Downstaging strategies for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

A significant number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are usually diagnosed in advanced stages, that leads to inability to achieve cure. Palliative options are focusing on downstaging a locally advanced disease. It is well-supported in the literature that patients with HCC who undergo successful conversion therapy followed by curative-intent surgery may achieve a significant survival benefit compared to those who receive chemotherapy alone or those who are successfully downstaged with conversion therapy but not treated with surgery. Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy can be a potential downstaging strategy, since recent studies have demonstrated excellent outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastatic disease as well as primary liver malignancies.

Managing fluid balance and nutritional status in a short bowel syndrome patient awaiting intestinal transplant: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Despite being a long-term therapy for patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS), subcutaneous injections of teduglutide promote the regeneration of the gastrointestinal tract. Such cases are particularly concerning for patients with residual small bowel. METHODS: In this report, we present a case of an SBS patient with only 5 cm of remaining small bowel and a high-output duodenal stoma, who was treated with teduglutide. RESULTS: The initiation of teduglutide injections in our patient resulted in a reduction of stoma output, improvement in the patient's nutritional status, regulation of fluid balance, and stabilization of their clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that subcutaneous injections of teduglutide, when combined with appropriate nutritional care, can effectively treat high-output stomas, even in cases where the small bowel is nearly absent.

Bridging locoregional treatment prior to liver transplantation for cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We performed a meta-analysis to assess the benefit of bridging locoregional treatment (LRT) before liver transplantation for cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) already within the Milan criteria at diagnosis. Methods: We included original studies with HCC cases within the Milan criteria at diagnosis, comparing patients with and without bridging LRT before liver transplantation. Results: Twenty-six retrospective original studies were included. Out of the 9068 patients within the Milan criteria, 6435 (71%) received bridging LRT and 2633 (29%) did not. The most frequent LRTs were transarterial chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave ablation. Most of the patient and tumor characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Maximum tumor diameter on scans was slightly larger in the LRT arm (mean difference: 0.36 cm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.61; I2=79%). The LRT group also had multifocal disease slightly more frequently (risk ratio [RR] 1.21, 95%CI 1.04-1.41; I2=0%) and disease extent outside the Milan criteria (RR 1.3, 95%CI 1.03-1.66; I2=0%) on pathological examination of explanted livers. There was no difference between the 2 arms in the waiting time for transplant, dropout rates, disease-free survival at 1, 3, 5 years after transplant, or overall survival at 3 and 5 years after transplant. However, cases with LRT had better overall survival at 1 year after transplant (hazard ratio 0.54, 95%CI 0.35-0.86; I2=0%). Conclusions: The precise benefit of bridging LRT for cirrhotic patients with HCC within the Milan criteria at diagnosis is unclear. There may be an advantage regarding short-term overall survival after liver transplantation.

Heterotopic Kidney Autotransplantation for Recurrent Iatrogenic Distal Ureteral Injury: A Case Report.

Iatrogenic ureteral injuries are a significant complication during pelvic surgery, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for optimal repair. When a ureteral injury is suspected postoperatively, abdominal imaging is essential to determine the type of injury and thus the timing and method of reconstruction. That can be performed either by a CT pyelogram or by an ureterography-cystography with or without ureter stenting. Although technological advancements and minimally invasive surgery have been gaining ground over open complex surgeries, renal autotransplantation is a well-established technique of proximal ureter repair and should be highly considered when dealing with a severe injury. We hereby report the case of a patient with a recurrent ureter injury and multiple laparotomies treated with autotransplantation, without any major morbidities or change in their quality of life. In every case, a personalized approach for each patient and consultation with experienced transplant experts (surgeons, urologists, and nephrologists) is advised.

Primary Large Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma of the Gallbladder.

Primary lymphoma of the gallbladder (GB) is a rare condition, and very few cases have been reported so far. Diagnosis is usually made after surgery of suspicious GB mass, which is often difficult to differentiate from GB carcinoma. The GB wall does not contain lymphoid tissue, and tumors arise at the submucosal layer. Stone disease and chronic inflammation may contribute to its pathogenesis. Treatment consists of surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapy in selected cases. We present a case of an unusual, large-sized mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the GB.

