[A Case of Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Ileum Manifesting as Fecal Occult Blood]

A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a positive fecal occult blood test. Colonoscopy examination revealed an elevated lesion measuring 25mm in diameter at the terminal ileum. A histological diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor(NET)was made based on biopsy specimens taken from the lesion. Since no apparent distant metastasis other than the ileocolic lymph nodes was noted, laparoscopy-assisted ileocecal resection with regional lymph node dissection was performed. In the resected material, NET(G2)limited to the subserosa layer was present. The NET tested positive for synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and CD56. Metastases in the paraileal lymph nodes was detected. NET metastasis to the ileum is frequent, even if the tumor is small in diameter; therefore, it is necessary to resect the tumor entirely and to dissect the regional lymph nodes.

[Nab-Paclitaxel plus Gemcitabine Hydrochloride in Patients with Metastatic or Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer - A Single Institution Experience]

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Japan.Albumin -bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel)plus gemcitabine hydrochloride(GEM)combination chemotherapy provided significant improvements in the overall and progression-free survival in a phase III trial in Europe and America and a phase II trial in Japan.As a result, this combination therapy was approved for use in Japan.

METHODS

We evaluated the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel plus GEM with metastatic or recurrent pancreatic cancer.Between December 2014 and March 2016, 11 patients received nab-paclitaxel plus GEM as follows: nab-paclitaxel(125mg/m2 of body-surface area)followed by GEM(1,000mg/m2)on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks.The treatment was continued until disease progression, unacceptable adverse events, discontinuation as decided by the investigators, or patient refusal.

RESULTS

The mean age was 65.6 years(range, 48-75 years), and 8 out of 11 patients were men.Ten patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG)performance status(PS)of 0.Ten patients had metastatic disease.Only 4 patients had no prior therapy.The mean duration of treatment was 10.2 weeks(range, 2-41 weeks).The relative dose intensities of nab-paclitaxel and GEM were 90.6%(66.7-100%)and 87.5%(62.9-100%), respectively.The major Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities were leucopenia(54.5%), neutropenia(36.4%), anemia (27.3%), and thrombocytopenia(18.2%).The major grade 2 or 3 non-hematological toxicities were fatigue(45.6%), skin rash(27.3%), peripheral sensory neuropathy(9.1%), anorexia(9.1%), and stomatitis(9.1%).There were no treatmentrelated deaths.Interstitial lung disease was not observed.The 6 month progression-free and overall survival rate were 25.7% and 66.7%, respectively. The disease control rate was 90.9%(complete response, n=0; partial response, n=1; stable disease, n=9; progressive disease, n=1).

CONCLUSIONS

Nab-paclitaxel plus GEM is well tolerated and associated with efficacy and improved survival outcomes.Nab -paclitaxel plus GEM can be the standard treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

[A Case of Malignant Anorectal Melanoma with Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection]

A 69-year-old man with anemia underwent colonoscopy. Colonoscopy showed a black tumor, 2 cm from the anal verge. The biopsy specimen revealed malignant melanoma, which was preoperatively diagnosed as T1(SM), N0, M0, Stage I . We performed laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection. The tissue type and diagnosis were malignant melanoma, pT1b(10 mm), pN0, pM0, ly0, v0, pDM0, pPM0, pRM0, pStage I b, according to the Colon Cancer Handling Terms, 8th edition). The patient did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. However, he survived postoperatively for 9 months, with no sign of recurrence.

[Multidisciplinary Treatment for High-Risk GIST of the Stomach]

A 59-year-old man underwent total gastrectomy(with D2 dissection)and cholecystectomy for gastric cancer and a submucosal tumor of the stomach. The specimen was immunohistochemically positive for c-kit, the Ki-67 label index was 10%, and the mitotic count was 20/HPF. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal cancer with normal type gastric cancer. After discharge from hospital, we started administration of TS-1 as adjuvant therapy for the gastric cancer. As multiple recurrences of the GIST in the abdomen developed, the patient underwent 3 radical local resections. Mutational analysis revealed a PDGFRA mutation in exon 18, which causes resistance to both imatinib and sunitinib. As he was refractory to imatinib, the patient received regorafenib. After a while, it caused liver failure, which required 7 rounds of plasmapheresis. The patient died from multiple organ failure resulting from multiple recurrences 4 years after the first surgery.

