Robotic Radical Antegrade Modular Pancreatosplenectomy Using the Supracolic Anterior Superior Mesenteric Artery Approach

BACKGROUND

Radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) is the standardized approach in open pancreatic resection for pancreatic body and tail cancer. However, few studies have described regarding robotic RAMPS for pancreatic cancer. We herein present our techniques of robotic RAMPS using the supracolic anterior superior mesenteric artery (SMA) approach with the ventral view.

METHODS

The patient was a 75-year-old female with a diagnosis of pancreatic body cancer. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, robotic RAMPS was performed. Our techniques of robotic RAMPS include four steps: (1) gastrocolic ligament division, (2) dissection of superior and inferior border of the pancreas, (3) division of the pancreas, and (4) retroperitoneal dissection.

RESULTS

The operative time was 251 min with an estimated blood loss of 10 mL. The uneventful postoperative course was observed. The final pathology confirmed R0 surgical resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic RAMPS using the supracolic anterior SMA approach is safe and feasible for pancreatic body and tail cancer. Standardization and precise anatomical knowledge are key elements of performing robotic RAMPS.

Plasma KRAS mutations predict the early recurrence after surgical resection of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

The technique to analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in body fluid (so-called "liquid biopsy") is recently developed.

AIMS

Our aim was to assess the utility of liquid biopsy for predicting progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after surgical resection or chemotherapy.

METHODS

A total of 72 patients with PDAC were retrospectively enrolled for this study, 33 treated surgically and 39 given chemotherapy, either FOLFIRINOX (oxaliplatin/irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin) or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. Prior to treatment, patients were screened for the presence of KRAS mutations (G12D and G12V) in plasma using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction, and outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

KRAS mutations were identified in plasma samples of 12 patients (36%) underwent surgical resection. Patients with plasma KRAS mutations had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (p < .01 and p = .01, respectively). Of 10 clinical variables analyzed, plasma KRAS mutation was the factor predictive of DFS in multivariate analysis (RR = 3.58, 95% CI: 1.36-9.60; p = .01). Although 12 patients (31%) given chemotherapy tested positive for plasma KRAS mutations, there was no demonstrable relation between plasma KRAS mutations and progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) (p = .35 and p = .68, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with PDAC, detection of KRAS mutations in plasma proved independently predictive of early recurrence after surgical resection but did not correlate with PFS following chemotherapy.

Dramatic Response to Carboplatin Plus Paclitaxel in Pancreatic Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma with Liver Metastasis

Mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas is a rare cystic tumor occurring in the pancreatic body and tail in young to middle-aged women that is pathologically characterized by an ovarian-like stroma. Chemotherapy for recurrent/advanced pancreatic MCN has been based on chemotherapy regimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but the prognosis is poor. We herein report a 37-year-old woman with pancreatic mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with liver metastasis that responded dramatically to carboplatin plus paclitaxel therapy (CBDCA+PTX). CBDCA+PTX may be a treatment option for recurrent/advanced pancreatic MCN with an ovarian-like stroma.

Usefulness of Middle Colic Artery Transposition Technique for Hepatic Arterial Reconstruction in Conversion Surgery for an Initially Unresectable, Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

The outcomes of pancreatectomy with resection and reconstruction of the involved arteries for locally advanced pancreatic cancer following chemotherapy have improved in recent years. In pancreatic head cancers in which there is contact with the common and proper hepatic arteries, margin-negative resection requires pancreati-coduodenectomy, with the resection of these arteries and the restoration of hepatic arterial flow. Here, we describe a middle colic artery transposition technique in hepatic arterial reconstruction during pancreatoduo-denectomy for an initially unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This technique was effective and may provide a new option for hepatic artery reconstruction in such cases.

Impact of lymph node dissection on clinical outcomes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Inverse probability of treatment weighting with survival analysis

Background

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) has been established as a critical risk factor for prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The clinical implications of lymph node dissection (LND) have been debated. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of LND by multicenter retrospective analysis.

Methods

A total of 310 ICC patients who had undergone curative resection between 2000 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic impact of LND was estimated under an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach using propensity scores.

