Thyroid papillary carcinoma recurring as squamous cell carcinoma: report of a case.

We report a case of local squamous cell carcinoma recurrence of thyroid papillary carcinoma, 4 years after subtotal thyroidectomy, in an 82-year-old woman. The papillary cancer of the right thyroid was histopathologically classified as T2a, N0, M0, Ex1; pT2a, pN1b, pEx1; Stage III. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the recurrent tumor revealed atypical squamous epithelium-like cells with keratinization. The tumor was judged cytologically to be class III, defined as a suspicious malignancy and, after reoperation, it was diagnosed histopathologically as papillary carcinoma recurrence with extensive squamous metaplasia. The recurrent papillary carcinoma was thought to have changed to a squamous cell carcinoma because most of the tumor was occupied by atypical squamous cells, with a small amount of glandular tissue. The primary tumor was histologically diagnosed as a well-differentiated papillary carcinoma at the initial operation. It contained numerous tall neoplastic cells with eosinophilic granules and pseudostratified nuclei, indicating that it could potentially transform into squamous cell carcinoma. We report this case as an example of how squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid can develop.

Laparoscopic liver resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: We have continued to develop laparoscopic hepatectomy as a means of surgical therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We evaluated the degree of invasiveness and analyzed the outcomes of laparoscopic hepatectomy compared with open hepatectomy for HCC. RESULTS: There were notable differences with respect to blood loss and operating time compared with open hepatectomy cases. Patients started walking and eating significantly earlier in the laparoscopic hepatectomy group, and these more rapid recoveries allowed shorter hospitalizations. On the Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress (E-PASS) scoring system, there was no difference in preoperative risk. However, a significant difference was seen in the surgical stress and comprehensive risk scores between the open hepatectomy and laparoscopic hepatectomy groups. Concerning the survival rate and disease-free survival rate, there were no significant differences between procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic hepatectomy avoids some of the disadvantages of open hepatectomy and is beneficial for patient quality of life (QOL) as a minimally invasive procedure if the operative indications are appropriately based on preoperative liver function and the location and size of HCC.

Laparoscopy-assisted spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein.

Herein, we report the successful performance of a laparoscopy-assisted spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for a patient with pancreatic cystadenoma, as a minimally invasive procedure with the preservation of function. The laparoscopy-assisted distal pancreatectomy procedure involved detaching the spleen and the distal pancreas from the retroperitoneum by a hand-assisted procedure, removing them from the peritoneal cavity through a small incision, and detaching the distal pancreas by ligating and transecting the short gastric artery and vein and the branches of the splenic artery and vein, while the spleen and main splenic artery and vein were preserved under direct view. The pancreatic parenchyma was transected with a stapling device (TL-30), and continuous suturing was added to the resected margin. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful; the patient started to eat and walk on postoperative day 2 and was discharged on day 8. It is considered that the combination of hand-assisted and laparoscopy-assisted distal pancreatectomy, with conservation of the splenic artery and vein, is a minimally invasive and clinically useful technique for treating tumors of cystic disease of the pancreas with low-grade malignant potential, or benign solitary neuroendocrine tumors.

Hepatic resection using stapling devices.

BACKGROUND: The progress and development of stapling devices has been remarkable. They have become indispensable for gastrointestinal diseases and are increasingly utilized in laparoscopic operations. Liver surgery applications for this technique are continuing to emerge, and in this study, we introduced the use of stapling devices to hepatic surgery. METHODS: We examined the operative procedure and efficacy of hepatic resections using stapling devices as follows: transection of Glisson's pedicle and the hepatic vein using endolineal stapling devices in right and left lobectomies; bisegmentectomy II and III en masse using a stapling device; and application of endolineal stapling devices to vessel transections and dissections of the hepatic parenchyma in laparoscopic hepatectomies. RESULTS: It was considered useful to tactfully apply stapling devices to vessel transections and dissections of the hepatic parenchyma in order to simplify the operative procedures of right or left lobectomies and lateral segmentectomies. Furthermore, the use of endoscopic stapling devices was an acceptable alternative to vessel transactions and dissections of the hepatic parenchyma in laparoscopic hepatectomies. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that stapling devices will become utilized in liver surgery hereafter.

