Complex abdominal wall reconstruction after massive resection due to neoplastic invasion: a case report.

Complex reconstructions of the abdominal wall, necessary after resection of neoplasms, infection or trauma, are a challenge for the surgical team. Although ovarian carcinoma is commonly presented with peritoneal carcinomatosis and invasion of adjacent organs, it rarely can invade the abdominal wall. Invasion of the abdominal wall was documented on ultrasound and abdominal computed tomography. Surgery was discussed and performed in a multidisciplinary team and consisted of wide en bloc excision and reconstruction with open intraperitoneal onlay mesh with inorganic polypropylene-coated mesh (Bard/BD Sepramesh), a midweight macroporous mesh and abdominoplasty. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient showed good evolution 1 year after the procedure. Our report highlights the main objectives in complex reconstructions, the importance of a multidisciplinary team and discusses the characteristics that the mesh must have in order to achieve the desired goal.

Young patients with benign anal diseases and rectal bleeding: should a colonoscopy be performed?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There is no consensus whether a colonoscopy should be recommended for patients under 50 years of age who present with both anal bleeding and benign anal diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of colonoscopy to detect neoplastic lesions in this specific group of patients. METHODS: A prospective study analyzing the results of colonoscopies performed in patients younger than 50 years of age who reported a rectal bleeding and also had a diagnosis of benign anal disease at first clinical visit. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-seven consecutive patients were prospectively included in this study. In 35 patients (18.7%), adenomatous polyps were diagnosed. Thirty-seven percent of those lesions (13 cases) were further classified as either advanced adenomas or serrated adenomas. The prevalence of adenomas was 14.6% among patients under the age of 40 and 20% among those between 40 and 50 years of age. Thirty-one percent of the adenomas (11 cases) were located in the right colon, without any other concomitant lesion in the distal colon. In addition, an unsuspected case of sigmoid carcinoma was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The performance of colonoscopy in young patients with benign anal diseases and hematochezia resulted in a high rate of detection of neoplastic lesions. The method might be considered as a valid strategy of investigation in this frequent clinical situation.

Lymph node retrieval after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend the assessment of at least 12 lymph nodes for rectal cancer staging. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy may affect lymph node yield in this malignancy. This study investigated the impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on the number of lymph nodes retrieved from rectal cancer patients. METHODS: An analysis of 162 rectal cancer patients who underwent curative surgery between 2005 and 2010. Seventy-one patients with stage II or III tumors received preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Using multivariate analysis, we assessed the correlation between clinicopathologic variables and number of retrieved lymph nodes. We also evaluated the association between survival and number of lymph nodes obtained. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, preoperative chemoradiotherapy was the only variable to independently affect the number of lymph nodes obtained. The mean number of lymph nodes was 14.2 in patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and 19.4 in those not treated (P < 0.001). In the chemoradiotherapy group, 29.6 % of patients had fewer than 12 lymph nodes obtained compared with 9.9 % in the primary surgery group (P = 0.003). After chemoradiation, the number of retrieved lymph nodes was inversely correlated with tumor regression grade. Results showed that 5-year overall and disease-free survival were similar whether the patient had 12 or more nodes retrieved or not. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy reduces the lymph node yield in rectal cancer. The number of retrieved lymph nodes is affected by degree of histopathologic response of the tumor to chemoradiation. Thus, number of lymph nodes should not be used as a surrogate for oncologic adequacy of resection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Identification of patients at-risk for Lynch syndrome in a hospital-based colorectal surgery clinic.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of a family history suggestive of Lynch syndrome (LS) among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) followed in a coloproctology outpatient clinic in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A consecutive sample of patients with CRC were interviewed regarding personal and family histories of cancer. Clinical data and pathology features of the tumor were obtained from chart review. RESULTS: Of the 212 CRC patients recruited, 61 (29%) reported a family history of CRC, 45 (21.2%) were diagnosed under age 50 years and 11 (5.2%) had more than one primary CRC. Family histories consistent with Amsterdam and revised Bethesda criteria for LS were identified in 22 (10.4%) and 100 (47.2%) patients, respectively. Twenty percent of the colorectal tumors had features of the high microsatellite instability phenotype, which was associated with younger age at CRC diagnosis and with Bethesda criteria (P < 0.001). Only 5.3% of the patients above age 50 years had been previously submitted for CRC screening and only 4% of patients with suspected LS were referred for genetic risk assessment. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients with CRC were at high risk for LS. Education and training of health care professionals are essential to ensure proper management.