Results

LND was performed for 224 patients (72%), with LNM pathologically confirmed in 90 patients (40%). Prognosis was poorer for patients with LNM (median survival, 16.9 months) than for those without (57.2 months; P < .0001). One‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival rates (OS) were comparable among LND+ (81.6%, 48.0%, and 37.5%, respectively) and LND– groups (81.6%, 55.4%, and 44.6%, respectively). However, advanced tumor, as characterized by larger tumor, multinodular lesions, and serosal invasion, was significantly more frequent in the LND+ group than in the LND– group. After IPTW adjusting for imbalances, 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS were better in the LND+ group (83.5%, 52.2%, and 42.8%, respectively) than in the LND– group (71.9%, 32.4%, and 23.4%, respectively; P = .046). LND thus showed significant prognostic impact (hazard ratio = 0.58, 95%CI = |0.39|–|0.84|, P = .005), especially in hilar ICC. However, peripheral ICC displayed no therapeutic benefit from LND.

Conclusions

LND could have a significant role to play in improving oncologic outcomes. Therapeutic LND should be implemented on the basis of tumor location and tumor advancement.

Prediction of Early Recurrence After Surgery for Liver Tumor (ERASL): An International Validation of the ERASL Risk Models

Background

This study aimed to assess the performance of the pre- and postoperative early recurrence after surgery for liver tumor (ERASL) models at external validation. Prediction of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after resection is important for individualized surgical management. Recently, the preoperative (ERASL-pre) and postoperative (ERASL-post) risk models were proposed based on patients from Hong Kong. These models showed good performance although they have not been validated to date by an independent research group.

Methods

This international cohort study included 279 patients from the Netherlands and 392 patients from Japan. The patients underwent first-time resection and showed a diagnosis of HCC on pathology. Performance was assessed according to discrimination (concordance [C] statistic) and calibration (correspondence between observed and predicted risk) with recalibration in a Weibull model.

Results

The discriminatory power of both models was lower in the Netherlands than in Japan (C statistic, 0.57 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.52–0.62] vs 0.69 [95% CI 0.65–0.73] for the ERASL-pre model and 0.62 [95% CI 0.57–0.67] vs 0.70 [95% CI 0.66–0.74] for the ERASL-post model), whereas their prognostic profiles were similar. The predictions of the ERASL models were systematically too optimistic for both cohorts. Recalibrated ERASL models improved local applicability for both cohorts.

Conclusions

The discrimination of ERASL models was poorer for the Western patients than for the Japanese patients, who showed good performance. Recalibration of the models was performed, which improved the accuracy of predictions. However, in general, a model that explains the East–West difference or one tailored to Western patients still needs to be developed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1245/s10434-021-10235-3.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor of the accessory papilla of the duodenum: a case report

Background

Contrary to the increasing incidence of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), GEP-NETs of the accessory papilla of the duodenum are extremely rare. Furthermore, there have been no recommendations regarding the treatment strategy for GEP-NETs of the accessory papilla of the duodenum. We present a case of GEP-NET of the accessory papilla of the duodenum successfully treated with robotic pancreatoduodenectomy.

Case presentation

A case of a 70-year-old complaining of no symptoms was diagnosed with GEP-NET of the accessory papilla of the duodenum. A 8-mm tumor was located at the submucosal layer with a biopsy demonstrating a neuroendocrine tumor grade 1. The patient underwent robotic pancreatoduodenectomy as curative resection for the tumor. The total operative time was 406 min with an estimated blood loss of 150 mL. The histological examination revealed a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with low Ki-67 index (< 1%). In the posterior areas of the pancreas, the lymph node metastases were detected. The patient was followed up for 6 months with no recurrence postoperatively.

Conclusions

Considering the potential risks of the lymph node metastases, the standard treatment strategy for GEP-NETs of the accessory papilla of the duodenum should be radical resection with pancreatoduodenectomy. Minimally invasive approach can be the alternative to the conventional open surgery.

Preoperative prognostic nutritional index predicts postoperative infectious complications and oncological outcomes after hepatectomy in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background

In the surgical treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), postoperative complications may be predictive of long-term survival. This study aimed to identify an immune-nutritional index (INI) that can be used for preoperative prediction of complications.

Patients and methods

Multi-institutional data from 316 patients with ICC who had undergone surgical resection were retrospectively analysed, with a focus on various preoperative INIs.

