[A Case of Giant Abdominal Desmoid Tumor in a Young Man].

Desmoid tumor is a rare tumor of the soft tissue. The frequency of occurrence is 2.4 to 4.3 cases per year per million people, which is a very rare disease. We experienced a huge intra-abdominal desmoid tumor which is thought to be the primary mesentery. The case was a male in his 20s. He visited a nearby doctor with a complaint of abdominal bloating and abdominal pain. Abdominal contrast CT revealed a huge abdominal mass with a clear boundary of 35×25 cm in size extending from the upper right abdomen to the pelvis. Surgery was performed with a diagnosis of an intra-abdominal mass. Open abdominal tumor resection. Due to infiltration into the duodenum, transverse colon, and pancreas, right hemicolectomy and duodenal combined resection were performed. The pathological diagnosis was a diagnosis of desmoid tumor.

Application and utility of surgical techniques for cystic plate isolation in liver surgery.

One of the most important areas of anatomical knowledge for liver surgery is the plate system in the hilar area. Four plates comprise the hilar area plate system: the hilar plate, cystic plate, umbilical plate, and Arantian plate. Based on the theory that the cystic plate is continuous with the hilar plate, isolation of the cystic plate can be applicable to various scenarios in liver surgery. We describe herein the procedure and usefulness of cystic plate isolation to approach the hilar plate, in both open and laparoscopic surgeries. This isolation can be applied in various manners. First, cystic plate traction can facilitate the Glissonian approach, drawing out the extrahepatic Glissonian pedicles and thus lengthening the pedicle, and facilitate isolation of these pedicles. Second, inflow control can be obtained by applying the cystic plate traction method to the Glissonian approach. This is suitable to control hepatic inflow when there is no need to divide vessels such as lymph node dissection or vascular resection and reconstruction. Third, the Glissonian approach can be used in surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal thrombosis. The cystic plate traction method potentially avoids injury to the Glissonian pedicle that would cause unnecessary bleeding, and is thus particularly efficient for advanced cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal thrombosis and collateral vessels around the area of obstruction in the Glissonian sheath. In this article, we focused on our anatomical knowledge and technical tips for making use of cystic plate isolation in liver surgery.

[A Case of Primary Hepatic Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma].

A 74-year-old man with no chronic liver disease was admitted for an incidental liver tumor by computed tomography. Serological examinations for hepatitis B and C virus were negative and tumor markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen, α-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, were within the normal range. The contrast- enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the 26 mm in diameter patchy tumor occupied the S7 in the liver. The tumor boundary was enhanced slightly in the arterial phase and inside gradually in the portal phase, and the enhancement was faded in the late phase. As a characteristic finding, vessels penetrated the tumor. The tumor was diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma, and the patient underwent right lateral sectionectomy. After 19 days postoperatively, the patient was discharged. The diagnosis of hepatic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT)lymphoma was made by pathological examination. Currently, the patient has no recurrence for 5 months without adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary hepatic MALT lymphoma is a rare disease among primary hepatic malignant lymphomas. The patient must be followed up carefully because 2 cases were reported as recurrent cases after several years postoperatively although the disease has a good prognosis.

[A Case of Laparoscopically Resected Sigmoid Colon Cancer and Transverse Colon Mesentery Primary Solitary Fibrous Tumor].

The patient is a 52-year-old woman who visited the general practitioner because of positive fecal occult blood test by medical examination. The patient underwent colonoscopy at the hospital, which revealed sigmoid colon cancer. Therefore, the patient was referred to our hospital for surgery. Preoperative CT scan revealed a well-defined and lobulated 54 mm tumor on the caudal side of the duodenal third portion. On MRI, the tumor showed low T1-weighted image signal and high T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images signal, with low ADC. For preoperative diagnosis, we diagnosed sigmoid colon cancer and transverse colon mesenteric and performed laparoscopic sigmoid colon and transverse colon mesenteric tumor resections. The histopathological tumor diagnoses were sigmoid colon cancer(S, type 2, 30×30 mm, 1/2 circumference, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, pT3[SS], INF b, Ly1a, V1a, pN1b[#252: 2/4], sM0, fStage Ⅲb)and transverse colon mesentery primary solitary fibrous tumor. The patient was treated with XELOX as the adjuvant chemotherapy and survived without recurrence until present.

