Synchronous cancers of the esophagus and the ampulla of Vater after distal gastrectomy: successful removal of the esophagus, gastric remnant, duodenum, and pancreatic head

Combined two-stage total pancreatoduodenectomy and esophagectomy for synchronous malignancy of the pancreatic corpus and the esophagus: A surgical case report

INTRODUCTION

Synchronous visceral malignancy is rare especially for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma combined with malignancy in the pancreas. So far only 7 cases of combined partial pancreatoduodenectomy and esophagectomy for synchronous malignancy have been described in the literature and none for combined total pancreatectomy and esophagectomy.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report the case of a 67-year-old male patient, who underwent multi-modality treatment including two-stage total pancreatoduodenectomy and subsequent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for synchronous adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and pancreatic multilocal metastases of a renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy 17 years ago. Pathology revealed R0 resections for both malignancies and there were no postoperative complications. A 12 months follow-up showed no signs of recurrence and a good quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Curative-intent, combined oncological two-stage open total pancreatoduodenectomy and esophagectomy with several days interval is safe and feasible in selected cases when performed by an experienced interdisciplinary team in a high-volume surgical center.

Synchronous primary duodenal papillary adenocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Synchronous primary cancers (SPCs) have become increasingly frequent over the past decade. However, the coexistence of duodenal papillary and gallbladder cancers is rare, and such cases have not been previously reported in the English literature. Here, we describe an SPC case with duodenal papilla and gallbladder cancers and its diagnosis and successful management.

CASE SUMMARY

A 68-year-old Chinese man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of dyspepsia for the past month. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen performed at the local hospital revealed dilatation of the bile and pancreatic ducts and a space-occupying lesion in the duodenal papilla. Endoscopy revealed a tumor protruding from the duodenal papilla. Pathological findings for the biopsied tissue revealed tubular villous growth with moderate heterogeneous hyperplasia. Surgical treatment was selected. Macroscopic examination of this surgical specimen revealed a 2-cm papillary tumor and another tumor protruding by 0.5 cm in the gallbladder neck duct. Intraoperative rapid pathology identified adenocarcinoma in the gallbladder neck duct and tubular villous adenoma with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and local canceration in the duodenal papilla. After an uneventful postoperative recovery, the patient was discharged without complications.

CONCLUSION

It is essential for clinicians and pathologists to maintain a high degree of suspicion while evaluating such synchronous cancers.

Revealing the transcriptional heterogeneity of organ-specific metastasis in human gastric cancer using single-cell RNA Sequencing

BACKGROUND

Deciphering intra- and inter-tumoural heterogeneity is essential for understanding the biology of gastric cancer (GC) and its metastasis and identifying effective therapeutic targets. However, the characteristics of different organ-tropism metastases of GC are largely unknown.

METHODS

Ten fresh human tissue samples from six patients, including primary tumour and adjacent non-tumoural samples and six metastases from different organs or tissues (liver, peritoneum, ovary, lymph node) were evaluated using single-cell RNA sequencing. Validation experiments were performed using histological assays and bulk transcriptomic datasets.

RESULTS

Malignant epithelial subclusters associated with invasion features, intraperitoneal metastasis propensity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition-induced tumour stem cell phenotypes, or dormancy-like characteristics were discovered. High expression of the first three subcluster-associated genes displayed worse overall survival than those with low expression in a GC cohort containing 407 samples. Immune and stromal cells exhibited cellular heterogeneity and created a pro-tumoural and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Furthermore, a 20-gene signature of lymph node-derived exhausted CD8+ T cells was acquired to forecast lymph node metastasis and validated in GC cohorts. Additionally, although anti-NKG2A (KLRC1) antibody have not been used to treat GC patients even in clinical trials, we uncovered not only malignant tumour cells but one endothelial subcluster, mucosal-associated invariant T cells, T cell-like B cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils may contribute to HLA-E-KLRC1/KLRC2 interaction with cytotoxic/exhausted CD8+ T cells and/or natural killer (NK) cells, suggesting novel clinical therapeutic opportunities in GC. Additionally, our findings suggested that PD-1 expression in CD8+ T cells might predict clinical responses to PD-1 blockade therapy in GC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided insights into heterogeneous microenvironment of GC primary tumours and organ-specific metastases and provide support for precise diagnosis and treatment.

Combined one-stage esophagectomy and duodeno-pancreatectomy for synchronous cancers of the esophagus and pancreatic ampulla in an elderly patient

BACKGROUND

We report the case of a 77-year-old patient, who underwent multi-modality treatment including single-stage radical oesophagectomy and duodeno-pancreatectomy for a synchronous adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus and adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

METHODS

The ampulloma was diagnosed incidentally during the work-up of the symptomatic esophageal cancer. After induction chemo-radiation of the oesophageal cancer (CROSS regimen), a single-stage radical resection of the esophagus, total gastrectomy and a cephalic duodeno-pancreatectomy was performed. Intestinal reconstruction was done by a right coloplasty with esophago-colic anastomosis in the upper chest and distally to the Roux-en-Y (Child) used for reconstruction of the hepato-biliary tract. Adjuvant chemotherapy was proposed due to the unexpectedly advanced stage of the ampullary cancer (pT4N1M0) and was completed uneventfully despite the magnitude of the preceding surgery.

