BRAZILIAN GASTRIC CANCER ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES (PART 2): UPDATE ON TREATMENT

BACKGROUND

: The II Brazilian Consensus on Gastric Cancer of the Brazilian Gastric Cancer Association BGCA (Part 1) was recently published. On this occasion, countless specialists working in the treatment of this disease expressed their opinion in the face of the statements presented.

AIM

: To present the BGCA Guidelines (Part 2) regarding indications for surgical treatment, operative techniques, extension of resection and multimodal treatment.

METHODS

To formulate these guidelines, the authors carried out an extensive and current review regarding each declaration present in the II Consensus, using the Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library and SciELO databases initially with the following descriptors: gastric cancer, gastrectomy, lymphadenectomy, multimodal treatment. In addition, each statement was classified according to the level of evidence and degree of recommendation.

RESULTS

: Of the 43 statements present in this study, 11 (25,6%) were classified with level of evidence A, 20 (46,5%) B and 12 (27,9%) C. Regarding the degree of recommendation, 18 (41,9%) statements obtained grade of recommendation 1, 14 (32,6%) 2a, 10 (23,3%) 2b e one (2,3%) 3.

CONCLUSION

: The guidelines complement of the guidelines presented here allows surgeons and oncologists who work to combat gastric cancer to offer the best possible treatment, according to the local conditions available.

BRAZILIAN GASTRIC CANCER ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES (PART 1): AN UPDATE ON DIAGNOSIS, STAGING, ENDOSCOPIC TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP

BACKGROUND

The II Brazilian Consensus on Gastric Cancer by the Brazilian Gastric Cancer Association (ABCG) was recently published. On this occasion, several experts in gastric cancer expressed their opinion before the statements presented.

AIM

To present the ABCG Guidelines (part 1) regarding the diagnosis, staging, endoscopic treatment and follow-up of gastric cancer patients.

METHODS

To forge these Guidelines, the authors carried out an extensive and current review regarding each statement present in the II Consensus, using the Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library and SciELO databases with the following descriptors: gastric cancer, staging, endoscopic treatment and follow-up. In addition, each statement was classified according to the level of evidence and degree of recommendation.

RESULTS

Of the 24 statements, two (8.3%) were classified with level of evidence A, 11 (45.8%) with B and 11 (45.8%) with C. As for the degree of recommendation, six (25%) statements obtained grade of recommendation 1, nine (37.5%) recommendation 2a, six (25%) 2b and three (12.5%) grade 3.

CONCLUSION

The guidelines presented here are intended to assist professionals working in the fight against gastric cancer with relevant and current information, granting them to be applied in the daily medical practice.

Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue factor expression in gastric carcinoma: correlations with prognosis and survival

OBJECTIVE

to study the expression of the tissue factor (TF) and its correlation with prognosis and survival in patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODS

we measured the immunohistochemical expression of TF in 50 specimens of gastric adenocarcinomas from patients submitted to curative surgery. We then compared the intensity of its expression with clinical and pathological data, TNM staging, prognostic factors and survival.

RESULTS

all tumors displayed TF expression; the intensity of TF expression was not associated with TNM stage, clinical or pathological variables or general survival.

CONCLUSION

TF has a high expression in gastric carcinoma, but that it is not useful as a prognostic marker.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TREATMENT OF GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA

Background:

The complexity of the management of gastric cancer requires a multidisciplinary evaluation of patients with this tumor. Several treatments have been employed, associated to the surgical resection.

Objective:

To review the available therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods:

A review of selected articles on multidisciplinary treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma in the Pubmed and Medline databases between 2000 and 2017 was carried out. The following headings were related: stomach cancer, treatment, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Results:

There are several valid alternatives, with good results for the treatment of gastric cancer: chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy in the adjuvant scenario; perioperative chemotherapy; and chemoradiotherapy after neoadjuvance with isolated chemotherapy.

