[Pancreatic cancer. Analysis of 149 cases in our 17-year experience]. / Il carcinoma del pancreas. Analisi di 149 casi in 17 anni di esperienza.

The Authors analyse a series of 149 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the pancreas or the periampullary region. Curative surgical treatment was achievable in 55 patients, palliative procedures included surgery in 68 patients; biliary decompression with endoscopic or percutaneous procedure in 25 patients and chemotherapy in one patient with lymphoma. Perioperative complications consisted in gastroplegia (33%), pancreatic fistula (22%), biliary fistula (7.3%), abdominal abscess (5.5%) and hemoperitoneum (1.8%). Five patients died within 30 days after surgery (9%). The overall median postoperative survival was 37, 29 and 21 months in papillary, choledochal and pancreatic cancer, respectively.

[Lipiodol with and without Gelfoam in primary liver tumors. Plasma levels of Mitoxantrone and clinical results]. / Lipiodolizzazione associata o meno a Gelfoam in pazienti con tumore epatico primitivo. Livelli plasmatici di Mitoxantrone e risultati clinici.

Transcatheter chemoembolization with various drugs is employed for palliative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty-seven patients (33 with Child A or B cirrhosis) were treated with 14 mg/m2 of Mitoxantrone and up to 20 ml of Lipiodol, followed by Gelfoam embolization as indicated. Sixty-nine cycles were given, with mean (+/-SD) Lipiodol and emulsified Mitoxantrone doses of 11.3 +/- 3.8 ml and 11.8 +/- 5.2 mg, respectively. Thirteen, 16, and 8 patients received one, two, and three cycles, respectively, with time intervals of 123 +/- 60 days. Thirty patients had Gelfoam embolization at the first cycle, 9 at the second and 4 at the third. At the first cycle, 10 patients underwent serial measurements of serum Mitoxantrone up to two hours after a full dose of emulsified drug. Drug levels resulted much lower than those reported after plain arterial infusion, with AUC levels (+/-SE) of 5924 +/- 1015 and 4381 +/- 429 ng/ml x 120 min in 6 and 4 cases treated with and without Gelfoam, respectively. No treatment related deaths occurred. Complications were mild and transient, including nausea vomiting in most cases, fever > 38 degrees C 67%, pain 74%, ascites 8% jaundice 3%, bleeding 3%, pancreatitis 3%, myelosuppression 44%, diarrhea 5%. Treatment response rate was 49% (including 16% minor response) with 16% early progressions. With a median follow-up of 12 months, the 12-month response duration and survival rates were 56% and 79% respectively. Transcatheter chemoembolization with Mitoxantrone deserves further evaluation in randomized studies.

[Effects of adjuvant hyaluronidase in tumors refractory to chemotherapy. Review of the literature and pharmacokinetics of cisplatin after regional administration in animals and humans]. / Effetto della ialuronidasi adiuvante in tumori refrattari alla chemioterapla. Revisione della letteratura e farmacocinetica del cisplatino dopo somministrazione regionale nell'animale e nell'uomo.

Several clinical studies have recently suggested that topical or systemic adjuvant hyaluronidase may increase the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs. In cases of disease progression, further objective responses have been observed after the association of hyaluronidase to the previously employed drugs. Some evidences suggest that hyaluronidase improves local diffusion as well as tissue and tumor uptake of the associated drugs. Hence, plasma and tissue concentrations of platinum following administration of cisplatin alone and associated with hyaluronidase have been investigated in 20 rats after intraperitoneal injection and in 10 patients with colorectal liver metastases and local progression of the disease after regional and systemic chemotherapy with intraarterial cisplatin and intravenous 5-fluorouracil. Three out of six refractory patients treated with hepatic intraarterial cisplatin + hyaluronidase showed one minor response and two stable diseases, respectively, without any apparent increase of treatment related toxicity. In turn, adjuvant hyaluronidase increased both the extent distribution and lasting time of cisplatin in the body and reduced plasma levels of total and free platinum originating from cisplatin, without any modification of either unbound fraction of platinum or total body clearance. Hence, adjuvant hyaluronidase seems to increase tissue extraction of cisplatin and, particularly, liver extraction after intraarterial administration in man. These results encourage further studies aimed to determine the clinical role of adjuvant hyaluronidase in patients refractory to regional chemotherapy.

