Open versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: a propensity score matching analysis of survival in a western population-on behalf of the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

Oncologic outcomes after laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer in the West have been poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to compare survival outcomes in patients undergoing curative-intent laparoscopic and open gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer in several centres belonging to the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer.

METHODS

Data of patients operated between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Propensity Score Matching was performed to balance baseline characteristics of patients undergoing laparoscopic and open gastrectomy. The primary endpoint was 3-year overall survival. Secondary endpoints were 3-year disease-free survival and short-term outcomes. Multivariable regression analyses for survival were conducted.

RESULTS

Data were retrieved from 20 centres. Of the 717 patients included, 438 patients were correctly matched, 219 per group. The 3-year overall survival was 73.6% and 68.7% in the laparoscopic and open group, respectively (p = 0.40). When compared with open gastrectomy, laparoscopic gastrectomy showed comparable 3-year disease-free survival (62.8%, vs 58.9%, p = 0.40), higher rate of return to intended oncologic treatment (56.9% vs 40.2%, p = 0.001), similar 30-day morbidity/mortality. Prognostic factors for survival were ASA Score ≥ 3, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 5, lymph node ratio ≥ 0.15, p/ypTNM Stage III and return to intended oncologic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer offers similar rates of survival when compared to open gastrectomy, with higher rates of return to intended oncologic treatment. ASA score, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index, lymph node ratio, return to intended oncologic treatment and p/ypTNM Stage, but not surgical approach, are prognostic factors for survival.

Portomesenteric vein thrombosis following sleeve gastrectomy: Case report focusing on the role of pathogenetic factors

INTRODUCTION

Sleeve gastrectomy has currently become the most commonly performed bariatric. procedure worldwide according to the last IFSO survey, overtaking gastric bypass with. a share of more than 50% of all primary bariatric-metabolic surgery. Gastric leak, intraluminal bleeding, bleeding from the staple-line and strictures are the most common complications. Portomesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT)after sleeve gastrectomy is. another complication that has been increasingly reported in case-series in recent.years, although it remains uncommon. In this case report is described an extended portomesenteric vein thrombosis after. sleeve gastrectomy interesting splenic vein too with a favorable course and an. uneventful follow-up. We try to search in this case for pathogenetic factors involved in. this complication.

CASE REPORT

A 42-year old man, with a body mass index (BMI) of 45 kg/m2, with a medical history of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Sindrome (OSAS) underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Early postoperative course was uneventful. Six days after discharge he complained abdominal pain and was admitted at the Emergency Department. A CT scan with intravenous contrast showed an occlusion of the portal vein, of the intrahepatic major branches and an extension to the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein. The patient received heparin and oral anticoagulation together with intravenous hydration and proton pump inhibitors. Considering the favourable course the patient was discharged after six days with long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulation with acenocumarol was continued for six months after a CT scan showed resolution of the PMVT without cavernoma. He had no recurrence of symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Porto-mesenteric thrombosis after sleeve gastrectomy is a rare complication but it has been increasingly reported over the last 10 years along with the extensive use of sleeve gastrectomy. Because PMVT is closely associated with sleeve gastrectomy in comparison with other bariatric procedures, we need to investigate what pathogenetic factors are involved in sleeve gastrectomy. Thrombophylic state, prolonged duration of surgery, high levels of pneumoperitoneum, thermal injury of the gastroepiploic vessels during greater curvature dissection, high intragastric pressure, inadequate antithrombotic prophylaxis and delayed mobilization of the patient after surgery have been reported as pathogenetic factors of portmesenteric vein thrombosis. Most of the cases presented in the literature such as our clinical case resolve with medical therapy, although portal vein thrombus extends into the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein.

CONCLUSION

Portomesenteric venous thrombosis is a rare but serious complication of bariatric surgery, especially associated with sleeve gastrectomy. Diagnosis is based on CT examination with intravenous contrast, and initial therapy is anticoagulation. Etiologic factors reported in the literature include a long duration of surgery, a high degree of pneumoperitoneum, high intragastric pressure after sleeve gastrectomy and thermal injury to the short gastric vessels and gastroepiploic arcade. Limited operative time, controlled values of pneumoperitoneum, careful dissection with energy device of gastric greater curvature, appropriate prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin may be useful tools to prevent and limit this complication. Nonetheless we have to search which factors may condition the evolution of an extended PMVT as that described in this case towards resolution or to a further worsening clinical state. Early diagnosis? Correct treatment? Undiscovered patientrelated factors?

