Pre-Operative Planning Using Real-Time Virtual Sonography, an MRI/Ultrasound Image Fusion Technique, for Breast-Conserving Surgery in Patients with Non-Mass Enhancement on Breast MRI: A Preliminary Study.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of pre-operative planning using real-time virtual sonography (RVS), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ultrasound (US) image fusion technique on breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in patients with non-mass enhancement (NME) on breast MRI. Between 2011 and 2015, we enrolled 12 consecutive patients who had lesions with NME that exceeded the US hypo-echoic area, in which it was particularly difficult to evaluate the tumor margin. During pre-operative planning before breast-conserving surgery, RVS was used to delineate the enhancing area on the breast surface after additional supine breast MRI was performed. We analyzed both the surgical margin positivity rate and the re-operation rate. All NME lesions corresponded to the index cancer. In all patients, the diameter of the NME lesion was greater than that of the hypo-echoic lesion. The median diameters of the NME and hypo-echoic lesions were 24 mm (range: 12-39 mm) and 8.0 mm (range: 4.9-18 mm), respectively (p = 0.0002). After RVS-derived skin marking was performed on the surface of the affected breast, lumpectomy and quadrantectomy were conducted in 7 and 5 patients, respectively. The surgical margins were negative in 10 (83%) patients. Two patients with positive margins were found to have ductal carcinoma in situ in 1 duct each, 2.4 and 3.2 mm from the resection margin, respectively. None of the patients required additional resection. Although further prospective studies are required, the findings of our preliminary study suggest that it is very well possible that the use of RVS-derived skin marking during pre-operative planning for BCS in patients with NME would have resulted in surgical outcomes similar to or better than those obtained without the use of such marking.

Distal re-entry closure with neobranching technique after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of Type B aortic dissection.

Retrograde false-lumen flow after thoracic endovascular aortic repair of Type B aortic dissection occurs occasionally and may have a negative impact on aortic remodelling and even prevent the decompression of the false lumen. A 67-year-old man with a Type B aortic dissection underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for severe compression of the true lumen and visceral malperfusion 7 weeks after the onset. Intraoperative angiography revealed proximal entry tear closure, but the false-lumen flow increased because of retrograde flow through the re-entry tear. Additional intervention including re-entry tear closure was performed with a neobranching technique with covered stent placement in the visceral artery from the aortic true lumen through the distal re-entry tear. We report a case of Type B aortic dissection and discuss the surgical techniques used.

Alterations in three biomarkers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2) and the Ki67 index between primary and metastatic breast cancer lesions.

In recurrent breast cancer, the tumor phenotype, as assessed by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) status, occasionally changes. This change, in addition to the Ki67 index were evaluated at sites of recurrence and the correlation between changes in tumor phenotype and survival were assessed in breast cancer patients. Comparisons in pathological parameters between primary and metastatic lesions were drawn between ER, PR, HER2, and the Ki67 index in 70 patients with recurrent breast cancer. The association between changes in tumor phenotype and patient survival was assessed. The hormone receptor status changed from positive, in the primary lesions, to negative, in the metastatic lesions in 19.8% (ER) and 39.5% (PR) of patients, respectively. Conversion from negative to positive status was confirmed in 27.2% (ER) and 31.2% (PR) of patients, respectively. A change in HER2 status from negative (primary lesion) to positive (metastatic lesion) occurred in seven patients (10%). The mean Ki67 index of primary lesions with positive hormone receptor status was significantly lower than at sites of recurrence with any hormone receptor status, from 10.9±9.8 standard deviation (SD) to 22.9±18.6 (P=0.031) and 12.2±10.5 SD to 27.4±20.9 (P=0.023), for ER and PR, respectively. The mean overall survival of patients with ER status conversion from positive to negative was 7.4±1.2 standard error (SE) years, and 14.8±1.4 SE years for patients who retained positive ER status (P=0.005, log-rank), with a hazard ratio of 3.44 (95% confidence interval, 1.36-8.33). This difference in survival based upon change in ER status was similarly observed in patients with PR status conversion in the same direction. Thus, ER and PR status conversion at the time of recurrence strongly impact survival, particularly if the change is from positive (primary lesion) to negative (metastatic lesion). Monitoring the biological behavior of breast cancer may benefit a patient by allowing for a novel personalized treatment strategy.