Fibrin glue in the management of complex anal fistula / Uso da cola de fibrina no tratamento da fistula anal complexa

Context: Management of complex anal fistulas is associated with the risk of sphincter injury and fecal incontinence. In recent years, fibrin glue has emerged as an alternative sphincter-preserving treatment for anal fistulas. To date, however, there is no consensus about the efficacy of the method. Objective: To specifically evaluate the fibrin glue injection in the management of complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas. Methods: We studied a series of patients with complex anal fistulas treated with fibrin glue between January 2005 and January 2007. Only patients with fistulas of cryptoglandular origin were analyzed. Patients with fistulas related to Crohn's disease, HIV or previous surgery were excluded from the study. Under spinal anesthesia, the fistulas were curetted and injected with fibrin glue. After treatment, patients were followed-up for 12 months. Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Two patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded. Out of the remaining 30 patients, only three healed successfully (10 percent). Among the 27 patients who failed to heal, 9 (33.3 percent) were diagnosed within the first postoperative month. In 13 patients (48.1 percent) the failure of treatment occurred in the period between 1 and 3 months, in 3 patients (11.1 percent) between 3 and 6 months, and in 2 patients (7.4 percent) between 6 and 9 months after surgery. No treatment-related complications were observed. Conclusions: In this series, fibrin glue treatment for complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas achieved a very low healing rate. Our results do not support the use of fibrin glue as a first-line treatment for patients with this type of fistula.

Contexto: O manejo das fistulas anais complexas está associado ao risco de lesão esfincteriana e incontinência fecal. Recentemente, a cola de fibrina surgiu como uma alternativa de tratamento conservador de esfíncter para as fístulas anais, porém até o momento não se chegou a um consenso quanto à eficácia do método. Objetivo: Avaliar o uso da cola de fibrina especificamente no tratamento de fístulas anais complexas de origem criptoglandular. Métodos: Foram estudados pacientes com fístulas anais complexas tratados com cola de fibrina entre janeiro de 2005 e janeiro de 2008. Somente pacientes com fístulas de origem criptoglandular foram analisados, sendo excluídos pacientes com fístulas relacionadas à doença de Crohn, ao HIV ou à cirurgia prévia. Sob anestesia espinhal, as fistulas eram curetadas, sendo após preenchidas com cola de fibrina. Depois do tratamento, os pacientes eram acompanhados por 12 meses. Resultados: Trinta e dois pacientes foram incluídos no estudo. Dois pacientes foram perdidos durante o seguimento pós-operatório, sendo excluídos. Dos 30 pacientes remanescentes, apenas 3 tiveram suas fistulas cicatrizadas (10 por cento). Com relação aos 27 pacientes nos quais não houve cicatrização, em 9 pacientes (33,3 por cento) a falha do tratamento foi diagnosticado nos primeiros 30 dias após a cirurgia, em 13 (48,8 por cento) entre 1 e 3 meses, em 3 (11,1 por cento) entre 3 e 6 meses e em 2 pacientes (7,4 por cento) entre 6 e 9 meses após a cirurgia. Não foram observadas complicações relacionadas ao tratamento. Conclusões: Nesta série, o tratamento das fístulas anais complexas de origem criptoglandular com cola de fibrina atingiu um índice muito baixo de cicatrização. Estes resultados não permitem a indicação da cola de fibrina como tratamento de primeira escolha para pacientes com esse tipo de fístula.

Fibrin glue in the management of complex anal fistula.

CONTEXT: Management of complex anal fistulas is associated with the risk of sphincter injury and fecal incontinence. In recent years, fibrin glue has emerged as an alternative sphincter-preserving treatment for anal fistulas. To date, however, there is no consensus about the efficacy of the method. OBJECTIVE: To specifically evaluate the fibrin glue injection in the management of complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas. METHODS: We studied a series of patients with complex anal fistulas treated with fibrin glue between January 2005 and January 2007. Only patients with fistulas of cryptoglandular origin were analyzed. Patients with fistulas related to Crohn's disease, HIV or previous surgery were excluded from the study. Under spinal anesthesia, the fistulas were curetted and injected with fibrin glue. After treatment, patients were followed-up for 12 months. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Two patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded. Out of the remaining 30 patients, only three healed successfully (10%). Among the 27 patients who failed to heal, 9 (33.3%) were diagnosed within the first postoperative month. In 13 patients (48.1%) the failure of treatment occurred in the period between 1 and 3 months, in 3 patients (11.1%) between 3 and 6 months, and in 2 patients (7.4%) between 6 and 9 months after surgery. No treatment-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, fibrin glue treatment for complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas achieved a very low healing rate. Our results do not support the use of fibrin glue as a first-line treatment for patients with this type of fistula.

