Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor: Does the newly proposed UICC TNM staging system provide better prognostic ability than the National Institutes of Health consensus criteria?

PURPOSE: The main limitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus criteria is the biological and prognostic heterogeneity of tumors while the utility of the newly proposed UICC TNM staging system has not yet been validated. Our object is to compare the overall and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) using the UICC TNM staging system and the NIH consensus criteria and to determine the optimal risk stratification system for GIST.METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 164 patients who underwent operative management for primary gastric GIST between 1994 and 2004.RESULTS: The overall five-year survival rate was 89.6%. In the 149 patients who underwent an R0 resection, the five-year DFS rate was 86.3%. According to the NIH consensus criteria, the five-year survival rate after resection was 100% for patients in the very low-, low-, and intermediate-risk groups and 71.9% for patients in the high-risk group. The UICC TNM stages IA, IB, and II had the same survival rates (100%) and stage IIIA (75.0%) and stage IIIB (69.5%) showed no significant difference in survival compared to the NIH criteria, which precluded better risk stratification. The patients who were included in the high-risk group by NIH consensus criteria (>10 cm, ≤5/50 high power field) and were stage II by the UICC TNM staging system had a 100% five-year survival rate.CONCLUSION: Using the current schemes, one system does not demonstrate superior prognostic ability over the other. However, the high-risk group (T4/low mitotic rate) and stage II patients appear to be appropriately classified.

Clinical Characteristics and Incidence of Thyroid Nodule in the Male Population for Health Check-up / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Thyroid nodules are a common disease in clinical practice. The prevalence of thyroid nodules has recently increased according to the development of thyroid ultrasonography. Thyroid nodules are more commonly found in women, but the potential for malignant nodules is much higher in men. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical characteristics and the incidence of thyroid nodules and malignancy in the adult male population. METHODS: Clinical characteristics and incidence of thyroid nodules was examined by screening ultrasonography targeting 6,968 male patients over the age of 40 who visited the National Police Hospital from January 2012 and April 2015. RESULTS: Among 6,968 male patients, 2,481 (35.6%) showed abnormal findings on ultrasonography. Of the 2,481 patients, 2,370 patients (34.01%) had a thyroid nodule and 111 patients (4.47%) had thyroiditis without a thyroid nodule, previous thyroidectomy, lymphadenopathy, esophageal diverticulum, parathyroid cyst, and benign calcification. Of the 2,481 patients, 958 patients (38.6%) had abnormal TFT and 204 patients (8.22%) had thyroiditis with or without a thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodules were benign in 1993 (80.33%) cases, indeterminate in 313 (12.61%) cases, and suspicious in 64 (2.56%) cases. Among the 2,481 subjects, thyroid cancer was detected in 37 subjects (1.49%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of thyroid nodules has recently increased according to the development of thyroid ultrasonography.

Neoadjuvant human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 targeted therapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: We analyzed the responses of patients with locally advanced breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and NAC combined with neoadjuvant human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) targeted therapy (NCHTT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 59 patients with HER2 amplified locally advanced breast cancer among patients who were treated surgically after neoadjuvant therapy at Samsung Medical Center between 2005 and 2009. Thirty-one patients received conventional NAC and 28 patients received NCHTT. Pathologic responses were assessed according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) guidelines. RESULTS: Pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 13 out of 28 patients treated with NCHTT and in 6 out of 31 patients treated with NAC alone (46.4% vs. 19.4%, respectively, P = 0.049). Breast conserving surgery (BCS) was more frequently performed in the NCHTT group than in the NAC only group (71.4% vs. 19.4%, P < 0.001). The 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 100% in the NCHTT group and 76.4% in the NAC group (P = 0.014). Together, NCHTT, type of operation (BCS vs. mastectomy) and pathologic nodal status were significant prognostic factors for RFS in univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: We found that NCHTT produced higher pCR rates than NAC alone in locally advanced breast cancer.

