A Case of Gallbladder Metastasis of Malignant Melanoma.

In the clinical course of malignant melanoma, which can metastasize to multiple organs, gallbladder metastases are rarely detected. A 69-year-old man who underwent resection of a primary malignant melanoma was subsequently treated with nivolumab for lung metastases and achieved complete response. Seven years after surgery, multiple nodules were found in the gallbladder, and he underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The postoperative diagnosis was metastases of malignant melanoma. He has been recurrence-free 8 months after surgery. If radical resection is possible, such surgery should be performed for gallbladder metastases found in patients with other controlled lesions of malignant melanoma.

[Two Cases of Closed LECS for Early Gastric Cancer].

In recent years, laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery(LECS)is reported as the treatment of gastric cancer. We report closed LECS performed for an elderly patient with remnant gastric cancer and gastric cancer in a patient with lung cancer. Case 1 is an 85-year-old male. Early gastric cancer was pointed out in the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy. ESD was not indicated because of the size of tumor. Because of his age and many comorbidities, closed LECS was performed. Postoperative pathological diagnosis was pT1a(M), pPM0, pDM0, Ly0, v0. Case 2 is a 56-year-old male. He was undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer with pleural dissemination. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed early gastric cancer. ESD was not indicated for this lesion because of the depth of tumor. Pleural dissemination of lung cancer is his prognostic factor, and gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was considered excessively invasive. Therefore, closed LECS was performed. Postoperative pathological diagnosis was pT1b2(SM2), pPM0, pDM0, Ly1c, v1a. Closed LECS could be useful therapeutic option for early gastric cancer.

[A Case of Inverted LECS for GIST Near the Pylorus Ring].

Laparoscopy and endoscopy cooperative surgery(LECS)is a surgical procedure to avoid excessive resection of the gastrointestinal wall and preserve its function. For gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST)near the cardia and pylorus ring, the function of the cardia and pylorus can be preserved by minimum excision and hand-sewn suture closures. Here, we report a case successfully treated with inverted LECS for GIST near the pylorus ring. The patient was a 58-year-old male. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had revealed a 45 mm sized SMT near the pylorus ring. Biopsy by EUS-FNA indicated gastric GIST. The tumor was separated from the pylorus ring and inverted LECS was performed. The defect was closed with hand-sewn sutures, forming an L-shape. The postoperative course was good and he was discharged from hospital 10 days after surgery. It is considered that devising the direction of closure by means of the LECS procedure can preserve the pyloric function without passage obstruction or stasis, even for gastric GIST near the pylorus ring.

[Unresectable Advanced HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer Leading to a Perforation during Chemotherapy with Trastuzumab plus Paclitaxel].

The patient was a 70s female with gastric cancer. CT and PET scans revealed metastases of para-aortic lymph nodes, hepatoduodenal ligament lymph nodes, and left supraclavicular lymph nodes. She was diagnosed with T4a, N2, M1(LYM), and cStage ⅣB and was given chemotherapy with paclitaxel due to chronic kidney disease and trastuzumab treatment. We planned to perform radical gastrectomy with lymph node dissection due to the disappearance of FDG uptake except for primary gastric cancer on PET scans 5 months after chemotherapy. However, the patient developed pan-peritonitis due to gastric cancer perforation; therefore, emergency distal gastrectomy with Billroth Ⅱ reconstruction was performed. She received chemotherapy(only trastuzumab)after getting discharged. Reports about gastric cancer perforation during chemotherapy using trastuzumab are rare. We should consider the possibility of perforated gastric cancer during chemotherapy and optimal surgical procedures, including the extent of lymph node dissection in the case of Stage Ⅳ gastric cancer.

Nutritional assessment and surgical outcomes in very elderly patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the nutritional factors and clinical outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy between elderly and non-elderly patients. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 122 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from April 2008 to April 2020. Preoperative and postoperative nutritional factors (prognostic nutritional index), complication rates, and survival rates were compared between the elderly (≥ 80 years) and non-elderly (< 80 years) patient groups. Changes in nutrition markers were evaluated before surgery to 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 20 elderly patients (16.4%) and 102 non-elderly patients (83.6%) underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Elderly patients had a significantly lower preoperative prognostic nutritional index than did non-elderly patients. At 3 months postoperatively, elderly patients had a lower albumin level and prognostic nutritional index. The median length of hospital stay was significantly longer (39.9 vs. 27 days, P = 0.004), the rate of death due to other diseases was higher, and the overall survival rate was significantly lower (1-/3-/5 year overall survival rates: 78.1%/26.7%/13.3% vs. 87.1%/54.4%/46.7%; log-rank test, P = 0.003) in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that careful patient selection and optimal perioperative care are necessary to determine whether pancreaticoduodenectomy is indicated for elderly patients.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Subtotal Gastrectomy with a Very Small Remnant Stomach in an Elderly Patient with Multiple Malignant Gastric Tumors].

