Recent Developments in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma is currently the sixth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the fourth in Europe, with a continuous increase in annual lethality in Portugal during the last two decades. Surgical en-bloc resection of the tumor with microscopic-negative margins and an adequate lymphadenectomy is the only possibility of long-term survival. As this type of cancer is a systemic disease, there is a high rate of recurrence even after curative resection, turning systemic therapy the core of its management, mostly based on chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant strategies for nonmetastatic disease showed significant improvement in overall survival compared with upfront surgery, namely in borderline resectable disease. Moreover, these strategies provided downstaging in several situations allowing R0 resections. Under these new oncologic strategies, several recent surgical issues were introduced, namely more aggressive vascular resections and even tumor resections in oligometastatic disease. This review revisits the state-of-the-art of surgical and oncological interventions in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma and highlights recent advances in the field aiming to achieve higher survival rates.

Leiomioma primario de páncreas en una gestante: presentación de caso / Primary pancreatic leimyoma in a pregnant woman: case report

RESUMEN Introducción: Los tumores pancreáticos en el embarazo son muy raros, el diagnóstico y tratamiento en este grupo de pacientes es complejo. Objetivo: Presentar el primer caso de un leiomioma primario del páncreas en una gestante. Caso clínico: Embarazada de 26 años de edad, sin antecedentes relevantes. Primigesta, que se encontraba cursando la semana 13 de gestación. Durante una evaluación ecográfica de rutina, se le detecta una tumoración en la glándula pancreática. Se remitió a la consulta multidisciplinaria de atención a la materna y en conjunto deciden realizar la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo. Luego la paciente fue remitida a la consulta de la especialidadde Cirugía General. Al recibir a la misma, se quejaba de dolor en epigastrio e hipocondrio izquierdo, además de hipo ocasional. Al examen físico se encontró una tumoración palpable en epigastrio. Se realizaron exámenes analíticos básicos sin encontrarse alteraciones, en los estudios de imagen realizados, ecografía abdominal y tomografía contrastada de abdomen se demostró una tumoración en el cuerpo y cola del páncreas. Se planificó tratamiento quirúrgico electivo, se realizó pancreatectomía distal con esplenectomía, por invasión del estómago, se complementó con gastrectomía subtotal. La paciente evoluciona sin complicaciones. La biopsia informó un tumor mesenquimal benigno primario de páncreas, tipo leiomioma, bien encapsulado. Conclusiones: Se presenta el primer caso de un leiomioma primario del páncreas en una gestante. Los tumores pancreáticos en embarazadas son enfemedades raras, el manejo por un equipo multidisciplinario es la mejor forma de obtener resultados satisfactorios para la paciente.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pancreatic tumors during pregnancy are very rare, diagnosis and treatment are always difficult. Objective: To present the first case of a primary pancreatic leiomyoma in a pregnant woman. Case report: A 26 years old primiparous pregnant is reported, with no relevant backgrounds. She was in her first trimesters of pregnancy. Diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor during a routine evaluation. She was referred to a multidisciplinary consult, deciding the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, then she is evaluated by the General Surgery specialty clinic for complaining of epigastric pain and hiccup. On physical examination an epigastric tumor was found. Auxiliary exams were normal. Imagenologic studies confirm a tumor in the pancreatic body and tail. Surgical treatment was scheduled, distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, due to invasion of gastric wall subtotal distal gastrectomy was performed. Patient evolution without complications. Biopsy reported a well capsulated, leiomyoma type, primary mesenchymal pancreatic tumor. Conclusions: The first case of a primary pancreatic leiomyoma in a pregnant woman is presented. Pancreatic tumors during pregnancy are rare. Multidisciplinary approach is the best way to improve results.

Exploration of peripancreatic lymphatic pathways in a live porcine model.