Thyroid surgery during coronavirus-19 pandemic phases I, II and III: lessons learned in China, South Korea, Iran and Italy

OBJECTIVE

We compared demographic and clinic-pathological variables related to the number of surgeries for thyroid conditions or for cancer, morbidity, and fine needle aspiration (FNA) practices among Covid19 pandemic phases I, II, III and the same seasonal periods in 2019.

METHODS

The prospective database of the Division of Thyroid Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China was used for this study. Covid19 emergency levels were stratified according to the World Health Organization: phase I (January 25-February 25, 2020), phase II (February 26-March 19), phase III (March 20-April 20).

RESULTS

There were fewer outpatient FNAs and surgeries in 2020 than in 2019. There were no thyroid surgeries during phase I. There were also fewer surgeries for cancer with a significant reduction of advanced stage cancer treatments, mainly stage T1b N1a in phase II and T3bN1b in phase III. Operative times and postoperative stays were significantly shorter during the pandemic compared to our institutional baseline. In phase III, vocal cord paralysis (VCP) increased to 4.3% of our baseline numbers (P = 0.001). There were no cases of Covid19-related complications during the perioperative period. No patients required re-admission to the hospital.

CONCLUSION

The Covid19 outbreak reduced thyroid surgery patient volumes. The decrease of Covid19 emergency plans contributed to unexpected outcomes (reduction of early stage cancer treatment, decreased operative times and hospital stays, increased VCP rate).

A pilot study assessing the efficacy of posterior tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of low anterior resection syndrome

BACKGROUND

Low anterior resection for rectal cancer often results in severe bowel dysfunction, specifically low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), with symptoms such as incontinence, urgency, and frequent bowel movements. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) resulted in a high rate of success in patients with fecal incontinence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with PTNS in LARS and to identify predictors of the outcome of the technique.

METHODS

The study was conducted from May 2012 to April 2015 at the Alvaro Cunqueiro Hospital, University Hospital Complex of Vigo, Spain. Ten patients with LARS were recruited consecutively. All patients underwent 2 sessions per week (30 min each one) for 6 weeks. Patients were followed for 3 weeks, and those who had a significant clinical improvement were recruited to a second phase of PTNS. Some patients presenting with relapse during follow-up underwent an additional phase of PTNS. Outcome measures included Wexner scores, quality of life scores, and urgency of defecation.

RESULTS

Three patients did not complete the treatment due to poor response in the first phase. Incontinence was reduced in the remaining seven of ten patients. The median Wexner score at initial patient evaluation was 14 (IQR 10.75-18.5), which decreased to 10 (IQR 6.5-18) after treatment (p = 0.034). A statistically significant improvement was demonstrated in quality of life scale, lifestyle, depression, and daily defecation urgency (p < 0.05). LARS Score improvement was observed in five patients (50%) with a total resolution of LARS in 2 (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

PTNS is an ambulatory treatment that could play an important role in the context of a multimodal treatment approach in patients with LARS. It could be a first-line treatment to identify non-responders to conservative management who need different and more invasive treatments.

Breast cancer and thyroid diseases: analysis of 867 consecutive cases

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of breast cancer with thyroid diseases. Many authors have already studied the possible relationship between these two diseases, but the results are nowadays conflicting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study examining 867 patients with breast cancer (862 women and 5 men, average age = 61 years old) of whom 141 also had thyroid disease evaluated the recurrence of thyroid diseases and their association with different types of breast cancer. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software for Windows; we used nonparametric tests (Chi-square and Mann-Whitney), and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We found a significant association between breast cancer diagnosed after menopause and thyroid disease (p < 0.003). Moreover, we analyzed the role of thyroid autoimmunity identifying an association between chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and breast cancer diagnosed before menopause (p < 0.05). Regarding receptor profile of breast carcinoma, we have found an increased expression of estrogen receptors in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis compared to patients with any other thyroid diseases (p < 0.03). Contrariwise, we do not have found any difference between the group with every thyroid disease and the group without thyroid disease (p < 1.00). We did not find other statistically significant associations with breast cancer's parameters like family history, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, cancer clinical and pathological stage, differentiation grade and expression of Ki67, p53 and Her2 in the two main groups with or without thyroid disease. Likewise, we did not found other statistically significant association between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and breast cancer.

Extended lymphadenectomy in elderly and/or highly co-morbid gastric cancer patients: A retrospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy is considered the gold standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer, with no age- or comorbidity-related limitations. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of curative gastrectomy with extended nodal dissection, verifying survival in elderly and highly co-morbid patients.