RESULTS

According to our literature review, this is the first report of a successfully completed tri-modality treatment with combined single-stage oesophagectomy and Whipple procedure in an elderly (>75 years). Functional and metabolic outcome was satisfactory until cancer recurrence due to liver metastasis of bilio-pancreatic origin. The patient is alive 2 years post-operatively.

CONCLUSION

Single-stage radical resection of the oesophagus and a cephalic duodeno-pancreatectomy can be more considered for synchronous cancers even in elderly patient.

Successful minimally invasive two-stage operation for rare synchronous cancers of the esophagus and the pancreatic head: A case report

We report the case of a 70-year-old woman with synchronous advanced esophageal cancer and pancreatic head cancer. To reduce the surgical invasiveness, we performed a two-stage operation that included percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and minimally invasive esophagectomy. In the first stage, we performed a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, a thoracoscopic esophagectomy with cervical and mediastinal lymph node dissection, and an esophagostomy without a laparotomy. The second stage, which was performed 28 days after the first operation, consisted of a total gastrectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, colonic reconstruction, and jejunostomy. Fifty days after the second operation, the patient was discharged from the hospital. A two-stage operation that includes minimally invasive esophagectomy seems to be useful for avoiding serious postoperative complications, even in patients with rare, synchronous advanced cancers of the esophagus and the pancreatic head.

Synchronous resection of esophageal cancer and other organ malignancies: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Neoplasms arising in the esophagus may coexist with other solid organ or gastrointestinal tract neoplasms in 6% to 15% of patients. Resection of both tumors synchronously or in a staged procedure provides the best chances for long-term survival. Synchronous resection of both esophageal and second primary malignancy may be feasible in a subset of patients; however, literature on this topic remains rather scarce.

AIM

To analyze the operative techniques employed in esophageal resections combined with gastric, pancreatic, lung, colorectal, kidney and liver resections and define postoperative outcomes in each case.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched the Medline database for cases of patients with esophageal tumors coexisting with a second primary tumor located in another organ that underwent synchronous resection of both neoplasms. All English language articles deemed eligible for inclusion were accessed in full text. Exclusion criteria included: (1) Hematological malignancies; (2) Head/neck/pharyngeal neoplasms; (3) Second primary neoplasms in the esophagus or the gastroesophageal junction; (4) Second primary neoplasms not surgically excised; and (5) Preclinical studies. Data regarding the operative strategy employed, perioperative outcomes and long-term outcomes were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The systematic literature search yielded 23 eligible studies incorporating a total of 117 patients. Of these patients, 71% had a second primary neoplasm in the stomach. Those who underwent total gastrectomy had a reconstruction using either a colonic (n = 23) or a jejunal (n = 3) conduit while for those who underwent gastric preserving resections (i.e., non-anatomic/wedge/distal gastrectomies) a conventional gastric pull-up was employed. Likewise, in cases of patients who underwent esophagectomy combined with pancreaticoduodenectomy (15% of the cohort), the decision to preserve part of the stomach or not dictated the reconstruction method (whether by a gastric pull-up or a colonic/jejunal limb). For the remaining patients with coexisting lung/colorectal/kidney/liver neoplasms (14% of the entire patient population) the types of resections and operative techniques employed were identical to those used when treating each malignancy separately.

CONCLUSION

Despite the poor quality of available evidence and the great interstudy heterogeneity, combined procedures may be feasible with acceptable safety and satisfactory oncologic outcomes on individual basis.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy with preservation of gastric tube blood flow after esophagectomy: Report of a case

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We performed a pancreaticoduodenectomy in which the gastroduodenal artery was preserved.

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The patient who had previously undergone esophagectomy, was diagnosed as middle bile duct cancer.

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In order to prevent gastric tube ischemia, the gastroduodenal artery and gastroepiploic artery had to be preserved.

INTRODUCTION

During pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) is commonly divided. In this study, we described the clinical features of PD in which the GDA was preserved in order to avoid gastric tube ischemia in a patient who had previously undergone esophagectomy.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 70-year-old man had previously undergone esophagectomy. Esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction were performed 10 years earlier due to superior thoracic esophageal cancer. The patient was referred to our hospital for the treatment of obstructive jaundice and was diagnosed with middle bile duct cancer. We performed PD and preserved the GDA. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the gastric tube continued functioning well.

DISCUSSION

In a patient with a prior esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction, the blood flow to the gastric tube is supplied only by the GDA via the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA). Therefore, we carefully chose a technique that would preserve the GDA and avoid gastric tube ischemia. Oncologically, this procedure may be debatable because the efficiency of lymph node dissection along the GDA and RGEA may be compromised. PD involving GDA preservation in common bile duct (CBD) cancer may be acceptable because the CBD is behind the pancreatic head, and the CBD lymph flows into the para-aorta lymph nodes behind the pancreas.