[A Case of Giant Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm That Was Difficult to Preoperative Diagnosis].

A 43-year-old woman with about abdominal distension was referred to our hospital for a more detailed examination. Abdominal CT showed 27 cm-sized cystic lesion with the calcification along the partition wall and a nodular hyperplasia. We suspected pancreatic pseudocyst, primary retroperitoneal tumor and we performed tumorectomy. The resected specimen had a maximum diameter of 27 cm. The histopathological diagnosis was mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas with ovarian-type stroma. The adjuvant chemotherapy treated with gemcitabine was selected for 3 courses. She continues to do well without any recurrences 7 months later.

[A Case of Gastric Cancer Performed Curative Operation after Nivolumab].

A 69-year-old man was admitted for the severe anemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed type 3 gastric cancer (por1, HER2 negative)that spread from EG junction to the lesser curvature of lower gastric body. CT revealed LNs metastasis and the direct invasion to the diaphragm. We diagnosed the locally advanced gastric cancer(T4bN[+]M0, Stage ⅣA) and planed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After 3 courses of S-1 plus CDDP therapy, serum CEA level increased. And the invasion to diaphragm was unclear although the tumor shrunk. After 3 courses of nab-PTX plus RAM therapy as the second- line, the tumor was PD. As the third-line chemotherapy, nivolumab therapy was repeated up to a total of 15 courses. As the tumor was PR, the patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. The histopathological examination revealed that the cancer invaded into the muscle layer without lymph nodes metastasis. The cancer was diagnosed as pT2 (MP)N0M0, Stage ⅠB. The cancer cells were EB virus positive and MSI-high. CD 8 positive T lymphocytes infiltrated into the stroma. The patient is alive 26 months without adjuvant chemotherapy. The curative operation was able to perform because the infiltrative CD8 positive T lymphocytes reactivated with nivolumab responded remarkably.

[A Case of Laparoscopic Resection for a Primary Malignant Lymphoma of the Small Intestine Strongly Adhered to the Sigmoid Colon].

An 85-year-old man presented to our hospital for loss of consciousness. Blood test revealed anemia, and the fecal occult blood test was positive. Colonoscopy revealed an ileal ulcer located 10-14 cm from the ileal end on the proximal side. Pathological examination was indicative of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL), and laparoscopic resection was selected as the technique of choice. The ileal tumor was strongly adhered to the sigmoid colon, and laparoscopic partial resection of the ileum and sigmoid colon was performed. In general, primary gastrointestinal lymphomas may occur, for which perforate and surgical resection is recommended. It is rare for malignant lymphomas to involve other intestinal areas, and laparoscopic surgery is useful in such cases.

[A Case of Gastric Endocrine Carcinoma with a Huge Liver Metastasis].

A-67-year old man was diagnosed with gastric cancer and a liver tumor. Extended left hemihepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy and distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were performed. Histological examination revealed synaptophysin and CD56positive tumor cells with a solid and rosette structure, which was diagnosed as endocrine carcinoma (EC). Additionally, a tubular adenocarcinoma was present in the stomach. The liver tumor presented as EC with tumor thrombus in the left portal vein. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with gastric EC(pT3[SS], pN0, P0, CY0, M1[HEP], Stage Ⅳ, R0). He received 6courses of the adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin(CDDP)plus irinotecan(CPT-11), and has been alive without recurrence for 21 months post-operation. Gastric EC is a rare subtype of gastric cancer. The resection of liver metastasis of gastric EC may improve patients' prognosis and QOL. CDDP-based chemotherapy is recommended, due to the regimen for small cell lung cancer.

[A Case of Pancreatic Head Cancer Resected after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Pseudocyst].

