Malignant ascites: A review of prognostic factors, pathophysiology and therapeutic measures

Peritoneal malignancy: anatomy, pathophysiology and an update on modern day imaging

With increasing subspecialised experience in radical cytoreductive surgery and intra-abdominal chemotherapy for peritoneal malignancy, outcomes have improved significantly in selected patients. The surgery and the treatment regimens are radical and therefore correct patient selection is critical. The radiologist plays a central role in this process by estimating, as precisely as possible, the pre-treatment disease burden. Because of the nature of the disease process, accurate staging is not an easy task. Tumour deposits may be very small and in locations where they are very difficult to detect. It must be acknowledged that no form of modern day imaging has the capability of detecting the smallest peritoneal nodules, which may only be visible to direct inspection or histopathological evaluation. Nonetheless, it behoves the radiologist to be as exact and precise as possible in the reporting of this disease process. This is both to select patients who are likely to benefit from radical treatment, and just as importantly, to identify patients who are unlikely to achieve adequate cytoreductive outcomes. In this review, we outline the patterns of spread of disease and the anatomic basis for this, as well as the essential aspects of reporting abdominal studies in this patient group. We provide an evidence-based update on the relative strengths and limitations of our available multimodality imaging techniques namely CT, MRI and positron emission tomography/CT.

Long-Term Peritoneal Indwelling Catheters for Malignant Ascites: A Retrospective Case Series of PleurX and Peritoneal Port

Objectives: To compare outcomes of PleurX and peritoneal port for malignant ascites. Design: Retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Setting/Subjects: Subjects were consecutive patients receiving PleurX or peritoneal port for malignant ascites in a center in Sydney, Australia. Measurements: Demographic data, complication rates, hospitalization rates, and survival were measured. Results: Sixteen cases were analyzed: 6 had peritoneal port (170 catheter days) and 10 had PleurX (477 catheter days). Complication rates were low with both drainage systems. Cellulitis rate was 33% (1.2 events/100 catheter days) for peritoneal port and 10% (0.2 events/100 catheter days) for PleurX. Hospital admission days were 27 days/100 catheter days for peritoneal port and 5.2 days/100 catheter days for PleurX. Conclusions: Both PleurX and peritoneal port seem feasible options in draining malignant ascites. Further research is needed to ascertain whether there are true differences in cellulitis/admission rates. Patient quality of life, experience, and preference should be included in future studies.

Tunneled Peritoneal Catheter vs Repeated Paracenteses for Recurrent Ascites: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

PURPOSE

To compare the cost-effectiveness of tunneled peritoneal catheter (TPC) versus serial large-volume paracenteses (LVP) for patients with recurrent ascites.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective, single-institution analysis of 100 consecutive patients undergoing LVP and eventual TPC placement (2015-2018) was performed with extraction of procedural complications and hospital admissions. LVPs were associated with 17 adverse events (AEs) while only 9 AEs occurred after TPC placement. While undergoing routine LVP, the patients had 30 hospitalizations monthly (177 days in total) and 10 hospitalizations monthly (51 days) after TPC placement. A cost-effectiveness analysis with Markov modeling was performed comparing TPC and LVP. Costs were based on Medicare reimbursement rates. Statistical analyses include base case calculation, Monte Carlo simulations, and deterministic sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

TPC placement was the dominant strategy with a comparable health benefit of 0.08060 quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) (LVP: 0.08057 QALY) at a lower cost of $4151 (LVP: $8401). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed TPC was superior in 97.49% of simulations. Deterministic sensitivity analysis demonstrated the superiority of TPC compared to LVP if the TPC complication rate was < 9.47% per week and the complication rate for LVP was > 1.32% per procedure. TPC was more cost-effective when its procedural cost was < $5427 (base case: 1174.5), and remained as such when the cost of LVP was varied as much as $10,000 (base case: $316.48).

CONCLUSION

In this study, TPC was more cost-effective than LVP in patients with recurrent ascites due to the reduced risk of infection, emergency department visits, and length of hospitalization stays.

Intraperitoneal infusion of recombinant human indentation improves prognosis in gastric cancer ascites

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of intraperitoneal administration of recombinant human indentation in gastric cancer with malignant ascites. Methods: Clinical data of 90 patients (37 in an Endostar^® combined with cisplatin group and 53 in a cisplatin group) were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was overall survival, and the secondary end points were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and so on. Results: Median overall survival was longer in the combination group (9.7 vs 8.1 months; p = 0.01). ORR and DCR were higher in the combination group (ORR: 75.7% vs 54.7%; p = 0.04; DCR: 94.6% vs 75.5%; p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in adverse effects between the two groups. Conclusion: Intraperitoneal administration of recombinant human indentation improved efficacy and survival for gastric cancer with ascites.

Categorisation of serous effusions using the International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology and assessment of risk of malignancy with diagnostic accuracy

CONTEXT

The International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology (ISRSFC) standardises the reporting of serous effusion cytology under five categories: Non-Diagnostic (ND), Negative for Malignancy (NFM), Atypia of Undetermined Significance (AUS), Suspicious for Malignancy (SFM), and Malignant (M). Very few studies have been conducted so far to confirm the risk of malignancy of the different categories.

AIMS

The main objectives of our study were to classify serous effusions according to the ISRSFC categories and assess their risk of malignancy (ROM) and performance parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All serous effusion samples received from January 2019 to December 2020 were reclassified according to the ISRSFC. Using histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard, ROM and performance parameters were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 831 pleural effusion samples were reclassified as follows: ND, 3 (0.4%); NFM, 635 (76.4%); AUS, 65 (7.8%); SFM, 60 (7.2%); and M, 68 (8.2%). For 457 peritoneal effusion samples, the reclassifications were ND, 5 (1.1%); NFM, 368 (80.5%); AUS, 19 (4.2%); SFM, 17 (3.7%); and M, 48 (10.5%). All 12 (100%) pericardial effusions belonged to the NFM category. The ROM for the ND, NFM, AUS, SRM, and M categories was 0%, 2.1%, 33.3%, 94.1%, 100%, respectively, in pleural effusions, and 50%, 4.8%, 22.2%, 83.3%, 100%, respectively, in peritoneal effusions. The ROM was 0% for NFM in pericardial effusions.

CONCLUSION

The ISRSFC is an excellent system for accurately classifying serous effusions with greater reproducibility of reports and better communication between pathologist and clinician.

Imaging of the chemotherapy-induced hepatic damage: Yellow liver, blue liver, and pseudocirrhosis

The liver is the major drug-metabolizing and drug-detoxifying organ. Many drugs can cause liver damage through various mechanisms; however, the liver response to injury includes a relatively narrow spectrum of alterations that, regardless of the cause, are represented by phlogosis, oxidative stress and necrosis. The combination of these alterations mainly results in three radiological findings: vascular alterations, structural changes and metabolic function reduction. Chemotherapy has changed in recent decades in terms of the drugs, protocols and duration, allowing patients a longer life expectancy. As a consequence, we are currently observing an increase in chemotherapy-associated liver injury patterns once considered unusual. Recognizing this form of damage in an early stage is crucial for reconsidering the therapy regimen and thus avoiding severe complications. In this frontier article, we analyze the role of imaging in detecting some of these pathological patterns, such as pseudocirrhosis, “yellow liver” due to chemotherapy-associated steatosis-steatohepatitis, and “blue liver”, including sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, veno-occlusive disease and peliosis.

