Can machine learning predict resecability of a peritoneal carcinomatosis?

BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of initially eligible patients in a HIPEC procedure eventually underwent a simple surgical exploration. These procedures are called 'open & close' (O & C) representing up to 48% of surgery. The objective of this study was to predict the resecability of peritoneal carcinomatosis using a machine-learning model for decision-making support, for eligible patients of HIPEC. METHODS: The study was conducted as an intention to treat based on three databases including a prospective, between January 2000 and December 2015. A propensity score allowed us to obtain two groups of comparable and matched patients. Subsequently, several algorithm models of classification were studied (simple classification, conditional tree, support vector machine, random forest) to determine the model having the best performance and accuracy. RESULTS: Two groups of 155 patients were obtained: one group without resection and one group with resection. Nine criteria of non-resecability reflecting the organ involvement have been retained. They were coded according to their importance. Five classification algorithms were tested. The training data included 218 patients and 92 test data. The random forest model exhibited the best performance with an accuracy of close to 98%. Only two errors of predictions were observed. DISCUSSION: The largest number of patients will allow us to improve the precision prediction. Gathering more data such as biologic, radiologic, and even laparoscopic features, should improve the knowledge of the disease and decrease the number of 'O & C' procedures.

[Vaginal metastasis revealing an adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon]. / Métastase vaginale révélatrice d'un adénocarcinome du côlon transverse.

Secondary localization to vagina had a severe prognosis, suggesting a disseminated metatastic disease. We report the case of prevalent vaginal metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon. A 65 years old patient has consulted for vaginal mass. After delayed diagnosis, she presented with disseminated metastatic disease with peritoneal carcinomatosis. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the following treatment consisted of complete cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and vaginal adjuvant radiotherapy. No recurrence occurred after one year. Vaginal metastasis of colon cancer are rare. The dark prognosis might justify a systematic gynecological examination of women presenting colorectal neoplasy.

Axial rotation of the first metatarsal head in a normal population and hallux valgus patients.

HYPOTHESIS: Does metatarsal pronation exist and, if so, what is its impact? INTRODUCTION: Hallux valgus is a deformity associating angulation and a rotational component. The present study sought to investigate the nature and origin of the coronal plane displacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective single-center radiological and anatomic study was conducted on 100 feet operated on for hallux valgus. Baseline X-ray determined the preoperative position of the 1st metatarsal head in the coronal plane. The range of motion (ROM) of the cuneometatarsal joint in pronation-supination was measured peroperatively. An anatomic study investigated possible diaphyseal torsion. RESULTS: Mean radiologic pronation in hallux valgus was 12.7° (range, 0°-40°). Cuneometatarsal rotational ROM was determined by adding peroperative ROM in pronation (mean, 9.3°; range, 0°-30°) and in supination (mean, 8.7°; range, 0°-20°). Intermetatarsal divergence showed no correlation with radiologic pronation or ROM in pronation. Radiologic pronation showed no correlation with peroperative ROM in pronation. Pronation of the metatarsal head was never observed without associated sesamoid pronation; the latter, however, was in some cases observed without the former. Twenty randomly selected metatarsal cadaver specimens from the anatomy laboratory of the University of Nice (France) showed diaphyseal torsion in 80% of cases, with the metatarsal head in neutral position or in supination with respect to the base. DISCUSSION: In hallux valgus, 1st ray pronation appears to be systematic, in contrast to the typical supination found in the general population. Metatarsal rotation is always associated with sesamoid rotation, whereas the converse is not the case: displacement of the sesamoids appears to displace the metatarsal head via the metatarsosesamoid ligaments. This "drive-belt" effect, however, varies in its mechanical properties and the transmission is imperfect and likely subject to progressive ligament stretching, so that head rotation does not exactly follow and may even become independent of the sesamoid displacement. Radiologic and clinical rotation thus do not match any longer. The anatomic study showed that, while diaphyseal torsion cannot be ruled out, the metatarsal pronation mainly derives from cuneometatarsal joint rotational instability, the evolution of which does not parallel lateral instability, no correlation being found between degree of varus and rotational instability. CONCLUSION: The present study found metatarsal pronation to be associated with hallux valgus, making a preoperative AP view useful; the underlying mechanism was generally cuneometatarsal instability. Although difficult to specify exactly without correlation between radiological and clinical data, any such pronation raises the question of whether replacing the metatarsal head on its sesamoid supports is sufficient to achieve stability in all planes, or whether on the contrary derotation should be associated to metatarsal valgization osteotomy to restore horizontal support. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