Predicting outcomes of surgical management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A Gordian Knot.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver malignancy with liver resection with curative intent being the mainstay of treatment related to prolonged survival. Better risk stratification models are needed to optimize patient selection and identify individuals who will benefit the most from an operative approach or alternative treatments due to high incidence of recurrence in patients undergoing resection with curative intent for ICC. Machine learning as well as markers of tumoral biology can generate reliable models that could help in identifying patients at risk of recurrence and worse outcomes. Liver transplantation might have a role in patients with small unresectable tumors.

Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) Combined With Chemotherapy Increases Survival in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (LAPC).

OBJECTIVES: Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is found in about 40% of patients with pancreatic cancer. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal ablative technique that provides an alternative in patients with LAPC and can be safely combined with chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2015 until October of 2019, we performed laparotomic IRE in a total of 40 patients with stage III LAPC. The median age of these patients was 65.2 years (range: 46 to 81 y), and the median tumor size was 3.8 cm (range: 2 to 5.2 cm). 33 of 40 patients were treated preoperatively with FOLFIRINOX or nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine and in case of disease control, IRE was performed, whereas in 7 patients, IRE was performed without previous chemotherapy. RESULTS: All patients were treated successfully with IRE as the tumor evaluation showed no disease progression after the completion of induction chemotherapy. No IRE-related deaths occurred. Two major grade III complications were reported: pancreatic fistula grade A in 8 patients and 3 patients diagnosed with delayed gastric emptying. Up to October 31, 2019, the median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 24.2 months (range: 6 to 36 mo), and the median progression-free survival was 10.3 months (range: 3 to 24 mo). After the completion of IRE, 30 patients (75%) continued with adjuvant chemotherapy. Fifteen patients (37%) have >24 months OS and 3 patients (8%) have reached 36 months OS and are still alive. CONCLUSION: The combination of chemotherapy with IRE, which is a safe and effective procedure, may result in a survival benefit for patients with LAPC.

The Paradox of Increasing Waiting List Mortality and Declining Utilization of Deceased Donor Grafts in Kidney Transplant.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are a rare type of tumor with malignant potential, characterized by slowgrowth, frequent hepatic metastatic lesions that usually stay contained within the liver. In patients with unresectable liver metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, liver transplant is the only treatment available. Insulinomas are the most common pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and 5% to 10% of insulinomas are malignant. We herein report a case of a living-donor liver transplant with distal pancreatectomy for a patient with hepatic metastatic pancreatic insulinoma with a 13-year postoperative survival.

The efficacy and safety of the open approach irreversible electroporation in the treatment of pancreatic cancer: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) is a novel non-thermal ablation technique used in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), in the proximity of sensitive structures such as vessels, intestinal wall and the bile duct. Currently, it is only used in the setting of clinical trials. This systematic review aimed to tackle the knowledge gap in the literature, in relation to the safety and efficacy of the open approach IRE. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane libraries were searched for English language articles published from January 2000 to December 2019. Data related to safety and efficacy were extracted. RESULTS: Nine studies involving 460 patients with LAPC were included. Open approach IRE was associated with high morbidity (29.4%) but with a survival benefit compared to traditional treatment. Median overall survival (OS) was at 17.15 months. Major morbidity was at 10.2% and mortality at 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the paucity of literature and the low quality of evidence, the results regarding safety and efficacy appear to be encouraging. The high morbidity seems to be mitigated by a demonstrated improvement in OS. The potential of this technique is more evident when mortality and major morbidity are considered, since they are at acceptable levels. The limitations of this review have made it difficult to extract definitive conclusions. Higher quality evidence is needed in the form of large-scale multicentre randomized controlled trials. It remains to be elucidated whether the rate of adverse events decreases as our experience with this technique increases.

Lymphoepithelial pancreatic cyst: A rare entity among pancreatic cystic lesions. Report of two cases.

Lymphoepithelial pancreatic cysts are extremely rare benign pancreatic cystic lesions. High suspicion and an individual approach are imperative for the best management of those extremely rare entities.

