Comparison of the 6th and 7th editions of the AJCC/UICC TNM staging system for gastric cancer focusing on the "N" parameter-related survival: the monoinstitutional NodUs Italian study.

BACKGROUND: A large number of Asian population studies examined the difference between the 6th and the 7th tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) while it is still poorly validated among Caucasian populations. This is a retrospective study aimed at investigating the efficacy of the 7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) staging system for gastric cancer focusing on the "N" parameter-related survival for prognostic assessment in gastric cancer patients of a single Western high-volume institution. METHODS: From January 2002 to December 2009, the data of 274 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastric surgery at the 8th General and Gastrointestinal Surgical Centre of the Second University of Naples were analyzed retrospectively. We collected data for patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical characteristics, and TNM stage. Particularly, the nodal status, with the number of dissected nodes and metastatic nodes, was reviewed from the pathology records. The same patient dataset was used to stage patients according to both the 6th and 7th edition criteria. RESULTS: Age at surgery, tumor location, histological grade, Lauren's classification subtypes, and 6th and 7th AJCC/UICC N categories were found to have statistically significant associations with overall survival on univariate analysis. In the 6th edition staging system, the Kaplan-Meier plot did not show significant overlapped survival curves: significant differences were found between N0 and N1, P<.001; N1 and N2, P=.04; and N2 and N3, P<.001. On the contrary, in the 7th edition, among all five substages, there were similar survival curves between N categories 2 and 3a (P=.98) with a statistically significant discriminatory ability only between N1 versus N3b and N2 versus N3b (P=.02 and .04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Based on analysis, we found that several clinicopathological variables, especially histological grade and Lauren's classification, were significant prognostic factors in our database. The 6th and 7th AJCC/UICC N classifications represent significantly independent prognostic factors, and the 6th AJCC/UICC N classification seems to be superior to the 7th AJCC/UICC N classification in terms of uniformity, differentiation, and monotonicity of gradients.

The laparoscopic hiatoplasty with antireflux surgery is a safe and effective procedure to repair giant hiatal hernia.

BACKGROUND: Although minimally invasive repair of giant hiatal hernias is a very surgical challenge which requires advanced laparoscopic learning curve, several reports showed that is a safe and effective procedure, with lower morbidity than open approach. In the present study we show the outcomes of 13 patients who underwent a laparoscopic repair of giant hiatal hernia. METHODS: A total of 13 patients underwent laparoscopic posterior hiatoplasty and Nissen fundoplication. Follow-up evaluation was done clinically at intervals of 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery using the Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Health-Related Quality of Life scale, a barium swallow study, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, an oesophageal manometry, a combined ambulatory 24-h multichannel impedance pH and bilirubin monitoring. Anatomic recurrence was defined as any evidence of gastric herniation above the diaphragmatic edge. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications and no conversions to open technique. Symptomatic GORD-HQL outcomes demonstrated a statistical significant decrease of mean value equal to 3.2 compare to 37.4 of preoperative assessment (p < 0.0001). Combined 24-h multichannel impedance pH and bilirubin monitoring after 12 months did not show any evidence of pathological acid or non acid reflux. CONCLUSION: All patients were satisfied of procedure and no hernia recurrence was recorded in the study group, treated respecting several crucial surgical principles, e.g., complete sac excision, appropriate crural closure, also with direct hiatal defect where possible, and routine use of antireflux procedure.

Clinical and immunological impact of early postoperative enteral immunonutrition after total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Enteral immunodiet has been gaining increasing attention, but experimental data of its clinical effects in patients with gastric cancer are inconsistent, contradictory, and poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of early postoperative enteral immunonutrition on clinical and immunological outcomes in a homogeneous group of gastric cancer patients submitted to total gastrectomy. METHODS: A total of 109 patients with gastric cancer were randomized to receive early postoperative enteral immunonutrition (formula supplemented with arginine, omega-3 fatty acids and ribonucleic acid [RNA]), or an isocaloric-isonitrogenous control. The postoperative outcome was evaluated based on clinical variables, including postoperative infectious complications, anastomotic leak rate, and length of hospitalization. In addition, state of cellular immunity was evaluated and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative infectious complications in the immunodiet group (7.4%) was significantly (p < .05) lower than that of the control group (20%), as well as the anastomotic leak rate (3.7% in immunodiet group vs 7.3% in standard nutrition group, p < .05). Mortality rate did not show any significant differences; patients of the immunodiet group were found to have a significantly reduced length of hospitalization (12.7 ± 2.3 days) when compared with standard diet group (15.9 ± 3.4 days, p = .029). The data on cellular immunity showed that the postoperative CD4(+) T-cell counts decreased in both groups, but the reduction in the IED group was significantly higher (p = .032) compared with the SND group. CONCLUSIONS: Early postoperative enteral immunonutrition significantly improves clinical and immunological outcomes in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

The predictive and prognostic role of metabolic and volume-based parameters of positron emission tomography/computed tomography as non-invasive dynamic biological markers in early breast cancer treated with preoperative systemic therapy.

