Comparison of oncological outcomes after open and laparoscopic re-resection of incidental gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: The safety and oncological efficacy of laparoscopic re-resection of incidental gallbladder cancer have not been studied. This study aimed to compare laparoscopic with open re-resection of incidentally discovered gallbladder cancer while minimizing selection bias. METHODS: This was a multicentre retrospective observational cohort study of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer who underwent re-resection with curative intent at four centres between 2000 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analysed by intention to treat. Inverse probability of surgery treatment weighting using propensity scoring was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients underwent re-resection (190 open, 65 laparoscopic). Nineteen laparoscopic procedures were converted to open operation. Surgery before 2011 was the only factor associated with conversion. Duration of hospital stay was shorter after laparoscopic re-resection (median 4 versus 6 days; P < 0·001). Three-year OS rates for laparoscopic and open re-resection were 87 and 62 per cent respectively (P = 0·502). Independent predictors of worse OS were residual cancer found at re-resection (hazard ratio (HR) 1·91, 95 per cent c.i. 1·17 to 3·11), blood loss of at least 500 ml (HR 1·83, 1·23 to 2·74) and at least four positive nodes (HR 3·11, 1·46 to 6·65). In competing-risks analysis, the RFS incidence was higher for laparoscopic re-resection (P = 0·038), but OS did not differ between groups. Independent predictors of worse RFS were one to three positive nodes (HR 2·16, 1·29 to 3·60), at least four positive nodes (HR 4·39, 1·96 to 9·82) and residual cancer (HR 2·42, 1·46 to 4·00). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic re-resection for selected patients with incidental gallbladder cancer is oncologically non-inferior to an open approach. Dissemination of advanced laparoscopic skills and timely referral of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer to specialized centres may allow more patients to benefit from this operation.

ANTECEDENTES: No se conoce la seguridad y la eficacia oncológica de la re-resección laparoscópica del cáncer incidental de vesícula biliar. Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar las re-resecciones del cáncer incidental de vesícula biliar por vía laparoscópica y vía abierta, minimizando el sesgo de selección. MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohortes observacional, retrospectivo y multicéntrico de pacientes con cáncer incidental de vesícula biliar que se sometieron a una re-resección con intención curativa en 4 centros entre 2000 y 2017. Se analizó la supervivencia global (overall survival, OS) y la supervivencia libre de recidiva (recurrence free survival, RFS) según intención de tratamiento. Se calculó la probabilidad inversa de la ponderación del tratamiento quirúrgico utilizando puntuación de propensión. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 255 pacientes con re-resección (190 por vía abierta y 65 por vía laparoscópica). Se convirtieron 19 pacientes del grupo laparoscópico. El único factor relacionado con la conversión fue la realización de la cirugía antes de año 2011. La mediana de la estancia hospitalaria fue más corta tras la re-resección laparoscópica (4 versus 6 días; P < 0,001). La OS a tres años fue del 87% y del 62% (P = 0,502) para las re-resecciones laparoscópicas y abiertas, respectivamente). Los factores predictivos independientes relacionados con una peor OS fueron el hallazgo de cáncer residual en el momento de la re-resección (cociente de riesgos instantáneos, hazard ratio, HR 1,91; i.c. del 95% 1,17-3,11), una pérdida hemática > 500 ml (HR 1,83; i.c. del 95% 1,23-2,74) y la presencia de ≥ 4 ganglios positivos (HR 3,11; i.c. del 95% 1,46-6,65). En el análisis de riesgo competitivo, la RFS fue mayor para la resección laparoscópica (P = 0,038), pero no hubo diferencias en la OS entre ambos grupos. Los factores predictivos independientes de peor RFS fueron la detección de 1-3 ganglios positivos (HR 2,16; i.c. del 95% 1,29-3,60), ≥ 4 ganglio positivos (HR 4,39; i.c. del 95% 1,96-9,82) y el cáncer residual (HR 2,42; i.c. de 95% 1,46-4,0). CONCLUSIÓN: En pacientes seleccionados, los resultados oncológicos de la re-resección laparoscópica de un cáncer incidental de vesícula biliar no son inferiores a los que se obtienen por vía abierta. Una mayor difusión de las técnicas laparoscópicas avanzadas y una oportuna derivación de los pacientes con cáncer de vesícula biliar incidental a centros especializados podrían permitir que un mayor número de pacientes se beneficiaran de este abordaje.

