Rare recurrence pattern after complete response to chemotherapy in a patient with rectal cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) often metastasizes to the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, and peritoneum but rarely to the bladder, small intestine, and skin. We here report the rare metastasis of anal cancer in the left bladder wall, followed by metastases to the small intestine and skin, after abdominoperineal resection and left lateral lymph node dissection with chemotherapy in a patient with clinician Stage IVa disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old man presented with 1-month history of bloody stool and anal pain and diagnosed with clinical Stage IVa anal cancer with lymph node and liver metastases (cT3, N3 [#263L], M1a [H1]). Systemic chemotherapy led to clinical complete response (CR) for the liver metastasis and clinical near-CR for the primary tumor. Robot-assisted laparoscopic perineal rectal resection and left-sided lymph node dissection were performed. Computed tomography during 18-month postoperative follow-up identified a mass in the left bladder wall, which was biopsied with transurethral resection, was confirmed as recurrent anal cancer by histopathologic evaluation. After two cycles of systemic chemotherapy, partial resection of the small intestine was performed due to bowel obstruction not responding to conservative therapy. The histopathologic evaluation revealed lymphogenous invasion of the muscularis mucosa and subserosa of all sections. Ten months after the first surgery for bowel obstruction and two months before another surgery for obstruction of the small intestine, skin nodules extending from the lower abdomen to the thighs were observed. The histopathologic evaluation of the skin biopsy specimen collected at the time of surgery for small bowel obstructions led to the diagnosis of skin metastasis of anal cancer. Although panitumumab was administered after surgery, the patient died seven months after the diagnosis of skin metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates the rare presentation of clinical Stage IVa anal cancer metastasizing to the bladder wall, small intestine, and skin several years after CR to chemotherapy.

Negative association between basal oxytocin and oxytocin changes after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a neuromodulator effective for treating depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One of the multiple mechanisms for its antidepressant effects proposed is related to the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus that affects human behavior and psychology, including social and affiliative behaviors, stress regulation, and fear and emotion processing. There have been no reports on the relationship between rTMS and oxytocin for the treatment of TRD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate changes in salivary oxytocin concentrations in patients with TRD before and after 6 weeks of rTMS treatment. A total of 28 patients with TRD who received rTMS at Saga University Hospital between August 2013 and August 2020 were included. Although rTMS treatment significantly improved 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, rTMS treatment did not change mean salivary oxytocin after 6 weeks of treatment in patients with TRD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the change in salivary oxytocin levels after rTMS treatment was negatively associated with basal oxytocin levels before rTMS treatment, suggesting that rTMS treatment tends to decrease oxytocin levels in patients with depression with high basal oxytocin levels while increasing them in those with low basal levels. These findings suggest that rTMS treatment improved depressive symptoms through mechanisms other than the modulatory effect on oxytocin levels in patients with TRD, while there is room for further studies to confirm these findings using a larger patient sample size and/or a sham rTMS procedure.

Cardiac tamponade complicating esophagectomy and retrosternal gastric tube reconstitution in a patient with an abnormal ascending aorta position: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade is a rare postoperative complication of esophageal cancer surgery, which leads to rapid hemodynamic changes and can be fatal if not treated properly and promptly. Herein, we report a case of cardiac tamponade after thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and retrosternal gastric tube reconstitution for esophageal cancer that was successfully treated with surgical drainage. CASE PRESENTATION: An 86-year-old man with lower thoracic esophageal cancer underwent thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and retrosternal gastric tube reconstitution. No intra-operative complications were observed. On the first postoperative day, tachycardia and hypotension were observed, and pericardial effusion was identified on computed tomography images. The patient was diagnosed with obstructive shock secondary to cardiac tamponade. As percutaneous puncture drainage was not possible due to the presence of a retrosternal gastric tube, pericardiotomy with a small left anterior thoracotomy was performed, and a large amount of hematogenous fluid was drained, which instantly improved circulation. On the second postoperative day, the patient showed decreased pulse pressure, and computed tomography revealed a residual and enlarged hematoma around the right ventricle. The patient underwent surgical drainage and another pericardiotomy with a small right anterior thoracotomy was performed to drain the hematoma. At this time, multiple injuries to the fatty tissue, epicardium, and myocardium with active bleeding were observed on the anterior surface of the right ventricle near the root of the pulmonary artery. In this patient, the ascending aorta ran further to the right and dorsal sides than usual, causing the anterior wall of the right ventricle near the root of the pulmonary artery to be closer to the back of the sternum. This abnormality may have contributed to injury during the creation of the retrosternal pathway, leading to cardiac tamponade. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac tamponade after esophagectomy can occur because of manipulation during creation of the retrosternal route, with an anomaly in the aortic position being present in this case. Gentle manipulation and selection of the reconstruction route according to the patient's condition are necessary in cases with such anatomical abnormalities.