The expression of Claudin-4 in gastric cancer tissue: A single center experience.

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer (GC) is still one of the most common malignancies with the majority of the tumors diagnosed at advanced stage. The need for identification of prognostic and early detection biomarkers is thus compulsory. Claudins are biomarkers that are currently evaluated in the literature in the frame of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The purpose of this investigation was to study the expression of claudin-4 in the various histological subtypes of GC and to evaluate its prognostic value. METHODS: This investigation was performed on gastric tumors obtained from 66 (46 men and 20 women) patients with documented gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent total or partial gastrectomy and regional lymphadenectomy from 2003 till 2011. Features such as tumor size, depth of invasion, grade and histological subtype, lymphovascular space invasion and regional lymph nodes involvement were also evaluated. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used for assessing the expression of claudin-4 with a semi-quantitative model. RESULTS: 66.7% of our cases showed abnormal claudin-4 expression in IHC. Claudin-4 was significantly correlated with tumor T stage and with intestinal type classification. The correlation of claudin-4 tissue expression with patient overall survival survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) was not statistically significant, as well as with age, gender, tumor N stage, grade, TNM stage, positive lymph node ratio or lymphovascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Literature stands equivocal about the exact role and prognostic value of claudin-4 and histopathology and tumor invasiveness in patients with GC. Our results further strengthen the need of larger studies to fully elucidate the predictive role of claudin-4 in the natural history of GC.

Non-Whipple Operations in the Management of Benign, Premalignant and Early Cancerous Duodenal Lesions.

AIM: We reviewed our 20-year experience with non-Whipple operations (pancreas-preserving duodenectomy and transduodenal ampullectomy) for the treatment of benign, premalignant or early-stage malignant duodenal lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients who underwent non-Whipple operations between January 1996 and December 2015 were identified from an institutional database and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2015, 10 patients underwent pancreas-preserving duodenectomy and 14 patients underwent transduodenal ampullectomy. The mean follow-up was 25.8 months (range=6-54 months) and no patient was lost to follow-up. Eighteen patients had preoperative diagnosis of duodenal adenomatosis, three patients had preoperative diagnosis of duodenal adenocarcinoma, one had a bleeding polyp and two had localized inflammation. Average operative time was 145 min (range=127-168 min) for transduodenal ampullectomy and 183 min (range=173-200 min) for pancreas-preserving duodenectomy (p<0.05). The estimated blood loss for transduodenal ampullectomy was 85 vs. 125 ml for pancreas-preserving duodenectomy (p<0.05). Early postoperative complications were noted in 13 cases (54.17%). There were no postoperative (90-day) deaths observed in this series and there were no recurrences during follow-up for the patients operated on with neoplastic lesions. CONCLUSION: For carefully selected patients, transduodenal ampullectomy and pancreas-preserving duodenectomy may be used in place of the Whipple operation for benign and occasionally early-stage malignant (Tis and T1) duodenal and ampullary disease.

Single-Incision Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Review and a Critical Appraisal.

BACKGROUND: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery has attracted a great deal of interest in the surgical community in recent years, including bariatric surgery. Single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SILSG) has been proposed as an alternative to the multiport laparoscopic procedure; however, it has yet to meet wide acceptance and application. OBJECTIVE: We aim to summarize existing data on SILSG and check the procedure's feasibility, technical details, safety, and, if possible, outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We checked the most important databases for studies concerning SILSG and included all these that summarized the criteria placed and contained the data needed for this review. We excluded case reports. RESULTS: Nineteen studies complied with the criteria of our review, containing a total of 1679 patients. Their mean age has been 38.91 years and the mean preoperative body mass index has been 41.8 kg/m2. In majority of cases (60.5%), a left upper quadrant incision has been preferred and in 97.6%, a commercially available multiport system has been picked. A wide variety of instruments have been used and mean operating time has been 94.6 minutes. One conversion to open surgery has been reported and 7.4% required the placement of additional ports. There was a complication rate of 7.38% (most common being bleeding with a rate of 2.5%) and a reoperation rate of 2.8%. Mean excess weight loss for a follow-up of 1 year was achieved in 53.7% of patients and was 70.06%. A tendency for less analgesia and better wound satisfaction has been reported. CONCLUSIONS: SILSG is safe and feasible. However, there is insufficient evidence to recommend it as the new gold standard for sleeve gastrectomy in the place of conventional laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Randomized controlled trials are needed to analyze the results and the possible benefits of this technique.

