Effect of Risk Factor Score on Early Recurrence After Pancreatectomy for Invasive Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to identify the risk factors for early recurrence (ER) after pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) resection to create a novel scoring system for ER and analyze their effect on the recurrence pattern. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with PDAC who underwent pancreatectomy were included. The predicted risk factors for ER were analyzed. A new score defining ER was created and analyzed for recurrence pattern and prognosis. RESULTS: Independent predictors included high CA 19-9 (≥147 U/ml), high lymph node ratio (LNR of ≥0.1277), and no adjuvant chemotherapy (AC). The 5-year overall survival rates with a score of 0, 1, and 2 were 55.8%, 11.0%, and 0%, respectively. In the moderate- risk score group, prognosis was improved by induction of AC within 58 days. CONCLUSION: Preoperative high CA19-9, high LNR, and no AC could be ER predictors. Induction of postoperative chemotherapy within 58 days may improve prognosis.

The postoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts the outcome of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer.

PURPOSE: The preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been reported as an important prognostic index for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, the significance of the postoperative (post-op) PLR for this disease has not been elucidated. METHODS: We analyzed data on 118 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head PDAC, collected from a prospectively maintained database. The post-op PLR was obtained by dividing the platelet count after surgery by the lymphocyte count on post-op day (POD) 14. The patients were divided into two groups according to a post-op PLR of < 310 or ≥ 310. Survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: A high post-op PLR was identified as a significant prognostic index on univariate analysis for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The post-op PLR remained significant, along with tumor differentiation and adjuvant chemotherapy, on multivariate analysis for OS (hazard ratio = 2.077, 95% confidence interval: 1.220-3.537; p = 0.007). The post-op PLR was a significant independent prognostic index for poor DFS, along with tumor differentiation and lymphatic invasion, on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 1.678, 95% confidence interval: 1.056-2.667; p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The post-op PLR in patients with pancreatic head PDAC was an independent predictor of DFS and OS after elective resection.

Occult Vertebral Fracture (OVF) in Patients Who Underwent Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Strong Association with Oncological Outcomes.

AIM: The impact of occult vertebral fracture (OVF) on oncological outcomes after surgery has not been investigated, although its significance in orthopedics has been much debated recently. We evaluated the prognostic significance of OVF on the long-term outcomes of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatectomy. METHODS: We included 140 patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy. OVF was identified using quantitative measurement and preoperative sagittal computed tomography image reconstruction from the 11th thoracic vertebra to the 5th lumber vertebra. RESULTS: OVF was identified in 48 (34%) of the patients. In multivariate analysis, lymph node metastases (p < 0.01), multiple tumors (p = 0.02), extrahepatic lesions (p < 0.01), OVF (p < 0.01), intraoperative bleeding (p = 0.04), and curability 1 or 2 (p < 0.01) were independent and significant predictors of disease-free survival and extrahepatic lesions (p < 0.01), osteosarcopenia (p = 0.02), and OVF (p < 0.01) were independent and significant predictors of overall survival. A higher age, adjuvant chemotherapy for a primary lesion before metachronous liver metastases, osteopenia, and hypoalbuminemia were independent risk factors for OVF. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of preoperative OVF is a useful prognostic factor for risk stratification and clinical decision-making for patients with CRLM.

The Impact of Fibrinogen to Prognostic Nutritional Index Rate on Prognosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the ratio of serum fibrinogen to prognostic nutritional index (PNI; Fbg/PNI) in patients undergoing resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A total of 140 patients who had undergone resection for pancreatic cancer were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to a Fbg/PNI ≥8.8 or <8.8. Survival data were analyzed using the log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Fbg/PNI was a significant prognostic indicator in univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Fbg/PNI retained significance in multivariate analysis for OS (hazard ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.77; P < .01) in addition to tumor differentiation and nodal involvement. Fbg/PNI was a significant independent prognostic indicator of poor DFS on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.26; P = .03). CONCLUSION: Preoperative Fbg/PNI is a novel significant independent prognostic indicator for OS and DFS following resection of pancreatic cancer with curative intent.

Superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in preoperative imaging indicates biological malignancy in anatomically resectable pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer in contact with the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein is classified as resectable pancreatic cancer; however, the biological malignancy and treatment strategy have not been clarified. METHODS: Data from 186 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer were evaluated using a prospectively maintained database. The patients were classified as having resectable tumors without superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact and with superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact of ≤180°. Disease-free survival, overall survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in resectable pancreatic cancer was a significant prognostic index for disease-free survival and overall survival. In the multivariate analysis for poor disease-free survival, the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact remained significant (hazard ratio = 2.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-3.51; p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact was a significant independent prognostic index for overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.27-3.70; p < 0.01), along with sex, tumor differentiation, nodal involvement, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Portal vein resection for superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact did not improve the overall survival (p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact in resectable pancreatic cancer was found to be an independent predictor of disease-free survival and overall survival after elective resection. Thus, pancreatic cancer in contact with the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein may be considered as borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

The impact of C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index on the prognosis of patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Aim: The C-reactive protein (CRP)-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a novel inflammation-based biomarker, which has been associated with long-term outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to investigate whether the CALLY index can predict the prognosis for distal cholangiocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods: The study comprised 143 patients who had undergone primary pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal cholangiocarcinoma between 2002 to 2019. The CALLY index was defined as (albumin × lymphocyte)/ (CRP × 104). We investigated the association of CALLY index with disease-free survival and overall survival by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Eighty-seven (61%) patients had a preoperative CALLY index <3.5. In multivariate analysis, obstructive jaundice drainage (P < .01), poorly differentiated tumor (P < .01), and CALLY index<3.5 (P = .02) were independent predictors of disease-free survival, while obstructive jaundice drainage (P < .01), poorly differentiated tumor (P < .01), and CALLY index <3.5 (P = .02) were independent predictors of overall survival. Conclusion: The CALLY index may be an independent and significant indicator of poor long-term outcomes in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy, suggesting the importance of comprehensive assessment for inflammatory status.

Double cone-unit laparoscopic hepatic resection for tumors adjacent to the hepatic vein.

BACKGROUND: In tumor adjacent to the hepatic vein, it is important to treat two tertiary Glissonean pedicles that straddle to the hepatic vein in order to remove the tumor with a negative margin. The anatomical resection of the smallest unit may be considered to be the resection of the double cone-unit (DCU) in small tumor adjacent to the vein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 127 patients who had undergone laparoscopic hepatectomy at the Jikei Medical University Hospital from 2020 through 2021. In 5 cases, Laparoscopic DCU resection was performed. If the CT image shows a hepatic vein near the tumor and the tumor is relatively small, less than 50 mm in size, DCU resection should be considered. After approaching the target Glissonean pedicles, the Bulldog Clamps were used to testing clamp it. After clamping it, the ICG was injected from peripheral veins. A few minutes later, the tumor-bearing portal territory could be identified as negative regions of fluorescence in the near infrared imaging system. The target hepatic vein, which runs between the two territories, was dissected where it transitions from the first to the second territory. RESULTS: The median operative time in these 5 patients was 279 min, and the median volume of blood loss was 290 g. The average tumor size was 33 mm and the average surgical margin was 4.5 mm. CONCLUSION: In small tumor adjacent to the hepatic vein, the anatomical hepatectomy of the smallest unit may be the Double Cone-Unit resection.

