Investigating locations of recurrences with MRI after CRS-HIPEC for colorectal peritoneal metastases.

PURPOSE: Patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM) treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are at high risk of recurrent disease. Understanding where and why recurrences occur is the first step in finding solutions to reduce recurrence rates. Although diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI is not routinely used in the follow-up of CRC patients, it has a clear advantage over CT in detecting the location and spread of (recurrent) PM. This study aimed to identify common locations of recurrence in CRC patients after CRS-HIPEC with MRI. METHOD: This was a single-centre retrospective study of patients with recurrent PM after CRS-HIPEC performed between January 2016 and August 2020. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had both an MRI preoperatively (MRI1) and at the time of recurrent disease (MRI2). Two abdominal radiologists reviewed in consensus and categorized recurrences according to their location on MRI2 and in correlation with previous disease location on prior imaging (MRI1) and the surgical report of the CRS-HIPEC. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included, with a median surgical PCI of 7 (range 3-21) at the time of primary CRS-HIPEC. In total, 68 recurrent metastases were detected on MRI2, of which 14 were extra-peritoneal. Of the remaining 54 PM, 42 (78%) occurred where the peritoneum was damaged due to earlier resections or other surgical procedures (e.g. inserted surgical abdominal drains). Most recurrent metastases were found in the mesentery, lower abdomen/pelvis and abdominal wall (87%). CONCLUSIONS: Most recurrent PMs appeared in the mesentery, lower abdomen/pelvis and abdominal wall, especially where the peritoneum was previously damaged.

Disappearing colorectal liver metastases in the era of state-of-the-art triple-modality diagnostic imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic therapy can result in disappearance of colorectal liver metastases in up to 40% of patients. This might be an overestimation caused by suboptimal imaging modalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of imaging modalities and the incidence, management and outcome of patients with disappearing liver metastases (DLMs). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients treated for colorectal liver metastases at a high volume hepatobiliary centre between January 2013 and January 2015 after receiving induction or neoadjuvant systemic therapy. Main outcomes were use of imaging modalities, incidence, management and longterm outcome of patients with DLMs. RESULTS: Of 158 patients included, 32 (20%) had 110 DLMs. Most patients (88%) had initial diagnostic imaging with contrast enhanced-CT, primovist-MR and FDG-PET and 94% of patients with DLMs were restaged using primovist-MR. Patients with DLMs had significantly smaller metastases and the median initial size of DLMs was 10 mm (range 5-61). In the per lesion analysis, recurrence after "watch & wait" for DLMs occurred in 36%, while in 19 of 20 resected DLMs no viable tumour cells were found. Median overall (51 vs. 28 months, p < 0.05) and progression free survival (10 vs. 3 months, p = 0.003) were significantly longer for patients with DLMs. CONCLUSION: Even state-of-the-art imaging and restaging cannot solve problems associated with DLMs. Regrowth of these lesions occurs in approximately a third of the lesions. Patients with DLMs have better survival.

Percutaneous cryoablation: a novel treatment option in non-visceral metastases of the abdominal cavity after prior surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the primary safety and oncological outcome of percutaneous cryoablation in patients with non-visceral metastases of the abdominal cavity after prior surgery. METHODS: All patients with non-visceral metastases after prior abdominal surgery, treated with percutaneous cryoablation, and at least one year of follow-up were retrospectively identified. Technical success was achieved if the ice-ball had a minimum margin of 10 mm in three dimensions on the per-procedural CT images. Complications were recorded using the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) classification system. Time until disease progression was monitored with follow-up CT and/or MRI. Local control was defined as absence of recurrence at the site of ablation. RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent cryoablation for 14 non-visceral metastases (mean diameter 20 ± 9 mm). Primary tumor origin was renal cell (n = 4), colorectal (n = 3), granulosa cell (n = 2), endometrium (n = 1) and appendix (n = 1) carcinoma. Treated metastases were localized retroperitoneal (n = 8), intraperitoneal (n = 2), or in the abdominal wall (n = 4). Technical success was achieved in all procedures. After a median follow-up of 27 months (12-38 months), all patients were alive. Local control was observed in 10/14 non-visceral metastases, and the earliest local progression was detected after ten months. No major adverse events occurred. One patient suffered a minor asymptomatic adverse event. CONCLUSION: This proof-of-concept study suggests that cryoablation can be a minimal invasive treatment option in a selected group of patients with non-visceral metastases in the abdominal cavity after prior surgery.

