Carcinoid syndrome with right-sided valve involvement - a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The survival of patients with neuroendocrine tumors has substantially improved with modern treatment options. Although the associated carcinoid syndrome can be diagnosed early and controlled effectively, cardiologists still encounter patients with cardiac manifestations, particularly among individuals with persistently high levels of vasoactive mediators. Treatment options have been limited to surgical valve replacement in fully manifested disease. Since surgery is not always feasible, transcatheter valve implantation is becoming an interesting alternative. CASE: A case of a 50-year-old woman with carcinoid syndrome and right-sided valvular heart disease is presented. Moderate pulmonary valve stenosis and severe tricuspid valve regurgitation were diagnosed during the evaluation and treatment of neuroendocrine tumor. The possibility of rare valve involvement and the need for interdisciplinary cooperation in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of patients with neuroendocrine tumors producing vasoactive substances must be emphasized. CONCLUSION: The patient had a typically presenting carcinoid syndrome with a rare cardiac manifestation. Although monitoring and treatment were carried out in accordance with recommendations and appropriate to the clinical condition, rapid progression of the metastatic disease ultimately precluded invasive cardiac intervention.

Middle and distal bile duct carcinoma, retrospective analysis & short-term and long-term outcomes of surgical therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is dismal and the only way to achieve long-term survival is surgical resection. While pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is the standard procedure for distal cholangiocarcinoma (distal bile duct cancer; DBDC), bile duct segmental resection (BDR) can be used as an alternative approach for middle bile duct cholangiocarcinoma (middle bile duct cancer; MBDC). The aim of the study was to calculate the short-term and long-term outcomes of curative-intent surgery in distal bile duct cholangiocarcinoma patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients treated for MBDC and DBDC with PD or BDR between 1/2009-12/2019. The patients were divided according to the type of surgical resection (PD and BDR group). Demographic, clinicopathological and histopathological data and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in both groups. OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The study comprised a total of 62 patients - 45 patients (72.6%) in the PD group and 17 (27.4%) in the BDR group. Patients undergoing BDR were significantly older than those receiving PD (p=0.048). Men predominated in the PD group (N=34/45; 75.6%) while more women were included in the BDR group (N=10/17; 58.8%). Median age was higher in the BDR group (p=0.048). Serious morbidity (Clavien-Dindo III-V) (33.3% vs 11.8%), 30-day and 90-day mortality (4.4% vs 0.0% and 8.9% vs 5.9%, respectively) predominated in the PD group although the differences were not statistically significant, as well as a longer hospital stay (16.0 days vs 11.0 days; p=0.002). Pathological assessments revealed comparable numbers of positive lymph nodes in both groups, but a significantly higher number of total resected lymph nodes in the PD group (p.

[Surgical therapy of pancreatic cancer - 5 years survival]. / Resekabilní karcinom pankreatu 5leté prezití.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose was to identify 5-year survivors among a group of radically resected patients with pancreatic cancer and analyse the characteristics and factors associated with their 5-year survival. Single tertiary centre experience. METHOD: A prospectively maintained database of 155 pancreatic resections from January 2006 to June 2010 was scanned to identify patients after curative radical resections for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The clinical and pathological data was analysed retrospectively. The outcomes of the PDAC group were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis (survival) with the Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis (evaluation of prognostic factors). Characteristics of the survivors were discussed. Significance level of 0.05 was used. Those factors were used as independent variables for Cox regression analysis whose significant effect on survival was shown based on Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Among 155 patients undergoing a curative pancreatic resection, 73 had a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Fifteen patients (20.5%) after radical surgery survived over 5 years, 13 of whom are still alive. In the group of the survivors, the mean overall survival was 77.1 months (60110) and the median survival was 74 months. The mean relapse-free interval in the group of the survivors was 63.3 months (14110) with the median of 65 months. Factors associated with a longer survival included the absence of lymph node infiltration (p=0.031), uncomplicated postoperative course (p=0.025), absence of vascular invasion (p=0.017), no blood transfusions (p=0.015) and the use of postoperative therapy - predominantly chemotherapy (p=0.009). Significant independent predictors of survival included vascular invasion HR=2.239 (95%CI: 1.0934.590; p=0.028), postoperative chemotherapy HR=2.587 (95%CI: 1.3015.145; p=0.007) and blood transfusion HR=2.080 (95%CI: 1.0274.212; p=0.042). The risk of death was increased 2.2 times in patients with vascular invasion, 2.1 times in patients with transfusions, and finally 2.6 times in those with no chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Factors associated with an improved overall survival included: the absence of lymph node infiltration, an uncomplicated postoperative course, absence of vascular invasion, no need of blood transfusions, and finally the use of postoperative chemotherapy. Vascular invasion, use of blood transfusions and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were significant independent prognostic factors of survival.

Hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Limited data are available regarding the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the results of HAI of oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with such metastases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 22 CRC patients treated with HAI of combination of oxaliplatin and 5-FU and LV was performed. RESULTS: Partial response (PR) was observed in 4 (18%) patients and stable disease (SD) in 7, with an overall disease control rate of 50%. The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7 and 11 months, respectively. Two patients treated with first-line treatment underwent subsequent liver resection. In 2 patients, HAI of oxaliplatin, 5-FU and LV was combined with systemic administration of bevacizumab. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate reasonable efficacy of HAI with oxaliplatin, 5-FU and LV in patients with liver metastases from CRC.

[Pancreatic cancer surgery at Ist Surgical Clinic of the Olomouc Faculty Hospital (FN Olomouc)]. / Chirurgie karcinomu pankreatu na I. Chirurgické klinice FN Olomouc.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment plays a key role in the efforts to improve prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. The pancreatic cancer incidence rates are on increase and so does the number of patients undergoing potentially curative resection procedures. However, despite all diagnostic advancements and treatments adjusted to specific patient's needs, the outcomes are not satisfactory enough. The aim of the surgical procedure is to radically remove the tumor, including the regional lymph nodes, to promote early and uncomplicated healing and to facilitate early initiation of oncological treatment. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess current potential of diagnostic and surgical treatment in pancreatic cancer when all currently available diagnostic methods are emloyed and to present the university clinic's outcomes. METHODS AND PATIENT GROUP: From 2006 to IX 2010, a total of 177 pancreatic resections and 123 right-sided pancreatoduodenectomies for malignant disorders were performed at the authors' clinic. 76 pancreatoduodenectomies were performed for ductal carcinoma of the pancreatic head. The study group included 51 males and 25 females, the mean age of 62.9 years. Based on the TNM classification (UICC), 11% of the subjects presented with stage I, 78% with stage II and 3% with stage III diseases. The procedures radicality was the following: R0 in 59 subjects, R1 in 5 subjects while in 12 subjects, the radicality was undetected by the authors. Histopatological grading in this patient group was as follows: G1 in 20%, G2 in 34% and G3 in 46% of the subjects. Perineural invasion, invasion into lymphatic vessels or other vessels was not detected in 21 subjects (27.6%). The authors assessed complication rates based on the DeOliveira classification and survival rates in individual disease stages. OUTCOMES: Complications occurred in 44.7% of the operated subjects. Serious complications requiring reintervention were reported in 13 subjects (17.1%), including reinterventions in general anesthesia in 10 subjects (13.1%). Two patients died: a 79-year old female died from multiorgan failure as a result of aspiration, and a 76-year old male died from multiorgan failure following completion of pancreatectomy due to pancreaticojejunal anastomosis insufficiency. The thirty- and sixty-day mortality rate was 2.6%, however, it was null over the past three years. The mean survival time was 17.1 months, with the median of 13.5 months. The patient group's overall 3-, 6-, 9-, 12, 15- and 18- month survival following radical resections was 95.6%, 90.3%, 76.3%, 62.7%, 52.3% and 45%, respectively. 82%, 52%, 35% and 35% of the operated stage I patients survived 1, 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. The mean hospitalization duration was 16.8 days (10-45). CONCLUSION: Although the procedures are extremely demanding, especially in the reconstruction phase, the outcomes have improved significantly due to ongoing experience, improvements in the surgical technique and in the complex postoperative care. At specialized clinics, the mortality rate has dropped below 5%, the morbidity rate below 40% and the postoperative dehiscence rates below 10%. During the past three years, the authors' clinic has reached null 30- and 60-day mortality rate following the pancreatic head resections, the complication rate following pancreaticoduodenal anastomosis is slightly above 5% (6.5%) and the morbidity rate is slightly above 40% (44.7%). The authors consider the procedure safe at their clinic and all indicated patients are expected to benefit from it.

[IKARUS Project--incidence of bone events in breast cancer: retrospective analysis of patients in oncological centres in the Czech Republic and Slovakia]. / Projekt IKARUS--zjistení incidence kostních príhod u karcinomu prsu: retrospektivní analýza nemocných dispenzarizovaných v onkologických centrech Ceské a Slovenské republiky.

BACKGROUND: Bone incidents today represent, in terms of frequency and the overall effect on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer, a serious health problem. In a number of clinical studies bisphosphonates have been shown to have a positive impact on reducing the risk of bone events and therefore to be effective in the prevention of bone events. The primary objective of this project was to identify the incidence of bone events in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated in the Czech and Slovak Republics. SUBJECTS: Retrospective, multi-centre, non-interventional, epidemiological and explorative studies to identify the incidence of bone events in the defined group of patients and a description of the practice of prevention and treatment of skeletal events in the years 2000-2005. Enrolled were patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer diagnosed in 2000. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analysis of overall survival and survival to disease progression, analysis of patterns of treatment of bone events and the practice of the use of bisphosphonates in the prevention of bone events in metastatic skeleton affection in the normal conditions of clinical practice, analysis of patient compliance in the treatment with bisphosphonates, analysis of the time interval between the occurrence of bone metastases and the occurrence of bone events and, last but not least, survival analysis of patients in relation to bone events. CONCLUSION: This work has shown that the practice of treatment with bisphosphonates since 2000 and assessed the survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer.