Rare Anal Canal Cancer with Secondary Extramammary Paget's Disease (Pagetoid Spread) Complicated by Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin.

A 91-year-old man had a node and erythema in the anal area resistant to treatment. A biopsy of the node in the anus showed atypical cells developing as Paget's disease, and staining revealed that the cells were CK7-positive, CK20-positive, and GCDFP15-negative. Therefore, tumor invasion with pagetoid spread (PS) from the anus to the skin was suspected, and the patient was referred to our department for a close examination and surgical treatment. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy showed edematous, hemorrhagic mucosa in the anal canal, and he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma via a biopsy. Additionally, redness and swelling with white moss were observed on the skin around the anus. Biopsy showed that Paget cells were diffusely present in the epithelium, and an image of squamous cell carcinoma directly under the epithelium was obtained. Taken together, the patient was diagnosed with the invasion of anal canal cancer with PS to the skin, and we performed laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection and skin carcinoma resection in the perineum. The histopathological analysis showed adenocarcinoma invading the external anal sphincter and subcutaneous adipose tissue in the vicinity of the pectinate line of the anal canal. Pagetoid spread of the adenocarcinoma was observed in the epidermis, and the open portion was slightly invaded up to the rectal mucosa. The anal skin region of the adenocarcinoma partially continued to the hair follicles, and it was complicated by squamous cell carcinoma invading the dermis. There are a few reports of anal canal cancer with PS, and the coexistence of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as seen in the present case, is rare. We report our case together with relevant literature.

Intussusception caused by a small intestinal lipoma with ectopic gastric mucosa containing gastric cystica profunda component cells within the inverted Meckel's diverticulum: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Lipomas are the most common cause of intussusception in adults. To our knowledge, however, no cases of lipoma and ectopic gastric mucosa with gastritis cystica profunda (GCP) have been reported. We report a case of intussusception caused by a small intestinal lipoma with ectopic gastric mucosa containing GCP-component cells within the inverted Meckel's diverticulum. CASE PRESENTATION: A female in her 40s underwent computed tomography for postoperative follow-up of left breast cancer. A tumor, suspected to be a lipoma, was found in the ileum. Since there were no symptoms, the patient underwent regular follow-up. However, gradual enlargement was observed, and surgery was recommended due to the risk of intussusception. After reduction via the Hutchinson technique, laparoscopically assisted partial resection of the small intestine was performed due to suspicion that the tumor was causing intussusception starting from the ileum. Histopathologic examinations revealed proliferation of mature adipose tissue in the subserosal layer, which was diagnosed as lipoma. Furthermore, adipose tissue was found in the stem area and accordingly, we diagnosed lipoma associated with the inverted Meckel's diverticulum. Moreover, gastric mucosa-like crypt epithelium and proper glandular tissue were identified in the mucosal membrane at the area of onset, and signs of gastric pit dilatation over the submucosa and crypt epithelium hyperplasia were observed. Diagnosis was ectopic gastric mucosa containing GCP component tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Intussusception in the small intestine complicated with lipoma and ectopic gastric mucosa with GCP within the Meckel's diverticulum has not been reported, demonstrating the rarity of our case.

Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients after Restorative Proctocolectomy for Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the surgical procedure of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, to date few studies have examined functional outcomes or quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients after pouch construction. METHODS: In December 2017, we sent questionnaires to 224 patients aged 65 years and older at the time who underwent an IPAA at our hospital between June 1987 and May 2015 regarding issues related to QOL and functional outcomes. Responders aged 65-69 years old were defined as the elderly group (EG), while those 70 years old and over comprised the super-EG (SEG). RESULTS: The response rate was 60.7% (136/224); 70 patients were classified as EG, and 66 were classified as SEG. The SEG were older at the time of the IPAA and during the follow-up period (p < 0.01). The stool frequency per day was 8 times in both groups (p = 0.21). There was no significant difference between the EG and SEG with regard to daytime (53 vs. 56%, p = 0.73) or nighttime (65.7 vs. 53%, p = 0.16) soiling. There was also no difference in the exacerbation of daytime or nighttime soiling compared to the first year after the operation (daytime 5.7 vs. 12.1%, p = 0.23; nighttime 7.1 vs. 9.1%, p = 0.76). QOL was evaluated using the modified fecal incontinence QOL (mFIQL) scale, with no significant difference between the EG and SEG (27 vs. 31 points). Since both groups had mFIQL scores <50, QOL was considered to be maintained. CONCLUSION: In our analysis of elderly patients in the long-term period following surgery for UC, some noted fecal soiling, though QOL was largely maintained, and there were no serious effects on daily life.

