Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: To investigate the features of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) in order to improve the preoperative diagnosis rate. Methods: CEUS images of 32 pathologically-proven cases of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma from January 2004 to August 2021 were collected. Lesions were analyzed to observe the features of enhancement mode, enhancement intensity, and distinct enhancement phases. Results: Among the 32 cases, one had a solitary lesion, 29 had multiple lesions, and two had diffuse-type lesions. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound revealed a total of 42 lesions in 32 cases. In terms of arterial phase enhancement, 18 lesions had overall enhancement, six lesions had uneven dendritic enhancement, 16 lesions had rim-like enhancement, and two lesions had just slight peripheral spot enhancement around the lesions. Among the three cases, there were multiple lesions that had overall enhancement and ring enhancement. In terms of the enhancement phase, 20 lesions showed "fast progression", 20 lesions showed "same progression", and two lesions showed "slow progression". During the late arterial or early portal venous phases with rapid washout, all lesions manifested as hypoechoic. With peaked enhanced intensity, 11 lesions had a lower enhancement intensity than the surrounding normal liver parenchyma; 11 lesions had the same enhancement degree as the surrounding normal liver parenchyma; and 20 lesions had a higher enhancement degree than the surrounding normal liver parenchyma. All 16 ring-enhancing lesions had marked hyperenhancement. In the typical enhancing lesions, four showed hyperenhancement, five showed low enhancement, and nine showed isoenhancement. In the dendrite-enhancing lesions, there were two isoenhancing and four hypoenhancing. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound delineated the boundaries of all lesions more clearly than two-dimensional ultrasound. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has certain value in the diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Molecular classification of colorectal carcinoma based on integration of gene expression profile and copy number variation / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To classify colorectal carcinoma (CRC) by TNM staging integrated with the gene expression profile and copy number variation (CNV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Profile data of gene expression and CNV of CRC were downloaded from public database and processed with batch bias adjustment, quartile normalization, missing value estimation and feature filtration. The processed profiles of mRNA and CNV were introduced into the codes of Bayesian consensus clustering (BCC) method and were used to calculate the subclasses of CRC. With the follow-up information of disease free survival of CRC patients, the prognostic values of the subclasses was investigated and the software of function enrichment analysis was employed to discover the major pathway signaling to each interesting subclass. All statistic analyses were performed under R-3.0.1 environment or by using SPSS 16.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Profile data of gene expression and corresponding CNV from 335 CRC patients with TNM stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ and followed-up information were obtained. After feature filtering, the profiles contained 1578 probes of mRNA and 345 location of CNV. Four CRC subclasses were identified by the integrative analysis with BCC, and the concordances of BCC subclasses and each of gene-based subclasses (Cramer's V=0.49), CNV-based subclasses (Cramer's V=0.51) and Marisa's subclasses (Cramer's V=0.32) were statistically significant (Ps<0.001). Among BCC subclasses, BCC-I had a favorable prognosis, while BCC-Ⅳ had more unfavorable prognosis. The differences of prognosis were significant among BCC-I, BCC-(Ⅱ+Ⅲ) and BCC-Ⅳ with an overall log-rank P<0.001. The top enriched function was DNA damage and repair signaling when BCC-I compared to BCC-Ⅳ, and the new subgroups classified by the genes associated with enriched signaling had the better prognostic value than BCC subclasses but both of them were significantly correlated (Cramer's V=0.39, P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BCC method is effective to integrate multi-type genomic data for molecular classification of colorectal carcinoma, and the BCC-Ⅳ subclass has poor prognosis, which may be associated with the decreased repairing function of DNA damage.</p>

Emergence application of colonoscopic placement of self-expandable metal stent without fluoroscopic monitoring / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of colonoscopy-guided placement of self-expandable metallic stent without fluoroscopic monitoring in the emergence management for acute malignant colorectal obstruction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 42 patients (24 males and 18 females with a mean age of 64.3 years) undergoing colonoscopy-guided placement of self-expandable metallic stents without fluoroscopic monitoring for acute malignant colorectal obstruction between January 2010 and June 2012 were reviewed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The obstruction was located in the rectum (n=19), sigmoid (n=9), descending colon (n=8), splenic flexure (n=1), hepatic flexure (n=3), and ascending colon (n=2). Technical success was achieved in all the 42 patients (100%). The mean time of operation was (11.8±10.4) min (range 1.1-51.0 min). No serious procedure-related complication occurred. Minor bleeding occurred in 3 cases (7.1%). One patient died on the second day after surgery because of heart failure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Colonoscopy-guided placement of self-expandable metallic stents without fluoroscopic monitoring in emergence management for acute malignant colorectal obstruction is effective and safe with shorter operative time.</p>