Duodenal plexiform fibromyxoma as a cause of obscure upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A case report.

RATIONALE: We are reporting the first-to our knowledge-case of duodenal Plexiform Fibromyxoma causing obscure upper gastrointestinal bleeding. PATIENT CONCERNS: Plexiform fibromyxoma triggered recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding episodes in a 63-year-old man who remained undiagnosed, despite multiple hospitalizations, extensive diagnostic workups and surgical interventions (including gastrectomies), for almost 17 years. DIAGNOSES-INTERVENTIONS: During hospitalization for the last bleeding episode, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an intestinal hemorrhagic nodule. The lesion was deemed unresectable by endoscopic means. An abdominal computerized tomography disclosed no further lesions and surgery was decided. The lesion at operation was found near the edge of the duodenal stump and treated with pancreas-preserving duodenectomy (1st and 2nd portion). OUTCOMES: Postoperative recovery was mainly uneventful and a 20-month follow-up finds the patient in good health with no need for blood transfusions.Plexiform fibromyxomas stand for a rare and widely unknown mesenchymal entity. Despite the fact that they closely resemble other gastrointestinal tumors, they distinctly vary in clinical management as well as the histopathology. Clinical awareness and further research are compulsory to elucidate its clinical course and prognosis.

Minimally Invasive Lymphadenectomy in Uterine Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to review the current literature on the role of minimally invasive lymphadenectomy in the treatment of cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-randomized control trials published between January 2007 to May 2016 were identified by searching the Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Primary endpoints included operative outcomes (operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of transfused patients and conversion rates), postoperative outcomes (length of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity and postoperative in-hospital mortality), and oncological outcomes (number of harvested lymph nodes, tumor recurrence, disease-free rates and overall survival rates). RESULTS: A total of 17 studies with a total of 1,676 patients were included in the review. Compared to the open approach, minimally invasive lymphadenectomy demonstrated a significantly larger number of harvested lymph nodes, longer operative time, lower intraoperative blood loss and shorter postoperative hospital stay. No significant differences were observed between groups treated with an open, laparoscopic or robotic approach for the following criteria: lymph node metastasis, postoperative morbidity, tumor recurrence and postoperative mortality. CONCLUSION: Although a technically demanding and time-consuming procedure, minimally invasive lymphadenectomy appears to be safe and feasible and may offer an alternative approach in staging and treatment of cervical cancer. Multicentre randomized controlled trials investigating its long-term oncological outcomes and its cost-effectiveness are required to determine the advantages of this procedure over the open approach in cervical cancer.

Mechanistic insights of rapid liver regeneration after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for stage hepatectomy.

AIM: To highlight the potential mechanisms of regeneration in the Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy models (clinical and experimental) that could unlock the myth behind the extraordinary capability of the liver for regeneration, which would help in designing new therapeutic options for the regenerative drive in difficult setup, such as chronic liver diseases. Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy has been recently advocated to induce rapid future liver remnant hypertrophy that significantly shortens the time for the second stage hepatectomy. The introduction of Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy in the surgical armamentarium of therapeutic tools for liver surgeons represented a real breakthrough in the history of liver surgery. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review of Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy and its utility in liver regeneration is performed. RESULTS: Liver regeneration after Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy is a combination of portal flow changes and parenchymal transection that generate a systematic response inducing hepatocyte proliferation and remodeling. CONCLUSION: Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy represents a real breakthrough in the history of liver surgery because it offers rapid liver regeneration potential that facilitate resection of liver tumors that were previously though unresectable. The jury is still out though in terms of safety, efficacy and oncological outcomes. As far as Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy -induced liver regeneration is concerned, further research on the field should focus on the role of non-parenchymal cells in liver regeneration as well as on the effect of Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Stage hepatectomy in liver regeneration in the setup of parenchymal liver disease.