METHODS

In a retrospective multicenter study, we examined 1322 non-metastatic gastric-cancer patients that underwent curative gastrectomy with D2 versus D1 lymphadenectomy from January 2000 to December 2009. Postoperative complications, overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) according to age and the Charlson Comorbidity Score were analyzed in relation to the extent of lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

Postoperative morbidity was 30.4%. Complications were more frequent in highly co-morbid elderly patients, and, although general morbidity rates after D2 and D1 lymphadenectomy were similar (29.9% and 33.2%, respectively), they increased following D2 in highly co-morbid elderly patients (39.6%). D2-lymphadenectomy significantly improved 5-year OS and DSS (48.0% vs. 37.6% in D1, p < 0.001 and 72.6% vs. 58.1% in D1, p < 0.001, respectively) in all patients. In elderly patients, this benefit was present only in 5-year DSS. D2 nodal dissection induced better 5-year OS and DSS rates in elderly patients with positive nodes (29.7% vs. 21.2% in D1, p = 0.008 and 47.5% vs. 30.6% in D1, p = 0.001, respectively), although it was present only in DSS when highly co-morbid elderly patients were considered.

CONCLUSION

Extended lymphadenectomy confirmed better survival rates in gastric cancer patients. Due to high postoperative complication rate and no significant improvement of the OS, D1 lymphadenectomy should be considered in elderly and/or highly co-morbid gastric cancer patients.

Implementation of systematic neuromonitoring training for thyroid surgery

Neural monitoring is increasingly applied to thyroid surgery and yet few surgeons have received formal training in intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Standardized application of neural monitoring is an expected outcome of formal training programs in IONM. This study was designed to document a systematic training course that focuses on standardized state-of-art IONM knowledge. Seventeen 1-day courses were organized by the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria Medical School (Varese-Como, Italy), between 2009-2010. The course included didactic and practical training sessions. Some specific steps and checklist identified for courses included: knowledge of IONM technology and troubleshooting algorithms; IONM anesthetic perspectives, standards of IONM equipment set up and technique. A total of 75 trainees completed a questionnaire after completion of the respective courses. Questions probed demographic data, operative IONM experience and evaluation of course content. Data gathered showed that 97% of participants had no prior experience with the standardized approach of IONM technique (i.e. stimulation of the vagal nerve). The most useful parts of the course were judged to be (a) algorithms for perioperative IONM problem solving (30%), (b) live surgery with hands-on training (25%), (c) standardization of IONM technique (25%), and (d) IONM equipment set-up (20%). Poor reimbursement for hospital thyroid procedures is the main reason of limitation of IONM technology. The course offered participants novel knowledge and training and gave participants a systematic and standard approach to IONM technique.

An unusual case of adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer: computed tomography and fluorine 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography features and literature review

Incidentally discovered adrenal masses are a common diagnostic problem. While computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can adequately characterize most benign or malignant adrenal masses, in some cases the results are indeterminate. We report and discuss a case of an adrenal metastasis with misleading clinical and CT features, in which an abnormal metabolic uptake detected through fluorine 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET)-CT raised the suspicion of adrenal metastasis relatively early compared with apparently normal results on repeated follow-up CT examinations.

A case-control study comparing methylene blue directed biopsies and random biopsies for detecting pre-cancerous lesions in the follow-up of gastric cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

To compare the accuracy of Methylene Blue (MB) targeted biopsies with random biopsies in detecting intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia in the follow-up of patients after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

Thirty patients (21 Billroth II, 9 Billroth 1) for cancer, referred to the Gastroenterology Unit for an elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), were enrolled. All endoscopies were performed with a high-resolution videoendoscope with an adjustable image magnification: EG-485ZH (Fujinon, Omiya, Japan). During EGD three random biopsies were taken in the stomach and, after staining with MB, three targeted biopsies were taken from every stained area.

RESULTS

In 28 patients traditional endoscopy showed hyperemia of the anastomosis, in 2 patients a lesion. After MB in 6/30 there were stained area (2 lesions seen with traditional endoscopy and 4 blue areas in other patients). As regards histology: 24 patients showed inflammation, while 2 patients with alterations in traditional endoscopy and with MB showed metaplasia and high grade dysplasia. In 4/30 (13.3%) patients MB guided biopsies showed significant lesions (3 intestinal metaplasia, 1 low grade dysplasia) while random biopsies showed only inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

After partial gastrectomy, the mucosa of the residual stomach usually undergoes severe changes, and these lesions are known to be pre-cancerous. The diagnostic accuracy of the MB technique seems to be superior to random biopsies for identification of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and may be helpful in targeting biopsies and early endoscopic treatment.