Results

Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III–V) were identified in 66 patients (20.8%), including Grade V complications in 7 patients (2.2%). Comparison of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) among various INIs identified the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as offering the highest predictive value for severe complications (AUC = 0.609, cut-off = 50, P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis revealed PNI <  50 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.22, P = 0.013), hilar lesion (OR = 2.46, P = 0.026), and long operation time (OR = 1.003, P = 0.029) as independent risk factors for severe complications. In comparing a high-PNI group (PNI ≥ 50, n = 142) and a low-PNI group (PNI <  50, n = 174), the low-PNI group showed higher rates of both major complications (27% vs. 13.4%; P = 0.003) and infectious complications (14.9% vs. 3.5%; P = 0.0021). Furthermore, median survival time and 1- and 5-year overall survival rates were 34.2 months and 77.4 and 33.8% in the low-PNI group, respectively, and 52.4 months and 89.3 and 47.5% in the high-PNI group, respectively (P = 0.0017).

Conclusion

Preoperative PNI appears useful as an INI correlating with postoperative severe complications and as a prognostic indicator for ICC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08424-0.

Accreditation as a qualified surgeon improves surgical outcomes in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy

PURPOSE

The Endoscopic Surgical Skill Quantification System for qualified surgeons (QSs) was introduced in Japan to improve surgical outcomes. This study reviewed the surgical outcomes after initial experience performing laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and evaluated the improvement in surgical outcomes following accreditation as a QS.

METHODS

Eighty-seven consecutive patients who underwent LDG for gastric cancer by a single surgeon were enrolled in this study. The cumulative sum method was used to analyze the learning curve for LDG. The surgical outcomes were evaluated according to the two phases of the learning curve (learning period vs. mastery period) and accreditation (non-QS period vs. QS period).

RESULTS

The learning period for LDG was 48 cases. Accreditation was approved at the 67th case. The operation time and estimated blood loss were significantly reduced in the QS period compared to the non-QS period (230 vs. 270 min, p < 0.001; 20.5 vs. 59.8 ml, p = 0.024, respectively). Furthermore, the major complication rate was significantly lower in the QS period than in the non-QS period (0 vs. 10.6%, p = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

Experience performing approximately 50 cases is required to reach proficiency in LDG. After receiving accreditation as a QS, the surgical outcomes, including the complication rate, were improved.

Clinical and epigenetic features of colorectal cancer patients with somatic POLE proofreading mutations

Background

Mutations in the POLE gene result in an ultra-hypermutated phenotype in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the molecular characterisation of epigenetic alterations remains unclear. We examined the genetic and epigenetic profiles of POLE-mutant CRC to elucidate the clinicopathological features of the associated genetic and epigenetic alterations.

Results

Tumour tissues (1,013) obtained from a cohort of patients with CRC were analysed to determine associations between the proofreading domain mutations of POLE with various clinicopathological variables, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, BRAF and KRAS mutations, and the methylation status of key regions of MLH1, MGMT, and SFRP2 promoters by calculating the methylation scores (range 0–6). Only four cases (0.4%) exhibited pathogenic POLE hotspot mutations (two p.P286R [c.857C > G], one p.V411L [c.1231G > C], and p.S459F [c.1376C > T] each), which were mutually exclusive to BRAF and KRAS mutations and MSI. CRC patients were divided into four subgroups: patients with POLE mutations (POLE, 0.4%, n = 4), patients with both MSI and extensive methylation in MLH1 (MSI-M, 2.9%, n = 29), patients with MSI but no extensive methylation in MLH1 (MSI-U, 3.6%, n = 36), and patients without MSI (non-MSI, 93.2%, n = 944). The POLE group was younger at diagnosis (median 52 years, P < 0.0001), with frequent right-sided tumour localisation (frequency of tumours located in the right colon was 100%, 93.1%, 36.1%, and 29.9% in POLE, MSI-M, MSI-U, and non-MSI, respectively; P < 0.0001), and was diagnosed at an earlier stage (frequency of stages I–II was 100%, 72.4%, 77.8%, and 46.6% in POLE, MSI-M, MSI-U, and non-MSI, respectively, P < 0.0001). The mean methylation score in POLE was not different from that in MSI-U and non-MSI, but the methylation signature was distinct from that of the other subgroups. Additionally, although the examined number of POLE-mutant tumours was small, the number of CD8-positive cells increased in tumours with partial methylation in the MLH1 gene.