Communicating imaging findings in peritoneal mesothelioma: the impact of 'PAUSE' on surgical decision-making

The peritoneal cavity is the second commonest site of mesothelioma after the pleural cavity. There are five histological types of peritoneal mesothelioma with variable symptomatology, clinical presentation and prognosis. Cystic mesothelioma is a borderline malignant neoplasm with a favourable prognosis, well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma is generally a low-grade malignancy, and all other varieties such as epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma are highly malignant types of peritoneal mesothelioma with poor prognosis. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma was considered inevitably fatal prior to the introduction of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in selected cases where long-term survival and cure could be achieved. However, the survival benefits following CRS and HIPEC mainly depend on completeness of cytoreduction, which come at the cost of high morbidity and potential mortality. Using the acronym 'PAUSE', we aimed at describing the key imaging findings that impact surgical decision-making in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. PAUSE stands for peritoneal cancer index, ascites and abdominal wall disease, unfavourable sites of involvement, small bowel and mesenteric disease and extraperitoneal disease. Reporting components of 'PAUSE' is crucial for patient selection. Despite limitations of CT in accurately depicting the volume of disease, describing findings in terms of PAUSE plays an important role in excluding patients who might not benefit from CRS and HIPEC.

Mesothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Exosomes in Peritoneal Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer

Most patients with ovarian cancer (OvCA) present peritoneal disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis. During peritoneal metastasis, cancer cells detach from the primary tumor and disseminate through the intraperitoneal fluid. The peritoneal mesothelial cell (PMC) monolayer that lines the abdominal cavity is the first barrier encountered by OvCA cells. Subsequent progression of tumors through the peritoneum leads to the accumulation into the peritoneal stroma of a sizeable population of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which is mainly originated from a mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT) process. A common characteristic of OvCA patients is the intraperitoneal accumulation of ascitic fluid, which is composed of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, miRNAs, and proteins contained in exosomes, as well as tumor and mesothelial suspended cells, among other components that vary in proportion between patients. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that have been shown to mediate peritoneal metastasis by educating a pre-metastatic niche, promoting the accumulation of CAFs via MMT, and inducing tumor growth and chemoresistance. This review summarizes and discusses the pivotal role of exosomes and MMT as mediators of OvCA peritoneal colonization and as emerging diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Pancreaticobiliary Malignancies in the Emergency Room: Management of Acute Complications and Oncological Emergencies

Background

Management of pancreaticobiliary (PB) malignancies remains a clinical challenge. In this review, we focus on the management of oncological emergencies in PB malignancies and the potential complication of associated therapeutic interventions.

Methods

Biobliographic review of current evidence on the management of oncological emergencies, their potential complications, as well as synthesis of recommendations was performed. The pathogenesis, frequency, related symptoms as well as appropriate investigations are presented.

Results

The oncologic emergencies in PB patients were summarised in six categories: (1) hematological (including febrile neutropaenia, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathies), (2) gastrointestinal (gastric outlet and biliary obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding), (3) thromboembolic events, (4) ascites, (5) metabolic disorders and (6) neurologic complications. The pathogenesis, frequency, related symptoms as well as appropriate investigations are also presented.

Conclusion

Patients with PB malignancies are at increased risk of a wide variation of medical emergencies. Clinical knowledge, early recognition and collaboration with the relevant specialties are critical to manage these complications effectively, tailoring overall management around the actual prognosis and individuals’ expectations.

Effectiveness of Cell-Free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy in the Treatment of Malignancy-Related Ascites: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary

Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) was a safe and effective palliative therapy in malignancy-related ascites. Abdominal distension, dyspnea, and fatigue were alleviated significantly after CART. The mean time to the next paracentesis was 20.7 days. In total, 17% of patients had improved performance status after CART.

Abstract

Background: Malignancy-related ascites (MRA) is one of the symptoms causing discomfort in advanced cancer patients. Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) is one of the palliative treatments widely conducted in Japan only. Methods: A systematic review following a meta-analysis of CART was performed. The efficiency and adverse events were evaluated. Results: A total of 2567 patients and 6013 procedures of CART were identified in this study. The mean volume of MRA collected was 4.29 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.47–5.11) L, and the volume reinfused after concentrating was 0.49 (95% CI 0.39–0.60) L. A total of 86.1 (95% CI 77.1–95.2) g protein and 42.9 (95% CI 36.0–50.0) g albumin was reinfused. The mean time to the next paracentesis was 20.7 (95% CI 15.6–25.8) days. The body weight was reduced by 3.38 (95% CI 1.90–4.86; p < 0.01) kg, and abdominal circumference was reduced by 7.86 (95% CI 6.58–9.14; p < 0.001) cm. Serum albumin increased an average of 0.14 (95% CI −0.01–0.28; p = 0.07) mg/dL the day after CART. Abdominal distension, dyspnea, and fatigue were alleviated by 6.0 (95% CI 5.59–6.51), 2.66 (95% CI 2.05–3.28), and 2.64 (95% CI 1.86–3.42) points using a numerical rating scale system ranging from 0 to 10. Overall, 17% (95% CI 0.03–0.31%) of patients had improved performance status after CART. Significant body temperature elevation was observed, at an average of 0.4 °C (95% CI 0.18–0.62 °C). Conclusions: CART might be a safe and effective palliative therapy in MRA and further clinical trials are necessary.

Management of Malignant Ascites by Indwelling Tunnelled Catheters in Indian Setup: A Case Series

Malignant Ascites (MA) poses significant symptom burden in patients with peritoneal malignancies at the end of life. Various treatment options are available and Indwelling Tunneled Catheters (ITC) have the advantage of increased patient comfort being soft on abdomen, less painful, easy to tap fluid, and less chances of infection etc. A total of 5 patients underwent insertion of ITC after proper counseling and assessment. Insertion was done in operation theatre under combined ultrasonogram and fluoroscopy guidance. Results: 4 out of 5 patients had favorable outcomes in terms of symptom free days spent at home at end of life. ITC’s are a suitable option to manage symptoms in patients with terminal malignant ascites. Careful patient selection and proper education of the caregivers will increase the success rates of procedures.

Early Weight Loss as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: Analyses from REGARD, RAINBOW, and RAINFALL Phase III Studies

BACKGROUND

Weight loss is common in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEA); however, the prognostic implications of weight loss during the first cycle (C1) of chemotherapy remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the impact of early weight loss during systemic treatment as a potential prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced G/GEA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a post hoc analysis of three phase III studies of ramucirumab. Patients were categorized into two groups: weight loss of ≥3% and <3% based on weight change during C1 (3-4 weeks) of treatment. OS by weight groups was assessed for each study and as a pooled meta-analysis. The effect of C1 weight change on patient survival was evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox models.