Thrombectomized autologous portal Y-graft inflow construction can be an option in living-donor liver transplantation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: In living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), portal Y-graft interposition using the recipient's portal vein (PV) bifurcation has been used for right lobe grafts with double PV orifices. We herein report the use of thrombectomized autologous portal Y-graft interposition for a recipient with preoperative portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in a right lobe LDLT with double PV orifices. CASE PRESENTATION: The recipient was a 54-year-old male with end-stage liver disease due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis. There was PV thrombus in the recipient's PV. The living liver donor was his 53-year-old spouse, and a right lobe graft was planned for the transplantation. Since the donor's liver had a type III PV anomaly, autologous portal Y-graft interposition after thrombectomy was planned for PV reconstruction in the LDLT. The portal Y-graft was resected from the recipient and a thrombus extending from the main PV to the right PV branch was removed on the back table. The portal Y-graft was anastomosed to the anterior and posterior portal branches of the right lobe graft. Followed by venous reconstruction, the Y-graft was anastomosed to the recipient's main PV. The operation time was 545 min and the intraoperative blood loss was 1355 ml. The recipient was discharged on postoperative day 13 without any complications. The recipient remains well with the patency of the portal Y-graft one year after the liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: We herein report the successful use of autologous portal Y-graft interposition after thrombectomy on the back table for a recipient with PVT in a right lobe LDLT.

Impact of C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index on prognosis after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastasis.

AIM: The C-reactive protein (CRP)-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a novel inflammation-based biomarker. We aimed to investigate whether the CALLY can predict the prognosis in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection. METHODS: We included 183 patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy. The CALLY index was defined as (albumin × lymphocytes)/(CRP × 104). We investigated the association of the CALLY index with overall survival by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: In total, 101 (55%) patients had a low CALLY index (<4). In the univariate analysis, overall survival was significantly worse in patients with lymph node metastases (p = 0.02), extrahepatic lesions (p < 0.01), and a low CALLY index (p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, independent and significant predictors of overall survival were lymph node metastases (p = 0.04), extrahepatic lesions (p = 0.03), and a low CALLY index (p = 0.03). Patients with a low CALLY index had significantly more postoperative complications than those with a high CALLY index (29% vs. 11%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The CALLY index may be an independent and significant indicator of outcomes in patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM.

Significant impact of cachexia index on the outcomes after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between preoperative cachexia index (CXI) and long-term outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) after hepatic resection. Method: In all,118 patients who underwent hepatic resection for CRLM were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between CXI and the long-term outcomes in patients after hepatic resection was investigated. CXI was calculated based on preoperative skeletal muscle index, serum albumin level, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Results: The multivariate analysis showed that extrahepatic lesion (hazard ratio [HR] 2.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-5.53, P < .01) and high CXI (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20-0.98, P = .04) were independent and significant predictors of disease-free survival. Moreover, extrahepatic lesion (HR 2.32, 95% CI 1.03-5.22, P = .04), high CXI (HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05-0.57, P < .01), and curability R 1 or 2 (HR 3.29, 95% CI 1.23-8.78, P = .02) were independent and significant predictors of overall survival. Conclusion: CXI is a useful prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival after hepatic resection in CRLM patients.

Preoperative cachexia index can predict the prognosis of extrahepatic biliary tract cancer after resection.

INTRODUCTION: Cachexia is associated with poor survival of patients with bile duct cancer. The cachexia index (CXI), which comprises skeletal muscle, inflammation, and nutritional status, has been proposed as a novel biomarker of cancer cachexia. In this study, we investigated the prognostic significance of the cachexia index after surgical resection of extrahepatic biliary tract cancer. METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2020, 124 patients underwent radical resection of extrahepatic biliary tract cancer. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as the area of the psoas muscle at the third lumbar vertebra/(height)2. CXI was calculated using as: SMI × serum albumin level/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses of the relationships between clinicopathological variables and disease-free and overall survival. RESULTS: The CXI-low group included 57 patients. CXI-low was associated with poor disease-free (p < 0.01) and overall survival (p < 0.01) after curative resection. Preoperative bile duct drainage (p = 0.01), poor tumor differentiation (p = 0.04), advanced Tumor-Nodes-Metastasis (TNM) stage (II or III) (p < 0.01), and CXI-low (p = 0.03) were independent and significant predictors of disease-free survival. Age > 70 years (p = 0.03), preoperative bile duct drainage (p < 0.01), poor tumor differentiation (p = 0.01), advanced TNM stage (II or III) (p = 0.03), and CXI-low (p = 0.04) were independent and significant predictors of overall survival. CONCLUSION: In extrahepatic biliary tract cancer, preoperative CXI-low was an independent and significant risk factor for recurrence and poor prognosis, suggesting that cancer cachexia may progress to tumor development and recurrence.