[Findings in surgical reinterventions for cancer of the gallbladder in patients with and without preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy]. / Hallazgos en reintervenciones quirúrgicas por cáncer de la vesícula biliar en pacientes con y sin quimio-radiación preoperatoria.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of surgery in the treatment of gallbladder cancer has not been clearly established. The benefits of chemo and radiotherapy are similarly dubious. AIM: To report the pathological findings in patients subjected to surgical reinterventions for gallbladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 54 patients with gallbladder cancer that were subjected to a second surgical intervention for resection of liver segments IVb and V and lymph nodes corresponding to the liver hilar, portal, peripancreatic, celiac artery and periaortic territories. Thirteen of these patients were subjected to preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (4500 Gy and 5-fluouracil 500 mg/m2). RESULTS: Lymph node metastases were found in 25 and 38%, and liver metastases in 25 and 28% of patients with or without chemo-radiotherapy respectively. The most frequent pathological findings attributed to radiation in the liver were fatty infiltration in 75% of cases, vascular transformation in 83% of cases and minimal periportal lymphocyte infiltration in 40% of cases. Lymph nodes were atrophic in 67% of cases and had foci of cortical necrosis in 46% of cases. Three cases had regional lymph node and liver metastases. Most tumor cells were viable. CONCLUSIONS: No differences in the number of lymph node or liver metastases were observed between patients with and without chemo-radiotherapy. No effect of the treatment on residual tumor was observed either.

[CD44 (HCAM) expression in subserous gallbladder carcinoma]. / Expresión de CD44 (HCAM) en el carcinoma subseroso de la vesícula biliar.

BACKGROUND: HCAM or CD44 is a multifunctional cell adhesion molecule, related to cell-cell, cell-extracellular matrix interactions and involved in tumor invasion. AIM: To study the importance of CD44 expression in subserous gallbladder carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred five samples (93 female) of subserous gallbladder carcinoma and 33 non tumoral gallbladder were studied. CD44 was stained using the streptavidine-biotin technique, using human anti CD44 antibodies. Eighty subjects with carcinoma were followed for a period up to 105 months. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 62.6 years old, all tumors were adenocarcinoma, all were silent and 13% were well differentiated. CD44 was expressed in all controls and in 91%, the expression was normal. In 57% of cancer samples, CD44 expression was abnormal, in 50% it was less expressed and in 24%, it was not expressed. No differences in CD44 expression was observed between mucosa from control samples and mucosa adjacent to the tumor or superficial or deep tumoral areas. Global five years survival was 40%. No significant differences in survival were observed in those tumors with a lower of absent CD44 expression. Six patients with a higher expression died before 18 months of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 50% of subserous gallbladder carcinomas show an abnormal CD44 expression.

[Primary cholangiocarcinoma associated with Caroli disease]. / Colangiocarcinoma primario asociado a enfermedad de Caroli.

A 68 years old male presented with right hypochondrium abdominal pain and jaundice with no other clinical finding. CAT Scan and Ultrasonography showed right lobe bile duct dilatation. Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography gave an outstanding vision of a restricted right lobe bile duct dilatation associated to choledocholithiasis. A right hepatectomy and bile duct exploration were performed. The histopathological study disclosed a Caroli disease associated to a primary cholangiocarcinoma. Caroli disease is a congenital disorder characterized by intrahepatic cystic bile duct dilatation with a high risk association with cholangiocarcinoma.

[Incipient gallbladder carcinoma. Clinical and pathological study and prognosis in 196 cases]. / Carcinoma incipiente de la vesícula biliar. Estudio clínico-patológico y pronóstico de 196 casos.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the behavior of early gallbladder carcinoma. AIM: To report the clinical and pathological features of 196 patients with early gallbladder carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with gallbladder cancer diagnosed between 1988 and 1997 were reviewed. In 703 of 829 patients, there was information about clinical features and follow up, and were included in this study. All gallbladders were subjected to a complete mapping. When neoplastic cells involved only the mucosa or muscular layer, the tumors were considered as early. RESULTS: One hundred ninety six patients had an early carcinoma (161 women, aged 57.5 years and 35 male, aged 63.4 years). One hundred twenty eight tumors were located in the mucosa and 68 in the muscular layer. Patients with tumors involving the mucosa were younger than those with tumors involving the muscular layer. All tumors were adenocarcinomas, 66% were well differentiated and 32% moderately differentiated. Tumors were not visible macroscopically in 132 cases. Five and 10 years survival was 92%. Subjects of less than 40 years old had a 100% survival at 5 years. A hepatic and lymph node resection was done in 12 patients with tumors infiltrating the muscular layer but in only one, the tumor infiltrated the liver. No difference in survival was observed when a simple cholecystectomy or radical surgery was done. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 25% of gallbladder carcinomas can be classified as early and its diagnosis requires a directed study. Simple cholecystectomy is curative for this type of gallbladder cancer.

