[A Case of Combined Use of Mohs Paste and Radiation Therapy for Advanced Breast Cancer with Bleeding]

A 75-year-old female, at her initial presentation, the tumor occupied her entire right breast, with a foul-smelling exudate. A biopsy revealed ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, and CT revealed multiple lung metastases. Paclitaxel and fulvestrant were administered sequentially, the bleeding from the right breast mass stopped and the mass flattened. But, as the tumor progressed, the right breast mass re-enlarged and began to re-bleed. Therefore, hemostatic treatment with Mohs paste was performed in parallel with tamoxifen. Hemostatic effect was observed for a while, but she gradually became refractory to Mohs paste, necessitating frequent blood transfusions. It was decided to discontinue systemic drug therapy and consider palliative treatment, and to perform radiation therapy in parallel with Mohs paste treatment for the purpose of local control. After radiation therapy, the bleeding has completely stopped and blood transfusion has not to be required for 6 months. Although systemic drug therapy has been discontinued at the patient's request, she is still alive. While systemic drug therapy was discontinued, we were able to confirm the pure local control effect of combination of radiation therapy and Mohs paste.

[Robot Assisted Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy in Gastric Cancer Surgery]

Para-aortic lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer surgery is a highly difficult surgical technique. In our hospital, we introduced robotic surgery in anticipation of the minimal invasiveness and advanced operability. We use a tunneling approach that progresses from the Treitz ligament to the peri-aorta. The transverse mesocolon is expanded with a tissue grasping clip, and the retroperitoneum is incised from the side of the Treitz ligament to approach the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. The No.16b1 and No.16a2 latero lymph nodes can be dissected with a good visual field. When it is judged that the visual field development of the No.16a2 inter-lymph nodes is poor, Kocher's operation is added. Since 2016, 18 patients have undergone para-aortic lymphadenectomy, 3 of whom underwent robotic surgery in our hospital. R0 resection was performed in all the cases, and 22.5 lymph nodes were dissected as No.16 lymph nodes(20.0 in all the cases included laparotomy). Although only a small number of patients were examined, robot-assisted para-aortic lymphadenectomy was considered safe.

[A Case of De Novo Stage Ⅳ Breast Cancer with Umbilical Metastasis and Peritoneal Dissemination]

The patient was a 48-year-old woman. At the time of consultation, a hard mass of 30 mm in size was palpated in area A of the right breast, and a firm mass of about 10 mm was seen in the umbilical region. Histological diagnosis of the breast mass was invasive ductal carcinoma. PET-CT scan showed accumulation in the right breast, as well as suspicion of umbilical metastasis and peritoneal dissemination, uterine mass, and left ovarian cancer. Since this is an atypical metastatic site for invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, and the possibility of peritoneal dissemination due to gynecological cancer complications cannot be ruled out, resection of the umbilical mass and laparoscopy was performed. The review laparoscopy revealed no evidence of primary cancer in the uterine body or left ovary, and a white nodular lesion of suspected seeding in the peritoneum around the left ovary. The histology and immunostaining results of the umbilical mass and left peri-ovarian nodule both showed glandular luminal structures similar to those of the primary breast cancer, and the left peri-ovarian nodule was ER positive, GATA3 positive, and PAX8 negative, leading to the diagnosis of umbilical metastasis and peritoneal seeding derived from breast cancer. Umbilical metastasis is often referred to as Sister Mary Joseph's nodule in the case of visceral malignancies and is often associated with peritoneal dissemination and is often caused by invasive metastasis of peritoneal dissemination lesions on the dorsal side of the umbilical region. In this case, histological examination of the umbilical specimen showed no disseminated lesion on the peritoneal side, so it was not considered to be an invasive metastasis due to peritoneal dissemination.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer That Responded to Paclitaxel plus Bevacizumab and Underwent Radical Surgery]

The patient is a 69-year-old female. She was aware of a right breast mass about a year ago, but left it alone. In March 2021, she visited our hospital with a 11 cm mass occupying the right breast and self-destruction due to skin invasion. The diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast(ER-positive, PgR-positive, HER2-negative), cT4bN1M0, Stage ⅢB was made, and preoperative chemotherapy was decided. We expected a high response rate for bevacizumab(Bv)because it was predicted that the skin defect would increase at surgical resection if a response to chemotherapy was not achieved, and in April 2021, paclitaxel(PTX)plus Bv therapy was initiated. After 4 courses, the mass had shrunk to 5 cm and a marked response had been achieved. However, she was unable to continue the treatment due to peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, considering the period of delayed wound healing due to Bv, we decided on AC therapy followed by surgery. In December 2021, Bt plus Ax was performed and the wound could be closed without skin grafting. Since PTX plus Bv therapy is expected to have a high response rate, we considered it to be one of the effective treatment options for locally advanced breast cancer.