Associations between multiple immunosuppressive treatments before surgery and surgical morbidity in patients with ulcerative colitis during the era of biologics.

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether immunomodulators or biologics, with the exception of corticosteroids, can be risk factors for postoperative infectious complications of ulcerative colitis (UC). Moreover, many immunosuppressive therapies including some biologics are used mainly to treat UC, and many patients are on multi-agent immunosuppressive therapy at the time of surgery. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of pre-operative multiple immunosuppressive agents on the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) in UC during the era of biologics. METHODS: We reviewed surveillance data from 301 patients who underwent surgery between January 2015 and April 2018. The incidences of SSI and possible risk factors among patients receiving different immunosuppressive therapies were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of incisional SSI was 6.6%, and that of organ/space SSI was 7.0%. Doses of corticosteroids were significantly decreased because of the recent shift toward the use of biologics. The types and numbers of immunosuppressive agents did not significantly correlate with each incidence. Age ≥ 65 years (odds ratio (OR) 3.0), total prednisolone dose ≥ 9000 mg (OR 2.7), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR 3.6) were shown to be independent risk factors for incisional SSI, whereas duration of surgery ≥ 252 min (OR 3.8), urgent/emergent surgery (OR 2.9), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR 2.6) were identified as independent risk factors for organ/space SSI. CONCLUSIONS: Although no correlation between pre-operative immunosuppressive therapies, except for corticosteroids, was found, selection bias may have occurred due to treatment before surgery. However, biologics, calcineurin inhibitors, and thiopurines did not affect surgical morbidity in UC.

Efficacy of Preoperative Oral Antibiotic Prophylaxis for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Patients With Crohn Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the efficacy of oral antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients undergoing surgery for Crohn disease. BACKGROUND: Although oral antibiotic prophylaxis with mechanical bowel preparation has been recommended for colorectal surgery, the use of this approach remains somewhat controversial. Moreover, the efficacy of this approach for inflammatory bowel disease also remains unclear. METHODS: This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial at the Hyogo College of Medicine. The study protocols were registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (000013369). In this study, 335 patients with Crohn disease who were scheduled to undergo intestinal resection with an open approach were randomly assigned to either group A or group B. The patients in group A received both preoperative oral antibiotics and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis, and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis alone was given to the patients in group B. All patients underwent preoperative mechanical bowel preparation with sodium picosulfate hydrate. The primary endpoint of this study was the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) according to an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: Although the incidences of overall and organ/space SSI were not significantly different, the incidence of incisional SSI was significantly lower in group A (12/163; 7.4%) than in group B (27/162; 16.6%) (P = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the absence of oral antibiotic prophylaxis was an independent risk factor for incisional SSI (odds ratio: 3.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-8.3; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Combined oral and intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis in patients with Crohn disease contributed to the prevention of SSI.

Association between Higher Body Mass Index and Pouch-Related Complications during Restorative Proctocolectomy in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications, but only a few studies have clarified the effect of higher BMI on perioperative outcomes in ulcerative colitis (UC). The -purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of higher BMI on patients undergoing surgery for UC. METHODS: UC patients who underwent surgery between April 2012 and August 2015 were included. Higher BMI was defined as a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Patients were classified as having a higher BMI or an unelevated BMI. We analyzed comparison characteristics, surgical outcomes, and pouch-related complications (PRC). Possible risk factors for PRC were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 16 out of 165 (9.7%) patients had higher BMIs. The incidence of PRC in patients with higher BMIs was significantly higher than in those with unelevated BMIs. Male gender (OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.23-15.4, p = 0.02) and BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (OR 5.87, 95% CI 1.59-21.67, p < 0.01) were identified as independent risk factors for PRC. CONCLUSION: UC patients with higher BMIs had significantly higher incidences of PRC. Male gender and a higher BMI were identified as independent risk factors for PRC. The pouch operation as an initial surgery may be avoided in patients with higher BMIs to prevent PRC.

