Incidence, Patterns, and Predictors of Locoregional Recurrence in Colon Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Locoregional recurrence (LR) in colon cancer is uncommon but often incurable, while the factors associated with it are unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns and predictors of LR after curative resection for colon cancer. METHODS: All patients who underwent colon cancer resection with curative intent between 1994 and 2008 at a tertiary referral center were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database. The association of LR with clinicopathologic and treatment characteristics was determined using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1397 patients were included with a median follow-up of 7.8 years; 635 (45%) were female, and the median age was 69 years. LR was detected in 61 (4.4%) patients. Median time to LR was 21 months. On multivariable analysis, the independent predictors of LR were disease stage [hazard ratio (HR) for Stage II 4.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-19.9, HR for Stage III 10.8, 95% CI 2.6-45.8], bowel obstruction (HR 3.8, 95% CI 1.9-7.4), margin involvement (HR 4.1, 95% CI 1.9-8.6), lymphovascular invasion (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.06-3.5), and local tumor invasion (fixation to another structure, perforation, or presence of associated fistula, HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.5). Adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with reduced LR in patients with either Stage II or Stage III tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to oncologic surgical principles in colon cancer resection results in low rates of LR, which is associated with tumor-dependent factors. Recognition of these factors can help to determine appropriate postoperative surveillance.

Predictors of postoperative outcomes for patients with diverticular abscess initially treated with percutaneous drainage.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate factors associated with percutaneous drainage (PCD) failure, complications, and stoma creation for patients undergoing sigmoidectomy for diverticular abscess. METHODS: Data for patients with diverticular abscess greater than or equal to 3 cm in diameter treated with initial PCD from 1994 to 2012 were identified. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients (54% male) with a mean age of 57 years and a mean abscess diameter of 7.1 ± 2.4 cm were identified. American Society of Anesthesiologists 4 was the only independent factor associated with PCD failure (P < .001). On multivariate analysis, factors associated with postoperative morbidity (n = 42, 37%) included PCD failure (P = .02) and older age (P = .04), while risk for stoma creation was associated with PCD failure (P < .001), multiple PCD attempts (P = .002), older age (P < .001), Hinchey II (P = .03), and increased body mass index (P = .01). American Society of Anesthesiologists 4 was the only factor associated with permanent stoma (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with large diverticular abscess, a successful PCD is associated with reduced postoperative morbidity. However, a large proportion of patients require stoma creation. Significant comorbidity is associated with both failure of PCD and permanent stoma risk.

Outcomes of percutaneous drainage without surgery for patients with diverticular abscess.

BACKGROUND: Data on percutaneous drainage followed by observation for diverticular abscess is scant. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess outcomes of percutaneous drainage alone in the management of peridiverticular abscess. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study from a prospectively collected database. SETTING: This study was conducted in a high-volume, specialized colorectal surgery unit. PATIENTS: All patients with a diverticular abscess of at least 3 cm in diameter, treated between 2001 and 2012, who had prohibitive comorbidities or refused surgery after percutaneous drainage were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measured was the treatment of diverticular abscess with percutaneous drainage alone. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients (11 surgery refusal, 7 comorbidity) were followed up until death, surgery for recurrent diverticulitis, or for a median of 90 (17-139) months. The median abscess size was 5 (3.8-10) cm, and the location was pelvic in 8 cases and intra-abdominal in 10. The mean duration of drainage was 20 ± 1.3 days, with the exception of 2 patients who only had aspiration of the abscess because of technical difficulty in drain placement. Three patients died of preexisting comorbidities between 2 and 8 months after percutaneous drainage. Seven of the surviving patients (7/15) experienced recurrent diverticulitis; 3 of these patients underwent surgery between 7 months and 7 years after the index percutaneous drainage. Of the remaining 4 cases of recurrence, one abscess was treated with repeat percutaneous drainage alone and 3 patients had uncomplicated diverticulitis treated with antibiotics. There were no significant associations between long-term failure of percutaneous drainage and the location of the abscess (p = 0.54) or previous episodes of diverticulitis (p = 0.9). LIMITATIONS: This study was limited because of its retrospective nature, its nonrandomized design, and its small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous drainage alone was successful in avoiding surgery in the majority of this selected patient population with sigmoid diverticular abscess. Future studies should assess the appropriate indications for a more liberal use of percutaneous drainage not followed by elective surgery.

Aspiration of breast abscess under ultrasound guidance: outcome obtained and factors affecting success.

OBJECTIVE: To assess ultrasonographically (US) guided needle aspiration of breast abscesses as an alternative to surgical incision and drainage. METHODS: In our prospective study, 30 patients with 31 breast abscesses (one patient had bilateral breast abscess) underwent percutaneous breast abscess drainage under US guidance with local anaesthesia and oral antibiotics between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2005. These patients consisted of 16 (53.3%) non-lactating and 14 (46.7%) lactating women, with ages ranging from 18 to 68 years (median, 28 years). The racial distribution comprised 26 (86.7%) Malays, three (10%) Chinese and one (3.3%) Indian. All patients had the chief complaint of breast swelling and 25 (83.3%) had breast pain. Clinically, 28 (93.3%) were found to have a palpable mass. Nine (30%) lesions were in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. US diameters ranged from 1 to 15 cm (median, 4 cm). The pus volumes varied from 1 to 200 mL (median, 14 mL). RESULTS: Fifteen (50%) patients required only a single aspiration, 10 required multiple aspirations and five required incision and drainage. Those patients in whom needle aspiration failed had multiloculated lesions irrespective of abscess volume and size. CONCLUSION: Needle aspiration with ultrasound guidance is an effective treatment for breast abscess irrespective of abscess volume and size.