[A Case of De Novo Stage Ⅳ Her2-Positive Breast Cancer with Cardiac Tamponade Caused by Cancerous Pericarditis]

The patient was a 58-year-old woman. She was diagnosed with cT4b, cN3c, cM1, cStage Ⅳ, Her2 positive breast cancer with liver, lung and bone metastases. Seven days after the first visit, she came to our hospital for dyspnea. Chest X-ray, chest CT, and echocardiography showed a decrease in EF to 50.6% due to a large amount of pericardial effusion, and she was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade. On the same day, pericardial drainage was performed urgently. The cytopathology of pericardial fluid was malignant, that is to say, she was diagnosed with cancerous pericarditis. Pericardial drainage relieved respiratory distress, and echocardiography showed disappearance of pericardial fluid and improvement of EF up to 80.4%. Docetaxel plus trastuzumab plus pertuzumab therapy was started 10 days after pericardial drainage as first-line treatment. After starting chemotherapy, the response has continued for 6 months without re-accumulation of pericardial fluid.

VARIATION IN RADIATION DOSE RATES FROM RADIONUCLIDES DISCHARGED BY THE SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING PLANT IN ROKKASHO UNDER DIFFERENT YEARLY WEATHER CONDITIONS

The radiation dose rate from radionuclides released by the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Japan, was assessed for a year specified in the safety review during which the weather conditions were not significantly different from those of the other 10 y. However, the actual year-by-year variation in annual radiation dose rate was not examined. A model system for evaluating the dose rate from the radionuclides released into the atmosphere was constructed. In this study, the radiation dose rate in the weather conditions of 24 weather bins was estimated for a standard year by the model. The annual maximum dose rate from 1959 to 2012 was estimated using a simplified method that integrated the dose rates of each weather bin in the standard year by estimating the annual frequency of the bin in the target year. We obtained ~1.3 as the maximum/minimum ratio of the annual maximum dose rate.

[A Case of Recurrent Breast Cancer Detected with Diplopia Caused by Sphenoid Bone Metastasis]

We report a case of sphenoid bone metastasis from breast cancer detected with diplopia, as first site of recurrence. Forty- year-old woman with left breast cancer underwent breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The diagnosis was papillotubular carcinoma, pT1pN0, ER(+), PgR(+), HER2(-). Tweleb years later, the examination of diplopia revealed left abducens nerve palsy for sphenoid bone metastasis from breast cancer. Radiation therapy(a total dose of 36 Gy with VMAT)was administrated as topical treatment, but diplopia did not improve. After that, systemic treatment was performed, and 2 years and 6 months have passed since the recurrence was found, she is still alive. We need to be careful of orbital metastasis as a symptom of metastasis from breast cancer.

[A Case of Late Recurrence of Breast Cancer with Chest Wall Recurrence 43 Years after Surgery]

The patient is an 85-year-old female who had previously undergone a mastectomy for right breast cancer at the age of 42 years. In September 2020, she visited our hospital with a chief complaint of a chest wall tumor. Physical examination revealed a 3×3 cm ulcerative lesion on the right side of the center chest wall. She underwent a skin biopsy of the tumor under local anesthesia and was diagnosed with a recurrence of right breast cancer(ER positive, PR positive, HER2 negative). PET-CT revealed localized skin thickening on the right side of the sternum and FDG accumulation in the same area, with no other findings suggestive of distant metastasis. Treatment was started with anastrozole and is still ongoing. In this article, we report a very rare case of recurrence 43 years after surgery.

[Occult Breast Cancer Presenting with a Swelling Axillary Lymph Node-A Case Report]

The patient was a 56-year-old woman. who was aware of a tumor in her left axilla and consulted a nearby doctor. She was referred to our hospital for a detailed examination. No abnormalities were found in the breast by visual inspection, mammography, or breast ultrasound examination. One 29 mm swollen lymph node was found in the axilla. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed malignant lymphoma; thus, so axillary lymph node excision biopsy was performed, and a diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer was made. However, no abnormalities were found. Based on the information presented above, the patient was diagnosed with occult breast cancer cT0N1M0, Stage ⅡA, and breast preservation plus axillary lymph node dissection up to level Ⅱ was performed. No metastases were found in the dissected lymph nodes. The treatment policy for occult breast cancer has not yet been established. We report this case with a review of the literature.

[Five Patients with Gastric Metastasis from Breast Cancer-A Case Report]

Five patients with gastric metastasis from breast cancer were treated in our hospital. About the histopathological types of primary breast cancer, 4 patients were invasive ductal carcinomas and 1 was invasive lobular carcinoma. One patient was found by gastrointestinal fiberscopy for a detailed examination of her high CEA, 2 for stenosis, 1 for bleeding and 1 for epigastralgia. After the diagnosis of gastric metastasis, 2 patients were treated with chemotherapies, 1 with hormone therapy and 2 with palliative treatments. One of them was treated with gastroduodenal stenting for pyloric stenosis, but she was died by bleeding from gastric lesion. Based on the results, constriction and bleeding with gastric metastasis is considered to be severe condition in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

[A Case of Anastomotic Recurrent Descending Colon Cancer Successfully Treated with Single-Incision Laparoscopic Partial Colectomy with Intracorporeal Anastomosis]

A 60s-year-old male, who had laparoscopic partial colectomy with resection of left colic artery for descending colon cancer 8 years ago and completed 5-year-follow-up without the evidence of recurrence, was diagnosed as anastomotic recurrence of descending colon cancer, and referred to our hospital. We planned and safely performed single-incision laparoscopic colectomy(SILC)with intracorporeal anastomosis(ICA)(operation time of 390 min and estimated blood loss of 60 g). Following the adhesiolysis, the intracorporeal resection of the lesion was performed with automatic stapling device preserving middle colic and inferior mesenteric arteries and veins. Then, after the recovery of the specimen, ICA was performed as follows; after making a small hole just below the staple line at the opposite side of mesenteric attachment, the oral and the anal stump of colon was pulled-up and placed side-by-side with temporary strings and automatic suturing device was inserted into the holes and fired to form a side-to-side anastomosis, then the common stab incision was pulled- up with 3 temporary strings and closed with a stapler. The postoperative course was smooth and discharged on postoperative day 8. The ICA can be a good option for SILC when colonic and vascular tension would be the limiting factor of anastomosis.

