Retrospective study on the effects of lipiodolization before a potentially curative hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases: long-term results of a pilot study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Lipiodolization, a selective regional cancer chemotherapeutic modality using lipiodol plus anticancer drugs, can prolong the survival time of patients with unresectable liver cancer. A preliminary study was conducted with adjuvant lipiodolization before a potentially curative hepatectomy for patients with metachronous colorectal liver metastases. The ultimate aim of this study was to improve the long-term survival after hepatectomy.

METHODOLOGY

Twenty-one consecutive patients with colorectal hepatic metastases were included in this study. Seven patients underwent preoperative lipiodolization, while the remaining 14 patients did not receive any preoperative adjuvant therapy. The clinicopathological features and prognoses of these patients were investigated. The median follow-up period after a curative hepatectomy was 56 months.

RESULTS

The clinicopathological factors did not differ markedly between the 2 groups. However, the cumulative survival rate of the 7 patients receiving preoperative lipiodolization was significantly (P < 0.05) better than that in those not receiving any preoperative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the above encouraging findings, we therefore propose that a prospective randomized trial should be carried out to confirm the beneficial effects of our adjuvant chemotherapeutic modality on patient survival following a curative hepatectomy for the patients with colorectal liver metastases.

Intraoperative localization of right-sided small colonic lesions: a novel use of the cholangioscope

BACKGROUND/AIM

We describe a novel use of the cholangioscope to help in the intraoperative localization of small colonic malignancies on the right side of the colon.

METHODS

A small incision was made at the base of the appendix and a cholangioscope was inserted into the ascending colon through the incised hole of the appendix.

RESULTS

The site of the lesion was precisely determined by palpating the distal end of the cholangioscope while observing the area right under it.

CONCLUSION

Our procedure therefore appears to be worthy of consideration in patients with small colonic lesions on the right side of the colon in whom preoperative endoscopic marking techniques might otherwise be required.

Jejunal lipomatosis with diverticulosis: report of a case

We herein report the very rare case of a 68-year-old Japanese man with multiple jejunal lipomatosis and diverticulosis. He was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of melena and anemia. A barium study of the small bowel showed multiple lipomatosis and diverticulosis. An approximately 200-cm length of the jejunum was therefore resected. Thereafter, two diverticula and 215 lipomas were recognized in the resected specimen. A pathological examination showed mature adipose tissue with fibrous septa in the submucosal and muscularis propria. These findings were thus suggested to be due to the attenuation of the muscularis propria. The complications of lipomatosis are also discussed.

Acetylcholinesterase (ACE) staining shows the abnormal innervation of a pulled-through rectum in a case of repaired anorectal malformation

Abnormal innervation of the anorectum was noted in relation to anal incontinence in a case of repaired high-type anorectal malformation (ARM). A ten-year-old boy presented with anal incontinence after reconstructive surgery of ARM with a recto-urethral fistula. An anorectal manometrical examination revealed both an adequate tonus of the anal sphincter muscles and the absence of rectoanal reflex relaxation. And a barium enema showed a narrow region in the rectosigmoid colon, which was similar to that of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). Furthermore, an acetylcholinesterase (ACE) histochemical study of the rectal suction biopsies revealed an increased number of ACE-positive nerve fibers in the lamina propria mucosae and muscularis mucosae of the pulled-through colon. At the same time, however, some ganglia cells were also observed in the submucosa of the affected rectosigmoid colon and these cells could not be found in HD. Although the mechanism by which the abnormally innervated parasympathetic nerve fibers arose in the pulled-through colon remains unclear, this neuronal abnormality is considered to be the cause of anal incontinence in this case.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei concomitant with early gastric cancer: report of a case

The preoperative diagnosis of both appendiceal carcinoma and pseudomyxoma peritonei is difficult because of the nonspecific nature of the associated symptoms. More than 50% of all patients with carcinoma of the appendix are diagnosed with and treated for acute appendicitis. In addition, there have been few reports on patients with an appendiceal carcinoma or pseudomyxoma peritonei in association with other synchronous or metachronous malignancies of the alimentary tract. We herein report the first known patient with synchronous early gastric cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei, in which the origin was correctly identified preoperatively.

Successful one-stage operation for completely obstructive colorectal carcinoma

We describe herein a new and successful method of performing a safe and steady one-stage operation for completely obstructive colorectal carcinoma. First, a long ileus tube is utilized to decompress the dilated proximal bowel preoperatively and irrigate the feces-loaded colon intraoperatively. Following this procedure, a standard resection with radical lymph node dissection is carried out without a diverting colostomy. We performed this procedure successfully in seven patients, none of whom developed any anastomotic leakage.

Clinicopathologic study of patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma

Between 1979 and 1993, 665 Japanese patients with advanced gastric cancer underwent surgery at our hospital. These patients were divided into two groups, consisting of 102 patients with Borrmann type IV carcinoma, and the remaining 563 patients with all other types of gastric carcinoma, which were then compared clinicopathologically. In the patients with Borrmann type IV carcinoma, 77.4% of the lesions demonstrated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and 99 patients were classified as Stage III or IV. The resection rate was 87.2% (89/102) with only 39 curative operations despite the fact that 70 total gastrectomies were performed. The incidence of peritoneal dissemination (29.4%) and serosal invasion (97.0%) was significantly higher in these patients. Microscopic lymph node metastasis was positive in 86.5%. The 5-year survival rate was 23.4% in the patients with a curative operation and 5.0% in those with a noncurative operation (p < 0.01). Peritoneal dissemination was most frequently noted in the recurrence patterns. We conclude that early detection and a curative operation are both essential to improve the prognosis of patients with Borrmann type IV gastric cancer. The addition of a potent postoperative chemotherapy regimen is also recommended.

[A case of nonresectable gastric cancer treated by sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil]

An advanced gastric cancer patient with multiple retroperitoneal lymph node metastases and bone metastases was treated with sequential MTX and 5-FU. Complete response was obtained against both gastric primary lesion and retroperitoneal lymph nodes observed endoscopically and by computed tomography. Partial response was obtained against bone metastases observed by bone scintigraphy. Side effects of the chemotherapy were not observed.

New technique of experimental partial liver transplantation: hemodynamic study during surgery

Orthotopic liver transplantation of children is often limited by the scarcity of an appropriately size-matched donor organ. The transplantation of a reduced liver was thus conceived to solve this problem. A new technique of partial liver transplantation in mongrel dogs is reported, which partially retains the recipient's liver and uses an Ameroid constrictor to occlude the recipient's portal branch gradually. The donor's right and median lobectomy was performed in situ. The donor's left lobe was perfused in situ and removed as a graft. It was then transplanted orthotopically in the space after a left and median lobectomy of the recipient. An Ameroid constrictor was applied around the recipient's right portal branch for a gradual occlusion of the host hepatic blood supply (the Ameroid group). To compare the hemodynamic stability during surgery with this technique, two other methods were also performed. The mean systemic blood pressure of orthotopic liver transplantation with a passive venovenous bypass during the anhepatic period (the Bypass group, n = 5) was lower than that of the Ameroid group (n = 16). Instead of fitting an Ameroid constrictor, an orthotopic partial liver transplantation with ligation of the right portal branch (the Ligation group) was performed. The mean systemic blood pressure of the Ligation group (n = 10) was lower than that of the Ameroid group (n = 11) after either fitting a constrictor or performing a ligation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fate of infants with neonatal hepatitis: pediatric surgeons' dilemma

