Has the non-resection rate decreased during the last two decades among patients undergoing surgical exploration for pancreatic adenocarcinoma?

PURPOSE: To determine if improvement in imaging reduces the non-resection rate (NRR) among patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: From 2000 to 2019, 751 consecutive patients with PDAC were considered eligible for a intention-to-treat pancreatectomy and entered the operating room. In April 2011, our institution acquired a dual energy spectral computed tomography (CT) scanner and liver diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) was included in the imaging workup. We consequently considered 2 periods of inclusion: period #1 (February 2000-March 2011) and period #2 (April 2011-August 2019). RESULTS: All patients underwent a preoperative CT scan with a median delay to surgery of 18 days. Liver DW-MRI was performed among 407 patients (54%). Median delay between CT and surgery decreased (21 days to 16 days, P < .01), and liver DW-MRI was significantly most prescribed during period #2 (14% vs 75%, P < .01). According to the intraoperative findings, the overall NRR was 24.5%, and remained stable over the two periods (25% vs 24%, respectively). While vascular invasion, liver metastasis, and carcinomatosis rates remained stable, para-aortic lymph nodes invasion rate (0.4% vs 4.6%; P < 0.001) significantly increased over the 2 periods. The mean size of the bigger extra pancreatic tumor significantly decrease (7.9 mm vs 6.4 mm (P < .01), respectively) when the resection was not done. In multivariate analysis, CA 19-9 < 500 U/mL (P < .01), and liver DW-MRI prescription (P < .01) favoured the resection. CONCLUSIONS: Due to changes in our therapeutic strategies, the NRR did not decrease during two decades despite imaging improvement.

Patient outcome according to the 2017 international consensus on the definition of borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the usefulness of the 2017 definition of borderline pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (BR-PDAC) in fit patients (performance status 0-1) based on anatomical (A) and biological dimensions (B). METHODS: From 2011 to 2018, 139 resected patients with BR-PDAC according to the 2017 definition were included: 18 patients underwent upfront pancreatectomy (CA 19-9 > 500 U/mL and/or regional lymph node metastasis; BR-B group), and 121 received FOLFIRINOX (FX) induction chemotherapy and were divided into BR-A (CA 19-9 < 500 U/mL, no regional lymph node metastasis; n = 68) and BR-AB (CA 19-9 > 500 U/mL and/or regional lymph node metastasis; n = 53) groups. RESULTS: The 3 groups were comparable according to patient characteristics (except for back pain (P < .01) and CA 19-9 (P < .01)), intraoperative data, and postoperative courses. BR-AB patients required more venous resections (P < .01). The 3 groups were comparable on pathologic findings, except that BR-B patients had more lymph node invasions (P = .02). Median overall survival (OS) of the 121 patients was 45 months. In multivariate analysis, venous resection (P = .039) and R1 resection (P = .012) were poorly linked with OS, whereas BR-A classification (P < .01) independently favored OS. Median survival times of BR-A, BR-AB, and BR-B groups were undetermined, 27 months, and 20 months (P < .001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The 2017 definition was relevant for sub-classifying patients with BR-PDAC. The anatomical dimension (BR-A) was a favorable prognostic factor, whereas the biological dimension (BR-AB and BR-B) poorly impacted survival.

National multicentric evaluation of quality of pathology reports for rectal cancer in France in 2016.

The quality of pathologic assessment of rectal cancer specimens is crucial for treatment efficiency and survival. The Royal College of Pathologists (RCP) recommends evaluating the quality of the pathology report in routine practice using three quality indicators (QIs): the number of lymph nodes (LNs) analyzed (≥ 12), the rate of venous invasion (VI ≥ 30%), and peritoneal involvement (pT4a ≥ 10%). In this study, we evaluated the three QIs of the French national pathology reports and compared them with British guidelines and assessed the influence of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy on QIs. From January 1 to December 31, 2016, all pathology reports for rectal adenocarcinoma were collected from French departments. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy included long-course radiotherapy with concomitant 5-FU-based chemotherapy. A total of 983 rectal cancer pathology reports were evaluated. A median of 15 LNs were analyzed and 81% of centers had ≥ 12 LNs. The rate of VI was 30% and 41% of centers had ≥ 30% VI. The rate of pT4a was 4% and 18% of centers reported ≥ 10% pT4a. None of the centers reached the threshold for the three QIs. All three QIs were lower after radiochemotherapy compared to surgery alone. In conclusion, in French routine practice, the values of two of the three QIs (LNs analyzed and VI) were globally in line with RCP guidelines. However, the rate of pT4a was very low, particularly after radiochemotherapy, suggesting its low value in rectal cancer.