Intraoperative chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion as an adjuvant to gastric cancer: final results of a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the most frequent cause of death after curative resection of advanced gastric cancer is peritoneal recurrence, there was no effective therapy for the prevention of peritoneal recurrence. This randomized trial sought to determine whether intraoperative chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion could eliminate microscopic residual disease and thereby improve survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY: One-hundred and thirty-nine patients with T2-4 gastric cancer underwent curative gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy. These patients were randomly allocated into the following three groups. Patients in the CHPP group received surgery + chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion, and those in the CNPP group underwent surgery + chemonormothermic peritoneal perfusion. The third group was surgery alone group. In the CHPP and CNPP groups, peritoneal cavity was perfused with 6-8 liters of heated saline at, respectively, 42-43 degrees C and 37 degrees C with 30 mg of mitomycin C and 300 mg of cisplatin by a extracorporeal circulation machine. RESULTS: Major operative complication occurred in 19% (9/48), 14% (6/44) and 19% (9/47) of the CHPP, CNPP and surgery alone group, respectively. Complication which uniquely developed after chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion was bowel perforation. Mortality rates of each group were 4% (2/48), 0% (0/44) and 4% (2/47) in the CHPP, CNPP and surgery alone group, respectively. Overall 5-year survival rates of CHPP, CNPP and surgery alone groups were 61%, 43% and 42%, respectively. In a subset analysis, patients with gastric cancer having serosal invasion or lymph node metastasis have shown a statistically significant improvement in survival when treated with chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion. However, chemonormothermic peritoneal perfusion had no survival benefit. By analyzing with Cox proportional hazard model, chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion emerged as an independent prognostic factor for good survival. Surgery alone had three-fold higher risk of death than chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Chemohyperthermic peritoneal perfusion had an efficiency for the prophylaxis of recurrence after curative resection of advanced gastric cancer, and is indicated for patients with tumor infiltrating beyond serosal layer and node positive tumor.

[P53 gene mutation in gallbladder cancer]. / Mutación del gen p53 en el cáncer de la vesícula biliar.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer frequency and mortality renders it one of the most important neoplastic diseases in Chile. P53 tumor suppressor gene has been studied in most types of cancer, but there is scarce information about it in gallbladder cancer. AIM: To study the frequency of P53 gene mutation in gallbladder cancer in the ninth region of Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 25 pathological samples of gallbladder cancer, the direct amplification and sequencing of p53 gene exons 5,6,7,8-8 was possible. RESULTS: Seventeen punctual mutations were observed in 13 cases (52%). There were 10 transitions, 5 transversions, one insertion (codon 194) and one deletion (codon 186). Eight cases had mutations in exon 5, six had mutations in exon 6, two had mutations in exon 7 and one had mutations in exons 8-9. In 14 of 25 cases, gene p53 protein was positive. When immunohistochemical expression of gene p53 protein was positive in more than 20% of cells, there was a high correlation between genetic alterations and immunohistochemical expression of the protein, with a specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values over 80%. CONCLUSIONS: P53 gene mutation is observed in a high proportion of gallbladder cancers at it can be accurately detected with conventional immunohistochemical techniques. The importance of this gene in the genesis of this carcinoma should be determined studying preneoplastic lesions and early carcinomas.

