Diagnostic laparoscopy for pneumatosis intestinalis in a very elderly patient: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumatosis intestinalis is rare but may be associated with life-threatening intra-abdominal conditions such as intestinal ischemia or perforation. However, it can be difficult, particularly in the very elderly, to identify candidates for immediate surgical intervention. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 94-year-old man with abdominal distension underwent abdominal computed tomography, which demonstrated accumulation of air bubbles within the intestinal wall and some free intraperitoneal air, suggestive of pneumatosis intestinalis. His vital signs showed evidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and laboratory examination revealed inflammation and hypoxia. As the patient was frail, with his age and concomitant conditions which may have masked the symptoms and severity of his illness, immediate diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis, with multiple gas-filled cysts seen within the subserosa of the small intestine. No additional surgical procedure was performed. His symptoms improved postoperatively. DISCUSSION: Optimal management of pneumatosis intestinalis in a timely manner requires a comprehensive evaluation of factors in each individual. In patients with severe symptoms, PI might be a sign of a life-threatening intra-abdominal emergency. Despite the contrast-enhanced CT and prediction markers in previous reports, it considered to be difficult to completely rule out these fatal conditions without surgery, especially in very elderly patients with poor performance status. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic laparoscopy may be a useful option for definitively ruling out the lethal conditions associated with pneumatosis intestinalis in frail elderly patients with severe conditions in the emergency setting.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver: a case report with immunohistochemical analysis.

BACKGROUND: Undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) of the liver is extremely rare, and its clinicopathological characteristics have not been fully elucidated. CASE PRESENTATION: The present study reports the case of a 56-year-old male with UC of the liver. At 16 days post-admission, the patient suddenly succumbed due to intra-abdominal bleeding resulting from a ruptured liver. Macroscopic examination revealed that the hepatic parenchyma was almost completely replaced by innumerable minute nodules. Microscopically, the tumor demonstrated a diffuse proliferation of anaplastic cells that were positive for epithelial membrane antigen and neuron-specific enolase, suggesting neuroendocrine differentiation. Grimelius and Fontana-Masson staining were negative. Neuroendocrine markers were also negative, including chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and S-100 protein. Cytokeratin markers and mesenchymal markers were all negative. Tumor markers, such as α-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen, were also negative. CONCLUSIONS: Although larger studies involving more patients are required to establish a therapeutic strategy, appropriate chemotherapy following an early diagnosis may be important to UC of the liver because the tumor behaves in an aggressive way.

Laparoscopic Resection of Gastric Cancer in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Accompanied by Neutropenia.

AIM: We report an unusual case of early gastric cancer and T-cell-type chronic lymphocytic leukemia accompanied by severe neutropenia that was successfully treated by laparoscopic gastrectomy. CASE REPORT: A 76-year-old female was referred to our Hospital for resection of a gastric adenoma that was suspicious for malignancy. Routine preoperative laboratory studies showed severe neutropenia and increased atypical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. One day before surgery, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered. Laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy was performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged after 10 days. The histopathological findings revealed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (pT1a, pN0, and stage IA). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastrectomy may be considered a primary approach in patients with neutropenia because it is associated with lower risk of postoperative infection and a lower mortality rate compared to open resection.

One-step surgery for acute ischemia of the jejunal loop after pancreatoduodenectomy: report of a case.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is an extensive surgery, and its complications are grave. Acute ischemia of the jejunal loop due to thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and its branches is one of the most dangerous complications that, although rare, if left untreated leads to abdominal sepsis and death of a patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old man underwent PD for pancreatic cancer. On postoperative day 2, the patient developed a severe anemia with hypotension. The computed tomography showed acute ischemia of the jejunal loop due to thrombosis. The emergent surgery was performed. The removal of the ischemic intestine and re-anastomoses of the biliary and pancreatic ducts could be performed all at once because necrosis and inflammation were still very mild in early stage. CONCLUSION: If suspicion for thrombosis of the SMV and its branches is raised, re-laparotomy should be considered. Early re-operation can lead to removal of the ischemic intestine and re-anastomoses in one-step surgery.