Diagnostic performance of MRI for staging peritoneal metastases in patients with colorectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: MRI improves the selection of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and peritoneal metastases (PM) for cytoreductive surgery by accurately assessing the extent of PM reflected as the peritoneal cancer index (PCI). The performance of MRI after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for staging PM, however is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MRI could also accurately determine the PCI after NACT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre, retrospective study of patients with PM from CRC or appendiceal origin who received NACT followed by diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI and surgery from January 2016 to February 2021. Two radiologists assessed the PCI on restaging DW-MRI (mriPCI). The reference standard was the surgical PCI (sPCI). The main outcome was the diagnostic performance of restaging DW-MRI in predicting whether patients were eligible for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), defined as a PCI < 21 with metastases on resectable locations. If CRS-HIPEC was performed, the resected peritoneal lesions were assessed and correlated with the final pathological PCI (pPCI). RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included. Both readers correctly detected all 23 patients with resectable disease. Eight out of ten patients with unresectable disease during staging surgery were detected by both readers with MRI. The intraclass correlation (ICC) between both readers was excellent (0⋅87 (95% CI: 0⋅75 to 0⋅93)). The ICC between pPCI and mriPCI was 0⋅74 (0⋅49-0⋅88) and 0⋅82 (0⋅66-0⋅91) for the 2 readers. Surgical PCI (sPCI) had a similar correlation as mriPCI with pPCI 0⋅82 (0⋅62- 0⋅92)) and 0⋅81 (0⋅57-0⋅92)). CONCLUSION: DW-MRI is a promising tool to reassess the peritoneal cancer index after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Seeing the whole picture: Added value of MRI for extraperitoneal findings in CRS-HIPEC candidates.

PURPOSE: In colorectal cancer (CRC) patients the selection of suitable cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic peritoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) candidates is based on the location and extent of peritoneal metastases (PM) and presence of extraperitoneal metastases. MRI is increasingly being used to accurately assess the extent of PM, however, the significance of extraperitoneal findings in these scans has never been evaluated before. METHODS: CRC patients who had undergone an additional MRI scan after standard work-up with CT for preoperative staging between January 2016-January 2020 were selected. CT and MRI reports were reviewed for new abdominopelvic extra-peritoneal findings on MRI (MR-EPF) and MR-EPFs concerning lesions previously indicated as equivocal (uncertain benign/malignant) on CT. Reference standard were surgical results or follow-up imaging. RESULTS: In 158 included patients 60 MR-EPFs (in 58/158 patients) were noted: twenty-six (43%) were new findings and thirty-four (57%) were equivocal findings on CT. Of the 34 equivocal findings 27 were 'rejected/less likely malignant' and 7 'confirmed/more likely malignant' based on MRI. In 29 patients (18%) the MR-EPFs had direct influence on treatment planning. Three patients (2%), eligible for CRS-HIPEC on CT, were deemed inoperable due to MR-EPFs. CONCLUSION: MRI had an added value in more than a third of the patients due to abdominopelvic extraperitoneal findings that were undetected or indeterminate on CT and therefore influenced the treatment in a substantial part of the patients. Combined with the known accurate detection of peritoneal disease on MRI, MRI seems a logical addition to the diagnostic workup of potential CRS-HIPEC candidates.

Clinical added value of MRI to CT in patients scheduled for local therapy of colorectal liver metastases (CAMINO): study protocol for an international multicentre prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal computed tomography (CT) is the standard imaging method for patients with suspected colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in the diagnostic workup for surgery or thermal ablation. Diffusion-weighted and gadoxetic-acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver is increasingly used to improve the detection rate and characterization of liver lesions. MRI is superior in detection and characterization of CRLM as compared to CT. However, it is unknown how MRI actually impacts patient management. The primary aim of the CAMINO study is to evaluate whether MRI has sufficient clinical added value to be routinely added to CT in the staging of CRLM. The secondary objective is to identify subgroups who benefit the most from additional MRI. METHODS: In this international multicentre prospective incremental diagnostic accuracy study, 298 patients with primary or recurrent CRLM scheduled for curative liver resection or thermal ablation based on CT staging will be enrolled from 17 centres across the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, and Italy. All study participants will undergo CT and diffusion-weighted and gadoxetic-acid enhanced MRI prior to local therapy. The local multidisciplinary team will provide two local therapy plans: first, based on CT-staging and second, based on both CT and MRI. The primary outcome measure is the proportion of clinically significant CRLM (CS-CRLM) detected by MRI not visible on CT. CS-CRLM are defined as liver lesions leading to a change in local therapeutical management. If MRI detects new CRLM in segments which would have been resected in the original operative plan, these are not considered CS-CRLM. It is hypothesized that MRI will lead to the detection of CS-CRLM in ≥10% of patients which is considered the minimal clinically important difference. Furthermore, a prediction model will be developed using multivariable logistic regression modelling to evaluate the predictive value of patient, tumor and procedural variables on finding CS-CRLM on MRI. DISCUSSION: The CAMINO study will clarify the clinical added value of MRI to CT in patients with CRLM scheduled for local therapy. This study will provide the evidence required for the implementation of additional MRI in the routine work-up of patients with primary and recurrent CRLM for local therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The CAMINO study was registered in the Netherlands National Trial Register under number NL8039 on September 20th 2019.

