Linitis plastica presenting two years after elective Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for treatment of morbid obesity: a case report and review of the literature

Foregut Malignancy After Metabolic Surgery: a Literature Review

Obesity is known to be epidemiologically associated with malignancy. Although there is an increasing global number of bariatric surgeries, the relationship between bariatric surgery and esophagogastric cancers is not well understood. Diagnosis of esophagogastric cancers following bariatric surgery is challenging because the presentation tends to be nonspecific and may be perceived as usual postoperative symptoms in bariatric patients. Therefore, the early diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. In addition, endoscopic investigation of the excluded stomach after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or a one-anastomosis gastric bypass is technically challenging, which further complicates the diagnosis. The aim of this study is to review the current evidence in the literature on esophagogastric cancers following bariatric surgery.

Gastric Cancer After Bariatric Surgeries

Bariatric surgery has been covered by medical insurance in Korea, since January 2019; and its number is steadily increasing. Representative bariatric surgeries include adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Each surgical method can be applied according to the patient's condition; however, there are other issues to consider in Korea. Because of the high incidence of gastric cancer in Korea, gastroscopy is recommended every two years after the age of 40. Therefore, it is difficult to perform conventional gastroscopy after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. In this review, the incidence of gastric cancer after representative bariatric surgery was investigated through a literature review, so that it could be used as a reference for the selection of bariatric surgery in Korea.

Gastroesophageal Cancer After Gastric Bypass Surgeries: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Data comparing the occurrence of gastroesophageal cancer after gastric bypass procedures are lacking and are only available in the form of case reports. We perform in this study a systematic review and a meta-analysis of all the reported cases of gastroesophageal cancer following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and loop gastric bypass-one anastomosis gastric bypass/mini gastric bypass (LGB-OAGB/MGB). We conducted a systematic review of all the reported cases in articles referenced in PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, and Scholar Google. Only cases of gastro-esophageal adenocarcinoma following RYGB or LGB-OAGB/MGB are included. Statistical analysis was done accordingly. Fifty cases were identified, along with 2 reported in this paper. Sixty-one percent (27/44) of the cancers after RYGB were in the gastric tube compared to 37.5% (3/8) after LGB-OAGB/MGB. This resulted in an odds ratio of 0.38 (p-value = 0.26), which failed to prove an increase in cancer occurrence in the gastric tube after LGB-MGB/OAGB compared to RYGB. The most common symptoms were dysphagia for cancers occurring in the gastric tube (15/30) and abdominal pain for those occurring in the excluded stomach (10/22). Twenty-nine/thirty of the cancers in the gastric tube were diagnosed by gastroscopy and 13/22 of the cancers in the excluded stomach were diagnosed by CT scan. Gastroesophageal cancers after gastric bypass procedures occur commonly in the excluded stomach where many are not identified by conventional means. Physician awareness and patient education as well as lifelong follow-up are essential for maintaining bypass surgeries on the beneficial side.

Remnant Gastric Cancer After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Narrative Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most commonly performed procedures for surgical weight loss. It has been shown that overweight may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. However, the risk of remnant gastric cancer after RYGB has not been defined yet and the development of neoplasm in the excluded stomach remains a matter of concern.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were consulted. Articles that described the diagnosis and management of remnant gastric cancer after RYGB were considered.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were included. The age of the patient population ranged from 38 to 71 years. The most commonly reported symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and anemia. Abdominal computed tomography was used for diagnosis in the majority of patients. The neoplasm was located in the antrum/pre-pyloric region in 70% of cases and adenocarcinoma was the most common tumor histology (80%). An advanced tumor stage (III-IV) was diagnosed in almost 70% of patients and 40% were considered unresectable. Gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed in 9 cases (53%). Post-operative morbidity was 12%. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 26 months and the overall disease-related mortality rate was 33.3%.

CONCLUSION

The development of remnant gastric cancer after RYGB is rare. Surgeons should be aware of this potential event and the new onset of epigastric pain, nausea, and anemia should raise clinical suspicion. Further epidemiologic studies are warranted to deeply investigate the post-RYGB-related risk of remnant gastric cancer development in high-risk populations.

