Minimally invasive surgery for gastric carcinoid tumor

Intermittent treatment of recurrent type-1 gastric carcinoids with somatostatin analogues in patients with chronic autoimmune atrophic gastritis

BACKGROUND

Optimal management and treatment of type-1 gastric carcinoids is under debate.

AIMS

This prospective study evaluates the outcome of patients with recurrent type-1 gastric carcinoids treated with somatostatin analogues.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2013, among a population of 107 chronic atrophic gastritis patients, 25 (20% males, median age 62 years) developed type-1 gastric carcinoids and underwent regular clinical and endoscopic follow-up (median 77 months, range 6-165) after the initial treatment. Those patients showing recurrent disease were treated with somatostatin analogues until carcinoid disappearance.

RESULTS

12/25 patients (33% males, median age 65 years) showed recurrent gastric carcinoids and were treated with somatostatin analogues for a median duration of 12 months. Median gastrin and chromogranin A levels, which were 802 pg/mL and 33 U/L, respectively, decreased to 299 pg/mL (p=0.002) and 15.6 U/L (p=0.001) at the end of the treatment. Gastric carcinoids disappeared after a median length of treatment of 12 months. After a median time of 19.5 months from somatostatin analogues discontinuation, 4/12 patients (25% males, median age 56 years) showed a further recurrence. A new cycle of treatment was performed successfully.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that type-1 gastric carcinoids are a recurring disease and somatostatin analogues, administered on 12-month cycles, represent an effective treatment.

Indocyanine green fluorescence and three-dimensional imaging of right gastroepiploic artery in gastric tube cancer

A 79-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of cancer of the gastric tube. Gastrointestinal examination revealed a T1b Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) tumor at the pyloric region of the gastric tube. Laparotomy did not reveal infiltration into the serosa, peritoneal dissemination, regional lymph node swelling, or distant metastasis. We performed a distal gastrectomy preserving the right gastroepiploic artery by referencing the preoperative three-dimensional computed tomoangiography. We also evaluated the blood flow of the right gastroepiploic artery and in the proximal gastric tube by using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging intra-operatively and then followed with a gastrojejunal anastomosis with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The definitive diagnosis was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gastric tube, pT1bN0M0, pStage IA (UICC). His postoperative course was uneventful. Three-dimensional computed tomographic imaging is effective for assessing the course of blood vessels and the relationship with the surrounding structures. Intraoperative evaluation of blood flow of the right gastroepiploic artery and of the gastric tube in the anastomotic portion is very valuable information and could contribute to a safe gastrointestinal reconstruction.

Long-term results of endoscopic resection for type I gastric neuroendocrine tumors

BACKGROUND

A number of different therapies, including endoscopic resection, have been suggested for the treatment of Type 1 gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The current study aimed to determine the long-term efficacy of endoscopic resection for Type 1 gastric NETs.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients (from 1999 to 2012) with Type 1 gastric NETs were included in the study. All patients were treated with endoscopic resection and received regular followed-up appointments at a tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

All patients were initially diagnosed with hypergastrinemia, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Polyps' diameters were >1 cm in 4 patients, and between 0.5 and 1 cm in 18 patients. All detectable lesions were successfully resected. One patient required surgery due to gastric perforation during endoscopic mucosal resection. Recurrence was detected in four patients (18%) and endoscopic resection was performed again. Local or distant metastasis was not observed in any patient during follow-up. Median follow-up time was 7 years, with a maximum of 14 years. Seventeen patients (78%) completed a 5-year follow-up period, and overall disease-free survival rate was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term follow-ups with 22 patients suggest that endoscopic resection of Type 1 gastric NETs is a safe and effective treatment option with a relatively low recurrence rate.

Simultaneous use of laparoscopy and endoscopy for minimally invasive resection of gastric subepithelial masses - analysis of 93 interventions

BACKGROUND

Subepithelial gastric tumors are common findings during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Tumor resection is mostly done laparoscopically, but there is still discussion concerning the size of lesion for which the treatment may be minimally invasive; additionally there is very little data available concerning patient outcome after minor access surgery.

METHODS

Clinicopathologic features and survival data of 93 consecutive patients undergoing a combined laparoscopic-endoscopic approach for gastric submucosal tumors were prospectively analyzed. Analysis included preoperative diagnostic work-up, perioperative data, and postoperative complications. Follow-up was carried out for patients with GIST to check for tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

It was possible to resect 88 of 93 lesions by the laparoscopic-endoscopic approach, with tumor-free margins in all patients. Intraoperative endoscopy facilitated exact tumor localization in 92 patients. Most lesions were removed by endoscopic-laparoscopic wedge resection or, less frequently, by a combined transgastric approach. Mean operative time was 90.7 min; the postoperative hospitalization was 7.3 days. Adverse events appeared in 7.5%, and conversion to open surgery was required in 6.5%. For patients suffering from gastrointestinal stromal tumors, there was no tumor recurrence at a mean follow-up of 40 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined laparoscopic-endoscopic "rendez-vous" procedures are easy to perform and offer a curative approach for almost all gastric submucosal lesions. The technique is associated with low morbidity and short hospitalization. Though even patients with large GISTs of intermediate and high risk were treated, no tumor recurrence has been observed to date.