[A Case of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases Could Be Resected after Triplet Chemotherapy]

The patient was a 60's man, whose chief complaints were melena and weight loss. He visited our hospital, and further evaluation revealed rectal cancer(Ra)invading the abdominal wall with multiple liver metastases. The clinical diagnosis was cT4b(abdominal wall)N2bM1a(H1), cStage Ⅳ. We performed a transverse colostomy on the day prior to chemotherapy administration. He was administered 8 courses of FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab. After the chemotherapy, the primary tumor and liver metastases showed PR, with a diagnosis of ycT3N1bM1a(H1), Stage Ⅳ. We performed a robot-assisted laparoscopic low anterior resection for the primary tumor. Two months later, the partial resection of liver S6 and S8 was performed. The patient has been cancer-free for 6 months now.

Alveolar heparan sulfate shedding impedes recovery from bleomycin-induced lung injury

The pulmonary epithelial glycocalyx, an anionic cell surface layer enriched in glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, contributes to the alveolar barrier. Direct injury to the pulmonary epithelium induces shedding of heparan sulfate into the air space; the impact of this shedding on recovery after lung injury is unknown. Using mass spectrometry, we found that heparan sulfate was shed into the air space for up to 3 wk after intratracheal bleomycin-induced lung injury and coincided with induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP2. Delayed inhibition of metalloproteinases, beginning 7 days after bleomycin using the nonspecific MMP inhibitor doxycycline, attenuated heparan sulfate shedding and improved lung function, suggesting that heparan sulfate shedding may impair lung recovery. While we also observed an increase in air space heparanase activity after bleomycin, pharmacological and transgenic inhibition of heparanase in vivo failed to attenuate heparan sulfate shedding or protect against bleomycin-induced lung injury. However, experimental augmentation of airway heparanase activity significantly worsened post-bleomycin outcomes, confirming the importance of epithelial glycocalyx integrity to lung recovery. We hypothesized that MMP-associated heparan sulfate shedding contributed to delayed lung recovery, in part, by the release of large, highly sulfated fragments that sequestered lung-reparative growth factors such as hepatocyte growth factor. In vitro, heparan sulfate bound hepatocyte growth factor and attenuated growth factor signaling, suggesting that heparan sulfate shed into the air space after injury may directly impair lung repair. Accordingly, administration of exogenous heparan sulfate to mice after bleomycin injury increased the likelihood of death due to severe lung dysfunction. Together, our findings demonstrate that alveolar epithelial heparan sulfate shedding impedes lung recovery after bleomycin.

[Long-Term Survival in a Case of Colon Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination and Ovarian Metastasis after Multimodality Therapy]

A 70-year-old woman underwent treatment for cecal cancer(pT4bN1M0, Stage Ⅲb)in 2010. Four years and 2 months after the first surgery, she underwent ileum resection for stenosis due to perineal dissemination(P3). Two years after this recurrence, during which time she had completed 26 courses of FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab(Bmab), 9 courses of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin(CapeOX)plus Bmab, and 3 courses of Cape, no peritoneal dissemination was detected by computed tomography( CT). Thereafter, an additional 19 courses of Cape plus Bmab were introduced, but CEA continued to increase. Right ovarian metastasis was suspected based on CT and FDG-PET/CT examination. Four years and 1 month after the initial recurrence of perineal dissemination, the patient underwent bilateral ovarian resection, during which the lack of peritoneal dissemination was confirmed. Pathologically, right ovarian metastasis was diagnosed. The patient is still alive 4 years and 6 months after the first operation.

[A Resected Case of Hemorrhagic Hepatic Cyst Difficult to Differentiate from Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm of the Liver]

CASE

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for detailed examination of a cystic liver tumor. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRIshowed a cystic liver tumor with an enhanced mural nodule in S6 of the liver. Under a preoperative diagnosis of hemorrhagic hepatic cyst and mucinous cystic neoplasm(MCN)of the liver, extended posterior segmentectomy was performed. Histological examination of the tumor revealed no neoplastic cells, and the tumor was finally diagnosed as a hemorrhagic hepatic cyst of the liver.

CONCLUSION

Similar to previous reports of hemorrhagic hepatic cysts, preoperative differential diagnosis from MCN of the liver was difficult in this case. Hemorrhagic hepatic cysts are rare and are sometimes confused with MCN of the liver, especially when an enhanced mural nodule is found in the cyst. The possibility of hemorrhagic hepatic cysts should be considered during diagnosis of liver cystic tumors.