Combined NOTES total mesorectal excision and single-incision laparoscopy principles for conservative proctectomy: a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for low rectal cancer remains a challenge when a standard laparoscopic approach is used. Transanal endoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) has been shown to be feasible and to be associated with a low conversion rate. Combining the transanal and transabdominal single-port approaches (with an abdominal single port implanted in the future stoma and extraction site) could allow TME with minimal wound trauma, low morbidity, and faster recovery. The aim of the current study was to assess the short- and mid-term results of this technique. METHODS: We conducted a prospective single-centre study of consecutive patients presenting with low rectal cancer requiring a conservative proctectomy with a manual coloanal anastomosis between January 2012 and April 2015. RESULTS: During the study period, 41 patients were recruited. Conversion to open surgery was required in only one patient (2.4%). The median operating time was 358.5 min (range 300-600 min). Partial intersphincteric resection was necessary for 15 patients (36.6%). The specimens were mostly extracted via the abdominal access (n = 34) without wound complications. The mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 12.7 (range 6-24 lymph nodes). Specimens were graded as complete (n = 31) or nearly complete (n = 10) in all of the patients, and the circumferential resection margin positivity was 4.9%. Intraoperative morbidity rate was 4.9%, and the 30-day morbidity rate was 24.4% (n = 10). Sixty per cent (n = 6) of the patients with 30-day morbidity were Dindo I-II. At a median follow-up of 29 months, overall and disease-free survival rates were 97.5 and 80.5%, respectively. The stoma-free survival rate was 95.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Combining an endoscopic transanal TME and a single laparoscopic ileostomy-site proctectomy is a promising minimally invasive approach for the treatment of low rectal cancer.

Solid pancreatic lesions: The choice of fine-needle aspiration-needle to optimize the diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) have a better accuracy for the detection of pancreatic tumors compared with others images modalities. We assessed if the image criteria of elastography and contrast harmonic echo-endoscopic ultrasound could help in choosing the appropriate FNA-needle in the evaluation of focal pancreatic mass in other to maximize the diagnostic yield. This study prospectively included all new patients with focal pancreatic masses referred to be examined by EUS from October to December/2013. A total of 21 patients performed EUS with sequentially elastography and intravenous injection of a second-generation contrast agent (2.4 mL of SonoVue, Braco International, The Netherlands). The lesions which appear hipovascular were assessed with 22 gauge or 25 gauge FNA-needles. The hipervascular masses were biopsied with 19 gauge needles. RESULTS: The topography of the lesions varied on 13 at the head, 4 at the body and 1 on the tail. The finding of a hypoenhanced mass was found in 57% (12/21 patients). Hyperenhanced was detected in 28% (6/21 patients). There were 14% (three patients) which the data were not recorded. The cytological diagnosis was achieved in 81% (17/21 patients) on the first biopsy. The others four patients have reached the diagnosis on the second examination. Of those four patients, in one was used the ProCore 25 gauge (lesion on the uncinatus process), and another one was used both 22 gauge and 25 gauge in the first examination. CONCLUSION: A characterization of the pancreatic lesions with elastography and contrast agents might be useful for clinical decision of which needle is better to improve biopsy quality and minimize EUS-FNA negatives results.

Distant lymph node metastases in gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is established as the most accurate technique for pre-operative locoregional staging of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the distant lymph nodes (LNs) EUS-fine-needle aspiration (FNA) impact in therapeutic decision for patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study was made, with cross-sectional, non-probabilistic analysis from prospectively collected database for all GEJ adenocarcinoma staging patients referred between January 2009 and August 2012 in Paoli-Calmette Institute in Marseille-France. RESULTS: A total of 154 patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma were managed in our institution, of whom 113 (73.3%) had non-distant metastatic disease at computed tomography (CT) scan and underwent EUS for initial tumor staging prior to a treatment decision. On A total of 113 patients undergoing EUS, 8 (7%) patients underwent endoscopic resection and 6 (5.3%) underwent direct surgical resection. Of the remaining 99 patients (87.6%), 24 (21.2%) distant LN EUS-FNA were made. Seventeen LN had EUS malignant features, including 9 (52.9%) that were confirmed as malignant and underwent palliative treatment with chemotherapy. Ninety (79.6%) patients were treated with pre-operative neoadjuvant therapy and were revaluated after. 4 (4.4%) had metastatic disease at CT scan (underwent palliative treatment) and 65 (72.2%) underwent EUS restaging to treatment decision revaluation. Of these, twelve (18.4%) distant LN EUS-FNA were performed. Seven had LN EUS malignancy features, including 4 (57.1%) that were confirmed as malignant and underwent palliative treatment. The remaining 61 patients underwent surgery. As stated above, 21 patients (23.3%) did not undergo EUS restaging, including 10 (47.6%) that did not go to surgery because patient's age, poor general status and comorbidities, 6 (28.5%) had a loss of follow-up, 1 (4.7%) underwent to surgery due to chemotherapy collateral effects, 3 (14.2%) were still on pre-operative chemotherapy and 1 (4.7%) died for sepsis after mediastinal EUS-FNA, this was the only complication event evidenced. EUS-FNA changed clinical management in 54.2% of patients who met the criteria inclusion (distant LN with malignancies EUS features), which corresponds to 11.5% of patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: EUS-FNA was able to provide a different tumor staging and these differences were associated with treatment received. EUS-FNA had a significant impact on treatment decision.