A 41-year-old man with upper abdominal and back pain was admitted to another hospital. He had a history of recurring acute pancreatitis and pseudocyst. Six months later, abdominal CT revealed a pancreatic head tumor arising from the pseudocyst, and adenocarcinoma was suspected based on endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA)findings. We selected neoadjuvant chemotherapy because resection was difficult due to severe inflammation and edema around the tumor. Chemotherapy(FOLFIRINOX followed by gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel)was effective, and the tumor almost disappeared on CT. Subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy(SSPPD)was performed 12 months after starting chemotherapy, and curative resection was successful. The final Stage was ⅡA(T3[CH1]N0M0). Histopathological examination revealed no viable tumor cells. S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy was administered for 6 months. He was still alive 22 months postoperation without any recurrence. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective in cases involving pancreatic cancer with severe inflammation, because pre-operative chemotherapy can reduce tumor size and alleviate the inflammation caused by acute pancreatitis and pseudocysts.

Risk Factors and Managements of Bile Leakage After Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the risk factors and evaluate the management of bile leakage. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-four patients who underwent hepatectomy for Child classification grade A liver disease, without biliary reconstruction and laparoscopic procedures, between 2003 and 2013 were included. Risk factors were identified using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Bile leakage was observed in 30 (9.0%) patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that type of hepatectomy (segmentectomy 1, medial sectionectomy, anterior sectionectomy, or central bisectionectomy) and operating time was independent risk factors for bile leakage. Among 30 patients with confirmed bile leakage, central type leakage that was in communication with the biliary tree occurred in 23 (76.7%) patients and peripheral type, which was not in communication with the biliary tree, in 7 (23.3%) patients. Ten patients were treated with only drainage. Endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic procedures were performed in 15 cases with central type leakage. Ablation treatment using ethanol or minocycline was mainly performed for peripheral type leakage. Four cases with central type leakage had strictures of the right hepatic duct. Two of them were treated with ablation treatment, portal vein embolization, or fistulojejunostomy. Median duration from diagnosis to end of therapy was 77 days (11-323) in central type and 44 days (6-123) in peripheral type leakage, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Complex hepatectomy and operating time are independent risk factors for postoperative bile leakage. Biliary exploration should be performed as soon as possible after diagnosis, because most bile leakage is the central type. Central type of bile leakage is sometimes refractory to therapy, needing various treatments and requiring a long time for recovery.

Perioperative Microbiologic Monitoring of Sputum on Postoperative Day One as a Predictor of Pneumonia After Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate microbial examination of sputum on postoperative day one (POD1) and to determine risk factors for postoperative pneumonia (POP) after hepatectomy. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-four patients who expectorated sputum on POD1 after hepatectomy between 2003 and 2014 were investigated. Sputum samples were submitted for microbial examination. Risk factors for POP were identified using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight (53.7%) of 294 patients had bacteria in their sputum on POD1. POP was observed in 24 (8.2%) patients, with increased mortality in the patients with POP (0.74 vs 12.5%, p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a Brinkman index of >400 and bacteria in sputum on POD1 were independent risk factors for POP. Bacterial homology in sputum obtained on POD1 and onset day of POP was found in 13 of the 24 (54.2%) patients with POP. In particular, in 13 patients with POP caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, homology was confirmed in 9 patients (69.2%). CONCLUSION: A Brinkman index ≥400 and bacteria in sputum on POD1 increased the risk of POP. Presence of bacteria in sputum on POD1 may be useful in determining early treatment against POP after hepatectomy.

Dendritic cells transfected with heat-shock protein 70 messenger RNA for patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported overexpression of heat-shock protein (HSP) 70 in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using proteomic profiling and immunohistochemical staining (IHS). This suggested that HSP70 could be a molecular target for treatment of HCC. METHODS: Twelve patients with HCV-related HCC were enrolled in a phase 1 clinical trial. Dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with HSP70 mRNA (HSP70-DCs) induced by electroporation were injected intradermally. Patients were treated three times every 3 weeks. The number of HSP70-DCs injected was 1 × 10(7) as the lowest dose, then 2 × 10(7) as the medium dose, and then 3 × 10(7) as the highest dose. Immunological analyses were performed. FINDINGS: No adverse effects of grade III/IV, except one grade III liver abscess at the 3 × 10(7) dose, were observed. Thus, we added three more patients to confirm whether 3 × 10(7) is an appropriate dose. Eventually, we chose 3 × 10(7) as the recommended dose of DCs. Complete response (CR) without any recurrence occurred in two patients, stable disease in five, and progression of disease in five. The two patients with CR have had no recurrence for 44 and 33 months, respectively. IHS in one patient who underwent partial hepatectomy showed infiltration of CD8+ T cells and granzyme B in tumors, indicating that the dominant immune effector cells were cytotoxic T lymphocytes with tumor-killing activity. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrated that HSP70-DCs therapy is both safe and feasible in patients with HCV-related HCC. Further clinical trials should be considered.