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis, mainly due to lymph node invasion and lymph node recurrence after surgical resection, even after extended lymphadenectomy. The peripancreatic lymphatic system is highly complex and the specific lymphatic drainage of each part of the pancreas has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine the lymphatic drainage pathways specific to each part of the pancreas on live pigs using Patent Blue. The pancreases of 14 live pigs were injected in different parts of the gland. The technique was efficient and reproducible. The diffusion patterns were similar for each location and were reported. Our results in pigs allowed us to define specific nodal relay stations and lymphatic drainage for each part of the pancreas and confirm that independent anatomical-surgical pancreatic segments can be described. It is interesting to note that lymphatic drainage for the upper part of the proximal part of pancreas (duodenal lobe) occurred on the left side of the portal vein. This suggests that lymph node resection during cephalic duodenopancreatectomy in humans should be extended to the left side of the mesenteric vein, and probably to the right side of the superior mesenteric artery, as recently suggested. These results could help surgeons perform safe anatomical-segmental pancreatic resections with accurate lymphadenectomies and improve survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Based on these results we will perform an innovative prospective study. Patent Blue will be injected into different parts of the gland in patients operated for pancreatic resection, and lymphatic diffusion of the dye will be recorded in relation to their origin from the theoretical pancreatic segments (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03597230).

Pancreatectomía distal laparoscópica con preservación del bazo para el tratamiento del tumor pseudopapilar del páncreas: informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with spleen preservation for management of a pseudopapillary pancreatic tumor: Case report and review of the literature / Pancreatectomia distal laparoscópica com preservação do baço para o tratamento do tumor pseudopapilar do pâncreas: informe de um caso e revisão da literatura

RESUMEN El tumor sólido pseudopapilar es una neoplasia pancreática infrecuente, pero los informes sobre ella han aumentado en las últimas dos décadas; es más frecuente en mujeres jóvenes en la segunda y tercera décadas de la vida y tiene riesgo de transformación maligna. Su tratamiento es la resección pancreática. En la actualidad, la pancreatectomía laparoscópica es el procedimiento asociado a menos morbilidad posoperatoria en comparación con la pancreatectomía abierta; usualmente este procedimiento se acompaña de esplenectomía debido a las dificultades anatómicas en la disección de los vasos esplénicos, pero la resección del bazo tiene implicaciones en la fisiología inmunológica por lo que su preservación conlleva una disminución de la morbilidad. Se presenta el caso de una paciente joven con un tumor sólido pseudopapilar a quien se le hizo pancreatectomía distal por laparoscopia con preservación del bazo; el resultado fue exitoso.

SUMMARY Solid pseudopapillary tumor is an infrequent pancreatic neoplasia, but reports about it have increased in the last two decades. It is more frequent in women in the second and third decades of life. It has the potential of malignant transformation. Treatment is surgical resection. Presently, laparoscopic pancreatectomy is the procedure associated with lesser post-operatory morbidity, as compared to open pancreatectomy. The procedure is usually accompanied by splenectomy due to anatomical difficulties in the dissection of the splenic vessels. However, splenectomy has immunological implications, and preservation of the spleen associates with lower morbidity. We report the case of a young woman with a solid pseudopapillary pancreatic tumor treated by distal laparoscopic pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen. Outcome was successful.

RESUMO O tumor sólido pseudopapilar é uma neoplasia pancreática infrequente, mas os informes sobre ela há aumentado nas últimas duas décadas; é mais frequente nas mulheres jovens na segunda e terceira décadas da vida e tem risco de transformação maligna. Seu tratamento é a ressecção pancreática. Na atualidade, a pancreatectomia laparoscópica é o procedimento associado a pelo menos morbidez pós-operatória em comparação com a pancreatectomia aberta; usualmente este procedimento se acompanha de esplenectomia devido às dificuldades anatómicas na dissecção dos vasos esplénicos, mas a ressecção do baço tem implicações na fisiologia imunológica porque sua preservação implica uma diminuição da morbidez. Se apresenta o caso de uma paciente jovem com um tumor sólido pseudopapilar a quem se fez pancreatectomia distal por laparoscopia com preservação do baço; o resultado teve sucesso.

Results of pancreatic resection associated with portal vein resection in an Australian tertiary care centre.