[Check-list "Patient Safety" in the operating room: one year experience of 40,000 surgical procedures at the university hospital of Nice]. / Check-list "Sécurité du patient au bloc opératoire": une année d'expérience sur 40 000 interventions au centre hospitalier universitaire de Nice.

OBJECTIVES: The implementation of the check-list "Safe surgery saves live" (CL) has proven effective to reduce morbidity and perioperative mortality. Since 1st January 2010 it is a requirement of the HAS as part of the process of certification of hospitals. The CL has been established on all the operating rooms of our hospital after the onset of a near accident. METHODS: The CL has been computerized to facilitate its adoption by professionals. An internal benchmarking was immediately implemented to allow each surgical specialty to benchmark themselves with other teams. We conducted an audit concerning the CL and periodic assessments in order to learn more precisely concerning the expectations and feelings of medical and nursing teams. RESULTS: Nearly 40 000 CL were collected in the patient record. The completeness of information of some items seems to reflect the difficulty for professionals to realize the difference between traceability and information sharing within the team on the implementation of a protocol. This audit has confirmed the difficulty in sharing information orally. CONCLUSIONS: The CL is involved in developing a safety culture in the operating room and led to the establishment of a risk mapping in the operating room and the recovery room and participation in the program error prevention procedure and surgical site through international program "High 5s" whose purpose is to improve the safety of care.

[Feasibility and preliminary experiment of a routine use of Da-VinciS in fertility surgery]. / Faisabilité et expérience préliminaire de l'utilisation du robot Da-VinciS dans la chirurgie de l'infertilité féminine.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of our study is to evaluate the use of Da-Vinci S in the field of fertility laparoscopic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten successive patients were included for a laparoscopic fertility surgery using the Da-Vinci S. Surgical feasibility, operating time, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications have been analyzed. RESULTS: All procedures have been completed using Da-Vinci S. CONCLUSION: In our preliminary surgical experience, the Da-Vinci S can be technically used in the field of fertility surgery.

[Evaluation of a screening strategy after occurrence of two simultaneous contaminating tuberculosis cases in a pediatric oncology department]. / Stratégie de prise en charge de contages tuberculeux dans un service d'oncologie-pédiatrique.

BACKGROUND: A medical staff and an administrative staff of our paediatric oncology department have contracted a pulmonary tuberculosis. This is a rare situation and the management of this infection threat in a paediatric oncology department is not clearly defined. Recommendations tell we must treat all patients. Nevertheless, antituberculosis agent expose to increased toxic effects and immunocompromised patients have an increased risk of experiencing progression of latent mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to active tuberculosis disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at the evaluation of a screening and a treatment strategy adapted for a paediatric oncology department. METHOD: From April 2004 to April 2005, 80 children with a solid tumour were screened for tuberculosis according to a screening and treatment protocol established by a multidisciplinary committee. Two risk groups were defined according to age and immunodepression status. The "high risk" group is composed of less than 2 years old children and children who underwent an haematological peripheral stem cell transplantation. All other children were included in the "low risk" group. The screening was based on clinical, biological and radiological data performed three times spaced out by 2 or 3 months. At the end of each part of screening, the multidisciplinary committee analyzed the results and discussed the utility of an antituberculosis treatment. RESULTS: 80 children (31 boys and 49 girl) with a median age of 7,3 years (0,3-24) participated to the screening. Sixty children were still undergoing anticancer treatments. Twenty belonged to the high risk group. The complete screening was performed in 32% of the patients. Three antituberculosis' treatment were initiated: 2 for prophylaxis purpose and 1 for a tuberculosis prime-infection. A child had an additional check-up because of an abnormal chest X-ray. Our management strategy allowed us to treat significantly less patients when compared to national guidelines (3 vs 80 test Chi-2 p<0.001). No side effects of antituberculosis agents were noted. No tuberculosis has been observed in our population 28 months after the completion of the treatment. CONCLUSION: The proposed screening allowed us to treat a minimum of children and thus, to reduce the potential toxicity induced by antituberculosis' treatments.

