Prevalence of synchronous bilateral tonsil squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of synchronous bilateral tonsil cancer remains unexplored. To date, only 38 cases have been described in the literature. With an aim to substantiate the Danish recommendation of performing bilateral tonsillectomy in patients with suspected or proven tonsil cancer and in patients with cervical carcinoma metastasis from an unknown primary tumour, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of synchronous bilateral tonsil cancer. DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with tonsil cancer in the period 2000-2015, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, was performed. RESULTS: Seven of 211 (3.3%) consecutive patients with tonsil cancer, who had undergone bilateral tonsillectomy (n = 180) or unilateral tonsillectomy (clinically normal side) combined with contralateral tonsil biopsy (side with suspected cancer) (n = 31), had synchronous bilateral tonsil cancer. Furthermore, dysplasia was found in the contralateral tonsil in two patients with unilateral tonsil cancer. Four of 171 (2.3%) patients with suspected unilateral tonsillar cancer had additional contralateral tonsil cancer. Three of 34 (8.8%) patients without clinical signs of tonsillar malignancy on any side (32 patients with carcinoma of unknown primary) had synchronous bilateral tonsil cancer. In none of the patients were bilateral tonsil cancer suspected. Patients with unilateral vs synchronous bilateral tonsil cancer had similar clinical and tumour characteristics. CONCLUSION: Knowledge on additional contralateral synchronous tonsil cancer is crucial for avoidance of early recurrence of oropharyngeal cancer in patients with tonsil cancer. Based on our findings, we recommend bilateral tonsillectomy in all patients with suspected or proven tonsil cancer and carcinoma of unknown primary.

Diagnostic laparoscopy and ultrasonography for colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) and laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) in the diagnostic workout of patients with colorectal liver metastases, who were considered to have resectable disease after multi detector computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical records of 45 patients, 22M/23F, mean age 62.0 (+/-10.6), who were considered to have resectable liver metastases after CT-scan, were analysed. RESULTS: DL and LUS could not be performed in 7 patients (16%) because of adhesions. Unresectable disease was detected by DL in 3 patients (7%), in all cases due to carcinosis. Additional lesions in the liver were detected by DL in 2 cases (4%), none of these making the patient unresectable. LUS showed additional lesions in 3 patients (7%), which in one case (2%) made the patient unresectable. None of the patients in the present study experienced adverse effects to DL or LUS. CONCLUSION: DL and LUS, due to the low efficacy with regard to avoid unnecessary laparotomies and the relative high failure rate because of adhesions, should not be a routine part of the diagnostic work out in patients with colo-rectal liver metastases.

Total pancreatectomy in six patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumour of the pancreas: the treatment of choice.

BACKGROUND: Intraductal papillary mucinous tumours (IPMT) were described as a distinct entity in 1982.The extent of surgical resection remains controversial. METHODS: Six patients with a diffuse dilatation of the main pancreatic duct were treated with total pancreatectomy for cure of IPMT. RESULTS: Histological examination showed one IPM adenoma, four IPM non-invasive carcinomas and one IPM invasive carcinoma. In all but one case multifocal extensive intraductal changes were found, affecting either most of the pancreas or the whole organ. All patients survived the operation and remain alive 5-56 months later. Post-pancreatectomy diabetes has been moderately well controlled. DISCUSSION: IPMTs represent a subgroup of pancreatic neoplasms with a favourable prognosis, and the resection should aim at removing all dysplastic foci. In cases with diffuse dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, widespread tumour involvement of the duct system can be expected, so total pancreatectomy should be the operation of choice.

Excessive nodular hyperplasia of Brunner glands associated with gastric hypersecretion and lipomatous atrophy of the pancreas.

The case of a 34-year-old woman complaining of diarrhoea and abdominal pain is presented. Contrast radiography and endoscopy showed multiple polypoid tumours in the second part of the duodenum. Moreover, a severe fatty infiltration of the pancreas was shown by magnetic resonance and computed tomography scans. Due to pain, pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple operation) was performed, and subsequent histopathologic examinations showed excessive Brunner gland hyperplasia of the duodenum and severe lipomatous atrophy of the pancreas. The occurrence of these two rare conditions in one patient has not been described previously, and it is conceivable that the lipomatous atrophy and exocrine insufficiency of the pancreas may have caused a compensatory stimulation of the submucosal structures of the duodenum.