[A Case of Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater in a Young Male].

A male in his twentieth was referred to our hospital for jaundice. Computed tomography(CT)showed dilation of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and showed a lesion at the ampulla of Vater, which caused obstructive jaundice. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a tumor of protruded-predominant type with raised margins at the ampulla of Vater, and biopsy from the lesion indicated malignancy. With no apparent distant metastasis, radical resection was assumed to be possible, thus we performed subtotal stomach preserved pancreatoduodenectomy. Before the operation, endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage(ERBD)was unsuccessful because of the existence of the tumor, so percutaneous transhepatic cholangio drainage(PTCD)was conducted. After the operation, although pancreatic fistula(ISGPF Grade B)occurred, it improved with conservative treatment, and he discharged at 30 postoperative days. Histopathological examination revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma among the tumor at the ampulla of Vater, which was infiltrating into the pancreas. Final diagnosis was pT3, pN0, M0, pStage ⅡA. Now he is alive without recurrence for 3 and a half years.

Intra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis successfully resected using laparoscopic fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green after intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer.

Successful resection of intra-abdominal tumors using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging has not been reported. Here, we report a rare case of an intra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis successfully resected using this technique after intersphincteric resection (ISR) for rectal cancer. One year after ISR for rectal cancer in a 47-year-old man, computed tomography showed a 50-mm intra-abdominal tumor near the left common iliac vein. Surgical resection was performed. The tumor was located in the mesentery of the remnant rectum after ISR. ICG fluorescence imaging confirmed the blood supply to the mesentery of the distal remnant rectum after tumor excision. The anal canal was successfully preserved without creating a permanent colostomy. The tumor was safely resected with resection margins, diagnosed as desmoid-type fibromatosis. No tumor recurrence was observed 6 months post-resection. This was the first case report to demonstrate the utility of this technique for an intra-abdominal tumor resection.

[Risk Factors for Recurrence in Patients with Pathological Stage â ¡ Colorectal Cancer].

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for recurrence in patients with pStage Ⅱ colorectal cancer still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for recurrence after surgery in patients with pStage Ⅱ colorectal cancer. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 311 patients with primary pStage Ⅱ colorectal cancer who underwent radical resection without neoadjuvant therapy at our institute between January 2014 and December 2019. RESULTS: Of 311 patients, 32 patients(10.3%)developed recurrences after surgery at a median follow-up of 32.9(0.23-74.2)months. The 3-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival(RFS)rate was 88.4% and 87.6%, respectively. A multivariate analysis for RFS showed that only pT4 (HR: 4.06, 95%CI: 1.60-10.29, p=0.003) was an independent risk factor. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that pT4 was an independent risk factor for recurrence after surgery in patients with pStage Ⅱ colorectal cancer.

[A Case of Squamous Cell Cancer of the Anus Treated with Chemoradiotherapy].

BACKGROUND: In Japan, the standard treatment for squamous cell anal cancer(SCAC)has not been established. Herein, we report a case of SCAC that completely responded to chemoradiotherapy(CRT). CASE: A woman in her 80s presented with anal pain and bleeding. Computed tomography revealed bilateral inguinal adenopathy and a tumor in the anal canal. Histopathological examination of endoscopic biopsies showed adenocarcinoma. Thus, she was diagnosed with anal canal adenocarcinoma and lymph node metastases:cT3, cN1a(No. 292), cM0, cStage Ⅲc(Japanese Classification of Colorectal, Appendiceal, and Anal Carcinoma, 9th edition). Owing to her advanced age and refusal of a stoma, CRT(S-1, mitomycin C, and radiotherapy)was administered with the expectation that salvage surgery in the form of rectal amputation would eventually be necessary. The tumor noticeably shrank after CRT. The patient is alive to this date,14 months after the final round of CRT.

[Robotic Surgery Can Complete Radical Surgery and Urinary Tract Reconstruction for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer with Ureteral Invasion-A Case Report].