Experience of treatment of patients with granulomatous lobular mastitis / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: To present the author's experience with various treatment methods of granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) and to determine effective treatment methods of GLM. METHODS: Fifty patients who were diagnosed with GLM were classified into five groups based on the initial treatment methods they underwent, which included observation (n = 8), antibiotics (n = 3), steroid (n = 13), drainage (n = 14), and surgical excision (n = 12). The treatment processes in each group were examined and their clinical characteristics, treatment processes, and results were analyzed respectively. RESULTS: Success rates with each initial treatment were observation, 87.5%; antibiotics, 33.3%; steroids, 30.8%; drainage, 28.6%; and surgical excision, 91.7%. In most cases of observation, the lesions were small and the symptoms were mild. A total of 23 patients underwent surgical excision during treatment. Surgical excision showed particularly fast recovery, high success rate (90.3%) and low recurrence rate (8.7%). CONCLUSION: The clinical course of GLM is complex and the outcome of each treatment type are variable. Surgery may play an important role when a lesion is determined to be mass-forming or appears localized as an abscess pocket during breast examination or imaging study.

Early Experience of Iron-Intern Usage during Modified Radical Neck Dissection / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Modified radical neck dissections (MRND) in papillary thyroid cancer surgery usually leave a long incision in the neck, causing cosmetic problems. We introduce a new surgical approach to MRND, with minimal lateral extension of transverse collar incisions, using the Iron-Intern. METHODS: Between Jan 2008 and Dec 2008, 135 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who had undergone MRND were enrolled in this study. Total thyroidectomy and central node dissection with Kocker transverse collar incision with minimal additional lateral extension were performed before MRND. MRND were performed including level II, III, IV and V. Among 135 patients, we performed MRND with the Iron-Intern in 70 patients (Group I) and 65 patients who had MRND performed without the Iron-Intern (Group II) were included as a control group. In Group I, the Iron-Intern, with some modifications, was applied during the dissection of the level II area. The postoperative outcomes of the patients were analyzed and compared retrospectively. RESULTS: The median hospital stay was significantly lower in Group I compared to Group II (P=0.003). The median operation time was significantly higher in Group I than Group II (P=0.002). The median numbers of harvested central and lateral lymph nodes were 10, 29 (group I) and 8, 23 (group II), respectively (P=0.073, P=0.148). Median levothyroxine off thyroglobulin levels were 1.2 and 1.8 in Group I and II, respectively (P=0.110). CONCLUSION: MRND, with minimal lateral extension using the Iron-Intern, can be easily and safely performed, leaving only minor scars in the neck.

Occult Breast Cancers Manifesting as Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Men: A Two-Case Report / 한국유방암학회지

Occult breast cancer is a type of breast cancer without any symptoms on the breasts or any abnormalities upon radiologic examination such as mammography. In males, there are few cases of breast cancer, the rate of diagnosis of occult breast cancer is very low, and little is known about this disease. We experienced two cases of occult breast cancers manifesting as axillary lymph node metastasis in men. They had a palpable lesion on axillary area several years ago and had not seen a doctor about it. As such there was no abnormality on evaluations for cancer except for axillary lymph node showing signs of carcinoma (primary or metastatic) on biopsy and estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive on immunohistochemistry. The patients were diagnosed with occult breast cancer, and treatments were performed. Herein, we report the rare cases of occult breast cancers in men.

Long-Term Outcome of Internal Mammary Lymph Node Detected by Lymphoscintigraphy in Early Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Internal mammary lymph node (IMLN) metastasis is an important prognostic indicator in breast cancer. However, the necessity of internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy for accurate staging, for choosing adjuvant treatment, and as a prognostic indicator, has remained controversial. METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2006, 525 female breast cancer patients underwent radical surgery after preoperative lymphatic scintigraphy. We retrospectively analyzed the follow-up results, recurrences, and deaths of all patients. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinicopathological characteristics between the axilla and the IMLN groups. The median follow-up period was 118.8 months (range, 7-122 months) in the axilla group and 107.7 months (range, 14-108 months) in the IMLN group. During the median follow-up period, the breast cancer-related death rate in the axilla group was 3.6%, which was not significantly different from that of the IMLN group (1.3%) (p=0.484). The five-year survival rates did not differ between the two groups (p=0.306). The overall recurrence rate and the locoregional recurrence rate also did not differ between the two groups (p=0.835 and p=0.582, respectively). The recurrence rate of IMLN (both ipsilateral and contralateral) metastasis was very low, accounting for 0.5% in the axilla group and 1.3% in the IMLN group (p=0.416). CONCLUSION: The long-term follow-up results showed that there was no significant difference in both overall outcome and regional recurrence between the two groups. Therefore, the requirement for identification of nodal basins outside the axilla or IMLN sentinel biopsy should be reconsidered.