[A Case of Resection of a Metastatic Tumor Combined with the Spleen, Preserving the Remnant Stomach, for Recurrent Gastric Cancer of the Splenic Hilar Region after Distal Gastrectomy]

We describe a case of residual stomach preserving surgery performed under evaluation of residual gastric blood flow with indocyanine green(ICG)fluorography, for gastric cancer with recurrence of splenic lymph node metastasis after distal gastrectomy( DG)in a 65-year-old man. After 4 courses of S-1 plus CDDP(SP)therapy for advanced gastric cancer with ascites, DG, D2 dissection, and Billroth Ⅰ reconstruction were performed and radical resection was obtained(L, Type 3, pap/tub, ypT3N1H0P0CY0M0, ypStage ⅡB). Three years and 6 months after the surgery, a mass 4 cm in diameter was found in the splenic hilum, and a pancreatosplenial resection was performed to remove the tumor for diagnosis and treatment purposes. We confirmed that there was no problem with blood flow, and we were able to preserve the stomach. Intraoperative ICG fluorescence imaging was considered a promising method for evaluating residual gastric blood flow.

[Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Appearing Nine Years after Resection of a Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor-A Case Report]

Multiple sporadic gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)are rare, except for those restricted to von Recklinghausen disease or hereditary conditions.We reported a case of a gastric GIST resected 9 years after the resection of a duodenal GIST.The patient was a 58-year-old male who had been followed-up with computed tomography scans after pancreatoduodenectomy for a duodenal GIST when he was 49-years-old.The patient was admitted to our hospital for anemia examination.A CT scan detected a tumor in the stomach, with a diameter of over 10 cm, and necrosis.Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed the presence of a delle on the gastric SMT.Due to suspected invasion of the spleen and left diaphragm by the tumor, we performed subtotal gastrectomy with splenectomy and left diaphragm segmental resection.In the pathological diagnosis, the tumor was diagnosed as a gastric GIST, because the cell type of the tumor was spindle and tested positive for c-kit.Based on the tumor size and mitotic count, the patient was diagnosed with high-risk GIST by the modified-Fletcher classification, and imatinib 400mg/day was administered.There have been no signs of recurrence for 2 years since the operation.

[Long-Term Survival after Surgical Treatment of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater-A Case Report]

A 60s man underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at a regular medical check-up without symptoms, which showed an ulcerative region in the duodenal ampulla, measuring 3 cm in diameter. He was diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on biopsy and referred to our hospital. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed an enhanced-ulcerative tumor, measuring 3 cm, at the duodenal ampulla. After the preoperative diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the duodenal ampulla, subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy with regional lymph node dissection was performed. The final diagnosis was neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)of the duodenal ampulla. He has been alive for 9 years with no recurrences. NEC of the duodenal ampulla is rare, and its prognosis is poor. We report a case of long-term survival after resection of NEC of the duodenal ampulla.

[Surgical Outcomes of Laparoscopic Repeat Hepatectomy at Our Institution]

Laparoscopic hepatectomy has gained popularity owing to its merits, such as low invasiveness and reduced bleeding. However, the efficacy of laparoscopic repeat hepatectomy(LRH)has not been confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of LRH compared to that of open repeat hepatectomy(ORH). We performed 60 repeat hepatectomies from January 2011 to March 2019, of which 19 were LRH(Lap group)and 41 were ORH(Open group). This study retrospectively compared the patient characteristics and short-term outcomes of repeat hepatectomy between the Lap and Open groups. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics, except for the type of approach in the previous hepatectomy(p<0.01). The Lap group had lesser blood loss(median: 150 mL vs 355 mL, p<0.01)and shorter postoperative hospital stays(median: 8 days vs 11 days, p<0.01). There were no differences in operation time or severe postoperative complications. LRH is feasible and useful, providing good short-term outcomes.

[Pulmonary Metastases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Repeated Pulmonary Resection-A Case Report]

A 65-year-old man visited our hospital for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and underwent extended posterior sectionectomy. Eight months after the hepatic resection, follow-up computed tomography(CT)revealed a solitary, recurrent tumor in S4 of the liver, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation were performed for the intrahepatic recurrence. After 12 postoperative months, follow-up CT demonstrated pulmonary metastases in S5 of the right lung and S10 of the left lung. Since there were no other metastases, the 2 metastatic lesions were resected using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS). The resected tumors were histologically diagnosed as pulmonary metastases of HCC. Three years after the pulmonary resection, 3 additional pulmonary metastases were detected on CT in S3 and S10 of the right lung and S4 of the left lung. No other metastases were found. Bilateral VATSmetastasectomy was performed for the metastases. The tumors were diagnosed as pulmonary metastases of HCC on histological examination. One year and 8 months after the surgery, he was alive in a good condition, with no recurrences. The present case suggested that some patients with pulmonary metastasis of HCC can have long-term survival with surgical resection of the metastasis. Therefore, while systemic chemotherapy is generally considered the standard treatment for extrahepatic metastasis of HCC, surgical resection might be an option.