Gallbladder cancer in a high risk area: morphological features and spread patterns.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gallbladder carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignant tumors in Chile. The aim of this paper is to show our experiences in gallbladder carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Six-hundred-sixty-nine cases of gallbladder carcinoma were included in this prospective study; 557 females (83.5%) and 112 males (16.5%). In 466 cases (70%), diagnosis was carried out in the cholecystectomy sample, 45 cases were partial cholecystectomies and 158 cases were metastases of gallbladder carcinoma. RESULTS: Ninety-eight per cent of the cases were adenocarcinomas, and in 85% of the cases gallstones were observed. Thirty-seven per cent of the primary tumors were macroscopically inapparent. One-hundred-thirty-one cases (29%) were early carcinomas and 323 cases (71%) were advanced carcinomas. A relationship between differentiation grade and infiltration level (p=0.0001) was observed. Lymph-node metastasis was found in 18.5%, 4.5% and 3.3% in the first, second and third lymph-node barriers respectively. Muscular tumors presented no lymph-node metastasis, while in serosal tumors lymph node metastasis reached 62% (p=0.04). Hepatic tumor infiltration was observed in 11%, 19% and 38% of muscular, subserosal and serosal tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of inapparent carcinomas, gallstones and inflammatory changes of the vesicular wall are elements that make the pre-operative diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma difficult. Differentiation grade and infiltration level are the most reliable prognostic factors in gallbladder carcinoma. Lymph-node metastasis or liver tumor infiltration are infrequent in early gallbladder carcinoma.

Gallbladder cancer, management of early tumors.

In spite of the fatal course associated with patients with gallbladder cancer, there is a subgroup of them in whom prognosis could be improved. Although early gallbladder cancer is considered a tumor with invasion of the mucosa or the muscular layer, in this manuscript we analyze those with invasion confined to the gallbladder. Pre-operative diagnosis of these patients is rare with cholecystectomy specimen histologic analysis being the most common way of detecting these tumors. The level of wall invasion represents a useful and practical way of dividing the patients according to their prognosis and treatment. Mucosal and muscular invasion tumors could be cured by simple cholecystectomy. Among patients with a tumor confined to the gallbladder, those with subserosal infiltration represent the largest group. Residual tumor after cholecystectomy is a common fact in these patients, thus a more aggressive procedure than simple cholecystectomy should be performed. Generally, extended cholecystectomy is the preferred approach for dealing with these patients. Unfortunately, in spite of the employment of extended and potentially curative surgery, prognosis is still poor and additional therapeutic procedures are needed. Finally, when tumors compromise the serosal layer, 5-year survival is poor irrespective of the type of therapy. However, well-selected cases deserve to undergo aggressive treatment.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer is generally associated with a poor prognosis, with local recurrence being the main pattern of failure. In an attempt to improve on the present status of management, we evaluated a prospective Phase II study involving preoperative 5-fluorouracil and radiation. Among 27 eligible patients with a potentially resectable gallbladder cancer detected after cholecystectomy, 18 were treated with preoperative radiation (4500 cGy; 180 cGy/fraction, 5 days/week) concurrent with a continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (350 mg/m2/day, days 1-5 and 21-25). Toxicity included leukopenia (8 patients) and thrombocytopenia (7 patients). Delay in surgery due to hematological toxicity was seen in 6 patients. Of the 18 patients, 15 underwent a reoperation. Resection was performed in 13 (86%). Pathologic findings after reoperation revealed residual tumor in both liver and lymph nodes in 3 patients. At a median follow-up of 24 months, 7 patients are alive. Among the patients who died after curative resection, local recurrence was demonstrated in only 1. This is the first report concerning preoperative chemoradiation in gallbladder cancer. To assess its effect on survival, a prospective randomized trial will be necessary.

[Microbiological study of gallbladder bile in a high risk zone for gallbladder cancer]. / Estudio bacteriológico de la bilis vesicular en un área de alto riesgo de cáncer vesicular.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer is frequent in Chile and there is sparse information about the association between this type of cancer and the presence of bacteria in the gallbladder bile. AIM: To determine the presence of aerobic bacteria in gallbladder bile in patients with and without gallbladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A microbiological analysis of bile and pathological study was performed in 608 gallbladders, obtained during to cholecystectomies performed to 513 women and 95 men aged 44 years old as a mean. RESULTS: Pathological study showed a chronic cholecystitis in 468 cases (77%), an acute cholecystitis in 140 (33%), cancer in 24 (3.9%) and dysplasia in 5 cases (0.8%). A positive culture was obtained in 22.5% of women and 28.5% of males. Twenty seven percent of women over 30 years old had positive cultures compared with 10% of younger women (p < 0.001). Thirty two percent of acute cholecystitis had positive cultures, compared with 24% of chronic cholecystitis (p = 0.03). E Coli was isolated in 51% of positive cases, Streptococci-Enterococci in 24%, Enterobacter sp in 9%, Klebsiella and Proteus in lower proportions. Salmonella sp was isolated in 4 cases, being all women with chronic cholecystitis. Thirteen of 29 cases with cancer or dysplasia had positive cultures (45%), compared with 25% of patients with inflammatory gallbladder diseases (p = 0.02). Streptococci-Enterococci were isolated in 7 cases and Enterobacter sp in three. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of Salmonella sp in gallbladder bile was not frequent in the studied patients. Its role in the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer must be reassessed.