BACKGROUND: Portal vein resection (PVR) with pancreatectomy is now accepted practice in cases with involvement by tumour. We present our experience of this procedure with particular emphasis on morbidity and survival. METHODS: A retrospective case-control analysis of a prospectively maintained database between 2004 and 2012 was undertaken. A total of 17 patients had pancreatic resections with PVR for cancer and were compared with 17 patients with identical tumour type and stage who underwent pancreatic resection without PVR next in chronological order. Information obtained included patient demographics, radiological and histological evidence of major vein involvement and post-operative morbidity. Disease- and recurrence-free survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Procedures associated with PVR included pancreatico-duodenectomy in 11 and total pancreatectomy in six. Three patients underwent pancreatic resection as a re-operation. Pathological staging showed 2× T2N0, 5× T3N0, 1× T1N1, 2× T2N1 and 7× T3N1 tumours. Seven PVR patients (41%) had post-operative morbidity Clavien 3 and 4, compared with none in no-PVR group, but rates of Clavien 1 and 2 complications were similar. Six PVR patients developed PV thrombosis (35%), all with significant clinical consequences. Comparing the PVR group with the no-PVR group, there was significantly reduced median overall survival in (13.8 versus 43.1 months; P = 0.028) and recurrence-free survival (7.5 months versus 39.7; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients after pancreatectomy with PVR was reduced and morbidity was high compared with no-PVR. Delayed portal vein thrombosis due to recurrence was common. Routine post-operative anticoagulation may be indicated in this group.

Anaesthetic management during open and percutaneous irreversible electroporation.

BACKGROUND: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel tumour ablation technique involving repetitive application of electrical energy around a tumour. The use of pulsed electrical gradients carries a risk of cardiac arrhythmias, severe muscle contractions, and seizures. We aimed to identify IRE-related risks and the appropriate precautions for anaesthetic management. METHODS: All patients who were treated with IRE were prospectively included. Exclusion criteria were arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, active coronary artery disease, and epilepsy. All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia with complete muscle relaxation during ECG-synchronized pulsing. Adverse events, cardiovascular effects, blood samples, cerebral activity, and post-procedural pain were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients underwent 30 IRE sessions for tumours in the liver, pancreas, kidney, and lesser pelvis. No major adverse events occurred during IRE. Median systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased by 44 mm Hg (range -7 to 108 mm Hg) and 19 mm Hg (range 1-50 mm Hg), respectively. Two transient minor cardiac arrhythmias without haemodynamic consequences were observed. Muscle contractions were mild and IRE caused no reactive brain activity on a simplified EEG. Pain in the first 24 h after percutaneous IRE was generally mild, but higher pain scores were reported after pancreatic treatment (mean VAS score 3; range 0-9). CONCLUSIONS: Side-effects during IRE on tumours in the liver, pancreas, kidney, and lesser pelvis seem mild and manageable when current recommendations for anaesthesia management, including deep muscle relaxation and ECG synchronized pulsing, are followed. Electrical pulses do not seem to cause reactive cerebral activity and evidence for pre-existing atrial fibrillation as an absolute contra-indication for IRE is questionable.

Pancreatectomia distal com preservação do baço em tumor sólido pseudopapilar do pancreas (tumor de Frantz): relato de caso / Distal pancreatectomy with spleen preservation in solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (Frantz’s tumor): a case report

Tumor sólido pseudopapilar do pancreas, também conhecido como tumor de Frantz, a neoplasia rara, de etiologia desconhecida, baixo potencial maligno e bom prognóstico, que acomete geralmente pacientes jovens do sexo feminino. Relata-se um caso de tumor de Frantz em paciente feminino, de 29 anos de idade, cuja apresentação clínica foi de dor e massa abdominal palpável. A ressonância nuclear magnética do abdómen evidenciou grande lesão sólido-cística proveniente da porção distal do pancreas. O tratamento cirúrgico do tumor de Frantz pela ressecção distal do pancreas com preservação do baço foi realizado e mostrou ser eficaz e sem morbidade pós-operatória. A opção pela cirurgia conservadora deve ser considerada, pois o conhecimento de que pacientes esplenectomizados apresentam aumento da morbidade e mortalidade justifica a tendência de preservá-lo.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas, also known as Frantz? tumor, is a rare neoplasia of unknown etiology which usually attacks young female patients, but presents low malign potential and good prognosis. This paper reports on a case of Frantz?s tumor in a 29-year-old female patient suffering from pain and palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal nuclear magnetic resonance revealed severe solid-cystic tumor on the distal part of the pancreas. The surgical treatment of the tumor by means of distal resection with spleen preservation proved to be effective and cause no post-surgical morbidity. The option for the conservative surgery must be considered, as splenectomized patients are reported to suffer from increased morbidity and mortality.