Whipple's operation for carcinoma of the pancreatic head and the ampullary region. Short-and long-term results.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: In this retrospective review short- and long-term perspectives have been evaluated for 108 patients who, during 1982 through 1992, had Whipple's operation performed for carcinoma of the pancreatic head (PC, n=63) or the ampullary region (AC, n=45). In 24 patients the operation was not radical (21 with PC and 3 with AC). RESULTS: Total perioperative morbidity was 60%, and 13 patients (12%) died within 30 days of operation. This decreased from 15.2% in the first half of the study period to 8.2% in the second half. Recurrence occurred in 56.2% of the remaining 73 patients, with no significant differences between PC and AC. Recurrence was related to regional lymph node metastases and poor tumour differentiation. Overall 5-year survival was 7.4% for PC and 24.8% for AC. For patients with radically excised tumours surviving 30 days the 5-year survival rates were 13.1% for PC and 30% for AC. CONCLUSION: Careful preoperative evaluation is still of great importance.

[Resectability of papillary and pancreatic cancer assessed by ultrasonography and computer tomography]. / Resektabilitet af papil- og pancreascancer vurderet ved ultralydskanning og computertomografi.

A retrospective study of 65 patients with postoperatively verified pancreatic or peripancreatic cancer was conducted. Before surgery all patients had ultrasonography (US) performed, and 46 patients had computed tomography (CT) performed as well. After operation description of pre-operative radiological findings has been compared to description of operative and pathological findings. Three of the 65 patients were excluded either because of lacking radiological descriptions (two patients) or uncertain operative findings (one patient). When both investigations were performed, they were carried out independently by two skilled radiologists without knowledge of the result of the other investigations. The following criteria were used for non-resectability encasement of splanchnic vessels, liver metastases, peritoneal thickening with ascites, and glandular enlargement. As assessed by US, 15 of 16 (94%) were truly predicted to be non-resectable, whereas only 21 of 38 (55%) were truly predicted resectable. CT was performed in 46 patients of which 19 of 21 (90%) were truly predicted non-resectable, and 17 of 21 (81%) were truly predicted resectable. It was not possible to perform a conclusive radiological investigation in eight of 62 (13%) cases by US, and four of 46 (9%) cases by CT. One patient was falsely predicted non-resectable by US and an additional one by CT. Both were falsely predicted non-resectable on suspicion of vessel involvement. Overall, invasion of vessels was the most common cause for non-resectability, at the same time this was the index of non-resectability that was most often not detected pre-operatively. US is reliable when predicting non-resectability. When resectable tumour is detected by US, supplementary investigations such as CT should be applied, and when necessary endoscopic procedures or laparoscopy as well. Hereby unnecessary laparotomies may be avoided. Care should be taken when suspecting papillary tumour; only 66% of these were detected by either of the two methods.

Endoscopic manometry of the sphincter of Oddi and the pancreatic and biliary ducts in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Sphincter of Oddi activity and the common bile duct (CBD) and pancreatic duct (PD) pressures were measured by means of endoscopic manometry in 15 patients (11 men and 4 women aged 18-77 (median, 40) years) with various degrees of chronic pancreatitis. Eleven of the 15 patients studied had an abnormal manometric pattern: elevated base-line pressures were seen in 8 patients, elevated duct pressures in 6 patients, abnormal peristalsis in 6 patients, and discoordination in 4 patients. There was no relation between the severity of chronic pancreatitis as shown by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and the pancreatic function test and the manometric findings. However, a positive correlation between the sphincter of Oddi base-line pressure and the pancreatic duct pressure was found. It is concluded that manometric abnormalities are common findings in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Whether this is primary or secondary to the inflammatory process is still uncertain.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The first 45 operations]. / Laparoskopisk kolecystektomi. De første 45 operationer.