Predictive Factors for Hypertrophy of the Future Liver Remnant After Portal Vein Embolization: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review was conducted to determine factors that are associated with the degree of hypertrophy of the future liver remnant following portal vein embolization. An extensive search on September 15, 2020, and subsequent literature screening resulted in the inclusion of forty-eight articles with 3368 patients in qualitative analysis, of which 18 studies were included in quantitative synthesis. Meta-analyses based on a limited number of studies showed an increase in hypertrophy response when additional embolization of segment 4 was performed (pooled difference of medians = - 3.47, 95% CI - 5.51 to - 1.43) and the use of N-butyl cyanoacrylate for portal vein embolization induced more hypertrophy than polyvinyl alcohol (pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.60, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.91). There was no indication of a difference in degree of hypertrophy between patients who received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and those who did not receive pre-procedural systemic therapy(pooled SMD = - 0.37, 95% CI - 1.35 to 0.61), or between male and female patients (pooled SMD = 0.19, 95% CI - 0.12 to 0.50).The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews on April 28, 2020 (CRD42020175708).

Treatment Strategies and Prognosis of Patients With Synchronous or Metachronous Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare treatment strategies and survival of patients with synchronous colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM) and patients with metachronous CPM in a nationwide cohort. METHODS: All patients from the Netherlands Cancer Registry with synchronous or metachronous CPM whose primary colorectal cancer (CRC) was diagnosed between 1 January and 30 June 2015 were included in the study. Treatments were categorized as (A) cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy [CRS-HIPEC]; (B) palliative treatment; or (C) best supportive care. Overall survival (OS) for all the patients and disease-free survival (DFS) for those who underwent CRS-HIPEC were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of 7233 patients, 743 had a diagnosis of CPM, including 409 patients with synchronous CPM and 334 patients with metachronous CPM. The median OS was 8.1 months for the patients with synchronous CPM versus 12 months for the patients with metachronous CPM (p = 0.003). After multivariable correction, OS no longer differed between the patients with synchronous CPM and those with metachronous CPM (HR 1.03 [0.83-1.27]). The patients with metachronous CPM more often underwent CRS-HIPEC than the patients with synchronous CPM (16 % vs 8 %; p = 0.001). The two groups did not differ statistically in terms of DFS and OS (median DFS, 21.5 vs 14.1 months, respectively; p = 0.094; median OS, 37.8 vs. 35.8 months, respectively; p = 0.553). CONCLUSION: This population-based study showed that survival for the patients with synchronous CPM and patients with metachronous CPM did not significantly differ. This suggests that a similar prognosis may be expected for patients selected for treatment regardless of the onset of CPM.

Dedicated MRI staging versus surgical staging of peritoneal metastases in colorectal cancer patients considered for CRS-HIPEC; the DISCO randomized multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Selecting patients with peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer (CRCPM) who might benefit from cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is challenging. Computed tomography generally underestimates the peritoneal tumor load. Diagnostic laparoscopy is often used to determine whether patients are amenable for surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown to be accurate in predicting completeness of CRS. The aim of this study is to determine whether MRI can effectively reduce the need for surgical staging. METHODS: The study is designed as a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) of colorectal cancer patients who are deemed eligible for CRS-HIPEC after conventional CT staging. Patients are randomly assigned to either MRI based staging (arm A) or to standard surgical staging with or without laparoscopy (arm B). In arm A, MRI assessment will determine whether patients are eligible for CRS-HIPEC. In borderline cases, an additional diagnostic laparoscopy is advised. The primary outcome is the number of unnecessary surgical procedures in both arms defined as: all surgeries in patients with definitely inoperable disease (PCI > 24) or explorative surgeries in patients with limited disease (PCI < 15). Secondary outcomes include correlations between surgical findings and MRI findings, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life (QOL) analysis. CONCLUSION: This randomized trial determines whether MRI can effectively replace surgical staging in patients with CRCPM considered for CRS-HIPEC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in the clinical trials registry of U.S. National Library of Medicine under NCT04231175 .

