Usefulness of early diagnosis of small bowel obstruction due to broad ligament hernia using multidetector computed tomography: a case report.

Small bowel obstruction due to broad ligament hernia (BLH) is a rare type of internal hernia. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult, as clinical symptoms and imaging results are often nonspecific. BLH has a high risk of strangulation and requires surgery for the reduction of herniated bowels. According to an analysis of 140 BLH cases reported in Japan, the typical patient is a middle-aged woman who has been pregnant and has no history of abdominal surgery and the characteristic computed tomography (CT) findings. This report will enable preoperative early diagnosis with our description of the typical patient with BLH and the characteristic CT findings. Tortuousness and dilation of the ovarian veins were noted in three cases, including in ours. This may be used as a new CT feature of early detection. Additionally, we report a case of BLH successfully treated after early diagnosis using multidetector CT.

Endothelin-1 stimulates expression of cyclin D1 and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 by activating the transcription factor STAT3 in cultured rat astrocytes.

Brain injury-mediated induction of reactive astrocytes often leads to glial scar formation in damaged brain regions. Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a member of the STAT family of transcription factors, plays a pivotal role in inducing reactive astrocytes and glial scar formation. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a vasoconstrictor peptide, and its levels increase in brain disorders and promote astrocytic proliferation through ETB receptors. To clarify the mechanisms underlying ET-1-mediated astrocytic proliferation, here we examined its effects on STAT3 in cultured rat astrocytes. ET-1 treatment stimulated Ser-727 phosphorylation of STAT3 in the astrocytes, but Tyr-705 phosphorylation was unaffected, and ET-induced STAT3 Ser-727 phosphorylation was reduced by the ETB antagonist BQ788. ET-1 stimulated STAT3 binding to its consensus DNA-binding motifs. Monitoring G1/S phase cell cycle transition through bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation, we found that ET-1 increases BrdU incorporation into the astrocytic nucleus, indicating cell cycle progression. Of note, STAT3 chemical inhibition (with stattic or 5,15-diphenyl-porphine (5,15-DPP)) or siRNA-mediated STAT3 silencing reduced ET-induced BrdU incorporation. Moreover, ET-1 increased astrocytic expression levels of cyclin D1 and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2), which were reduced by stattic, 5,15-DPP, and STAT3 siRNA. ChIP-based PCR analysis revealed that ET-1 promotes the binding of SAT3 to the 5'-flanking regions of rat cyclin D1 and SKP2 genes. Our results suggest that STAT3-mediated regulation of cyclin D1 and SKP2 expression underlies ET-induced astrocytic proliferation.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients with previous breast augmentation surgery.

The number of breast augmentation surgeries (BAS) has increased. Therefore, the number of breast cancer patients with history of BAS has also increased. In this paper, we present two cases of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with previous BAS who were diagnosed with breast cancer. The patients were augmented using different approach; the first case was augmented through transaxillary incision, whereas the second case was augmented through periareolar incision. Lymphoscintigraphy (LPG) was performed on the patients 1 day prior to operation, enabling confirmation of lymphatic flow and SLN in both patients. SLNB was successfully performed in both cases. In one patient, SLNB was performed using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence and the Photodynamic Eye (PDE) system. Regardless of history of BAS, ICG and PDE system showed lymphatic flow and SLN in real time. LPG and ICG fluorescence were useful methods for SLN detection in patients with previous BAS, being able to confirm lymph flow before operation. Biopsy methods using LPG and PDE system were considered useful for difficult confirmation of lymph flow after breast augmentation. This is the first report of SLNB using ICG and PDE system for patients with previous BAS.

Locoregional recurrence risk factors and the impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy on patients with tumors 5 cm or larger.

BACKGROUND: Locoregional recurrence (LRR) after mastectomy reduces the patient's quality of life and survival. There is a consensus that postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) helps achieve locoregional control and reduces LRR. However, in patients with large tumors, the question of which variables affect the likelihood of LRR and the role of PMRT have been subjects of substantial controversy. This study investigated what the risk factors are for LRR and the efficacy of PMRT in this patient population. METHODS: This retrospective study examined 589 cases of invasive breast carcinoma with tumors 5 cm or larger from 1998 to 2008. We divided the study population into 3 groups: patients with negative nodes, 1-3 positive nodes, and ≥4 positive nodes. The relationship between various clinicopathological variables and LRR was examined, and the relationship between LRR and PMRT was estimated. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 44.2 months, 38 (6.5 %) patients experienced LRR. In the multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for LRR included pectoral invasion in patients with 1-3 positive nodes, severity of lymphatic invasion, estrogen receptor-negative status, and a nodal ratio of positive/excised nodes >0.50 in patients with ≥4 positive nodes. In patients without positive nodes, none of the examined variables were significantly associated with LRR. Although patients treated with PMRT had good outcomes, there was no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: With systemic therapy and adequate lymph node dissection, PMRT by itself was of limited value in establishing locoregional control. Due to the very low incidence of LRR observed, PMRT was not necessary for patients with large tumors without lymph node metastasis. Further examination and consensus about the indications for PMRT in patients with 1-3 metastatic nodes are needed.

