Gastric acidity following pancreaticogastrostomy with pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) has been reintroduced and employed occasionally as a useful alternative to pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) after Whipple resection or pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). Although the physiologic alteration in the stomach is important for the correlation between gastric and pancreatic functions, the actual intragastric pH profile after PG is still unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the physiologic changes in gastric pH and serum gastrin and secretin levels before and after PPPD reconstructed with PG (PPPD-PG) in humans. Twenty-four hour continuous intragastric pH and serum gastrin and secretin levels in the fasting state were examined in 25 patients who had undergone PPPD-PG. No peptic ulcer was detected after the operation. After PG, serum gastrin and secretin levels were unchanged. Twenty-four hour gastric pH monitoring revealed two distinct patterns during the nocturnal period before the operation: patients with acid-type secretion (n = 11) exhibited a persistent acid pH, whereas those with alkaline-type secretion (n = 14) had cyclic variations between an acid and an alkaline pH value. After PG, in both acid- and alkaline-type patients, median pH and percentages of time that the gastric pH was less than 4 (% pH < 4) and more than 6 (% pH > 6) did not change, and circadian pH patterns also remained unchanged. These results suggest that PPPD-PG has little influence on gastric acidity, and the neurohumoral relation between the stomach, duodenum, and pancreas is preserved after PG. Therefore, physiologically, PG can be recommended as a reconstructive procedure after PPPD.

Clinical and biological features of t1 ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The impact of tumor size on tumor development and long-term prognosis is still controversial for patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. We investigated the clinicopathological and biological features of ductal adenocarcinoma limited to the pancreas without direct histological extrapancreatic invasion (t1 tumor). METHODOLOGY: The clinical records of 86 patients who underwent surgery for ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were reviewed to determine clinical features, histopathological findings, operative management and outcomes. Immunohistochemical staining of the p53 tumor suppressor gene (p53) was performed for the resected specimens. RESULTS: Only 10 (12%) of the 86 resected ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas were t1 tumors. Six of the 10 patients with t1 tumors survived for more than 5 years. The rates of nodal metastasis (10%) and neural plexus invasion (0%) in t1 tumors were significantly lower than those in non-t1 tumors, although the rates of blood-borne metastasis (30%) and p53 expression (50%) in t1 tumors were the same as those in non-t1 tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Curative resection contributes to a satisfactory long-term prognosis of patients with t1 tumor of the pancreas as a result of the low rates of both nodal metastasis and neural plexus invasion associated with this procedure. In patients with t1 tumor of the pancreas, a satisfactory long-term prognosis can be assured as a result of the low rates of both nodal metastasis and neural plexus invasion associated with curative resection.

Comparison of relapse and long-term survival between pylorus-preserving and Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy in periampullary cancer.

BACKGROUND: Whether long-term survival and type of recurrence in periampullary cancer are influenced by the type of surgical procedure or not is still obscure. The purpose of this review was to analyze the results at a single institution. METHODS: Between 1982 and 1996, 113 consecutive patients with either distal bile duct or ampullary cancers underwent either pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) or the Whipple procedure. The median follow-up was 30 months (range 12 to 150). Patient records were reviewed to determine type of recurrence and survival. RESULTS: In distal bile duct or ampullary cancers, comparison of actuarial survival curves between PPPD and the Whipple operation revealed no significant differences. Even in node-positive patients, the 5-year survival rates did not differ significantly between those undergoing PPPD or the Whipple operation. Tumor recurrence was not correlated with the operative method, although among types of tumor recurrence, the rate of blood-borne metastasis was higher in distal bile duct or ampullary cancers. CONCLUSIONS: PPPD is an acceptable alternative to the Whipple procedure in the treatment of periampullary cancer. Long-term survival and type of recurrence were not influenced by these types of surgical procedures.

[Experience of 7 cases with home parenteral nutrition in our hospital].

We have experienced 7 patients with home parenteral nutrition (HPN), (including 3 failure cases). Four were benign disease and 3 were malignant. The HPN was given for 0 to 316 days. In 3 cases, we could not allow them to leave the hospital. All 3 cases involved malignant disease. The catheter was removed in only 1 case because of infection. Technical complications due to catheterization or catheter maintenance were not found in the other 6 cases. For successful management of HPN, the following 3 points are necessary for patients, family or doctors. 1) Patients and their family must understand their disease and condition. 2) Patients and their family have great hopes of spending their final days at home. 3) Doctors should have more concern for HPN.