Comparison of the Peritoneal Cancer Index and Dutch region count as tools to stage patients with peritoneal metastases of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Extent of peritoneal metastases (PM) is among the most powerful prognostic factors for survival after cytoreductive surgery (CRS). This study aimed to compare the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and the Dutch region count as tools for staging PM of colorectal cancer. The Dutch region count is a simpler classification that distinguishes seven rather than 13 abdominal regions. Presence or absence of PM is recorded. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in two tertiary referral centres in the Netherlands. Consecutive patients with colorectal PM who were intentionally treated with CRS and subsequent hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in 2016 and 2017 were included. The PCI and Dutch region count were both recorded during laparotomy. Correlation between scoring tools was calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Diagnostic values were calculated for different cut-off values of the PCI, alongside the Dutch region count. The correlation of both scores was determined for the exploration and validation cohorts separately. RESULTS: In the exploration and validation cohorts, 73 and 85 patients respectively were included. Spearman's correlation coefficients of 0·897 and 0·961 were observed for continuous scores of the Dutch region count and PCI in the exploration and validation group respectively. A cut-off value of 20 for the PCI score and 5 for the Dutch region count showed 91·9 and 94·5 per cent sensitivity, and 81·8 and 91·7 per cent specificity, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Dutch region count correlated well with the PCI score, and may help to simplify reporting of the extent of peritoneal disease.

ANTECEDENTES: La extensión de las metástasis peritoneales (peritoneal metastases, PM) es uno de los factores pronósticos más importantes para la supervivencia después de la cirugía citorreductora (cytoreductive surgery, CRS). El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el índice de carcinomatosis peritoneal (Peritoneal Cancer Index, PCI) y el recuento holandés por regiones como herramientas para la estadificación de las PM del cáncer colorrectal. El recuento holandés por regiones es una clasificación más simple que distingue 7 regiones abdominales en lugar de 13. En dichas regiones abdominales se registró la presencia o ausencia de PM. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio de cohortes retrospectivo en dos centros de referencia terciarios en los Países Bajos. Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos con PM de origen colorrectal que fueron tratados con CRS seguida de quimioterapia intraperitoneal hipertérmica (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, HIPEC) en 2016 y 2017. Durante la laparotomía se recogieron datos del índice PCI y de la clasificación de las regiones abdominales. Se utilizó el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman para analizar la correlación entre estas dos herramientas de puntuación. Se calculó la precisión diagnóstica en función de diferentes umbrales del índice PCI junto con los datos del recuento por regiones. Asimismo, se calcularon las correlaciones entre ambas puntuaciones en las cohortes de exploración y validación por separado. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 73 pacientes en la cohorte de exploración y 85 en la de validación. Los coeficientes de correlación de Spearman eran de 0,987 para puntuaciones continuas del recuento holandés por regiones abdominales y del PCI en la cohorte de exploración y de 0,961 en la cohorte de validación. Los umbrales de corte de 20 para el índice PCI y de 5 para el recuento por regiones demostraron sensibilidades de 91,9% y 94,5%, y especificidades de 81,8% y 91,7%, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: El recuento holandés por regiones abdominales se correlacionó bien con el PCI y puede ser útil para simplificar la extensión de la enfermedad peritoneal.

Preoperative imaging for colorectal liver metastases: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) preoperative imaging may include contrast-enhanced (ce) MRI and [18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18 F-FDG) PET-CT. This study assessed trends and variation between hospitals and oncological networks in the use of preoperative imaging in the Netherlands. METHODS: Data for all patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM in the Netherlands between 2014 and 2018 were retrieved from a nationwide auditing database. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess use of ceMRI, 18 F-FDG PET-CT and combined ceMRI and 18 F-FDG PET-CT, and trends in preoperative imaging and hospital and oncological network variation. RESULTS: A total of 4510 patients were included, of whom 1562 had ceMRI, 872 had 18 F-FDG PET-CT, and 1293 had combined ceMRI and 18 F-FDG PET-CT. Use of ceMRI increased over time (from 9·6 to 26·2 per cent; P < 0·001), use of 18 F-FDG PET-CT decreased (from 28·6 to 6·0 per cent; P < 0·001), and use of both ceMRI and 18 F-FDG PET-CT 16·9 per cent) remained stable. Unadjusted variation in the use of ceMRI, 18 F-FDG PET-CT, and combined ceMRI and 18 F-FDG PET-CT ranged from 5·6 to 100 per cent between hospitals. After case-mix correction, hospital and oncological network variation was found for all imaging modalities. DISCUSSION: Significant variation exists concerning the use of preoperative imaging for CRLM between hospitals and oncological networks in the Netherlands. The use of MRI is increasing, whereas that of 18 F-FDG PET-CT is decreasing.