Colonoscopic restoration for sigmoid vovulus in the elderly / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the emergency therapeutic strategy for sigmoid vovulus in the elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 14 elderly patients with sigmoid vovulus were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age was(79.1±7.2) years(range, 70-93), and 11 patients (78.6%) were male. Emergency decompression and restoration with colonoscopy was performed in all the patients with a success rate of 100%. No patient required emergent surgery. Four patients(28.6%) recurred and they were managed well by repeat colonoscopic restoration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Emergency colonoscopic restoration is the first treatment of choice for sigmoid vovulus in the elderly because it is safe and effective, and can be performed repeatedly.</p>

Surgical treatment of recurrent colorectal carcinoma in the elderly / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment for recurrent colorectal carcinoma in the elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and follow up data of 24 elderly patients with recurrent colorectal carcinoma who were treated between January 2000 and June 2009 at the Changhai hospital of the Second Military Medical University were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 24 patients there were 14 men and 10 women. The mean age of the patients was 76.9 ± 5.3 years. The local recurrence was found in 15 patients. In 9 patients, both distant metastases and local recurrence were found. A total of 24 patients received operation, including radical resection in 15 patients and palliative resection in 8 patients. One patient had laparotomy only because of diffuse metastases in the abdomen and involvement of the duodenum and common bile duct.The patient received stent placement in the common bile duct and chemotherapy after the surgery. Postoperative complication occurred in 7(29.2%) patients, which included ileus(n=1), pulmonary infection(n=1), urinary infection(n=1), wound infection(n=2), wound dehiscence(n=1), and wound fat liquefaction(n=1). There were no perioperative deaths. The median survival time was 6 months in the entire cohort. The median survival time was 33 months in patients undergoing radical resection, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 71.4%, 28.6%, and 14.3%. The median survival time was 3 months in patients who underwent palliative resection, and the 1-year survival rate was 0. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Outcomes are acceptable after radical resection for elderly patients with recurrent colorectal cancer if careful preoperative evaluation and perioperative management are performed.</p>

Effect of colonoscopy combined with placement of metallic clips on selecting colonic surgery incision / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the accuracy and value of the placement of metallic clips during colonoscopy in the localization of colorectal cancer and incision selection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 30 patients received metallic clip placement by colonoscopy before operation. Abdominal plain film (supine and upright position) was taken and incision was determined by the projection of clips on the abdominal wall.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The inaccuracy rate of localization by colonoscopy was 30%(9/30). Colonoscopy combined with the placement of metallic clips achieved an accurate incision rate of 100% (30/30).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is a considerable rate of inaccuracy for localization in colonic cancer by colonoscopy. Colonoscopy combined with placement of metallic clips should be considered in order to select a reasonable incision.</p>

Factors associated with anastomotic leakage after anterior resection in rectal cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the factors associated with anastomotic leakage after anterior resection in rectal cancer with the technique of total mesorectal excision (TME).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2005 and December 2007, 738 consecutive patients with rectal cancer underwent anterior resection. The data of those patients was collected and reviewed retrospectively. The associations between anastomotic leakage and 9 patient-related variables as well as 7 surgical-related variables were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Low rectal cancer (located 7 cm or less above the anal edge), non-specialized surgeon and transanal tube use were the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage on univariate analysis. The anastomotic leakage rate of low-rectal cancer was significantly higher than that of high-rectal cancer (5.9% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.003). The anastomotic leakage rate of the cases operated by colorectal surgeon was significantly lower than that of the cases operated by non-specialized surgeon (3.9% vs. 11.3%, P = 0.031). There was a tendency for colorectal surgeons to operate on a greater proportion of low rectal cancer than non-specialized surgeons (72.1% vs. 52.8%, P = 0.003). The leakage rate of transanal tube group was unexpectedly higher than that in patients without transanal tube (14.5% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, diabetes mellitus (P = 0.027), distance less than 1 cm from tumor to distal resection margin (P = 0.009) and defunctioning stoma (P = 0.031) were also associated with anastomotic leakage rate besides low rectal cancer, non-specialized surgeon and transanal tube use. In a further analysis of 522 patients with low rectal cancer, the leakage rate of defunctioning stoma group was significantly lower than that of non-stoma group (2.9% vs. 8.5%, P = 0.007). By contract, the leakage rate of transanal tube group was still higher than that in patients without transanal tube (15.1% vs. 4.9%, P = 0.008) because of its poor protective effect as well as the selection bias.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Low-rectal cancer, non-specialized surgeons and diabetes mellitus are risk factors of anastomotic leakage after rectal surgery. A defunctioning stoma was effective in preventing leakage after low-rectal cancer surgery.</p>

