Randomized clinical trial of adjuvant gemcitabine chemotherapy versus observation in resected bile duct cancer

BACKGROUND

Although some retrospective studies have suggested the value of adjuvant therapy, no recommended standard exists in bile duct cancer. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that adjuvant gemcitabine chemotherapy would improve survival probability in resected bile duct cancer.

METHODS

This was a randomized phase III trial. Patients with resected bile duct cancer were assigned randomly to gemcitabine and observation groups, which were balanced with respect to lymph node status, residual tumour status and tumour location. Gemcitabine was given intravenously at a dose of 1000 mg/m² , administered on days 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks for six cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival, and secondary endpoints were relapse-free survival, subgroup analysis and toxicity.

RESULTS

Some 225 patients were included (117 gemcitabine, 108 observation). Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the gemcitabine and observation groups. There were no significant differences in overall survival (median 62·3 versus 63·8 months respectively; hazard ratio 1·01, 95 per cent c.i. 0·70 to 1·45; P = 0·964) and relapse-free survival (median 36·0 versus 39·9 months; hazard ratio 0·93, 0·66 to 1·32; P = 0·693). There were no survival differences between the two groups in subsets stratified by lymph node status and margin status. Although haematological toxicity occurred frequently in the gemcitabine group, most toxicities were transient, and grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicity was rare.

CONCLUSION

The survival probability in patients with resected bile duct cancer was not significantly different between the gemcitabine adjuvant chemotherapy group and the observation group. Registration number: UMIN 000000820 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/).

Arterioportal shunting as an alternative to microvascular reconstruction after hepatic artery resection

Background

Portal vein and hepatic artery resection and reconstruction may be required in radical surgery for biliary cancer. Microvascular reconstruction requires special equipment and training, and may be difficult to accomplish when the arterial stump is small, when there are multiple vessels or when the stump lies deep within the wound. This study examined the feasibility and safety of arterioportal shunting as an alternative to arterial reconstruction.

Methods

Over 30 months, ten patients with biliary cancer (six bile duct and four gallbladder carcinomas) underwent radical surgery with en bloc resection of the hepatic artery and end-to-side arterioportal reconstruction between the common hepatic or gastroduodenal artery and the portal trunk.

Results

No patient died. Complications included bile leakage in two patients and liver abscess in one. Routine angiography performed 1 month after surgery revealed shunt occlusion in three patients. Once the existence of hepatopetal arterial collaterals had been confirmed in the remaining patients, the shunt was occluded by coil embolization.

Conclusion

Arterioportal shunting appears to be a safe alternative to microvascular reconstruction after hepatic artery resection. However, the safety of the procedure and its potential to increase the cure rate require further assessment in a larger series with a longer follow-up.

Portal vein resection and reconstruction prior to hepatic dissection during right hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy for hepatobiliary cancer

BACKGROUND

Hepatobiliary cancer invading the hilar bile duct often involves the portal bifurcation. Portal vein resection and reconstruction is usually performed after completion of the hepatectomy. This retrospective study assessed the safety and usefulness of portal vein reconstruction prior to hepatic dissection in right hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy plus biliary reconstruction, one of the common procedures for radical resection.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics and perioperative results were compared in patients who underwent right hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy plus biliary reconstruction with (ten patients) and without (11 patients) portal reconstruction from September 1998 to March 2002.

RESULTS

All ten portal vein reconstructions were completed successfully before hepatic dissection; the portal cross-clamp time ranged from 15 to 41 (median 22) min. Blood loss, blood transfusion during the operation, postoperative liver function, morbidity and length of hospital stay were similar in the two groups. No patient suffered postoperative hepatic failure or death.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that portal vein reconstruction does not increase the morbidity or mortality associated with right hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy with biliary reconstruction. This approach facilitates portal vein reconstruction for no-touch resection of hepatobiliary cancer invading the hilar bile duct.

Solitary true cyst of the pancreas in an adult: report of a case

BACKGROUND

Solitary true cyst of the pancreas is rare in adults, and the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the pancreas is challenging.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To describe a solitary true cyst of the pancreas in an adult and discuss the differential diagnosis.

METHODS

A 50 yr old woman presented with a mass lesion in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography showed a cystic lesion, with a maximum diameter of 12 cm, between the inferior surface of the liver and the ascending colon. The cyst was homogenous and had smooth edges. On magnetic resonance imaging, a unilocular cyst was seen that was low intensity on T1-weighted images and very high intensity on T2-weighted images. No connection between the cyst and the pancreatic ductal system was demonstrated on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Laparotomy was performed with a presumptive diagnosis of cystic tumor of the pancreas.

