Risk factors for surgical-site infections after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a study in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#About 10% of patients get a surgical-site infection (SSI) after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, but SSI remains controversial among surgeons. The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors for SSIs after radical gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer to guide clinical therapies and reduce the incidence of SSI.@*METHODS@#The study was a retrospective cohort study in patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. SSI was defined in accordance with the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. We evaluated patient-related and peri-operative variables that could be risk factors for SSIs. The Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between these risk factors and SSI.@*RESULTS@#Among the 590 patients, 386 were men and 204 were women. The mean age was 56.6 (28-82) years and 14.2% (84/590) of these patients had an SSI. Among them, incisional SSI was observed in 23 patients (3.9%) and organ/space SSI in 61 patients (10.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified sex (odds ratios [ORs] = 2.548, and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.268-5.122, P = 0.009), total gastrectomy (OR = 2.327, 95% CI: 1.352-4.004, P = 0.002), albumin level (day 3 after surgery) <30 g/L (OR = 1.868, 95% CI: 1.066-3.274, P = 0.029), and post-operative total parenteral nutrition (OR = 2.318, 95% CI: 1.026-5.237, P = 0.043) as independent risk factors for SSI.@*CONCLUSIONS@#SSI was common among patients after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The method supporting post-operative nutrition and the duration of prophylactic antibiotics may be important modifiable influencing factors for SSI.

Analysis of the relationship between clinicopathological factors and lymph node matastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate retrospectively the relationship between clinicopathological factors and lymph node matastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological factors, including gender, age, preoperative CA-19-9 level etc. of 71 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were summarized to analyze the relationship between those factors and lymph node matastasis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 71 cases, there were 49 males (69.0%) and 22 females (31.0%). Forty-eight were ≥ 60 (67.6%) and 23 were < 60 (32.4%) years old. Twenty patients had normal preoperative CA-19-9 level (28.2%) and 51 had elevated level (71.8%). The tumor in 43 (60.6%) cases located in the pancreatic head and neck, and 28 (39.4%) in the body and tail. The tumors in 8 patients were well-differentiated (11.3%), 27 were moderately differentiated (38.0%), and 36 were poorly differentiated (50.7%). The maximum diameter of the tumor was ≤ 2 cm in 11 cases (15.5%), 2 - 5 cm in 45 cases (63.4%), and > 5 cm in 15 cases (21.1%). Ten patients had tumor confined to the pancreas (14.1%), and 61 invaded peripancreatic tissues (85.9%). Vascular tumor thrombus was found in 48 cases (67.6%), and 23 cases were absent (32.4%). Thirty-six cases had lymph node matastasis (50.7%). Univariate chi-square test revealed that differentiation and range of local infiltration were significantly associated with lymph node meatstasis (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that differentiation and range of local infiltration were significantly associated with lymph node meatstasis (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The differentiation of tumor and range of local infiltration of pancreatic adenocarcinoma are significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. There is no significant relationship of location of the tumor, maximum diameter, presence or absence of vascular tumor thrombus with lymph node metastasis. Therefore, special attention should be paid to lymph node dissection in cases with a poorly differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma invading into peripancreatic tissues.</p>

Clinical analysis of 17 cases of gastric small cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical data and prognosis of gastric small cell carcinoma (GSCC), summarize recent progress in diagnosis and therapy of this disease reported in the literature, and to provide the theoretical basis for its appropriate treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinicopathological data of 17 patients with pathologically confirmed GSCC, treated in our hospital between 1999 to 2012, were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 16 males and 1 female, ranged from 46 to 75 years (mean 64.6 years). The tumor was located in the gastric cardia in 13 cases, three in the gastric fundus, and one in the gastric body. All the 17 patients received surgery and 10 of them received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, one received preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Thirteen patients were followed up. Among them, two 1ived for 40 months all along, the other 3 cases died of recurrence and extensive metastasis in 6 month after operation. The median survival was 13.0 months. The median survival of the patients with and without lymph node metastasis were 42 months and 13 months, respectively. The median survival time of stage II and III patients were 24 months and 14 months, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is difficult to make a definite diagnosis before or during the operation for GSCC. Radical operation could be done according to other gastric cancers and lymph node dissection could be simplified. Postoperative chemotherapy with the same scheme as lung small cell carcinoma may help to improve the outcome and prolong the survival of the patients.</p>

