Intraoperative Assessment of Resection Margin in Oral Cancer: The Potential Role of Spectroscopy

In parallel with the increasing number of oncological cases, the need for faster and more efficient diagnostic tools has also appeared. Different diagnostic approaches are available, such as radiological imaging or histological staining methods, but these do not provide adequate information regarding the resection margin, intraoperatively, or are time consuming. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on spectrometric diagnostic modalities suitable for intraoperative use, with an emphasis on their relevance in the management of oral cancer. The literature agrees on the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of spectrometric diagnostic modalities, but further long-term prospective, multicentric clinical studies are needed, which may standardize the intraoperative assessment of the resection margin and the use of real-time spectroscopic approaches.

Best practices and future challenges in the treatment of oral cancer

Objectives

Oral cancer is among the most common tumour worldwide. Due to the anatomical peculiarities of the head and neck region, the treatment of oral cancer is a major challenge with regard to the preservation of aesthetics and function. The aim of the present study is to analyze currently practiced therapeutic strategies as well as current and future challenges in the therapy of oral cancer.

Methods

A Pubmed-based selective literature search was performed considering literature predominantly from 2021 to 2022. Search terms were "oral cancer," "oral cavity cancer," and "head and neck cancer."

Results

Head and neck tumours are the seventh most common cancer worldwide. The suspected diagnosis of oral cancer is often made by outpatient dentists during routine examinations. With the outbreak of the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic, risk behaviour has changed with regard to the development and diagnosis of oral cancer. The gold standard of therapy is surgical resection. The need for adjuvant therapy measures depends on the histopathological TNM stage and other defined risk factors. Recurrences occur frequently and should be evaluated with regard to renewed surgical therapy. Future treatment strategies are aimed at early diagnosis, precision in resection, the use of digital technologies, and aspects of quality assurance. The economic importance in the treatment of oral cancer is currently given little consideration.

Conclusions

The study presents a selective portfolio of treatment strategies currently practiced in Germany and in many parts of the world. In addition, future challenges in the therapy of oral cancer, in particular squamosa cell carcinoma, are presented.

Intraoperative Assessment of Tumor Margins in Tissue Sections with Hyperspectral Imaging and Machine Learning

The intraoperative assessment of tumor margins of head and neck cancer is crucial for complete tumor resection and patient outcome. The current standard is to take tumor biopsies during surgery for frozen section analysis by a pathologist after H&E staining. This evaluation is time-consuming, subjective, methodologically limited and underlies a selection bias. Optical methods such as hyperspectral imaging (HSI) are therefore of high interest to overcome these limitations. We aimed to analyze the feasibility and accuracy of an intraoperative HSI assessment on unstained tissue sections taken from seven patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Afterwards, the tissue sections were subjected to standard histopathological processing and evaluation. We trained different machine learning models on the HSI data, including a supervised 3D convolutional neural network to perform tumor detection. The results were congruent with the histopathological annotations. Therefore, this approach enables the delineation of tumor margins with artificial HSI-based histopathological information during surgery with high speed and accuracy on par with traditional intraoperative tumor margin assessment (Accuracy: 0.76, Specificity: 0.89, Sensitivity: 0.48). With this, we introduce HSI in combination with ML hyperspectral imaging as a potential new tool for intraoperative tumor margin assessment.

Motor speech effects in subthalamic deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVE

A motor speech disorder or dysarthria commonly arises in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The impact of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) on motor speech and the potential of intraoperative motor speech testing to predict outcomes are unknown. This study examined 1) the types and prevalence of motor speech changes observed with STN DBS and their relation to the preoperative condition, 2) the ability of intraoperative testing to predict postoperative changes in motor speech, and 3) the spatial relationship between stimulation sites producing maximal motor improvement, as measured by the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), and maximal motor speech deterioration.

METHODS

Comprehensive preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative motor speech/dysarthria evaluations were performed in consecutive patients with advanced idiopathic PD who underwent STN DBS surgery in the period from 2011 to 2016. Preoperative type of dysarthria and overall dysarthria severity rating along with intraoperative motor speech testing results were evaluated as predictors of postoperative change. Atlas-independent, fully individualized field modeling was used to identify stimulation sites associated with maximal MDS-UPDRS motor improvement and motor speech deterioration.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients with PD treated with STN DBS were prospectively studied. Improved MDS-UPDRS motor scores and worsened dysarthria were demonstrated by a subset of patients (16/43). Preoperative dysarthria characteristics did not predict postoperative deterioration. Intraoperative assessment of motor speech strongly predicted postoperative outcomes (OR 4.4, p = 0.02). Sites of maximal MDS-UPDRS motor improvement and worsened dysarthria were distinct. Worsened dysarthria was associated with capsular stimulation, anterior and ventral to the site of maximal MDS-UPDRS motor improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The predictive reliability of intraoperative motor speech testing, together with the identification of distinct stimulation sites for motor speech impairment and improved MDS-UPDRS motor function, raise the possibility that DBS lead repositioning or reprogramming could reduce adverse effects on motor speech without impacting MDS-UPDRS motor outcomes in patients undergoing STN DBS.