Introduction: The role of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in early breast cancer treated with preoperative systemic therapy (PST) is not yet established in clinical practice. PET parameters have aroused great interest in the recent years, as non-invasive dynamic biological markers for predicting response to PST. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 141 patients with stage II-III breast cancer who underwent surgery after PST. Using ROC analysis, we set optimal cutoff of FDG-PET/CT parameters predictive for pathological complete response (pCR). We investigated the correlation between FDG-PET/CT parameters and pCR, median disease-free survival (DFS), and median overall survival (mOS). Results: At multivariable analysis, baseline SUVmax (high vs low: OR 9.00, CI 1.85 - 61.9, p=0.012) and Delta SUVmax (high vs low: OR 9.64, CI 1.84, 69.2, p=0.012) were significantly associated with pCR rates. Interestingly, we found that a combined analysis of the metabolic parameter Delta SUVmax with the volume-based parameter Delta MTV, may help to identify patients with pCR, especially in the subgroup of hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Delta SUVmax was also an independent predictive marker for both mDFS (high vs low: HR 0.17, 95%CI 0.05-0.58, p=0.004) and mOS (high vs. low: HR 0.19, 95%CI 0.04-0.95, p=0.029). Discussion: Our results suggest that Delta SUVmax may predict survival of early BC patients treated with PST.

Characteristics and outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in patients with large hiatal hernia. A single center study.

INTRODUCTION: Giant hiatal hernia is characterized by the presence of more than 1/3 of the stomach in the chest, through the diaphragmatic hiatus, with or without other intra-abdominal organs. It is a rare pathology, representing the 5-10% of all hiatal hernias. The advent of laparoscopic surgery led to new surgical techniques, which include the simple reduction with the excision of the hernial sac and the execution of a posterior hiatoplasty, with or without mesh, and the execution of a Collis-Nissen gatroplasty in case of short esophagus. PRESENTATION OF CASES: We followed 24 cases of giant hiatal hernia with more than 1/3 stomach located in the chest, analyzing the results reached by the miniinvasive procedure, and the long-term pathophysiologic results of the disease. DISCUSSION: Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair results in less postoperative pain compared with the open approach. The smaller incisions of minimally-invasive surgery are less likely to be complicated by incisional hernias and wound infection. Postoperative respiratory complications are reduced. CONCLUSION: Results from multiple studies are similar, with shorter hospital stay and less morbidity resulting from the minimally invasive approach.

Fibromatosis, a benign breast disease mimicking carcinoma. A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Fibromatosis is an uncommon breast lesion that can mimic breast carcinoma in its clinical presentation. CASE SUMMARY: We present a clinical case in which a diagnosis and treatment dilemma existed, in terms of ultrasound findings that were not clear and suspicious, as well as results of Fine needle aspiration cytology. Our findings are compared with previous published cases. Also, literature review regarding fibromatosis presentation and diagnosis has been discussed, as well as treatment options. CONCLUSION: Management of breast fibromatosis remains controversial because of the low incidence and further efforts needed to establish evidence-based treatment guidelines.

An unusual case of left hepatectomy for Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) linked to the use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AASs).

INTRODUCTION: Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common benign tumor of the liver. Clinically FNH is asymptomatic and discovered incidentally . The pathogenesis is unclear; FNH is usually asymptomatic. When the tumor is large, it may be painful. Surgery is recommended only in the case of complications such as compression of adjacent organs, lesion progression with tumor size >5cm and presence of symptoms. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 30 years old man, was evaluated during a routine visit, for diffuse abdominal pain and weight loss; Abdominal ultrasound showed no evidence of biliary obstruction but the US shows a hypoechoic, well defined focal lesion in the left liver. For a more accurate diagnosis a Magnetic Resonance detected a focal area about 14×9 cm in diameter, hypointense. Liver biopsy was not done.We could not diagnose it definitively as FNH from the results of imaging studies; so for the size of symptomatic lesion, the undefined diagnosis of FNH ,and due to the great increase in the size of the mass located in the left lobe, during such a short period , the surgery was been recommended. DISCUSSION: FNH is the second most common hepatic lesion, but clinically relevant cases of FNH are rare with a reported prevalence in US studies of 0,03%. In our case the young patient was taking dietary supplements including anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs), carnitine and l-arginine. CONCLUSION: The particularity of our case is the increasing of the lesion in two years in which the patient made use of anabolic steroids. under use of . This could be the explanation for increasing of nodule.