Conclusion:

Current evidences suggest that combined multidisciplinary treatment is superior to surgery alone. However, the optimal treatment regimen is not yet established, and depends on a number of factors, especially the type of surgical resection employed. Therefore, the therapeutic decision should be made by a multidisciplinary team, assessing patient’s personal characteristics, biology of the tumor, residual disease, risks and side effects.

The history of the parathyroid surgery

The authors conducted a review of the major aspects of progression of knowledge about the surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism. Through literature review, we analyzed articles on the history of the evolution of anatomical, physiological, pathological and surgical knowledge of the parathyroid glands. Because of their unique anatomical features, the parathyroid glands were the last of the endocrine glands to be discovered, which greatly hindered proper treatment until the first decades of the twentieth century. Technological developments in the last 30 years greatly facilitated the location of the glands and hyperparathyroidism surgery. However, an experienced and dedicated surgeon is still essential to the excellence of treatment. RESUMO Os autores fizeram uma revisão dos principais aspectos históricos da progressão do conhecimento sobre o tratamento cirúrgico do hiperparatireoidismo. Por meio de revisão bibliográfica, foram analisados artigos selecionados sobre a história da evolução do conhecimento anatômico, fisiológico, patológico e cirúrgico das glândulas paratireoides. Devido às suas características anatômicas peculiares, as paratireoides foram as últimas das glândulas endócrinas a serem descobertas, o que dificultou sobremaneira seu tratamento adequado até as primeiras décadas do Século XX. A evolução tecnológica ocorrida nos últimos 30 anos facilitou sobremaneira a localização das glândulas e a cirurgia do hiperparatireoidismo. Contudo, um cirurgião experiente e dedicado ao tratamento dessa enfermidade ainda é fundamental para a excelência do tratamento.

DO PROXIMAL AND DISTAL GASTRIC TUMOURS BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY?

Background:

Although the incidence of gastric (adenocarcinoma) cancer has been decreasing over time, it is still one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and proximal tumours tend to have a worse prognosis.

Aim:

To compare surgical outcomes and prognosis between proximal - excluding tumours of the cardia - and distal gastric cancer.

Methods:

Out of 293 cases reviewed - 209 with distal and 69 with proximal gastric cancer - were compared for clinical and pathological features, stage, surgical outcome, mortality and survival.

Results:

Statistically, there was no significant difference between patients in both groups regarding mortality (p=0.661), adjuvant chemotherapy (p 0.661), and radiation (p=1.000). However, there was significant difference in the degree of lymph node dissection employed (p=0.002) and the number of positive lymph nodes resected (p=0.038) between the two groups. The odds of death at five years for patients who had a D0 dissection was three times greater (odds ratio 2.78; (95%CI 1.33-5.82) than that for patients who had a D2 dissection, while for patients who had a D1 dissection the odds ratio was only 1.41 (95%CI 0.71-2.83) compared to D2-dissected patients.

Conclusion:

Although no significant differences were found between proximal and distal gastric cancer, the increased risk of death in D0- and D1-dissected patients clearly suggests an important role of radical D2 lymph node dissection in survival.

Lipossarcoma Gigante de Retroperitônio

Introdução: Neoplasias mesenquimais, apesar de infrequentes, podem se apresentar como um desafio terapêutico quando atingem grandes proporções. O objetivo dos autores é descrever o caso de um lipossarcoma retroperitoneal que, devido a seu grande volume, apresentou peculiaridades em seu planejamento terapêutico, bem como revisar sua apresentação clínica, diagnóstico e tratamento. Relato do caso: Homem, 52 anos, consultou com queixa de aumento da circunferência e volumosa massa abdominal palpável. Tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética do abdômen revelaram grande lesão expansiva no retroperitônio, com deslocamento de diversas vísceras intra-abdominais, sugestiva de volumoso tumor maligno de origem retroperitoneal. O paciente foi submetido à laparotomia com ressecção da massa em conjunto com o rim direito. O exame anatomopatológico revelou tratar-se de lipossarcoma desdiferenciado medindo 62 cm no maior diâmetro, com peso de 19 kg. Foi indicado tratamento complementar com radioterapia. Houve excelente evolução pós-operatória, estando o paciente assintomático 36 meses após o procedimento. Conclusão: Os lipossarcomas do retroperitônio são uma entidade clínica rara, com apresentação clínica variável conforme sua localização, tipo histológico, grau de malignidade e tamanho. A única possibilidade de cura ainda e a ressecção cirúrgica radical com margens livres. Desde que o paciente apresente boas condições clínicas de tolerar o procedimento, o tamanho volumoso do tumor não e necessariamente uma contraindicação ao tratamento cirúrgico.  