[Intraoperative Assessment of Blood Flow in the Remnant Stomach Using Indocyanine Green and Regional Oxygen Saturation Monitoring at Distal Pancreatectomy Following Gastrectomy]

A92 -year-old man was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 14 years after undergoing distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. His remnant stomach was fed by the cardiac branch of the left inferior phrenic artery, short gastric artery, and posterior gastric artery. We planned distal pancreatectomy(DP). Intraoperative indocyanine green(ICG)fluorography showed that the remnant stomach was perfused under the clamp of the splenic artery. We also confirmed that regional oxygen saturation (rSO2)of the remnant stomach was not decreased by the clamp. Based on the findings, we judged that blood flow in the remnant stomach was preserved at the clamp. We then performed DP with preservation of the remnant stomach. Postoperative complications associated with the remnant stomach were not observed. The patient is alive without any postoperative recurrences of pancreatic cancer or trouble associated with the remnant stomach 22 months after the surgery. This case suggested that ICG fluorography and rSO2 monitoring are useful to evaluate blood flow in the remnant stomach.

[A Case of Resected Primary Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumor]

A 70s man presented with a solitary liver tumor measuring 4.5 cm on CT. On contrast-enhanced CT, the tumor appeared partly well-enhanced in the late phase, and the remaining part was enhanced in the early phase and washed out in the late phase. Contrast-enhanced MRIshowed fused multiple nodules, and the enhancement/washout pattern was clearer than that of the contrast-enhanced CT. The tumor showed a defective image in the hepatobiliary phase and a high signal on diffusionweighted imaging. Then, the tumor was diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma, and thus, left liver lobectomy was performed. On histological examination of the resected specimen, the tumor was found to be composed of uniform and small tumor cells with solid or trabecular growth fashion. On immunohistochemical staining, synaptophysin and chromogranin A positivity was noted, and the Ki-67 index was 14%. Finally, the tumor was diagnosed as a NET G2. Postoperatively, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy was performed to identify the primary site; however, no obvious primary site could not be identified, and thus a diagnosis of primary hepatic NET was made. Eighteen months postoperatively, the patient is alive without relapse. Preoperative diagnosis of primary hepatic NETs is difficult because NETs present various imaging findings and are rare. Moreover, no accurate preoperative diagnosis was reached in our case, suggesting the difficulty in the preoperative diagnosis of NETs.

[A Case with Three Resections of the Pulmonary Metastases of a Distal Bile Duct Carcinoma]

A 68-year-old man underwent a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy(SSPPD)for a distal bile duct carcinoma(BDC)pT3aN1M0, pStage ⅡB and adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine. One year 7 months after the initial surgery, CT revealed a nodule with an increasing tendency in the left lung. As it was difficult to distinguish primary lung cancer from BDC lung metastasis, we performed a thoracoscopic left wedge resection. The histopathology of the resected specimen was BDC lung metastasis. In the follow-up with adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for 10 months, 2 nodules were found in the right lung, and we performed thoracoscopic right S6 segmentectomy. Eight months later, another nodule was found in the left lung, and we performed thoracoscopic left wedge resection. The histopathology was BDC lung metastasis for all the resected specimens. The patient is alive with no evidence of recurrence after 9 months of the latest surgery(4 years 11 months after the initial surgery). Although the standard treatment for metastatic recurrence of BDC is systemic chemotherapy, some cases treated with surgical resection had relatively good prognosis, such as the present case. Surgical resection might be feasible as a treatment option for metastatic recurrence of BDC.

Surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in elderly patients

INTRODUCTION

The clinical significance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis in elderly patients aged 80 years or older has not been determined. This study aimed to investigate surgical outcomes of LC for acute cholecystitis in elderly patients compared to non-elderly patients.

METHODS

Patients who underwent urgent LC for acute cholecystitis were enrolled. Older (≥80 years) and younger patients (<80 years) were compared for perioperative factors to assess surgical outcomes of LC.

RESULTS

A total of 351 patients were included; 52 (14.8%) and 299 (85.2%) were categorized as older and younger, respectively. The older group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with concomitant physiological diseases than the younger group and a significantly higher ASA classification. No significant differences between the two groups were found in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or conversion rate to open surgery. Incidence of postoperative complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay also were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Surgical outcomes of LC for acute cholecystitis in older patients are comparable to those in younger patients, which confirms the feasibility of LC for acute cholecystitis in elderly patients.

[A Rare Case of Adenosquamous Carcinoma in the Liver with Hepatolithiasis]

This report describes a case of primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the liver with hepatolithiasis. A 70's man was followed up at a clinic for hepatolithiasis, gallbladder stone, and dilatation of the intrahepatic duct. He visited our hospital for computed tomography(CT)examination. CT showed a 30mm diameter low-density mass in the S2 liver and dilatation of the intrahe- patic duct filled with hepatolithiasis. Blood examination showed elevated levels of tumor markers(CEA 8.0 ng/mL, CA19-9 19,196 U/mL). We diagnosed the tumor as cholangiocellular carcinoma(cT2N1M0, cStage ⅣA)with hepatolithiasis and performed left hepatectomy and lymphadenectomy. In the specimen, a 39×22mm diameter solid tumor was detected and the intrahepatic duct was filled with haptolithiasis. Pathologically, a mixture of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was observed adjacent to the bile duct. Accordingly, a diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma was made(pT3N0M0, pStage Ⅲ). Multiple liver metastases were detected 8 months after the operation, and chemotherapy was started. He remains alive 11 months after the operation. We experienced a rare case of adenosquamous carcinoma in the liver with hepatolithiasis.