[Performance and complications of totally implantable port device in bolus hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy]. / Funzionalità e complicanze dei "port" totalmente impiantabili per la chemioterapia intraarteriosa epatica in bolo.

The performances of totally implantable ports were analyzed in patients with colorectal metastases undergoing intraarterial treatment. Seventy-nine patients received bolus infusion of Cisplatin (DDP, 57 cases) or Epirubicin (EPI, 22 cases) every 21 and 7 days, respectively. Disease progression or toxicity were the most common causes of interruption of treatment, whereas failure of ports occurred in six and two patients out of DDP and EPI groups, respectively. The incidence of single problems for each port was 65% in DDP group and 64% in EPI group, whereas rate of complications for each patient was 30% and 32%, respectively. The 12-months device duration rate in the two groups was 65% (median 17 months) in DDP group and 78% (median 18 months) in EPI group. The implantable ports employed for bolus arterial infusion, allowed adequate treatment periods in most cases, without any difference as far as intervals between cycles is concerned.

[Lacking effect of timing of surgery in relation to the menstrual cycle on prognosis of breast cancer in premenopausal women]. / Mancato effetto della temporizzazione della chirurgia in relazione con il ciclo mestruale sulla prognosi del cancro della mammella nelle donne in premenopausa.

The influence of timing of surgery in relation to menstrual period on survival of breast cancer patients has been both advanced advocated and disputed. A meta-analysis on published series showed a statistically significant overall odds reduction when surgery is performed in the luteal phase. The records of 165 premenopausal M- breast cancer women, not on hormonal therapies, consecutively operated on from 1977 to 1991 were reviewed. All patients underwent modified radical mastectomies or quadrantectomies plus operative radiotherapy, Node-positive patients received standard adjuvant chemotherapy. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of death in three models including timing of surgery, age, histology, pathological T and N. In each model, patients were divided into two groups according to the criteria proposed by Badwe, Hrushesky, and Senie. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between pT and pN and survival, whereas no association with survival was observed for timing of surgery according to Badwe or Hrushesky or Senie criteria (RR = 1.26, RR = 0.91, and RR = 0.88 respectively). Up-to-date agreement on the menstrual phase and relative expected better prognosis is still lacking.

[The Hickman catheter as vascular access in bone marrow transplantation]. / Il catetere di Hickman come accesso vascolare nel trapianto di midollo osseo.

From 1984 to 1995, 522 Hickman catheters were placed in the Institute of Clinica Chirurgica B of the University of Genova to treat malignant haemathologic diseases. Aims and reasons of this choice, surgical technique, advantages and related problems are reported here.

Imaging of patients with pancreaticobiliary diversion for obesity: post-operative anatomy and findings in small bowel obstruction.

Pancreaticobiliary diversion is a surgical procedure undertaken for obesity. It consists of a distal gastrectomy with a long Roux-en-Y reconstruction, the enteroenterostomy being placed 200 cm distal to the gastroenterostomy and 50 cm proximal to the ileocaecal valve. Three intestinal limbs are recognized: (a) the alimentary loop from the gastroenterostomy to the enteroenterostomy; (b) common loop from the enteroenterostomy to the ileocaecal valve and (c) pancreaticobiliary loop from the duodenum to the enteroenterostomy. The radiological findings in 15 pancreaticobiliary diversion patients with small bowel obstruction were reviewed (15 plain abdominal radiographs, 13 ultrasound (US), 8 CT) and compared with 20 plain abdominal radiographs, 10 US, and 10 CT studies performed for other causes in patients with pancreaticobiliary diversion and 15 CT scans from non-operated patients. After pancreaticobiliary diversion the pancreaticobiliary loop was completely air-free. In the patients operated on more than 1 year previously, alimentary and common loops were significantly larger than the pancreaticobiliary loop and small bowel loops of non-operated subjects. Obstruction of the pancreaticobiliary loop arrests only the flow of pancreaticobiliary secretions with non-specific clinical findings. Plain abdominal radiographs were not diagnostic in all but two cases with radiographically detectable dilated fluid filled loops. Air-fluid levels were never apparent. US and CT showed markedly dilatated intestinal loops and duodenum. Obstruction of the alimentary and common loops presented with symptoms, clinical signs, and radiological findings more typical for bowel obstruction in intact subjects.