ANTECEDENTES: En pacientes con metástasis hepáticas colorrectales (colorrectal liver metastases, CRLM), los estudios de imagen preoperatorios pueden incluir resonancia magnética con contraste (ce)MRI y 18 F-FDG-PET-CT. Este estudio evaluó las tendencias y la variación entre los hospitales y las redes oncológicas en el uso de estudios de imagen preoperatorios en los Países Bajos. MÉTODOS: Todos los pacientes que se sometieron a una resección hepática por CRLM en los Países Bajos entre 2014 y 2018 fueron seleccionados a partir de una base de datos a nivel nacional auditada. El análisis de regresión logística multivariable se utilizó para evaluar el uso de ceMRI, de 18 F-FDG-PET-CT y de ceMRI combinado con 18 F-FDG-PET-CT, así como para determinar las tendencias en los estudios de imagen preoperatorios y las variaciones hospitalarias y de la red oncológica. RESULTADOS: En total, se incluyeron 4.510 pacientes, de los cuales 1.562 se sometieron a ceMRI, 872 a 18 F-FDG-PET-CT y 1.293 a ceMRI combinado con 18 F-FDG-PET-CT. El uso de ceMRI aumentó con el tiempo del 9,6% al 26,2% (P < 0,001), el uso de 18 F-FDG-PET-CT disminuyó (25% a 6,0%, P < 0,001) y el uso de ceMRI y 18 F-FDG-PET- CT (17%) se mantuvo estable. La variación no ajustada entre hospitales en el uso de ceMRI, 18 F-FDG-PET-CT y la combinación de ceMRI y 18 F-FDG-PET-CT oscilaba del 5% al 10%. Después de la corrección por case-mix, la variación hospitalaria y de la red oncológica persistía en todas las pruebas de imagen. CONCLUSIÓN: En los Países Bajos existe una variación significativa entre hospitales y redes oncológicas respecto al uso de pruebas de imagen preoperatorias para el CRLM. El uso de MRI está aumentando, mientras que el uso de 18 F-FDG-PET-CT está disminuyendo.

Long-term survival after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy using mitomycin C or oxaliplatin in colorectal cancer patients with synchronous peritoneal metastases: A nationwide comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: In the Netherlands, limited variability exists in performance of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) among centers treating colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM), except for the intraperitoneal drug administration. This offers a unique opportunity to investigate any disparities in survival between the two most frequently used HIPEC regimens worldwide: mitomycin C (MMC) and oxaliplatin. METHODS: This was a comparative, population-based cohort study of all Dutch patients diagnosed with synchronous colorectal PM who underwent CRS-HIPEC between 2014 and 2017. They were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Main outcome was overall survival (OS). The effect of the intraperitoneal drug on OS was investigated using multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 297 patients treated between 2014 and 2017 were included. Among them, 177 (59.6%) received MMC and 120 (40.4%) received oxaliplatin. Only primary tumor location was different between the two groups: more left-sided colon in the Oxaliplatin group (47.5% vs. 33.3%, respectively, p=0.048). The 1-, 2- and 3-year OS were 84.6% vs. 85.8%, 61.6% vs. 63.9% and 44.7% vs. 53.5% in patients treated with MMC and oxaliplatin, respectively. Median OS was 30.7 months in the MMC group vs. 46.6 months in the oxaliplatin group (p=0.181). In multivariable analysis, no influence of intraperitoneal drug on survival was observed (adjusted HR 0.77 [0.53-1.13]). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival between patients treated with either MMC or oxaliplatin during CRS-HIPEC was not significantly different.

Volume-outcome relationship of liver surgery: a nationwide analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for an association between hospital volume and outcomes for liver surgery is abundant. The current Dutch guideline requires a minimum volume of 20 annual procedures per centre. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between hospital volume and postoperative outcomes using data from the nationwide Dutch Hepato Biliary Audit. METHODS: This was a nationwide study in the Netherlands. All liver resections reported in the Dutch Hepato Biliary Audit between 2014 and 2017 were included. Annual centre volume was calculated and classified in categories of 20 procedures per year. Main outcomes were major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIA or higher) and 30-day or in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 5590 liver resections were done across 34 centres with a median annual centre volume of 35 (i.q.r. 20-69) procedures. Overall major morbidity and mortality rates were 11·2 and 2·0 per cent respectively. The mortality rate was 1·9 per cent after resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs), 1·2 per cent for non-CRLMs, 0·4 per cent for benign tumours, 4·9 per cent for hepatocellular carcinoma and 10·3 per cent for biliary tumours. Higher-volume centres performed more major liver resections, and more resections for hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary cancer. There was no association between hospital volume and either major morbidity or mortality in multivariable analysis, after adjustment for known risk factors for adverse events. CONCLUSION: Hospital volume and postoperative outcomes were not associated.

