Are histological alterations observed in the gallbladder precancerous lesions?

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer, which is characterized by rapid progression and a poor prognosis, is a complex disease to treat. Unfortunately, little is known currently about its etiology or pathogenesis. A better understanding of its carcinogenesis and determining risk factors that lead to its development could help improve the available treatment options. METHOD: Based on this better understanding, the histological alterations (such as acute cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, polyps, pyloric metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, cancer and others) in gallbladders from 1,689 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis were analyzed. The association of these gallbladder histological alterations with clinical data was studied. RESULTS: Gender analysis revealed a greater incidence of inflammatory changes in males, while dysplasia and cancer were only found in women. The incidence of cholesterolosis was greater in the patients 60 years of age and under, and the incidence of adenomyomatosis and gangrene was greater in the elderly patients. A progressive increase in the average age was observed as alterations progressed through pyloric metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and then cancer, suggesting that the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence may occur in gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder histological alterations were also observed in asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there could be an association between some histological alterations of gallbladder and cancer, and they also suggest that the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence could in fact be true in the case of gallbladder cancer. Nevertheless, further studies directed towards a perfect understanding of gallbladder carcinogenesis are required.

Distribuição de linfonodos no mesorreto: implicações na excisão total do mesorreto / Distribution of lymph nodes: how deep is it TME necessary?

Introdução: A excisão total do mesorreto teve grande impacto na diminuição dastaxas de recidiva local no câncer retal. Entretanto o número e a distribuição de linfonodos pelomesorreto permanecem controversos. Estudos indicaram maior prevalência de linfonodos noterço posterior médio e dois terços superiores do mesorreto. Para confirmar a baixa freqüênciade linfonodos distais realizamos estudo em cadáveres com maior número de corpos. Métodos:Realizamos uma excisão total do mesorreto por incisão abdominal mediana em 18 cadáveresfrescos. Dividimos o mesorreto em duas porções laterais e um posterior, e definimos 3 níveisde proximal a distal. Após dissecção dos linfonodos sem solução de limpeza específica, aconfirmação histológica e a determinação de localização e tamanho dos linfonodos foi realizada.Resultados: Em média, encontramos 5.0±3.7 LN/peça, com tamanho de 3.0±2.7mm...

Introduction: Standardization of TME had a great impact on decreasing localrecurrence rates for the treatment of rectal cancer. However, number and distribution of lymph nodes along the mesorectum remains controversial. In order to confirm lower frequency ofdistal lymph nodes in the mesorectum we performed a cadaveric study. Patients and Methods: 18 fresh cadavers were included in the study. The rectum was removed along with total mesorectal excision by an abdominal median incision...