RESULTS

On pathologic examination, the cyst was serous and was lined with a single layer of normal cuboidal epithelium that was periodic acid Schiff stain negative. Meticulous examination failed to identify honeycomb-like microcysts characteristic of serous cystadenoma. The final diagnosis was a solitary true cyst of the pancreas.

CONCLUSION

The differential diagnosis of solitary true cyst from other cystic lesion of the pancreas usually is based on histology. Particular care must be taken to distinguish this lesion from macrocystic serous cystadenoma.

Portal venous dilatation and stenting for bleeding jejunal varices: report of two cases

We present two patients who underwent a portal stent placement for bleeding jejunal varices of the afferent loop caused by extrahepatic portal venous stenosis. Case 1 involved a 66-year-old woman who developed bleeding jejunal varices due to extrahepatic portal venous stenosis 1 year after a pancreaticoduodenectomy with intraoperative radiation therapy. Percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilatation and stent placement were performed. Since undergoing the procedure, no bleeding has occurred. Case 2 concerned a 44-year-old woman who had a rupture and bleeding of jejunal varices 16 years after a choledocojejunostomy. Stenosis was observed from the right and left branches of the portal vein to its intrahepatic branches. Both balloon dilatation and stent placement were attempted. However, the stent could not be fully inserted into the intrahepatic portal vein. Portal stent placement is less invasive and radical, and therefore should be attempted for the treatment of extrahepatic portal venous stenosis. However, there are limits to its application if the stenosis extends to the intrahepatic branches of the portal vein.

A case of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast--long survival achieved by multiple surgical treatment

Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast was formerly called carcinosarcoma, and is relatively rare. We report a case of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast. The patient was treated with multiple surgeries and achieved long-term survival. The patient was a 52-year-old woman, in whom small induration developed at the areola of the nipple of the right breast. The lesion was resected, and benign tumor was diagnosed pathologically. Four years later, she had recurrence at the scar, and a typical mastectomy was performed. A tumor developed again 5 years later; the lesional focus was at the scar of the right chest wall and invasion of the ribs and the sternum was noted. The sternum and the right costal cartilage of ribs 3-9 were dissected together. The right chest wall was reconstructed and adjuvant radiation therapy performed. Four years after this operation, tumor recurred near the scar and chest wall resection including part of the pericardial cavity and the left lung was performed. However, 6 months later, invasion of the mediastinum, heart and lung were noted. The patient died 16 years after the first surgery. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance of the breast was diagnosed at the second operation. However, the diagnosis was changed to spindle cell carcinoma of the breast following immunohistochemical studies. Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is rare, and definitive histopathological diagnosis is often difficult. When spindle cell carcinoma is suspected, comprehensive diagnostic studies including immunohistochemical examinations should be performed. Even in case with multiple recurrences correctly performed operations may contribute to prolongation of survival.

DIC-CT findings of biliary cystadenocarcinoma communicating with the bile duct: a case report

Among the intrahepatic cystic diseases except Caroli's disease, only biliary cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma may communicate with the bile duct. We present a case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma in which drip infusion cholangiographic-computed tomography demonstrated communication between an intrahepatic cyst and the biliary system preoperatively. Drip infusion cholangiographic-computed tomography, a simple and noninvasive examination, is useful for differentiating biliary cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma from other intrahepatic cystic lesions.

Surgical closure of the gastrorenal shunt with distal splenorenal shunt operation for portosystemic encephalopathy

A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our institution for hepatic encephalopathy. Careful examination revealed a large gastrorenal shunt. On an occlusion test of the gastrorenal shunt using a balloon catheter, portal vein pressure increased to as high as 26 cm H2O from the pretest value of 17.5 cm H2O. From the significant increase of portal vein pressure, it was thought that simple closure of the shunt could cause postoperative formation of an esophageal varix and its rupture. We thus performed shunt closure with distal splenorenal shunt with splenopancreatic and gastric disconnection to prevent the hazard. In treating the encephalopathy caused by a spontaneous shunt, it is one of the options to perform distal splenorenal shunt with splenopancreatic and gastric disconnection in addition to shunt closure if a remarkable increase of portal vein pressure is observed by the shunt occlusion test.

Radical distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac artery, plexus, and ganglions for advanced cancer of the pancreatic body: a preliminary report on perfect pain relief

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to report the effect of radical distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac artery, plexus, and ganglions for locally advanced cancer of the pancreatic body on intractable abdominal and/or back pain and to explore the histopathologic mechanism of this pain.

PATIENTS

Five patients with pancreatic body cancer involving the celiac and/or common hepatic artery underwent this radical surgery intended to cure the cancer.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Surgical magnitude, postoperative pain control, postoperative outcome, and histopathologic findings were studied.

