Preoperative Prediction of Microvascular Invasion with Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Implication of Surgical Decision on the Extent of Liver Resection.

Introduction: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is one of the most important prognostic factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence, but its application in preoperative clinical decisions is limited. This study aimed to identify preoperative predictive factors for MVI in HCC and further evaluate oncologic outcomes of different types and extents of hepatectomy according to stratified risk of MVI. Methods: Patients with surgically resected single HCC (≤5 cm) who underwent preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in a single-center retrospective study. Two radiologists reviewed the images with no clinical, pathological, or prognostic information. Significant predictive factors for MVI were identified using logistic regression analysis against pathologic MVI and used to stratify patients. In the subgroup analysis, long-term outcomes of the stratified patients were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test and compared between anatomical and nonanatomical or major and minor resection. Results: A total of 408 patients, 318 men and 90 women, with a mean age of 56.7 years were included. Elevated levels of tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein [α-FP] ≥25 ng/mL and PIVKA-II ≥40 mAU/mL) and three MRI features (tumor size ≥3 cm, non-smooth tumor margin, and arterial peritumoral enhancement) were independent predictive factors for MVI. As the MVI risk increased from low (no predictive factor) and intermediate (1-2 factors) to high-risk (3-4 factors), recurrence-free and overall survival of each group significantly decreased (p = 0.001). In the high MVI risk group, 5-year cumulative recurrence rate was significantly lower in patients who underwent major compared to minor hepatectomy (26.6 vs. 59.8%, p = 0.027). Conclusion: Tumor markers and MRI features can predict the risk of MVI and prognosis after hepatectomy. Patients with high MVI risk had the worst prognosis among the three groups, and major hepatectomy improved long-term outcomes in these high-risk patients.

The Revo-i Robotic Surgical System in Advanced Pancreatic Surgery: A Second Non-Randomized Clinical Trial and Comparative Analysis to the da Vinci™ System.

PURPOSE: Numerous robot-assisted pancreatic surgery are being performed worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the Revo-i robot system (Meerecompany, Seoul, Republic of Korea) for advanced pancreatic surgery, and also compare this new system with the existing da Vinci™ robot system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) in the context of robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a one-armed prospective clinical trial that assessed the Revo-i robot system for advanced pancreatic surgery. Ten patients aged 30 to 73 years were enrolled between December 2019 and August 2020. Postoperative outcomes were retrospectively compared with those of the da Vinci™ surgical system. From March 2017 to August 2020, a total of 47 patients who underwent RPD were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In the prospective clinical trial, pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in nine patients and one patient underwent central pancreatectomy. Among the 10 study participants, the incidence of major complications was 0% in hospital stay. There were eight postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) biochemical leaks (80%). In the retrospective analysis that compared the Revo-i and da Vinci™ robotic systems, 10 patients underwent Revo-i RPD and 37 patients underwent da Vinci™ RPD, with no significant differences in complication or POPF incidence rates between the two groups (p=0.695, p=0.317). CONCLUSION: In this single-arm prospective study with short-term follow-up at a single institution, the Revo-i robotic surgical system was safe and effective for advanced pancreatic surgery. Revo-i RPD is comparable to the da Vinci™ RPD and is expected to have wide clinical application.

Laparoscopic Minor Liver Resections for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Posterosuperior Segments Using the Rubber Band Technique.

BACKGROUND: Although laparoscopic minor liver resections (LLR) of posterosuperior (PS) segments are technically challenging, several expert centers are increasingly performing this procedure. In the present study, we introduced novel techniques, including the rubber band traction method and positional changes, and compared surgical outcomes of LLR for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located in PS segments with open minor liver resection (OLR). METHODS: From January 2008 to August 2019, 113 patients underwent laparoscopic (n = 55) or open (n = 58) minor liver resections for single small HCCs (<5 cm) located in PS segments. Propensity score matching in a 1:1 ratio was conducted to minimize preoperative selection bias, and surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no intraoperative mortality or reoperation in either group. One conversion to open surgery was necessary due to severe post-operative adhesions. The matched LLR group compared to OLR had significantly shorter operative time (215.16 vs. 251.41 min, P = 0.025), lesser blood loss (218.11 vs. 358.92 mL, P = 0.046), lower complication rate (8.1% vs. 29.7%, P = 0.018), and shorter hospital stay (7.03 vs. 11.78 days, P = 0.001). Intraoperative transfusion, R0 resection, resection margin, 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival were comparable. CONCLUSION: Our standardized LLR provided improved short-term outcomes and similar long-term outcomes, when compared with OLR. With advanced techniques and accumulated surgical experience, LLR can be the first option for HCC in PS segments at expert centers.

