2]), as did patients with creatinine higher than 0.9 (OR = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.13-1.14]). No superiority was found in progression-free survival (PFS) when patients were dichotomized for BMI = 25 or BMI = 18.5. Mean PFS in the BMI under 18.5 group was 10.2 months [95% CI: 5.8-23.1], versus 11.2 for BMI over 18.5 [95% CI: 5.3-25.3], p < 0.03. Mean PFS for the BMI under 25 was 11.2 months [95% CI: 7.2-20.1], vs. 13.3 months [95% CI: 6.4-22] for the BMI over 25, p < 0.001. There were also differences in PFS in the patients with baseline creatinine over 0.9 when compared with under 0.9 values. Mean PFS in the first group was 19.78 months [95% CI: 16.23-22.9] vs. 16.1 [95% CI: 12.2-20.3], p < 0.001. Conclusion: Patients treated with nivolumab who have weight gain during treatment have a better PFS than the ones who do not. Creatinine levels of over 0.9 at treatment initiation also have positive predictive value.

Colorectal Surgery in Romania during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the COVID-19 pandemic extends, its negative consequences on the effectiveness of therapeutic programs - previously assumed by the medical community and imperatively suspended for a difficult-to-predict period of time - are becoming increasingly worrying. In this context, as the evidence-based recommendations are not possible, most of the national and international scientific societies tried to develop balanced recommendations (1-4). The Romanian Society of Coloproctology (SRCP) and the Romanian Association for Endoscopic Surgery (ARCE) have created a working group that, taking into account recent publications, the statements of international academic societies, the national legislative context and the unique experience of countries severely affected by this pandemic (China, Italy, Spain, USA, etc.) proposes for Romania, the following recommendations for medical practice in colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations are subjected to continuous review, depending on the global and national situation of the pandemic, the particular needs of each hospital, the recommendations of the competent authorities and the evolution of the literature that publishes the conclusions of ongoing clinical trials.

SRED-ARCE Recommendations for Minimally Invasive Interventions During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania.

The Romanian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SRED) and the Romanian Association of Endoscopic Surgery (ARCE) have decided to establish a joint working group to elaborate specific recommendations for organizing the diagnostic and the minimally invasive interventional procedures, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations are based on the guidelines of the international societies of endoscopy and gastroenterology (ESGE / BSG / ASGE / ACG / AGA), respectively endoscopic surgery (EAES SAGES) (4-8), on the experience of countries severely affected by the pandemic (Italy, France, Spain, USA, Germany, etc.) and they will be applied within the limits of measures imposed at local and governmental level by the competent authorities. On the other hand, these recommendations should have a dynamic evolution, depending on the upward or downward trend of the COVID-19 pandemic at regional and local level, but also according to the findings of professional and academic societies, requiring regular reviews based on the publica tion of further recommendations or international clinical trials. The objectives of the SRED and ARCE recommendations target the endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery activities, to support their non discriminatory used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, pursuing the demonstrated benefits of these procedures, in safe conditions for patients and medical staff.

Dietary AGEs involvement in colonic inflammation and cancer: insights from an in vitro enterocyte model.

The number of colon cancer cases is increasing worldwide, and type II diabetes patients have an increased risk of developing colon cancer. Diet-borne advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may promote neoplastic transformation; however, the mechanisms involved remain elusive. The present study helped to define the relationship between dietary AGEs and cancer progression. C2BBe1 adenocarcinoma enterocytes were exposed to 200 µg/mL glycated casein (AGEs-Csn) for up to 24 h. AGEs-Csn exposure resulted in increased cell proliferation, maladaptative changes in SOD and CAT activity and moderate levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) intracellular accumulation. AGEs-Csn activated pro-survival and proliferation signalling, such as the phosphorylation of mTOR (Ser2448) and Akt (Ser473). GSK-3ß phosphorylation also increased, potentially inducing extracellular matrix remodelling and thus enabling metastasis. Moreover, AGEs-Csn induced MMP-1, -3, -7, -9 and -10 expression and activated MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are regulators of the extracellular matrix and cytokine functions. AGEs-Csn induced inflammatory responses that included extracellular IL-1ß at 6 h; time-dependent increases in IL-8; RAGE and NF-κB p65 upregulation; and IκB inhibition. Co-treatment with anti-RAGE or anti-TNF-α blocking antibodies and AGEs-Csn partially counteracted these changes; however, IL-8, MMP-1 and -10 expression and MMP-9 activation were difficult to prevent. AGEs-Csn perpetuated signalling that led to cell proliferation and matrix remodelling, strengthening the link between AGEs and colorectal cancer aggressiveness.