Choledochoduodenostomy for common bile duct stones.

Among the techniques for dealing with common bile stones, choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) represents a useful alternative. This operation is indicated mainly in patients with recurrent stones, giant stones, or concomitant common bile stricture and duct stones. At the present time most of the patients undergoing CDS have been already undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or ultrasonography to study the common bile duct and the cause of symptoms. The common bile duct diameter is of paramount importance when determining the feasibility of performing a CDS, the critical size being 1.2 cm. The most common operation is a side-to-side anastomosis employing absorbable sutures. Stomal patency is the most important factor for preventing classic complications such as cholangitis and sump syndrome. These complications are rare, being observed in only 5% of the patients. Long-term results of the operation show that it is a safe procedure that should be considered a good option in selected patients with choledocholithiasis.

[Tumor invasion in gallbladder cancer. Importance of blood vascular tumor infiltration diagnosis]. / Formas de invasión tumoral en el cáncer de la vesícula biliar. Importancia del diagnóstico de la infiltración tumoral vascular sanguínea.

BACKGROUND: The infiltration of venous blood vessels in gallbladder carcinoma and its importance as a prognostic factor has not been well studied. Victoria blue stain has been used to identify vascular involvement in gastric and thyroidal carcinomas. AIM: To assess blood vessel infiltration using Victoria blue stain in gallbladder carcinomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred forty eight samples of gallbladder carcinomas, coming from 24 men and 123 women aged 60.4 +/- 12.2 years old, were studied. They were stained with Victoria blue stain to quantify blood vessel invasion. RESULTS: Twenty nine percent of tumors had blood vessel infiltration, 61% had lymph vessel and 20% had perineural infiltration. Lymph vessel or perineural involvement was found in 81% and 31% of those tumors with blood vessel infiltration, respectively. Perineural infiltration was associated with lymph or vascular involvement in 93 and 40% of tumors, respectively. None of the early carcinomas had blood vessel infiltration, whereas 33% of advanced tumors had this type of infiltration (p < 0.001). No differences in vascular infiltration were observed according to the differentiation of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Blood vessel infiltration was observed only in advanced gallbladder carcinomas and was tightly related to the degree of gallbladder wall infiltration. The presence of perineural infiltration was the best marker of lymph or blood vessel infiltration.

[Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic carcinoma]. / Avances en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de páncreas.

Pancreatic carcinoma has a dismal prognosis. In the last years, great efforts have been made to improve diagnosis and preoperative staging of potentially curable carcinomas. Actually, the diagnosis of fairly small tumours is possible. Chemoradiation therapy protocols prior to pancreatectomy, aiming to improve survival, are currently being held. This therapy allows radiation to be distributed into well oxygenated cells before surgical devascularization. This procedure can be done with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. In selected cases of irresectable carcinoma, surgical palliation allows a better quality of life. Pancreatoduodenal resection, along with other traditional oncological therapies, will continue to be the therapy of choice for patients with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas, without local or regional metastases. However, an intensive search for new therapeutic strategies, specially in the field of molecular biology, is being carried out.

p53 tumour suppressor gene protein expression in early and advanced gallbladder carcinoma.