ANTECEDENTES: La asociación entre el volumen hospitalario y los resultados de la cirugía hepática no está clara. Según la recomendación actual de las guías holandesas se requiere un volumen mínimo de 20 procedimientos anuales por centro. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la asociación entre el volumen hospitalario con los resultados postoperatorios en la auditoría hepatobiliar obligatoria holandesa a nivel nacional. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio a nivel nacional en los Países Bajos. Se incluyeron todas las resecciones hepáticas registradas en la auditoría hepatobiliar holandesa entre 2014 y 2017. El volumen anual del centro se calculó y se clasificó en categorías de 20 procedimientos por año. Los objetivos principales fueron la morbilidad de mayor grado (Clavien-Dindo grado IIIA o superior) y la mortalidad hospitalaria o la mortalidad a los 30 días. RESULTADOS: Se realizaron un total de 5.590 resecciones en 34 centros con una mediana (rango intercuartílico) de volumen anual de 35 procedimientos (20-69). La tasa global de morbilidad mayor fue del 11% y la mortalidad del 2%. La mortalidad fue de 1,9% después de la resección por metástasis hepáticas colorrectales (colorectal liver metastases, CRLM), 1,2% para no CRLM, 0,4% para tumores benignos, 4,9% para carcinoma hepatocelular, y 10,3% para tumores biliares. Los centros de mayor volumen realizaron más resecciones hepáticas mayores y más resecciones por carcinoma hepatocelular y cáncer biliar. En el análisis multivariable después de ajustar por factores de riesgo conocidos de eventos adversos, no se observó ninguna asociación entre el volumen hospitalario y la morbilidad o mortalidad mayor. CONCLUSIÓN: No hubo asociación entre el volumen hospitalario y los resultados postoperatorios de la cirugía hepática en los Países Bajos.

Diagnostic performance of imaging for the detection of peritoneal metastases: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Detection of peritoneal metastases (PM) is key in the staging and management of gastrointestinal and ovarian cancer patients. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the diagnostic performance of CT, PET(CT), and (DW)MRI in detecting PM. METHODS: A literature search in Pubmed, Embase (Ovid), and Scopus was performed (January 1997-May 2018) to identify studies reporting on the accuracy of imaging PM in the diagnostic workup of gastrointestinal or ovarian cancers. Inclusion criteria were region-based or patient-based studies comprising > 15 patients, surgery/histology/radiological follow-up as a reference standard, and sufficient data to construct a 2 × 2 contingency table. Two observers performed data extraction. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model and hierarchical summary operating curves (HSROC) were generated. RESULTS: Of 3457 citations retrieved, twenty-four articles met all inclusion criteria. Thirty-seven datasets could be extracted for analysis including 20 for CT, 10 for PET(CT), and 7 for (DW)MRI. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR for the detection of PM for region-based studies for CT were 68% (CI, 46-84%), 88%(CI, 81-93%), and 15.9 (CI, 4.4-58.0) respectively; 80% (CI, 57-92%), 90% (CI, 80-96%), and 36.5 (CI, 6.7-199.5) for PET(CT), respectively; 92% (CI, 84-96%), 85% (CI, 78-91%), 63.3 (CI, 31.5-127.3) for (DW)MRI. In the patient-based group, not enough studies were included to make a pooled analysis for (DW)MRI and PET(CT). CONCLUSION: (DW)MRI and PET(CT) showed comparable diagnostic performance for the detection of peritoneal metastases in ovarian and gastrointestinal cancer patients. Since MRI is more widely available than PET(CT) in clinical practice, this potentially is the imaging method of choice in most centers in the future. KEY POINTS: • Detection of peritoneal metastases plays an important role in the accurate staging of cancer patients, however, there is no accepted reference standard for the imaging of peritoneal metastases • This meta-analysis shows that (DW)MRI provided the highest sensitivity for the detection of peritoneal metastases in ovarian and gastrointestinal cancer patients • Although (DW)MRI and PET(CT) show a comparable overall diagnostic performance, (DW)MRI seems to be the imaging method of choice since it is more available in daily practice than PET(CT).

Effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentration on morbidity and survival.