Unanticipated Profound Paralysis and Sugammadex Dosing Implications After Videoscopic Thoracic Surgery

A bedridden patient with empyema presented for thoracoscopic decortication. During the procedure, despite a post-tetanic count (PTC) of 0 via calibrated quantitative neuromuscular monitoring, persistent diaphragmatic movement impaired operating conditions, so rocuronium was re-dosed. After surgery, the patient had 0 PTC. Sugammadex was titrated to achieve baseline neuromuscular strength, monitoring the effect of each 200-mg dose. Ultimately, 1200 mg was required to achieve baseline strength. We describe monitor troubleshooting, considerations with unexpectedly deep neuromuscular blockade, the importance of routine quantitative neuromuscular monitoring, and one strategy for sugammadex reversal in patients with profound paralysis outside of the standard dosing guidelines.

Surgical management of suspected gallbladder cancer: The role of intraoperative frozen section for diagnostic confirmation

BACKGROUND

Preoperative diagnosis for suspected gallbladder cancers is challenging, with a risk of overtreating benign disease, for example, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, with radical cholecystectomies. We retrospectively evaluated the surgeon's intraoperative assessment alone, and with the addition of intraoperative frozen sections, for suspected gallbladder cancers from a tertiary hepatobiliary multidisciplinary team (MDT).

METHODS

MDT patients with complex gallbladder disease were included. Collated data included demographics, MDT discussion, operative details, and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 454 patients with complex gallbladder disease were reviewed, 48 (10.6%) were offered radical surgery for suspected cancer. Twenty-five underwent frozen section that led to radical surgery in 6 (25%). All frozen sections were congruent with final histopathology but doubled the operating time (p < 0.0001). Both the surgeon's subjective and additional frozen section's objective assessment, allowed for de-escalation of unnecessary radical surgery, comparing favourably to a 13.0% cancer diagnosis among radical surgery historically.

CONCLUSIONS

The MDT process was highly sensitive in identifying gallbladder cancers but lacked specificity. The surgeon's intraoperative assessment is paramount in suspected cancers, and deescalated unnecessary radical surgery. Intraoperative frozen section was a safe and viable adjunct at a cost of resources and operative time.

Axillary management based on American college of surgeons oncology group Z0011 criteria makes it possible to omit intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph nodes in early breast cancer patients

The ACOSOG Z0011 trial has resulted in the omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in early breast cancer patients with one or two metastatic sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). There has been increasing interest in the necessity of intraoperative assessment of SLNs in patients treated based on the Z0011 criteria. We evaluated the utility of intraoperative assessment in these eligible patients. A total of 1396 patients were treated following the Z0011 criteria from April 2012 to December 2019. We examined the proportion and clinicopathological features of patients who underwent ALND due to three or more metastatic SLNs and the sensitivity of intraoperative assessment. Only 16 (1.1%) patients had three or more metastatic SLNs diagnosed by intraoperative assessment, and they immediately underwent ALND. Of the clinicopathological factors, high clinical tumor stage (p = 0.002) and high Ki-67 labeling index value (p = 0.056) were more likely to be associated with the presence of three or more metastatic SLNs. The major independent risk factor for three or more metastatic SLNs was high clinical tumor stage (OR 3.94 [95% CI 1.42-11.0]; p = 0.009). Intraoperative assessment had low sensitivity (70.5%) and a high false-negative rate (29.5%) in detecting SLN metastases. The main finding of our study was the small proportion of patients who required ALND due to three or more metastatic SLNs according to the Z0011 criteria. The Z0011 strategy enables intraoperative assessment of SLNs to be omitted in early breast cancer patients.

Mitral Regurgitation in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the most frequently encountered types of valvular heart disease in the United States. Patients with significant MR (moderate-to-severe or severe) undergoing noncardiac surgery have an increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications. MR can arise from a diverse array of causes that fall into 2 broad categories: primary (diseases intrinsic to the valvular apparatus) and secondary (diseases that disrupt normal valve function via effects on the left ventricle or mitral annulus). This article highlights key guideline updates from the American College of Cardiologists (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) that inform decision-making for the anesthesiologist caring for a patient with MR undergoing noncardiac surgery. The pathophysiology and natural history of acute and chronic MR, staging of chronic primary and secondary MR, and considerations for timing of valvular corrective surgery are reviewed. These topics are then applied to a discussion of anesthetic management, including preoperative risk evaluation, anesthetic selection, hemodynamic goals, and intraoperative monitoring of the noncardiac surgical patient with MR.