[Ascending Aortic Thrombus Recognized by Acute Brachial Arterial Occlusion].

We report a case of ascending aortic thrombus with acute arterial occlusion of the brachial artery. A 49-year-old woman had sudden pain in her right arm due to acute occlusion of the right brachial artery. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and echocardiography revealed a large mobile thrombus in the ascending aorta, which prompted surgical intervention. The thrombi were removed via aortotomy under circulatory arrest. Trans-esophageal echocardiography was useful for watching a potential detachment of the thrombus in the aorta during surgical manipulations or systemic perfusion. Despite no evidence of either inherited or acquired thrombotic predisposition, thrombosis in the right atrium and deep veins of the lower extremities was found postoperatively. Since antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy was started, she has suffered from no thrombotic event.

Description of the Surgical Strategy Used for the Treatment of a Complex Disease: Report of a Case.

We report a rare case in which a patient required three surgeries with competing priorities. In a 68-year-old man diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), computed tomography (CT) revealed an infrarenal AAA, unusual thickening of the sigmoid colon that suggested cancer, and a filling defect in the left atrium. We considered the disease stage, which affects prognosis, and the risk of complications that could interfere with the treatment of the other pathologies and developed a three-stage surgical strategy: (i) endovascular aortic repair, (ii) sigmoid colectomy, and (iii) resection of the left atrial mass. The patient's postsurgical recovery was uneventful.

Second-look US Using Real-time Virtual Sonography, a Coordinated Breast US and MRI System with Electromagnetic Tracking Technology: A Pilot Study.

Our aim was to retrospectively evaluate the utility of second-look ultrasound (US) using real-time virtual sonography (RVS) for detection of conventional B-mode (cB-mode) occult magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected breast lesions. Between July 2011 and May 2015, 53 consecutive patients who underwent second-look US to identify lesions detected by prone MRI were enrolled in this study. Second-look US using RVS was performed for cB-mode occult MRI-detected breast lesions after an additional supine MRI. In the 53 patients, 59 lesions were initially detected by prone MRI, followed by second-look US. Of the 59 lesions, 20 (34%) were identified by second-look US using cB-mode. Of the 39 (66%) cB-mode occult lesions, 38 (97%) were detected in supine MRI and 33 (85%) were detected by second-look US using RVS. MRI morphology types of the 33 lesions were as follows: mass, 16; non-mass enhancement, 5; and focus, 12. US-guided biopsy under RVS or excisional biopsy demonstrated that of the 33 lesions, 8 (24%) were malignant and the remaining 25 (76%) were benign. A total of 53 (90%) MRI-detected lesions were sonographically identified using both cB-mode and RVS (p < 0.001). All five remaining US-occult lesions could be followed up under RVS after the enhancing area was marked on the breast surface using RVS. Although further prospective studies are required, the findings of our pilot study suggest that second-look US using RVS with additional supine MRI may improve the sonographic and histopathologic detection rate of cB-mode occult MRI-detected breast lesions.

Dynamics of Oxidative Stress Evoked by Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Elucidated by Bilirubin Oxidation.