Risk factors for incisional hernia after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for incisional hernia (IH) and the association between liver fibrosis and IH after hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with liver cirrhosis (LC) are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the rate of IH and to assess the effect of perioperative factors, including serum markers for liver fibrosis, on the risk of IH. METHODS: A total of 192 patients with HCC with LC who received hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was the incidence rate of IH and the secondary end points were associations between IH and 22 clinical factors. RESULTS: IH was diagnosed in 60 (31.3%) patients. The estimated incidence rates were 19.8% at 12 months, 32.5% at 36 months, and 38.8% at 60 months. In multivariable analysis, the presence of postoperative intractable ascites (odds ratio 24.83, P = .0003), abdominal wall closure by a single-layer mass closure with a continuous running suture (odds ratio 4.59, P = .0143), preoperative body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2) (odds ratio 3.36, P = .0025), and preoperative serum N-terminal pro-peptide of type IV collagen 7S domain (P4NP 7S) levels ≥ 5 ng/mL (odds ratio 3.13, P = .0234) were independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: There are several risk factors for IH after hepatic resection in HCC patients with LC. Preoperative serum P4NP 7S levels ≥ 5 ng/mL are a useful predictive marker, and abdominal wall closure with a continuous running suture by a single-layer mass closure should be avoided.

Rectal cancer with disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow: report of a case.

We report a rare case of disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow from rectal cancer with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A 65-year-old man was admitted with melena and low back pain at rest. X-ray examination showed rectal cancer with multiple bone metastases. Laboratory examination showed severe anemia and DIC. Histologic examination showed disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow. The DIC was considered to be caused by disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow from rectal cancer, and we immediately started treatment with anti-DIC therapy and anticancer chemotherapy with the modified FOLFOX6 regimen (mFOLFOX6). After some response to therapy, the patient's general condition deteriorated, and he died 128 days after admission. This is the first English report showing disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow from colorectal cancer treated with mFOLFOX6.

CEA/CA72-4 levels in peritoneal lavage fluid are predictive factors in patients with gastric carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Increased levels of tumor marker in intra-operative peritoneal lavage are associated with an earlier detection of recurrent peritoneal dissemination. METHOD: Intra-operative peritoneal lavage samples from 193 patients with gastric cancer were obtained to determine the levels of the tumor markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer-related antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The peritoneal lavage CEA (CY-CEA), CA72-4 (CY-CA72-4) and serosal invasion were independent factors predicting the peritoneal dissemination including CY(+). The patients were divided into four groups on the basis of peritoneal lavage tumor marker status; group A: CY-CEA (-), CY-CA72-4 (-) group (CEA < 0.5 ng/ml, CA72-4 < 1.3 U/ml); group B: CY-CEA (-), CY-CA72-4 (+) group (CEA < 0.5 ng/ml, CA72-4 ≥ 1.3 U/ml); group C: CY-CEA (+), CY-CA72-4 (-) group (CEA ≥ 0.5 ng/ml, CA72-4 < 1.3 U/ml); and group D: CY-CEA (+), CY-CA72-4 (+) group (CEA ≥ 0.5 ng/ml, CA72-4 ≥ 1.3 U/ml). The 5-year survival among the patients in groups A, B, C and D was 87, 68, 38 and 20 %, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Combined analysis of these markers is therefore considered to be helpful for accurately determining sites of recurrence and the prognosis in advanced gastric cancer patients.

Surgery after preoperative chemotherapy for patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of surgery after preoperative chemotherapy for unresectable advanced gastric cancer. METHOD: Twenty patients with disappeared peritoneal dissemination or decreased lymph node metastasis by systemic chemotherapy underwent surgery (group S), while 14 with peritoneal dissemination or lymph nodes >N2 (group C) received continuous systemic chemotherapy. Among group S patients, 15 underwent a curative resection (group R0), while the other 5 did not microscopically undergo a curative resection (group R1). RESULTS: The median survival time for all patients was 535 days. Survival time was significantly dependent on the chemotherapy response (p < 0.002). The survival period in group S was significantly longer than that in group C (median survival time 747 vs. 476 days; p < 0.02). The relapse-free survival was 299 days in group S. In particular, the survival period of patients who underwent R0 surgery by preoperative chemotherapy was significantly longer than that of group R1 patients (median survival time 794 vs. 485 days; p < 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that R0 surgery was a significant and independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Surgery was effective for advanced gastric cancer patients when performed as R0 resection following the disappearance of non-curative factors by preoperative chemotherapy.