Use of high-resolution full-field optical coherence tomography and dynamic cell imaging for rapid intraoperative diagnosis during breast cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Although traditional intraoperative assessments (ie, frozen sections) may lower reoperation rates in patients with breast cancer, time/tissue limitations and accuracy concerns have discouraged their routine clinical use. Full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) and dynamic cell imaging (DCI) are novel optical imaging techniques offering rapid histologic approximations that are unfettered by requisite handling steps. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and diagnostic utility of FFOCT and DCI in examining breast and lymph node specimens during breast cancer surgery.

METHODS

FFOCT and DCI were applied to normal and cancerous breast tissue, benign breast lesions, and resected axillary lymph nodes. The tissues were then subjected to conventional processing and staining (hematoxylin-eosin) for purposes of comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 314 specimens, including 173 breast biopsies (malignant, 132; benign/normal, 41) and 141 resected lymph nodes (tumor-positive, 48; tumor-negative, 93), were obtained from 158 patients during breast surgery for prospective imaging evaluations. In breast cancer diagnosis, the minimum sensitivities (FFOCT, 85.6%; DCI, 88.6%) and specificities of optical imaging (FFOCT, 85.4%; DCI, 95.1%) were high, although they diverged somewhat in nodal assessments (FFOCT sensitivity, 66.7%; FFOCT specificity, 79.6%; DCI sensitivity, 83.3%; DCI specificity, 98.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

These timely and tissue-sparing optical imaging techniques proved highly accurate in diagnosing breast cancer and nodal metastasis. They compare favorably with routine histologic sections and demonstrate their promise in this setting.

Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging in Prostate Cancer: Not the Only Light That Shines

Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is a novel imaging technology that might have the ability to assess surgical margins intraoperatively during prostatectomy using ⁶⁸Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11). This study evaluated the accuracy of CLI compared with histopathology and, as an exploratory objective, investigated the characteristics of the identified chemiluminescence signal. Methods: After intravenous injection of a mean ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 activity of 69 MBq intraoperatively, all excised specimens were imaged with CLI. Areas of increased signal were marked for histopathologic comparison and scored for the likelihood of being a positive surgical margin (PSM) using a 5-point Likert scale. In addition, the chemiluminescence signal was investigated in 3 radioactive and 3 nonradioactive specimens using CLI. Results: In 15 patients, the agreement between CLI and histopathology was 60%; this improved to 83% when including close surgical margins (≤1 mm). In 6 hot spots, CLI correctly identified PSMs on histopathology, located at the apex and mid prostate. In all 15 patients, an increased signal at the prostate base was observed, without the presence of the primary tumor in this area in 8 patients. This chemiluminescence signal was also observed in nonradioactive prostate specimens, with a half-life of 48 ± 11 min. The chemiluminescence hampered the visual interpretation of 4 PSMs at the base. Conclusion: CLI was able to correctly identify margin status, including close margins, in 83% of the cases. The presence of a diathermy-induced chemiluminescent signal hampered image interpretation, especially at the base of the prostate. In the current form, CLI is most applicable to detect PSMs and close margins in the apex and mid prostate.

Intraoperative Assessment and Photothermal Ablation of the Tumor Margins Using Gold Nanoparticles

Surgical resection is commonly used for therapeutic management of different solid tumors and is regarded as a primary standard of care procedure, but precise localization of tumor margins is a major intraoperative challenge. Herein, a generalized method by optimizing gold nanoparticles for intraoperative detection and photothermal ablation of tumor margins is introduced. These nanoparticles are detectable by highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering imaging. This non-invasive technique assists in delineating the two surgically challenged tumors in live mice with orthotopic colon or ovarian tumors. Any remaining residual tumors are also ablated by using post-surgical adjuvant photothermaltherapy (aPTT), which results in microscale heat generation due to interaction of these nanoparticles with near-infrared laser. Ablation of these post-operative residual micro-tumors prolongs the survival of mice significantly and delays tumor recurrence by 15 days. To validate clinical translatability of this method, the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, Raman contrast, aPTT efficiency, and toxicity of these nanoparticles are also investigated. The nanoparticles have long blood circulation time (≈24 h), high tumor accumulation (4.87 ± 1.73%ID g-1) and no toxicity. This high-resolution and sensitive intraoperative approach is versatile and can be potentially used for targeted ablation of residual tumor after resection within different organs.