BACKGROUND: Revascularization therapy relieves myocardial ischemia, but can also result in ischemia-reperfusion injury caused by oxidative stress. However, the biokinetics of oxidative stress after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion are uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of oxidative stress after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) by measuring urinary biopyrrin levels. Biopyrrin is an oxidative metabolite of bilirubin thought to reflect oxidative stress, along with reactive nitrogen species (RNS).Methods and Results:The study included 18 patients who underwent OPCAB; patients were divided into effort angina pectoris (EAP; n=11) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP; n=7). Urinary biopyrrin and RNS levels were measured during the perioperative period (≤48 h after surgery). Biopyrrin levels transiently increased 4-12 h post-surgery (early phase), followed by a prolonged increase approximately 24-32 h post-surgery (late phase). The delayed increase in biopyrrin tended to be higher in patients with UAP, with a simultaneous increase in RNS. The patients in the UAP group had generally high pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), although the cardiac index was within a normal range during the delay phase. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamics of biopyrrin levels revealed a biphasic pattern of oxidative stress after OPCAB. Delayed production of oxidative stress may be influenced by preoperative severity of myocardial ischemia and delayed RNS production.

Multiple organ embolization with vegetation on an elephant trunk graft.

We encountered a rare case of infection in a vascular graft created using the elephant trunk technique. A 65-year-old woman who underwent total arch replacement with the elephant trunk technique was re-admitted with fever. She developed embolization of multiple organs from vegetation attached to the elephant trunk graft which was elucidated by transesophageal echocardiography. Surgery for ruptured jejunal artery aneurysm was performed, and the graft infection healed after long-term antibiotic therapy with the prosthesis left in situ. Graft infection may generate vegetations on an elephant trunk graft. Transesophageal echocardiography is a helpful tool for accurate diagnosis.

Quantitative assessment technique of HyperEye medical system angiography for coronary artery bypass grafting.

PURPOSE: The HyperEye Medical System (HEMS) uses indocyanine green (ICG) to visualize blood vessels in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We performed quantitative HEMS assessment to detect grafts at risk of occlusion. METHODS: We assessed the HEMS angiograms of 177 grafts from 69 patients who underwent CABG and compared the results with those of fluoroscopic coronary angiography, by measuring the increasing rate of ICG intensity, average acceleration value, and time to peak luminance intensity. RESULTS: Grafts in the patent and failed groups showed significant differences in their increasing rate of intensity and average acceleration value. The average accelerations value of ICG intensity of internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous vein (SV) grafts were 112.3 and 144.9 intensity/s2 in the patent group, and 71.0 and 91.8 intensity/s2 in the failed group. The time to peak luminance intensity was 1.7 and 1.4 s in the patent group and 2.3 and 1.9 s in the failed group; these values were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Significant reductions in the ICG intensity rate and average acceleration value can occur in failed grafts. Therefore, quantifiable changes in ICG intensity may help detect minute changes in blood flow.

Influence of vessel stenosis on indocyanine green fluorescence intensity assessed by near-infrared fluorescence angiography.

PURPOSE: Although useful for visualizing blood flow during revascularization surgery, the permeability of near-infrared fluorescence (NIR) angiography using indocyanine green (ICG) does not allow for vessel stenosis visualization. We hypothesized that changes in ICG fluorescence intensity reflect vessel stenosis, and evaluated the influence of stenosis on blood flow by ex vivo experimentation. METHODS: The vessel stenosis model comprised a silicon tube, a graft occluder, and artificial blood. During near-infrared angiography, the fluorescense intensity was calculated during pre- and post-stenosis of an artificial circuit, using a NIR angiography. We measured the maximum fluorescence intensity and the time to maximum fluorescence intensity. RESULTS: Severe stenosis (≥75%) attenuated the increase in ICG fluorescence intensity in the tube significantly, pre- and post-stenosis. The time to maximum fluorescence intensity did not differ between sites pre- and post-stenosis, irrespective of stenosis severity. CONCLUSION: Stenosis affected the ICG fluorescence intensity through the vessel. Thus, quantitative analysis using NIR angiography may detect severe vessel stenosis (≥75%), and the extinction curve of indocyanine fluorescence intensity may support the evaluation of blood flow. The absence of differences in the time to maximum fluorescence intensity for degrees of stenosis might suggest a limitation of previous conventional qualitative assessments.