Preoperative serum methylation signature as prognostic tool after curative hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prognosis after curative hepatectomy and serum methylation signature (SMS), defined by methylation levels of six specific genes (cyclin D2, Ras association (RalGDS/AF-6) domain family member 1, serine peptidase inhibitor Kunitz type 2, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, brain abundant membrane attached signal protein 1, and steroid-5-alpha-reductase alpha polypeptide 2). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum samples were collected preoperatively from 125 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis C virus infection who underwent curative hepatectomy. We measured the methylation levels of the preceding six genes. We defined the methylation of three genes or more in the serum as SMS-positive in this study. We investigated the prognosis of SMS-positive patients. RESULTS: SMS-positive patients exhibited significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than SMS-negative patients (p=0.0002 and p<0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that SMS positivity was an independent risk factor for shorter DFS (hazard ratio (HR)=2.182; p<0.001) and OS (HR=4.198; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SMS is useful as a prognostic predictor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy.

Prognostic factors in patients with septic shock in digestive surgery who have undergone direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fibers: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber (PMX-DHP) has been widely used for patients with septic shock around the world, but the prognostic factors have not been fully understood. We conducted a retrospective analysis to determine the prognostic factors in patients with septic shock who underwent PMX-DHP. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with septic shock who underwent PMX-DHP were included in the study. The patients were divided into groups based on survival (n = 23) and non-survival (n = 6) 28 days after PMX-DHP, and the clinical data for the two groups before and after PMX-DHP were compared. RESULTS: In non-survivors, the vasopressor dependency index before PMX-DHP was significantly higher (p = 0.046), and the leukocyte count before PMX-DHP was significantly lower (p = 0.024) than in survivors. Furthermore, base excess after PMX-DHP was significantly lower in non-survivors (p = 0.007) than in survivors. The optimal cutoff points of the vasopressor dependency index, leukocyte count, and base excess identified by receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.499/mmHg, 1360/µL, and -6.4 mmol/L, respectively. And the score using these three cutoffs, termed the prognostic score, was related to the prognosis of septic shock patients who underwent PMX-DHP (area under the curve = 0.946). CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic score, using three parameters which are immediately and readily available in early phase after starting PMX-DHP, might be useful to predict the prognosis of these patients.

[A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a Vp4 Tumor Thrombus Treated by Multidisciplinary Therapy].

We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a Vp4 tumor thrombus treated successfully with multidisciplinary therapy. A 59-year-old woman who complained of abdominal distension was diagnosed as having HCC associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The tumor was located in the left lobe, caudate lobe, and S6, and the tumor thrombus extended into the main portal and right portal veins. Extended left lobectomy with thrombectomy and S6 partial hepatectomy were performed after intrahepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with radiation. During the surgery, the collateral circulation was preserved for bleeding control and residual liver function preservation. The patient was alive 12 months after surgery. Cases of advanced HCC with Vp4 can be successfully treated by multidisciplinary therapy.

[A Case of a Submucosal Tumor-Like Gastric Cancer That Needed to Be Distinguished from Gastric Metastasis of Rectal Cancer].

A 56-year-old man who underwent a radical operation and adjuvant chemotherapy for recurrent rectal cancer had been followed-up and had no recurrence for one and a half years. Thereafter, CT and upper endoscopy showed a submucosal tumor with a central recess developing in the stomach wall. It was suspected that the gastric tumor was either a metastasis of rectal cancer or a submucosal tumor-like gastric cancer. We performed a radical operation to remove the lesion. In the resected specimen, immunohistopathological findings including HER2 status suggested that the gastric tumor was a primary gastric cancer resembling a submucosal tumor.

An accurate prognostic staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative hepatectomy.