A 82-year-old man presented with diarrhea and fatigue. He had no past medical or surgical history except chronic renal failure. Locally advanced rectal cancer with invasion to left ureter was detected in computed tomography. Colonoscopy revealed a circular lesion 12 cm from the anal verge. Biopsy showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. There was no sign of distal metastasis and we decided to conduct radical surgery. Robot-assisted laparoscopic lower anterior resection with partial resection of left ureter, and diverting ileostomy were carried out. Besides, urinary tract reconstruction of ureterocystoneostomy using Lich-Gregoir technique was conducted by urologists also with robot assistance. The pathological stage of the disease was pT4b(left ureter)N1bM0, pStage Ⅲc. The resection margin was secured and radical surgery was achieved. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 22nd without postoperative complication. He is alive without recurrence at 6 months after the operation.

[A Case of Metastasis to the Pancreas from Colorectal Cancer Which Was Difficult to Distinguish from Primary Pancreatic Cancer].

A man in his 50s underwent laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer with liver metastasis(cT4aN1M1a, cStage Ⅳa), followed by partial liver resection(S4, S6). One and a half years after the initial surgery, CEA and CA19-9 increased, and contrast-enhanced CT and MRI showed a hypovascular lesion with dilation of the distal pancreatic duct in the pancreatic body. Adenocarcinoma was detected by brushing cytology of the lesion and pancreatic juice cytology by ERCP. From the results of various examinations, the lesion was diagnosed as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We performed distal pancreatectomy, and initially the histopathological diagnosis was pancreatic body cancer(pT3N1aM0, pStage ⅡB). In a follow-up CT after surgery, a suspected metastatic lymph node was pointed out in the mediastinum, but it was difficult to distinguish between metastasis from colorectal cancer and one from pancreatic cancer. Immunostaining of the tumor tissue and comparative study of the excised specimens of colon and pancreas was performed in order to assume the primary lesion of the lymph node. As a result, both tissues were CK7(-)/CK20(+), and the lesion at first considered to be primary pancreatic cancer was originally the pancreatic metastasis from colon cancer. Bone metastases were also found on FDG-PET/CT around the same time, and then systemic chemotherapy for colorectal cancer was introduced. Four and a half years have passed since the first surgery, and he is still alive and undergoing treatment.

[Robot Assisted Lower Anterior Resection for Anastomotic Recurrence of Colorectal Cancer-A Case Report].

Patient undergoing R0 resection have the good survival advantage following surgery for recurrent rectal cancer. Robotic surgery for anastomotic local recurrence of rectal cancer has never been reported before. An 80-year-old woman who had undergone high anterior resection for rectal cancer 1 years previously got colonoscopy. It revealed a 10 mm sized, elevated lesion on the anastomotic site, and a biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma(tub1). Computed tomography and positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed no signs of distant metastasis, and we decided to conduct radical surgery with robot-assisted laparoscope. Robot-assisted laparoscopic lower anterior resection with resection of left hypogastric nerve was carried out. Histological assessment showed that R0 resection was performed. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 8th without postoperative complication. She is alive without recurrence at 1 year after the last operation.

[A Case of Unresectable Liver Metastasis from Rectal Cancer Treated with Conversion Therapy].

We reported a case of rectal cancer with unresectable liver metastases treated with resection of the primary lesion followed by systemic chemotherapy with curative resection. A woman in her 40s was diagnosed with rectal RS carcinoma and unresectable liver metastasis, mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab therapy was initiated after laparoscopic high anterior resection of the rectal lesion. After 5 courses of chemotherapy, significant shrinkage of the liver metastatic lesion and increase of the remnant liver volume were observed. Percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization( PTPE) was performed with the aim of further preserving remnant liver volume. Since the hepatic reserve was sufficient, the treatment strategy was to perform radical hepatectomy. Extended right hepatic lobectomy, S4 partial resection, and cholecystectomy were performed. The patient didn't relapse at 11 months after hepatectomy.

[A Case of Laparoscopic High Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease].

The case was a 61-year-old woman. She was diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD)at the age of 38 and started hemodialysis at the age of 42. She was diagnosed with rectal cancer(RS)at the age of 61. Laparoscopic high anterior resection and D3 lymphadenectomy were carried out. Although the intra-abdominal space was limited by the huge renal cysts, laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed by arranging the port closer to the midline, taking the patient's position sufficiently, and using some useful tips. Laparoscopic surgery for the patient with ADPKD was considered a useful approach.