Risk factors associated with postoperative hospital stay after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Postoperative hospital stay after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is relatively longer than after other gastrointestinal operations. The aim of the current study was to investigate the risk factors associated with prolonged hospital stay after PD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients who had PD at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between December 2008 and November 2012 were selected for this retrospective study. Clinical and pathological data were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was postoperative length of stay. Normal discharge or recovery was defined as a postoperative hospital stay of no more than 10 days; otherwise it was defined as delayed discharge or recovery (including hospital death).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 152 patients were enrolled in the present study. Postoperative hospital stay was (19.7 ± 7.7) days (range 7-57). Of the 152 patients, 67 were discharged within the normal time and 85 had delayed discharge. Postoperative complications occurred in 62.5% (95/152), and the mortality rate was 3.29% (5/152). Multiple regression analysis showed that delayed discharge was significantly associated with postoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 10.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.58-30.22), age (adjusted OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.16-14.39), body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR 4.40, 95% CI 1.19-16.23), surgical procedure (adjusted OR 26.14, 95% CI 4.94-153.19), blood transfusion (adjusted OR 7.68, 95% CI 2.09-28.27), and fluid input (adjusted OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.24-11.57).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Postoperative complications increase the time to postoperative hospital discharge. The length of hospital stay after PD is also associated with age, BMI, blood transfusion, surgical procedure, and fluid input. Further studies with more patients are needed in future.</p>

The role of slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation in treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation in treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>85 cases of untreated patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) were randomized into two groups: Trial group: slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation (50 patients) and control group (35 patients). Observing the objective tumor response, clinical benefit response, toxicity, complications and survival of patients of the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the trial group the overall response rate (PR + NC) was 76.0%, and the clinical benefit response rate was 52.0%. No toxicity was observed. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 2 patients. The median survival time of the two groups was 9.0 months and 4.0 months, respectively. The survival rates of 6- and 12-month were 56.8% vs. 31.4% and 22.9% vs. 2.9% in the two groups, respectively (P = 0.012).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation is a simple, safe and effective method in treatment of LAPC.</p>

Significance of positive ductal margin and prognostic factors of surgical resection in middle and distal bile duct carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the significance of a positive ductal margin and evaluate the prognostic factors related to surgical resection for middle and distal bile duct carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective clinicopathological analysis of 79 patients who had undergone surgical resection for middle or distal bile ductal cancer between January 1990 and December 2006 was conducted. The surgical procedures consisted of pancreatoduodenectomy in 46 patients, bile duct resection in 25 patients, bile duct resection plus hepatectomy in 6 patients, and bile duct resection with partial resection of portal vein in 2 patients. In 74 patients, 5 patients were excluded because they died after surgery without being discharged from the hospital, 15 clinicopathologic factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall 5-year survival rate and the median survival time was 30.7% and 36 months, respectively. Sixteen of 74 patients (20.3%) were determined to have positive ductal margins on the final pathological examination. As a result, hepatic-side ductal margin, duodenal-side ductal margin and both was found to be positive in 6, 3 and 2 patients, respectively. Five patients had positive radial margins. The 5-year survival rate was 34.4% in 58 patients without microscopic residual disease (R0), and 15.5% in 16 patients with microscopic residual tumor (R1). The ductal recurrence rate of 16 patients with R1 resection was higher than 58 patients with R0 resection (62.5% vs. 17.2%, chi(2) = 13.024, P < 0.01). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were better in the patients with R0 (92.5%, 56.7%, and 34.4%, respectively) than those in the patients with R1 resection (75.0%, 23.2%, and 15.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Twelve patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The 5-year survival rate was not significantly different between patients with postoperative adjuvant therapy and those without (18.2% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.221). The preoperative serum level of hemoglobin, pathological differentiation grade, the depth of neoplastic invasion, lymph node metastasis, R1 resection, and TNM stage were significant prognostic factors on the univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis and R1 resection were the independent prognostic factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the treatment of middle and distal bile duct cancer, radical resection should be made to obtain a tumor-free margin. An aggressive surgical approach may improve the survival for middle bile duct cancer. Adjuvant therapy needs to be further developed.</p>

Surgical treatment and prognosis of primary duodenal carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological features, surgical treatment and prognosis of primary carcinoma of the duodenum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological data of 86 patients with primary duodenal carcinoma from January 1996 to June 2007 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed by SPSS 13.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical manifestation includes upper abdominal pain, jaundice, anemia, gastrointestinal obstruction, melena and weight loss. Four patients had a tumor located in the first portion of the duodenum, 66 in the second portion, 12 in the third portion and 4 in the fourth portion. The preoperative correct diagnostic rate by BUS was 41.7%, by CT 69.4%, by MRI 75.0%, by duodenal endoscopy 84.0%, and by air barium double radiography 80.9%. Complete resection of the tumors was achieved in 38 patients, palliative resection in 45 cases, and exploration alone in 3 cases. The median survival time of the group with complete resection was 42 months versus 13 months in the group with palliative resection, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Primary carcinoma of the duodenum has no specific symptoms. Early diagnosis and complete resection are effective to improve prognosis.</p>