During a period of 13 weeks, 45 patients with symptom-producing gall bladder stones (attacks of gall stone colic n = 39 (87%); acute cholecystitis n = 6 (13%)), corresponding to approximately 85% of the total number of gall bladder stone patients during the period were selected for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Two patients had previously undergone upper abdominal operations and had adhesions and one patient suffered from cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension. It proved necessary to convert five of the laparoscopic cholecystectomies to open cholecystectomies (11%) on account of technical difficulties (severe acute changes due to cholecystitis (n = 3), indeterminable anatomical conditions (n = 1) and one case of liver metastases (n = 1)). The median duration of operation was 90 minutes with a range from 30 to 360 minutes. Peroperative cholangiography was not undertaken routinely. No cases of forgotten stones in the common bile duct occurred. No deaths occurred and, in all, three slight complications occurred (7%): two patients had haematoma in the abdominal wall and one patient minimal leakage of bile from the stump of the gall bladder on account of insufficient ligation of the cystic duct. This patient was treated with an endoscopically placed drain in the common bile duct for two weeks, after which she was well. No lesions of the common bile duct occurred. None of the complications required laparotomy. The median duration of hospitalization was 24 hours with a range from one to 14 days. All of the patients were at work or could manage their usual activities after 14 days. The median duration of sick leave was seven days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Randomised trial of endoscopic endoprosthesis versus operative bypass in malignant obstructive jaundice.

In patients with obstructive jaundice caused by malignant stricture of the extrahepatic bile duct we compared survival time, complication rates, hospitalisation requirements, and quality of life after palliation by endoscopic endoprosthesis or bypass surgery. During diagnostic endoscopic cholangiography 50 patients were randomised to the two treatment alternatives. All 25 patients randomised to endoprosthesis were treated by this procedure, whereas only 19 of 25 patients randomised to bypass surgery underwent operative biliary-digestive anastomosis. Life table analysis revealed no difference in survival between treatment groups or randomisation groups. No differences were found when other variables were compared. We conclude, that palliation of obstructive jaundice in malignant bile duct obstruction with endoscopically introduced endoprosthesis is as effective as operative bypass.

[Liver transplantation undertaken on Danes abroad]. / Levertransplantation af danskere i udlandet.

The indication for liver transplantation is the end stage of liver disease. Liver transplantations are not carried out in Denmark at present, one of the reasons being that it requires introduction of the brain death criterion, because the donor liver must be removed during maintained circulation. To date (November 1988), liver transplantations have been carried out abroad on seven Danes. One of these died after operation, one has chronic rejection and is to have retransplantation while the remaining five patients are well. In Europe (including Sweden, Norway and Finland) and USA, more than 5,000 patients have been liver transplanted. The one-year survival is approximately 75%. After this, only few liver-related deaths occur and the majority of patients can resume their previous activities. A total of 18 Danes have been assessed in transplantation centres abroad: Two are waiting for transplantation in the near future and seven have been accepted for transplantation at a later date, depending on the course of the disease. In a number of Danes, liver transplantation has been considered indicated but has not been effectuated because the disease was so advanced at the time of referral, that the patient died before transfer or the patient did not desire operation abroad.

Large bile duct stones treated by endoscopic biliary drainage.

One hundred five patients with obstructive jaundice and cholangitis (49 patients), referred for diagnostic endoscopy, were found to have inextractable bile duct stones. Median age was 76 years and three quarters were more than 72 years of age. Insertion of an endoprosthesis with or without a sphincterotomy relieved jaundice in 94% and settled cholangitis in 90%. Antibiotic cover during the procedure seems essential inasmuch as pyrexia and septicemia occurred in 6 of 57 cases where it was not given. One case was lethal. Another patient died of acute pancreatitis. The patients were old. One quarter died before the follow-up, 1 to 5 years after the initial intervention. The results indicate that the combination of endoscopic sphincterotomy, insertion of an endoprosthesis, and, if feasible, stone extraction on a later occasion when the acute phase of the illness had subsided brought the disease sufficiently under control among three quarters of the patients with large common duct stones or stenoses in the biliary tract. One quarter of the patients were treated surgically. This was accomplished without mortality, but morbidity was not negligible. A policy with a surgical approach restricted to selected cases with persistent symptoms in spite of sufficient endoscopic drainage is recommended.