Outcome and status of microsatellite stability in Japanese atomic bomb survivors with early gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In the decade after the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a high incidence of leukemia was observed among atomic bomb survivors. However, the incidence of other cancers gradually increased, while that of leukemia decreased after this period. We evaluated the clinical outcome of early gastric cancer and microsatellite stability over a long-term period in atomic bomb survivors. METHODS: The results of surgical treatment for early gastric cancer were reviewed for 117 atomic bomb survivors and 394 control patients between 1995 and 2006. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for hMSH2 and hMLH1 expression was performed to evaluate the status of microsatellite stability in 57 atomic bomb survivors and 82 control patients. RESULTS: The long-term survival rate for early gastric cancer in atomic bomb survivors was significantly lower than that in control patients (p < 0.01). Multivariable analysis revealed that age and sex were significant and independent prognostic factors for early gastric cancer. Defective hMSH2 and/or hMLH1 expression was also significantly higher in survivors than in control patients (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that atomic bomb survivorship was related to defective hMSH2 and/or hMLH1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of early gastric cancer in atomic bomb survivors was poor and was related to age and sex, rather than to being an atomic bomb survivor. Furthermore, a higher rate of defective hMSH2 and/or hMLH1 expression was observed in the survivors.

The clinicopathological impact of gross classification on solitary small hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the effect of gross classification on the outcome of hepatic resection for small solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODOLOGY: This study consisted of 179 consecutive primary HCC patients who were not preoperatively diagnosed with vascular invasion or intrahepatic metastasis. The clinicopathological impact of gross classification was compared. Patients were classified into four groups, vaguely nodular (VN) type, single nodular (SN) type, single nodular type with extranodular growth (SNEG), and confluent multinodular (CMN) type, according to the gross classification of resected specimens. RESULTS: The SNEG and CMN types showed a significantly higher rate of MVI and intrahepatic metastasis than VN and SN type. Multivariate analysis showed SNEG and CMN type is independent predictor of MVI. The survival rates and the disease free survival rates of four groups were equal after curative hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the gross classifications were correlated significantly with the prevalence of MVI or intrahepatic metastasis, and that aggressive tumor spread in the SNEG type and in the CMN type was observed even in patients with small solitary HCC.

Outcome of hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients aged 80 years and older.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the effect of age on the outcome of hepatic resection in octogenarian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODOLOGY: Data of 408 consecutive primary HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy were studied. The surgical results of the younger group (<80 years of age) and the elderly group (≥80 years of age) were compared. RESULTS: Preoperative parameters, such as comorbid conditions and liver function tests, of the younger group (n=385) were comparable with those of the elderly group (n=23). Surgical data and the prevalence of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. The long-term prognosis of the elderly group patients was almost identical to that of the younger group patients. Overall 3-year survival rates for the elderly group and the younger group were 95.7% vs. 84.8%, respectively (p=0.56). Disease-free three-year survival rates for the elderly group and the younger group were 47.2% vs. 47.7%, respectively (p=0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatectomy is a viable treatment alternative with satisfactory surgical outcome for HCC even in patients aged 80 years or older.

Preliminary trial of surgery after chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination.

Systemic chemotherapy is the key treatment for patients presenting with advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination. In certain cases, adjuvant surgery following systemic chemotherapy may result in improved long-term survival. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant surgery following response to chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination. The study included 13 patients with a diagnosis of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination. Of the 13 patients, 5 patients underwent surgery after the peritoneal dissemination was eradicated following systemic chemotherapy (group S), while the remaining 8 patients continued to receive systemic chemotherapy due to persistent peritoneal dissemination (group C). All 13 patients underwent treatment between October 2008 and February 2011. The chemotherapy regimen included cis-diamminedichloride platinum plus S-1 (an oral fluoropyrimidine) or docetaxel plus S-1 for all patients. The median overall survival time of the 13 patients was 660 days. The survival time did not differ with patient response to chemotherapy. The median survival time of the patients in group S was 794 days, which was significantly higher than that of the patients in group C (505 days; p<0.05). One- and 2-year survival was observed in 100 and 60% of patients, respectively, in group S, and 66.7 and 0% of patients in group C. In conclusion, adjuvant surgery led to longer survival in patients having advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination, which was eradicated following systemic chemotherapy.