The Availability of Positron Emission Tomography for Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodule / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Whole body Positron Emission Tomography (PET) was used to evaluate the existence of cancer cells. However, PET had limitations in identifying thyroid cancer cells because of their slow progression, and evidence regarding its accuracy in finding thyroid cancer cells is insufficient. Therefore, we investigated the usefulness of PET for evaluation of patients with thyroid nodules by studying the relationships between PET and thyroid ultrasonography. METHODS: We evaluated 4,627 patients who had undergone PET from January 2007 to October 2011 and selected 370 patients who had undergone thyroid ultrasonography. We compared and analyzed the amount of thyroid SUVmax of PET, the pattern of glucose uptake, and findings of thyroid ultrasonography based on their size, shape, location, and FNAC. RESULTS: Of 370 patients, 197 (53.2%) subjects were found to have thyroid nodules, and 211 (57.0%) subjects had higher sugar metabolism, regardless of having thyroid nodules. No statistical correlations were observed among nodule size, nodule location,and higher sugar metabolism, however, noticeable relationships were observed between the shape of the cells on thyroid ultrasonography and FDG uptake of PET. In cases of papillary thyroid cancer, there was higher FDG uptake, compared to benign lesions in particular, SUVmax of the papillary thyroid cancer showed a significantly elevated level of FDG uptake. CONCLUSION: Despite its limited usefulness in identifying the characteristics of thyroid nodules being benign or malignant, PET is appropriate for evaluation of the malignancy of thyroid cells

Results from Over One Year of Follow-Up for Absorbable Mesh Insertion in Partial Mastectomy

PURPOSE: Recently, several clinicians have reported the advantages of simplicity and cosmetic satisfaction of absorbable mesh insertion. However, there is insufficient evidence regardint its long-term outcomes. We have investigated the surgical complications and postoperative examination from the oncologic viewpoint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2008 to March 2009, 34 breast cancer patients underwent curative surgery with absorbable mesh insertion in Samsung Medical Center. Patient characteristics and follow up results including complications, clinical and radiological findings were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 50.1+/-8.9 years old (range 31-82) with a mean tumor size of 3+/-1.8 cm (range 0.8-10.5), and the excised breast tissue showed a mean volume of 156.1+/-99.8 mL (range 27-550). Over the median follow-up period of 18+/-4.6 months (range 3-25), mesh associated complications, including severe pain or discomfort, edema, and recurrent fluid collection, occurred in nine patients (26.5%). In three cases (8.8%), recurrent mastitis resulted in mesh removal or surgical intervention. In the postoperative radiologic survey, the most common finding was fluid collection, which occurred in five patients (16.1%), including one case with organizing hematoma. Fat necrosis and microcalcifications were found in three patients (9.7%). CONCLUSION: Absorbable mesh insertion has been established as a technically feasible, time-saving procedure after breast excision. However, the follow-up results showed some noticeable side effects and the oncologic safety of the procedure is unconfirmed. Therefore, we suggest that mesh insertion should be considered only in select cases and should be followed-up carefully.

Does Immediate Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy affect the Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy? / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: The frequency of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is increasing, and the types of reconstruction used are diverse. Adjuvant chemotherapy is a life-saving intervention in selected high-risk breast cancer patients. The aim of our study was to determine how IBR and type of reconstruction affect the timing of the initiation of chemotherapy. METHODS: We obtained data from female breast cancer patients treated by mastectomy with IBR (IBR group) and without IBR (mastectomy only group) who received adjuvant chemotherapy between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010. We retrospectively collected data including patient characteristics, disease characteristics, treatment details, and treatment outcomes from our institutional electronic patient database and medical treatment records. The reconstruction types were categorized as deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, latissimus dorsi (LD) flap and tissue expander/implant (TEI). RESULTS: In total, 595 patients were included in this study. Of these patients, 43 underwent mastectomy with IBR (IBR group) and 552 patients did not undergo reconstruction (mastectomy only group). There was significant difference in the timing of the initiation of chemotherapy between the two groups (p<0.0001). There were no cases of delays of more than 12 weeks. In the IBR group, 20 patients received TEI, 9 patients were treated by the insertion DIEP flaps, and 14 patients were treated by LD flaps. There were no significant differences in the timing of chemotherapy according to the type of reconstruction (p=0.095). CONCLUSION: IBR delays the initiation of chemotherapy, but does not lead to omission or significant clinical delay in chemotherapy. Further, the type of reconstruction does not affect the timing of chemotherapy.