Avoidance of Coronary Sinus Injury During Retrograde Cardioplegia.

Coronary sinus injury is a rare but critical complication of retrograde cardioplegia. Even after detection, successful repair with a pericardial patch is not always attained. Malalignment of the infusion cannula relative to the coronary sinus is likely to be partially responsible for the injury. Monitoring the location of the cannula tip can help prevent injury. Transesophageal echocardiography can indicate the vascular structure within which the cannula is located. This finding may be useful in preventing injury to the coronary sinus or middle cardiac vein.

Targeted sonography using an image fusion technique for evaluation of incidentally detected breast lesions on chest CT: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: With increasing use of computed tomography (CT), incidentally detected breast lesions are being encountered more frequently. The aim of our study was to verify the utility of targeted sonography using an image fusion technique, real-time virtual sonography (RVS) that coordinates real-time sonography images with previously obtained CT images using a magnetic position tracking system, for evaluation of incidentally detected breast lesions on chest CT. METHODS: Eleven lesions in 11 women with no history of breast cancer who were referred to our unit for assessment of breast lesions incidentally detected on CT were enrolled in this study. To assess the efficacy of targeted sonography using RVS, we analyzed the frequency of sonographic detection of incidentally detected breast lesions and the difference between sonography- and CT-determined diameters. RESULTS: Using RVS guidance, all 11 lesions were sonographically detected. Ten (91 %) of 11 lesions underwent sonography-guided biopsy, yielding a success rate of 90 % (9/10). The remaining sonography-guided biopsy failure lesion required surgical biopsy for definitive diagnosis; this was performed after RVS was used to mark CT imaging information onto the breast surface. Four (36 %) lesions subsequently proved to be malignant. The mean diameters provided by RVS were 14.9 ± 6.7 mm for sonography and 16.8 ± 7.5 mm for CT (p = 0.538). CONCLUSION: Using RVS, a sonographic probe was precisely guided to the lesions. Our results suggest that targeted sonography using RVS is a useful technique for identifying incidentally detected breast lesions on chest CT.

Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with respect to optimal cut-off value and tumor markers in advanced/metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) are useful tumor markers (TMs) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are also detected in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. We analyzed CTCs in MBC patients in order to establish the optimal cut-off value, to evaluate the prognostic utility of CTC count, and to clarify whether CTC count could provide information in addition to CEA and CA15-3. METHODS: We studied 98 MBC patients enrolled between June 2007 and March 2013. To quantify CTCs, 7.5 ml of blood was collected and CEA and CA15-3 were measured simultaneously. CTCs were counted using the CellSearch™ System. The CTC count was dichotomized as 0 (CTC-negative) or ≥1 (CTC-positive). The clinical significance of CTCs was evaluated in terms of its relationship with levels of CEA and CA15-3. Associations between qualitative variables were evaluated using the chi-square test. In order to evaluate the predictive value of CTCs for advanced or metastatic breast cancer, multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to calculate hazard ratios. RESULTS: With a CTC cut-off value of 1, there were 53 (54.1 %) CTC-negative patients and 45 (45.9 %) CTC-positive patients. Patients in the CTC-positive group had worse survival than those in the CTC-negative group (p < 0.0001). Seventy-one patients (72.4 %) had TM data at the time of CTC testing. To study the relationship between CTCs and TMs, we divided patients into normal TM and high TM groups. In the normal TM group, the CTC-negative patients had statistically significant survival than the CTC-positive patients (p = 0.005). The data suggested that CTC count could provide additional prognostic information beyond TMs for advanced/metastatic breast cancer. In multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor of overall survival was CTC ≥ 1 (hazard ratio, 3.026; 95 % confidence interval 1.350-6.784). CONCLUSION: We found that a CTC cut-off value of 1 is appropriate in patients with advanced/metastatic breast cancer. CTCs could yield additional information beyond CEA and CA15-3.