The Use of Oral Herbal Medicine (Hange-Shashin-To) in Patients with Pouchitis: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Hange-Shashin-To (HST), which is a combination of seven herbs, has previously been used in the treatment of inflammatory or ulcerative gut disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HST for the treatment of chronic pouchitis. METHODS: Nineteen patients with chronic pouchitis, defined as either frequent episodes (≥ three episodes per six months) of pouchitis or persistent symptoms that required continuous antibiotic therapies, were selected and treated with ciprofloxacin (CPFX) 600 mg/day for 2 weeks (week 0~2) and HST 3,750 mg/day for 32 weeks (week 0~32). The Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) score was measured at week 0 and 6 for short-term evaluation. For long-term evaluation, total CPFX dose in the 26-week period prior to study entry (from 30 weeks before study entry to 5 weeks before study entry) was compared with the total CPFX dose during the 26-week study period (week 7~32). Although no concomitant administration of CPFX was permitted from week 2-6, patients whose condition deteriorated were prescribed CPFX from week 7 to week 32. RESULTS: Fourteen patients completed this 32-week study. The PDAI scores of eight patients decreased below seven. The mean total PDAI scores decreased significantly from 11 ± 2.5 to 6.5 ± 2.5 (P < 0.001). The mean value of total CPFX dose decreased significantly from 491.6 ± 182.4 mg/kg to 392.5 ± 184.0 mg/kg (P < 0.05). No severe adverse events were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that HST has a positive effect on chronic pouchitis with no adverse effects.

Associations Between the Prognostic Nutritional Index and Morbidity/Mortality During Intestinal Resection in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (O-PNI) is a well-known predictor of the prognosis of several surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between O-PNI and surgical outcome during surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: This was a single-institution retrospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan. The preoperative predictive factors associated with mortality, morbidity, and pouch-related complications (PRCs) were examined separately from surgical procedure. RESULTS: A total of 1151 patients with UC who underwent surgery between January 2000 and December 2015 were included. Total colectomy (TC) alone, ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) with ileostomy, and IPAA without ileostomy were performed in 254 patients, 736 patients, and 161 patients, respectively. Mortality and morbidity were found in nine (0.8%) and 320 (27.8%) patients, respectively. The median O-PNI score was 22.6 in patients with mortality and 35.6 in patients without mortality among TC alone (p < 0.01). The significant predictive factors for mortality among TC alone were older age [p = 0.03, odds ratio (OR) 6.8], higher C-reactive protein (p = 0.02, OR 14.5), and O-PNI < 24.9 (p = 0.04, OR 5.6). Among IPAA with ileostomy, an American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3 (p = 0.01, OR 2.3), prednisolone (PSL) dosage just before surgery ≥14 mg/day (p = 0.04, OR 1.8), and O-PNI < 35.5 (p < 0.01, OR 2.1) were predictors of PRCs. O-PNI did not predict PRCs among IPAA without ileostomy. CONCLUSION: Lower O-PNI may predict the prognosis in patients with UC. O-PNI may be a useful indicator for decision-making regarding surgical timing and procedure.

Rectal-sparing type of ulcerative colitis predicts lack of response to pharmacotherapies.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is known as an immune disorder of the colon that generally involves the rectum, but an atypical distribution of inflamed mucosa has previously been noted in certain subtypes of UC, such as the rectal-sparing type (RST). As noted in a previous report, patients with the RST may be at elevated risk for disease refractoriness, but the clinical significance of RST remains unknown. METHODS: UC patients who underwent surgery between January 2010 and April 2015 were included. Patients were classified as having the RST or a non-RST based on colectomy specimens or a pre-operative endoscopy. Possible risk factors for urgent/emergent surgery were analyzed. We specifically determined whether the RST is a significant predictor for urgent/emergent surgery. RESULTS: In total, 46/482 patients were classified as having the RST. Disease severity was significantly worse in patients with the RST than in other patients (p = 0.02). Urgent/emergent surgery was required for 24/46 patients with the RST, compared with 107/436 non-RST patients (p < 0.01). The overall incidence of urgent/emergent surgery was 131/482. Disease duration < 70.2 months [odds ratio (OR) 2.45], severe disease (OR 87.1), total administered steroid dose < 5000 mg (OR 3.02), daily pre-operative steroid dose ≥ 9 mg (OR 2.59), and the RST (OR 5.59) were identified as independent risk factors for urgent/emergent surgery. CONCLUSION: The RST was an independent risk factor for urgent/emergent surgery in our analysis of surgically treated patients with UC.