Application of tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy in the intraoperative pathological diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the method and value of tru-cut biopsy (TCB) combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the pathological diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma during operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2007 to October 2008, 22 cases who were suspected to suffer from pancreatic carcinoma were enrolled into this prospective study. All of them underwent a tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy for the pathological diagnosis during operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 22 patients, 20 were finally diagnosed as having pancreatic carcinoma, while 2 having pancreatitis. The diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was confirmed in 19 by tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy, while other 3 cases were not confirmed as pancreatic carcinoma. Among those 3 cases, one was diagnosed as having pancreatic carcinoma with hepatic metastasis by liver nodular biopsy, one as suffering from autoimmune pancreatitis, and another case as having chronic pancreatitis confirmed by follow-up for 9 months without any changes after the operation. The accuracy of FNA, TCB and FNA combined with TCB in the diagnosis for suspected pancreatic cancer were 86.4%, 90.9%, and 95.5%, respectively. No pancreatic fistula and bleeding developed after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tru-cut biopsy is more accurate in diagnosis for the suspected pancreatic cancer than fine needle aspiration biopsy during operation. Tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy can improve the accuracy of diagnosis, and is a safe and effective diagnostic method.</p>

Analysis of the treatment and prognosis of recurrent breast phyllodes tumor / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the methods of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for patients with recurrent breast phyllodes tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinicopathological data of 26 patients with pathologically proven recurrent phyllodes tumors treated from March 1972 to June 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age of the 26 cases was 45 years, and the median follow-up duration was 83 months. The mean overall survival time of this series was 96 months. The primary breast phyllodes tumor was > or = 5 cm in 10 cases with a recurrence rate of 60.0% (6/10 cases); < 5 cm in 16 cases with a recurrence rate of 31.3% 5/16 cases). After surgical removal of the breast primary tumor, the recurrent tumor was > or = 5 cm in 14 cases with a re-recurrence rate of 35.7% (5/14 cases); < 5 cm was in 12 cases with are-recurrence rate of 50.0% (6/12 cases). There was no statistically significant relationship between the (primary and reccurent) tumor size and recurrence rate (P = 0.094, P = 0.383) or prognosis (P = 0.142, P = 0.486). The benign or malignant nature of the breast phyllodes tumor was significantly correlated with the rate of local re-recurrence (P = 0.046) and prognosis (P = 0.028).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The benign or malignant nature of the breast phyllodes tumor is significantly correlated with the local re-recurrence and prognosis, while the size of the primary breast phyllodes tumor has no significant effect on either re-recrruence or prognosis. The first rescue operation is most important in the treatment of recurrent breast phyllodes tumor. The resection margin should be wide enough. Active surgical treatment can still effectively save the life of the patients with a local re-recurrent tumor.</p>

Surgical management for carcinoma of the gallbladder: a single-institution experience in 25 years / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gallbladder carcinoma is rare and associated with dismal outcomes. Radical surgery is the only curative treatment, and options for adjuvant therapy remain limited. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing outcome of treatment in patients with gallbladder carcinoma, and to identify the patients who might benefit from radical surgery and adjuvant therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medical records and follow-up histories of 150 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who had undergone surgery between April 1980 and December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The factors predictive for the survival of the patients were identified using multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Surgery for gallbladder cancer was associated with an overall 5-year survival rate of 26.2%. After curative resection (40% of the patients), the 5-year survival rate was 60.3%. The patients who underwent R0 resection had a significantly longer median survival (97.3 months) than those who had R1/R2 resection (8.3 months) or only laparotomy (3.7 months) (P < 0.0001). Univariate analysis showed that resectability, American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, tumor grade, adjuvant therapy, jaundice at presentation, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and carcinoembryonic antigen level were statistically significant predictors for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed American Joint Committee on Cancer staging and resectability were independent prognostic factors for survival. The patients who underwent noncurative resection might benefit from adjuvant therapy (median survival, 12.4 months vs 7.2 months, P = 0.006).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Favorable survival rate can be achieved after curative resection, even for selected patients with advanced disease. Adjuvant therapy may improve the survival of patients with gallbladder carcinoma.</p>