Plasma D-dimer level as a mortality predictor in patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Plasma D-dimer levels are elevated in patients with a variety of solid tumors. Recently, it has been reported that the level before curative surgery is a prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated whether the plasma D-dimer level before systemic chemotherapies is a predictor for advanced or recurrent unresectable CRC. METHODS: This study included 42 patients treated with systemic chemotherapies for advanced or recurrent unresectable CRC. Variables including clinicopathological factors, plasma D-dimer levels and the modified Glasgow Prognostic Factor Score (mGPS) were evaluated. RESULTS: The plasma D-dimer level was closely related to the mGPS. Survival was shorter for patients with plasma D-dimer levels >5 µg/ml than for those with lower levels. Compared with an mGPS of 0 or 1, an mGPS of 2 was predictive of poor prognosis (p < 0.0001). Old age, advanced stage, plasma D-dimer level and mGPS were significantly associated with mortality, but plasma D-dimer level was the only independent risk factor in multivariate analysis, and was significant related to the clinical response to chemotherapy (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Survival was significantly shorter in patients with elevated plasma D-dimer levels having advanced or recurrent CRC. The plasma D-dimer level before systemic chemotherapies was an independent mortality predictor.

Poor prognostic factors after repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in the modern era.

The purpose of this study was to determine the poor prognostic factors after repeat hepatectomy (Hx) in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Overall survival rates and clinicopathological variables in 112 patients with repeat Hx from 1992 to 2010 were compared with those in 531 patients who underwent a primary Hx. To clarify the poor prognosis factors after repeat Hx, survival data among 112 patients were univariately and multivariately analyzed. Overall survival after repeat Hx was similar for that of the patients who underwent a primary Hx. The mean age of repeat Hx group was significantly higher, and a well-preserved liver function was recognized than the primary Hx group. Multivariate analysis revealed that: 1) indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes; 2) disease-free interval; 3) tumor size; 4) portal vein invasion at primary Hx; 5) gender; and 6) estimated blood loss to be an independent and significant poor prognostic factors. The overall 3-year postrecurrence overall survival rates were 100, 91.3, 59.6, and 0 per cent at risk number (R) R0, R1/2, R3, R4, respectively (P < 0.05). Repeat Hx provided a good compatible prognosis with primary Hx. In our findings, five risk factors to predict poor outcomes after repeat Hx were useful. Patients with recurrent HCC do not have universally poor outcomes, and our simple scoring system using five poor prognostic factors could serve to advise the prognosis and the potential benefit for patient selection about repeat Hx.

Subcuticular absorbable suture with subcutaneous drainage system prevents incisional SSI after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of subcuticular absorbable suture with subcutaneous drainage to decrease the risk of postoperative incisional surgical site infection (SSI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was evaluated. METHODS: A total of 149 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy (Hx) were retrospectively investigated. Patients were divided into two groups: the patients with subcuticular suture combined with subcutaneous drainage (the drainage group; 61 patients) and the patients with nylon suture without subcutaneous drainage (the nylon group; 88 patients). After the operations, the complication rate of postoperative incisional SSI was analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the drainage group the rate of incisional SSI was significantly lower compared to the nylon group: 14-3 % (p = 0.033), respectively. Patients with incisional SSI needed significantly longer postoperative hospital care than the patients without incisional SSI: 28 versus 15 days (p < 0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed that subcuticular absorbable suture with subcutaneous drainage significantly reduced the occurrence of incisional SSI (odds ratio; 0.15; p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that the subcuticular suture with subcutaneous drainage is effective in preventing incisional SSI in patients undergoing Hx for HCC.

Laparoscopy-assisted resection for Mesenteric Castleman's disease: Report of a case.

A 65-year-old female patient was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995. An abdominal mass was detected by computed tomography and the patient was preoperatively diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Laparoscopy-assisted surgical resection revealed a mesenteric Castleman's tumor of the hyaline vascular type. Mesenteric Castleman's disease is rare, and there have been only 42 cases reported in the English literature. We herein discuss the clinical findings of these cases.

Gastric carcinoma with protein-losing gastroenteropathy: report of a case.