RESULTS

A total of 1,464 patients with weight data at the end of C1 were analyzed: REGARD (n = 311), RAINBOW (n = 591), and RAINFALL (n = 562). For all three studies, there were fewer patients in the weight loss ≥3% than <3% group. OS was numerically shorter for patients with weight loss of ≥3% than for patients with weight loss of <3% during C1 irrespective of treatment arm. Similar treatment independent effects of early weight loss on OS were observed in the meta-analysis. Overall, early weight loss ≥3% was associated with shorter survival in patients receiving active drug as well as placebo/best supportive care.

CONCLUSION

This large post hoc analysis demonstrated that weight loss of ≥3% during C1 was a negative prognostic factor for OS in patients with advanced G/GEA.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

This comprehensive analysis examining early weight loss during systemic treatment as a predictor of survival outcomes in patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEA) includes a large sample size, reliable on-treatment data reported in well-conducted phase III clinical trials, and global representation of cancer patients with advanced G/GEA. Understanding the impact of on-treatment weight loss is clinically relevant and may represent an opportunity for targeted interventions.

Malignant Ascites in Ovarian Cancer: Cellular, Acellular, and Biophysical Determinants of Molecular Characteristics and Therapy Response

Ascites refers to the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum resulting from an underlying pathology, such as metastatic cancer. Among all cancers, advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer is most frequently associated with the production of malignant ascites and is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. Despite decades of evidence showing that the accumulation of peritoneal fluid portends the poorest outcomes for cancer patients, the role of malignant ascites in promoting metastasis and therapy resistance remains poorly understood. This review summarizes the current understanding of malignant ascites, with a focus on ovarian cancer. The first section provides an overview of heterogeneity in ovarian cancer and the pathophysiology of malignant ascites. Next, analytical methods used to characterize the cellular and acellular components of malignant ascites, as well the role of these components in modulating cell biology, are discussed. The review then provides a perspective on the pressures and forces that tumors are subjected to in the presence of malignant ascites and the impact of physical stress on therapy resistance. Treatment options for malignant ascites, including surgical, pharmacological and photochemical interventions are then discussed to highlight challenges and opportunities at the interface of drug discovery, device development and physical sciences in oncology.

Prevalence and Clinical Implications of Ascites in Gastric Cancer Patients after Curative Surgery

We aimed to determine the frequency and clinical significance of ascites that developed during the follow-up period in patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer. The study included 577 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy. Among them, 184 showed ascites in postoperative follow-up images. Benign ascites was observed in 131 of 490 patients without recurrence, 48 patients (of 87) with recurrence had malignancy-related ascites, and the remaining 5 patients had ascites only prior to recurrence. In most patients without recurrence (97.7%) and in 50% of patients with malignancy-related ascites, the ascites was small in volume and located in the pelvic cavity at the time that it was first identified. However, with the exception of nine patients, malignancy-related pelvic ascites occurred simultaneously or after obvious recurrence. Of those nine patients who had minimal pelvic ascites before obvious recurrence, only one had a clear association with a malignancy-related ascites. In the multivariate analysis, an age of ≤45 was the only independent risk factor for the occurrence of benign ascites. A small volume of pelvic ascites fluid is common in young gastric cancer patients who do not have recurrence after gastrectomy, regardless of sex. It is rare for ascites to be the first manifestation of recurrence.

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of intraperitoneal effusions: The role of texture analysis

The morphological changes advocating for peritoneal carcinomatosis are inconsistent and may be visible only in later stages of the disease. However, malignant ascites represents an early sign, and this fluid exhibits specific histological characteristics. This study aimed to quantify the fluid properties on computed tomography (CT) images of intraperitoneal effusions through texture analysis and evaluate its utility in differentiating benign and malignant collections. Fifty-two patients with histologically proven benign (n=29) and malignant (n=23) intraperitoneal effusions who underwent CT examinations were retrospectively included. Texture analysis of the fluid component was performed on the non-enhanced phase of each examination using dedicated software. Fisher and the probability of classification error and average correlation coefficients were used to select two sets of ten texture features, whose ability to distinguish between the two types of collections were tested using a k-nearest-neighbor classifier. Also, each of the selected feature's diagnostic power was assessed using univariate and receiver operating characteristics analysis with the calculation of the area under the curve. The k-nearest-neighbor classifier was able to distinguish between the two entities with 71.15% accuracy, 73.91% sensitivity, and 68.97% specificity. The highest-ranked texture parameter was Inverse Difference Moment (p=0.0023; area under the curve=0.748), based on which malignant collections could be diagnosed with 95.65% sensitivity and 44.83% specificity. Although successful, the texture assessment of benign and malignant collections most likely does not reflect the cytological differences between the two groups.

'Rollover' abdominal paracentesis versus standard technique: protocol of a crossover randomized comparative trial

The sensitivity of single abdominal paracentesis for diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with malignant ascites is 40-70%. Tumor cells shed from the peritoneum settle preferentially in certain recesses of the peritoneum. We aim to compare the standard technique of abdominal paracentesis versus a rollover technique in a randomized crossover study to assess the cytological yield in patients suspected to have peritoneal carcinomatosis. Each patient will serve as their own control and the outcome assessor (cytopathologist) will be blinded to the method of paracentesis performed. The primary objective will be to compare the tumor cell positivity between the standard paracentesis group and the rollover group among enrolled patients. Clinical Trial registration: CTRI/2020/06/025887 and NCT04232384.

The Role of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Non-colorectal Peritoneal Surface Malignancies

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal carcinomatosis, from a variety of gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies, has been historically challenging to treat and there remains a wide range of biologic aggressiveness in these patients. Malignancies commonly associated with PC include those of colorectal, appendiceal, gastric, ovarian, sarcoma, small intestinal, and primary peritoneal origin among others. Advances in our understanding of this unique disease process have led to significant interest in cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) as an emerging treatment option. The goal of CRS-HIPEC is to remove all visible macroscopic disease while preserving organ function, and then treat microscopic disease through perfusion of the peritoneal cavity with heated chemotherapy.

PURPOSE

Although recent reviews have focused on the management of peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to colorectal cancer given the publication of several recent randomized controlled trials, the purpose of the current review is to summarize the evidence on CRS-HIPEC for non-colorectal peritoneal surface malignancies, including appendiceal neoplasms, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, gastric cancer, and ovarian cancer.

RESULTS

While retrospective studies have clarified the importance of prognostic factors such as the peritoneal carcinomatosis index, completeness of cytoreduction, histopathological characteristics, and lymph node positivity, the lack of convincing level 1 evidence for the use of CRS-HIPEC has led to it remaining a highly controversial topic.

CONCLUSION

The decision to utilize CRS-HIPEC should involve a multidisciplinary team approach and evaluation of prognostic factors to balance the short-term morbidity of the operation with maximum long-term benefits. Large, multi-institutional groups and ongoing trials hold promise for clarifying the role of CRS-HIPEC in peritoneal surface malignancies.

