A more radical perspective on surgical approach and outcomes in pancreatic cancer-a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains a dismal disease and is expected to become an even greater burden in the near future. This review focuses on the different surgical aspects for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), distal and total pancreatectomy (TP), incorporating lessons from both the western and eastern visions in treating pancreatic cancer. Methods: We conducted an extensive literature review through PubMed, prioritizing papers published in the last 5 years, but older emblematic papers were also included. We included articles that explored the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with focus on the surgical aspect and strategies to improve outcomes. References of selected articles were also reviewed to identify any missed studies. Only papers in English were included. Key Content and Findings: As evidence continues to build, it is clear that both systemic and surgical therapies have a fundamental and complementary role. State of art surgical treatment encompasses complete mesopancreas excision for radical lymphadenectomy. Preoperative planning of dissection planes, extensive knowledge of vascular anatomic variations, oncological principles and expertise for vascular resections are mandatory to perform a more radical operation, in pursuit of improved outcomes. Conclusions: Based on current data, patient selection remains key and a more radical surgical approach brings more accomplishing results bringing as to believe that more is better.

URGENT LIVER RETRANSPLANTATION DUE TO TRANSMISSION OF INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA BY DONOR: THE FIRST REPORT IN THE LITERATURE.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation represents the best therapeutic modality in end-stage chronic liver disease, severe acute hepatitis, and selected cases of liver tumors. AIMS: To describe a double retransplant in a male patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease and complicated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, severe portal hypertension, and cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed in the transplanted liver. METHODS: A 48-year-old male patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease 25 years ago, complicated with primary sclerosing cholangitis and severe portal hypertension. He underwent a liver transplantation in 2018 due to secondary biliary cirrhosis. In 2021, a primary sclerosing cholangitis recurrence was diagnosed and a liver retransplantation was indicated. Recipient's hepatectomy was very difficult by reason of complex portal vein thrombosis requiring extensive thromboendovenectomy. Intraoperative ultrasound with liver doppler evaluation was performed. Two suspicious nodules were incidentally diagnosed in the donor's liver and immediately removed for anatomopathological evaluation. RESULTS: After pathological confirmation of carcinoma, probable cholangiocarcinoma, at frozen section, the patient was re-listed as national priority and a new liver transplantation was performed within 24 hours. The patient was discharged after 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The screening for neoplasms in donated organs should be part of our strict daily diagnostic arsenal. Moreover, we argue that, for the benefit of an adequate diagnosis and the feasibility of a safer procedure, the adoption of imaging tests routine for the liver donor is essential, allowing a reduction of the costs and some potential risks of liver transplant procedure.

Urgent liver retransplantation due to transmission of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by donor: the first report in the literature / Retransplante de fígado urgente devido à transmissão de colangiocarcinoma intra-hepático pelo doador: o primeiro relato da literatura

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation represents the best therapeutic modality in end-stage chronic liver disease, severe acute hepatitis, and selected cases of liver tumors. AIMS: To describe a double retransplant in a male patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease and complicated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, severe portal hypertension, and cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed in the transplanted liver. METHODS: A 48-year-old male patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease 25 years ago, complicated with primary sclerosing cholangitis and severe portal hypertension. He underwent a liver transplantation in 2018 due to secondary biliary cirrhosis. In 2021, a primary sclerosing cholangitis recurrence was diagnosed and a liver retransplantation was indicated. Recipient's hepatectomy was very difficult by reason of complex portal vein thrombosis requiring extensive thromboendovenectomy. Intraoperative ultrasound with liver doppler evaluation was performed. Two suspicious nodules were incidentally diagnosed in the donor's liver and immediately removed for anatomopathological evaluation. RESULTS: After pathological confirmation of carcinoma, probable cholangiocarcinoma, at frozen section, the patient was re-listed as national priority and a new liver transplantation was performed within 24 hours. The patient was discharged after 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The screening for neoplasms in donated organs should be part of our strict daily diagnostic arsenal. Moreover, we argue that, for the benefit of an adequate diagnosis and the feasibility of a safer procedure, the adoption of imaging tests routine for the liver donor is essential, allowing a reduction of the costs and some potential risks of liver transplant procedure.