BACKGROUND: Selected patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases are treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The concentration of intraperitoneal chemotherapy reflects the administered dose and perfusate volume. The aim of this study was to calculate intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentration during HIPEC and see whether this was related to clinical outcomes. METHODS: An observational multicentre study included consecutive patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases who were treated with CRS-HIPEC between 2010 and 2018 at three Dutch centres. Data were retrieved from prospectively developed databases. Chemotherapy dose and total circulating volumes of carrier solution were used to calculate chemotherapy concentrations. Postoperative complications, disease-free and overall survival were correlated with intraoperative chemotherapy concentrations. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression, Cox regression and survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 320 patients, 220 received intraperitoneal mitomycin C (MMC) and 100 received oxaliplatin. Median perfusate volume for HIPEC was 5·0 (range 0·7-10·0) litres. Median intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentration was 13·3 (range 7·0-76·0) mg/l for MMC and 156·0 (91·9-377·6) mg/l in patients treated with oxaliplatin. Grade III or higher complications occurred in 75 patients (23·4 per cent). Median overall survival was 36·9 (i.q.r. 19·5-62·9) months. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentrations were not associated with postoperative complications or survival. CONCLUSION: CRS-HIPEC was performed with a wide variation in intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentrations that were not associated with complications or survival.

ANTECEDENTES: Ciertos pacientes seleccionados con metástasis peritoneales de cáncer colorrectal (peritoneal metastases, PM) se tratan con cirugía citorreductora (cytoreductive surgery, CRS) y quimioterapia intraperitoneal hipertérmica (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, HIPEC). La concentración de quimioterapia intraperitoneal refleja la dosis administrada y el volumen perfundido. El objetivo de este estudio fue calcular la concentración de quimioterapia intraperitoneal durante HIPEC y evaluar si ello se relacionaba con los resultados clínicos. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional multicéntrico en el que se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos con PM de cáncer colorrectal que fueron tratados con CRS-HIPEC entre 2010 y 2018 en tres centros holandeses. Se obtuvieron los datos a partir de bases de datos mantenidas de forma prospectiva. La dosis de quimioterapia y los volúmenes circulantes totales de solución de perfusión se usaron para calcular las concentraciones de quimioterapia. Las complicaciones postoperatorias y las supervivencias libre de enfermedad y global se correlacionaron con las concentraciones de quimioterapia intraoperatoria. Se realizaron regresiones logísticas univariable y multivariable, regresión de Cox y análisis de supervivencia. RESULTADOS: De 320 pacientes, 220 recibieron mitomicina C intraperitoneal (MMC) y 100 oxaliplatino (OXA). El volumen medio de perfusión para HIPEC fue 5,0 L (rango 0,7-10,0). La mediana de concentración intraperitoneal del agente quimioterápico fue de 13,3 mg/L (rango 7,0-76,0) para MMC y 156,0 mg/L (rango 91,9 - 377,6) en pacientes tratados con OXA. Las complicaciones de grado 3 o mayores ocurrieron en 23,4% (n = 75). La mediana de supervivencia global fue de 36,9 meses (rango intercuartílico 19,5-62,9). Las concentraciones de quimioterapia intraperitoneal no se asociaron con las complicaciones postoperatorias ni con la supervivencia. CONCLUSIÓN: La CRS-HIPEC se realizó con una amplia variación en las concentraciones de quimioterapia intraperitoneal que no se asociaron con las complicaciones ni con la supervivencia.

Tissue diagnosis during colorectal cancer surgery using optical sensing: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: In colorectal cancer surgery there is a delicate balance between complete removal of the tumor and sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. Especially in rectal cancer, intraoperative tissue recognition could be of great benefit in preventing positive resection margins and sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. To better guide the surgeon, we evaluated the accuracy of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for tissue characterization during colorectal cancer surgery and determined the added value of DRS when compared to clinical judgement. METHODS: DRS spectra were obtained from fat, healthy colorectal wall and tumor tissue during colorectal cancer surgery and results were compared to histopathology examination of the measurement locations. All spectra were first normalized at 800 nm, thereafter two support vector machines (SVM) were trained using a tenfold cross-validation. With the first SVM fat was separated from healthy colorectal wall and tumor tissue, the second SVM distinguished healthy colorectal wall from tumor tissue. RESULTS: Patients were included based on preoperative imaging, indicating advanced local stage colorectal cancer. Based on the measurement results of 32 patients, the classification resulted in a mean accuracy for fat, healthy colorectal wall and tumor of 0.92, 0.89 and 0.95 respectively. If the classification threshold was adjusted such that no false negatives were allowed, the percentage of false positive measurement locations by DRS was 25% compared to 69% by clinical judgement. CONCLUSION: This study shows the potential of DRS for the use of tissue classification during colorectal cancer surgery. Especially the low false positive rate obtained for a false negative rate of zero shows the added value for the surgeons. Trail registration This trail was performed under approval from the internal review board committee (Dutch Trail Register NTR5315), registered on 04/13/2015, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5175 .

Chemotherapy intravenously in children with cancer at home, the nurse practitioner makes it possible!