[A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases Successfully Treated with Capecitabine, Cisplatin, and Trastuzumab]

A 70-year-old-man, whose chief complaint was epigastric pain, was referred to our hospital and diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a tumor on the anterior wall of the gastric lower body. Histologically, biopsy specimens indicated adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemistry showed positive expression of HER2(3+). Chest and abdominal computed tomography showed multiple liver metastases and lymph node metastases. We started chemotherapy with capecitabine, cisplatin, and trastuzumab. Abdominal CT showed the primary tumor and metastases to be reduced after 3 courses, but a ringed enhanced space occupying lesion in the liver had appeared, which was diagnosed as a liver abscess. After administering antibiotics and performing percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage (PTAD), we continued XPT chemotherapy. The patient received 6 courses of XPT, 15 courses of capecitabine and trastuzumab, and 6 courses of trastuzumab alone, and has remained progression free in the 1 year and 5 months after diagnosis. We experienced a case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases successfully treated with capecitabine, cisplatin, and trastuzumab.

[A Case of Pure Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast in an Elderly Woman Diagnosed by Cytology]

A n 85-year-old woman presented with a mass in the left breast. A3 7mm lobulated mass including enhancement of a cyst of 37mm was detected by sonography. An axillary lymph node had increased to 16 mm. Atypical cells dyed by light green and orange G were identified by fine needle aspiration and cytology. She was diagnosed with left breast cancer(cT2N1M0, Stage II B), histologically suspected to be squamous cell carcinoma. She underwent a left-breast-conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection. On pathology, a cyst of 34×30mm was noted. The tumor grew from inside the cyst to the surround- ing tissue and it had a trend for keratinocytes. Lymph node metastases affected 1/11. By immunostaining, the tumor was found to be ER(+), PgR(-), HER2(-), CK5/6(+), p40(+), mammaglobin(-), and GCDFP15(-). There was no component of ductal carcinoma. She received radiotherapy to the left breast and tamoxifen as an adjuvant therapy. Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is rare. We encountered a case of pure squamous cell carcinoma of the breast in an elderly woman. We report this case with a discussion of the relevant literature.

[Multiple Metachronal Liver Metastases from a Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumor Controlled by Repeated Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization]

A 60-year-old woman was diagnosed with a rectal neuroendocrine tumor(NET)with SM invasion.We performed laparoscopic low anterior resection with D3 lymph node dissection.Pathological findings were rectal NET, G1, pSM(9,000 mm), ly0, v0, pN0, PM0, DM0, pR0, pStage I .Four years and 6 months later, contrast enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CECT)and contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple liver metastases.The tumors were unresectable because they were bilobar; therefore, we performed transcatheter arterial chemoembolizaion(TACE).One month later, CECT showed the lesions had shrunk.The metastases were well controlled via repeated TACE.For unresectable liver metastases from rectal NET, TACE can be an effective treatment.

[A Case of Schwannoma Originating from the Sciatic Nerve]

A 75-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain and taken to our hospital. CT and MRI showed a tumor measuring 60mm in diameter in the pelvic cavity. Based on the imaging findings, we suspected a schwannoma and decided to perform surgery. As the tumor was found to be benign in intraoperative frozen section diagnosis, the tumor was enucleated. Histopathological findings showed no nuclear atypia, and the patient was diagnosed with a schwannoma. He complained of paresthesia in his right leg after surgery, and underwent walking training. Six months after surgery, no recurrence was found.

Single-site laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for acute cecal volvulus: a case report

BACKGROUND

Cecal volvulus is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen in patients. Cecal volvulus is currently treated mostly with right hemicolectomy with laparotomy, which is an invasive surgical procedure. Less invasive techniques, such as endoscopic decompression, have a poor success rate.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of cecal volvulus in a 35-year-old male patient. He was successfully treated with single-site laparoscopic decompression by inserting a catheter through the amputated appendix, detorsion, and hemicolectomy. This approach was less invasive than the traditional approach and resulted in satisfactory outcomes and cosmesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of single-site laparoscopic colectomy to acute cecal volvulus is feasible using decompression of the dilated colon by inserting a catheter through the amputated appendix. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this treatment.

[A case report of a splenic abscess due to colon cancer in splenic flexure infiltrating into spleen]

An 80-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever and dizziness. He was diagnosed with splenic abscess and invasion of descending colon cancer by enhanced abdominal computed tomography. A type 2 colon cancer was also observed in the descending colon by colonoscopy. There was no distant metastasis. Therefore, he underwent left hemicolectomy with splenectomy. A histological diagnosis of mucinous adenocarcinoma was made. The pathological findings were pT4b, pN1, cM0, fStage IIIa. The patient was discharged on the ninth post-operative day without any complications. We herein report a rare case of splenic abscess due to invasion of colon cancer and review 8 previous case reports. An en block resection including lymph node resection is recommended in such cases for curative resection.