Multidisciplinary approach for primary cardiac lymphoma associated with hemodynamic failure caused by tricuspid valve obstruction.

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) comprises rare cardiac tumors and exhibits rapid growth and poor prognosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old man with PCL associated with unstable hemodynamics caused by tricuspid valve obstruction. Generally, chemotherapy is the first choice of treatment for patients with PCL. This patient required emergency tumor reduction as he was at risk of having acute hemodynamic failure caused by tricuspid valve obstruction. Therefore, he underwent a 2-staged treatment: urgent surgery to avoid sudden death by tricuspid valve obstruction as well as pulmonary embolism during chemotherapy, followed by early chemotherapy. Pathological findings showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine, prednisolone (R-CHOP) therapy was initiated to treat any residual tumor infiltrating the myocardial wall. The patient showed a marked clinical improvement. We conclude that surgical tumor reduction and early chemotherapy might be an effective treatment for PCL patients with hemodynamic compromise. .

[Operative Results of Total Arch Replacement with Arch First Technique using a Trifurcated Graft].

In aortic arch surgery, we reconstruct branches before opening the arch to avoid cerebral embolism of the debris derived from the aortic wall. We made a trifurcated graft for branch reconstruction using 10 mm and 8 mm polyester grafts. Cardiopulmonary bypass started under right axillary perfusion and venous drainage through the right atrium. While cooling, the left subclavian artery was clamped and anastomosed to the end of the trifurcated graft. Then the ascending aorta was cross-clamped and cardioplegic solution was infused. At 25 degrees centigrade of the tympanic temperature, the left carotid artery is clamped and anastomosed to the branch of the trifurcated graft with or without perfusion into the left carotid artery. Subsequently the brachiocephalic artery was reconstructed in the same manner. After antegrade cerebral perfusion was established through the trifurcated graft via right axillary perfusion, distal anastomosis of the aortic arch was done with the open distal technique. Graft-graft anastomosis was followed to reperfuse the lower half of the body. Finally proximal anastomosis was performed to complete total arch replacement. Forty-four patients underwent total arch replacement in this technique. In-hospital mortality was 4.5%. Cerebral infarction occurred in 4.5% of the patients probably due to embolization of the debris derived from the branches of the aortic arch.

Maximal blood flow acceleration analysis in the early diastolic phase for in situ internal thoracic artery bypass grafts: a new transit-time flow measurement predictor of graft failure following coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVES: Maximal graft flow acceleration (max df/dt) determined by transit-time flowmetry (TTFM) in the diastolic phase was assessed as a possible predictor of graft failure in coronary artery bypass patients. METHODS: Max df/dt was retrospectively measured in 57 in situ left internal thoracic artery grafts. TTFM data were fitted to a 5-polynomial curve, which was derived from the first-derivative curve to measure max df/dt (5-polymial max df/dt). Abnormal TTFM was defined as a mean flow of <15 ml/min, pulsatility index of >5 or diastolic filling ratio of <50%. Postoperative coronary angiography (CAG) or multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was performed within 1 year after surgery. The grafts were classified into four groups: Normal TTFM/Patent MDCT/CAG (N/P), Normal TTFM/Failing MDCT/CAG (N/F), Abnormal TTFM/Patent MDCT/CAG (Ab-N/P) and Abnormal TTFM/Failing MDCT/CAG graft (Ab-N/F). RESULTS: By TTFM, 34 grafts were normal, 5 of which were occluded on CAG, and 23 grafts were abnormal, six of which were occluded on CAG. There were significant differences in 5-polynomial max df/dt between each group pair (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test) except for the N/F:Ab-N/P group pair; especially, 5-polynomial max df/dt was significantly lower in the Ab-N/F group compared with the other groups (Ab-N/F: 0.89 ± 0.41 vs N/P: 4.74 ± 3.18, N/F: 2.23 ± 0.65, Ab-N/P: 2.70 ± 1.31 ml/s(2), P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U-test). The sensitivity and specificity of 5-polynomial max df/dt were, respectively, 72.7 and 80.4% (cut-off value, 1.918 ml/s(2)) for all grafts and 100 and 88.2% (cut-off value, 1.273 ml/s(2)) for abnormal TTFM grafts. CONCLUSIONS: The TTFM 5-polymial max df/dt value in the early diastolic phase may be a promising predictor of future graft failure.