Locoregional recurrence risk factors in breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes and the impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Locoregional recurrence (LRR) after mastectomy reduces the patient's quality of life and survival. There is a consensus that postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) helps establish locoregional control and reduces LRR in patients with ≥4 metastatic nodes. However, in patients with 1-3 metastatic nodes, the incidence of LRR and the role of PMRT have been the subject of substantial controversy. This study assessed the risk factors for LRR and the efficacy of PMRT in Japanese breast cancer patients with metastatic nodes. METHODS: This study analyzed 789 cases of invasive breast carcinoma with metastatic nodes from 1998 to 2008. We divided the study population into 4 groups: 1-3 positive nodes with/without chemotherapy and ≥4 positive nodes with/without chemotherapy. Risk factors for LRR were identified and the relationship between LRR and PMRT was analyzed. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 59.6 months, 61 (7.7%) patients experienced LRR. In patients who received chemotherapy, independent LRR risk factors were high nuclear grade, severe lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, and progesterone receptor-negative status in patients with 1-3 positive nodes, and severe lymphatic invasion and estrogen receptor-negative status in patients with ≥4 nodes. Although patients treated with PMRT had good outcomes, there was no significant difference, and PMRT did not significantly improve the outcome of the patients with all risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: With systemic therapy and adequate dissection, PMRT by itself was of limited value in establishing locoregional control. The indication for PMRT in patients with 1-3 positive nodes remains controversial.

The differences in the histological types of breast cancer and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: the relationship between the outcome and the clinicopathological characteristics.

UNLABELLED: Although effective regimens have been established for invasive ductal carcinoma-not otherwise specified (IDC), the efficacy and prognosis of other minor types of breast cancer are unknown because of their rareness. The clinicopathological features and prognosis of other minor types concerning the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were evaluated in this study. A total of 562 patients were classified according to the Japanese and the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications, and the number of IDC and other special types (SP) was 500 and 62. The SP patients had a significantly poorer clinicopathological response to NAC and less breast-conservative therapy than those with IDC. According to the WHO classification, mucinous carcinoma, metaplastic carcinomas and apocrine carcinoma also responded poorly, and patients with metaplastic carcinomas and invasive lobular carcinoma had a significantly poorer prognosis. Despite the poor response to chemotherapy, patients with mucinous carcinoma and apocrine carcinoma had a good prognosis. The response to NAC and the prognosis vary for each histological type. For some types, the prognosis was not related to the clinicopathological response to NAC. BACKGROUND: In the treatment of breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has become the standard treatment modality for downstaging purposes. Although effective regimens have been established for the treatment of invasive ductal carcinoma-not otherwise specified (IDC), the data about the efficacy and prognosis for patients with other minor types of breast cancer are insufficient because of the rareness of these tumors. Defining the relationship between each histological type and the clinicopathological response to NAC is essential to optimizing individualized treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathological features and classification of the histological types based on the Japanese and the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications before and after NAC in 562 patients with primary breast cancer who underwent curative treatment after NAC between 1998 and 2008. The prognosis was estimated for each histological type. RESULTS: Of the 562 patients, the number of cases of IDC and other special types (SP) was 500 and 62. In the SP group, the clinicopathological response to NAC was significantly poorer, and the patients underwent breast-conservative therapy less frequently than did the IDC patients. According to the WHO classification, mucinous carcinoma, metaplastic carcinomas and apocrine carcinoma responded poorly to NAC. The disease-free survival and overall survival were significantly worse for patients with metaplastic carcinomas (p<0.001 and p<0.001) and with invasive lobular carcinoma (p=0.03 and p<0.001) than other cancers. Despite their poor response to treatment, patients with mucinous carcinoma and apocrine carcinoma had a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The response to standardized NAC and prognosis varies for each histological type. For some types, the prognosis was not associated with the clinicopathological response to NAC. Innovative regimens should therefore be investigated for each histological type to achieve the best response.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy using indigo carmine blue dye and the validity of '10% rule' and '4 nodes rule'.

This is the study which assessed sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) using indigo carmine blue dye and the validity of the '10% rule' and '4 nodes rule'. Patients (302) were performed SNB using the combined radioisotope (RI)/indigo carmine dye method. Excised SLNs were confirmed whether they were stained and numbered in order of RI count and the percentage of radioactivity as compared to the hottest node was calculated. The relationship between histological diagnosis, dyeing and RI count was assessed. All the patients were detected SLN. Positive nodes were identified in 84 (27.8%) patients and were identified up to the third degree of hottest. All the hottest positive nodes were stained by indigo carmine. From the results, removing the three most radioactive SLNs identified all cases of nodal metastasis without complications. These stopping rules were valid and useful under indigo carmine use too.

Feasibility of breast conserving surgery for Paget's disease.