[A Resected Case of Reactive Lymphoid Hyperplasia of the Liver Preoperatively Diagnosed as Hepatocellular Carcinoma]

A60s woman was followed-up regularly for primary biliary cholangitis and a solitary enlarging hepatic mass in the S6 segment of her liver was discovered by ultrasonography. We diagnosed the mass as hepatocellular carcinoma by contrast ultrasonography, contrast computed tomography, and ethoxbenzyl magnetic resonance imaging and laparoscopic partial hepatectomy of S6 segment was performed. The resected specimen was histopathologicaly diagnosed as liver-reactive lymphoid hyperplasia(RLH). The patient is alive without recurrence 17 months after the surgery. Although liver RLH is a rare disease, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of small liver tumors.

[Clinicopathological Study of 15 Cases of Primary Duodenal Cancer]

There have been few reports discussing treatments for primary duodenal cancer. In this study, 15 cases of primary duodenal cancer that were treated by curative resection in our hospital between April 2005 and December 2017 were analyzed to study appropriate operative procedures. Prognostic analysis revealed that the median of relapse-free survival and overall survival were 49 months and 74 months, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 47%. On univariate analysis of relapse-free survival, lymph node metastasis(p<0.01)and post-operative adjuvant therapy(p=0.02)were significant independent prognostic factors. Analysis of the relationship between lymph node metastasis and the depth or location of tumors suggested that pancreaticoduodenectomy with lymph node dissection should be performed to achieve radical resection, since there were some cases that involved lymph node metastasis around the pancreatic head or hepatoduodenal ligament.

[A Resected Case of Gallbladder Cancer Concomitant with Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis with Difficulty in Preoperative Diagnosis]

A 78-year-oldman was referredto our hospital for right abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosedwith xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis(XGC)at the gallbladder fundus and adenomyomatosis(ADM)at the gallbladder neck. Because malignancy was undeniable, laparotomy was performed. Frozen section examination of the excised whole-layer gallbladder revealed cancer cells at the gallbladder neck and cystic duct. Therefore, additional gallbladder bed resection, extrahepatic bile duct resection, and lymphadenectomy were performed. The final diagnosis, based on the histopathological examination of all resected specimens, was gallbladder adenocarcinoma(T3aN0M0, Stage ⅢA). ADM was not observedat the same sites as the adenocarcinoma. The fundus lesion was diagnosed as XGC. Here, we report our rare case of XGC coexisting with gallbladder cancer.

[A Case of Successful Control of Advanced Duodenal Cancer with Liver Metastasis Receiving Paclitaxel Chemotherapy and Potential Radical Resection]

We report a case of successful control of advanced duodenal cancer with paclitaxel chemotherapy. A woman in her 70s with epigastralgia was diagnosed with hemorrhagic duodenal ulcer upon upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A type 3 tumor was found in the duodenal bulb upon upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy at our hospital. By contrast CT, we found wall hypertrophy of the duodenal bulb, lymph node metastasis, and liver metastasis and started chemotherapy. Four courses of SOX therapy were first administered. The wall hypertrophy of the duodenal bulb worsened, and new lesions appeared in the liver, so we diagnosed progressive disease. Next, 4 courses of wPTX therapy were administered. The wall hypertrophy of the duodenal bulb improved, and all liver metastatic lesions shrunk and became obscure. The reduction rate was 75%, so we diagnosed partial response. Accumulation in the primary tumor was observed on PET-CT, and the lymph node and liver metastases disappeared, so we considered radical curative resection. The patient underwent subtotal stomach preserving pancreatoduodenectomy, D2 lymph node dissection, reconstruction of the digestive tract by the modified CHILD method, partial hepatectomy, and Brawn's anastomosis. No cancer cells were found in the hepatectomized area. Paclitaxel chemotherapy may be useful for advanced duodenal cancer.

[A Resected Case of Lymph Node Metastasis at the Splenic Hilum from Lung Cancer Invading the Pancreas and Spleen]

A 72-year-old man received chemoradiotherapy for lung squamous cell carcinoma(T4N2M0, Stage Ⅲb). Nine months after the start of chemoradiotherapy, a 60 mm sized mass was identified in the spleen on abdominal CT. FDG-PET/CT examination revealed abnormal FDG accumulation in the tumor, and no obvious accumulation was observed in other sites. By endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology, the tumor was diagnosed as splenic metastasis from lung cancer. Since the primary lung tumor was well controlled by the chemoradiotherapy and no metastatic lesions were found except in the spleen, laparoscopic excision of the splenic metastasis was planned. Since the tumor was suspected to have infiltrated the tail of the pancreas, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. There were no severe postoperative complications. The resected tumor was histopathologically diagnosed as not splenic metastasis, but lymph node metastasis at the splenic hilum from lung cancer invading the pancreas and spleen. Brain metastasis and bone metastasis were observed 3 months postoperatively. He did not undergo any treatments for the metastatic lesions, and he died because of the cancer 11 months after the operation. This case suggests the clinical significance of surgical treatment for distant metastatic lesions from lung cancer.