Applicability of the Proposed Japanese Model for the Classification of Gastric Cancer Location: The "PROTRADIST" Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The extension of lymphadenectomy for surgical treatment of gastric cancer remains discordant among European and Japanese surgeons. Kinami et al. (Kinami S, Fujimura T, Ojima E, et al. PTD classification: proposal for a new classification of gastric cancer location based on physiological lymphatic flow. Int. J. Clin. Oncol. 2008;13:320-329) proposed a new experimental classification, the "Proximal zone, Transitional zone, Distal zone" (PTD) classification, based on the physiological lymphatic flow of gastric cancer site. The aim of the present retrospective study is to assess the applicability of PTD Japanese model in gastric cancer patients of our Western surgical department. METHODS: Two groups of patients with histologically documented adenocarcinoma of the stomach were retrospectively obtained: In the first group were categorized 89 patients with T1a-T1b tumor invasion; and in the second group were 157 patients with T2-T3 category. The data collected were then categorized according to the PTD classification. RESULTS: In the T1a-T1b group there were no lymph node metastases within the r-GA or r-GEA compartments for tumors located in the P portion, and similarly there were no lymphatic metastases within the l-GEA or p-GA compartments for tumors located in the D portion. On the contrary, in the T2-T3 group the lymph node metastases presented a diffused spreading with no statistical significance between the two classification models. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the PTD classification based on physiological lymphatic flow of the gastric cancer site is a more physiological and clinical version than the Upper, Medium And Lower classification. It represents a valuable and applicable model of cancer location that could be a guide to a tailored surgical approach in Italian patients with neoplasm confined to submucosa. Nevertheless, in order to confirm our findings, larger and prospective studies are needed.

A rare case of Wunderlich syndrome five days after left hemicolectomy for colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Wunderlich syndrome (WS) is a surgical emergency characterized by spontaneous, non-traumatic retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Angiomyolipoma (AML), a benign mesenchymal tumor, is the most frequent cause of WS. We present a case of WS, appearance five days after a left hemicolectomy for cancer. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 66 years-old man with a sigmoid adenocarcinoma and a small left AML (3.4cm) was undergone to left hemicolectomy. He was subjected to bridging therapy with high doses of low-molecular-weight heparin for prosthetic replacement of heart valve secondary to endocarditis and atrial fibrillation. Five days after surgery he presents retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to rupture of AML diagnosed by a CT scan and scintigraphy with labeled red blood cells. Total left nephrectomy was performed as the patient became unstable. DISCUSSION: Rupture of a renal AML is the main cause of WS. This risk increases with the size of the tumor (>4cm) and during pregnancy. CT scan is the best imaging modalities for diagnosis. The bridging therapy increases the perioperative bleeding risk. These patients are conservative treated with selective transarterial embolization. Nephrectomy is limited for the patients hemodynamically unstable or in case of failed embolization. CONCLUSION: This is a unusual case of WS after surgery in patients with small AML and treated with high dose of anticoagulant for cardiac disease. There are no other similar cases in literature.

Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the lung: A rare case of three small intestinal intussusceptions and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcomatoid carcinoma is an extremely rare, biphasic tumor characterized by a combination of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Limited data showed that most cases occurred with advanced local disease and metastasis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a rare case of a 60-year-old man with three small intestinal intussusceptions due to metastatic pulmonary carcinosarcoma. He was explored for chest pain and hemoptysis in Emergency room. Due to his chest symptoms he had a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest which showed a lesion about 60mm in diameter in the inferior lobe of the left lung. After 2 weeks physical examination demonstrated a distended abdomen and auscultation was indicated by hyperactive bowel sounds. Further imaging studies with abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan, showed multiple protruding small bowel tumors with entero enteric intussusceptions at three sites requiring a massive bowel resection at surgery. The pathology showed that it was positive for cytokeratin, vimentin, CD-34, and LIS; CK7 was focally positive; and CD117, CD20, and desmine were negative. The final diagnosis was metastatic small bowel carcinosarcoma with a lung primary. DISCUSSION: Lung carcinosarcoma is a high grade biphase neoplasm. The survival rate at 6 months is only around 27%. CONCLUSION: There are rare reports of small intestinal intussusceptions caused by metastatic lung carcinosarcoma, this presentation shows the third case in literature. Physicians should be more alert to symptoms or signs indicating GI metastais in patients with a history of lung cancer.