Carcinoma basocelular perianal: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Perianal basal cell carcinoma: case report and literature review

O Carcinoma basocelular (CBC) é a mais freqüente das neoplasias epiteliais, localizando-se preferencialmente em áreas expostas ao sol. A ocorrência deste tumor na região perianal é extremamente rara. Neste artigo, relatamos um caso de CBC perianal. Apresentamos também uma revisão da literatura médica sobre o tema, salientando as características clínicas e histopatológicas, bem como o tratamento preconizado para esse tipo de tumor.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. It is preferentially found in sun-exposed areas and it is extremely rare at perianal region. In this article, we report a case of perianal BCC. In addition, we present a review of the medical literature on this subject, outlining clinical and histologic characteristics of this type of tumor as well as the choices of treatment.

Metástase endotraqueal e endobrônquica de adenocarcinoma de cólon / Endotracheal and endobronchial metastatic of colorectal adenocarcinoma

A disseminação metastática endotraqueal e endobrônquica do câncer de cólon é um evento raro. Os autores relatam o caso de um paciente com manifestação aguda de doença metastática endotraqueal e endobrônquica, 10 anos após o tratamento do tumor primário.

Técnica de assinatura digital no câncer de reto / Technique of digital signature in the rectal cancer

A análise das alterações morfométricas e densimétricas nucleares das células neoplásicas malignas tem sido investigada em diferentes tumores. A técnica conhecida como assinatura digital se baseia na obtenção de imagens de núcleos celulares que são computadorizadas e traduzidas graficamente em histogramas representativos do conjunto de características cariométricas e de cromatina da célula investigada. Estudos têm demonstrado o potencial de aplicação da assinatura digital no diagnóstico e definição de prognóstico em diferentes tipos de câncer. Neste artigo, relatamos nossa experiência no emprego da técnica em pacientes com adenocarcinoma primário de reto.

Digital image analysis and stereology of angiogenesis in polypoid and nonpolypoid colorectal adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate 3-dimensional parameters and bidimensional microvascular quantification in the different morphologic presentations of colorectal adenomas. STUDY DESIGN: A study was carried out, including 102 neoplastic colorectal lesions obtained by endoscopy or surgical resection. For the analysis of angiogenesis, immunohistochemistry, digital image analysis, microvascular quantification and stereology were used. RESULTS: Microvascular quantification, volume and microvascular length estimate rose gradually with high grade dysplasia as compared to the low grade ones (P < .001). There was no significant difference in angiogenesis between polypoid and nonpolypoid colorectal adenomas in terms of quantification and microvascular length estimate. CONCLUSION: The use of digital image analysis and stereology added greater objectivity and effectiveness to angiogenic evaluation because they allowed accurate segmentation of hypervascular areas, representation of the characteristic 3-dimensional morphology of the vascular supply and identification of differences in microvascularization in the developmental stages of colorectal cancer. However, no significant relation could be found between macroscopic type and angiogenesis, suggesting that angiogenesis may contribute little to morphogenesis of colorectal adenomas.

Angiogenesis in advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma with special reference to tumoral invasion.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is a crucial step in tumor growth and progression. Its quantification by microvessel counting has a prognostic value in several types of malignancies and recently has been appraised in gastrointestinal tumors. AIM: To assess the prognostic significance of microvessel quantification in colorectal carcinomas, studying its association with hematogenous metastases, survival and clinicopathological variables such as size, histologic differentiation and depth of tumoral invasion. PATIENTS/METHODS: Forty eight patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Histologic sections of invasion tumoral margin (4 microns) were analyzed and endothelined microvessels were immunostained with monoclonal mouse Von Willebrand Factor (anti-FVIII). The microvessel count was performed from the identification of the area with increased microvessel density--hot spots--and results of the mean in five of these fields. RESULTS: The cut-off microvessel count was 14 microvessels/0.785 mm2, which divided the sample into hypovascular and hypervascular groups. While 2/8 (25%) tumors with muscularis propria invasion were classified as hypervascular, 11/15 (73%) tumors with serosa or perivisceral fat were classified as hypervascular. However, a non-significant statistical association was found between the angiogenesis quantification, hematogenous metastases, survival and clinicopathological variables such as size and histologic differentiation of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of significantly increase of microvessel count in conformity with tumoral invasion depth supports the hypothesis that tumor progression might be related to angiogenesis. Although angiogenesis is an important step in the tumoral growth and during the metastatization process, other factors can be implicated.

