T1 colon cancer in the era of screening: risk factors and treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for lymph node positivity in T1 colon cancer and to carry out a surgical quality assurance audit. METHODS: The sample consisted of consecutive patients treated for early-stage colon lesions in 15 colorectal referral centres between 2011 and 2014. The study investigated 38 factors grouped into four categories: demographic information, preoperative data, indications for surgery and post-operative data. A univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the significance of each factor both in terms of lymph node (LN) harvesting and LN metastases. RESULTS: Out of 507 patients enrolled, 394 patients were considered for analysis. Thirty-five (8.91%) patients had positive LN. Statistically significant differences related to total LN harvesting were found in relation to central vessel ligation and segmental resections. Cumulative distribution demonstrated that the rate of positive LN increased starting at 12 LN harvested and reached a plateau at 25 LN. CONCLUSIONS: Some factors associated with an increase in detection of positive LN were identified. However, further studies are needed to identify more sensitive markers and avoid surgical overtreatment. There is a need to raise the minimum LN count and to use the LN count as an indicator of surgical quality.

Hemorrhoid laser procedure for second- and third-degree hemorrhoids: results from a multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to assess the outcome of hemorrhoidal dearterialization, achieved by a dedicated laser energy device. METHODS: From November 2012 to December 2014, 51 patients with second- or third-degree hemorrhoids were studied. The primary end point was a reduction in the bleeding rate; secondary end points were: postoperative complications, reduction in pain and prolapse, resolution of symptoms, and degree of patient's perception of improvement. The procedure was carried out as 1-day surgery. A diode laser device was employed to seal the terminal branches of the hemorrhoidal arteries, detected by a Doppler-equipped proctoscope. Follow-up was scheduled at 1 and 4 weeks, 3, 12, and 24 months. The rate and degree of symptoms was assessed with a four-point verbal rating scale. The rate of subjective symptomatic improvement was also evaluated with the Patient Global Improvement (PGI) Scale. RESULTS: Mean bleeding and pain scores at baseline were 2 and 0.57. All the patients were discharged on the day of surgery. Postoperative complications were bleeding (n = 4) and external hemorrhoidal thrombosis (n = 4). Mean bleeding and pain scores at 3, 12, and 24 months were significatively reduced. After 24 months, complete resolution of bleeding was observed in 28/29 patients (96.7 %), resolution of pain in all patients, and resolution of the mucosal prolapse in 15/18 patients (76.9 %). At 12-month follow-up, 86.3 % of patients reported improvement with the PGI Scale. CONCLUSIONS: The hemorrhoid laser procedure was effective in improving bleeding and pain symptoms in patients with grade II and III hemorrhoids.

Tailored therapy for different presentations of chronic pain after stapled hemorrhoidopexy.