Is An Ostomy Rod Useful for Bridging the Retraction During the Creation of a Loop Ileostomy? A Randomized Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: A loop ileostomy is generally created during restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) for treating ulcerative colitis (UC), and an ostomy rod is often used to prevent stoma retraction. However, its usefulness or harmfulness has not been proven. We performed a prospective randomized control study to investigate the non-inferiority of ostomy creation without a rod to prevent stoma retraction. METHODS: Patients with UC who underwent RPC were enrolled and randomly divided into groups either with or without ostomy rod use. Incidences of stoma retraction and dermatitis were compared. RESULTS: Of the 320 patients in the study groups, 308 qualified for the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, and 257 were included in the per-protocol (PP) analysis. Ostomy retraction was recognized in 6 patients, 3 with a rod and 3 without. The difference with rod use (95% confidence interval) was 0.1 (-2.9 to 3.1)% in the PP analysis and 0.0 (-2.2 to 2.2)% in the ITT analysis. There were no significant differences in stoma retraction regardless of whether an ostomy rod was used in either analysis. Dermatitis was more common in patients with rod use (84/154) than in those without (40/154) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Although median body mass indices were extremely low (20 kg/m2), an ostomy rod is not routinely needed as it may increase the risk of dermatitis. However, results in obese patients may differ from those shown here, which should be clarified via further studies.

Association between serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha level and the efficacy of infliximab for refractory pouchitis after restorative proctocolectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVES: Although the aetiology of pouchitis after restorative proctocolectomy in ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unknown, infliximab (IFX) is often effective for this condition. However, indicators and predictors of treatment efficacy remain unclear. In this study, the association between serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and refractory pouchitis was evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study between January 2014 and April 2016. Patients with antibiotic-refractory pouchitis were treated with IFX. Serum TNF-α levels were measured before IFX induction. Diagnoses were confirmed using the modified Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (m-PDAI). Responders were defined as patients with an m-PDAI score lower than 5. Recurrence was defined as an m-PDAI score exceeding 5 during maintenance treatment or a need for additional treatments. Associations between serum TNF-α level and efficacy of IFX during 52 weeks of maintenance therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were eligible for this study. The short-term efficacy was 8/13 (61.5%). Four patients could not be maintained with IFX alone. The cumulative maintenance ratio was 30.8%/52 weeks, and the cut-off value for serum TNF-α was 1.93 pg/mL for short-term response. Although there was no significant association between serum TNF-α and treatment response, IFX treatment was unsuccessful for all five patients with TNF-α levels below 1.93 pg/mL, including four short-term non-responders and one long-term non-responder. CONCLUSION: Serum TNF-α level was not an independent predictor of IFX efficacy for refractory pouchitis. However, IFX may be effective for patients with elevated serum TNF-α. Future studies should assess this possibility.

Clinicopathological characteristics of cancer associated with Crohn's disease.