An 85-year-old man was referred to our hospital for anemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed 6 malignant gastric lesions. Abdominal CT showed a primary tumor. We treated early gastric cancer at the upper stomach with endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)to avoid total gastrectomy. We then performed laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy with a very small remnant stomach. In elderly patients with multiple gastric cancer, it is useful to combine ESD with laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy with a very small remnant stomach.

[A Case of Colon Cancer with Suspected DPD Deficiency Causing Severe Adverse Effects following Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Capecitabine].

The present study reports a case of colon cancer in a 76-year-old female who underwent laparoscopic right colectomy. Pathological findings revealed pT3(SS), pN2a, cM0, and pStage Ⅲb. Hence, we administered adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine. On day 18, she was urgently hospitalized because of severe oral mucositis(grade 3), diarrhea(grade 3), and leukocytopenia(grade 4). Furthermore, the patient experienced DIC, which gradually improved through intensive conservative treatment. From the clinical course, we suspected that the severe adverse effects were caused due to a deficiency of DPD. We were able to save the patient through early treatment.

The Late Phase/Early Phase Ratio of Pancreatic CT Values as a Novel Predictor of Pancreatic Fistula after Distal Pancreatectomy.

Post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the most common complication after distal pancreatectomy (DP). In this retrospective study, we reviewed the data from patients who underwent DP between 2008 and 2019 in our institute to determine whether the late phase/early phase ratio (L/E ratio) by preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan in the pancreas could predict POPF occurrence after DP. We examined the relationship between preoperative or intraoperative factors and the occurrence of POPF after DP using statistical methods in 23 males and 21 females with a mean age of 73. The mean L/E ratio was significantly lower in the POPF group than the non-POPF group (p=0.035). The L/E ratio had moderate diagnostic accuracy, with a calculated optimal cutoff value of 0.77. In univariate analysis, a significant association was noted between POPF and stump thickness ≥ 16.9, body mass index ≥ 27.5, and L/E ratio ≤ 0.77. In the multivariate analysis, the L/E ratio (odds ratio, 5.96; p=0.036) was an independent risk factor for POPF. Our findings suggest that the pancreatic L/E ratio may predict the occurrence of POPF after DP. This measure may be useful in preoperative risk stratification, patient counseling, and perioperative patient management, improving clinical outcomes after DP.

Solitary Cardiac Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Cardiac metastasis originating from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. No therapeutic standards for cardiac metastasis originating from HCC have been established. At 19 months after a curative hepatectomy, a 64-year-old Japanese hepatitis B virus-positive male patient experienced solitary cardiac metastasis originating from HCC. The cardiac tumor was discovered in the right ventricle. The patient received three courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and survived > 3 years after the initial diagnosis of cardiac metastasis. His case demonstrates that radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy can be an effective treatment for cardiac metastasis.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer with Common Hepatic Artery Anomaly].

A 67-year-old woman with upper abdominal pain was referred to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 3 gastric cancer at the greater curvature of the angular notch. Abdominal CT helped detect the primary tumor. Multi-detector-row computed tomography(MDCT)and 3D-CT angiography revealed a vascular anomaly in which the left gastric and splenic arteries formed the common trunk. The common hepatic and superior mesenteric arteries formed the common trunk. We performed a laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. During suprapancreatic lymph node dissection, the surface of the portal vein was difficult to expose toward the left side because the portal vein joined the splenic and superior mesenteric veins on the caudal side. Therefore, the No. 8a lymph nodes were dissected along the anterior hepatic plexus. In cases of common hepatic artery anomaly, identifying the anterior hepatic plexus is useful for the dissection of the suprapancreatic lymph nodes.

[A Case of Surgery for Transversal Colon Cancer with Intestinal Malrotation -Visualizing Method of Blood Flow in the Fluorescence Navigation Period].

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic blood flow evaluation using the fluorescence method with indocyanine green(ICG)is expected to decrease the risk of anastomotic leakage in colorectal cancer surgery. The fluorescence method is considered to be also useful for assessing arterial divergence patterns in patients with special anatomical features. We report a case of transverse colon cancer with intestinal malrotation treated with laparoscopic surgery using the ICG fluorescence method. CASE: A 62- year-old woman who was diagnosed as having transverse colon cancer with intestinal malrotation underwent a laparoscopic transverse colon resection with D3 lymph node dissection. We identified the ileocolic artery and middle colic artery (MCA)after the ICG injection and the severed MCA during lymphadenectomy. We made a final diagnosis of pT2N0M0, pStage Ⅰ. CONCLUSION: The fluorescence method was useful for assessing the arterial divergence pattern in a patient with a special anatomical feature. However, the ICG fluorescence method had some problems, including visualizing blood flow for only a short time and poorly transmitting the dye through thick fat.