The aim of this study was to develop an accurate predictive system for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after hepatectomy. We pooled data of clinicopathological features of 234 HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy. On the basis of the pooled data, we established a simple predictive staging system (PS score) scored by the mathematical product of tumor number and size, and degree of liver function. We compared the prognostic abilities of the PS score (score 0-3) with those of six well-known clinical staging systems. Then, we found that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in both disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between patients with different PS scores (PS score 0 vs. 1; PS score 1 vs. 2), and there was a significant difference in DFS, but not OS, between patients with PS score 2 and those with PS score 3. Moreover, the PS score had smaller values of the Akaike information criterion for both DFS and OS than any of the six well-known clinical staging systems. These results suggest that the PS score serves as a simple, accurate predictor for the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.

[Clinical benefit of thoracoscopic approach for liver tumors located under the diaphragm].

UNLABELLED: It is important to ensure restricted operation fields and operation maneuvers in the surgical resection of liver tumors located under the diaphragm, especially those near the hepatic vein and IVC. Here we describe resection and ablation using thoracoscopy for tumors under the diaphragm after preoperative three-dimensional (3D) simulation. METHOD: Preoperative 3D images were reformatted preoperatively using a 3D software tool (Virtual Place; AZE, Japan). These images simulate the thoracoscopic view on the surface of the diaphragm, enabling us to confirm the tumor location and choose optimal port position. RESULT: We performed thoracoscopic surgery in 5 patients (4 with HCC and 1 with a metastatic tumor) after the simulation. In all cases, we were able to safely confirm the tumor locations and perform the surgeries. CONCLUSION: Preoperative 3D simulation makes it easy to determine the optimal port position for the thoracoscope and confirm the tumor location. The approach through the diaphragm using thoracoscpy is useful since it does not require liver mobilization.

[A case of metachronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer successfully treated with hepatectomy].

The use of hepatectomy for the treatment of liver metastasis from gastric cancer has been controversial. We report a case of metachronous liver metastasis from gastric cancer, which we successfully treated with hepatectomy. A 59-year-old man underwent laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy with D1 plus lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. The histopathological findings revealed that the tumor was a well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, T2(MP), N1(#1 2/3), M0, fStage II, according to the 14th edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma. TS-1 was administered as adjuvant chemo- therapy for 1 year after the operation. About 5 years after the gastrectomy, a recurrent tumor was detected in S5/8-7 of the liver. Although chemotherapy with TS-1 plus Lentinan was administered, the liver tumor increased in size. Percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization was performed to improve liver function followed by resection of the right lobe of the liver. Paclitaxel plus doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) was administered for 6 months as adjuvant chemotherapy. No recurrence was observed for 17 months after hepatectomy.

ABCB6 mRNA and DNA methylation levels serve as useful biomarkers for prediction of early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be explained largely by the high rate of intrahepatic recurrence (IHR). Identification of genes related to IHR is needed to improve the poor prognosis and important for personalized medicine. Eighty-one HCC specimens were used in this study. We screened for IHR-related genes by DNA microarray analysis. The validation of screening was performed by using real-time PCR. The methylation levels in genomic DNAs were measured by quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Six hepatoma cell lines were used for examination of ABCB6 expressional regulation. Time-to-event analyses for recurrence after surgery were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis with cutoff values obtained from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. We confirmed that ABCB6 mRNA levels were significantly higher in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCCs with early IHR compared to HCV-related HCCs without early IHR (2.5-fold, P=0.01) and the corresponding non-cancerous livers (3.1-fold, P=0.05). Experiments with cell lines showed correlation between DNA methylation and mRNA levels of ABCB6. ROC analysis revealed that mRNA levels (0.81 area under the curve, 88% sensitivity and 72% specificity) and DNA methylation levels (0.81 area under the curve, 80% sensitivity and 80% specificity) of ABCB6 in HCV-related HCCs allowed for the accurate discrimination of the development of early IHR. Cox regression analysis revealed that ABCB6 mRNA levels was an independent risk factor for IHR of HCV-related HCC. Aberrant mRNA and DNA methylation levels of ABCB6 may serve as useful predictive biomarkers for early IHR of HCV-related HCC.