Ratio of metastatic lymph nodes: impact on staging and survival of gastric cancer

AIMS

No consensus exists on the level and number of lymph nodes to be dissected and examined for accurate staging of patients with resectable gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic value and staging accuracy of the metastatic lymph nodes ratio (NR).

METHODS

The postoperative survival of 247 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy was analyzed. Lymph nodes status was assigned according to three different classifications: 6th UICC/AJCC TNM; JGCA; NR (NR0: 0%; NR1: < or =20%; NR2: >20%). Staging accuracy of the three classifications was compared according to patients survival.

RESULTS

A significant difference in survival was observed in patients with NR1 versus NR2. At multivariate analysis only NR along with pT and grading were found to be independent prognostic factors. Stage migration was present in 84 cases (51%) with JGCA classification, in 30 (19%) with 6th UICC/AJCC TNM classification and in only 18 cases (11%) when NR was applied.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed that NR is a simply reproducible and highly reliable staging system with a strong ability to predict patients' outcome. Compared to other nodal staging classifications, NR is less influenced from the number of the lymph nodes dissected and examined, reducing the stage migration phenomenon.

Calcitriol plus hydrochlorothiazide prevents transient post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia

BACKGROUND

The aim of our double-blinded randomized prospective placebo-controlled study was to test if a week long pre-treatment with hypercalcemic drugs may prevent transient post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and reduce hospital stay.

METHODS

Forty-two patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were randomized into two groups. Group 1: 22 patients treated with calcitriol 1.5 mcg/die plus hydrochlorothiazide; Group 2: 20 patients only treated with placebo (mineral integrates) as control group. Calcium and PTHi serum levels were assayed baseline and the days before and after thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

Baseline calcium and PTHi did not differ between the two groups. Pre-surgery calcemia significantly increased in group 1 (p<0.05) while PTHi significantly decreased (p<0.05). Post-surgery calcemia and PTHi further significantly decreased in both groups, hypocalcemia (<2.10 mmol/l) occurring in 1 out of 22 patients in group 1 without symptoms and in 10 out of 20 in controls (20% developing symptoms) (p<0.01). The hospital stay resulted significantly shorter in group 1 (2.4+/-0.6 days) in respect to the control group (3.6+/-1.4 days, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The administration of calcitriol plus hydrochlorothiazide is able to prevent transient post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and to reduce hospital stay.

Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and effects of tumor regression in gastric cancer

AIMS

Aim of this study is the evaluation of the effects induced by neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and its impact on survival on a series of locally advanced gastric carcinomas.

METHODS

Downstaging was assessed comparing pre-treatment clinical and laparoscopic staging with post-operative pathologic staging on 30 consecutive patients who completed a 3-year follow-up. Tumor downstaging and the grade of pathologic response were included in a statistical correlation between tumor regression induced by NACT and 3-year survival.

RESULTS

In this series tumor downstaging was obtained in 13 out of 30 patients. After the completion of 3-year follow-up, overall survival was >37.5months with an overall survival rate of 56.7%; this figure reached up to 70.8% in those cases who benefited from a R0-resection (24/30 patients: R0-resection rate 80.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study the 3-year survival for locally advanced gastric cancer treated by NACT prior to "D2" surgical resection, compares favourably with historical series treated by surgery alone. Patients who obtained T-downstaging and subsequently benefited from a R0-resection had a definitely better chance of cure, according to a complete 3-year follow-up.

[Clinical significance and prognostic value of tumor maximum diameter in gastric carcinoma]

Maximum tumor diameter (MTD) is considered by many authors as an important prognostic factor in gastric cancer and, in some series, is reported to be strongly correlated with depth of infiltration. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of tumor diameter in a monoistitutional series of 153 gastric cancer patients. The Spearman correlation coefficient was also calculated between MTD and other known prognostic factors. For statistical analysis, patients were grouped as follows: MTD 1, < or = 40 mm, and MTD2, > 40 mm. In our series, MTD resulted significantly linked to survival at univariate analysis (p = 0.0001), but multivariate analysis did not evidence MTD as an independent prognostic indicator. The Spearman correlation test documented that MTD2 is strongly correlated with tumor depth (pT), nodal status (pN) and p-stage (p < 0.01) and is a good predictor of locally advanced stage. This retrospective study showed that patients with larger tumor are at an increased risk for tumor advancement and, therefore, MTD could represent a useful parameter for choosing the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.