Identifying Actionable Causes of Potentially Avoidable Readmissions to an Oncology Service at a Safety Net Hospital

PURPOSE

Hospital readmissions occur commonly in those receiving cancer care and result in impaired quality of life and increased costs. Causes of readmission in safety net hospitals that serve vulnerable populations are not well understood. The primary goal of this project was to identify potentially avoidable and intervenable causes of readmissions to an urban safety net hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who were readmitted within 30 days of discharge from the hematology and oncology service at Boston Medical Center over the 6-month period between October 2018 and March 2019. Charts were reviewed by three internal medicine residents and discussed under the supervision of an attending oncologist.

RESULTS

Two hundred ninety-one patient encounters involving 203 unique patients were identified in the 6-month study period. Of these 291 encounters, 80 encounters (27.5%) were followed by a readmission within 30 days and occurred in 61 (30.0%) unique patients. Nineteen (31.1%) of these 61 patients experienced two readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Twenty-five readmissions (31.3%) were classified as potentially avoidable, with the most common cause of potentially avoidable readmissions attributed to ascitic or pleural fluid reaccumulation (8, 32%). The majority of presumed nonpreventable readmissions were due to expected complications of cancer progression and treatment-related side effects.

DISCUSSION

In conclusion, readmissions were common, and a modifiable reason for 30-day readmissions was identified. Addressing recurrent ascitic and pleural fluid reaccumulation in the outpatient setting could help to reduce inpatient hospital readmission on an inpatient oncology service.

A mouse model for peritoneal metastases of colorectal origin recapitulates patient heterogeneity

The peritoneum is a common site of dissemination in patients with colorectal cancer. In order to identify high-risk patients and improve therapeutic strategies, a better understanding of the peritoneal dissemination process and the reasons behind the high heterogeneity that is observed between patients is required. We aimed to create a murine model to further elucidate the process of peritoneal dissemination and to provide an experimental platform for further studies. We developed an in vivo model to assess patterns of peritoneal dissemination of 15 colorectal cancer cell lines. Immune deficient mice were intraperitoneally injected with 10,000 human colorectal cancer cells. Ten weeks after injection, or earlier in case of severe discomfort, the mice were sacrificed followed by dissection including assessment of the outgrowth and localization of peritoneal metastases. Furthermore, using a color-based clonal tracing method, the clonal dynamics of peritoneal nodules were observed. The different cell lines showed great variation in the extent of peritoneal outgrowth, ranging from no outgrowth to localized or widespread outgrowth of cells. An association between KRAS pathway activation and the formation of peritoneal metastases was identified. Also, cell line specific tumor location preferences were observed, with similar patterns of outgrowth in anatomically related areas. Furthermore, different patterns regarding clonal dynamics were found, varying from monoclonal or polyclonal outgrowth to extensively dispersed polyclonal lesions. The established murine model recapitulates heterogeneity as observed in human peritoneal metastases, which makes it a suitable platform for future (intervention) studies.

Discrimination of ascitic fluid infection in malignant ascites by polymorphonuclear neutrophil ratio and count: Investigating the validity of count ≥250/mm3 as the one-size-fits-all criterion

AIM

Neutrocytic ascites, traditionally defined as a polymorphonuclear neutrophil count ≥250/mm³ , is infrequently reported during paracenteses to relieve malignant ascites (MA). This study aims to explore new potential diagnostic criteria to discriminate ascitic fluid infection associated with MA and to examine the clinical and laboratory characteristics of neutrocytic ascites.

METHODS

The investigators retrospectively collected data on paracenteses to relieve MA at the Emergency Department of National Cancer Center, Korea, from January 2014 to February 2017. We analyzed the patients whose ascites fulfilled the traditional criteria for classification as neutrocytic ascites; polymorphonuclear neutrophils ≥250/mm³ with no history of either hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cirrhosis.

RESULTS

In total, 1467 patients underwent paracentesis to relieve MA. Excluding 98 follow-up paracenteses cases, 112 cases (8.2%) showed neutrocytic ascites. Of these 112 patients, 27 (24.1%) had positive culture results. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.90 (95% CI 0.82-0.95) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.78-0.92) for polymorphonuclear neutrophil ratio and count, respectively. The difference between the two AUCs was not statistically significant (P = .29). Moreover, the best cutoff points were 70% and 1500/mm³ for polymorphonuclear neutrophil ratio and count, respectively. In addition, extensive liver metastasis was a significant independent risk factor of MA associated with ascitic fluid infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Both polymorphonuclear neutrophil ratio and count had good discriminative abilities for culture results in MA. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil ratio was somewhat better despite lacking statistical significance compared to polymorphonuclear neutrophil count, with 70% as best cutoff.

Albumin-bilirubin grade as a prognostic indicator for patients with non-hepatocellular primary and metastatic liver malignancy undergoing Yttrium-90 radioembolization using resin microspheres

Background

Studies have shown that the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade can be a superior prognosticator for patients undergoing Yttrium-90 (Y90) glass microsphere radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to the Child-Pugh (CP) scoring system. Less is known about the applicability of this score in non-hepatocellular malignancies using Y90 resin microspheres. This study evaluates the ALBI grade's ability to predict overall survival and biochemical toxicity in patients undergoing resin Y90 radioembolization and body surface area dosimetry (BSA) for non-hepatocellular primary and metastatic liver malignancies compared to the CP class and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with intrahepatic metastatic colorectal and neuroendocrine cancers and cholangiocarcinoma undergoing resin radioembolization from 2006-2015 at a single tertiary medical center was performed. ALBI, MELD, and CP scores were compared and correlated with biochemical toxicity and overall survival.

Results

There was a significant difference in overall survival between CP class A and class B liver function (P=0.04) for the entire patient cohort. ALBI grade (P=0.36) and MELD score (P=0.19) were not independently associated with survival. When stratified by CP class, the ALBI grade revealed a trend for survival difference in CP class B (P=0.05). Baseline ALBI grade was associated with post-procedural albumin reduction (P=0.01) and bilirubin elevation (P=0.007).

Conclusions

ALBI grade predicted post-procedural biochemical toxicity, but did not predict survival after resin radioembolization of non-hepatocellular liver malignancies using BSA dosimetry. Given the heterogeneity of this study population, dedicated prospective analyses are required.

Ketone Bodies Attenuate Wasting in Models of Atrophy

BACKGROUND

Cancer Anorexia Cachexia Syndrome (CACS) is a distinct atrophy disease negatively influencing multiple aspects of clinical care and patient quality of life. Although it directly causes 20% of all cancer-related deaths, there are currently no model systems that encompass the entire multifaceted syndrome, nor are there any effective therapeutic treatments.

METHODS

A novel model of systemic metastasis was evaluated for the comprehensive CACS (metastasis, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue wasting, inflammation, anorexia, anemia, elevated protein breakdown, hypoalbuminemia, and metabolic derangement) in both males and females. Ex vivo skeletal muscle analysis was utilized to determine ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway activation. A novel ketone diester (R/S 1,3-Butanediol Acetoacetate Diester) was assessed in multifaceted catabolic environments to determine anti-atrophy efficacy.