A distinctive epitheliomesenchymal biphasic tumor in the duodenum: the first case of duodenoblastoma?

Epitheliomesenchymal biphasic neoplasms are extremely rare in the duodenum, and most of these are carcinosarcomas. Miettinen et al. (Am J Surg Pathol 33:1370-7, 2009) recently reported three cases of a novel distinctive epitheliomesenchymal biphasic tumor of the stomach in young adults. In view of the resemblance to other childhood blastomas, they proposed to refer to this entity as a gastroblastoma. Since none of the components were sufficiently atypical, the gastroblastoma seemed more comparable to this kind of tumor than carcinosarcomas or other aggressive and malignant biphasic tumors. This report describes a duodenal location of a similar epitheliomesenchymal biphasic tumor in a 22-year-old woman. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case occurring primarily in the duodenum and might be the first case of "duodenoblastoma."

Radiofrequency ablation associated to mucosal resection in the oesophagus: experience in a single centre.

UNLABELLED: Endoscopic resection (EMR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) form part of the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus (BO), dysplasia, superficial adenocarcinoma (OAC) associated with BO. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2008 and April 2011, 34 patients underwent treatment with RFA (HALO system(®)), in a tertiary centre. For the study, patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (16 patients of average 60 years old; 14 men, two women) received EMR and RFA. Group 2 (18 patients averaging 59 years age; 14 men, four women) received RFA without EMR in the year preceding the RFA. RESULTS: In group 1, high grade dysplasia (HGD) was eradicated in 12 cases (92%), low grade dysplasia (LGD) in three cases (100%). Complete response occurred in nine cases (56%), partial response in 100% of cases. Mean follow-up was 15 months. In group 2, HGD was eradicated in one patient (100%), LGD in three patients (64%). A complete response was achieved in eight patients, partial response in four cases (77%). Mean follow-up was 10 months. The complication rate for groups 1 and 2 was of 18% and 10% respectively. No complication prevented completion of treatment or continued monitoring. Recurrence was evaluated to 5% in both groups. CONCLUSION: RFA associated with EMR is feasible, offering probably better results and a very important advantage: a more complete histology before follow-up. Our results show effective treatment of BO and associated dysplasia with a low rate of complication. Nevertheless, when new techniques of BO ablation are used, the need to obtain histology before treatment should not be forgotten.

[Sinonasal adenocarcinomas reviewed. Prognostic value of WHO 2005 histological classification]. / Les adénocarcinomes nasosinusiens revisités. Intérêt pronostique de la classification histologique OMS 2005.

OBJECTIVES: The WHO 2005 histological classification separates sinonasal adenocarcinoma (ADC) into three classes: intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC), low-grade sinonasal ADC and high-grade sinonasal ADC. The goal of this study was to check the relevance of this classification on the prognosis of patients treated for ADC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the files of patients treated consecutively in the ENT department of the Montpellier University Hospital for ADC between 1980 and 2003 were retrospectively re-examined. Each case was reviewed for anatomical and pathological data based on the immunohistochemistry results according to the WHO 2005 classification, with a study of a panel of markers: cytokeratin 7 (CK7), cytokeratin 20 (CK20), Villin, CDX2 and EGFR. The epidemiologic data, the methods of treatment and the follow-up were studied. The survival probabilities were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the survival graphs were compared using a log-rank test. RESULTS: Sixty-two files were reviewed. Twelve patients were reclassified into the adenoid cystic carcinoma category and excluded from the study. In the 50 remaining cases, there were 36 ITAC cases, four low-grade ADC cases and 10 high-grade dedifferentiated carcinomas. For all of the ADC cases, the total survival at 5 years and without recurrence was 64 and 52%, respectively. The analysis of the three subgroups showed a total survival of 72.2% for ITAC, 100% for low-grade and 20% for high-grade ADC with a significant difference (p=0.044). This immunohistochemical distinction was mainly based on the expression of CK20 found in 98% of the ITAC cases and absent in low- and high-grade ADC patients. CONCLUSION: The WHO 2005 classification for sinonasal ADC provides a valuable prognosis by showing a difference in the progression profile between ITAC, low-grade ADC and high-grade ADC. Moreover, broader studies should be conducted to investigate the different subtypes of ITAC.