Thirty-five cases of neonatal hepatitis (20 males and 15 females) were reviewed, 3 of whom were lost during the follow-up, leaving 32 patients for review. There were 10 late deaths and 22 patients survived, 18 of whom with a normal bilirubin level and 4 with a bilirubin level of greater than 1.0 mg/dL. In the 18, jaundice disappeared between the ages of 4 and 7 months. The current lifestyles of the patients include 4 adults aged 19 to 21 who are either working or at university, while the other 18 children are all making good progress at school. Except for moderate growth retardation in 3 children, all are growing well. In all 10 patients who died, liver failure persisted until the time of death. Three died of other causes and 7 died of neonatal hepatitis itself between 4 months and 7 years of age. Four patients ran a fulminating course resulting in death between the ages of 4 and 12 months. All 7 had growth and developmental retardation. A histological examination showed that in those who died, there was significantly more periportal fibrosis, inflammation in the periportal area, and diffuse giant cell transformation. These results indicate that some infants with neonatal hepatitis have a poor prognosis and, therefore, the identification of such a condition requires a careful, long-term follow-up.

Remnants of urachus in infants and children--the problems of diagnosis and treatment

A total of 17 cases of remnants of urachus were examined between 1981 and 1989, including 2 cases of patent urachus, 5 of urachal cyst, 9 of urachal sinus, and 1 of urachal diverticulum. A long urachal sinus was considered to be caused by the self-destruction of a cyst. While patent urachus was diagnosed in neonates with urine discharge from the umbilicus, cysts or sinuses accompanied by infection were more often found in older children. Imaging of the burrows was diagnostic in 8 out of 11 cases, ultrasound examination in 9 out of 12, and CT examination in all of 3 cases. Since this condition is frequently accompanied by malformations of the urinary system, attention must be paid to locating the accompanying anomalies. Although primary extraction was performed in 13 cases, the primary treatment of cases with highly infected cysts should be drainage, followed by secondary extraction. Furthermore, caution must be exercised to avoid hemorrhage in cases with dilation of the umbilical artery.

The fate of swallowed button batteries in children

The method of treatment and fate of 41 button batteries ingested by 34 children were analysed; 31 batteries were in the stomach and 10 beyond the pylorus. In 31 batteries situated in the stomach, removal by magnet tube technique was attempted in 30 batteries, 25 being successfully taken out, while 5 failed passing through the pylorus at the duodenum. One was removed endoscopically, since a magnet tube was not available. The remaining 10 batteries in 10 children were found at different levels from the duodenum to the rectum. In addition, 5 batteries were pushed down from the stomach during magnet tube removal. These 15 batteries, located in the intestine were excreted during 35 hours. In contrast to other asymptomatic foreign bodies that are allowed to pass through the GI tract spontaneously, we feel that button batteries should be removed by magnet tube technique to avoid complications such as GI tract perforation with associated bleeding, possible mercury poisoning and burns. Magnet tube removal is a simple and safety method requiring neither anaesthesia nor admission.

[A case report of advanced gastric cancer remarkably responding to mitomycin C, aclacinomycin A, SF-SP and lentinan combination therapy]

A 63-year-old female diagnosed as inoperable gastric cancer was treated with combination immunochemotherapy of Mitomycin C, Aclacinomycin A, SF-SP and Lentinan. In this case, the tumor directly invaded the pancreas and the peritoneal dissemination, metastasis to the para-aortic lymph nodes and Virchow's metastasis were identified. As the result of this therapy, the primary tumor was remarkably reduced in size. The subjective symptoms and the metastasis of the para-aortic lymph nodes and Virchow's metastasis disappeared. The side effect was only mild thrombocytopenia.