RESULTS

Here, we show that the VM-M3 mouse model of systemic metastasis demonstrates a novel, immunocompetent, logistically feasible, repeatable phenotype with progressive tumor growth, spontaneous metastatic spread, and the full multifaceted CACS with sex dimorphisms across tissue wasting. We also demonstrate that the ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway was significantly upregulated in association with reduced insulin-like growth factor-1/insulin and increased FOXO3a activation, but not tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor-kappa B activation, driving skeletal muscle atrophy. Additionally, we show that R/S 1,3-Butanediol Acetoacetate Diester administration shifted systemic metabolism, attenuated tumor burden indices, reduced atrophy/catabolism and mitigated comorbid symptoms in both CACS and cancer-independent atrophy environments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest the ketone diester attenuates multifactorial CACS skeletal muscle atrophy and inflammation-induced catabolism, demonstrating anti-catabolic effects of ketone bodies in multifactorial atrophy.

Regulation of invasion and peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer by mesothelin manipulation

Peritoneal dissemination is a particular form of metastasis typically observed in ovarian cancer and the major cause for poor patient’s outcome. Identification of the molecular players involved in ovarian cancer dissemination can offer an approach to develop treatment strategies to improve clinical prognosis. Here, we identified mesothelin (MSLN) as a crucial protein in the multistep process of peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer. We demonstrated that MSLN is overexpressed in primary and matched peritoneal metastasis of high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSC). Using several genetically engineered ovarian cancer cell lines, resulting in loss or gain of function, we found that MSLN increased cell survival in suspension and invasion of tumor cells through the mesothelial cell layer in vitro. Intraperitoneal xenografts established with MSLN^high ovarian cancer cell lines showed enhanced tumor burden and spread within the peritoneal cavity. These findings provide strong evidences that MSLN is a key player in ovarian cancer progression by triggering peritoneal dissemination and provide support for further clinical investigation of MSLN as a therapeutic target in HGSC.

The Chicago Consensus on peritoneal surface malignancies: Palliative care considerations

The Chicago Consensus Working Group provides multidisciplinary recommendations for palliative care specifically related to peritoneal surface malignancies. These guidelines are developed with input from leading experts including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, palliative care physicians, and pharmacists. These guidelines recognize and address the emerging need for increased awareness in the appropriate management of peritoneal surface disease. They are not intended to replace the quest for higher levels of evidence.

Diagnostic impact of ascites cytology in 941 patients: malignancy rates and time of detection in ovarian cancer relative to other tumor types

BACKGROUND

Cytological analysis of ascitic fluid is an important tool for diagnosis, staging, and prognostic assessment in patients with cancer, but more detailed information is needed regarding malignancy rates and the time sequence in which ascites develops for different sites of cancer origin. Especially, an increased early tumor diagnosis may improve the acceptance for cytological examinations for the tumor patients in oncological practice.

METHODS

Ascites specimens from patients who were treated at Bayreuth Hospital from 2006 to 2015 were reevaluated retrospectively and correlated with clinical reports.

RESULTS

580 of all 941 ascitis specimens (61.6%) were from patients with malignancies with predominant appearance of gastrointestinal and gynecological tumors in 516/580 (89%) patients. Histologically, 549 (94.6%) were carcinomas, 23 (4%) hematological malignancies, 5 (0.9%) mesotheliomas and 3 (0.5%) were melanomas. Malignant ascitic fluid was noted in 298 of the 580 (51.4%) patients with cancer, thus the overall malignancy rate in the ascites specimens examined was 298/941 (31.7%). The most frequent malignancy rate for gynecological tumors we obtained in ovarian cancer with 85.7% and in the upper gastrointestinal tract with 77.8% for Barrett's carcinoma and 61,4% for gastric carcinoma. Regarding time of detection, malignant ascitic fluid was noted as a separate finding, prior or simultaneous to the histological diagnosis of cancer in 225/298 patients (75.5%). An outstanding earliest occurrence was found in ovarian carcinoma in 94.9% and in the gastrointestinal tract in pancreatic carcinoma in 66.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor staging was the main important clinical question in our single center study of ascitic fluid, especially for patients with gastrointestinal and gynecological malignomas. The highest malignancy rate and earliest time of tumor detection caused the leading importance for ovarian tumors in malignant ascitic fluid. Moreover, the application of immunostains in our study allowed in 75.5% of all tumor patients a correct initial diagnosis, which is important for further clinical therapy.

Cytohistological correlation in serous effusions using the newly proposed International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology: Experience of an oncological center

BACKGROUND

Cytological analysis is part of the initial etiological evaluation of serous effusions. The newly proposed International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology (ISRSFC) aims to standardize reporting.

METHODS

All pleural and peritoneal effusion samples admitted for cytological analysis at our institution between 2012 and 2016, and pericardial effusion samples admitted between 2008 and 2018, were reviewed and reclassified according to the ISRSFC. Risk of malignancy (ROM) and performance parameters were calculated.

RESULTS

1496 pleural effusion samples were reclassified: 12(0.8%) non-diagnostic (ND), 944(63.1%) negative for malignancy (NFM), 9(0.6%) atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), 54(3.6%) suspicious of malignancy (SFM) and 477(31.9%) malignant (M). 64 pericardial effusion samples were reclassified: 23(35.9%) NFM, 1(1.6%) AUS, 4(6.3%) SFM and 36(56.2%) M. 763 peritoneal effusion samples were reclassified: 5(0.7%) ND, 457(59.9%) NFM, 12(1.6%) AUS, 37(4.8%) SFM and 252(33%) M. The ROM was, respectively, for each of the aforementioned categories, 57.1%, 23.9%, 50%, 76.2%, 100% in pleural effusions, 100%, 26.3%, 62.5%, 91.7%, 100% in peritoneal effusions and 0% for NFM, 0% for AUS and 100% for M in pericardial effusions. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy were, respectively, 61.6%, 100%, 100%, 73.3%, 81.3% for pleural, 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 100% for pericardial and 61.2%, 100%, 100%, 70%, 79.7% for peritoneal effusion samples.

CONCLUSION

Serous effusion cytology has a high specificity and positive predictive value and a modest sensitivity and negative predictive value, supporting its role in confirming the diagnosis of malignancy. The ISRSFC will increase standardization and reproducibility in reporting, leading to improved clinical decision-making.

The Chicago Consensus on Peritoneal Surface Malignancies: Palliative Care Considerations

The Chicago Consensus Working Group provides multidisciplinary recommendations for palliative care specifically related to peritoneal surface malignancies. These guidelines are developed with input from leading experts including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, palliative care physicians, and pharmacists. These guidelines recognize and address the emerging need for increased awareness in the appropriate management of peritoneal surface disease. They are not intended to replace the quest for higher levels of evidence.