Safety of Surgical Treatment for Elderly Patients with Gallbladder Carcinoma.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis. With the average life expectancy increasing globally, the incidence of GBC is predicted to increase as well. We investigated the safety and feasibility of surgical treatment for elderly patients with GBC. We retrospectively compared clinical pathological data and treatment outcomes in 45 consecutive GBC patients (23 patients ≥ 75 years [elderly group] and 22 patients < 75 years [younger group]) who underwent curative resection at the Iwakuni Center from January 2008 to December 2017. The proportion of preoperative comorbidities and anticoagulant use was significantly higher in the elderly group. The American Society of Anesthesiologists score was higher in the elderly versus the younger group, and the elderly group had significantly shorter operation times. Reduced activities of daily living was more common in the elderly versus younger group. The percentage of radical resection and overall 3-year survival (66.6% younger vs. 64.4% elderly) were similar between the groups. Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score ≥ 3 and R0 resection were identified as prognostic factors for overall survival rate among all patients. After careful patient selection.

Metachronous colorectal carcinoma with massive submucosal invasion detected by annual surveillance in a Lynch syndrome patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Lynch syndrome is the most common form of hereditary colorectal carcinoma. It is characterized by the presence of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes. Mutation carriers have a lifetime risk of developing colorectal carcinoma of approximately 80%. Current treatment guidelines recommend periodic surveillance for colorectal carcinoma in patients with Lynch syndrome. However, the optimal interval between colonoscopies has not yet been determined. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 54-year-old man with Lynch syndrome who was undergoing annual colonoscopy surveillance for the development of colorectal carcinoma. At 54, 57, 59, and 60 years old, a colonoscopy showed high-grade dysplasia and adenoma. Therefore, endoscopic mucosal resection was performed. At 61 years old, a colonoscopy showed metachronous colorectal carcinoma with massive submucosal invasion. He subsequently underwent laparotomy for colorectal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Annual surveillance using colonoscopy can detect colorectal carcinoma at an early stage, leading to reduced mortality. However, some patients might require a laparotomy, as was the case here. More frequent colonoscopic surveillance might be necessary to avoid surgery for colorectal carcinoma in Lynch syndrome patients with multiple risk factors for interval cancer.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Conversion of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Open Cholecystectomy and the Usefulness of the 2013 Tokyo Guidelines.

To identify predictive factors for conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open cholecystectomy performed for mixed indications as an acute or elective procedure. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 236 consecutive cases of LC performed in our department between January 2012 and January 2015, and evaluated preoperative risk factors for conversion and the usefulness of the 2013 Tokyo guidelines (TG2013) for diagnosing acute cholecystitis. The conversion rate in our series was 8% (19/236 cases). The following independent predictive factors of conversion were identified (p≤0.04): previous upper abdominal surgery (odds ratio (OR), 14.6), pericholecystic fluid (OR, 10.04), acute cholecystitis (OR, 7.81), and emergent LC (OR, 15.8). Specifically for patients with acute cholecystitis defined using the 2013 Tokyo guidelines, use of an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug for cardiovascular disease (p=0.043), previous upper abdominal surgery (p<0.031) and a resident as operator (p=0.041) were predictive factors. The risk factors for conversion identified herein could help to predict the difficulty of the procedure and could be used by surgeons to better inform patients regarding the risks for conversion. The TG2013 can be an effective tool for diagnosing acute cholecystitis to make informed clinical decisions regarding the optimal procedure for a patient.

[A case of HER2-positive esophagogastric junction cancer treated by using a neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen consisting of trastuzumab].

The case herein pertains to a 78-year-old man, who was referred to our department and in whom esophagogastric junctional cancer, triggering weight loss, was indicated. A 0.75 xx circumferential Type 3 lesion was observed in the esophagogastric junction via upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and a biopsy revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with overexpression of human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed multiple enlarged lymph nodes on the lesser curvature of the stomach. The preoperative diagnosis was T4a (SE) N2M0, Stage IIIB esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Four courses of preoperative chemotherapy consisting of capecitabine plus cisplatin and trastuzumab were administered. The primary lesion showed cicatrization after chemotherapy, and enlarged lymph nodes were not visible on a CT scan. Total gastrectomy, splenectomy, and D2 lymph node dissection were performed. Only a small amount (approximately 5 mm) of the primary lesion remained beneath the abdominal and esophageal mucosa, and the treatment effectiveness was Grade 2. The final diagnosis was T1b (SM) N0M0, Stage IA esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Survival with no recurrence was confirmed 6 months after surgery. These findings suggest that inclusion of trastuzumab in preoperative chemotherapy regimens improves the degree of curability of HER2-positive esophagogastric junction cancers.

[A case of advanced colon cancer with multiple liver metastases treated by two-stage laparoscopic surgery].