Specimen-driven intraoperative assessment of resection margins should be standard of care for oral cancer patients

With an incidence of 350.000 new cases per year, cancer of the oral cavity ranks among the 10 most common solid organ cancers. Most of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Five-year survival is about 50%. It has been shown that clear resection margins (>5 mm healthy tissue surrounding the resected tumor) have a significant positive effect on locoregional control and survival. It is not uncommon that the resection margins of oral tumors are inadequate. However, when providing the surgeon with intraoperative feedback on the resection margin status, it is expected that obtaining adequate resection margins is improved. In this respect, it has been shown that specimen-driven intraoperative assessment of resection margins is superior to defect-driven intraoperative assessment of resection margins. In this concise report, it is described how a specimen-driven approach can increase the rate of adequate resections of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma as well as that it is discussed how intraoperative assessment can be further improved with regard to the surgical treatment of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

The Use of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography in Pediatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Narrative Analysis

Purpose: Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) is a validated non-invasive imaging technique used to assess tissue vascularization and guide intraoperative decisions in many surgical fields including plastic surgery, neurosurgery, and general surgery. While this technology is well-established in adult surgery, it remains sparsely used in pediatric surgery. Our aim was to systematically review and provide an overview of all available evidence on the perioperative use of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography in pediatric surgical patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic review with narrative synthesis in conformity with the PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Medline, All EBM Reviews, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL COMPLETE databases to identify articles describing the perioperative use of ICG-FA in pediatric patients. Two independent authors screened all included articles for eligibility and inclusion criteria. We extracted data on study design, demographics, surgical indications, indocyanine green dose, and perioperative outcomes. We developed a risk of bias assessment tool to evaluate the methodological quality of included studies. Results: Of 1,031 articles retrieved, a total of 64 articles published between 2003 and 2020 were included reporting on 664 pediatric patients. Most articles were case reports and case series (n = 36; 56%). No adverse events related to ICG-FA were reported in the included articles. Risk of bias was high. We did not conduct a meta-analysis given the heterogeneous nature of the populations, interventions, and outcome measures. A narrative synthesis is presented. Conclusion: Indocyanine green fluorescence angiography is a safe imaging technology and its use is increasing rapidly in pediatric surgical specialties. However, the quality of evidence supporting this trend currently appears low. Case-control and randomized trials are needed to determine the adequate pediatric dose and to confirm the potential benefits of ICG-FA in pediatric surgical patients. Systematic Review Registration: This study was registered on Prospero a priori, identifier: CRD42020151981.

Intraoperative Assessment of the Resection Specimen Facilitates Achievement of Adequate Margins in Oral Carcinoma

Background

Inadequate resection margins in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma have an adverse effect on patient outcome. Intraoperative assessment provides immediate feedback enabling the surgeon to achieve adequate resection margins. The goal of this study was to evaluate the value of specimen-driven intraoperative assessment by comparing the margin status in the period before and the period after the introduction of specimen-driven assessment as a standard of care (period 2010-2012 vs period 2013-2017).

Methods

A cohort of patients surgically treated for oral squamous cell carcinoma at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, between 2010-2012 was studied retrospectively and compared to results of a prospectively collected cohort between 2013-2017. The frequency, type and results of intraoperative assessment of resection margins were analyzed.

Results

One hundred seventy-four patients were included from 2010-2012, 241 patients were included from 2013-2017. An increase in the frequency of specimen-driven assessment was seen between the two periods, from 5% in 2010-2012 to 34% in 2013-2017. When performing specimen-driven assessment, 16% tumor-positive resection margins were found in 2013-2017, compared to 43% tumor-positive resection margins overall in 2010-2012. We found a significant reduction of inadequate resection margins for specimen-driven intraoperative assessment (p < 0.001). Also, tumor recurrence significantly decreased, and disease-specific survival improved when performing specimen-driven intraoperative assessment.

Conclusions

Specimen-driven intraoperative assessment improves resection margins and consequently, the outcome of oral cancer patients. We advocate this method as standard of care.

CNS Invasion in Meningioma-How the Intraoperative Assessment Can Improve the Prognostic Evaluation of Tumor Recurrence

Simple Summary

Brain invasion has been integrated into the new WHO classification of meningiomas to improve the prognostic assessment regarding tumor recurrence. However, its role has been questioned. One of the reasons is that for complete histopathological assessment, tissue sampling of the complete brain–tumor interface is necessary, but not always surgically and technically feasible. Therefore, the additional intraoperative assessment of CNS invasion may be of value for a more precise assessment of this tumor characteristic. We therefore studied the prognostic impact of the histopathological and intraoperative assessment of CNS invasion regarding radiographic tumor recurrence and found that both factors by themselves do not reach a prognostic significance. However, if both factors are combined, CNS invasion is an independent negative prognostic factor. Our findings show the prognostic potential of a thorough assessment and underline the need for a standardization and documentation of meningioma tissue sampling for the optimal recurrence risk assessment.