Perianal basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A case of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the perianal region is reported. This tumor is extremely rare in this location and behaves rather innocently. OBJECTIVE: Clinical and histopathologic characteristics of perianal BCC, as well as the choices of treatment, are outlined. CONCLUSION: The tumor should be histologically distinguished from basaloid carcinoma of the anus, which is much more aggressive and metastasizes early, thus requiring a different therapy.

Angiogenesis in advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma with special reference to tumoral invasion

Angiogenesis is a crucial step in tumor growth and progression. Its quantification by microvessel counting has a prognostic value in several types of malignancies and recently has been appraised in gastrointestinal tumors. AIM: To assess the prognostic significance of microvessel quantification in colorectal carcinomas, studying its association with hematogenous metastases, survival and clinicopathological variables such as size, histologic differentiation and depth of tumoral invasion. PATIENTS/METHODS: Forty eight patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Histologic sections of invasion tumoral margin (4 microns) were analyzed and endothelined microvessels were immunostained with monoclonal mouse Von Willebrand Factor (anti-FVIII). The microvessel count was performed from the identification of the area with increased microvessel density--hot spots--and results of the mean in five of these fields. RESULTS: The cut-off microvessel count was 14 microvessels/0.785 mm2, which divided the sample into hypovascular and hypervascular groups. While 2/8 (25%) tumors with muscularis propria invasion were classified as hypervascular, 11/15 (73%) tumors with serosa or perivisceral fat were classified as hypervascular. However, a non-significant statistical association was found between the angiogenesis quantification, hematogenous metastases, survival and clinicopathological variables such as size and histologic differentiation of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of significantly increase of microvessel count in conformity with tumoral invasion depth supports the hypothesis that tumor progression might be related to angiogenesis. Although angiogenesis is an important step in the tumoral growth and during the metastatization process, other factors can be implicated

Angiogênese no carcinoma colorretal - revisäo e perspectivas / Colorectal carcinoma angiogenisis - review and perspectives

Em adiçäo aos sistemas de estadiamento clinicopatológicos comumente utilizados, fatores de risco para a recorrência no carcinoma colorretal têm sido investigados. Entre estes a quantificaçäo da angiogênese e de peptídeos angiogênicos têm demonstrado aplicaçäo clínica na avaliaçäo da sobrevida e recorrência. A angiogênese é o crescimento de novos capilares, estando associada tanto ao desenvolvimento tecidual pré e pós-natal, cicatrizaçäo e reproduçäo como em doenças inflamatórias e neoplasias. Além de permitir o crescimento tumoral, evidências experimentais demonstram que a angiogênese associa-se com o processo metastático, pois maior é a superfície vascular para o escape de células neoplásicas, o que também pode ser facilitado pela imaturidade dos novos vasos. Neste artigo de revisäo discute-se o processo de formaçäo de vasos capilares, associado ao crescimento tumoral e ao surgimento de metástases hematogênicas, bem como uma revisäo de literatura abordando angiogênese e carcinoma colorretal e o seu papel como um possível alvo terapêutico

Colonoscopia com magnificaçäo de imagem no diagnóstico de carcinoma colorretal invasivo da submucosa na polipose adenomatosa familiar / Magnifying colonoscopy diagnosis of submucosal invasive colorectal carcinoma in familial adenomatous polyposis

The development of colonoscopy with image magnification has enable to study the colonic mucosa in detail and to do differential diagnosis between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions from the observation of pit patterns. The results are comparable to stereomicroscopy being possible to predict the histologic diagnosis. In a patient with familial adenomatous polyposis magnifying colonoscopy was performed and this method demonstrated a wide variation of benign polypoid lesions and the morphological features of early colorectal cancer. In this patient, the evaluation by image magnification, together with indigo carmin 0.4 per cent chromoscopy, showed a wide variety of lesions in the colon and rectum: laterally spreading tumor in the cecum, with IIIL + IV pits, subpediculate polyp in the transverse colon with approximately 2.0 cm diameter and IV + V pits, flat elevated lesions IIIL type, and in the sigmoid colon IIa + Iic lesion with V type of Kudo's classification were observed. The evaluation of pit patterns of the lesions in the transverse and sigmoid colon has enable to do the endoscopic diagnosis of the lesion with submucosal invasion