Incidental Detection of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast from Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy of Asymptomatic BRCA2 Mutation Carrier: A Case Report / 한국유방암학회지

In women at high-risk for breast cancer with a BRCA mutation, bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) may achieve a risk reduction. A 35-year-old woman had a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer. She had a regular checkup and found masses in both breasts that confirmed intraductal papillomas and atypical ductal hyperplasia after vacuum assisted mass excision. When she was referred to our clinic, the genetic testing for BRCA mutation was recommended to her sister that managed for ovarian cancer. It was resulted in the positive for the BRCA2 mutation, so she had checked the genetic testing which resulted in the same as the mutation. After sufficient counseling, she decided to undergo BPM and immediate reconstruction. She is satisfied with the result of surgery. This is the first report of BPM of asymptomatic BRCA2 mutation carrier in Korea and BPM should be considered as a risk-reducing option for BRCA mutation carriers.

Early Symptoms and Clinical Manifestations in Korean Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome is an inherited, autosomal dominant disease that presents as a combination of several endocrine tumors. Early diagnosis of this syndrome is difficult, because of the nonspecific symptoms and signs. This study analyzed early manifestations and clinical characteristics in patients with MEN syndrome. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and telephone interviews were conducted with 35 patients diagnosed as MEN syndrome at Samsung Medical Center from December 1994 to December 2009. RESULTS: The 35 patients had been diagnosed as MEN1 (n=14), MEN2A (n=19) and MEN2B (n=2). The early manifestations of the 14 MEN1 patients were related with hyperparathyroidism (n=5), pituitary tumor (n=3), and pancreatic endocrine tumor (n=2). There were tumors of the parathyroid gland in all 14 patients, anterior pituitary in eight patients, and pancreatic islet cells in seven patients. Four cases were incidentally detected during the screening examination. Six cases harbored a MEN1 gene mutation. The twenty-one patients diagnosed with MEN2 comprised medullary thyroid cancer (n=20), adrenal pheochromocytoma (n=15), and hyperparathyroidism (n=4). The MTC-related symptoms in the 21 MEN2 patients included neck mass or discomfort in 12 patients and pheochromocytoma-related symptoms in seven patients. Two cases were detected through familial genetic screening test. The RET gene mutationwas detected in 19 cases. CONCLUSION: Early manifestations of MEN syndrome were very different between the types of MEN and the types of its presenting tumor. The early diagnosis and proper management of MEN requires awareness of the clinical characteristics of each expressed tumor and is influenced by genetic screening methods.

The Outcome and Propriety of Surgical Treatment of Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly

PURPOSE: As life expectancy increases, elderly colorectal cancer patients are also increasing. Compared to younger patients, the elderly manifest higher co-morbidity with more advanced and emergent disease. However, recent studies have reported similar surgical approaches irrespective of age distribution. We evaluated the outcome and propriety of surgical treatment of colorectal cancer in the elderly. METHODS: The medial records of 464 colorectal patients, who underwent surgery during 2003 to 2007 in Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into three groups according to age: I (younger than 70), II (71~80), III (older than 81). Clinical and histological characteristics, surgical outcomes and survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-eight patients belonged to group I, and 104 patients to group II, and group III included 22 patients. Although, male patients were more prevalent in all three groups, female distribution was slightly higher in group III. Clinical characteristics among the three groups did not reveal specific differences except TNM stage distribution. In group I and II, patients with stage II were more common compared to group III, whereas the latter showed most frequently stage III. Histological characteristics and postoperative morbidity rates did not show any difference among the three groups. The survival rate was lowest in group III. However, emergency operation was more frequent in group III, in accordance with increased postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The elderly demonstrated comparable operative morbidity and mortality to the younger patients. Emergency operation was the only significantly influencing factor in the surgical outcome. Therefore, in colorectal cancer patients, surgical treatment in the elderly should be no longer contraindicated.