Abstract

The detection of the infiltrative growth of meningiomas into CNS tissue has been integrated into the WHO classification as a stand-alone marker for atypical meningioma. However, its prognostic impact has been questioned. Infiltrative growth can also be detected intraoperatively. The prognostic impact of the intraoperative detection of the central nervous system tissue invasion of meningiomas was analyzed and compared to the histopathological assessment. The clinical data of 1517 cases with follow-up data regarding radiographic recurrence was collected. Histopathology and operative reports were reviewed and invasive growth was seen during resection in 23.7% (n = 345) while histopathology detected it in 4.8% (n = 73). The histopathological and intraoperative assessments were compatible in 63%. The prognostic impact of histopathological and intraoperative assessment was significant in the univariate but not in the multivariate analysis. Both methods of assessment combined reached statistical significance in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.0409). A score including all independent prognostic factors divided the cohort into three prognostic subgroups with a risk of recurrence of 33.8, 64.7 and 88.5%, respectively. The intraoperative detection of the infiltrative growth of primary meningiomas into the central nervous system tissue can complement the histopathological assessment of CNS invasion. The combined assessment is an independent prognostic factor regarding tumor recurrence and allows a risk-adapted tumor stratification.

The value of the intraoperative assessment of the SLN via frozen section in the post Z0011 era

INTRODUCTION

Sentinel node (SN) assessment via frozen section (FS) has declined since the publication of Z0011 which modified the management of a specific group of patients with positive SN. The risk of misleading the surgeons to a preventable ALND and the cost are among the main factors for that. The aim of our study is to assess the value of FS in the post Z0011.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

244 patients out of 434 were eligible for an upfront SLNB. Based on the final histology and the clinical data we selected the eligible for breast conserving surgery patients (55.4%). 78 patients had positive SN and 26 of them fulfilled the criteria of Z0011. We assessed the false negative findings, the impact on the management and the indications and value of FS in the post Z0011 era.

RESULTS

Overall, there were 12 FN cases out of which 7 were macrometastases (8.97%). Only in one case there were > 2 positive LN and 3 patients needed mastectomy. The remaining cases fulfilled the criteria of Z0011 and needed no further surgery hence in 96.1% of the cases the axillary status was correctly assessed via FS and the reoperation rate was 1.2%. On the contrary, if FS was not used, at least 21.3% of the patents would have needed reoperation based on the today's guidelines.

DISCUSSION

We believe FS is still valuable and may spare a significant percentage of patients from a second operation (SNB) without leading to axillary overtreatment if used wisely.

Resection of a Posterior Mediastinal Mass in a 4-Year-Old Child Complicated by Difficult Airway Management and Emergent Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Literature on posterior mediastinal masses is limited. Furthermore, they have traditionally been described to pose lower cardiopulmonary risks compared with anterior mediastinal masses. Studies on posterior mediastinal masses are even more limited in the pediatric population. We present a case of a large posterior mediastinal mass in a 4-year-old child who presented with extremely difficult airway management during endobronchial intubation due to severe external compression that led to use of an adapted airway management technique with a rigid airway exchanger for lung isolation. Due to the pathology of the mass, a tracheal tear was encountered during surgical dissection and the patient required emergent venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to allow for successful airway repair and complete resection of the mass.

Is There a Need for a Pulmonary Artery Catheter in Cardiac Surgery Today?

Pulmonary artery catheters are a useful tool for hemodynamic monitoring in high-risk patients during surgery and while in intensive care. However, there are major risks inherent to the device, and with modern day technology, their routine use has decreased. We discuss the need for routine insertion of pulmonary artery catheters in cardiac surgery. We also present a case of a left ventricular assist device implantation complicated by serious pulmonary hemorrhage due to pulmonary artery catheter insertion, highlighting the potentially life-threatening risks involved.

Unexpected Complication of Hydroxocobalamin Administration for Refractory Vasoplegia in Orthotopic Liver Transplant: A Case Report

A 40-year-old male with alcoholic cirrhosis and end-stage renal disease presented for simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation. Hemodialysis was utilized intraoperatively during liver transplantation. During the procedure, the patient developed refractory hypotension and ultimately received hydroxocobalamin for vasoplegia. Shortly after administration, the hemodialysis machine ceased working after a "blood leak" alarm developed. Without the ability to continue intraoperative dialysis, the kidney transplantation portion of his surgery was postponed. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit, where he underwent continuous renal replacement therapy overnight, and his kidney transplant proceeded the following morning.

Relocation of inadequate resection margins in the wound bed during oral cavity oncological surgery: A feasibility study

Background

Specimen‐driven intraoperative assessment of the resection margins provides immediate feedback if an additional excision is needed. However, relocation of an inadequate margin in the wound bed has shown to be difficult. The objective of this study is to assess a reliable method for accurate relocation of inadequate tumor resection margins in the wound bed after intraoperative assessment of the specimen.

Methods

During oral cavity cancer surgery, the surgeon placed numbered tags on both sides of the resection line in a pair‐wise manner. After resection, one tag of each pair remained on the specimen and the other tag in the wound bed. Upon detection of an inadequate margin in the specimen, the tags were used to relocate this margin in the wound bed.