Primary parahiatal hernias: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Parahiatal hernias (PHHs) are rare occurring disease, with a reported incidence of 0.2%-0.35% in patients undergoing surgery for hiatal hernia. We found only a handful of cases of primary PHHs in the literature. The aim of this paper is to present a case of a primary PHH and perform a systematic review of the literature. CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 60-year-old Caucasian woman with no history of thoraco-abdominal surgery or trauma, which accused epigastric pain, starting 2 years prior, pseudo-angina and bloating. Based on imagistic findings the patient was diagnosed with a PHH and an associated type I hiatal hernia. Patient underwent laparoscopic surgery and we found an opening in the diaphragm of 7 cm diameter, lateral to the left crus, through which 40%-50% of the stomach had herniated in the thorax, and a small sliding hiatal hernia with an anatomically intact hiatal orifice but slightly enlarged. We performed closure of the defect, suture hiatoplasty and a "floppy" Nissen fundoplication. Postoperative outcome was uneventful, with the patient discharged on the fifth postoperative day. We performed a review of the literature and identified eight articles regarding primary PHH. All data was compiled into one tabled and analyzed. CONCLUSION: Primary PHHs are rare entities, with similar clinical and imagistic findings with paraesophageal hernias. Treatment usually includes laparoscopic approach with closure of the defect and the esophageal hiatus should be dissected and analyzed. Postoperative outcome is favorable in all cases reviewed and no recurrence is cited in the literature.

The Tubercle of Zuckerkandl is Associated with Increased Rates of Transient Postoperative Hypocalcemia and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy After Total Thyroidectomy.

The current concept of complete resection of thyroid parenchyma shifted the practice from subtotal thyroidectomy to total thyroidectomy for a wide range of benign and malignant thyroid affliction and brought the tubercle of Zuckerkandl once again into attention. This embryological remnant has been shown to have a constant relationship with the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the superior parathyroid gland and may be used as a landmark for safe dissection. In order to assess if the presence of the tubercle of Zukerkandl has an impact on the most important complications of thyroid surgery, we have prospectively studied 128 patients diagnosed with nodular goiter who underwent total thyroidectomy. Grade 0 or the absence of the tubercle of Zuckerkandl, according to Pellizo et al, was noted in 42 cases (32.8%). During surgery, we identified 38 grade 1 tubercles (29.7%), 31 grade 2 tubercles (24.2%) and 16 grade 3 tubercles (12.5%). Out of 11 bilateral tubercles, 4 were measured as grade 3.Of all 47 patients with grade 2 and 3 tubercles, 18 (38.3%) developed transient postoperative hypocalcemia (p 0.0001, r=0.47) and 10 (21.3%) transient postoperative nerve palsy (p=0.004, r=0.25). All patients fully recovered during follow-up. The tubercle of Zuckerkandl, when present and of significant macroscopic size is associated with increased rates of transient postoperative hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.

Risk Assessment and Learning Curve in Laparoscopic Transperitoneal Adrenalectomy - Early and Late Experience of a Single Team.

Since its first description in 1992, laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the standard of treatment for most benign and low grade small adrenal tumors but due to the low incidence of adrenal disease, it remains a rarely performed intervention outside referral or excellence centers. Although laparoscopic surgery had a positive impact on complications of adrenalectomy, surgical risk should be thoroughly assessed when it comes to secreting or large tumors. This is a retrospective analysis of laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed in the first 4 years of practice 2007-2010 - the early experience including the learning curve of the senior surgeon, and our late experience from 2016 to 2019. All interventions were performed by a single team led by a senior surgeon with extensive experience in advanced laparoscopic surgery, using the lateral transperitoneal approach. In total, 82 cases were included, out of 153 laparoscopic adrenalectomies performed between 2007 and 2019. Only one conversion was recorded during the early experience and two laparoscopic reinterventions were needed for hemostasis and drainage. Non-secreting adenoma was the most frequent indication for surgery (26 cases) followed by Cushing's Syndrome (22 cases) while adrenocortical carcinoma was diagnosed in 3 cases. Significant differences were found between the two periods regarding operative time and length of postoperative hospital stay (p 0.001). With growing experience in laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy, less complications and shorter operative time and postoperative hospital stay are to be expected.

Clostridium difficile Infection and Colorectal Surgery: Is There Any Risk?

Background and objectives: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an important healthcare-associated infection, with important consequences both from a medical and financial point of view, but its correlation with anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgeries is scarcely reported in the literature. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study looking for patients who underwent open or laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancers between January 2012 and December 2017, excluding emergency surgeries for complicated colorectal tumors. We also examined patient history for risk factors for CDI such as age, sex, comorbidities, and clinical findings at admission or during hospital stay as well as tumor characteristics. Results: A total of 360 patients were included in the study, out of which 320 underwent surgeries that included anastomoses. There were 19 cases of anastomotic leaks, out of which 13 patients were diagnosed with CDI, with a statistic significance for association between CDI and anastomotic leakage (p < 0.0001). Most patients who developed both CDI and anastomotic leaks had left-sided resections or a type of rectal resection, while none of the patients with right-sided resections had this association, but with no statistical significance possibly due to the limited number of cases. Conclusions: CDI is a relevant risk factor and should be taken into consideration when trying to prevent anastomotic leaks in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery for colon or rectal cancer. Thorough assessment of risk factors at admission should be mandatory in order to adequately prepare the patient and plan an optimal course of treatment. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and a multidisciplinary approach, with a team which should always include the surgeon, is mandatory when it comes to CDI prevention.