[A Case of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma with Tumor Thrombus in the Left Portal Branch]

A 63-year-old man was referred to our hospital for detailed examinations and treatment of a hepatic tumor. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT examination showed a huge mass measuring 12 cm in diameter with ring enhancement in the left liver lobe. The liver tumor was accompanied by a macroscopic tumor thrombus in the left portal branch. Under preoperative diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus, left liver lobectomy, removal of the tumor thrombus, extrahepatic bile duct excision, and lymph node dissection were performed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimens revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma concomitant with tumor thrombus in the left portal branch. Adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 was administered. However, 3 months after the surgery, CT examination revealed postoperative recurrences in the liver, lung, and bone. Systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin was administered with radiotherapy for the bone metastasis. However, the chemotherapy was not effective, and 6 months after surgery, he died of the cancer. There have been few reports of cases with ICC accompanied by a macroscopic portal vein tumor thrombus. Based on the reported cases and the present case, prognosis of the disease seems very poor.

[A Case of Unresectable Advanced Gastric Neuroendocrine Cell Carcinoma Treated with Nivolumab]

A 69-year-old man was administered S-1/oxaliplatin/trastuzumab as induction chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer (cT4b[liver, pancreas], N2M1(H1P0CYX), cStage IV). After 4 courses, because contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed remarkable reduction of the tumor, distal gastrectomy, partial hepatectomy, and radiofrequency ablation for the liver metastasis were performed. The patient was histopathologically diagnosed with gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC). S- 1/oxaliplatin/trastuzumab was continued after surgery; however, recurrence in the remnant liver was observed after 4 cours- es. For recurrence, cisplatin/irinotecan as first-line and paclitaxel/ramucirumab as second-line treatment were administered, but progression of liver metastasis and ascites due to peritoneal dissemination were observed. As third-line treatment, nivolumab was initiated. Ascites decreased after 3 courses, but after 2 more courses, progression of ascites, liver recurrence, and multiple metastasis in the lumbar vertebra were observed.

A case of intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas penetrating into the stomach and spleen successfully treated by total pancreatectomy

Background

Intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are potentially malignant intraductal epithelial neoplasms that sometimes penetrate into other organs. To the best of our knowledge, no report has yet described a case with penetration into the spleen. We recently encountered a case of IPMN with penetration of the stomach and spleen that was successfully treated by total pancreatectomy.

Case presentation

A 70-year-old female visited our hospital with a complaint of fever and abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed dilatation of the main pancreatic duct in the entire pancreas and penetration into the stomach and spleen. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed mucin extruding from four openings of the fistula in the stomach. No malignancy was detected based on cytology of the mucin. Inflammation markers and tumor markers (CEA, CA19–9) were elevated in the blood. The pre-operative diagnosis was IPMN of main pancreatic duct type penetrating into the stomach and spleen. A total pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed, combined with distal gastrectomy including resection of the fistulas between the pancreas and stomach. No postoperative complications were noted. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed atrophy of the pancreatic parenchyma, and the main duct of the pancreas was filled with mucin. Mucin-producing malignant tumor cells were detected in the epithelium of the main pancreatic duct with no signs of invasion. No malignancy was found at the fistulas between the pancreas and stomach or spleen. The patient was finally diagnosed with non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma (IPMC) of main pancreatic duct type. Mechanical penetration was suspected as a mechanism of the penetration. The patient remained disease-free without evidence of recurrence more than 15 months after the operation.

Conclusion

Though IPMNs sometimes penetrate into other adjacent organs, penetration into two organs, including the spleen, is rare. The rare case of IPMC penetrating into the stomach and spleen presented here was treated successfully by total pancreatectomy.

[A Case Report of SOX Treatment for Primary Duodenal Carcinoma with Liver Metastasis]

We report a case of effective S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) treatment for duodenal cancer with liver metastases. The patient was a 70-year-old female diagnosed with duodenal carcinoma that was unresectable because of liver metastasis(cT4N1M1, cStage IV in UICC 7th). She received SOX treatment(100mg/m / 2 of oxaliplatin on day 1 combined with 40 mg/day of S-1 twice daily on days 1-14, was repeated every 3 weeks). After 4 courses, a partial response was confirmed by computed tomography and no severe adverse events were observed. However, during the 5th courses, several new liver metastases were observed, so we changed to weekly paclitaxel treatment. This case suggests that SOX treatment may be an effective chemotherapy for advanced primary duodenal carcinoma.

Ruptured Cystic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Successfully Treated with Urgent Cholecystectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Patient: Male, 90

Final Diagnosis: Ruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm

Symptoms: Epigastric pain • Fever

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Open cholecystectomy

Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology

[A Case of Small-Sized Acinar Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas Resected by Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy]

A 81-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for a stomach pain. Abdominal enhanced CT scan showed a pancreatic hypovascular tumor 10mm in size. Abnormal FDG uptake was found on the tumor at FDG/PET-CT examination. The tumor was identified also at endoscopic ultrasonography, and the endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of this tumor gave the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Under the preoperative diagnosis, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was performed. There were no postoperative complications. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor revealed acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas, not pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The patient is alive without any postoperative recurrences 1 year after the pancreatectomy.