Living donor liver transplantation for idiopathic portal hypertension with focal nodular hyperplasia.

The patient was a 61-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus who had undergone ileocecal resection for ascending colon carcinoma 5 years earlier, followed by a postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with XELOX (capecitabine + oxaliplatin). During follow-up, the liver gradually atrophied, and radiological imaging showed suspicious findings of 20 × 14 mm hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the right lobe of the liver. The patient also underwent endoscopic variceal ligation for the esophageal varices. She was referred to our hospital for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to decompensated liver cirrhosis with HCC. The patient did not have hepatitis B or C, and history of alcohol, suggesting that her liver cirrhosis was caused by a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The Child-Pugh score was 10 points (class C) and the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 8 points. The possibility of HCC could not be ruled out, and LDLT was performed. Postoperative pathological examination revealed idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH), and the mass lesion was diagnosed as focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 14. This is the first case of liver transplantation for IPH with FNH.

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia with carcinoma in situ with repeated distally localized pancreatitis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis could be an early symptom of pancreatic cancer. However, repeated pancreatitis caused by pancreatic cancer is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital with severe abdominal pain, and serial imaging studies showed acute distally localized pancreatitis with a pseudocyst. Although he had successful conservative medical treatment followed by discharge from the hospital, he was re-admitted with severe abdominal pain for recurrent distal pancreatitis with splenic artery aneurysm followed by its rupture. No pancreas mass was detected by imaging studies including endoscopic ultrasound and cytologic studies of the pancreas juice did not show any malignant cells, although slight dilatation of distal pancreas duct was observed only in the initial computed tomography. Because of the episodes of repeated distally localized pancreatitis caused by possible pancreatic ductal neoplasm, we planned and performed laparoscopy-assisted distal pancreatectomy after full-informed consent. Pathological examination revealed pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) with carcinoma in situ in the distal main pancreas duct. The post-surgical course of the patient was uneventful and he was discharged 10 days after surgery from recurrent disease for over a year. CONCLUSIONS: We encountered a case of repeated episodes of acute distally localized pancreatitis, for which distal pancreatectomy was performed, resulting in pathological diagnosis of PanIN with carcinoma in situ.

Novel combined fibrosis-based index predicts the long-term outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection.

AIM: Liver fibrosis influences liver regeneration and surgical outcomes. The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index is strongly associated with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. This study aimed to examine the prognostic significance of the combination of FIB-4 index and Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence or Antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) (PIVKA-II-FIB-4 index score) in patients who underwent curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We included 284 patients who underwent elective hepatic resection for HCC between January 2000 and December 2018. We retrospectively investigated how FIB-4 index is related to disease-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: According to a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal cutoff value of the FIB-4 index was 3.44. In a multivariate analysis, high PIVKA-II and FIB-4 index values were independent predictors of both disease-free survival (P = 0.013 and P = 0.005, respectively) and overall survival (P = 0.048 and P < 0.001, respectively). We classified the PIVKA-II and FIB-4 index levels into two groups (high vs. low) and calculated a new score (PIVKA-II-FIB-4 index score; 0-2) by the sum of each measurement (high, 1; low, 0). The 5 year overall survival rates of patients with PIVKA-II-FIB-4 index scores of 0, 1, and 2 were 84.9, 74.4, and 47.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The combination of the preoperative PIVKA-II and FIB-4 index may be a prognostic factor of HCC after hepatic resection, suggesting that the combined score is useful in assessing the liver fibrosis status in cancer cases.