Adrenal tuberculosis after a pheochromocytoma: a misleading tumoral presentation.

Adrenal gland involvement could account for 6% of active tuberculosis. The diagnosis of this extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis is difficult, especially when presenting as unilateral adrenal tumor. This report describes an unusual case of adrenal tuberculosis presenting as a tumor occurring shortly after surgical removal of an adrenal pheochromocytoma located in the opposite gland, in a 63-year-old woman with a previous history of breast cancer. At initial presentation, the patient suffered from symptomatic paroxysmal hypertension. A pheochromocytoma in the left adrenal was diagnosed and resected. One year later, while physical examination and biological parameters were unremarkable, an enhanced adrenal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a right adrenal mass mimicking the CT features of the resected pheochromocytoma. A peripheral tissular rim delineating a central hypodensity characterized this tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the same findings on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted slices, while the mass was not seen on T2-weighted images. No tumoral signal loss was observed on out of phase images when using the in phase-out of phase T1-weighted sequence. Because of the tumoral evolution and the uncertainty of the nature of that lesion, the patient underwent a second adrenalectomy. Definitive diagnosis was provided by culture of tissue sample, which resulted in the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In an era of tuberculosis resurgence, this unusual case underscores the necessity of keeping in mind adrenal tuberculosis as a possible differential diagnosis in adrenal tumors of uncertainty nature. It stresses the importance of culture of biopsy tumor, whenever feasible, to avoid unnecessary operations. In the near future, interferon-gamma assay could be a valuable means to recognize extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis.

[How pediatric residents involve children during medical decision-making?]. / Quelle place pour l'enfant dans la prise de décision en pédiatrie?

OBJECTIVE: To describe how pediatric residents involve children during medical decision-making and evaluate the relationship between practice patterns and residents characteristics. POPULATION AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicenter anonymous written survey. Self-reported involvement of children by 45 French pediatric residents in practice pattern was collected and analysed. RESULTS: Most residents reported they informed patients in more than 50% of the cases (82%). Only a minority of the residents asked for consent, respected children refusal or presented other choices to the treatment. The main reasons that explain the lack of partnership are children incompetence and the medical situation. No statistically significant relationship between practice patterns and residents characteristics was found. CONCLUSIONS: Partnership with children varies across residents and according to the level of involvement considered. No statistical differences were obtained to explain variations between residents' attitude toward involvement of children. Nevertheless medical education in ethics or decision-making could increase partnership with children.

MR features of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

We report on two patients presenting with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The important tumor size and the marked tissular hypersignal seen on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) should be considered as magnetic resonance (MR) features strongly indicating diagnosis of GIST.