[A Case in Which S-1/Oxaliplatin(SOX)/Trastuzumab Therapy Was Effective for Unresectable HER2 Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer and Radical Resection Could Be Performed]

The case was a 70s-year-old man. In July 2016, he was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of epigastralgia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed type 3 advanced gastric cancer in the vestibule, directly infiltrating the pancreas and the left lobe of the liver to form an abscess, and swelling of the aortic lymph node and multiple liver metastases were observed. The cancer was diagnosed as cT4b(liver/pancreas), N2M1(H1P0CYX), cStage IV and diagnosed it as a chemotherapy policy. We initiated SOX plus trastuzumab therapy from August 2016. After 4 courses, the primary tumor shrunk significantly and invasion to the pancreas/liver had disappeared. Furthermore, the periarterial lymph node and multiple liver metastases were obscured(chemotherapy effect judgment: PR). With a diagnosis of ycT4aN1MX(HXP0CYX), in December 2016, we performed a pyloric side gastrectomy D2(+No.16)dissection and partial resection of the liver(S3, S4, S6), liver RFA(S4, S6, S7). Due to recent progress in chemotherapy and multidisciplinary therapy, there is a possibility that radical resection may be carried out for advanced gastric cancer, which was previously unresectable, by performing a treatment with surgery in mind.

[A Case of a Hepatic Inflammatory Pseudotumor Difficult to Distinguish from Metastatic Liver Cancer and Potentially Caused by Colon Diverticula]

This report describes the case of an 85-year-old man who underwent left hemicolectomy for descending colon cancer and hepatic segmentectomy for metastatic liver cancer. Seven years after the liver surgery, an abdominal CT scan revealed a tumor in the remnant liver. He also presented with colon diverticula in the ascending colon, which was located close to the liver tumor. With a preoperative diagnosis of metastatic liver cancer, the tumor was resected with S8 segmentectomy. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor revealed a hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor, not metastatic liver cancer. The present case showed the difficulty of preoperatively diagnosing inflammatory pseudotumors. Furthermore, it is noted in the case that since the liver tumor was located close to the colon diverticula in the ascending colon, the diverticula was potentially associated with the formation of hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor.

Feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cerebrospinal fluid shunt

INTRODUCTION

Previous reports of laparoscopic surgery in patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts for intracranial hypertension described shunt-related complications. Thus, the shunts have been considered a contraindication for laparoscopic procedures. However, with the implementation of recent improvements in surgical techniques, perioperative management, and shunt technology, laparoscopic surgery may now be safe in cases with shunts. The aim of the present study was to examine the safety of such procedures based on our own experiences with laparoscopic surgery in patients with CSF shunts.

METHODS

A total of 582 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder disease at our institute during the study period. Among these patients, four (0.7%) had a CSF shunt at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics of these four cases.

RESULTS

Two patients had ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and two patients had lumboperitoneal shunts. Based on the advice of consulted neurosurgeons, the shunt catheter was clamped during pneumoperitoneum in three of the four cases, and the catheter was left unclamped in the remaining case because it was judged to be occluded. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed under pneumoperitoneum pressure of 8 mmHg. All four cases experienced an uneventful postoperative course, with no shunt-associated complications.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of our current cases suggests the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cases with CSF shunts.

[Case of Adenocarcinoma with Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Component in the Gallbladder]

A 73-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of abdominal pain. An abdominal CT scan revealed diffuse wall thickening of the gallbladder with a gallstone. Urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Histopathological examination indicated adenocarcinoma with a small neuroendocrine carcinoma component invading the subserous layer. Additional gallbladder bed resection and lymphadenectomy were performed. The final pathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma with NEC, pT2N0M0, pStage II . The patient is alive without any recurrence 7 months after the last surgery.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of human herpesvirus-6 encephalitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In this retrospective analysis using the Transplant Registry Unified Management Program, we identified 145 patients with human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 encephalitis among 6593 recipients. The cumulative incidences of HHV-6 encephalitis at 100 days after transplantation in all patients, recipients of bone marrow or PBSCs and recipients of cord blood were 2.3%, 1.6% and 5.0%, respectively. Risk factors identified in multivariate analysis were male sex, type of transplanted cells (relative risk in cord blood transplantation, 11.09, P<0.001; relative risk in transplantation from HLA-mismatched unrelated donor, 9.48, P<0.001; vs transplantation from HLA-matched related donor) and GvHD prophylaxis by calcineurin inhibitor alone. At 100 days after transplantation, the overall survival rate was 58.3% and 80.5% among patients with and without HHV-6 encephalitis, respectively (P<0.001). Neuropsychological sequelae remained in 57% of 121 evaluated patients. With both foscarnet and ganciclovir, full-dose therapy (foscarnet ⩾180 mg/kg, ganciclovir ⩾10 mg/kg) was associated with better response rate (foscarnet, 93% vs 74%, P=0.044; ganciclovir, 84% vs 58%, P=0.047). HHV-6 encephalitis is not rare not only in cord blood transplant recipients but also in recipients of HLA-mismatched unrelated donors. In this study, development of HHV-6 encephalitis was associated with a poor survival rate, and neurological sequelae remained in many patients.