[A case of advanced esophageal cancer successfully treated by concurrent use of radiotherapy and low-dose CDDP and continuous infusion of 5-FU].

A 75-year-old male patient with advanced esophageal cancer was treated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. External radiotherapy was performed by the field in field method. A total dose of 60 Gy was used in the small field (7 x 5 cm) (2.4 Gy/f and 25 f/5 wks) and a total dose of 45 Gy in the large field (14 x 6 cm) (1.8 Gy/f, 25 f/5 wks). Concurrent chemotherapy was performed at the 2nd and 5th weeks of the radiation therapy. In this chemotherapy of CDDP plus 5-FU, CDDP (25 mg/day) was given on days 1,3 and 5 of the week and 5-FU (500 mg/day) was given for 5 days by continuous infusion for the same week. By this treatment, a complete response (CR) was obtained, and no serious side effects were observed. After 1 year and 6 months, he is alive with no evidence of recurrence.

Modified pancreaticogastrostomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

A modified pancreaticogastrostomy without gastrotomy was performed in 46 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignant or benign disease. Postoperative complications related to the modified pancreaticogastrostomy occurred in one patient (2%). Operative mortality was 4% and was unrelated to the pancreaticogastrostomy itself. During the first postoperative year, four patients died of causes unrelated to the original disease process, and nine patients died of recurrent carcinoma. The remaining 31 patients were alive and well at a mean follow-up of 20 months. Results of postoperative gastroscopy were normal in all patients studied. A modified pancreaticogastrostomy without gastrotomy is a safe and effective procedure for pancreatic reconstruction in pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen: report of a case.

A case of an inflammatory pseudotumor arising in the spleen of a 60-year-old Japanese male is described herein. This benign lesion is extremely rare, with only 12 cases, including our own, having been reported in the world literature. We preoperatively diagnosed the splenic tumor as a metastasis, due to the coexistance of advanced stage carcinoma in the sigmoid colon. However, after splenectomy, histopathological examination of the mass revealed an inflammatory process. Inflammatory pseudotumors often pose diagnostic difficulties because the clinical and radiologic findings are suggestive of malignancy. The clinical and pathological features of cases previously reported are reviewed following the presentation of this case.

[A case of local recurrence of rectal cancer successfully treated by UFT combined with two-route CDDP chemotherapy under the AT-II induced hypertension].

A case of local recurrence of rectal cancer was successfully treated by UFT combined with two-route CDDP chemotherapy under the AT-II induced hypertension. UFT (600 mg/day) was orally administered every day. CDDP (75 mg/m2) was infused into the right internal iliac artery via subcutaneously grafted Infuse-a-port under hypertensive state induced by the AT-II (3 micrograms/min). Sodium thiosulfate was intravenously given to protect the CDDP induced nephrotoxicity. The recurrence tumor palpated by digital examination and revealed by MRI disappeared after the fourth two-route CDDP chemotherapy. The serum CEA level elevated before the treatment also normalized. This combined chemotherapy was considered to be an effective measure to cure the local recurrence of rectal cancer.

Tumorigenicity, invasion, and metastasis of human gastric cancer in nude mice.

Tumors derived from 105 patients with gastric cancer were subcutaneously heterotransplanted into nude mice in order to study their tumorigenicity and malignant behavior. Of the 105 gastric cancers, 45 were successfully transplanted (a 42.9% tumorigenesis rate). The tumorigenesis rate of Borrmann type 1 and 2 cancers (77.8%) was significantly higher than that of type 3 and 4 cancers (34.6%). Also, the tumorigenesis rate of differentiated carcinoma (57.1%) was significantly higher than that of undifferentiated carcinoma (30.9%). Spontaneous metastases from the subcutaneous tumors were observed in 5 of the 37 established tumor lines (13.5%), and macroscopic pulmonary metastases were common with one tumor line (SCK-29). Although most of the subcutaneous gastric cancers showed local expansion without distant metastasis, the same tumor cells implanted into the peritoneal cavity exhibited invasive growth and/or metastasis. Thus, the expression of a metastatic phenotype by human gastric cancer was influenced by the host microenvironment. The SCK-29 tumor line with its high metastatic potential may be useful for studies on the mechanism of blood-borne metastasis.

[Intraperitoneal chemotherapy in gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis using totally implantable peritoneal access system].