AIMS: Gallbladder carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignant tumours occurring in Chile and the mortality rate in both sexes ranks among one of the highest in the world. Mutation of p53 tumour suppressor gene has been demonstrated in many tumours. Our aim was to determine protein expression of p53 gene in early and advanced gallbladder carcinoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: Protein expression of gene p53 was studied by immunohistochemical means in 191 gallbladder carcinomas (157 primary tumours, 34 metastases) and 25 controls. In 86 out of 191 cases (45%), protein expression of gene p53 was observed. Differences related to sex, age, or race were not observed. All gallbladder controls were negative. Twenty-five per cent of well-differentiated tumours were p53 positive, while moderate or poorly differentiated carcinomas reached 50% (P = 0.04). p53 expression was observed in 23.5% of early carcinomas and in 48.2% of advanced carcinomas (P = 0.01). No differences between primary tumours and metastasis were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Protein expression of p53 tumour suppressor gene is observed in 45% of gallbladder carcinomas. The absence of expression in controls and in normal mucosa adjacent to tumours suggests its utility in differentiating atypical gallbladder epithelia from neoplastic lesions.

DNA ploidy pattern and tumor suppressor gene p53 expression in gallbladder carcinoma.

The relationship between p53 gene expression and DNA content in advanced gallbladder carcinoma was studied. Fifty-three cases of advanced gallbladder carcinoma (45 primary tumors and 8 metastases) were analyzed, p53 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry, DNA content was measured by cytophotometric techniques. Study subjects included 45 (85%) female and 8 male patients, with an overall mean age of 58.6 years. Positive staining for p53 protein was observed in 27 (51%) cases. In subserosal tumors, the expression was significantly less than that in tumors that reached the serosa (P = 0.01). Twenty-nine (55%) cases were diploid and 24 were aneuploid. Sixty-seven % of primary tumors were diploid, whereas 87% of metastases showed an aneuploid DNA content. Both diploid and aneuploid tumors were positive for the p53 protein in the same proportion, and p53 was also expressed equally in both primary and secondary tumors. In advanced gallbladder carcinoma, the expression of the p53 gene was earlier than the accumulation of abnormal quantities of chromosomal DNA in the tumor cells. The determination of these events as markers in preneoplastic lesions is warranted in gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Curative resection in potentially resectable tumours of the gallbladder.

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of surgical treatment in patients with potentially resectable gallbladder cancer. DESIGN: Prospective non-randomised study. SETTING: University hospital, Chile. SUBJECTS: 109 Patients with gallbladder cancers, most of which were detected in the cholecystectomy specimen. INTERVENTIONS: 53 Patients underwent reoperation with the aim of doing a lymphadenectomy and resecting the gallbladder bed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity and short and long term mortality RESULTS: Residual tumour after cholecystectomy was mainly observed in patients with serosal and adipose tissue infiltration. Lymph nodes and liver invasion were associated with recurrence. Survival analysis was focused on the group with subserosal infiltration because it is the largest subgroup in this study and prognosis is intermediate. Patients who underwent curative resection had a significantly better survival than those treated by simple cholecystectomy (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Extended cholecystectomy improved the prognosis of patients whose cancers were restricted to the subserosal layer. Additional treatments are necessary to improve the results obtained with operation alone.

Preneoplastic lesions and gallbladder cancer: an estimate of the period required for progression.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Scarce biological information exists about the importance of preneoplastic lesions in gallbladder cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the time required for the sequence of dysplasia (DY) to carcinoma of the gallbladder. METHODS: Eighty-four cases of DY, 60 cases of early carcinomas (ECs), 181 cases of advanced carcinomas (ACs), and 121 cases of metastatic (ME) gallbladder cancer were analyzed. Age was used as the main parameter. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Among all cases, the mean age of female patients was lower than the mean age of male patients (P = 0.001). A significant difference in mean age between sexes by specific type of lesion was also observed (P < 0.001). The mean age was 46.3 years (SD, 16) in the DY group, 57.5 years (SD, 16.7) in the EC group, 59 (SD, 13.7) in the AC group, and 61.1 (SD, 12.1) in the ME group. Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant differences (r = 0.386; P < 0.001) in the mean age of patients with dysplastic lesions compared with the carcinoma group. CONCLUSIONS: According to these observations, the period required to progress from dysplasia to advanced gallbladder carcinoma would be around 15 years, observing a continuum in the progression of the lesions.

[Pancreas divisium as a cause of chronic pancreatitis. Clinical case]. / Pancreas divisium como causa de pancreatitis crónica. Caso clínico.

We report a 6 years old girl with chronic pancreatitis, presenting as recurring bouts of abdominal pain and hyperamylasemia, secondary to a lack of communication between the main papilla and pancreatic duct (pancreas divisium). The diagnosis was made during an intraoperative pancreatography and treatment consisted in a sphincteroplasty of the secondary papilla.