Gastro-Intestinal Tract Cancers Following Bariatric Surgery: a Narrative Review

The association between obesity and malignancies has been identified epidemiologically. Meanwhile, the increasing global number of bariatric surgeries is reported annually; bariatric surgery's effect on different types of cancers is not well understood. Unfortunately, nonspecific presentations and difficulties regarding investigations make diagnosis challenging. The aim of this study is to compile available data about gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers, occurring after different bariatric surgeries. Although GI cancers are considered a rare complication of obesity surgery, they do exist, and diagnosis needs a high index of suspicion.

Laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy in morbid obese patients: a valid option to laparoscopic gastric bypass in particular circumstances (prospective study)

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) without resection of the distal stomach is largely performed over the world for morbid obesity. Potential risk of gastric remnant carcinoma development has been suggested.

PURPOSE

To present the results obtained after LRYGB with resection of distal stomach.

METHOD

This prospective study includes 400 consecutive patients. The mean body weight was 105.9 ± 16.8 Kg (range 83-145 kg), and body mass index (BMI) was 38.5 ± 4.4 kg/m² (32.9-50.3). Postoperative morbid-mortality and follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS

Operative time was 128.5 ± 18.7 min, hospital discharge occurred at 3rd postoperative day, postoperative complications occurred in 9.25%, early surgical complications were observed in 3% and medical complications 4%, late surgical complications occurred 2.25%, no mortality was observed. At 1 year follow-up, BMI was 25.3 ± 2.7 kg/m² with % of weight loss (%WL) of 84.6 + 19.1%. At five years follow-up very similar values were observed.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained after LRYGB with resection of distal stomach are similar to results published after non resection LRYGB regarding early and late results and can be indicated in high risk areas of gastric carcinoma.

A Review of Sleeve Gastrectomy Specimen Histopathology

With the increasing popularity of sleeve gastrectomy, many stomach specimens are being evaluated. Understanding the significance and treatment for unexpected pathology is important. This study examines the incidence of relevant histopathology of sleeve gastrectomy specimens. It evaluates previous data for each histopathology and provides recommendations for treatment. In this study, a retrospective review was performed for 241 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy from 2009 to 2014 at a single institution. Of the specimens, 122 had no significant histopathology, 91 had gastritis, 13 had lymphoid aggregates, 5 had hyperplasia, 3 had intestinal metaplasia, 3 had gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and 3 had gastric polyps. Of the GISTs all had a low mitotic rate and the size of the tumor ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 cm. The findings of metaplasia may be a marker for increased risk of malignancy and may require additional surveillance. The findings of GIST may warrant interval imaging to survey for recurrence, though the likelihood of recurrence for the tumors in this study is less than 2 per cent based on previous studies.

Laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass in patients age 60 and older

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery in patients over age 60 was previously not considered, due to higher risk. The author presents a study of patients ≥60 years who underwent laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGB), to evaluate outcomes with follow-up to 6 years.

METHODS

From 2007-2013, a prospectively maintained database was reviewed and patients ≥60 years were identified. Demographics evaluated included age, sex, weight, BMI, comorbidities, operative time, complications, length of stay (LOS) and %EWL up to 72 months.

RESULTS

From 2007-2013, a total of 758 LMGBs were performed by one surgeon (CP). Eighty-eight (12%) were ≥60 years old, with 62% female. Mean age of this cohort at operation was 64 (60-74), and mean weight and BMI were 118 kg (78-171) and 43 kg/m(2) (33-61), respectively. Comorbidities were present in all patients, and one-third had previous abdominal operations. All patients underwent LMGB, without conversion to open. Mean operative time was 70 min (43-173). Only one patient required overnight ICU admission. Average LOS was 1.2 days (1-3). Overall complication rate was 4.5% (all minor); there were no major complications. Readmission rate was 1.2% (one patient). There was no surgical-related mortality. Follow-up to 90 days was 89%, but steadily declined to 42% at 6 years (72 months). The %EWL was 72% at 72 months.

CONCLUSION

LMGB can be safely performed with good weight loss in patients ≥60 years old, despite numerous comorbidities and previous abdominal operations.