Pull-through transection and anastomosis for early lower rectal cancer using double stapling technique / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce the experiences of pull-through transection and double stapling anastomosis for early lower rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2001 to March 2008, 25 patients with early stage lower rectal cancer were operated by using pull-through transection and double stapling anastomosis. The average distance between the dentate line and lower margin of the tumor is (3.2 +/- 0.5) cm (2.0 - 4.5 cm). The average tumor diameter is (2.8 +/- 0.8) cm (2.0 - 3.5 cm).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average distance between the lower margin of the tumor and transection line is (1.5 +/- 0.4) cm (1.1 - 2.2 cm). All the resection margins were negative. Eighteen cases of the anastomosis were above the dentate line, 0.3 - 2.1 cm [(1.7 +/- 0.2) cm] and the other 7 were below, 0.1 - 0.5 cm (average 0.3 cm). Anastomotic leakage occurred in 1 case, and cured with conservative treatment. Local recurrence occurred in 1 case (4.0%), liver metastasis in 3 (12.0%) and lung metastasis in 2(8.0%), respectively. Mild fecal incontinence occurred in 7 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with trans-abdominal transection of distal rectum in low anterior resection of rectal cancer, pull-through transection and anastomosis provides more precise control of the cutting line and simpler resection.</p>

Diagnosis and surgical management for adult Hirschsprung's disease / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnosis and surgical management of adult Hirschsprung's disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 15 patients with adult Hirschsprung's disease were reviewed retrospectively from June 1992 to June 2004.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients age ranged from 17 to 54 years old. The main manifestations included long-term (ranged from 9.5 month to 50 years) constipation and abdominal distention. Acute abdominal pain occurred in six patients, but no sign of de hydration and malnutrition occurred in all patients. Bowel stenosis and dilation could be examined by barium enema. Soave procedure was performed in 3 patients, subtotal colectomy with coloanal anastomosis was performed in twelve patients. The function of defecation was improved in all patients after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The diagnosis of adult Hirschsprung's disease mainly depends on the history of constipation from infant and barium enema. Subtotal colectomy with coloanal anastomosis is an effective and safe operative procedure.</p>

Application of positron emission tomography in diagnosis of liver metastases from colorectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of positron emission tomography (PET) in diagnosing liver metastases from colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen patients suspected with liver metastases after resection of colorectal cancer and three patients suspected with other diseases were diagnosed by PET and CT before operation. The result of both diagnostic approaches was compared with the result of exploratory operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventeen of 18 patients were confirmed as liver metastases after resection of colorectal cancer, in whom 14 patients had other synchronous metastases outside liver metastasis including lung metastasis (n= 2), abdominal wall metastasis (n= 2 ), bone metastasis (n= 1), peritoneal cavity lymph nodes metastasis (n= 6), mediastinal lymph nodes (n= 2), virchow lymph node metastasis (n= 1). One patient with negative PET diagnosis was still alive with cancer- free after 1 year followed- up. Three patients suspected with other diseases were also diagnosed as liver metastases from colorectal cancer by PET.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PET has higher sensitivity in diagnosing liver metastases or other synchronous metastases after resection of colorectal cancer, which suggests that PET can guide the determination of second operative surgery for liver metastases after resection of colorectal cancer.</p>