PURPOSE: We examined the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with cancer associated with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: The subjects of this study were patients with cancer confirmed in a resected specimen of bowel, who were treated at our institution between September, 1974 and December, 2014. RESULTS: We analyzed 34 patients (26 men, 8 women, median age at cancer diagnosis 43.5 years, duration of illness 18 years) and found that the number of those with CD complicated with cancer began to drastically increase after 2005. The site of onset of cancer was in an anorectal lesion in 24 (70.6 %) patients. In 17 (50 %) patients, the cancer was diagnosed before surgery; in 3 patients (8.8 %), it was based on pathological findings during surgery; and in 14 patients (41.2 %), it was based on postoperative pathological findings. Mucinous carcinoma was the dominant histological type, seen in 15 patients (44.1 %), while the special type of signet-ring cell carcinoma was found in 4 patients. The cumulative overall 5 year survival rate was 46.2 %. CONCLUSION: In this group of Japanese CD patients, an anorectal lesion was the most frequent site of origin of cancer. As cancer was diagnosed preoperatively in only 50 % of these patients, the overall prognosis was poor, with a cumulative 5 year survival rate of just 46.2 %.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Prophylactic Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy at Ostomy Closure for the Prevention of Delayed Wound Healing and Surgical Site Infection in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is likely advantageous for wound healing, the efficacy and safety of its prophylactic use remain unclear for digestive surgery. We performed a prospective randomized controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure during ileostomy closure. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized study between November 2014 and September 2015. Patients with ulcerative colitis scheduled to undergo ileostomy closure with purse-string suture (PSS) were randomly divided into groups with or without NPWT. The primary endpoint was complete wound healing. The secondary endpoints were incidences of wound complications. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients with PSS alone and 28 patients with PSS + NPWT were enrolled. Wound infection was observed in 1 patient in the PSS-alone condition and 3 patients in the PSS + NPWT condition (p = 0.76). The mean duration of complete wound healing was 37.6 ± 11.7 days in the PSS-alone condition and 33.5 ± 10.0 days in the PSS + NPWT condition (p = 0.18). CONCLUSION: Although no adverse effects were observed in this series, the efficacy of PSS + NPWT was not confirmed. Further clarification of the indication of prophylactic NPWT and its efficacy must be obtained, and the efficacy and safety of NPWT in different dirty/infected surgeries should be evaluated.

Long-term outcomes and sex differences after restorative proctocolectomy in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) for ulcerative colitis (UC) could result in a higher patient quality of life, avoiding frequent disease flares; however, pouch failures and pouch-related complications (PRCs) can develop. PURPOSE: No cohort studies have examined pouch failure and the differences between adult and pediatric patients or the sex differences in pediatric UC. Therefore, the pouch failure rates were compared between adults and pediatric patients, and pouch failure and PRCs in pediatric UC were evaluated. METHODS: UC patients who underwent RPC between January 1987 and June 2014 at Hyogo College of Medicine were included. Patient background characteristics, PRCs, and pouch failure were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 1347 adult UC patients and 90 (51 boys, 39 girls) pediatric UC patients were included in the study. The cumulative rate of pouch failure at 10years after RPC was significantly higher in pediatric UC (9.5%) than in adult UC (2.1%; p<0.01). In pediatric UC, the independent risk factors for pouch failure were pouchitis (hazard ratio (HR) 19.3) and anal fistula (HR 5.5). Although a sex difference was not seen in pouch failure, an independent risk factor for PRCs was being a girl (HR 2.5). CONCLUSIONS: Pouch failure was more common in pediatric than in adult UC. PRCs after RPC were more common in girls in pediatric UC.

Clinical Features of Refractory Pouchitis with Penetrating Lesions and the Efficacy of Infliximab Treatment for Patients with Ulcerative Colitis after Restorative Proctocolectomy.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pouchitis with penetrating anal lesions often leads to pouch failure after restorative proctocolectomy. The aim of this study was to analyze those predictors and to evaluate the effects of infliximab (IFX). METHODS: We reviewed patients' backgrounds and performed a prospective trial of IFX treatment. Possible pre-operative factors were analyzed. Efficacy was assessed by comparing the pouchitis disease activity index (PDAI) and peri-anal DAI. Long-term efficacy was assessed via the rate of pouch failure. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients with refractory pouchitis were included. Although the patients with penetrating lesions were younger than those without, neither predictive pre-operative factors nor a correlation of C-related protein levels were observed. A total of 10 patients with penetrating lesions were enrolled for IFX treatment. Although the PDAI and peri-anal DAI decreased significantly (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively), the primary non-responders during the induction of IFX were 3 patients with obvious abscesses. The 1-year cumulative pouch failure rate was 0% in patients without abscesses and 50% in patients with abscesses under IFX maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: IFX treatment for refractory pouchitis with penetrating complications appears to be effective. However, once penetrating lesions develop to abscesses, these lesions are difficult to heal.