Conclusions

CRC patients with POLE proofreading mutations are rare. Such mutations are observed in younger individuals, and tumours are primarily located in the right colon. Diagnosis occurs at an earlier stage, and distinct epigenetic alterations may be associated with CD8 cell infiltration.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-021-01104-7.

Micron-scale phenomena observed in a turbulent laser-produced plasma

Turbulence is ubiquitous in the universe and in fluid dynamics. It influences a wide range of high energy density systems, from inertial confinement fusion to astrophysical-object evolution. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial, however, due to limitations in experimental and numerical methods in plasma systems, a complete description of the turbulent spectrum is still lacking. Here, we present the measurement of a turbulent spectrum down to micron scale in a laser-plasma experiment. We use an experimental platform, which couples a high power optical laser, an x-ray free-electron laser and a lithium fluoride crystal, to study the dynamics of a plasma flow with micrometric resolution (~1μm) over a large field of view (>1 mm²). After the evolution of a Rayleigh–Taylor unstable system, we obtain spectra, which are overall consistent with existing turbulent theory, but present unexpected features. This work paves the way towards a better understanding of numerous systems, as it allows the direct comparison of experimental results, theory and numerical simulations.

Turbulence effects explored use macroscale systems in general. Here the authors generate a turbulent plasma using laser irradiation of a solid target and study the dynamics of the plasma flow at the micron-scale by using scattering of an XFEL beam.

Long-term survival without recurrence after surgery for gastric yolk sac tumor-like carcinoma: a case report

Background

Gastric yolk sac tumor (YST)-like carcinoma is extremely rare, and its prognosis is poor, because most patients have widespread metastases at the time of diagnosis. We report a case of gastric YST-like carcinoma with an adenocarcinoma component without metastases in which curative resection was performed.

Case presentation

A 77-year-old man complaining of melena and dizziness due to anemia was diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the gastric cardia, with a benign ulcer in the gastric body. He underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for the tumor. Histological examination of the resected specimens revealed a mixture of reticular and glandular neoplastic components morphologically. In the reticular area, an endodermal sinus pattern and some Schiller–Duval bodies were confirmed. Gastric YST-like carcinoma with adenocarcinoma components, T2N0M0 Stage IB, was diagnosed. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the YST was positive for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and p53. In contrast, the adenocarcinoma was positive for p53 and negative for CEA and AFP. The patient remained healthy as of 7 years postoperatively, with no recurrence.

Conclusions

Routine medical examinations or endoscopic examinations for accidental symptom may be helpful for early diagnosis and good prognosis for gastric YST-like carcinoma, although the prognosis is generally poor.

Liquid Structure of Tantalum under Internal Negative Pressure

In situ femtosecond x-ray diffraction measurements and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the liquid structure of tantalum shock released from several hundred gigapascals (GPa) on the nanosecond timescale. The results show that the internal negative pressure applied to the liquid tantalum reached -5.6 (0.8)  GPa, suggesting the existence of a liquid-gas mixing state due to cavitation. This is the first direct evidence to prove the classical nucleation theory which predicts that liquids with high surface tension can support GPa regime tensile stress.

Surgical training model and safe implementation of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy in Japan: a technical note

Background

Growing evidence for the advantages of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) has been demonstrated internationally. However, there has been no structured training program for RPD in Japan. Herein, we present the surgical training model of RPD and a standardized protocol for surgical technique.

Methods

The surgical training model and surgical technique were standardized in order to implement RPD safely, based on the Dutch training system collaborated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Results

The surgical training model included various trainings such as basic robotic training, simulation training, biotissue training, and a surgical video review. Furthermore, a standardized protocol on the surgical technique was established to understand the tips, tricks, and pitfalls of RPD.

Conclusions

Safe implementation of RPD can be achieved through the completion of a structured training program and learning surgical technique. A nationwide structured training system should be developed to implement the program safely in Japan.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-021-02167-9.

Incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in patients undergoing liver transplantation: A multi-center study in Japan

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma had been considered a contraindication for liver transplantation because of poorer outcomes. However, incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the explanted liver has been reported because of the difficulty of obtaining an accurate diagnosis in cirrhotic livers on preoperative imaging.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide survey to analyze the incidence of incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and outcomes after liver transplantation, in Japan.

RESULTS

Forty-five of 64 institutions (70%) responded to our initial investigation. Between January 2001 and December 2015, 6627 liver transplantations were performed in these 45 institutions, with 19 cases (0.3%) of incidental intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reported from 12 transplant centers. Six cases were diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma preoperatively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 79%, 45%, and 45%, respectively. Tumor recurrence after liver transplantation was found in 10 patients (53%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 79%, 63%, and 46%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma at liver transplantation is associated with a high risk of recurrence and poor prognosis, even these tumors are detected incidentally in the explanted liver.

Hemobilia after bile duct resection: perforation of pseudoaneurysm into intra-pancreatic remnant bile duct: a case report

BACKGROUND

Hemobilia occurs mainly due to iatrogenic factors such as impairment of the right hepatic or cystic artery, and/or common bile duct in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery. However, little or no cases with hemobilia from the intra-pancreatic remnant bile duct after bile duct resection (BDR) has been reported. Here, we report a case of massive hemobilia due to the perforation of psuedoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) to the intra-pancreatic remnant bile duct after hepatectomy with BDR.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 68-year-old male underwent extended right hepatectomy with BDR for gallbladder carcinoma. He presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding 2 months after the initial surgery. Upper endoscopy identified a blood clot from the ampulla of Vater and simultaneous endoscopic balloon tamponade contributed to temporary hemostasis. Abdominal CT and angiography revealed a perforation of the psuedoaneurysm of the GDA to the intra-pancreatic remnant bile duct resulting in massive hemobilia. Subsequent selective embolization of the pseudoaneurysm with micro-coils could achieve complete hemostasis. He survived without any recurrence of cancer and bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Hemobilia could occur in a patient with BDR due to perforation of the pseudoaneurysm derived from the GDA to the intra-pancreatic remnant bile duct. Endoscopic balloon tamponade was useful for a temporal hemostasis and a subsequent radiologic interventional approach.

A novel modified hanging maneuver in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy

INTRODUCTION

The liver hanging maneuver is an essential technique for controlling bleeding in hepatectomy, however it is often difficult in laparoscopic major hepatectomy. The present study describes a novel modified hanging maneuver in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 29-year-old female underwent laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy for mucinous cystic neoplasm. After mobilizing the left lobe, the liver parenchyma was dissected along the demarcation line. For the hanging technique, the upper edge of the hanging tape was placed on the lateral side of the left hepatic vein, and fixed with the Falciform ligament. The lower edge of the tape was extracted outside the abdomen. Accordingly the hanging tape can be controlled extraperitoneally during the liver parenchyma dissection.

DISCUSSION

This technique includes several advantages including no need of assistance using forceps, easy control of the hanging tape extraperitoneally, outflow control, better exposure of surgical field, and helpful guide of the liver dissection line toward the root of the left hepatic vein.

CONCLUSION

Our novel modified hanging maneuver is easy and reproducible to use in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy. Moreover, this technique can be applied to other laparoscopic hepatectomy.

The efficacy of pancreatic juice cytology with liquid-based cytology for evaluating malignancy in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

Background

Pancreatic juice cytology (PJC) is a tool for diagnosing malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN); however, the accuracy is insufficient using the conventional method. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) improves the cell recovery rate, and almost all cells can be evaluated. We evaluated the efficacy of PJC with LBC for malignant IPMN.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients with suspected malignant IPMN who underwent PJC before pancreatectomy. PJC with smear and LBC methods was conducted in 52 patients (between June 2003 to December 2011) and 38 patients (between January 2012 to December 2018). Based on the imaging studies, all of the patients were classified according to the international consensus guidelines for IPMN revised in 2017.