[Intrahepatic dilation of the bile ducts. Particularity of a clinical case]. / Dilatazione intraepatica delle vie biliari. Particolarità su un caso clinico.

We report the case of a 71 years old male patient with a "simple" form of Caroli's syndrome. The "simple" form is less common than the form associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis. In this case the intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was confined to the segments V and VI, and intrahepatic lithiasis and cholelithiasis were associated. Usually, Caroli's syndrome remains asymptomatic for the first 20 years of the patient's life, sometimes longer, and in few cases for the patient's whole life. "Simple" asymptomatic Caroli's syndrome is generally unrecognized and in our own case it was an intraoperative finding. Patient's age, the presence of a hepatitis C and the absence of malignant changes discouraged us from performing a right hepatectomy and then a Roux-en-Y intrahepatic bile duct jejunal anastomosis was done. One year after the operation the patient is leading a normal life, and he is symptom-free.

[Function and complications of diverse totally implantable systems for continuous intra-arterial infusion of FUdR in colorectal hepatic metastases]. / Funzionalità e complicanze di diversi sistemi totalmente impiantabili per l'infusione intraarteriosa continua di FUdR nelle metastasi epatiche colo-rettali.

Different totally implantable arterial infusion systems were compared in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer undergoing continuous intra-arterial infusion. Seventy-eight patients received continuous FUdR infusion using either totally implantable pumps (group a = 44 pts.) or ports fed by external portable pumps (group b = 34 pts.), and 57 patients received bolus infusion of Cisplatin (group c). Devices were cared for patency even after interruption of treatment, commonly caused by disease progression. Pocket problems most frequently occurred in group a (30%) compared to groups b (9%) and c (7%), whereas a higher incidence of catheter and infusion related problems was observed in group b (109%). System failure was recorded as a cause of interruption of treatment in two, 9, and 6 cases in groups a to c, respectively. The 12-months patency rate was 92% in group a, 24% in group b (median 9 months), and 65% in group c (median 17 months). Though implantable ports allow adequate infusion periods in most cases they seem more adequate for bolus infusions.

Malignant tumors in the head of the pancreas and the periampullary region. Diagnostic and prognostic aspects.

This paper analyzes the value of ultrasonography (US), computerized tomography (CT) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to establish the location, nature and resectability of carcinomas of the pancreatic head and of the periampullary region. The prognostic importance of certain pathological factors in relation to survival was also evaluated. As regards the site of origin, 112 cases with carcinoma were classified as follows: 56 pancreatic, 32 ampullary, 10 common bile duct, and 14 undefined. Papillary tumors were more accurately defined by ERCP compared to CT+US (p = 0.033), whereas CT was less accurate than US+ERCP (p = 0.05). No significant differences were found in pancreatic and common bile duct tumors. Pathological confirmation was obtained with ERCP in 54 cases (46% pancreatic, 69% papillary and 50% common bile duct). In the remaining 58 patients (including 1 chronic pancreatitis) the diagnosis was confirmed with percutaneous or intraoperative biopsy. Tumor extent was better defined by US+CT. In 42 resected patients the final pathological examination revealed an error of preoperative staging in 79% pancreatic, 59% papillary, and 83% common bile duct tumors. Tumor size, nodal status, perivascular, capsular and portal vein infiltration proved to be significant prognostic factors for pancreatic tumors. Stepwise regression identified tumor size, capsular infiltration and perivascular invasion as the most important covariates for survival. Ulceration, papillary histotype, pancreas and Oddi muscle infiltration, grading, perineural, lymphatic and vascular involvement were found to be significant in papillary tumors. The Cox proportional hazard model showed that pancreatic, Oddi muscle, perineural infiltration, and histologic type respectively represent a relative risk of 5.93, 107.36, 21.31, 20.61. The limited number of cases of common bile duct primary did not allow us to carry out statistical analysis on these tumors.