Neoadjuvant intermediate-course versus long-course chemoradiotherapy in T3-4/N0+ rectal cancer: Istanbul R-02 phase II randomized study.

Radiation therapy (RT) is typically applied using one of two standard approaches for preoperative treatment of resectable locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC): short-course RT (SC-RT) alone or long-course RT (LC-RT) with concurrent fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy. The Phase II single-arm KROG 11-02 study using intermediate-course (IC) (33 Gy (Gray)/10 fr (fraction) with concurrent capecitabine) preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) demonstrated a pathologically complete response rate and a sphincter-sparing rate that were close to those of LC-CRT. The current trial aim to compare the pathological/oncological outcomes, toxicity, and quality of life results of LC-CRT and IC-CRT in cases of LARC. The prescribed dose was 33 Gy/10 fr for the IC-CRT group and 50.4 Gy/28 fr for the LC-CRT group. Concurrent chronomodulated capecitabine (Brunch regimen) 1650 mg/m2/daily chemotherapy treatment was applied in both groups. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Colorectal Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-CR29) was administered at baseline and at three and six months after CRT. A total of 60 patients with LARC randomized to receive IC-CRT (n = 30) or LC-CRT (n = 30) were included in this phase II randomized trial. No significant difference was noted between groups in terms of pathological outcomes, including pathological response rates (ypT0N0-complete response: 23.3% vs. 16.7%, respectively, and ypT0-2N0-downstaging: 50% for each; p = 0.809) and Dworak score-based pathological tumor regression grade (Grade 4-complete response: 23.3 vs. 16.7%, p = 0.839). The 5-year overall survival (73.3 vs. 86.7%, p = 0.173) rate was also similar. The acute radiation dermatitis (p < 0.001) and any hematological toxicity (p = 0.004) rates were significantly higher in the LC-CRT group, while no significant difference was noted between treatment groups in terms of baseline, third month, and sixth month EORTC QLQ-CR29 scores.

A rare cause of hemoperitoneum: A case report of ruptured ileocolic artery aneurysm.

Visceral artery aneurysm (VAA) is very rare among vascular pathologies. Incidence reported in autopsy series and angiographic studies varies between 0.1% and 0.2%. Most cases are asymptomatic and are diagnosed as result of complications, or incidentally, when imaging is performed for another reason. Three percent of VAAs are superior mesenteric artery (SMA) terminal branch aneurysms. Intra- and/or extraperitoneal bleeding due to ruptured aneurysm is life-threatening condition and requires emergent intervention. Therefore, surgical or endovascular interventional treatment must be performed rapidly after diagnosis. Presently described is case of ileocolic artery aneurysm in a patient admitted with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Endovascular intervention had been planned; however, during hospitalization, aneurysm ruptured and emergent surgery was performed. Review of the literature is also presented.

Curative Chemoradiotherapy of Primary Pancreatic Lymphoma with Vertebral Metastasis: Palliation of Persistent Biliary Stricture by Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy.

Primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is a rare tumor that usually presents with the clinical picture of advanced adenocarcinoma but has a much better prognosis. A 38-year-old man was referred after percutaneous transhepatic external biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography had revealed a 5-cm pancreatic head mass that caused biliary tract dilation. Computed tomography angiography showed that the mass encased the celiac trunk as well as the common hepatic and splenic arteries. MRI also revealed a metastatic lesion at the third lumbar vertebra. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels were within normal range. The initial diagnosis was inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma; however, Tru-Cut pancreatic biopsy showed a large B cell lymphoma. After 6 sessions of chemotherapy and 21 sessions of radiotherapy, both the pancreatic mass and the vertebral metastasis had disappeared. However, he had persistent distal common bile duct stricture that could not be negotiated by either the endoscopic or percutaneous route. A Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed. The patient stayed alive without recurrence for 52 months after the initial diagnosis and 45 months after completion of oncologic treatment. In conclusion, a large pancreatic mass with grossly involved peripancreatic lymph nodes, without ascites, liver or splenic metastasis, should alert the clinician to the possibility of PPL. Cure is possible by chemoradiotherapy even in the presence of vertebral metastasis. Persistent stricture in the distal common bile duct may require a biliodigestive anastomosis.

Diagnostic value of dynamic contrast medium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative detection of thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast medium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in detection of thyroid carcinoma compared with fine-needle aspiration biopsy and frozen section analysis in multinodular goiter. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty consecutive patients with nodular goiter without any clinical risk and symptoms associated with thyroid carcinoma were studied. Twenty-five patients had euthyroid multinodular goiter, and 5 had toxic nodular goiter. Scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and DCE-MRI were performed preoperatively in all patients, as well as fine-needle aspiration biopsy and frozen section analysis in 17 patients with dominant cold nodules. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contrast enhancement patterns on DCE-MRIs and histopathologic results of thyroidectomy specimens were correlated. The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of DCE-MRI and the results of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and preoperative frozen section analysis to detect thyroid carcinoma were compared. RESULTS: Thyroid carcinoma was found in 11 patients (36.7%), but was clinically significant in only 4 (13.3%). Delayed washout pattern of contrast enhancement significantly correlated with a histologic diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma (P < .001). The conditional probability of thyroid cancer in a patient with multinodular goiter with a delayed washout pattern was 0.78. The sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of DCE-MRI to detect thyroid carcinoma was higher compared with fine-needle aspiration biopsy and frozen section analysis (100% vs 50% and 85.7%, and 90% vs 70.6% and 87.5%, respectively). The negative predictive value of DCE- MRI was 100%, ruling out thyroid carcinoma in all patients with benign goiter. CONCLUSION: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is useful to detect or exclude thyroid carcinoma with high diagnostic accuracy in patients with multinodular goiter when results of other diagnostic methods are inconclusive.