Circulating Cancer Stem Cells Expressing EpCAM/CD90 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Study for Predicting Tumor Recurrence after Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background/Aims: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with cancer stemness have been demonstrated to be a direct cause of tumor recurrence, and only few studies have reported the role of CTCs in liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule+ (EpCAM+), cluster of differentiation 90+ (CD90+) and EpCAM+/CD90+ CTCs were sorted via fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and transcripts level of EpCAM, K19 and CD90 in the peripheral blood were analyzed via real-time polymerase chain reaction preoperatively and on postoperative days 1 and 7 in 25 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for HCC. EpCAM protein was assessed in HCC tissue using immunohistochemical staining. The median follow-up duration was 40 months. Results: HCC after LDLT recurred in four out of 25 patients. Detection of EpCAM+ or CD90+ CTCs correlated well with their messenger RNA levels (p<0.05). EpCAM+ CTCs were readily detected in HCC tissue expressing EpCAM protein. The detection of EpCAM+ CTCs or EpCAM+/CD90+ CTCs before surgery and on postoperative day 1 was significantly associated with HCC recurrence after LT (all p<0.05). Pretransplant serum PIVKA-II >100 mAU/mL and postoperative day 1 EpCAM+/CD90+ CTCs were independent risk factors for HCC recurrence (hazard ratio, 14.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 198.20; p=0.043 and hazard ratio, 26.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.86 to 387.51; p=0.016, respectively). Conclusions: EpCAM+/CD90+ CTCs can be used preoperatively and 1 day after LDLT as key biological markers in LT candidate selection and post-LDLT management.

Surgical Outcomes and Comparative Analysis of Transduodenal Ampullectomy and Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA) is performed for adenoma or early cancer of the ampulla of Vater (AoV). This study aimed to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of TDA (TDA group) when compared with conventional pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD group). METHODS: Patients who underwent TDA between January 2006 and December 2019, and PD cases performed for AoV malignancy with carcinoma in-situ (Tis) (high-grade dysplasia, HGD) and T1 and T2 stage from January 2010 to December 2019 were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-six patients underwent TDA; 21 had a benign tumor, and 25 cases with malignant tumors were compared with PD cases (n = 133). Operation time (p < 0.001), estimated blood loss (p < 0.001), length of hospital stays (p = 0.003), and overall complication rate (p < 0.001) were lower in the TDA group than in the PD group. Lymph node metastasis rates were 14.6% in pT1 and 28.9% in pT2 patients. The 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival rates for HGD/Tis and T1 tumor between the two groups were similar (TDA group vs PD group, 72.2% vs 77.7%, p = 0.550; 85.6% vs 79.2%, p = 0.816, respectively). CONCLUSION: TDA accompanied with lymph node dissection is advisable in HGD/Tis and T1 AoV cancers in view of superior perioperative outcomes and similar long-term survival rates compared with PD.

Complete response of locally advanced left-sided pancreatic cancer after modified FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy followed by conversion surgery: A case report.

For years, neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer is being investigated and radical surgical resection with laparoscopic approach is getting up to speed. Pathological complete remission is known as a predictive marker for a good prognosis for various carcinomas. Although there are a few case reports about pathological complete remission, there has been no case report of pathological complete remission resulted from successful extensive resection by laparoscopic surgery after a neoadjuvant modified FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. A 68-year-old male patient was admitted due to a palpable abdominal mass which turned out to be 16-cm-sized huge locally advanced left-sided pancreatic cancer with possible stomach, left adrenal gland, left kidney, and colon invasion. After administration of 10th modified FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy, the tumor had decreased and he underwent laparoscopic radical distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, left adrenalectomy, wedge resection of stomach, and segmental resection of transverse colon. Although patient had a postoperative micro-abscess around the colon anastomosis site, he was successfully managed with conservative treatment and discharged on 12 days postoperatively. The final pathology reported complete tumor regression. We hereby emphasize the oncologic significance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in huge left-sided pancreatic cancer and the potential role of laparoscopic conversion surgery.

Huge Hepatic Angiomyolipoma Mimicking Low Grade Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

A 41-year-old man was diagnosed with a huge symptomatic liver mass and was referred to our hospital for liver biopsy and further evaluation. He presented with right upper quadrant tenderness. Enhanced abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 12.5-cm relatively well-defined heterogeneous enhancing mass in the right inferior liver with a large exophytic component containing a fat component and progressive delayed enhancement. The patient underwent right inferior sectionectomy. The pathological diagnosis was confirmed as angiomyolipoma, 12.3×9.2×5.0 cm in size, with tumor necrosis in 20% of the tissue. Hepatic angiomyolipoma is known as a benign tumor, but in our case, because of the large tumor size and coagulative necrosis, this tumor had malignant potential; surgical resection was deemed to be appropriate, and close follow-up monitoring was essential postoperatively.