Results

The method was applied during 80 resections for oral cavity cancer. In 31 resections an inadequate margin was detected, and based on the paired tagging an accurate additional resection was achieved.

Conclusion

Paired tagging facilitates a reliable relocation of inadequate margins, enabling an accurate additional resection during the initial surgery.

Intraoperative Assessment of Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients Post-Neoadjuvant Therapy

BACKGROUND

Shift toward minimizing axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer post neoadjuvant therapy has led to the assessment of sentinel lymph nodes by frozen section intraoperatively to determine the need for axillary lymph node dissection. However, few studies have examined the accuracy of sentinel lymph node frozen section after neoadjuvant therapy. Our objective is to compare the accuracy of sentinel lymph node frozen section in patients with breast cancer with and without neoadjuvant therapy and to identify features that may influence accuracy.

DESIGN

We identified 161 sentinel lymph node frozen section from 77 neoadjuvant therapy patients and 255 sentinel lymph node frozen section from 88 non-neoadjuvant therapy patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 in 2 institutions. The frozen section diagnoses were compared to the final diagnoses, and clinicopathologic data were analyzed.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of frozen section analysis were comparable between neoadjuvant therapy patients and non-neoadjuvant therapy patients (71.9% vs 50%, 100% vs 100%, and 88.3% vs 81.8%). Nine (11.7%) of 77 neoadjuvant therapy patients had discordant results, most often due to undersampling (tumor absent on frozen section slide). Four of these patients subsequently underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Discordant results (all false negatives) were significantly more likely in neoadjuvant therapy patients with Estrogen Receptor-positive/HER2-negative status, and in sentinel lymph node with pN1mic and pN0i+ deposits; age, preneoadjuvant therapy lymph node status, histotype, nuclear grade, tumor size, and response to neoadjuvant therapy showed no significant differences. For non-neoadjuvant therapy cases, large tumor size, lobular histotype, and sentinel lymph node with pN1mic and pN0i+ were associated with false-negative frozen section assessment.

CONCLUSION

Sentinel lymph node frozen section diagnosis post-neoadjuvant therapy has comparable sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to the sentinel lymph node frozen section diagnosis in the non-neoadjuvant therapy setting.

Surgical Techniques for Mitral Valve Repair: A Pathoanatomic Grading System

Mitral valve surgery has evolved over 4 decades from one based on the principles of prosthetic replacement to a subspecialty with a foundation based on the principles of repair. This review will attempt to enumerate the contemporary techniques of mitral valve repair and a pathoanatomically directed approach with which to apply them by focusing on degenerative disease and associated complexities.

Evaluation of bone resection margins of segmental mandibulectomy for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Resection margins are frequently studied in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and are accepted as a constant prognostic factor. While most evidence is based on soft tissue margins, reported data for bone resection margins are scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate and determine the utility of surgical margins in bone resections for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). The status of bone resection margins and their impact on survival was investigated in patients who had undergone segmental mandibulectomy for OCSCC. Medical records were retrieved for the years 2000-2012; 127 patients were identified and included in the study. Tumour-positive bone resection margins were found in 21% of the patients. The 5-year overall survival was significantly lower in this group (P<0.005). Therefore, there is a need for intraoperative feedback on the status of bone resection margins to enable immediate additional resection where necessary. Although the lack of intraoperative methods for the evaluation of bone tissue has been addressed by many authors, there is still no reliable method for widespread use. Future research should focus on an objective, accurate, and rapid method of intraoperative assessment for the entire bone resection margin to optimize patient outcomes.

One-step nucleic acid amplification: the possible value in assessing sentinel lymph node metastasis during mastectomy

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, worldwide, and 1,400 deaths per day are attributed to it. The success of national screening programs has seen breast cancers being diagnosed at an earlier stage. With conservative surgery to the breast demonstrating equivalent long-term outcomes, the last 10 years have seen a growing interest in the safety of less invasive management for the axilla in breast cancer patients. One-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) is a validated, reliable, and efficient tool in identifying micro- and macro-metastases intraoperatively. It is the most widely used intraoperative analysis tool within the United Kingdom, and is employed by over 320 units across Europe and Asia. Recent evidence from the AMAROS, IBCSG 23-01, and ACOSOG Z0011 trials has changed surgical practice in managing the axilla of patients with breast cancer. We propose a clinical algorithm demonstrating the role of OSNA as an intraoperative analysis tool in today’s management of breast cancer as well as prospects for the future use of OSNA.

Perioperative and Anesthetic Considerations in Pulmonary Atresia With Intact Ventricular Septum

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) is a rare right-heart obstructive lesion with a wide anatomic and physiologic spectrum of disease, ranging from simple membranous pulmonary valve atresia with a fully developed right ventricle (RV) to a severely hypoplastic RV and ventriculocoronary (RV-coronary) fistulas. Affected neonates are dependent on prostaglandin for adequate pulmonary blood flow. Depending on the severity of disease, treatment options range from transcatheter pulmonary valve perforation and ultimate biventricular repair to staged single-ventricle palliation. Cardiac transplantation is recommended in the most severe cases. This review will discuss the perioperative and anesthetic management of patients with PA/IVS and highlight the challenges in management.