Single-Port Access Laparoscopic Prophylactic Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy in BRCA-Positive Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report / 한국유방암학회지

For women with a BRCA 1/2 mutation, prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) is known to reduce the risk of developing both ovarian and breast cancer. The increasing interest in hereditary breast cancer has recently resulted in frequent genetic testing for high-risk patients. Since breast surgeons frequently encounter BRCA-positive breast cancer patients or carriers in the outpatient clinic, it is a prerequisite that the decision of the patients and doctors should be based on a thorough understanding of the objective risk, the medical assessment and the various treatment options, including surgery and anti-cancer therapy. The risk for the ovarian cancer also makes up an important part of genetic counseling; therefore, the breast surgeons should be well aware of this. This report presents the first experience with performing single-port access laparoscopic prophylactic BSO for a BRCA-positive breast cancer patient, and this procedure was technically feasible and the patient had minimal scar. However, a future investigation is needed to properly assess the cosmetic outcome in this approach.

The Role and Significance of Preoperative Breast MRI in the Setting of Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Accurate preoperative assessment of breast cancer is important to determine the extent of disease and the plan for surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in breast cancer patients. METHODS: Between January 2001 and October 2007, 457 consecutive patients who had undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer were retrospectively studied. We compared 303 patients from the non-preoperative MRI group (group A) to 154 patients from the preoperative MRI group (group B). The impact of preoperative MRI was evaluated for each patient with regard to changes in therapeutic intervention. RESULTS: MRI alone revealed 17 new lesions. The results of the MRI led to a change in 9.1% of the planned surgical procedures. Tumor size was more accurately defined in patients undergoing MRI than in those undergoing ultrasound imaging. CONCLUSION: Breast MRI could be recommended as a preoperative diagnostic procedure in patients allocated to receive breast conservation surgery, because MRI may reveal unsuspected multifocal or multicentric tumors or carcinoma infiltrations and may result in changes in therapy.

Long Term Result of Periesophagogastric Devasculorization in Gastric Fundal Variceal Bleeding

PURPOSE: Gastric variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patient is an emergent, life threatening disease of which the adequate treatment is still in dispute. The periesophagogastric devascularization (PD) would be the alternative operative procedure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and long-term results of PD for the gastric fundal variceal bleeding. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of fifty-two patients with gastric variceal bleeding who underwent PD with or without fundectomy from August 1994 to March 2006. We evaluated the clinical characteristics, operative morbidity, mortality and long-term follow up results. RESULTS: The operative morbidity was 34.9% and overall mortality was 17.3%. The Child-Pugh classification at operation, the number of previous varix bleeding episode, the success of preoperative intervention, splenectomy, esophageal transection, and ongoing bleeding at operation had a significant effect on postoperative mortality. Most common cause of postoperative death was hepatic failure. Child-Pugh classification and esophageal transection were significant risk factor for postoperative mortality comparing before and after year 2001. During the mean follow-up period of 33.58+/-27.08 months, there was no recurrent bleeding from gastric varices. The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 64.1%. 0f 14 patients deceased, 6 patients died of hepatocellular carcinoma. Not only there was no death caused by recurrent variceal bleeding, but there was no recurrent gastric variceal bleeding. Hepatic functional reserve and concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma were the most important prognostic factors in the long term survival by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: We concluded that PD reached both low postoperative mortality and recurrent bleeding rate with good long-term survival. So it could be one of the most effective treatment for the gastric fundal variceal bleeding.

Synchronous Adenocarcinoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma of the Stomach

Synchronous occurrence of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and gastric cancer in the same patient has not yet been reported in the English literature. MCL comprises 2.5-7% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and is characterized by a poor prognosis with a median survival probability of 3-4 years in most series. A 62-year-old man was referred to our hospital for evaluation of an abnormal gastric lesion. The endoscopic finding was compatible with type IIc early gastric cancer (EGC) in the middle third of the stomach, and a biopsy of the lesion proved to be carcinoma. Radical total gastrectomy with splenectomy and Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy were performed. The resected specimen revealed two grossly separated lesions. Postoperative histological examination reported both adenocarcinoma and MCL. Immunohistochemical staining showed positivity for CD5, CD20, and cyclin D1 in the infiltrated lymphoid cells. MCL is an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the current treatment approach is still unsatisfactory. Further advancements in the understanding of the synchronous occurrence of both diseases, and more efforts on investigations of treatment are needed.