BACKGROUND: As stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) becomes more widely used, we see more patients with chronic postoperative anal pain after this surgery. Its presentation is variable and difficult to treat. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of chronic anal pain after SH and whether tailored therapy was likely to achieve a favorable outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 31 consecutive patients with chronic anal pain who had undergone SH in other hospitals and were referred to our institutions. Depending on the type of pain, unrelated (at rest) or related to defecation, two groups of patients were identified. Moreover, the mean distance of the staple line from the anal verge was calculated in both groups. Treatments included: topical nifedipine, local anesthetic and steroid infiltration, removal of retained staples, anal dilation, and scar excision with mucosal suturing. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to compare pain at baseline, postoperatively, and in the follow-up. This mean difference of the VAS score between stages was always used as the main outcome measure, depending on the type of presentation, type of pain, and type of treatment. Treatment response was defined as a 50 % decrease of VAS from baseline. RESULTS: There were 22 males and 9 females. The overall median age was 43 years (range 21-62 years). On digital examination and proctoscopy, 15 (48 %) patients had inflammatory changes, 19 (61 %) patients had staple retention, 8 (26 %) patients had anorectal stenosis, and 30 (97 %) patients had scar tissue. All patients had one or more of the following treatments listed from the least to most invasive: topical nifedipine in 12 (39 %) patients, anal dilation in 6 (19 %) patients, anesthetic and steroid infiltration in 18 (58 %) patients, removal of staples in 10 (32 %) patients, and scar excision in 18 (58 %) patients. The mean VAS score at baseline was 6.100, ± 1.953 SD, which dropped significantly after treatment to 1.733, ± 1.658 SD (p < 0.001) and remained low at follow-up (1.741 ± SD 1.251; p < 0.743). In patients with pain at rest (n = 20, 65 %), the symptoms improved in 19 (95 %) patients, while the VAS score decreased from 5.552 ± 2.115 SD to 1.457 ± 1.440 SD (95 % CI 3.217-4.964; p < 0.001). In patients with post-evacuation pain (n = 11, 35 %), the symptoms improved in 11 (100 %) patients, while the VAS score decreased from 6.429 ± 1.835 SD to 1.891 ± 1.792 SD (95 % CI 3.784-5.269; p < 0.001). Rating of response based on presentation was 90.0 % (0.9/10) after treatment of staple retention, which led to a significant decrease in the mean VAS score from 6.304 ± 1.845 SD to 1.782 ± 1.731 SD (95 % CI 3.859-5.185; p < 0.001). Anal stenosis was successfully treated in 100.0 % (n = 8/8) of cases with the mean VAS score dropping from 6.500 ± 1.309 SD to 2.125 ± 1.808 SD (95 % CI 2.831-5.919; p < 0.001). Anal inflammation improved in 60.0 % (n = 9/15) of patients and the mean VAS score dropped from 6.006 ± 2.138 SD to 1.542 ± 1.457 SD (95 % CI 3.217-4.964; p < 0.001). The response after scar tissue treatment was 94 % (n = 17/18) of patients with a mean VAS decreasing from 6.117 ± 2.006 SD to 1.712 ± 1.697 SD (95 % CI 3.812-4.974; p < 0.001). Success for topical nifedipine was between 13 and 25 % of patients depending on the clinical presentation. Anal dilation was successful in 75 % of patients, while Anesthetic and steroid infiltration in 23-54 % of patients depending on the clinical presentation. Staple removal was successful in 77 % of patients, and scar excision with mucosal suturing in 94 % of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective study suggests that most patients with chronic anal pain after SH may be cured with treatment by applying a stepwise approach from the least to the most invasive treatment.

A nationwide audit of the use of radiotherapy for rectal cancer in Italy.

BACKGROUND: There is good evidence that radiotherapy is beneficial in advanced rectal cancer, but its application in Italy has not been investigated. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey among members of the Italian Society of Colo-Rectal Surgery (SICCR) on the use of radiation therapy for rectal cancer in the year 2005. Demographic, clinical and pathologic data were retrospectively collected with an online database. Italy was geographically divided into 3 regions: north, center and south which included the islands. Hospitals performing 30 or more surgeries per year were considered high volume. Factors related to radiotherapy delivery were identified with multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 108 centers, 44 (41%) responded to the audit. We collected data on 682 rectal cancer patients corresponding to 58% of rectal cancers operated by SICCR members in 2005. Radiotherapy was used in 307/682 (45.0%) patients. Preoperative radiotherapy was used in 236/682 (34.6%), postoperative radiotherapy in 71/682 (10.4%) cases and no radiotherapy in 375 (55.0%) cases. Of the 236 patients who underwent preoperative radiotherapy, only 24 (10.2%) received short-course radiotherapy, while 212 (89.8%) received long-course radiotherapy. Of the 339 stage II-III patients, 159 (47%) did not receive any radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was more frequently used in younger patients (P < 0.0001), in patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection (APR) (P < 0.01) and in the north and center of Italy (P < 0.001). Preoperative radiotherapy was more frequently used in younger patients (P < 0.001), in large volume centers (P < 0.05), in patients undergoing APR (P < 0.005) and in the north-center of Italy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study first identified a treatment disparity among different geographic Italian regions. A more systematic audit is needed to confirm these results and plan adequate interventions.

Anastomotic leaks after anterior resection for mid and low rectal cancer: survey of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the survey was to assess the incidence of anastomotic leaks (AL) and to identify risk factors predicting incidence and gravity of AL after low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer performed by colorectal surgeons of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR). METHODS: Information about patients with rectal cancers less than 12 cm from the anal verge who underwent LAR during 2005 was collected retrospectively. AL was classified as grade I to IV according to gravity. Fifteen clinical variables were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses. Further analysis was conducted on patients with AL to identify factors correlated with gravity. RESULTS: There were 520 patients representing 64% of LAR for rectal cancer performed by SICCR members. The overall rate of AL was 15.2%. Mortality was 2.7% including 0.6% from AL. The incidence of AL was correlated with higher age (p<0.05), lower (<20 per year) centre case volume (p<0.05), obesity (p<0.05), malnutrition (p<0.01) and intraoperative contamination (p<0.05), and was lower in patients with a colonic J-pouch reservoir (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis age, malnutrition and intraoperative contamination were independent predictors. The only predictor of severe (grade III/IV) AL was alcohol/smoking habits (p<0.05) while the absence of a diverting stoma was borderline significant (p<0.07). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective survey identified several risk factors for AL. This survey was a necessary step to construct prospective interventional studies and to establish benchmark standards for outcome studies.

