Extracellular Volume Fraction Calculated Using Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography as a Biomarker of Oxaliplatin-Induced Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome: A Preliminary Histopathological Analysis.

Background: Oxaliplatin (OX)-based chemotherapy induces sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in the nontumorous liver parenchyma, which can increase the risk of liver resection due to colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). The extracellular volume (ECV) calculated from contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) has been reported to reflect the morphological change of hepatic fibrosis. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the ECV fraction as a predictive factor for OX-induced SOS. Methods: Our study included 26 patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM after OX-based chemotherapy with a preoperative dynamic CT of appropriate quality. We investigated the relationship between the pathological SOS grade and the ECV fraction. Results: Overall, 26 specimens from the patients were graded with the SOS classification of Rubbia-Brandt et al. as follows: grade 0, n = 17 (65.4%); grade 1, n = 4 (15.4%); and grade 2, n = 5 (19.2%). No specimens showed grade 3 SOS. In a univariate analysis, the ECV fraction in grade 0 SOS was significantly lower than that in grade 1 + 2 SOS (26.3 ± 3.4% vs. 30.6 ± 7.0%; P = 0.025). The cutoff value and AUC value of the ECV fraction to distinguish between grades 0 and 1 + 2 were 27.5% and 0.771, respectively. Conclusions: Measurement of the ECV fraction was found to be a potential noninvasive diagnostic method for determining early-stage histopathological sinusoidal injury induced by OX-based chemotherapy.

An adult case of a retroperitoneal isolated enteric duplication cyst with the imaging changes over time.

BACKGROUND: Adult cases of retroperitoneal isolated enteric duplication cyst (IEDC) are rare, with only 17 case reports in the relevant literature. We herein present a case, which was characterized by changes in intra-cystic density on computed tomography (CT), which was safely resected by laparoscopic surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 60-year-old male who received abdominal CT to investigate the cause of increased serum CA19-9 levels. CT revealed a unilocular cystic mass located in the lower right retroperitoneum. The size increased from 5 to 10 cm in three and a half years and the CT value decreased from 101 Hounsfield Units (HU) to 20 HU. We performed laparoscopic surgical resection, because the possibility that the enlargement of the lesion represented malignant transformation could not be denied. The large cystic mass firmly adhered to the appendix and its mesentery via the retroperitoneum, the appendix was resected en bloc with the cystic lesion. Microscopically, it had no communication with the appendix, and had an intestinal wall structure of muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria. The final pathological diagnosis was IEDC in the retroperitoneal space. There was no histological evidence of malignancy. CONCLUSION: When we encounter a retroperitoneal cystic lesion, we should consider the possibility of malignancy to determine the treatment strategy and perform a careful operation without breaking the cyst wall, irrespective of the preoperative diagnosis.

Inter-agency collaboration factors affecting multidisciplinary workers' ability to identify child maltreatment.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to clarify the factors of successful inter-agency collaboration that affect multidisciplinary workers' abilities to identify child maltreatment. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted; the contents of the questionnaire included the Collaboration Evaluation Scale we developed and the workers' abilities to identify child maltreatment. In total, 277 individuals from various agencies in Japan participated in this study. To examine the factors of successful inter-agency collaboration affecting workers' awareness of child maltreatment, we used hierarchical multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The analysis showed the positive effect of "commitment with loyalty" on the workers' awareness of child maltreatment-related information in all fields (ß = .18-.31, p < .05), the effect of "strong leadership" on information about maltreated children and the home environment (ß = .18, p < .05; ß = .16, p < .05, respectively), and the effect of "resources" on the information about mothers' information during pregnancy and of fathers' feelings towards their children during the perinatal period (ß = .17, p < .05; ß = .22, p < .01, respectively). In conclusion, commitment with loyalty, strong leadership, and resources are factors of successful inter-agency collaboration that affects the ability of multidisciplinary workers to recognize signs of child maltreatment.

A rare case of rectal cancer with perianal metastasis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cancer metastasis from colon cancer to an anal fistula is very rare. We herein reported a rare case in which local excision was performed for metastatic anal fistula cancer originating from rectal cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old man was referred to our institution with a diagnosis of rectal cancer. He had complained of anal fistula for 5 years. Based on a recent history of cerebral infarction, Hartmann's operation was performed to treat the rectal cancer after the administration of preoperative chemotherapy for 3 months. However, 1 month after Hartmann's operation, the anal fistula was found to have worsened. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed tumor formation at the perianal lesion. Metastatic anal fistula cancer originating from the rectal cancer was diagnosed based on the examination of the biopsied tissue. We selected local excision because the anal tumor had not invaded the surrounding tissue. There has been no recurrence in the 31 months after the curative operation. CONCLUSION: Metastatic cancer should be ruled out when treating left-sided colon cancer with anal fistula. Local excision is one possible treatment for metastatic anal fistula cancer.