Management of pediatric patients who have swallowed foreign objects

The clinical management of children who have swallowed foreign bodies presents a great challenge for both pediatricians and pediatric surgeons. Our 7-year experience of treating 141 patients with a history of foreign body ingestion is reported. In 114 patients, there were 122 foreign bodies present in areas from the esophagus to the rectum, as located by plain chest and abdominal x-ray examination. In two patients, a plastic toy and the plastic cap of a razor were passed with stool a few days later. In the remaining 25 patients, nothing was found. In babies under one year of age, button batteries were the most commonly swallowed foreign bodies, while coins were the most frequently swallowed objects in children over the age of three years. Seventeen foreign bodies in the esophagus were removed: seven by balloon catheter, four endoscopically, and one by a magnet tube. Four were dislodged into the stomach. Twenty nine of the 78 items present in the stomach were button batteries and 23 of the items were removed using a magnet tube. One was removed endoscopically and 5 batteries that had moved beyond the pylorus were excreted within 48 hours. Twenty four coins in the stomach were managed conservatively. Surgical intervention was required in two patients; one patient had a previous history of pyloromyotomy, and a magnet tag measuring 1.5 cm in diameter did not pass through the pylorus for 7 weeks. The other patient had swallowed a sewing needle that moved into the descending colon and abdominal pain ensued.

Intrahepatic biliary cysts after hepatic portoenterostomy in four children with biliary atresia

We report our experience with 4 cases of cystic dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts following hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia. Two of the cases did not achieve satisfactory bile excretion and all four cases developed recurrent cholangitis after hepatic portoenterostomy. The attacks of cholangitis seemed to be associated with the presence of intrahepatic cysts. Although one case resulted in death from hepatic failure, three other cases are now outpatients. Patients who develop recurrent cholangitis following hepatic portoenterostomy, should be examined to exclude the presence of intrahepatic biliary cysts. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography were all effective in detecting cysts and provided valuable information for planning treatment. Percutaneous transhepatic or surgical drainage of the bile ducts was effective in reducing jaundice, and recurrent cholangitis.

Percutaneous drainage for post-traumatic hepatic abscess in children under ultrasound imaging

Hepatic abscess is rare in children. A patient with a post-traumatic hepatic abscess was successfully treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage. Although he underwent a drainage operation for the perihepatic abscesses, high fever continued. It was then considered that the traumatic hematoma had been infected and had become an abscess. Sonographically-guided percutaneous aspiration is useful for the definite diagnosis of hepatic abscess. Subsequent percutaneous drainage under ultrasound imaging is a safe and useful therapeutic method even in a poor-risk patient.

Clinical significance of lipoprotein-X in congenital biliary atresia

Quantitative lipoprotein-X (Lp-X) was measured for diagnostic and postoperative examination of congenital biliary atresia (CBA). There was no significant difference in the levels in children with CBA (n = 23) or neonatal hepatitis (NH) (n = 14). However, a value over 200 mg/dl was found in 7 of CBA but not NH patients. As to 13 postoperative non-icteric patients with CBA, Lp-X was absent in only 2 patients. Thus, postoperative patients without jaundice do not always have a normal biliary secretion. From those results, estimation of Lp-X is both useful for diagnosis and postoperative evaluation of CBA.

Histological study of the remnant of porta hepatis in patients with extrahepatic biliary atresia - A computed picture analysis of 30 cases

The fibrous remnants of porta hepatis at the level of hepatic portoenterostomy for extrahepatic biliary atresia were examined histologically, and the number of bile ductules calculated, the area of the largest bile ductule and total area of all bile ductules was estimated in 30 cases, using a computed picture analyzer. Although there was no correlation between the degree of postoperative bile drainage and the number of ductules or the area of the largest bile ductule , the total area of all bile ductules in cases of adequate bile drainage (100,500 +/- 9,900 mu2, mean +/- SEM, n = 13) was significantly larger than that of those with poor bile drainage (29,900 +/- 9,900 mu2, n = 7) (p less than 0.05). More effective bile flow was evident in those with over 50,000 mu2 of a total area of bile ductules, compared to those with less than 50,000 mu2. However, in 4 there was a good postoperative bile drainage, despite a small area of all bile ductules of the porta hepatis. Thus, the total area of all bile ductules rather than the number at the porta hepatis or an area of the largest bile ductule , seems to be an important factor relating to a better postoperative bile drainage in extrahepatic biliary atresia.