RESUMO RACIONAL: O transplante de fígado representa a melhor modalidade terapêutica na doença hepática crônica terminal, hepatite aguda grave e casos selecionados de tumores hepáticos. OBJETIVOS: Descrever um retransplante duplo em paciente do sexo masculino, diagnosticado com doença de Crohn e complicado com colangite esclerosante primária, hipertensão portal grave e colangiocarcinoma diagnosticado no fígado transplantado. MÉTODOS: Paciente do sexo masculino, 48 anos, diagnosticado com doença de Crohn há 25 anos e complicado com colangite esclerosante primária e hipertensão portal grave. Foi submetido a um transplante de fígado em 2018 devido a cirrose biliar secundária. Em 2021, foi diagnosticada recidiva de colangite esclerosante primária e indicado retransplante hepático. A hepatectomia do receptor foi de alta complexidade devido à trombose complexa da veia porta, exigindo extensa tromboendovenectomia. Foi realizada ultrassonografia intraoperatória com doppler hepático. Dois nódulos suspeitos foram diagnosticados incidentalmente no fígado do doador e imediatamente removidos para avaliação anatomopatológica. RESULTADOS: Após confirmação patológica de carcinoma, provável colangiocarcinoma, pela congelação, o paciente foi relistado como prioridade nacional, e novo transplante hepático foi realizado em 24 horas. O paciente teve alta após 2 semanas. CONCLUSÕES: O rastreamento de neoplasias em órgãos doados deve fazer parte de nosso estrito arsenal diagnóstico diário. Além disso, defendemos que, em benefício de um diagnóstico correto e da viabilidade de um procedimento mais seguro, a adoção de uma rotina de exames de imagem é essencial em doadores hepáticos, permitindo a redução dos custos e alguns riscos potenciais do procedimento de transplante hepático.

Combined liver transplantation with sleeve gastrectomy: a pioneer case series from Brazil.

The association of a bariatric operation during liver transplantation may benefit patients with liver failure and obesity and sleeve gastrectomy emerges as the procedure of choice. The aim of this study is to present our experience with combined liver transplantation and sleeve gastrectomy. During an 18-month period, seven patients were submitted to simultaneous liver transplant and sleeve gastrectomy (LTSG). There were four male and three female, and the mean recipient age was 60.5 years, mean BMI was 38.2 kg/m2, and mean MELD score was 25 points. The indication for liver transplantation was nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in four cases, hepatitis C with HCC in one case, pure NASH in one case and alcoholic cirrhosis with HCC in one case. Six patients are alive with normal allograft function. There were no biliary complications.

PROTOCOL FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION IN UNRESECTABLE COLORECTAL METASTASIS. / PROTOCOLO DE TRANSPLANTE HEPÁTICO PARA METÁSTASE COLORRETAL IRRESSECÁVEL.

AIM: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasm, and half of the patients with CRC develop liver metastasis. The best prognostic factor for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is the possibility of performing a resection with free margins; however, most of them remain unresectable. The justification for performing liver transplantation (LT) in patients with CRLM regards an increase in the number of resectable patients by performing total hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to provide a Brazilian protocol for LT in patients with unresectable CRLM. METHOD: The protocol was carried out by two Brazilian institutions, which perform a large volume of resections and LTs, based on the study carried out at the University of Oslo. The elaboration of the protocol was conducted in four stages. RESULT: A protocol proposal for this disease is presented, which needs to be validated for clinical use. CONCLUSION: The development of an LT protocol for unresectable CRLM aims to standardize the treatment and to enable a better evaluation of surgical results.