CONCLUSION

This procedure is suitable for patients who have previously undergone esophagectomy and this procedure prevents digestive function disorders. Using this method, preoperative angiographic assessment and meticulous surgical technique may lead to successful outcomes.

Management of synchronous adenocarcinoma of the esophago-gastric junction and ampulla of Vater: case report of a surgically challenging condition

We report herein a case of a synchronous presentation of an adenocarcinoma of esophagago-gastric junction type II and an ampullary tumor that was treated by combined Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy, total gastrectomy and esophagectomy. The magnitude of this operation was safely achieved with meticulous surgical techniques and perioperative care without any major short or long term complications. Patient returned to a good quality of life at six-month follow up with no further gastrointestinal symptoms or evidence of disease recurrence.

Satisfactory long-term results after simultaneous resection of the esophagus, stomach and pancreas

PURPOSE

Surgical procedures for esophageal cancer and chronic pancreatitis are demanding and still characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Cases of one-stage combined operations on the pancreas and esophagus with a long-term follow-up are rarely reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with a Barrett's carcinoma and an 8-year history of severe chronic pancreatitis complicated with multiple episodes of cholangitis and resistant to conservative treatment.

RESULTS

After a successful one-stage operation consisting of esophagogastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy, a 30-month disease-free follow-up with a good quality of life has been observed.

CONCLUSION

Complicated surgical procedures such as one-stage multiple organ resections may offer, in selected cases, satisfactory long-term results, provided that patients are treated at a high-volume center by a multidisciplinary team.

Clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma patients with other primary carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Multiple primary carcinomas are increasingly being found because of the development of diagnostic techniques and the increasing incidence of early stage carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma patients with other primary carcinomas.

METHODS

There were 65 (incidence 2.6%) gastric carcinoma patients with other primary carcinomas compared with 2,444 patients with gastric carcinoma alone.

RESULTS

Associated primary carcinomas were often found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially in the colon (33.8%). In patients with gastric carcinoma only, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was the most common (43.2%), followed by moderately and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Similarly, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (33.8%) was also the prevalent histological type in gastric carcinoma patients with other primary carcinomas, although its incidence was lower. The stage of gastric carcinoma did not differ between the two groups. The estimated 5-year survival rate was 51.6% for patients with gastric carcinoma alone, and 50.7% for those with other primary carcinomas; the difference was not significant (P=0.82).

CONCLUSION

Gastric carcinoma should be treated aggressively, since the prognosis of gastric carcinoma patients treated for other primary carcinomas is not poorer than that of patients treated for gastric carcinoma alone.

Long-term effect on carcinoma of esophagus of distal subtotal gastrectomy

AIM: To investigate the surgical treatment and long-term survival for patients with carcinoma of esophagus after distal subtotal gastrectomy.

METHODS: Resections of the tumor through left thoracotomy were performed in 85 patients with esophageal carcinoma following distal subtotal gastrectomy. The procedure involved preserving the left short gastric artery and transporting the residual stomach, the spleen and tail of the pancreas into the left thoracic cavity, and using the residual stomach to reconstruct the alimentary tract.

RESULTS: The resectable rate was 91.8%, complication rate 10.3%, and no death occurred in the postoperative period. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 85.7%, 50.7%, 30.6% and 18.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Surgical resection is the optimal management method for the patients with esophageal carcinoma after distal subtotal gastrectomy. The reconstruction of digestive tract using anastomosis of the esophagus and the residual stomach is not only simple but also can achieve a better curative effect, promoting the digestive function and improving the quality of life.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum in the elderly: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 17 cases

Seventeen cases of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma occurring in the elderly (older than 65 years) were examined to clarify their clinicopathological features and biological behavior. The mean age was 77.4 years (range, 66-104), and there was no appreciable difference in the incidence between the sexes (female: male ratio, 8: 9). Thirteen patients had tumors located in the first portion of the duodenum, three in the second portion and one in the third portion. Grossly, there were three varieties of lesions: six polypoid, four flat-elevated and seven ulcerative-invasive. Sixteen cases showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, three of which were difficult to distinguish from adenoma, and one was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Three of 16 tumors had poor differentiation in the invasive area, whereas mucosal lesions were well differentiated. Eight tumors had invaded the duodenal wall with occasional involvement of the pancreas. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated p53 protein overexpression in two intramucosal (22.2%) and five invasive (62.5%) cancers. In the intramucosal area the mean Ki-67-positive rate (PR) of the tumors with distant metastasis was significantly higher than that of the tumors without metastasis (46.0 vs 31.6%; P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the association between PR and gross feature or depth of the tumors. Clinical follow-up showed three of the five patients with invasive cancer died of carcinoma within 28 months. Compared with published data from other investigators, the results of the present study indicate a proximal shift of duodenal carcinoma in the elderly. Furthermore, it is concluded that invasive duodenal adenocarcinomas with high PR should be considered as potentially aggressive tumors, although their histology may indicate a high degree of differentiation.