Type I IFN, Ly6C+ cells, and Phagocytes Support Suppression of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Elicited by a TLR and CLR Agonist Combination

Metastatic cancer involving spread to the peritoneal cavity is referred to as peritoneal carcinomatosis and has a very poor prognosis. Our previous study demonstrated a Toll-like receptor and C-type lectin receptor agonist pairing of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and trehalose-6,6'-dicorynomycolate (TDCM) effectively inhibits tumor growth and ascites development following TA3-Ha and EL4 challenge through a mechanism dependent on B-1a cell-produced natural IgM and complement. In this study, we investigated additional players in the MPL/TDCM-elicited response. MPL/TDCM treatment rapidly increased type I IFN levels in the peritoneal cavity along with myeloid cell numbers, including macrophages and Ly6C^hi monocytes. Type I IFN receptor (IFNAR1^-/-) mice produced tumor-reactive IgM following MPL/TDCM treatment, but failed to recruit Ly6C⁺ monocytes and were not afforded protection during tumor challenges. Clodronate liposome depletion of phagocytic cells, as well as targeted depletion of Ly6C⁺ cells, also ablated MPL/TDCM-induced protection. Cytotoxic mediators known to be produced by these cells were required for effects. TNFα was required for effective TA3-Ha killing and nitric oxide was required for EL4 killing. Collectively, these data reveal a model whereby MPL/TDCM-elicited antitumor effects strongly depend on innate cell responses, with B-1a cell-produced tumor-reactive IgM and complement pairing with myeloid cell-produced cytotoxic mediators to effectively eradicate tumors in the peritoneal cavity.

Drenaje peritoneal como tratamiento de la ascitis maligna, una revisión de la literatura

Introducción: La ascitis maligna es la acumulación anormal de fluido en la cavidad peritoneal como consecuencia de patologías como el cáncer, además es un factor desencadenante de clúster de síntomas (dolor, disnea, pérdida de apetito, náuseas, reducción a la movilidad y cambios en el aspecto físico) que se convierten en un problema clínico de difícil manejo. Dentro de los tratamientos encaminados al mejoramiento de esta condición se encuentra la paracentesis terapéutica, procedimiento médico cuya técnica se hace mediante drenaje y que en ocasiones se requiere practicar de manera repetitiva, pudiendo ser un síntoma refractario que conlleva al requerimiento de la implantación de un catéter peritoneal como una medida paliativa para el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida del paciente y su familia. Materiales y Métodos: Se realiza una revisión de la literatura existente, estableciéndose una búsqueda inicial donde se obtuvieron 747 artículos de los cuales se incluyen 277 potencialmente relevantes, a los que se le verificaron el cumplimiento de los criterios de inclusión, y posterior a la depuración de la información y de eliminar artículos duplicados y se incluyeron en la revisión los 8 estudios que cumplieron la totalidad de estos parámetros. Resultados: La técnica del catéter peritoneal es 100% exitosa, no presenta complicaciones inmediatas, óptima medida paliativa para los pacientes con ascitis refractaria permitiendo más de 30 días de durabilidad del dispositivo, además, de un fácil uso por profesionales, paciente y familia, permitiendo un manejo ambulatorio que disminuye costos, reingresos por complicaciones tardías potencialmente prevenibles e identificables como lo son filtración, desplazamiento, infecciones, oclusión del dispositivo hospitalarios y proporcionando confort y control de síntomas de manera inmediata. Discusión y Conclusiones: Con los resultados expuestos en la presente revisión se define el catéter peritoneal óptimo en el manejo de la ascitis maligna como medida paliativa. En el tratamiento de esta y de los demás síntomas desencadenados en pacientes con patologías oncológicas avanzadas, permitiendo un mejoramiento en la calidad de vida de las personas. Como citar este artículo: Fiscal LM, Salazar VE, Oviedo CP, Gavilán DM, Carmona X. Drenaje peritoneal como tratamiento de la ascitis maligna, una revisión de la literatura. Rev Cuid. 2020; 11(1): e919. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.919  

Use of Liquid Patient Ascites Fluids as a Preclinical Model for Oncolytic Virus Activity

The translational success of oncolytic virotherapies would benefit from the widespread use of clinically relevant ex vivo models. Malignant ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum due to disseminated cancer, recapitulates many features of the tumor microenvironment, making it a valuable model for studying oncolytic virus activity. Here, we describe a method for the separation and storage of cellular and acellular components of malignant ascites, followed by flow cytometric characterization of the cellular fraction. We then outline a simple experiment using whole ascites to assess the activity of a bispecific T cell engager (BiTE)-expressing oncolytic adenovirus.

Exploring Cancer Metabolism: Applications of Metabolomics and Metabolic Phenotyping in Cancer Research and Diagnostics

Altered metabolism is one of the key hallmarks of cancer. The development of sensitive, reproducible and robust bioanalytical tools such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry techniques offers numerous opportunities for cancer metabolism research, and provides additional and exciting avenues in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and for the development of more effective and personalized treatments. In this chapter, we introduce the current state of the art of metabolomics and metabolic phenotyping approaches in cancer research and clinical diagnostics.

Micronucleus and Its Significance in Effusion Fluids

Background:

Micronucleus (MN) is an extranuclear body within the cell formed due to failure of incorporation of whole chromosomes or their fragments during cell division. MN scoring can be done to identify malignant effusions.

Aims:

This study aimed to score micronuclei to distinguish malignant effusion from benign effusions and to correlate MN score with type of malignant effusion.

Methods and Materials:

A retrospective study was conducted on 30 malignant and 30 benign effusions. The number of micronucleated cells per 1,000 cells was counted in effusion smears stained with Papanicolaou stain under oil immersion (1,000×).

Results:

The mean MN score in malignant effusions was 3.77 with standard deviation (SD) of 2.13. The mean MN score in benign effusions was 0.50 with SD of 0.57. The difference in MN score between malignant and benign effusions is statistically significant (P < 0.001). A cut-off MN score of 6.5 was seen to distinguish malignant and benign effusions with 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity in this study.

Conclusions:

MN score is higher in malignant effusions when compared with benign effusions. This can be used to differentiate malignant effusions from benign effusions in low resource setting.

Evaluating unplanned readmission and prolonged length of stay following minimally invasive surgery for endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate risk factors for 30-day unplanned readmission and increased length of stay (LOS) following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for endometrial cancer.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, case-control study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess perioperative variables associated with readmission and increased LOS after MIS for endometrial cancer.

RESULTS

The study population included 10,840 patients who met the criteria of having undergone MIS with a resultant endometrial malignancy confirmed on postoperative pathology. Common reasons for readmission included organ/space surgical site infection (65 cases), sepsis/septic shock (19 cases), and venous thromboembolism (20 cases). Notable risk factors for readmission included (Odds Ratio, Confidence Interval, p-value): dialysis dependence (6.77, 2.51-17.80, <0.01), increased length of stay (3.00, 2.10-4.10, <0.01), and preoperative weight loss (2.80, 1.06-7.17, 0.03); notable risk factors for increased LOS: ascites (8.51, 2.00-36.33, <0.01), operation duration >5 h (6.93, 5.29-9.25, <0.01), and preoperative blood transfusion (5.37, 2.05-14.04, <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Identification of risk factors for adverse postoperative outcomes is necessary to inform and improve standards of care in MIS for endometrial cancer. Using nationally reported data from the ACS NSQIP, this study identifies independent risk factors for unplanned readmission and prolonged LOS, and in doing so, highlights potential avenues for quality improvement.

Targeted deep sequencing of cell-free DNA in serous body cavity fluids with malignant, suspicious, and benign cytology

BACKGROUND

Liquid biopsy using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) presents new opportunities for solid tumor genotyping. While studies have demonstrated the utility of cfDNA from plasma, cfDNA from other body fluids remains underexplored.