Endoscopic resection of benign very low-risk gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Is it enough?

Great ongoing debate still exists over the definition, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumour especially for small gastric submucosal tumours. Simple endoscopic biopsy is not sufficient to determine their biological behaviour and their complete excision is necessary. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman, who was kept under observation after previously operated breast cancer, with a casual computed tomography-diagnosed submucosal gastric lesion. Endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound confirmed a submucosal mass of 2-3 cm in diameter. An endoscopic resection was performed and the mass was integral at pathologic examination. It confirmed the stromal origin with a mitotic index of 1 (5/50 high power field). No more treatment was carried out because it was classified as a very low risk gastrointestinal stromal tumour according to Fletcher's classification. After 34 months follow-up, the patient is disease free and we believe that endoscopic treatment is sufficient and recommended for mainly intragastric growing gastrointestinal stromal tumour with a diameter of less than 3 cm.

Presentation, treatment, and outcome of type 1 gastric carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to review the presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients with Type 1 gastric carcinoid tumors.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 1,600 carcinoid patients was analyzed to identify patients with gastric carcinoid tumors.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were found to have biopsy-confirmed Type 1 gastric carcinoid tumors on upper endoscopy. Reasons for endoscopy included abdominal pain (n = 4), gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 4), surveillance for pernicious anemia (n = 8), and other (n = 2). The mean pre-treatment serum gastrin and chromogranin A levels were 1,436 ng/ml (+/-771 ng/ml) and 91.6 ng/ml (+/-68.6 ng/ml), respectively. Imaging revealed evidence of gastric carcinoid in 4 of 10 patients undergoing CT scanning and 3 of 10 patients undergoing octreotide scintigraphy. Of the 18 patients, 8 were treated medically (acidification or octreotide) and 10 were treated with surgery (laparoscopic antrectomy or partial gastrectomy). Mean gastrin levels decreased by 37.2% in the medically treated group (median follow-up 6 months), versus 94.0% in the surgically treated patients (median follow-up 5 months). Mean chromogranin A levels decreased by 56.2% in patients undergoing surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric antrectomy is the most efficacious treatment for Type 1 gastric carcinoid, leading to a significant reduction in serum gastrin levels and regression of carcinoid tumors.

A case of sporadic gastric carcinoid tumor treated successfully by laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy

A 49-year-old man was referred to us for treatment of a gastric carcinoid tumor. Gastroscopy revealed a superficial elevated lesion with a central depression covered with nonspecific gastric mucosa located in the anterior wall of the gastric body. The lesion was diagnosed on biopsy as a gastric carcinoid tumor. Preoperative ultrasound and computed tomography examinations revealed a tumor confined to the gastric submucosa and without lymph node metastasis. Therefore, laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) was performed. Macroscopically, the resected specimen contained an elevated lesion measuring 0.9 x 0.8-cm with a central depression. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient remains free of recurrence 10 months after surgery. There are few cases of sporadic gastric carcinoid tumor successfully treated by LADG. LADG may be useful for treatment of patients with sporadic gastric carcinoid tumor and possible lymph node metastasis.

Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of submucosal tumors of gastrointestinal tract

AIM: To improve the diagnoses and treatment for submucosal tumors of gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS: Endoscopic ultrasonograpy (EUS) was conducted in 136 patients with submucosal tumors (SMT) in gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopic therapy or surgical operation was taken according to the different layers of SMT.

RESULTS: A total of 33 cases of stromal tumors derived from mucosa; 2 cysts, 8 lipomas, 12 etopic pancreases in stomach and 5 varics in gastric fundus from submucosa; 60 benign stromal tumors and 16 malignant stromal tumors from muscularis; 24 benign stromal tumors from mucosa, 6 benign stromal tumors from muscularis, 4 gastric lipomas, 2 cysts, 6 etopic pancreas in stomach were resected by endoscopy; 28 cases of benign stromal tumors derived from muscularis, 15 malignant stromal tumors, 2 lipoma and 2 etopic pancreas were removed by surgery. 97.7% of SMTs diagnosed by EUS were confirmed further by pathology.

CONCLUSION: Different layers of gastrointestinal tract with SMTs can be distinguished clearly by EUS, leading to definite diagnosis of SMTs. EUS is important to select treating methods of SMTs in gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopic therapy is an effective method for submucosal tumor of gastrointestinal tract.