OBJETIVO: O câncer colorretal é a terceira neoplasia mais frequente e metade dos pacientes desenvolvem metástase hepática. O melhor fator prognóstico na metástase hepática de câncer colorretal (MHCCR) é a possibilidade de ressecção com margens livres, porém a maioria permanece irressecável. O racional em realizar transplante hepático (TH) em pacientes portadores de MHCCR está na ampliação do número de pacientes ressecáveis através de uma hepatectomia total. Apresentar protocolo brasileiro para realização de transplante hepático em pacientes com MHCCR irressecável. MÉTODO: O protocolo foi realizado por duas instituições com grande volume de ressecções e transplantes hepáticos no Brasil, baseado no trabalho realizado pela Universidade de Oslo. A elaboração foi dividida em 4 etapas. RESULTADO: É apresentada proposta de protocolo para esta doença a ser validada na aplicação clínica. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível elaborar protocolo de transplante hepático para MHCCR irressecável a fim de uniformizar o tratamento e melhor avaliar os resultados cirúrgicos.

PROTOCOL FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION IN HILAR CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA.

BACKGROUND: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma represents more than half of all cholangiocarcinoma cases, having poor prognosis and presenting a median overall survival after diagnosis of 12-24 months. In patients who have unresectable tumors with a better prognosis, the proposal to perform liver transplantation emerged for expanding the possibility of free margins by performing total hepatectomy. AIM: To provide a Brazilian protocol for liver transplantation in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHOD: The protocol was carried out by two Brazilian institutions which perform a large volume of resections and liver transplantations, based on the study carried out at the Mayo Clinic. The elaboration of the protocol was conducted in four stages. RESULT: A protocol proposal for this disease is presented, which needs to be validated for clinical use. CONCLUSION: The development of a liver transplantation protocol for cholangiocarcinoma aims not only to standardize the treatment, but also enable a better assessment of the surgical results in the future.

Liver transplantation in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Neuroendocrine tumors are part of a heterogeneous group of tumors located in organs such as the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), lungs, thymus, thyroid, and adrenal glands. The most prevalent sites are the small intestine, cecal appendix, and pancreas. More than 50% of these tumors are associated with metastases at the time of diagnosis. Neuroendocrine tumors are classified according to the degree of cell differentiation and the histopathological proliferation index of the lesion. Neuroendocrine tumors can be well differentiated or poorly differentiated. G3 tumors are characterized by Ki-67 expression greater than 20% and can be either well differentiated (G3 NET) or poorly differentiated (G3 NEC). Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC G3) is subdivided into small-cell and large-cell types. When neuroendocrine tumors present clinical and compressive symptoms, carcinoid syndrome is evident. Carcinoid syndrome occurs when the tumor produces neuroendocrine mediators that cannot be metabolized by the liver due to either the size of the tumor or their secretion by the liver itself. Several therapeutic strategies have been described for the treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors, including curative or palliative surgical approaches, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, percutaneous therapy, systemic chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Liver surgery is the only approach that can offer a cure for metastatic patients. Liver metastases must be completely resected, and in this context, orthotopic liver transplantation has gained prominence for yielding very promising outcomes in selected cases. The aim of this study is to review the literature on OLT as a form of treatment with curative intent for patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with liver metastasis.

Protocolo de transplante hepático para metástase colorretal irressecável / Protocol for liver transplantation in unresectable colorectal metastasis

RESUMO - RACIONAL: O câncer colorretal é a terceira neoplasia mais frequente e metade dos pacientes desenvolvem metástase hepática. O melhor fator prognóstico na metástase hepática de câncer colorretal (MHCCR) é a possibilidade de ressecção com margens livres, porém a maioria permanece irressecável. O racional em realizar transplante hepático (TH) em pacientes portadores de MHCCR está na ampliação do número de pacientes ressecáveis através de uma hepatectomia total. OBJETIVO: Apresentar protocolo brasileiro para realização de transplante hepático em pacientes com MHCCR irressecável. MÉTODO: O protocolo foi realizado por duas instituições com grande volume de ressecções e transplantes hepáticos no Brasil, baseado no trabalho realizado pela Universidade de Oslo. A elaboração foi dividida em 4 etapas. RESULTADO: É apresentada proposta de protocolo para esta doença a ser validada na aplicação clínica. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível elaborar protocolo de transplante hepático para MHCCR irressecável a fim de uniformizar o tratamento e melhor avaliar os resultados cirúrgicos.

