Prediction of Microsatellite Instability in Colorectal Cancer Using a Machine Learning Model Based on PET/CT Radiomics

Purpose@#We investigated the feasibility of preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/ computed tomography (CT) radiomics with machine learning to predict microsatellite instability (MSI) status in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. @*Materials and Methods@#Altogether, 233 patients with CRC who underwent preoperative FDG PET/CT were enrolled and divided into training (n=139) and test (n=94) sets. A PET-based radiomics signature (rad_score) was established to predict the MSI status in patients with CRC. The predictive ability of the rad_score was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) in the test set. A logistic regression model was used to determine whether the rad_score was an independent predictor of MSI status in CRC. The predictive performance of rad_score was compared with conventional PET parameters. @*Results@#The incidence of MSI-high was 15 (10.8%) and 10 (10.6%) in the training and test sets, respectively. The rad_score was constructed based on the two radiomic features and showed similar AUROC values for predicting MSI status in the training and test sets (0.815 and 0.867, respectively; p=0.490). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the rad_score was an independent predictor of MSI status in the training set. The rad_score performed better than metabolic tumor volume when assessed using the AUROC (0.867 vs. 0.794, p=0.015). @*Conclusion@#Our predictive model incorporating PET radiomic features successfully identified the MSI status of CRC, and it also showed better performance than the conventional PET image parameters.

Clinical Significance of Combining Preoperative and Postoperative Albumin-Bilirubin Score in Colorectal Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a well-known prognostic factor for various diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, little is known about the significance of postoperative ALBI score changes in patients with CRC. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 723 patients who underwent surgery were enrolled. Preoperative ALBI (ALBI-pre) and postoperative ALBI (ALBI-post) scores were divided into low and high score groups. ALBI-trend was defined as a combination of four groups comprising the low and high ALBI-pre and ALBI-post score groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the overall survival (OS) between the different ALBI groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the independent relevant factors of OS. Stratification performance was compared between the different ALBI groupings using Harrell’s concordance index (C-index). @*Results@#ALBI-pre, ALBI-post, and ALBI-trend score groups were significant prognostic factors of OS in the univariable analysis. However, multivariable analysis showed that ALBI-trend was an independent prognostic factor while ALBI-pre and ALBI-post were not. The C-index of ALBI-trend (0.622; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.587 to 0.655) was higher than that of ALBI-pre (0.589; 95% CI, 0.557 to 0.621; bootstrap mean difference, 0.033; 95% CI, 0.013 to 0.057) and ALBI-post (0.575; 95% CI, 0.545 to 0.605; bootstrap mean difference, 0.047; 95% CI, 0.024 to 0.074). @*Conclusion@#Combining ALBI-pre and ALBI-post scores is an independent prognostic factor of OS and shows superior predictive power compared to ALBI-pre or ALBI-post alone in patients with CRC.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of patients with double primary malignancies: breast and colorectal cancer

Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic features and survival in patients with both breast cancer (BrC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). @*Methods@#Between 1996 and 2019, patients who were diagnosed with both BrC and CRC were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with distant metastasis, palliative resection, and previous cancer histories except for BrCs or CRCs were excluded. Altogether, 105 patients were divided into the B=C group (n=21), B-first group (n=40), and C-first group (n=44) according to the definition of synchronous and metachronous cancers. The clinicopathologic features and overall survival were evaluated. @*Results@#TNM stages and histologic types were comparable among the 3 groups (P=0.434). The interval of diagnosis was 67.1±40.4 and 59.3±47.2 months in the B- and C-first groups, respectively. The incidence of adjuvant chemotherapy in the B-first group was 57.5%, which was higher than the B=C and C-first groups (P<0.001). The estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67, and HER-2 molecular markers were not significantly different among the groups. The overall survival of the B-first group showed lower survival rates than the C-first group (P=0.039). In the logistic regression, HER-2 status (hazard ratio [HR], 11.9; P=0.032) and lymph node metastasis of CRC (HR, 5.8; P=0.036) were prognostic factors affecting overall survival. @*Conclusion@#B-first group had poorer survival outcomes than the C-first group in patients with the metachronous BrC and CRC. HER2 positivity and CRC lymph node metastasis may be prognostic factors that affect overall survival in these patients. The findings support that a colorectal cancer screening program should be included during BrC surveillance.