Prospective comparison of ultrasonography, helical computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasonography in assessing locoregional invasion of primary pancreatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate prospectively the efficacy and clinical significance of ultrasonography (US), helical computed tomography (HCT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing locoregional invasion to the surrounding tissue or organs of primary pancreatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-eight consecutive patients with pancreatic carcinoma underwent US, HCT, EUS and MRI examinations before surgical exploration. All imaging results in terms of tumor size and locoregional invasion were assessed separately by two diagnostic radiologists and compared with the surgical and pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the HCT, US, EUS and MRI examinations, EUS had the highest accuracy in assessing tumor size with a regression coefficient for the maximal and minimal diameter of 1.0250 (P = 0.0426) and 0.9873 (P < 0.0001), respectively. In the assessment of locoregional invasion to the surrounding tissue or organs, EUS also had the highest accuracy (75.8%) and sensitivity (80.0%), but MRI had the highest positive predicting value (97.4%). None of these four imaging techniques was significantly correlated with the surgical findings when analyzed by univariate logistic regression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endoscopic ultrasonography may be the most useful imaging technique in assessing tumor size, but for assessing loco-regional invasion of primary pancreatic carcinoma, combination of more than one imaging techniques may be necessary.</p>

Prospective evaluation of the clinical significance of ultrasonography, helical computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography in the assessment of vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate prospectively the efficacy of ultrasonography (US), helical computed tomography (HCT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis in pancreatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Consecutive 68 patients with pancreatic carcinoma were studied. Results of each imaging techniques regarding vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were compared with the surgical and pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) US findings were confirmed moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results in the evaluation of inferior cava vein, splenic artery and vein invasion of pancreatic carcinoma. HCT findings of evaluating superior mesenteric vein, portal vein, splenic vein were confirmed greatly in accordance with surgical and pathological results. The results of evaluating superior mesenteric artery, inferior cava vein, splenic artery, common hepatic artery, proper hepatic artery, celiac trunk, abdominal aorta were confirmed moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results. MRI findings of evaluating superior mesenteric artery and vein, portal artery and vein were moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results. EUS findings of evaluating splenic vein were confirmed greatly in accordance with surgical and pathological results, and moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results in the evaluation of superior mesenteric vein. (2) EUS had the highest sensitivity (75.0%), accuracy (87.5%), and negative predictive values (91.7%) in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity of HCT and MRI were 37.5% and 35.3%, which were significantly lower than that of EUS. The sensitivity of US was 18.7%, which was the lowest of all. In addition, the multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that EUS had an independent predictive value (OR: 34.50, 95%CI: 6.54 - 182.09).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Helical CT should be considered the most precise technique to evaluate vascular invasion. EUS had an independent predictive value with respect to tumor metastasis to regional lymph nodes.</p>

In vivo effect of annexin I down-regulation on the growth of human pancreatic cancer in nude mice / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further explore the effect of annexin I on the tumor growth of human pancreatic cancer in nude mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To knock down the expression of annexin I in pancreatic carcinoma cells by RNAi. A nude mouse model of human pancreatic cancer was established by subcutaneous inoculation of human pancreatic cancer cell line Suit-II cells. The effect of annexin I on tumor growth was assessed by tumor growth curve and tumor weight records, and Westen blot and flow cytometry were used to examine the expression of annexin I after annexin I-knocking down.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of Western blot revealed that the expression of annexin I was significantly decreased in Suit-II cells transfected with pSilencer-annexin I-siRNA1, and almost completely inhibited in the cells transfected with pSilencer-annexin I-siRNA2 and pSilencer-annexin I-siRNA3. The growth of tumors transfected with annexin I-siRNA2 and annexin I-siRNA3 was inhibited by 76.6% and 68.4%, respectively, in comparison with that of tumor from the parent Suit-II cells. At 44 days after tumor cell inoculation, the tumor weight was 0.8987 g (transfected with annexin I-siRNA2) and 0.8992 g (transfected with annexin I-siRNA3), significantly lower (P < 0.001) than that of tumor from parent Suit-II cells (2.5866 g) and transfected with annexin I-siRNAN (2.4070 g).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>annexin I promotes the growth and proliferation of pancreatic carcinoma cells in vivo and increases the ability of tumor formation in nude mice. The results of this study support that annexin I may become a potential target in gene therapy for this disease.</p>