Primary Fallopian Tube Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare tumour of the female genital tract with an incidence of 0.1-1.8% of all genital malignancies, and it is very difficult to diagnose preoperatively, because of its non-specific symptomatology. In most cases, it is an intraoperative finding or a histopathological diagnosis. It is a tumour that histologically and clinically resembles epithelial ovarian cancer.

CASE PRESENTATION

We are reporting a case of a 62-year-old, postmenopausal women with primary fallopian tube carcinoma of the right fallopian tube in stage IA. The patient has lower abdominal pain, watery vaginal discharge and repeated episodes of bleeding from the vagina. The clinical and radiological findings suggested a right adnexal tumour with elevated CA-125 levels. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy and peritoneal washing were performed. Pathologic confirmation of primary serous cystadenocarcinoma of the right fallopian tube was made. Peritoneal washings were negative for malignancy. FIGO stage was considered as IA, and the patient received no courses of chemotherapy and postoperative radiation because she refused it. Ten months after initial surgery, the patient is alive and in good condition.

CONCLUSION

Cytoreduction surgery followed by adequate cycles of chemotherapy is an important strategy to improve patients' prognosis.

Perioperative and Anesthetic Considerations in Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a potentially devastating form of congenital heart disease in which all pulmonary blood flow returns to the systemic venous circulation rather than the left atrium. Anomalous pulmonary venous flow may be obstructed at birth, and affected infants present with severe cyanosis and poor cardiac output unresponsive to standard resuscitation with prostaglandin. Obstructed TAPVC remains one of the few indications for emergent neonatal cardiac surgery. This review will discuss the physiology and perioperative management of isolated TAPVC without associated cardiac lesions.

Continuous Right Radial Arterial Pressure Monitoring as a Guide to Dissection of a Thoracic Inlet Neurofibroma

Excision of tumors in the thoracic inlet entail a risk of injury to subclavian vessels due to their close proximity. A right radial artery line can sensitively and continuously monitor the occurrence of right subclavian artery compression and warn the surgeon of its proximity and prevent injury. We describe a case of thoracic inlet tumor in a 12-year-old child, wherein the use of radial artery pressure monitoring guided the surgeon to separate the subclavian artery from the tumor to which it was adherent.

Diastolic Mitral Regurgitation in a Patient With Complex Native Mitral and Aortic Valve Endocarditis: A Rare Phenomenon With Potential Catastrophic Consequences

Diastolic mitral valve regurgitation is a rare phenomenon described in patients with atrioventricular conduction abnormalities, severe left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction with regional wall motion dyssynchrony, or severe acute aortic valve regurgitation. The presence of diastolic mitral valve regurgitation in acute aortic regurgitation due to endocarditis suggests critical severity requiring urgent surgical valve replacement. We describe a case of diastolic mitral regurgitation in the setting of complex native mitral-aortic valve endocarditis in a patient in normal sinus rhythm and review the etiologic mechanisms of this phenomenon, echocardiographic assessment, and therapeutic implications for hemodynamic management.

Accuracy of intraoperative determination of central node metastasis by the surgeon in papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains controversial. If the presence of central lymph node metastasis could be assessed preoperatively or intraoperatively, unnecessary CND could be avoided. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative determination of central lymph node metastasis by the surgeon using palpation and inspection in clinically node-negative PTC.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

University tertiary care facility.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 122 consecutive patients with clinically node-negative PTC were enrolled. Any suspicious lymph nodes on intraoperative palpation or inspection were sent for frozen biopsy, and then bilateral CND with total thyroidectomy was carried out in all patients. The criteria for a suspicious lymph node included palpable hardness, dark discoloration, or size exceeding 5 mm in diameter. We compared the surgeon's judgments with the final pathologic results.

RESULTS

Suspicious lymph nodes were found in 37 (30.3%) patients, and 15 of them had metastasis on permanent biopsy. Of 85 patients with no suspicious lymph nodes, 27 (31.8%) had metastasis on permanent biopsy. The sensitivity and specificity as well as positive and negative predictive values of intraoperative determination of central lymph node metastasis were 35.7%, 72.5%, 40.5%, and 68.2%, respectively. The positive predictive values of enlarged lymph nodes, dark discoloration, and hardness were 30.4%, 50.0%, and 78.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative determination of central lymph node metastasis by the surgeon is a limited guide for CND in clinically node-negative PTC because of its low sensitivity and specificity.