[Infectious complications postengrafment in the first year after autologous stem cell transplantation in children]. / Autogreffes de cellules souches hématopoïétiques en oncologie pédiatrique; étude des complications infectieuses survenant au cours de la première année après sortie d'aplasie.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the infectious complications postengrafment in pediatric stem cell transplantation patients are rare. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, types, outcome and factors affecting late infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single-institution retrospective analysis was done of infections recorded in the first year following engrafment in children who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation for solid tumors from January 1991 to December 2000. A systematic antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis of TMP/SMX was administered. Patients who were at high risk for varicella-zona virus infection received prophylactic acyclovir. RESULTS: Eighty-four assessable patients were enrolled. Fifty-four patients (64%) underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and 30 patients (36%) underwent bone marrow transplantation. Forty-nine episodes of infections were documented in 39 patients (46%) of whom 27 patients (32%) developed infections after the first 100 days post transplantation. Bacterial septicemia occurred in nine patients of whom four patients had a catheter-related septicemia. Twelve patients (14%) developed localized herpes zoster infection. Local fungal infection occurred in five patients. Infection-related death occurred in one patient with non-documented pneumonitis. Univariable analysis showed a correlation between the CD34(+) cell dose <7.5 10(6)/kg and the development of infections (P =0.04). Patients who did not go into remission after transplantation where at high risk for septicemia (P =0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that a history of varicella or pretransplant varicella-zona positivity was the only significant factor for development zoster infection (P =0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that infections in the first year postengrafment following autologous stem cell transplantation for solid tumors have a good prognosis and that the use of TMP/SMX should be the single systematic antimicrobial prophylaxis. The CD34(+) cell dose seems to play a role in preventing late infections.

[Rupture of a pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm with median arcuate ligament syndrome: report of a case]. / Rupture d'un anévrisme des arcades duodénopancréatiques associé à une sténose du tronc coeliaque: à propos d'un cas.

Aneurysms of pancreaticoduodenal arteries represent only 2% of all aneurysms of digestive arteries. Occurrence of these aneurysms are favoured by stenosis or occlusion of the celiac axis. Aneurysm rupture is frequent and carries a mortality rate of 20%. Computed tomography with intravenous contrast and selective coeliomesenteric arteriography can make the diagnosis of this disease which can be treated by either surgery or embolotherapy. We report the case of a patient with a ruptured aneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal arcades mimicking a perforated duodenal ulcer, and successfully treated by surgical ligation.

Anatomy of the presacral venous plexus: implications for rectal surgery.

The presacral venous plexus results from anastomoses between the lateral and median sacral veins, and courses into the pelvic fascia covering the anterior aspect of the body of the sacrum. The presacral venous plexus is not directly visible during rectal surgery, and injuries to this plexus may be life-threatening. Dissection of the retrorectal plane or anchoring of the rectum to the sacral promontory as in rectal prolapse surgery exposes the patient to the risk of injury to the presacral venous plexus. The aim of this study was to identify some avascular areas in the anterior aspect of the sacrum in order to lower the occurrence of such injuries during rectal surgery. The pelvis of 10 fresh cadavers was dissected after injection of a colored resin into the inferior vena cava, and the presacral venous plexus was studied. Four avascular tetragonal areas were common to all the specimens. The corners of a square with a side of 3 cm, centered on the anterior aspect of the body of sacrum, were always contained in the avascular areas. The upper side of this square was parallel to a line passing through the sacral promontory, at a 3 cm distance from it. Staples or sutures should be placed in the avascular areas to avoid injuries to the presacral venous plexus.

Cytoreductive surgery combined with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the management of peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer: a multi-institutional study.

PURPOSE: The three principal studies dedicated to the natural history of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer consistently showed median survival ranging between 6 and 8 months. New approaches combining cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy suggest improved survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study was performed to evaluate the international experience with this combined treatment and to identify the principal prognostic indicators. All patients had cytoreductive surgery and perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia and/or immediate postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy). PC from appendiceal origin was excluded. RESULTS: The study included 506 patients from 28 institutions operated between May 1987 and December 2002. Their median age was 51 years. The median follow-up was 53 months. The morbidity and mortality rates were 22.9% and 4%, respectively. The overall median survival was 19.2 months. Patients in whom cytoreductive surgery was complete had a median survival of 32.4 months, compared with 8.4 months for patients in whom complete cytoreductive surgery was not possible (P <.001). Positive independent prognostic indicators by multivariate analysis were complete cytoreduction, treatment by a second procedure, limited extent of PC, age less than 65 years, and use of adjuvant chemotherapy. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, lymph node involvement, presence of liver metastasis, and poor histologic differentiation were negative independent prognostic indicators. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic approach combining cytoreductive surgery with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy achieved long-term survival in a selected group of patients with PC from colorectal origin with acceptable morbidity and mortality. The complete cytoreductive surgery was the most important prognostic indicator.