Results

Of the 90 patients, 43 (48%) had malignant IPMN (high-grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma), and the remaining patients had non-malignant IPMN (intermediate- or low-grade dysplasia). LBC increased the accuracy of PJC for the diagnosis of malignant IPMN (smear method: 56% [29/52] vs. LBC method: 76% [29/38]; P = 0.044). In a multivariate analysis, LBC was a significant factor influencing the accurate diagnosis of PJC (odds ratio: 3.52; P = 0.021). Furthermore, LBC increased the accuracy of PJC for malignant IPMN in patients with worrisome features (smear method: 66% [19/29] vs. LBC method: 93% [14/15]; P = 0.043).

Conclusions

LBC increases the accuracy of PJC for diagnosing malignant IPMN compared with the conventional smear method.

Prognostic Utility of the Glasgow Prognostic Score for the Long-Term Outcomes After Liver Resection for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Multi-institutional Study

OBJECTIVE

The usefulness of the modified Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) as a prognostic tool remains unclear for patients undergoing curative surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Therefore, this study investigated the prognostic usefulness of the GPS for patients who underwent ICC surgery.

METHOD

All ICC patients who had a curative-intent hepatectomy at 17 institutions between 2000 and 2016 were included. The correlation was assessed between the preoperative GPS and the baseline characteristics of the patients, histopathological parameters, surgical parameters, and the postresection overall survival (OS).

RESULT

There were 273 patients who met the eligibility criteria between the years 2000 and 2016. The postoperative OS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 83.8%, 56.3%, and 41.5%, respectively (median OS, 47.7 months). A multivariate analysis revealed the factors that were associated with a worse OS, which included an increased GPS (hazard ratio = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-2.53; P = 0.03), an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen level (hazard ratio = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.06-2.41; P = 0.02), an elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level (hazard ratio = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.05-2.30; P = 0.03), undifferentiated carcinoma (hazard ratio = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.56-3.67; P < 0.01), and positive metastasis to the lymph nodes (hazard ratio = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.76-3.67; P < 0.01). In ICC patients after a hepatectomy, an elevated GPS was associated with poorer OS, even if the tumour factors that affected GPS were eliminated by propensity-score matching.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative GPS can be useful to predict the postoperative outcomes of ICC patients. Therefore, this relatively simple and inexpensive scoring system can be utilized to further refine patient stratification as well as to predict survival.

A rare case of oncocytic adrenocortical carcinoma clinically presented as an incidentaloma

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare aggressive tumor originating from adrenocortical parenchymal cells and its incidence is approximately 1 per million population per year. An oncocytic ACC is a recently identified entity among the several known histopathological variants of ACC, which is characterized by oncocytic cells, and only a few cases in the available literature have reported this tumor. In contrast to conventional ACCs, oncocytic ACCs usually manifest as solitary lesions presenting in adults without any sex predilection. We report a case of a 70-year-old Japanese man who presented with an incidentally discovered retroperitoneal mass without any evidence of excessive corticosteroid secretion. Laboratory and imaging studies, as well as transgastric endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration failed to establish a definitive diagnosis. Thus, the patient underwent surgical resection of the left-sided peritoneal tumor. Weiss score was positive in 6/9 points and the tumor met two major criteria of the Lin-Weiss-Bisceglia (LWB) system leading to a diagnosis of an oncocytic variant of ACC. Based on our findings in this patient, we conclude that a combination of the Weiss and LWB criteria is required to determine the malignant potential of oncocytic adrenal tumors because ACCs and oncocytomas could be frequently indistinguishable. Careful histopathological examination is pivotal in confirming the oncocytic component in the lesion and hence definitive diagnosis of ACCs.

Laparoscopic liver resection of segment seven: A case report and review of surgical techniques

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic liver resection of segment seven (LLR-S7) is a technically challenging procedure due to its anatomical location and difficult accessibility. Herein, we present our experience with LLR-S7, and demonstrate a literature review regarding surgical techniques.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 28-year-old female was diagnosed with rectosigmoid cancer and synchronous liver metastases at the segment three (S3) and S7, which were treated with laparoscopic procedure. After the completely mobilization of the right lobe, the Glissonean pedicle of S7 (G7) was intrahepatically transected. The right hepatic vein was exposed to identify the venous branch of S7 (V7). Finally the liver parenchyma between RHV and dissection line was divided.

DISCUSSION

Various laparoscopic approaches for S7 have been reported including the Glissonian approach from the hilum, the intrahepatic Glissonean approach, the caudate lobe first approach, and the lateral approach from intercostal ports. To perform LLR-S7 safely, it is important to understand the advantage of each technique including the trocar placement and approaches to S7 by laparoscopy.