This report describes the successful treatment of a case of true gastric cancer presenting as protein-losing gastroenteropathy. A 58-year-old Japanese male presented gastric carcinoma. His serum albumin and total protein levels were 1.8 and 4.2 g/dl, respectively. He was diagnosed with gastric cancer with protein-losing gastroenteropathy based on (99m)Tc-human serum albumin scintigraphy. The patient underwent a total gastrectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There are 23 detailed case reports of gastric carcinoma with protein-losing gastroenteropathy. Most of these cases had large villous or cauliflower-like gastric tumors that were defined as papillary or well differentiated adenocarcinoma. Gastric cancer with protein-losing gastroenteropathy is extremely rare, but it can easily be diagnosed if the villous or cauliflower-like features are well defined.

The Akt expression correlates with the VEGF-A and -C expression as well as the microvessel and lymphatic vessel density in breast cancer.

Akt activation has been found in various human cancers, while experimental studies have suggested that Akt plays an important role in the development of tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Immunohistochemical analyses for VEGF-C and Akt and the lymphatic endothelial specific marker D2-40 were performed on a series of 242 invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast, in which VEGF-A expression and microvessel density (MVD) had been determined previously. Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was estimated in three hot spots. A significant correlation was observed between the VEGF-C expression and LVD (p=0.0026) and between LVD and the lymph node status (p<0.0001). The VEGF-C expression, however, did not correlate significantly with the lymph nodes status, while a high VEGF-C expression was associated with a smaller tumor size (p=0.0188). There was a significant correlation between VEGF-C and VEGF-A expression (p=0.0079) and between LVD and MVD (p=0.0008). The VEGF-C expression correlated with MVD (p<0.0001), while the VEGF-A expression correlated with LVD (p=0.0155). The Akt expression correlated with VEGF-A (p=0.0173) and -C expression (p=0.0056) as well as MVD (p=0.0482) and LVD (p=0.0012), while the correlation of Akt expression to VEGF-C expression and LVD was stronger than that to VEGF-A expression and MVD. Although the patients with a high LVD have a poorer disease-free survival than those with a low LVD (p=0.0005), a multivariate analysis determined the lymph node status and MVD to be independently significant factors for the disease-free survival. In conclusion, the correlation of both VEGF-C and VEGF-A to LVD and MVD suggested the two growth factors to be involved in both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer. The correlation of the Akt expression to the VEGF-A and -C expression as well as MVD and LVD, thus, suggested Akt activation to contribute to both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis via VEGF-A and -C expression in breast cancer.

The long-term outcome of atomic bomb survivors with gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: During the decade following the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a high incidence of leukemia was observed among atomic bomb survivors. Subsequently, the incidence of other cancers gradually increased while that of leukemia decreased. We examined the long-term clinical outcome of gastric cancer and second primary cancer in atomic bomb survivors. METHODS: Results of surgical treatment of gastric cancer were reviewed in 231 atomic bomb survivors and 759 control patients between 1995 and 2006. RESULTS: Long-term prognosis of gastric cancer in atomic bomb survivors was significantly poorer than that in control patients (P < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, age, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastases, and curability were found to be significant and independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer. The incidence of second primary cancer after gastric cancer was significantly higher in survivors than in control patients (P < 0.01), because the number of elderly patients in the survivors was higher. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric cancer in survivors had a significantly poorer prognosis. Although the frequency of second primary cancer after gastric cancer in survivors was higher than that in control patients, it did not influence the prognosis.

High dorsal resection for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma originating in the caudate lobe.

Standards that enable surgeons to balance radical operative procedures with functional preservation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe have not yet been established. A 54-year-old man with recurrent HCC originating in the caudate lobe was readmitted to our hospital. The combined resection of the adjacent hepatic parenchyma may have carried a risk of postoperative liver failure. The anterior transhepatic approach may have caused massive bleeding due to the presence of scarring from the previous hepatectomy. Therefore, we performed an isolated total caudate lobectomy, i.e., a "high dorsal resection" as a second hepatectomy. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful, and there has been no local recurrence 1 year after the repeat hepatectomy. Indeed a "high dorsal resection" is rarely required, but it is still ingenious, and this surgical modality can balance the curability with the hepatic functional reserve even for recurrent caudate HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis.