Is there a rationale for aggressive breast cancer liver metastases resections in Polish female patients? Analysis of overall survival following hepatic resection at a single centre in Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) makes up nearly 26% of malignant tumours worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in European women. With approximately 18,000 new cases of BC diagnosed in Polish women annually, breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) is respectively an increasing issue. Recent data found in literature indicates improved survival following liver resection with systemic therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to evaluate surgical treatment in patients with isolated BCLM. MATERIALS AND METHOD: During 2009-2013, a retrospective study was undertaken and 30 cases analysed. From nearly 2,000 liver resections performed, 11 female patients at the mean age of 59.18 years with BCLM were qualified for surgery. RESULTS: The median time between primary and secondary treatment was 3.5 years (1-7). One patient (9.1%) presented an extrahepatic lesion - bone metastasis. The left lobe, right lobe and both lobes of the liver were affected, respectively, in 3 (27.3%), 4 (36.4%) and 4 (36.4%) patients. 5 patients (45.5%) presented single hepatic lesion, in contrast to the maximum number of lesions which equalled 6 in the right lobe. Average hospitalisation period was 13.27 days and discharge on the 11.3 postoperative day. One-year survival was 72.7% (8 patients); therefore, three-year survival was 36.4% (4 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Oncological centres should assess BCLM patients more openly and qualify them for hepatic resection along with adjuvant systemic treatment in order to improve overall survival. This, however, needs to be studied in a multicentre randomized trial.

Endoscopic Treatment of Early Biliary Complications in Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: The most common complications following liver transplantation (LTx) concern the biliary ducts. Potential early complications are biliary leaks and anastomotic strictures of the bile duct. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment of early biliary complications in liver transplant recipients after end-to-end biliary anastomosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2011 to December 2013, 475 patients underwent LTx at our Department. There were 101 endoscopic procedures performed in total during this period, out of which 67 were related to biliary complications in 44 patients, while the remaining procedures were carried out due to gastrointestinal bleeding. We established a timeframe of up to 3 months postoperatively as the early biliary complication period. With the selected criteria we retrospectively analyzed medical records of 24 liver recipients who underwent endoscopic treatment due to early biliary complications. The outcome of endoscopic treatment was statistically analyzed and categorized as a technical and clinical success. RESULTS: During this period there were 38 endoscopic procedures in the analyzed group of patients treated due to early biliary complications. The results were: successful balloon dilation alone was performed in 2 patients with no further need of treatment, implantation of plastic stents was performed initially in 13 patients, but 7 patients required further stenting with larger caliber plastic stents (PS). Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) were initially placed in 7 patients during this period overall. One patient was treated due to hemobilia. In 1 case endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was unfeasible and the patient required surgical intervention. In 1 case a PS was exchanged for an SEMS. Six patients with satisfactory cholangiography images had the stent removed during the second ERCP. CONCLUSIONS: In consideration of the stabilized rate of biliary complications following LTx, an advanced transplant center cannot function without an experienced endoscopist. For early biliary leaks and anastomotic strictures, ERCP is the primary treatment.