INTRODUCTION: The standard treatment for Paget's disease of the breast is mastectomy. Since it is frequently associated with underlying carcinoma, many surgeons are reluctant to choose breast conserving surgery for Paget's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a series of 59 patients with Paget's disease who had undergone mastectomy at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1963 and 2009. RESULTS: In 55 of 59 cases (93%) there was underlying carcinoma in the ipsilateral breast. Clinically, 27 (46%) patients had no evidence of other tumors, but 23 (85%) had underlying histopathologically confirmed carcinoma. Based on the data from this subset, cone excision with a 3-cm radius and a 4-cm radius could completely resect any underlying malignancy in 74% and 85% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: As Paget's disease is frequently accompanied by underlying intraductal and/or invasive carcinoma, patients should be carefully selected for breast conserving surgery.

Evaluation of sentinel node biopsy by combined fluorescent and dye method and lymph flow for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Conservative breast resection with subsequent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) is an increasingly popular initial approach for the treatment of breast cancer due to decreased invasiveness. SNB is a shorter procedure with fewer side effects than more substantial surgical procedures, but it sometimes fails to identify metastatic disease. Therefore, a highly sensitive and convenient method is needed to identify sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) with a high probability of containing disease in SNB. We compared the combination of radioisotope or dye with a fluorescence compound to analyze lymph flow to identify targets for SNB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined patients with breast cancer lacking metastases in the axillary lymph node (ALN). Two methods for targeted SNB were developed: (1) Indocyanine Green (ICG) and Patent blue were injected into the skin overlying the tumor and sub-areolar region just before the surgical procedure. (2) ICG and radiocolloid were injected into the skin overlying the tumor and sub-areolar region. The draining fluorescent lymphatic duct was visualized using a Photodynamic Eye (PDE). We removed the SLNs that were identified by the dye and fluorescence imaging methods. Method 1 was applied to 113 patients undergoing SNB, and 29 patients were treated with Method 2. In our study, patients were grouped by lymph flow into two types: Type C demonstrated convergence to one lymph duct. Type S demonstrated separate lymph ducts. RESULTS: Using the fluorescence imaging method, 99.3% of SLNs were identified, and 3.8 SLNs per patient were seen. The SLN identification rates for Patent blue dye and radiocolloid were 92.9% and 100%, respectively, while 1.9 and 2.0 SLNs per patient, respectively, were seen with these methods. We classified two types of lymph flow based on the pattern of lymphatic drainage. Type C converged to a single lymph duct, while Type S drained to separate ducts. Type S lymph drainage was seen in 29/142 patients (20.4%), and Type C drainage was found in 113/141 patients (79.6%). Of the patients with Type S drainage, there were 4.1 SLNs per patient, but only 3.4 SLNs per patient were seen in individuals with Type C drainage. Forty cases had metastases found in the ALNs, and five of these cases were dye-negative and fluorescence-positive. Among these cases, the average number of SLNs identified was one. CONCLUSION: The combination of fluorescence with a visible dye is a highly sensitive method for SLN identification. When SNB is guided by only the dye method, there is a risk of missing appropriate SLNs in patients with Type S lymph drainage or weak dye staining. The use of a fluorescence method together with dye could increase sensitivity of detection in these cases. Furthermore, fluorescent methods are ideal for hospitals that cannot use conventional radioactive measures.

[Thoracic epidural analgesia is effective in perioperative pain relief for uterine artery embolization].

BACKGROUND: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) has become widely employed in Japan. Although several methods of anesthesia and analgesia are performed for UAE, pain control does not appear to be satisfactory. We report a series of UAE, successfully managed using thoracic epidural analgesia. METHODS: Before UAE an epidural analgesic catheter was inserted at T 10-11. Local anesthetic and morphine sulfate were administered through the catheter. After the UAE patients received patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) for 24 hours. The next day, patients were treated with diclofenac sodium 25 mg suppository every 8 hours. RESULTS: In all cases, early pain was controlled well by epidural analgesia. Late pain was controlled by combining epidural analgesia with diclofenac sodium. Nausea and pruritus due to morphine sulfate occurred in some cases, but disappeared after discontinuation of PCEA. CONCLUSIONS: Several phases of severe pain are seen perioperatively in UAE. Because thoracic epidural analgesia is easily administered and the dosage of the drugs used effectively controlled, it is a practical method for perioperative pain control for UAE.

[Intra-aortic balloon pumping is effective for hemodynamic management of catecholamine resistant ampulla (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy].

Ampulla (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy resembles acute myocardial infarction, with absent coronary stenosis. We report a case of catecholamine resistant ampulla cardiomyopathy, successfully managed using intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). After laparotomy, the patient developed circulatory collapse. T wave inversion was observed on electrocardiogram. In spite of circulatory support using high dose cathecholamines, the hemodynamics of the patient showed no improvement. Upon starting IABP, the patient's hemodynamics were improved and the dose of catecholamines could be reduced. Because the ampulla cardiomyopathy is considered a subtype of 'stunned myocardium' and the hemodynamic disorder is temporary and reversible, IABP appears effective for hemodynamic management.