[Rectal cancer: locoregional recurrence in relation to surgical and complementary treatment]. / Il cancro del retto: le recidive locoregionali in rapporto alle terapie chirurgiche e complementari adottate.

Much recent data have been published on the risk of local recurrence (LR) following curative surgery for rectal cancer and the impact of adjuvant therapy. On the other hand, improvements in surgical techniques, as the total mesorectal excision, have apparently reduced the risk of LR. Furthermore, in selected cases, neoadjuvant therapy seems to reduce much more the incidence of LR. A list of prognostic factors which affect the onset of LR, other than the different procedures, was considered. To investigate such evidences a retrospective analysis was undertaken in our series, focusing on examination of the employed techniques as potential predictors of local recurrence. Thus, in a 18-yr-period (1986-2003), two hundred and ninety-five patients who had undergone elective curative surgical resection of rectal cancer were included in the study. The demographic, operative and follow-up data were collected retrospectively. All patients underwent total mesorectal excision, whereas neoadjuvant therapy was performed in a selected series of patients, according to defined entry criteria patterns. Results evidenced LR in 7.1% of patients and occurred between 6 months to 8 year following surgery. Comparisons were made between patients who had different surgical procedures; indeed sphyncter saving procedures correlated with a higher incidence of LR rather than abdomino-perineal resection. Pelvic recurrences were observed more frequently compared to the anastomotic ones. A limited number of patients with LR underwent surgery due to the associated condition of metastatic lesions; the follow-up related to such series evidenced a mortality rate of 57% within 3 year from reoperation. A low local recurrence rate can be achieved after total mesorectal excision (TME) without preoperative radiotherapy. Our results suggest that preoperative radiotherapy may be employed only for those patients who are at a higher risk for local recurrence.

[Cholelithiasis associated with upper gastrointestinal pathology. Critical evaluation of the emerging incidence and diagnostic and therapeutic indications]. / La colelitiasi associata alla patologia del tratto gastro-enterico superiore. Valutazione critica dell'incidenza emergente e dell'indicazione diagnostica e terapeutica.

Although cases of upper G.E. tract diseases associated with simple cholelithiasis are described as specific syndromes in the literature (Saint's triad, Casten's syndrome, etc.) they may be usefully evaluated with the aim of checking the following parameters: a) incidence and importance of associated pathologies; b) etio-pathogenetic correlation between age, sex and incidence; c) clinical extent of the disease and factors determining choice of medical or surgical treatment; d) more specific presurgical diagnostic investigation for certain cases; e) effect of combined surgery on recovery. Recent research carried out (Choctaw) in which the term associated pathology was defined is described. A sample of 358 patients suffering from cholelithiasis was examined. Of these, 230 were suitable candidates for surgery and systemic presurgical examination by means of digestive tract X-ray investigation and fecal blood tests. 35% of cases were found to be associated pathologies including hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer, duodenal diverticula, gastric neoplasia and various diseases of the large intestine. These data were found to be statistically different from data collected from a similar group of patients complaining of abdominal colic who did not display symptoms of cholelithiasis although 17% had diseases of the upper G.E. tract. Combined surgery was carried out on 82% of patients and the subsequent follow-up period lasted for 1 to 3 years. A presurgical study programme aimed particularly at female patients over 50 was therefore designed. Post-surgical recovery was not affected by combined surgery.

[Stages in prevention of breast neoplasms. Organization of standard computerized operative programs: preliminary prospective study]. / I livelli di prevenzione delle neoplasie del seno. Organizzazione di programmi operativi standard e computerizzabili: studio prospettico preliminare.

Bearing in mind the single or combined action of epidemiological factors influencing the natural history of the disease, the value of a survey method for rationally and significantly defining the potential degree of carcinogenesis of breast neoplasias in a selected population is tested. The method is designed to diagnose neoplastic development in its initial stages by strictly codified screening with the obvious aim of improving the survival rate. The need for a computer processed programme into which the various epidemiological and statistical variables are fed is underlined. The organisation and operation of such a service involves various problems in the identification, selection and processing of data. A provisional outline of the organisation of the survey is given, demonstrating the value of this method which will, in the near future, become irreplaceable in cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness terms.