Fifteen patients with peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer were treated with mainly ip-ETP (Etoposide: i.p., THP-ADM: i.v. and CDDP: i.p.) or other drugs by the use of a totally implantable peritoneal access system. In principle, intraperitoneal drug delivery was carried out every two weeks. CDDP was administered into the intraperitoneal cavity with intravenous sodium thiosulfate delivered simultaneously to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. RI-scintigram showed that the intraperitoneal catheter was fully useful even six months after the operation. As a result, performance status has been improved in 12 out of 15 cases, and ascites disappeared in 3 out of 6 cases with same. Ten cases have been alive for more than 6 months after operation. There have been no severe complications (e.g., nephrotoxicity or myelosuppression) even in the cases treated at frequent intervals for more than 8 months. The findings in this study indicated that ip-ETP using totally implantable peritoneal access system is beneficial for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis.

[Two-route chemotherapy under AT-II induced hypertension using totally implanted injection port system in liver metastases derived from digestive cancers].

Two-route chemotherapy (TRC) with intraarterial infusion of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum and intravenous infusion of sodium thiosulfate was carried out on 8 cases of digestive cancer with liver metastases, using totally implanted injection port system. The metastases occurred from gastric cancer in 3 cases and from colonic cancer in 5 cases. Computed tomography and/or ultra-sonography revealed an overall response rate of 50% (4/8). Complete response (CR) was obtained in two cases. The therapy was repeated 12 times in one case of gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases and 5 times in another rectal cancer with a solid metastatic tumor. In the latter case, a right hepatic lobectomy was performed thereafter. The histology of the hepatic tumor showed mucin lakes and necrotic lesions, and no viable cancer cells were observed. This mode of chemotherapy was therefore considered a useful measure for the treatment of liver metastases derived from digestive cancers. Furthermore, no serious side effects occurred.

[Effect of cisplatin (CDDP) against peritonitis carcinomatosa in nude mice inoculated intraperitoneally with human gastric cancer].

Development of effective chemotherapy for patients with peritonitis carcinomatosa is considered to be very important in cancer management. In this study, intraperitoneal injection (ip) of cisdichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (CDDP, cisplatin) together with subcutaneous injection (sc) of sodium thiosulfate (STS), abbreviated as 2-channel chemotherapy, were discussed with regard to its safety and efficacy on peritonitis carcinomatosa using nude mice inoculated intraperitoneally with SCK-8 tumor cells derived from human gastric cancer. A single ip lethal dose (16 mg/kg) of CDDP reproducibly caused weight loss in nude mice and killed 100% of the nude mice by day 5 after injection. However, sc of STS (1,200 mg/kg) protected nude mice against a lethal dose of CDDP, and reduced CDDP-induced weight loss. Two-channel chemotherapy (CDDP 16 mg/kg ip + STS 1200 mg/kg sc) using nude mice with advanced peritonitis carcinomatosa produced a 45% increase of life span with a survival of 74.6 +/- 6.2 days (n = 8), compared with control nude mice with peritonitis carcinomatosa surviving 51.5 +/- 13.3 days (n = 11). Therefore, it is conceivable that 2-channel chemotherapy can be applied to the management of cancer patients with peritonitis carcinomatosa.

[Three operated cases of synchronous double cancers in the lung and stomach. A review of the Japanese literature].

We encountered three patients with synchronous double cancers in the lung and stomach. Although the gastric cancers were resected curatively in all three patients, the lung cancers were resected palliatively because they were too advanced for curative resection. In the Japanese literature we found 25 operated cases of synchronous double cancers and 24 operated cases of metachronous double cancers in the lung and stomach. Early diagnosis and curative resection of both cancers improve the survival rate of these primary double cancers.

[Human yolk sac tumor of the thymus heterotransplanted into nude mice].

A human yolk sac tumor of the thymus (YSK-1) was transplanted into athymic nude mice. Histological and ultrastructural investigations revealed that the YSK-1 tumor, even after serial transplantation in nude mice, characteristically displayed Schiller-Duval bodies, endodermal sinus structures and ultrastructural profiles, numerous microvilli, desmosome-like cell attachments, annulate lamellar structures, many lipid droplets and interspersed glycogen particles. Serological study by radioimmunoassay demonstrated AFP, CEA, HCG, alpha 1-AT and transferrin in the sera and cyst fluid of the tumor-bearing nude mice. Immunohistochemical investigation using the PAP method showed that the YSK-1 cells produced CEA, HCG, alpha 1-AT, transferrin as well as AFP. The increase in the level of AFP paralleled the increase in tumor size.