We report a case of advanced colon cancer with multiple liver metastases treated by two-stage laparoscopic surgery. An 82-year-old woman, whose main complaint was constipation, was diagnosed with stage IV sigmoid colon cancer. With the aim of decompressing the colon, a transanal decompression tube was inserted. She underwent laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy and D3 lymph node dissection, and an ileostomy was created. Systemic chemotherapy was administered immediately after the operation. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, she underwent the second operation, i.e., laparoscopic- assisted partial hepatectomy and radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases. Cases of obstructive colon cancer are more advanced than cases of non-obstructive colon cancer. Systemic treatments are required after the resection of primary tumors. We aim to improve the prognosis of patients with obstructive colon cancer by the use of laparoscopic surgery.

Rare case of retroperitoneal mitotically active leiomyoma in a postmenopausal woman.

Leiomyomas are benign smooth muscle tumors, and retroperitoneal leiomyomas without coexisting uterine leiomyomas are extremely rare. Mitotically active leiomyomas, which are leiomyomas with increased mitotic activity, are rarely observed in postmenopausal women, except under the influence of exogenous hormones. This report presents a rare case of a retroperitoneal mitotically active leiomyoma in a postmenopausal woman. The patient presented with an abdominal mass and underwent surgical resection of the retroperitoneal tumor. Pathological examination revealed a mitotically active retroperitoneal leiomyoma with 31 mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields. The patient did not experience recurrence during the 2-year follow-up period. This case highlights the need to consider retroperitoneal mitotically active leiomyomas in postmenopausal women and suggests that myomectomy can prevent their recurrence.

[A case of adenosquamous carcinoma of lower extrahepatic bile duct].

We report a 83-year-old female with bile duct cancer who underwent subtotal stomach preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. Pathologically, her tumor was diagnosed as adenosquamous carcinoma of the lower extrahepatic bile duct with final stage IVb[pT3pN3M(-)].The prognosis of patients with adenosquamous carcinoma of the bile duct is very poor, and the reason is thought to be its tendency to invade the pancreas.Although she was an aged patient, we performed adjuvant chemotherapy using gemcitabine.No recurrence has occurred until this day, 30 months after the operation.This is thought to be an effect of the adjuvant chemotherapy, considering its poor prognosis.

Preoperative Nutritional Assessment Using the Controlling Nutritional Status Score to Predict Pancreatic Fistula After Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Backgound: This study aimed to determine the usefulness of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) scorescore for predicting postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 108 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomy cases performed at the Surgery Department of Iwakuni Clinical Center, from April 2008 to May 2018, were included. Preoperative patient data and postoperative complication data were collected. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients (male=65; female=43; mean age=70 years), 41 (37.9%) had indication for pancreaticoduodenectomy due to pancreatic carcinoma. Grade B or higher POPF was diagnosed in 32 patients (29.6%). In the multivariate analysis, body mass index ≥22 kg/m2 [odds ratio (OR)=5.24; p=0.005], CONUT score ≥4 (OR=3.28; p=0.042), non-pancreatic carcinoma (OR=47.17; p=0.001), and a low computed tomographic contrast attenuation value (late/early ratio) (OR=4.39; p=0.029) were independent risk factors for POPF. CONCLUSION: Patients with high CONUT score are at high risk for POPF. Preoperative nutritional intervention such as immunonutrition might help reduce the POPF risk in these patients.

Preoperative predictive factors of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy: usefulness of the CONUT score.

PURPOSE: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is the most important factor affecting morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Patients with a high controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, which is used to assess nutritional status, are expected to have high morbidity rates. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of the CONUT score. METHODS: Data from 97 consecutive cases of PD performed in the Department of Surgery of Iwakuni Clinical Center, from April 2008 to May 2018, were included. Preoperative patient data, including sex, age, and hypertension, and postoperative complication data were collected to analyze pancreatic fistula occurrence. RESULTS: Of the 97 patients, 2 9 patients (29.8%) were diagnosed with POPF ≥ B, with 26 cases (26.8%) classified as grade B and 3 (3.1%) as grade C. The mortality rate was 2.1% (2 of 97). In the univariate analysis, a significant association was observed between POPF and the following factors: body mass index (BMI) ≥ 22 kg/m2, high CONUT score, nonpancreatic carcinoma, and CT attenuation values. In multivariate analysis, BMI ≥ 22 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 6.16; P < 0.001), high CONUT score (OR, 3.77; P = 0.009), nonpancreatic carcinoma (OR, 5.72; P = 0.009), and CT attenuation values (late/early ratio) in the pancreas (OR, 9.07; P = 0.006) were independent risk factors for POPF. CONCLUSION: Patients with a high CONUT score are at high risk of POPF. Further study correlating preoperative nutritional intervention with risk of POPF is necessary.