Does Pre-Operative Multiple Immunosuppressive Therapy Associate with Surgical Site Infection in Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: Almost all surgeries for ulcerative colitis (UC) are performed under immunosuppressive conditions. Immunomodulators or biologics, with the exception of corticosteroids, do not appear to be risk factors for post-operative infectious complications. However, many patients are on multiagent immunosuppressive therapy at the time of surgery. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of pre-operative multiple immunosuppressives on the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) in UC. METHODS: We reviewed surveillance data from 181 patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy between January 2012 and March 2014. The incidences of SSI and the possible risk factors among patients receiving different immunosuppressive therapies were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of incisional (INC) SSI was 13.3% and that of organ/space (O/S) SSI was 7.2%. The number of immunosuppressives did not significantly correlate with each incidence. Total prednisolone administration ≥12,000 mg (OR 2.6) and an American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3 (OR 2.8) were shown to be independent risk factors for overall SSI, whereas corticosteroid use in INC SSI (OR 17.4) and severe disease (OR 5.2) and a large amount of blood loss (OR 3.9) in O/S SSI were identified as risk factors. CONCLUSION: Although a correlation between multiple immunosuppressive therapy and SSIs was not found, it is not recommended that all patients be treated with multiple immunosuppressive therapy. Treatment strategy should be applied based on the patient's condition.

Surgery for Severe Ulcerative Colitis during Pregnancy: Report of Two Cases.

Refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) that does not respond to medical therapy often requires surgery even during pregnancy. Although surgical cases of UC during pregnancy were reported previously, the standard surgical strategy for both colitis and pregnancy was unclear. Herein, fetal and maternal safety as well as the strategy for this unusual surgical procedure during pregnancy in patients with UC are considered. A 28-year-old woman was diagnosed with left-sided moderate UC at 12 weeks of pregnancy; toxic megacolon was suspected, and surgery was required. Although the baby's gestational age was 23 weeks and 3 days, a cesarean section was performed before the colectomy. In a next case, a 28-year-old woman had a 2-year history of left-sided UC. Her colitis flared up at 11 weeks of pregnancy. Colectomy was performed because her colitis was unresponsive to conservative therapy, and the pregnancy was continued, with a transvaginal delivery at 36 weeks. In patients with UC, the need for surgery should be determined promptly based on disease severity, whether or not the patient is pregnant. The need for surgery should not be affected by pregnancy. The pregnancy should be continued for as long as possible when there are no fetal and maternal complications. Both cesarean section and colectomy should be performed independently if necessary.

[Long-term survival of a patient with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine after chemoradiation therapy].

We report a case of long-term survival of a patient with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine after chemoradiation therapy( CRTx). A 61-year-old woman was diagnosed as having locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer, 3.0 cm in diameter, which had invaded the superior mesenteric artery by computed tomography (CT). She was treated with CRTx( gemcitabine[ GEM] at 250 mg/m2/week for 6 weeks+liniac irradiation of 50.2 Gy) followed by systemic chemotherapy (gemcitabine (GEM) at 1,000 mg/m2). Reassessment after CRTx yielded a diagnosis of stable disease (according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] 1.1). To date, the patient has undergone 57 courses of chemotherapy in the outpatient clinic; however, she did require biliary stent placement because of occlusive jaundice.

[Two case reports of neuroendocrine cell carcinoma of the stomach].

We encountered 2 cases of endocrine cell carcinoma of the stomach. One patient had a type 3 tumor in the cardia, and the other patient had a submucosal tumor in the posterior wall of the gastric angle, both of which were detected by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The first patient underwent total gastrectomy(D1+No.7, 19) with cholecystectomy. Microscopic histological examination fortuitously revealed a tumor thrombus in the vessel of the gallbladder. Eight months after the operation, a paraaortic lymph node recurrence was detected, and the patient died 28 months after the operation. The second patient underwent distal gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, S5 subsegmental hepatectomy, and S8 radiofrequency ablation(RFA). Despite undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy[irinotecan(CPT-11)/cisplatin(CDDP)], multiple liver recurrences were detected 6 months after the operation. Consequently, systemic chemotherapy (S-1/CDDP) was performed.