Efficacy of intraoperative HyperEye Medical System angiography for coronary artery bypass grafting.

PURPOSE: When performing coronary artery bypass grafting, anastomotic insufficiency needs to be detected during surgery. We developed a novel indocyanine green angiography system, the HyperEye Medical System (HEMS), which enables color imaging of the bypass flow. This article described the accuracy of HEMS angiography for predicting graft patency. METHODS: A total of 144 grafts in 40 coronary artery bypass grafting patients were assessed by HEMS angiography, a transit time flowmeter (TTF) during surgery and fluoroscopic angiography 1 year after the operation. RESULTS: HEMS angiography showed normal flow in 133 grafts, but abnormal flow in 11. Fluoroscopic angiography showed that 130 of the 133 "normal" grafts were patent (negative predictive value: 97.7%) and that nine of the 11 "abnormal" grafts were occluded (positive predictive value: 81.8%). As a result, 134 grafts were assessed as normal and 10 as abnormal by TTF. Fluoroscopic angiography showed that 124 of these 134 grafts were patent (negative predictive value: 92.5%), whereas two of the 10 grafts were occluded (positive predictive value: 20.0%). For the 127 grafts with compatible results by the HEMS and TTF assessments, the positive and negative predictive values were 100 and 97.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: HEMS angiography of a bypass graft may provide an accurate prediction of the graft patency after surgery.

Tamoxifen plus tegafur-uracil (TUFT) versus tamoxifen plus Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and cyclophosphamide (ACT) as adjuvant therapy to treat node-positive premenopausal breast cancer (PreMBC): results of Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study 9404.

PURPOSE: A prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen plus doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide compared to tamoxifen plus tegafur-uracil as an adjuvant therapy to treat node-positive premenopausal breast cancer (PreMBC). METHODS: Eligibility criteria included pathologically node-positive (n = 1-9) preMBC with curative resection, in stages I-IIIA. Patients were randomized to receive either tamoxifen 20 mg/day plus tegafur-uracil 400 mg/day (TU) for 2 years or six courses of a 28-day cycle of doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2) plus cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) on day 1 along with tamoxifen (ACT) given for 2 years as adjuvant therapy. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: In total, 169 patients were recruited (TU arm 87, ACT arm 82) between October 1994 and September 1999. The HR for OS was 0.76 (95 % CI 0.35, 1.66, log-rank p = 0.49) and that for RFS was 0.77 (95 % CI 0.44, 1.36, log-rank p = 0.37), with ACT resulting in a better HR. The 5-year OS was 79.7 % for patients in the TU arm and 83 % for those in the ACT arm. The 5-year RFS was 66.1 % for patients in the TU arm and 70.6 % for those in the ACT arm. A higher proportion of patients in the ACT arm experienced grade 3 leucopenia (0 % in the TU arm, 4 % in the ACT arm). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in the efficacy of TU and ACT as adjuvant therapy.

Intraoperative migration of open stent graft detected by transesophageal echocardiography: report of two cases.

We report two cases of graft migration during open stent grafting, detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The incidence was 3.7% in our series. The length of landing zone was reduced from 45 mm to 25 mm in case 1 and from 50 mm to 22 mm in case 2 before chest closure. Aneurysmal protrusion on the greater curvature with thin mural thrombus were findings common in both cases. Although additional intervention was not done based on the TEE findings of no endoleak and thrombus formation in the aneurysm, and postoperative course was uneventful, meticulous imaging check-up was needed.