[Whipple's resection in cancer of Vater's ampulla and the pancreatic head]. / Whipple's resektion ved ampulla Vateri og caput pancreatis cancer.

A review is presented of 62 Whipple's resections between 1962 and 1984 for adenocarcinoma of the choledocho-duodenal junction (CDJ) and pancreatic head (PH). The operation was radical in 17 patients with CDJ (94%) and in 34 patients with PH cancer (77%). The cumulative 5-year survival rates were 22% and 9%, respectively. The overall perioperative mortality was 23%, but was lowered to 11% during the last five years. Histology, size of tumour and age also influenced survival. Sixteen of the 32 radically operated patients who survived more than three months had a period without pain. Whipple's resection is still the only hope for cure in otherwise fit patients with CDJ or PH cancer, estimated to be radically resectable by pre- and peroperative investigations. The operation should be centralized in a few departments.

Endoscopic biliary drainage.

Endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) has become an established method of relieving posthepatic jaundice. This study comprises 399 patients in whom 472 EBD procedures were performed during a 5 year period; 272 patients had malignant obstruction, 36 had a benign stricture, 79 had common duct stones and 12 patients had other benign conditions requiring drainage. A 7F double pigtail endoprosthesis was used in the majority of patients and was inserted with an Olympus JF-1T duodenoscope. Ninety-two per cent of the prostheses were correctly positioned, and 88 per cent of these functioned well with relief of symptoms. The 30-day mortality was 22 per cent and one-third of these deaths were due to the procedure, septicaemia being the dominant hazard. This was more marked if the obstruction was not relieved satisfactorily. Antibiotic cover was not used routinely and had not been prescribed in any of the fatal cases. This omission probably made a significant contribution to the septicaemia. Acute pancreatitis and haemorrhage were rare complications and both were probably related to the coincidental sphincterotomy. Prostheses intended for permanent relief of malignant obstruction remained patent for 2-3 months (median) with a wide range of 1-618 days. Survival among these patients is so short, that one or two EBD procedures will keep the majority of patients free from symptoms related to biliary obstruction, and only two patients needed more than three procedures. Fifty-one patients with pancreatic head carcinoma had EBD as a bypass before an intended operation. Only 16 patients actually had a resection. The median survival among the 51 patients was 106 days (compared with 59 days among 100 patients with a permanent prosthetic bypass). Only one patient with a very small periampullary carcinoma has survived for more than 3 years. Forty-seven patients are dead. Among the 51 patients in whom radical resection was intended two-thirds were actually treated by permanent surgical or prosthetic bypass.

Bile-induced chronic gastric ulcer in swine with excised oxyntic gland area.

After excision of the oxyntic gland area in seven miniature pigs and cholecystogastrostomy in six of them, two developed chronic gastric ulcers in the gastric remnant. No parietal cells were found in the two pigs with ulcers, whereas small areas with polypoid oxyntic mucosa were found in four pigs without ulcer. The study indicates that bile-induced chronic gastric ulcer can occur in the pig despite the absence of oxyntic cells.

Ulcer risk in a duodeno-gastric antireflux operation in dogs.

Duodenogastric reflux is a possible pathogenetic mechanism in some type I gastric ulcers. An antireflux operation is therefore a logical procedure but involves the risk of marginal ulceration. To examine this risk, the following study was performed: 18 dogs were divided into 3 groups of 6. One group had an antireflux operation performed (AR), one had AR plus parietal cell vagotomy (AR + PCV), and the third was a control group that was given daily injections of 40 mg repository histamine. All control dogs developed ulcers after 7-84 days, mean 37 days, of histamine. Three dogs in the AR group developed ulcers spontaneously 55-92 days postoperatively, whereas none of the AR + PCV group developed ulcers spontaneously 72-108 days postoperatively. After histamine injection two of the remaining three AR dogs developed ulcers after 3-4 days of stimulation, and three of the six AR + PCV dogs developed ulcers after 4-5 days of stimulation. It is concluded that the AR operation is heavily ulcer-prone and that PCV does not protect sufficiently against ulceration.