METHODS

We evaluated the molecular features and clinicopathologic correlates of cfDNA from serous body cavity fluids by performing hybrid capture-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) on cfDNA isolated from residual effusion supernatants. Twenty-one serous effusions from pleural (n = 15), peritoneal (n = 5), and pericardial (n = 1) cavity were analyzed.

RESULTS

The supernatants provided a median cfDNA concentration of 10.3 ng/µL. Notably, all effusions were sequenced successfully to a median depth >1000×, revealing a broad range of genetic alterations including single nucleotide variants, small insertions and deletions, amplifications, and fusions. Specifically, pathogenic alterations were identified in all malignant fluids (13/13), all fluids suspicious for malignancy (2/2), and 1 benign fluid (1/6) from a patient with metastatic cancer. To validate our findings, we examined matching results from 11 patients who underwent additional testing using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens. In 8 patients, the paired results between FFPE and supernatant testing were concordant, whereas in the remaining 3 patients, supernatant analysis identified additional variants likely associated with resistance to targeted therapies. Additional comparison between FFPE and supernatant testing showed no difference in DNA concentration (P = .5), depth of coverage (P = .6), or allele frequency of pathogenic mutations (P = .7).

CONCLUSION

cfDNA isolated from serous body cavity fluids represents a promising source of genomic input for targeted NGS.

Pancreatic cancer-A disease in need: Optimizing and integrating supportive care

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy that continues to be challenging to treat. PDAC has the lowest 5-year relative survival rate compared with all other solid tumor malignancies and is expected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States by 2030. Given the high mortality, there is an increasing role for concurrent anticancer and supportive care in the management of patients with PDAC with the aims of maximizing length of life, quality of life, and symptom control. Emerging trends in supportive care that can be integrated into the clinical management of patients with PDAC include standardized supportive care screening, early integration of supportive care into routine cancer care, early implementation of outpatient-based advance care planning, and utilization of electronic patient-reported outcomes for improved symptom management and quality of life. The most common symptoms experienced are nausea, constipation, weight loss, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal and back pain. This review article includes current supportive management strategies for these and others. Common disease-related complications include biliary and duodenal obstruction requiring endoscopic procedures and venous thromboembolic events. Patients with PDAC continue to have a poor prognosis. Systemic therapy options are able to palliate the high symptom burden but have a modest impact on overall survival. Early integration of supportive care can lead to improved outcomes.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer

The management of peritoneal metastases from gastric cancer origin has evolved considerably over the last three decades with the establishment of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) as efficacious therapies in carefully selected patients. Other approaches such as the use of prophylactic/adjuvant HIPEC in patients who are considered high-risk and those with positive peritoneal cytology will benefit from additional data before being adopted into routine clinical practice. Lastly, there are new and emerging intraperitoneal chemotherapy techniques such as early post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) for residual microscopic disease, and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy (PIPAC) for patients with advanced unresectable peritoneal carcinomatosis, which are currently under evaluation in clinical trials. The following review outlines the natural history of gastric cancer, currently available neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies for resectable disease, and existing evidence supporting various approaches to CRS and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

"Pleurex Desalination" in Malignancy-related Ascites: A Novel Mechanism of Hyponatremia

OBJECTIVE

Pleurex catheters are a form of palliative therapy for patients, offering relief from symptomatic ascites while also affording greater independence and flexibility; however, aggressive drainage can lead to significant total body sodium losses. We describe the course of patients with "Pleurex desalination," an under-appreciated cause of hypovolemic hyponatremia, highlighting its unique pathophysiology and providing recommendations on how to manage these complex patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included representative patients with "Pleurex desalination" who were evaluated and treated by the renal consult service at Brigham and Women's between 2017 and 2019.

RESULTS

We identified 3 patients who were hospitalized with "Pleurex desalination" and had complete data on serum and urine studies, as well as treatment course. We demonstrate that patients with "Pleurex desalination" were removing up to 1 to 2 L of ascitic fluid a day and were admitted with signs and symptoms of profound hypovolemia and hyponatremia. Patients worsened with administration of diuretics and salt restriction and improved with aggressive fluid resuscitation in the form of hypertonic saline, normal saline, and/or intravenous albumin.

CONCLUSION

"Pleurex desalination" is an under-recognized cause of hyponatremia; at-risk patients require close observation and periodic resuscitation with intravenous, volume-expanding fluids.

Determination of the optimal volume of ascitic fluid for the precise diagnosis of malignant ascites

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal volume of peritoneal effusion required to diagnose malignant ascites.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The authors recruited 123 patients with shifting dullness and obtained 123 peritoneocentesis fluid samples. The samples were divided into seven aliquots of 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mL for cytopathological examination. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated for each aliquot.

RESULTS

The sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant ascites gradually increased as the sample volume increased and reached a constant value at a volume of 200 mL. The sensitivity and NPV for the 10-, 100-, and 150-mL volumes were significantly different from those for the 200-mL sample. However, the sensitivity and NPV for the 250- and 300-mL volumes were not significantly different. The sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant ascites is closely related to the volume of peritoneal fluid that is extracted by peritoneocentesis.

CONCLUSION

We suggest a volume of 200 mL as the optimal minimum volume to confirm malignant ascites in patients with shifting dullness.

Discordance in HER2 status between primary gastric adenocarcinoma tumors and cells from the corresponding malignant effusions

BACKGROUND

Metastasis of gastric cancer commonly manifests as a malignant effusion, which presents an alternative cell source for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status identification. This study aimed to compare HER2 status in primary gastric adenocarcinoma tumors and corresponding cell blocks prepared from malignant effusions (CB-MEs).

METHODS

HER2 status was retrospectively evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in primary gastric adenocarcinomas and paired pathologically confirmed CB-MEs of 45 patients. Silver in situ hybridization (SISH) was also performed in cases with IHC 2+ for primary gastric adenocarcinomas and above IHC 1+ for CB-MEs.

RESULTS

HER2 positivity was observed in 4.4% (2/45) of primary gastric adenocarcinomas and 6.7% (3/45) of CB-MEs. The HER2 concordance rate between primary gastric adenocarcinomas and CB-MEs was 88.9% (40/45) (κ = - 0.056). All five patients with HER2 positivity in the primary tumor or a CB-ME had a negative result in the corresponding paired sample. Of the 15 patients with two or more serially sampled CB-MEs, HER2 expression determined by IHC differed between each CB-ME in six (40%) patients, and all three patients with HER2 positivity in CB-MEs exhibited HER2 positivity in one of the serially sampled CB-MEs.

CONCLUSIONS

The HER2 positivity rate was very low in gastric cancer patients with malignant effusions. Our results suggest that HER2 positivity was discordant between the primary gastric adenocarcinoma and corresponding CB-MEs and among serially sampled CB-MEs. The possibility of detecting HER2 positivity can be improved if the primary gastric adenocarcinoma tumor as well as all the available CB-MEs from each patient are analyzed.

