The resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: To FNA or not to FNA? A diagnostic dilemma, introduction

Robotic Pancreatic Surgery for Solid, Cystic, and Mixed Lesions

Robotic surgery is flourishing worldwide. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Most pancreatic operations are undertaken for the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Therefore, it is essential for all physicians caring for patients with cancer to understand the role and importance of molecular tumor markers. This article details our technique and application of the robotic platform to robotic pancreatectomy. The use of the robot does not change the nature of pancreatic operations, but it is our belief that it will improve patient outcomes and, possibly, survival by reducing perioperative complications.

Prognostic significance of 14v-lymph node dissection to D2 dissection for lower-third gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Radical gastrectomy with D2 lymph node (LN) dissection is the standard surgical procedure for patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC). In the fifteenth edition of the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma, the 14v LN (LNs along the root of the superior mesenteric vein) was defined as the regional gastric LN. The efficacy of 14v LN dissection during radical distal gastrectomy for lower-third GC remains controversial.

AIM

To analyze whether the addition of 14v LN dissection improved the survival of patients with lower-third GC.

METHODS

The data from 65 patients who underwent 14v LN dissection and 65 patients treated without 14v LN dissection were selected using the propensity score-matched method from our institute database constructed between 2000 and 2012. Overall survival was compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Overall survival was similar between patients with 14v LN metastasis and those with distant metastasis (P = 0.521). Among patients with pathological stage IIIA disease, those who were treated with 14v LN dissection had a significantly higher overall survival than those treated without it (P = 0.020). Multivariate analysis showed that age < 65 years and pT2-3 stage were independent favorable prognostic factors for prolonged overall survival in patients with pathological stage IIIA disease. Patients with No. 1, No. 6, No. 8a, or No. 11p LN metastasis were at higher risk of having 14v LN metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Adding 14v LN dissection to D2 dissection during radical distal gastrectomy may improve the overall survival of patients with pathological stage IIIA lower-third GC.