BACKGROUND: Currently the entire treatment of a child with cancer is carried out in a specialized hospital. It would be ideal to conduct part of the treatment at home. This can only be done with adequately trained personnel. In the Netherlands, specialized pediatric oncology home care nurse practitioners have been trained to deliver this kind of care. Therefore, a pilot study was conducted to administer intravenous chemotherapy at home. PURPOSE: This study aimed to safely administer chemotherapy intravenously (iv) at home by specialized nurse practitioners and aimed to increase the quality of life (QOL) of the child and decrease the social burden in families with a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHOD: The pilot study was performed by well-trained home care nurse practitioners. Low-dose methotrexate iv and low-dose cytarabine iv were administered to 11 included children with ALL in their home environment. RESULTS: QOL increased whereas social burden decreased for patients and parents. Chemotherapy administration in the home environment was safe with the help of well-trained nurse practitioners. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to administer intravenous chemotherapy at home in a safe and efficient way. The role of the specialized pediatric oncology nurse practitioner is an essential one.

Factors influencing long-term survival after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from appendiceal neoplasms.

Background: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease, most commonly of appendiceal origin. Treatment consists of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors for recurrence and survival. Methods: This was an observational study using a prospectively designed database containing consecutive patients with PMP originating from the appendix, undergoing CRS-HIPEC at a tertiary referral centre between 1996 and 2015. Histopathological slides were reassessed. Cox regression was used for multivariable analyses. Results: Of 225 patients identified, 36 (16·0 per cent) were diagnosed with acellular mucin, 149 (66·2 per cent) had disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis (DPAM) and 40 (17·8 per cent) had peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis (PMCA). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 93, 69·8 and 55 per cent respectively. Recurrence was observed in 120 patients (53·3 per cent), 39 of whom (17·3 per cent) were treated with a second CRS-HIPEC procedure. Factors independently associated with poor disease-free survival were six or seven affected regions (hazard ratio (HR) 6·01, 95 per cent c.i. 2·04 to 17·73), incomplete cytoreduction (R2a resection: HR 1·67, 1·05 to 2·65; R2b resection: HR 2·00, 1·07 to 3·73), and more than threefold raised carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and/or carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level (HR 2·31, 1·30 to 4·11). Factors independently associated with poorer OS were male sex (HR 1·74, 1·09 to 2·77), incomplete cytoreduction (R2a resection: HR 1·87, 1·14 to 3·08; R2b resection: HR 2·28, 1·19 to 4·34), and more than threefold raised CEA and/or CA19-9 level (HR 2·89, 1·36 to 6·16). Conclusion: CEA and CA19-9 levels raised more than threefold above the upper limit identify patients with PMP of appendiceal origin and poorer survival.

Adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion pump chemotherapy and resection versus resection alone in patients with low-risk resectable colorectal liver metastases - the multicenter randomized controlled PUMP trial.

BACKGROUND: Recurrences are reported in 70% of all patients after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), in which half are confined to the liver. Adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP) chemotherapy aims to reduce the risk of intrahepatic recurrence. A large retrospective propensity score analysis demonstrated that HAIP chemotherapy is particularly effective in patients with low-risk oncological features. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) --the PUMP trial-- is to investigate the efficacy of adjuvant HAIP chemotherapy in low-risk patients with resectable CRLM. METHODS: This is an open label multicenter RCT. A total of 230 patients with resectable CRLM without extrahepatic disease will be included. Only patients with a clinical risk score (CRS) of 0 to 2 are eligible, meaning: patients are allowed to have no more than two out of five poor prognostic factors (disease-free interval less than 12 months, node-positive colorectal cancer, more than 1 CRLM, largest CRLM more than 5 cm in diameter, serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen above 200 µg/L). Patients randomized to arm A undergo complete resection of CRLM without any adjuvant treatment, which is the standard of care in the Netherlands. Patients in arm B receive an implantable pump at the time of CRLM resection and start adjuvant HAIP chemotherapy 4-12 weeks after surgery, with 6 cycles of floxuridine scheduled. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival, hepatic PFS, safety, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Pharmacokinetics of intra-arterial administration of floxuridine will be investigated as well as predictive biomarkers for the efficacy of HAIP chemotherapy. In a side study, the accuracy of CT angiography will be compared to radionuclide scintigraphy to detect extrahepatic perfusion. We hypothesize that adjuvant HAIP chemotherapy leads to improved survival, improved quality of life, and a reduction of costs, compared to resection alone. DISCUSSION: If this PUMP trial demonstrates that adjuvant HAIP chemotherapy improves survival in low-risk patients, this treatment approach may be implemented in the standard of care of patients with resected CRLM since adjuvant systemic chemotherapy alone has not improved survival. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The PUMP trial is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR), number: 7493 . Date of registration September 23, 2018.