Gastric Cancer Presenting as Isolated Ascites: A Diagnostic Challenge

Malignant ascites is a rare first manifestation of gastric carcinoma and is usually associated with symptoms which include early satiety, abdominal pain and deteriorating clinical state. The authors describe the case of a male patient presenting with malignant ascites of rapid onset which was the sole presentation of gastric cancer, highlighting the importance of upper gastric endoscopy even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Point of care ultrasound in thoracic malignancy

Ultrasonography is a safe, efficient and cost-effective mode of imaging that can assist clinicians with important treatment decisions and provide procedural guidance. Today, point of care ultrasound plays an essential role in the assessment of benign and malignant conditions of chest, both in the outpatient and inpatient setting. Small, ultra-portable, affordable units can now be carried in the coat pocket. Advanced lung cancer, metastatic diseases to the lungs or thoracic malignancies can present with pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, post-obstructive pneumonia, or ascites that can be assessed by the clinician with ultrasound. It can be used to evaluate the extent of thoracic tumors beyond the parenchyma to the parietal pleura or chest wall, assess cervical, supraclavicular lymphadenopathy prior to fine needle aspiration or to determine venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with malignancy. Thoracic ultrasound is currently being practiced by the pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons and intensivists to provide guidance during placement of pleural catheters, chest tubes or to evaluate the pleural cavity before thoracoscopy. Point of care ultrasound can improve efficiency in procedures by decreasing complications, increasing success and reducing financial strain on the health care system.

Are we ready to develop a tiered scheme for the effusion cytology? A comprehensive review and analysis of the literature

BACKGROUND

Cytology is widely utilized in the initial evaluation of fluid accumulation in the body cavities. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of cytology in distinguishing between benign and malignant (MAL) effusions.

METHODS

A comprehensive and systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of serous effusion cytology (SEC) against tissue biopsy/resection histology, imaging, or clinical follow-up as the reference test. Risk of publication bias and level of heterogeneity in the included studies was assessed. Meta-regression was performed to assess the effect of various variables on the accuracy of SEC.

RESULTS

Eighty studies met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis comprising of 34 941 samples; of which 52 (0.2%), 22 202 (72.7%), 194 (0.6%), 711 (2.3%), and 6507 (21.3%) could be reclassified as nondiagnostic (ND), negative for malignancy (NFM), atypical (atypia of uncertain significance-AUS), suspicious for malignancy (SFM), and malignant (MAL), respectively. On follow-up, the mean risk of malignancy for ND, NFM, AUS, SFM, MAL was 17.4%, 20.7%, 65.9%, 81.8%, and 98.9%, respectively. A total of 73 studies were included in estimating the diagnostic accuracy of SEC. The bivariate mixed-effect model estimated the SEC sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio as 73.1%, 99.9%, 7850.6%, 2112.2%, and 0.27%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Serous effusion cytology shows high specificity and moderate sensitivity in the evaluation of serous effusions. A tiered classification scheme can improve the consistency of terminology for reporting SEC results, thus improving communication between the pathologists and clinical team, and quality of patient care.

Causes and Clinical Profiles of Ascites at University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Ascites is a common clinical condition encountered by physicians in day-to-day practice. It is caused by various underlying diseases. Knowing the etiologies is vital because further investigations and definitive treatment largely rely on the specific disease entity considered.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of causes of ascites and complications among patients with ascites from the medical department at the University of Gondar Hospital.

Methods

Data on sociodemography, major symptoms, and signs, risk factors, past medical illnesses, and results of important investigations were collected using pretested questionnaires among all patients with ascites in the University of Gondar Hospital in a sample size of 52. Data were collected by well-trained physicians and analyzed by using SPSS 16. Results were depicted descriptively with measures of central tendency, dispersion, and using tables and graphs.

Results

A total of 52 patients were included in this study from November 1, 2018 to March 30, 2019. Thirty (57.7%) of them were males and the majority (77%) of the participants were fifty years old or younger. The mean age was 43.8 (± 14). The majority (86.5%) of the participants were from a rural area. Thirty-eight (73%) patients take alcohol occasionally while 11(21.2%) patients take alcohol frequently or massively. Eight (15.4%) patients reported a history of multiple sexual partners. Herbal medicine use was reported by 28 patients (53.8%). Only 5 (9.6%) patients were overweight. Chronic liver disease (CLD) was the major cause of ascites in this study in 24 (46.2%) patients. The other main causes of ascites were heart failure from various causes (19.2%), tuberculosis and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis contributing to 11.5% each and chronic kidney disease (5.8%). Five (20.8%) CLD patients had spontaneous bacterial peritonitis as a complication. Five (20.8%) and 4 (16.7%) CLD patients had hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic encephalopathy as complications, respectively. Nine (17.3%) patients had variceal bleeding; six of the patients were diagnosed to have CLD while the remaining patients were having hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, liver cirrhosis is the major cause of ascites in Gondar, Ethiopia, while chronic viral hepatitis infections (hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses) are the main causes of liver cirrhosis. The other major causes included heart failure, tuberculosis, and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. It is wise to consider and give priority to these diseases whenever one is evaluating a patient with ascites.

Use of the term atypical cells in the reporting of ascitic fluid cytology: A caveat

Background

Abdominal paracentesis is a routine diagnostic procedure for assessment of patients with recent onset or worsening of ascites.

Objectives

The objective of the study is to (1) review clinically confirmed cases of malignancy with negative, atypical, and suspicious cytology reports and provide reasoning for discrepancies and (2) recalculate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values after review.

Materials and Methods

Papanicolaou smears of ascitic fluid paracentesis samples received over one calendar year were reviewed retrospectively by an expert in cytopathology blinded to the final clinical and/or histopathological diagnoses. Cases with discrepancies after review were noted. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated before and after review of slides. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.

Results

Malignant etiology was identified in 49/115 cases (42.6%) with female genital tract being the most common site of malignancy (22, 44.8%). The remaining 66 (57.4%) had a benign etiology with hepatic cirrhosis in 42 cases (63.6%). A review revealed discrepancies in five cases, three of which were earlier called negative for malignant cells (one case each of ovarian adenocarcinoma, cecal adenocarcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma). Two cases of ovarian adenocarcinoma that were reported as atypical/reactive mesothelial hyperplasia showed malignant cells upon review. Sensitivity and specificity after review were 69.4% and 100%, respectively, with 100% positive predictive value.

Conclusion

Being a minimally invasive procedure, abdominal paracentesis continues to be an important diagnostic tool in guiding patient management. A proper morphological assessment with adequate clinical information and correlation with other investigations can be used to arrive at a definitive diagnosis in most cases. The term "atypical" can be misleading and is often used for want of clinical information and is best avoided.

Palliation of malignant ascites

Malignant ascites (MA) carries a poor prognosis. It can have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL), with increasing abdominal distention, pain, and dyspnea. Diuretics typically do not work well for MA. Paracentesis is effective in providing temporary symptom relief but requires frequent repeat procedures. Options for durable symptom management include indwelling catheters, peritoneal ports, peritoneovenous shunts, intraperitoneal (i.p.) catumaxomab, and hyperthermic i.p. chemotherapy. These interventions do not necessarily improve overall survival but may improve QOL.