CONCLUSION

We present our experience of LLR-S7 for the tumor located at the top of S7, successfully performed with the intrahepatic Glissonean approach. LLR-S7 can be performed safely with advanced laparoscopic techniques and sufficient knowledge on various approaches for S7.

Efficacy and safety of scheduled early endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol reinjection for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Prospective pilot study

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided ethanol injection was recently proposed for treatment of patients with small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (p-NET); however, tips on how to carry out safe and effective procedures are unclear. We launched a pilot study for scheduled early EUS-guided ethanol reinjection for small p-NET. Major eligibility criteria were presence of pathologically diagnosed grade (G) 1 or G2, tumor size ≤2 cm and being a poor or rejected candidate for surgery. For the treatment, we used a 25-gauge needle and pure ethanol. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) was carried out on postoperative day 3, and if enhanced areas of the tumor were still apparent, an additional session was scheduled during the same hospitalization period. Primary endpoint was complete ablation rate at 1 month after treatment, and secondary endpoint was procedure-related adverse events. A total of five patients were treated. Median size of the tumor was 10 (range: 7-14) mm. Of the five patients, three underwent an additional session. Median volume of ethanol injection per session was 0.8 (range: 0.3-1.0) mL, and the total was 1.0 (0.9-1.8) mL. Complete ablation was achieved in four of the five tumors (80%) with no adverse events. During 1 year of follow up, none of the patients reported any procedure-related adverse events, and no recurrence of tumor. Scheduled early EUS-guided ethanol reinjection appears to be safe and effective for treating small p-NET (UMIN number: 000018834).

Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Congenital Absence of the Portal Vein With Pulmonary Hypertension: A Case Report

Few reports of liver transplantation exist in patients with congenital absence of the portal vein and pulmonary hypertension. Living donor liver transplantation is usually performed before exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension. A 7-year-old girl (height: 131.5 cm; weight: 27.4 kg) with congenital absence of the portal vein was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure 35 mm Hg), and liver transplantation was planned before exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension. We successfully managed her hemodynamic parameters using low-dose dopamine and noradrenaline under monitoring of arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, cardiac output, and stroke volume variation. Anesthesia was maintained using air-oxygen-sevoflurane and remifentanil 0.1 to 0.6 μg∙kg^-1∙min^-1. It is necessary to understand the potential perioperative complications in such cases and to adopt a multidisciplinary team approach in terms of the timing of transplantation and readiness to deal with exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension.

Upregulation of microRNA-31 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with advanced colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) manifests after the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations along with tumor microenvironments. MicroRNA (miRNA/miR) molecules have been revealed to serve in critical roles in the progression various types of cancer, and their expression level is often an important diagnostic, predictive or prognostic biomarker. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for patients with advanced CRC. miRNA arrays were performed on CRC specimens obtained from tumors with various molecular statuses [e.g. KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (KRAS)/B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)/microsatellite instability (MSI)], and their paired normal mucosal specimens. The miRNA array revealed that miR-31-5p (miR-31) was specifically upregulated in CRCs with the BRAF V600E mutation, the results of which were supported by subsequent analysis of a dataset retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, which contained information regarding 170 patients with CRC including 51 BRAF-mutant CRCs. Of our cohort of 67 patients with stage IV CRC, 15 (22%) and 4 (6%) showed KRAS and BRAF V600E mutations, respectively. Since the median miR-31 expression was 3.45 (range, 0.004–6330.531), the cut-off value was chosen as 3.5, and all tumors were categorized into two groups accordingly (high-/low-miR-31 expression). The high miR-31 expression group (n=33) was significantly associated with a poorer mortality (univariate hazard ratio=2.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.23–0.95; P=0.03) and exhibited a shorter median survival time (MST; 20.1 months) compared with the low miR-31 expression group (n=34) (MST, 38.3 months; P=0.03), indicating that miR-31 is a promising prognostic biomarker for patients with advanced CRC. Thus, performing a functional analysis of miR-31 expression may lead to the development of new targeted therapies for the various genetic subtypes of CRC.