[T-downstaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced gastric carcinoma]

Only a limited number of trials on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable advanced gastric cancer have been planned or conducted up to date, still in recent years this treatment strategy has been considered by many the most promising tool in order to improve survival of locally advanced tumors of the stomach. Aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance and the possible impact on survival of tumor downstaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by D2-gastrectomy in an accurately staged and thoroughly selected group of 30 locally advanced gastric cancer patients, with a complete follow-up of at least 3 years. In our series, T-downstaging was observed in 43.3% of patients; this parameter, along with other known prognostic factors, was found to be significantly associated with survival (p <0.05). Moreover, T-downstaging induced by preoperative chemotherapy was significantly associated with absence of residual tumor (R0) and no lymph node metastases (ypN0) (p <0.05). At multivariate analysis, R0-resection was the only independent prognostic factor (HR 9.439, p <0.0001). According to our results we feel encouraged to consider neoadjuvant chemotherapy a promising modality for increasing the R0-percentage by tumor downstaging.

[Ratio of lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma after D2 gastrectomy]

The classification of lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric carcinoma is controversial. In the past, all systems used for this disease defined N classification by the location of lymph node metastases relatively to the primary tumor. In the 1997, the UICC and AJCC redefined the pathologic nodal status on the basis of the number of involved nodes rather than their location. More recently, the ratio between the number of metastatic and the total examined lymph nodes has been proposed as a new quantitative staging system. Aim of our study was to clarify the outcome of the ratio of the metastatic lymph nodes (RML) in a monoinstitutional series of 164 patient with primary gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. Our data showed that ratio of metastatic lymph nodes is a simple, convenient, and reproducible staging system with an ability to predict surgical results and it is an independent prognostic factor after D2-gastrectomy.

[Clinical role of the cytologic study of thyroid nodules]

Indication to surgical treatment for thyroid nodules still represents a relevant clinical dilemma. With this regard, on a consecutive series of 434 thyroidectomies carried out in the last 3 years, the role of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) on 139 cases has been statistically evaluated. All cytologic diagnoses have been classified in three subsets: malignant [group 1]; suspect (follicular or Hurtle cell proliferation) [group 2]; benign [group 3]. Our data confirm previous observations about the high specificity of FNAB in case of diagnosis of malignancy (97.6%). On the other hand 51.6% of our cases are included in group 2; only 31.9% of these cases have shown a postoperative diagnosis of malignancy, following a suspect at FNAB. In this study, the sensibility of FNAB has been calculated including among positive results the cytologic diagnoses of group 1 + group 2: the resulting figure of 87.3% weighs the impact of FNAB on our surgical decision process. FNAB plays a crucial role in the management of nodular diseases of the thyroid, even if its overall value is limited by the burden of "suspect" cytologic diagnoses. In our hands, the integration of FNAB results with all relevant clinical data has undoubtedly contributed to increase the portion of thyroidectomies carried out for cancer, from 12.8% of our historical series to 23.2% of the last 3 years.

[The impact of the fine needle aspiration in the management of thyroid nodules]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the impact of preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) on the thyroid nodules management.

METHODS

On a consecutive series of 434 thyroidectomies carried out in the last 3 years, the role of FNA on 139 cases has been statistically evaluated. All cytologic diagnoses have been classified in three subsets: malignant (group 1); suspect (follicular or Hurtle cell proliferation) (group 2); benign (group 3).

RESULTS

Our data confirm previous observations about the high specificity of FNA in case of diagnosis of malignancy (97.6%). On the other hand 51.6% of our cases are included in group 2; only 31.9% of these cases have shown a postoperative diagnosis of malignancy, following a suspect at FNA. In this study, the sensibility of FNA has been calculated including among positive results the cytologic diagnoses of group 1 + group 2: the resulting figure of 87.3% weighs the impact of FNA on our surgical decision process.

CONCLUSIONS

FNA plays a crucial role in the management of nodular diseases of the thyroid, even if its overall value is limited by the burden of "suspect" cytologic diagnoses. In our hands, the integration of FNA results with all relevant clinical data has undoubtedly contributed to increase the portion of thyroidectomies carried out for cancer, from 12.8% of our historical series to 23.2% of the last 3 years.