[Colostomy vs self-expanding metallic stents: comparison of the two techniques in acute tumoral left colonic obstruction]. / Colostomie de décharge vs endoprothèse colique autoexpansive: comparaison des deux techniques dans l'occlusion colique gauche aiguë par obstacle tumoral.

UNLABELLED: Self-expanding metallic stents is an alternative treatment to colostomy that is the treatment of choice in acute tumoral left colonic obstruction. AIM OF THE STUDY: To compare morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and treatment performed after desobstruction using the two methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients admitted for acute obstruction of the left colon were retrospectively separated in two groups depending on the type of intervention performed to treat the obstruction ("colostomy" group: 17 patients and "self-expanding stent group": 16 patients). We studied complications after desobstruction, hospital courses and surgical strategy performed after the acute phase. RESULTS: Time between desobstruction and colectomy was shorter in the "self-expanding stent group" than in the "colostomy group" (18.5 days versus 73 days). Age superior than 75 years and colostomy were the two main factors predicting the risk of definitive colostomy (P < 0.05). Global mean hospital stay was longer in the colostomy group (32.7 days versus 19.3 days, P = 0.02). Two perforations and one local recurrence occurred in the "self-expanding stent group". CONCLUSIONS: Self-expanding metallic stent can decrease the permanent colostomy rate and the number of interventions. The recurrence rate seems to be theoretically increased with the stenting method. Then, colostomy must be done for patients in curative situation. The self-expanding metallic stent should be used as a palliative care.

[Hafnia alvei bacteremia with liver and muscle abscess: a case report]. / Bactériémie à Hafnia alvei avec abcès hépatique et musculaire.

INTRODUCTION: Hafnia alvei is a commensal organism of the digestive tract. It is best known as an agent of pediatric gastro-enteritis. In adults, this organism may exceptionally be responsible for extra-intestinal infections. In such cases, infections occur mainly in unusually susceptible patients, due to an underlying condition. CASE REPORT: A 69 year-old man who had recently undergone surgery for a gastric stromal tumor was admitted to hospital because of H. alvei bacteremia accompanied by liver and right iliac muscle abscesses. The course was favourable with a 60 day treatment of fluoroquinolone. COMMENTARY: H. alvei is usually considered as moderately or non pathogenic for humans. However, recent descriptions of severe community or nosocomial infections due to H. alvei have challenged this belief. The actual role of H. alvei in human disease remains to be defined.

The LMCE5 unselected cohort of 25 children consecutively diagnosed with untreated stage 4 neuroblastoma over 1 year at diagnosis.

The Lyon-Marseille-Curie-Est (LMCE) of France cooperative group has previously reported successive series of unselected stage four children older than 1 year at diagnosis with metastatic neuroblastoma (LMCE 1 and 3). The goal of LMCE 5 study was to increase progression free survival rate as compared to LMCE 1 and 3. Based on improvements reported with post induction chemotherapy, the LMCE 5 used post induction for all children, but omitted total body irradiation and immunomagnetic purging in megatherapy regimen for all children. Twenty-five sequentially diagnosed children received an induction regimen which compared with previous induction included an increased dose of etoposide and cyclophosphamide, delivered similar dose of cisplatinum, and deleted doxorubicin and vincristin. After surgery treatment was stratified based on response and eligible children received etoposide carboplatin (LMCE 5A : n=10)+/-doxorubicin (LMCE 5B-C n=13) followed by megatherapy (melphalan without total body irradiation and unpurged peripheral blood stem cell rescue). The increase in drug doses during induction did not improve remission rate. The progression free survival at 6 years is 8%. It is significantly worse than LMCE 3, and equivalent to LMCE 1 study though toxic death rate has decreased with increasing experience. Failure to improve the response rate during induction and reducing the megatherapy regimen may be the main factors in this disappointing result. Modified strategies for induction, non toxic alternative to total body irradiation, and post megatherapy regimen should be developed.