RESULTS

Arterial reconstruction, gastrointestinal reconstruction, and blood transfusions were unnecessary. The organ deficit was limited to the distal pancreas, spleen and left adrenal gland. There was no postoperative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in four patients, who were successfully managed with medical treatment. This led to prolonged hospital stays. The intractable preoperative abdominal and/or back pain was completely relieved immediately after surgery in all patients. Perfect pain control has been maintained from surgery to the last follow-up. Histopathologic examination of the surgical specimens revealed cancer invasion of the celiac plexus in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This operation offers not only disease radicality but also perfect pain relief. The survival benefit has not yet been fully defined.

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma with superficial spread to the extrahepatic bile duct

We report a case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma of the liver with superficial spread to the extrahepatic bile duct. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed communication between a 4.5-cm cyst in segment 4 of the liver and the bile duct. From the findings obtained by peroral cholangioscopy and intraoperative cholangioscopy, the granular mucosa in the bile duct was diagnosed as superficially spreading cancer. The right posterior segmental bile duct and the right anterior segmental bile duct were resected at the point where the spread of cancer was no longer traceable and left lobectomy plus caudate lobectomy was carried out. This achieved radical resection, leaving the resected margin of the bile duct free from cancer. Histopathologically, well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma was found on the inner surface of the cyst, and the cancer had superficially spread from the cyst to the extrahepatic bile duct via the 2.5-mm diameter communication between the cyst and bile duct. The cancer was limited only to the mucosal layer all over the lesion. When performing radical surgery for biliary cystadenocarcinoma, it is recommended that cholangioscopy be performed to examine whether the cancer has superficial spread to the extrahepatic bile duct or not. Bile duct resection should be carried out, depending on the extent of the superficial spread, so that the resected margin of the bile duct is free from cancer.

Nonfunctioning endocrine tumor of the pancreas with extrapancreatic growth and cyst formation: report of a case

We report a case of nonfunctioning endocrine tumor of the pancreas with extrapancreatic growth and cyst formation. A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with an upper abdominal mass, which was detected during a routine medical checkup. The preoperative diagnosis was a solid cystic tumor of the pancreas. The tumor, which measured about 7cm in diameter, arose from the head of the pancreas and had a thin stalk, measuring about 1 cm in diameter. The histopathological diagnosis was a malignant nonfunctioning endocrine tumor of the pancreas. Cyst formation occurred in 67% of the reported cases with extrapancreatic growth in Japan. It is speculated that the cyst formation in this disease is related to the large size of the tumor and to the extrapancreatic growth.

Hepatectomy for metastases from breast cancer offers the survival benefit similar to that in hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

There have been no reports comparing surgical results of hepatectomy for metastases between breast cancer origin and colorectal cancer origin. The aim of the present study was to compare the both and to clarify the survival benefit brought by hepatectomy for metastases from breast cancer.

METHODOLOGY

Between 1990 and 1999, 6 patients with hepatic metastases from breast cancer and 94 patients with those from colorectal cancer underwent hepatectomy with curative intent. All patients in the breast-cancer-origin group received adjuvant chemotherapy following hepatectomy, however, fewer patients (55% of the 94 patients) did in the colorectal-cancer-origin group (P = 0.034).

RESULTS

Morbidity and mortality rates after hepatectomy in patients with hepatic metastases from breast cancer were 0% and 0%, respectively, and those in patients with metastases from colorectal cancer were 12% and 1%, respectively. Postoperative survival curves in the both groups were similar. Three- and five-year survival rates in the breast-cancer-origin group were 60% and 40%, respectively, and those in the colorectal-cancer-origin group were 54% and 42%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

When appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy is performed, hepatectomy for metastases from breast cancer offers the survival benefit similar to that in hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

Preoperative embolization of the common hepatic artery in preparation for radical pancreatectomy for pancreas body cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To assess preliminary results of preoperative embolization of the common hepatic artery in preparation for distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac and common hepatic arteries for carcinoma of the body of the pancreas involving these arteries.

METHODOLOGY

Four patients underwent the embolization with coils 1-7 (median: 5) days before surgery. A detachable coil was used to obtain the best position of the first coil as an anchor in 3 patients.

RESULTS

Immediately after embolization, collateral pathways developed from the superior mesenteric artery via the pancreatoduodenal arcades to the proper hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries in all 4 patients; however, they were relatively poor in one patient. There were no complications after embolization. The pulsation of the proper hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries was well palpable during surgery, although it had been compromised sometimes in previous cases without embolization. There were no ischemia-related complications in the 2 patients who underwent radical surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative embolization of the common hepatic artery is a safe technique and has the potential to enlarge the collateral pathways by the time of distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac artery and prevent postoperative fatal ischemia-related complications.