Patterns of Failure After Neoadjuvant Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or Fractionated Chemoradiation in Resectable and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare outcomes of patients with borderline and resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) versus fractionated chemoradiation. METHODS: Patients with borderline or resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant intent between November 2011 and December 2017 were reviewed. The SBRT volume/dose was 33 Gy in 5 fractions to gross tumor plus abutting vessel with or without 25 Gy in 5 fractions to pancreatic head/body and celiac/superior mesenteric artery. Fractionated chemoradiation volume/dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions to gross tumor, superior mesenteric/celiac arteries, and enlarged lymph nodes with concurrent bolus 5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. Failure patterns, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were assessed. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were reviewed (18 SBRTs and 25 fractionated). Among patients who underwent resection, patients treated with fractionated chemoradiation had improved LRFS (12-month LRFS, 86% vs 62%, P = 0.003) and PFS (median PFS, 23 months vs 11 months, P = 0.006) compared with SBRT. There was no difference in overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic body radiation therapy may result in inferior LRFS and PFS compared with fractionated chemoradiation, likely because of under coverage of high-risk vascular targets.

Is Surgery Necessary? Endoscopic Management of Post-transplant Biliary Complications in the Modern Era.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are common following liver transplantation (LT) and traditionally managed with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. However, endoscopic management has largely supplanted surgical revision in the modern era. Herein, we evaluate our experience with the management of biliary complications following LT. METHODS: All LTs from January 2013 to June 2018 at a single institution were reviewed. Patients with biliary bypass prior to, or at LT, were excluded. Patients were grouped by biliary complication of an isolated stricture, isolated leak, or concomitant stricture and leak (stricture/leak). RESULTS: A total of 462 grafts were transplanted into 449 patients. Ninety-five (21%) patients had post-transplant biliary complications, including 56 (59%) strictures, 28 (29%) leaks, and 11 (12%) stricture/leaks. Consequently, the overall stricture, leak, and stricture/leak rates were 12%, 6%, and 2%, respectively. Endoscopic management was pursued for all stricture and stricture/leak patients, as well as 75% of leak patients, reserving early surgery only for those patients with an uncontrolled leak and evidence of biliary peritonitis. Endoscopic management was successful in the majority of patients (stricture 94%, leak 90%, stricture/leak 90%). Only six patients (5.6%) received additional interventions-two required percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography catheters, three underwent surgical revision, and one was re-transplanted. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic management of post-transplant biliary complications resulted in long-term resolution without increased morbidity, mortality, or graft failure. Successful endoscopic treatment requires collaboration with a skilled endoscopist. Moreover, multidisciplinary transplant teams must develop treatment protocols based on the local availability and expertise at their center.

Gastric Pneumatosis from Isolated Gastric Calciphylaxis.

A 58-year-old man with end-stage renal disease presented with hypotension and emesis, pale conjunctivae, and a distended abdomen. Labs revealed hypercalcemia and leukocytosis. Abdominal imaging showed gastric pneumatosis. Endoscopy demonstrated significant hemorrhage and necrosis in the gastric cardia and fundus. Biopsies revealed acute ulcerative gastritis and focal intravascular calcium phosphate crystals. The patient remained nil per os and was placed on omeprazole and sucralfate. Repeat endoscopy demonstrated mucosal healing. Gastric calciphylaxis in the setting of gastric pneumatosis is an uncommon finding, especially in patients without cutaneous findings.

The natural history of chronic pancreatitis after operative intervention: The need for revisional operation.

BACKGROUND: For patients with chronic pancreatitis, duodenum-sparing head resections and pancreaticoduodenectomy are effective operations to relieve abdominal pain. For patients who develop recurrent symptoms after their index operation, the long-term management remains controversial. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2014, patients undergoing operative intervention for chronic pancreatitis were identified retrospectively. Patients requiring reoperation after their index operation were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients with chronic pancreatitis underwent an index operation. At a median time of 33 months, 85 patients underwent no further operative intervention, while 36 patients underwent reoperation. A reoperative procedure was completed with acceptable perioperative morbidity and blood loss. After a revision operation, 25% of patients became narcotic independent. Narcotic requirements decreased from 143 morphine equivalent milligrams per day (MEQ/d) to 80 MEQ/d, and 58% of patients required less than 50 MEQ/d. Insulin requirements were not increased from preoperative levels. Multivariate analysis demonstrated only narcotic requirement and exocrine insufficiency after the index operation to be predictive for the need for a revision operation. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate the following: (1) A significant number of patients undergoing duodenum-sparing head resections (26%) or pancreaticoduodenectomy (29%) required reoperation for recurrent abdominal pain; and (2) a revisional operation can be effective in relieving recurrent abdominal symptoms. Patients with recurrent symptoms should be considered for additional operative intervention.