Machine Learning Model for Predicting Postoperative Survival of Patients with Colorectal Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#Machine learning (ML) is a strong candidate for making accurate predictions, as we can use large amount of data with powerful computational algorithms. We developed a ML based model to predict survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) using data from two independent datasets. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 364,316 and 1,572 CRC patients were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and a Korean dataset, respectively. As SEER combines data from 18 cancer registries, internal validation was done using 18-Fold-Cross-Validation then external validation was performed by testing the trained model on the Korean dataset. Performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity and positive predictive values. @*Results@#Clinicopathological characteristics were significantly different between the two datasets and the SEER showed a significant lower 5-year survival rate compared to the Korean dataset (60.1% vs. 75.3%, p < 0.001). The ML-based model using the Light gradient boosting algorithm achieved a better performance in predicting 5-year-survival compared to American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (AUROC, 0.804 vs. 0.736; p < 0.001). The most important features which influenced model performance were age, number of examined lymph nodes, and tumor size. Sensitivity and positive predictive values of predicting 5-year-survival for classes including dead or alive were reported as 68.14%, 77.51% and 49.88%, 88.1% respectively in the validation set. Survival probability can be checked using the web-based survival predictor (http://colorectalcancer.pythonanywhere.com). @*Conclusion@#ML-based model achieved a much better performance compared to staging in individualized estimation of survival of patients with CRC.

LASSO-Based Machine Learning Algorithm for Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in T1 Colorectal Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Furthermore, clinical utility of a machine learning–based approach has not been widely studied. @*Materials and Methods@#Immunohistochemistry for TILs against CD3, CD8, and forkhead box P3 in both center and invasive margin of the tumor were performed using surgically resected T1 CRC slides. Three hundred and sixteen patients were enrolled and categorized into training (n=221) and validation (n=95) sets via random sampling. Using clinicopathologic variables including TILs, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was applied for variable selection and predictive signature building in the training set. The predictive accuracy of our model and the Japanese criteria were compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), net reclassification improvement (NRI)/integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA) in the validation set. @*Results@#LNM was detected in 29 (13.1%) and 12 (12.6%) patients in training and validation sets, respectively. Nine variables were selected and used to generate the LASSO model. Its performance was similar in training and validation sets (AUROC, 0.795 vs. 0.765; p=0.747). In the validation set, the LASSO model showed better outcomes in predicting LNM than Japanese criteria, as measured by AUROC (0.765 vs. 0.518, p=0.003) and NRI (0.447, p=0.039)/IDI (0.121, p=0.034). DCA showed positive net benefits in using our model. @*Conclusion@#Our LASSO model incorporating histopathologic parameters and TILs showed superior performance compared to conventional Japanese criteria in predicting LNM in patients with T1 CRC.

LASSO-Based Machine Learning Algorithm for Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in T1 Colorectal Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Furthermore, clinical utility of a machine learning–based approach has not been widely studied. @*Materials and Methods@#Immunohistochemistry for TILs against CD3, CD8, and forkhead box P3 in both center and invasive margin of the tumor were performed using surgically resected T1 CRC slides. Three hundred and sixteen patients were enrolled and categorized into training (n=221) and validation (n=95) sets via random sampling. Using clinicopathologic variables including TILs, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was applied for variable selection and predictive signature building in the training set. The predictive accuracy of our model and the Japanese criteria were compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), net reclassification improvement (NRI)/integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA) in the validation set. @*Results@#LNM was detected in 29 (13.1%) and 12 (12.6%) patients in training and validation sets, respectively. Nine variables were selected and used to generate the LASSO model. Its performance was similar in training and validation sets (AUROC, 0.795 vs. 0.765; p=0.747). In the validation set, the LASSO model showed better outcomes in predicting LNM than Japanese criteria, as measured by AUROC (0.765 vs. 0.518, p=0.003) and NRI (0.447, p=0.039)/IDI (0.121, p=0.034). DCA showed positive net benefits in using our model. @*Conclusion@#Our LASSO model incorporating histopathologic parameters and TILs showed superior performance compared to conventional Japanese criteria in predicting LNM in patients with T1 CRC.

Abdominal Sarcoidosis Mimicking Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

We present a patient diagnosed with skin sarcoidosis, breast cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and peritoneal sarcoidosis with a past history of colorectal cancer. During stage work up for breast cancer, suspicious lesions on peritoneum were observed in imaging studies. Considering our patient's history and imaging findings, we initially suspected peritoneal carcinomatosis. However, the peritoneal lesion was diagnosed as sarcoidosis in laparoscopic biopsy. This case demonstrates that abdominal sarcoidosis might be considered as a differential diagnosis when there is a lesion suspected of being peritoneal carcinomatosis with nontypical clinical presentations.