Angiogênese e o potencial maligno do adenocarcinoma colorretal avançado / Angiogenesis and the malignant potential of the advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma

The colorectal carcinoma is one of the most prevalent solid tumors in the word. It is the third most frequent tumor in both sexes, being preceded by lung and stomach carcinoma among men and breast and cervix carcinoma among women. In Brazil, the colorectal carcinoma is among the five more usual neoplasias, ranked fifth in mortality. In 1997, an incidence of 8980 new cases among men and 8650 new cases among women was estimated. The colorectal carcinoma has a global survival rate of 40 per cent, and a small increase has been shown in the last 40 years. The prognostic indicators in this type of cancer are the histological differentiation, the depth of invasion and the lymphatic invasion. Molecular and immunohistochemical approaches have been recently made in order to find a new prognostic indicator other than ones mentioned above. The quantitative analysis of tumor angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new capilars toward the tumor, has been shown to have clinical application in the survival and recurrence analysis. 48 patients undergoing surgery of colorectal carcinoma at The First Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology - Hiroshima University School of Medicine - from 1988 to 1991 were retrospectively studie. There was a significative statistical correlation between angiogenesis and the depth of tumor invasion, and it was demonstrated that the tumor spreading activity is supported by angiogenesis. A non-significative statistical association was found between the angiogenesis quantificationm, hematogenic metastasis, survival and clinical-pathological variables such as size and histological differentiation. The standardization of the immunohistochemistry and the methodology of microvascular quantification are fundamental for comparing results and using angiogenesis as a reliable prognostic indicator.

Endocardite por Streptococcus bovis associada à neoplasia de cólon: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Streptococcus bovis endocarditis and colonic neoplasia: a case report

A associação de endocardite por Streptococcus bovis e neoplasia de cólon é reconhecida na literatura médica. Sabe-se que 56 por cento dos pacientes com neoplasia de cólon têm coprocultura positiva para S: Bovis. Os mecanismos dessa associação não foram elucidados mas recomenda-se que os portadores de endocardite por S. bovis, mesmo sem sintomas gastrointestinais, sejam submetidos à colonoscopia de rotina para avaliação do intestino grosso, buscando diagnóstico de neoplasia, que varia de 38 a 87 por cento dos casos em diversas séries...

Ressecçäo de "laterally spreading tumor" por "strip biopsy" / Resection of a laterally spreading tumor by strip biopsy

Paciente masculino, branco, 58 anos é submetido a videocolonoscopia indicada para "follow-up" de ressecçäo de adenocarcinomma colorretal avançado há 33 meses. Identificam-se pequenos pólipos colônicos que foram ressecados, (adenomas tubulares com displasia moderada ao exame anatomopatológico). No ângulo hepático do cólon havia lesäo plano-elevada de espalhamento lateral ("laterally spreading tumor") que, após adequada demarcaçäo com azul-de-metileno a 0,1 por cento, foi ressecada pela técnica de "strip biopsy". Näo houve complicaçöes relacionadas ao método empregado e, através desta técnica, conforme exame anatomopatológico, obteve-se a ressecçäo completa da lesäo. É apresentada a seqüência amplamente aceita adenoma-carcinoma colorretal e as lesöes do câncer de novo - surgimento de malignidade sem lesäo precursora adenomatosa/polipóide - além das indicaçöes para ressecçäo endoscópica ("strip biopsy") do câncer colorretal precoce.

Tratamento do condiloma acuminado anal com nitrogênio líquido / Treatment of the anal condylomata acuminata with liquid nitrogen

Os autores em estudo prospectivo, apresentam os resultados do trtamento do condiloma acuminado anal com nitrogênio líquido. Foram estudados 26 pacientes submetidos a esta modalidade de tratamento, entre julho de 1989 e janeiro de 1991. Após sessöes semanais de crioterapia com uma duraçäo média de 11 semanas, 14 pacientes foram considerados curados. Näo houve seguimeto em oito, os quais abandonaram o tratamento e dois necessitaram de exérese cirúrgica. Uma paciente faleceu durante o tratamento e outro está recebendo aplicaçöes de nitrogênio no momento. Houve duas recidivas que responderam a novas aplicaçöes de nitrogênio líquido. A eficácia observada em 87,5% dos pacientes, somada aos resultados publicados na literatura, confirma a validade da crioterapia com nitrogênio líquido no tratamento do condiloma acuminado anal