Expression of annexin I in human pancreatic cancer and the influence of its down-regulation on biology of this cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of annexin in human pancreatic cancer and to elucidate its role in oncogenesis of pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A pancreatic carcinoma cell line Suit-II with high-expression of annexin I gene was adopted. Three subtypes of annexin I -siRNA sequences and a non-related fragment were combined, and the eukaryotic expression vectors bearing siRNA fragments were constructed. Then they were transfected into pancreatic carcinoma cells to knock down the expression of annexin I by RNAi. After knocking down the expression of annexin I , the growth speed, cell cycling, morphological features and apoptosis of pancreatic carcinoma cells were examined by RT-PCR and MTT test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the expression of annexin I was blocked, the growth speed of pancreatic carcinoma cells was significantly decreased, the morphological features were changed and pronounced apoptosis occurred.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Annexin I can modulate pancreatic carcinoma cell cycle, promote the cell proliferation, increasingly stimulate the cell growth, and suppress the process of apoptosis in pancreatic carcinoma cells.</p>

Value of intraoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of the intraoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (IFNAC) in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The IFNAC data of 70 pancreatic cancer patients were retrospectively reviewed. IFNAC had been done in our hospital only in a few patients before 2001, however, more and more patients have been examined by renovated method since 2002. But as the way of carrying out IFNAC improved by changing from the ordinary 10 ml syringe and 22 gauge needle (0.7 mm) before 2003 to 5 ml syringe and 25 gauge skin testing needle (0.5 mm), the panreas itself is properly exposed before IFNAC, the operator at frst fixes the suspected mass with his left hand and does the puncture with his right hand. Puncturing is done while the syringe is rotated, negative pressure is being kept at the same time. The needle is withdrawn under negative pressure, 6-8 syringe are used for each patient by puncturing at 6-8 points, then smears are made with the syringes. The whole process takes 20 min to accomplish.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall positive rate was 84.3%. The positive rate of the conventional IFNAC was 66.67%, while it was increased to 95.3% following the introduction of the renovated method (P = 0.002); No complication was observed in this series.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intraoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology using 25 gauge skin testing needle and multi-point rotating maneuver during puncturing in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is safe and effective with few complications.</p>

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of remnant stomach cancer--report of 45 cases / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of remnant stomach cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological and prognosis data of 45 patients with remnant stomach cancer were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The remnant stomach cancer are likely to develop in males with a ratio of male to female: 44:1. Their initial operation modes of these patients were Billroth II subtotal gastrectomy in 40 patients, Billroth I subtotal gastrectomy in 4 and proximal subtotal gastrectomy in 1. The interval from the initial operation to the diagnosis of remnant stomach cancer was 5 to 42 years with an average of 23 years. Of these 45 patients, 28 had lesion at anastomotic site, 9 in the gastric cardia and 8 in other locations; 19 had radical resection, 16 palliative resection and 10 exploration alone except one who had an anastomosis of remnant stomach with the jejunum. The histology types included: 1 un-differentiated adenocarcinoma, 36 poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma, 7 moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma and 1 well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of patients with radical resection were significantly better than those treated with palliative resection, which was 100% vs. 62.5%, 78.8% vs. 25%, 47.2% vs. 0, respectively (P < 0.05). All ten patients without resection died within 2 years with an average survival time of 12 months. The 5-year survival rate of stage I, II, III and IV was 100%, 75%, 17.8% and 0, respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Remnant stomach cancer prevalently occurs in the male usually 10 years after Birroth II gastrectomy. The lesions is mainly located at anastomotic site. Poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma is found to be the prevalent histological type of advanced remnant stomach cancer. The prognosis of remnant stomach cancer is correlated with pTNM stage and whether having been treated with complete resection or not. Patients with early remnant stomach cancer may survive for a long time if radical resection can be done.</p>

Diagnosis and management of metastatic pancreatic tumors / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of metastatic pancreatic tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 18 metastatic pancreatic tumors were retrospectively analyzed. The primary foci of these 18 patients included: 8 lung cancer, 2 gastric cancer, and malignant histiocytoma, melanoma, rectal cancer, thyroid cancer, renal cell carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, liver cancer and ovarian cancer each.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All these 18 patients harboring metastatic pancreatic tumor did not show any specific symptoms but were frequently found to have a solitary (14 cases) or multiple (4 cases) homogeneous and hypodense nodules on CT scan without any enhancement except one metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The diagnosis was cytologically confirmed in 14 patients by fine needle aspiration biopsy guided by CT or ultrasonography, and diagnosed by postoperative pathology in the other 4 patients. After receiving combined modality treatment, their survival time was 8 to 38 months with an average of 19 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Metastatic pancreatic tumors are rare and give no specific symptom or image finding. Selection of appropriate combined modality treatment according to the type of primary focus is very important for the management.</p>