Protective effect of Korean red ginseng on oxaliplatin-mediated splenomegaly in colon cancer

PURPOSE: This study investigated how adding Korean red ginseng extract (KRG) to folinic acid, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) chemotherapy affected the rate of splenomegaly in colon cancer. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 42 patients who were randomly assigned to receive a FOLFOX regimen with or without KRG. Spleen volume change was assessed by computed tomography scans measured before surgery (presurgery volume) and 3 weeks after cessation of the 12th cycle of FOLFOX (postchemotherapy volume). RESULTS: All patients showed increased spleen volume. No difference was observed in median presurgery and postchemotherapy volume between the KRG and control groups. However, a ratio defined as postchemotherapy volume divided by presurgery volume was significantly lower in the KRG group than the control group (median, 1.38 [range, 1.0–2.8] in KRG group vs. median, 1.89 [range, 1.1–3.0] in control group, P = 0.028). When splenomegaly was defined as a >61% increase in spleen volume, the rate of splenomegaly was significantly lower in the KRG group than the control group (28.6% vs. 61.9%, P = 0.03). KRG consumption was inversely associated with developing splenomegaly in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Adding KRG during FOLFOX chemotherapy for colon cancer might protect against oxaliplatin-induced splenomegaly. The protective effect of Korean red ginseng should be investigated with further research.

Spontaneous reduction of small bowel herniation through the foramen of Winslow: importance of a timely approach

We present the case of young female patient presenting with acute onset abdominal pain. Abdominopelvic CT revealed herniation through the foramen of Winslow. The patient was transferred to our hospital and underwent laparoscopic exploration. Though spontaneous reduction was detected, segmental resection of the impacted small bowel was inevitable due to ischemic change. Our case suggests that reducing the time until surgery is very important to lower the probability of bowel resection in case of small bowel herniation through the foramen of Winslow.

Multiple Myeloma Mimics Bone Metastasis From a Rectal Adenocarcinoma

A presumptive diagnosis of bone metastasis can be easily made when a patient with a history of colorectal cancer develops bone lesions that are seen on follow-up imaging. In this case report, we describe a patient whose multiple bone lesions were wrongly attributed to a recurrence of rectal cancer rather than being identified as multiple myeloma lesions. When clinicians detect new, abnormal, bony lesions in a patient with a previous history of cancer, they should consider diseases such as multiple myeloma in their differential diagnosis.

Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeries for Patients With Colorectal Cancer Who Have Had a Previous Abdominal Surgery

PURPOSE: The impact of previous abdominal surgery (PAS) on surgical outcomes from laparoscopic and robot surgeries is inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PAS on perioperative outcomes from laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgeries. METHODS: From March 2007 to February 2014, a total of 612 and 238 patients underwent laparoscopic and robotic surgeries, respectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups: those who did not have a PAS (NPAS), those who had a major PAS, and those who had a minor PAS. We further divided the patients so that our final groups for analysis were: patients with NPAS (n = 478), major PAS (n = 19), and minor PAS (n = 115) in the laparoscopy group, and patients with NPAS (n = 202) and minor PAS (n = 36) in the robotic surgery group. RESULTS: In the laparoscopy group, no differences in the conversion rates between the 3 groups were noted (NPAS = 1.0% vs. major PAS = 0% vs. minor PAS = 1.7%, P = 0.701). In the robotic surgery group, the conversion rate did not differ between the NPAS group and the minor PAS group (1.0% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.390). Among the groups, neither the operation time, blood loss, days to soft diet, length of hospital stay, nor complication rate were affected by PAS. CONCLUSION: PAS did not jeopardize the perioperative outcomes for either laparoscopic or robotic colorectal surgeries. Therefore, PAS should not be regarded as an absolute contraindication for minimally invasive colorectal surgeries.

Xanthogranulomatous Appendicitis Mimicking Residual Burkitt's Lymphoma After Chemotherapy

The case of a 23-year-old female treated with aggressive high-dose therapy for Burkitt's lymphoma is reported. A positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan after completion of chemotherapy revealed a residual hypermetabolic lesion in the right pelvic cavity. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scan showed circumferential wall thickening at the tip of the appendix. A laparoscopic exploration and appendectomy were performed, and a pathologic examination of the resected appendix revealed xanthogranulomatous appendicitis. This is a rare case of a xanthogranulomatous appendicitis mimicking remnant Burkitt's lymphoma after completion of chemotherapy.