ABSTRACT - BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasm, and half of the patients with CRC develop liver metastasis. The best prognostic factor for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is the possibility of performing a resection with free margins; however, most of them remain unresectable. The justification for performing liver transplantation (LT) in patients with CRLM regards an increase in the number of resectable patients by performing total hepatectomy. AIM: The aim of this study was to provide a Brazilian protocol for LT in patients with unresectable CRLM. METHOD: The protocol was carried out by two Brazilian institutions, which perform a large volume of resections and LTs, based on the study carried out at the University of Oslo. The elaboration of the protocol was conducted in four stages. RESULT: A protocol proposal for this disease is presented, which needs to be validated for clinical use. CONCLUSION: The development of an LT protocol for unresectable CRLM aims to standardize the treatment and to enable a better evaluation of surgical results.

Protocol for liver transplantation in hilar cholangiocarcinoma / Protocolo de transplante hepático para colangiocarcinoma hilar

ABSTRACT Background: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma represents more than half of all cholangiocarcinoma cases, having poor prognosis and presenting a median overall survival after diagnosis of 12-24 months. In patients who have unresectable tumors with a better prognosis, the proposal to perform liver transplantation emerged for expanding the possibility of free margins by performing total hepatectomy. Aim: To provide a Brazilian protocol for liver transplantation in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Method: The protocol was carried out by two Brazilian institutions which perform a large volume of resections and liver transplantations, based on the study carried out at the Mayo Clinic. The elaboration of the protocol was conducted in four stages. Result: A protocol proposal for this disease is presented, which needs to be validated for clinical use. Conclusion: The development of a liver transplantation protocol for cholangiocarcinoma aims not only to standardize the treatment, but also enable a better assessment of the surgical results in the future.

RESUMO Racional: O colangiocarcinoma hilar representa mais da metade de todos os casos de colangiocarcinoma; tem prognóstico reservado e sobrevida global mediana de 12- 24 meses após o diagnóstico. A proposta de realizar transplante hepático surgiu para ampliar a possibilidade de margens livres através de hepatectomia total nos portadores de tumoresirressecáveis com melhor prognóstico. Objetivo: Apresentar protocolo brasileiro para realização de transplante hepático em pacientes com colangiocarcinoma hilar. Método: O protocolo foi realizado por duas instituições com grande volume de ressecções e transplantes hepáticos no Brasil, baseado no trabalho realizado pela MayoClinic. A elaboração foi dividida em quatro etapas. Resultado: É apresentada proposta de protocolo para esta doença a ser validada na aplicação clínica. Conclusão: Foi possível elaborar protocolo de transplante hepático para colangiocarcinoma a fim de uniformizar o tratamento e melhor avaliar os resultados cirúrgicos.

Living Donor Liver Transplant as Rescue Surgery for a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Who Underwent Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy (ALPPS).

BACKGROUND The associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) is an important tool to induce fast liver hypertrophy. The degree of hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis in patients with HCC negatively impacts their health, and the risk of liver failure is always present. In these cases, liver transplantation may be necessary as a rescue procedure. We present the case of a patient with HCC who underwent ALPPS and developed liver failure. A living donor liver transplant was performed as a rescue procedure. CASE REPORT A 49-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis underwent computed tomography, which revealed an expansive lesion in the right lobe of his liver that was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver resection was indicated and liver cirrhosis was observed with high portal pressure after transection. The treatment strategy was switched from right hepatectomy to ALPPS. The patient developed severe liver dysfunction and liver transplantation was indicated. His postoperative course was uneventful and 3 months after the procedure the patient was without complications. CONCLUSIONS Living donor liver transplantation may be necessary as a rescue procedure for patients who underwent ALPPS and develop liver dysfunction.