Reconstruction after distal gastrectomy by interposition of a double-jejunal pouch using a triangulating stapling technique.

Sustaining good nutrition and preventing postgastrectomy syndrome are important for increasing the quality of life after distal gastrectomy. Many surgeons have proposed surgical methods designed to enhance long-term patient quality of life. An immediate, safe method based on current physiologic reconstructive principles shown to reduce postoperative patient complaints is presented. A reconstructive method using a modified interpositioned double-jejunal pouch after distal gastrectomy in 18 cancer patients was reviewed. This method uses a triangulating stapling technique with wide end-to-side anastomosis between the residual stomach and the pouch. In all patients, the anastomosis site was without leakage or stenosis, and there were no episodes of severe reflux esophagitis, residual gastritis, or dumping syndrome. The mean pooling rate was 44.2%, and emptying half-time was 73.0 minutes. After 2 years the body weight was 91.3% of the preoperative weight, the food volume was 89.2% of normal intake, and meal frequency was 3.0 per day. This method of reconstruction is useful for immediate and safe creation of a wide anastomosis between the residual stomach and the double-jejunal pouch after distal gastrectomy and in the prevention of esophagitis and residual gastritis.

[The current state of laparoscopic surgery for abdominal parenchymatous organs].

Laparoscopic surgery for abdominal parenchymatous organs such as the liver and pancreas presents unique technical challenges and anatomic difficulties although laparoscopic splenectomy has become the standard procedure in some hospitals. The advances in laparoscopic technology have encouraged expert hands to extend the procedure to parenchymatous organs. Clinical cases of laparoscopic hepatectomy, as well as laparoscopic thermal ablation, for patients with hepatic tumor have been increasing recently. The most important considerations for laparoscopic hepatectomy are the clinical characteristics of the tumor. Tumors that are smaller than 5 cm and located in the lower or left lateral segment are good candidates. At present, partial hepatectomy and left lateral segmentectomy are appropriate operative procedures. The laparoscopic approach is considered the treatment of choice, as it is less invasive in selected patients. Laparoscopic pancreatectomy is difficult to evaluate at present because of the scarcity of clinical cases. Laparoscopic pancreatectomy is indicated for distal, enucleated tumors. Another procedure, pancreatic cystogastrostomy, utilizes an intragastric approach. Laproscopic splenectomy will be the standard procedure in patients suffering hematologic disease, although it remains controversial in cases of splenomegaly due to the possibility of portal hypertension or hematologic malignancy. The incidence of conversion to open laparotomy due to uncontrollable bleeding is closely related to the technical skill of the surgeon. Safer laparoscopic procedures for abdominal parenchymatous organs depends on further refinement of endoscopic technology and improved training in endoscopic techniques.

[A 5'-DFUR + CPA + THP therapy that was effective for paclitaxel-refractory pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer--a case report].

What should be the standard treatment for taxane-refractory metastatic breast cancer remains controversial. In this paper, a case in which the 5'-DFUR + CPA + THP therapy was effective for paclitaxel-refractory metastatic breast cancer is reported. A 41-year-old female received pectoral muscle preserved mastectomy under diagnosis of the left breast cancer in May 1996. In June, 1999, a coin lesion of 2.2 cm diameter was found in the left middle lung field with chest X-ray. Paclitaxel 210 mg/m2 (once for three weeks, 8 cycles in total) resulted in marked improvement. The regimen of paclitaxel 70 mg/m2 (medication consecutive once-weekly for three weeks, and withdrawal for next week; 1 cycle) was carried out continuously with the patient ambulatory. Because resistance to the treatment appeared at the time the total dose reached 2,700 mg, 5'-DFUR + CPA + THP therapy (THP 30 mg/m2 (i.v.) x day 1, CPA 77 mg/m2 (p.o.) x 14 days, 5'-DFUR 460 mg/m2 (p.o.) x 14 days; 3 weeks with 1 cycle) was carried out, and definite improvement in the lung findings were observed. 5'-DFUR + CPA + THP therapy may be of use as a second-line therapy in paclitaxel-refractory recurrent breast cancer.