In Vitro Adenosine Triphosphate-Based Chemotherapy Response Assay as a Predictor of Clinical Response to Fluorouracil-Based Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Stage II Colorectal Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of the in vitro adenosine triphosphate-based chemotherapy response assay (ATP-CRA) for prediction of clinical response to fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor specimens of 86 patients with pathologically confirmed stage II colorectal adenocarcinoma were tested for chemosensitivity to fluorouracil. Chemosensitivity was determined by cell death rate (CDR) of drug-exposed cells, calculated by comparing the intracellular ATP level with that of untreated controls. RESULTS: Among the 86 enrolled patients who underwent radical surgery followed by fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy, recurrence was found in 11 patients (12.7%). The CDR ≥ 20% group was associated with better disease-free survival than the CDR < 20% group (89.4% vs. 70.1%, p=0.027). Multivariate analysis showed that CDR < 20% and T4 stage were poor prognostic factors for disease-free survival after fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: In stage II colorectal cancer, the in vitro ATP-CRA may be useful in identifying patients likely to benefit from fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Clinical Implications of Microsatellite Instability in T1 Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The estimation of regional lymph node metastasis (LNM) risk in T1 colorectal cancer is based on histologic examination and imaging of the primary tumor. High-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) is likely to decrease the possibility of metastasis to either regional lymph nodes or distant organs in colorectal cancers. This study evaluated the clinical implications of MSI in T1 colorectal cancer with emphasis on the usefulness of MSI as a predictive factor for regional LNM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 133 patients who underwent radical resection for T1 colorectal cancer were included. Genomic DNA was extracted from normal and tumor tissues and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Five microsatellite markers, BAT-25, BAT-26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250, were used. MSI and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated as potential predictors of LNM using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among 133 T1 colorectal cancer patients, MSI-H, low-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-L), and microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancers accounted for 7.5%, 6%, and 86.5%, respectively. MSI-H tumors showed a female predominance, a proximal location and more retrieved lymph nodes. Twenty-two patients (16.5%) had regional LNM. Lymphovascular invasion and depth of invasion were significantly associated with LNM. There was no LNM in 10 MSI-H patients; however, MSI status was not significantly correlated with LNM. Disease-free survival did not differ between patients with MSI-H and those with MSI-L/MSS. CONCLUSION: MSI status could serve as a negative predictive factor in estimating LNM in T1 colorectal cancer, given that LNM was not detected in MSI-H patients. However, validation of our result in a different cohort is necessary.

Operative Outcomes of Open versus Laparoscopic Total Proctocolectomy with Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis in Ulcerative Colitis

PURPOSE: During the course of disease, nearly 30% of ulcerative colitis patients receive surgical therapy. Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis is a standard procedure. However, the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in ulcerative colitis has not yet been proven. We aimed to evaluate the clinical course of both laparoscopic and open surgeries of a total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis. METHODS: We reviewed charts of 34 patients who underwent a total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis between April 2005 and April 2014. The laparoscopic group (n=21) and the open group (n=13) were compared retrospectively in accordance with patients' demographics, clinical features, operative data, and postoperative complications within and after 30 days after the operation. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The laparoscopic group had a longer duration of disease before the operation (42.3+/-48.5 vs. 105+/-97.6, p=0.019). The operative results, including operation time and estimated blood loss, were not different in both groups. The postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic surgery were not different from those of open surgery in postoperative complications within and after 30 postoperative days. The rate of reoperation and readmission was not different, and the days until first gas passing and soft diet were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery in ulcerative colitis is a feasible and safe procedure. Laparoscopic surgery may provide an alternative approach to open surgery in carefully selected ulcerative colitis patients.

An Extragastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in the Omentum With Peritoneal Seeding Mimicking an Appendiceal Mucinous Cancer With Carcinomatosis

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. These tumors tend to present most frequently in the stomach, followed by the small intestine. GISTs can also arise from the omentum, retroperitoneum, mesentery, or pleura and are termed extragastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) when they do so. EGISTs arising from the omentum are very rare. Due to the limited incidence of EGISTs in the omentum, the diagnostic criteria are not well established, and making a correct diagnosis may be difficult. In this report, we present a case of an EGIST of the omentum with peritoneal metastasis that was initially suspected to be an appendiceal mucinous carcinoma with carcinomatosis on positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging.

Underweight Body Mass Index as a Predictive Factor for Surgical Site Infections after Laparoscopic Appendectomy

PURPOSE: Analyses of risk factors associated with surgical site infections (SSIs) after laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) have been limited. Especially, the association of an underweight body mass index (BMI) with SSIs has not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the impact of underweight BMI in predicting SSIs after LA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of a total of 101 consecutive patients aged > or =16 years who underwent LA by a single surgeon between March 2011 and December 2012 were retrieved from a prospectively collected database. The rate of SSIs was compared among the underweight, normal and overweight and obese groups. Also, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with SSIs. RESULTS: The overall rate of SSIs was 12.8%. The superficial incisional SSI rate was highest in the underweight group (44.4% in the underweight group, 11.0% in the normal group, and 0% in the overweight and obese group, p=0.006). In univariate analysis, open conversion and being underweight were determined to be risk factors for SSIs. Underweight BMI was also found to be a significant predictor for SSIs in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 10.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-49.5; p=0.005). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated underweight BMI as being associated with SSIs after LA. Surgeons should be more cautious to prevent SSIs in patients that are underweight when performing LA.

Metastatic cholangiocarcinoma as a cause of appendicitis: a case report and literature review

Metastatic carcinoma that causes appendicitis is extremely rare. To our knowledge, metastatic cholangiocarcinoma in the appendix has been reported in only 1 case in the English literature. We report herein the case of an 87-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. Advanced cholangiocellular carcinoma and a proximal appendiceal mass with appendicitis were detected on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography. After elective laparoscopic appendectomy and wedge resection of the cecum, pathologic results revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma from extrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma in the appendix.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy: Is There a Learning Curve after Completion of Colorectal Fellowships Training?

PURPOSE: Recent studies have shown that the procedure of laparoscopic appendectomy requires a learning curve before mastering. The aim of this study was to investigate the question of whether a surgeon who has been working as a first assistant for training in laparoscopic colorectal surgery can perform laparoscopic appendectomy without previous experience as an operator in laparoscopic appendectomy. METHODS: Ninety consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy by a single surgeon were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The operating surgeon completed fellowship training of the colorectal cancer division as a first assistant for two years. The patients were divided into two groups by consecutive order: Group (A) included the initial 45 patients and Group (B) included the next 45 patients. The clinical patient demographics, histological diagnosis, and outcome variables including operation time, conversion to open surgery, complications, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No difference in operation time was observed between the groups (mean: 58.22 min vs 66.6 min, p=0.097). Open conversion rate and drain insertion rate were similar between the two groups. There was no difference in length of hospital stay. Overall complication rate did not differ between the two groups. Moving average curve showed no specific time shortening point within these 90 enrolled patients. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that laparoscopic appendectomies performed by a surgeon who had achieved a training course as an assistant in laparoscopic colorectal surgery were performed safely without any difficulties during the learning period. This finding needs further validation in additional large-scale studies.

Feasibility and Safety of a Fold-Over Diverting Ileostomy Reversal After Rectal Cancer Surgery: Case-Matched Comparison to the Resection Technique

PURPOSE: Compared to the stapling technique, the fold-over technique (FO) has the benefit of avoiding the sacrifice of the bowel segment. The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes between the FO and a conventional resection. METHODS: Between June 2008 and March 2012, a total of 242 patients who underwent a diverting ileostomy reversal after rectal cancer surgery were selected. Among them, 29 patients underwent the FO. Using propensity scores to adjust for body mass index, previous abdominal surgery history, rectal cancer surgery type (open vs. minimally invasive), and reason for ileostomy (protective aim vs. leakage management), we created a well-balanced cohort by matching each patient who underwent the FO, as the study group, with two patients who underwent a stapled or a hand-sewn technique with bowel resection (RE), as the control group (FO : RE = 1 : 2). Morbidity and perioperative recovery were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Twenty-four and forty-eight patients were allocated to the FO and the RE groups, respectively. The mean operation time was 91 +/- 26 minutes in the FO group and 97 +/- 34 minutes in the RE group (P = 0.494). The overall morbidity rates were not different between the two groups (12.5% in FO vs. 14.6% in RE, P = 1.000). The rate of postoperative ileus was similar between the two groups (8.3% in FO vs. 12.5% in RE, P = 0.710). Although time to resumption of soft diet was shorter in the FO group than in the RE group, the lengths of hospital stay were not different. CONCLUSION: The FO and the conventional resection have similar short-term clinical outcomes for diverting ileostomy reversal.