Intraoperative epicardial ultrasound probe for visualization of embedded coronary arteries: a novel approach

The identification of coronary anatomy at the time of cardiac revascularization can be problematic. Preoperative studies (ie, coronary angiography) can aid in the mapping of the coronary anatomy. However, there remain a select few patients with intramyocardial coronaries that provide challenges for surgical dissection during revascularization. Probing the visible portion of the coronary artery, intraoperative cine angiography, thermal angiography, and epicardial Doppler probes have been used to identify the coronary anatomy intraoperatively. Aggressive surgical maneuvers can result in damage and increased time on cardiopulmonary bypass. Previous studies have used epicardial echocardiography on patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. We report 2 cases in patients undergoing cardiac revascularization on cardiopulmonary bypass where the use of a high-frequency epicardial ultrasound probe facilitated the identification of the embedded coronary arteries. We describe a technique of using antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia administration sequentially to locate the coronary arteries. Easy availability and familiar technology make the epicardial Doppler probe an attractive tool for the identification of embedded coronary arteries.

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma: a clinicopathologic analysis and literature review

BACKGROUND

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare tumor, and it is very difficult to diagnose preoperatively. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) and to review the current available literature on PFTC.

METHODS

The medical records of 16 patients who were diagnosed with PFTC at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between January 2001 and December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 63 years (range, 41-86 years), and the mean follow-up period was 39.8 months (range, 4.0-102.8 months). Fourteen (87.5%) patients were menopausal women. The most common clinical presentation was nonspecific pelvic pain (37.5%), followed by abnormal vaginal bleeding (31.2%), pelvic mass (18.8%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (12.5%). One patient was diagnosed with PFTC preoperatively; 11 (68.6%) patients were diagnosed as having adnexal mass of unknown origin, but primarily in the ovary. Other diagnoses included endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, and rectum cancer in one patient each. Three (18.8%) patients were in Stage I, two (12.5%) in Stage II, nine (56.2%) in Stage III, and two (12.5%) in Stage IV. The serous type was histologically predominant (75%), and six patients were of a high grade (37.5%). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 73.3%.

CONCLUSION

PFTC is infrequently diagnosed preoperatively or intraoperatively due to its rarity, and has a varied and nonspecific presentation. Only 6.3% of the patients had typical symptoms suggestive of tubal carcinoma. This report may benefit surgeons by providing additional information about the clinicopathologic behavior of PFTC so that patients can be appropriately counseled.

Perioperative fluid management for pulmonary resection surgery and esophagectomy

Perioperative fluid management is of significant importance during pulmonary resection surgery and esophagectomy. Excessive fluid administration has been consistently shown as a risk factor for lung injury after thoracic procedures. Probable causes of this serious complication include fluid overload, lung lymphatics and pulmonary endothelial damage. Along with new insights regarding the Starling equation and the absence of a third space, current evidence supports a restrictive fluid regimen for patients undergoing pulmonary resection surgery and esophagectomy. Multiple minimally invasive hemodyamic monitoring devices, including pulse pressure/stroke volume variation, esophageal Doppler, and extravascular lung water measurement, were evaluated for optimizing perioperative fluid therapy. Further research regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute lung injury after pulmonary resection and esophagectomy is required.

One-lung ventilation for surgical repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm

Advances in the surgical approach to thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs have led to the increasing use of one-lung ventilation. Today's practice of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia requires a clear understanding of the techniques available for lung separation and the technical skills necessary to employ them. In this article, we discuss and evaluate the options for one-lung ventilation in thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with regard to preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management.

Simultaneous assessment of luminal integrity and vascular perfusion of the gastrointestinal tract using dual-channel near-infrared fluorescence

Anastomotic complications such as stenosis and leakage in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can cause high patient morbidity and mortality. To identify the potential preconditions of these complications intraoperatively, we explored the use of two 700 nm near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores administered intraluminally: (1) chlorella, an over-the-counter herbal supplement containing high concentrations of chlorophyll, and (2) methylene blue (MB). In parallel, we administered the 800 nm NIR fluorophore indocyanine green (ICG) intravenously to assess vascular function. Dual-channel, real-time intraoperative imaging and quantitation of the contrast to background ratio (CBR) were performed under normal conditions or after anastomosis or leakage of the stomach and intestines in 35 kg Yorkshire pigs using the Fluorescence-Assisted Resection and Exploration (FLARE) imaging system. Luminal integrity could be assessed with relatively high sensitivity with either chlorella or MB, although chlorella provided significantly higher CBR. ICG angiography provided assessment of blood perfusion of normal, ischemic, and anastomotic areas of the GI tract. Used simultaneously, 700 nm (chlorella or MB) and 800 nm (ICG) NIR fluorescence permitted independent assessment of luminal integrity and vascular perfusion of the GI tract intraoperatively and in real time. This technology has the potential to identify critical complications, such as anastomotic leakage, intraoperatively, when correction is still possible.