Synchronous gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and other primary cancers: case series of a single institution experience

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasm affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The incidental occurrence of mesenchymal tumors and other primary tumors has not been well described in literature.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pathologic features of GIST occurring synchronously with other primary tumors.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with diagnosis of GIST treated surgically with curative intent at our institution from 1998 to 2006 were included. The patient clinical data and pathological reports were reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 43 patients, there were 6 (14%) cases of synchronous GIST and other primary tumors discovered as coincidental findings. The synchronous GISTs analyzed were located in the stomach (50%) and small intestine (50%), size ranging from 0.7 to 7.6 cm (median 3.35 cm). Five (83%) of the concurrent primary tumors were from gastrointestinal origin and only one (17%) patient presented with concurrent breast cancer and GIST. The synchronous GISTs immunofenotype shows positivity for CD117 and CD34 (100%), smooth-muscle actin (SMA) (67%), S100 (50%) and desmin (33%). Whereas staining for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and PDGF were all negative. According to GIST risk category for aggressive behavior three were classified as very low, one intermediate and two high.

CONCLUSIONS

The synchronous occurrence of GISTs and other primary neoplasm is not an uncommon entity and usually they are discovery incidentally. Epithelial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are the most associated with concomitant GISTs. Further studies are required to clarify the molecular and genetic mechanisms of carcinogenesis and progression associating GIST and synchronous tumors.

Linfadenectomia ampliada (D2) no tratamento do carcinoma gástrico: análise das complicações pós-operatórias

OBJETIVO: Descrever e analisar as principais complicações pós-operatórias e mortalidade dos pacientes submetidos à ressecção gástrica por câncer gástrico com linfadenectomia D2. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma coorte histórica onde as principais variáveis em estudo foram: idade, localização do tumor, estadiamento, complicações do procedimento cirúrgico, padrão de recidiva tumoral, análise da sobrevida livre de doença e sobrevida total. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 35 pacientes submetidos à dissecção linfonodal D2 no período de Janeiro de 2000 a Dezembro de 2004. A média de idade foi 57 anos. Apenas um (2,9%) paciente apresentava tumor precoce e o local mais comum do tumor foi no terço médio do estômago. O número de linfonodos ressecados por paciente variou de 15 a 80 linfonodos (média 28,8). Vinte e seis (74,3%) pacientes apresentaram linfonodos metastáticos, sendo a média de 13,4 (±11,8) linfonodos comprometidos por paciente. Seis (17,1%) pacientes apresentaram complicações no período pós-operatório, sendo duas pneumonias, uma fístula pancreática, uma fístula do coto duodenal e duas deiscências da anastomose esôfago-jejunal. Apenas um (2,86%) paciente morreu devido a complicações operatórias. O tempo de seguimento médio foi de 26 meses. Vinte e dois pacientes apresentavam-se vivos no fechamento do estudo, com uma sobrevida atuarial de 62,9%. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que, em centros especializados, a linfadenectomia D2 é um procedimento com nível de complicações aceitável e pode ser realizada sem aumento da mortalidade operatória.

Gastrectomia em pacientes idosos: análise dos fatores relacionados a complicações e mortalidade

OBJETIVO: Verificar as variáveis que influenciam os resultados pós-operatórios no tratamento do adenocarcinoma gástrico em pacientes idosos. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma coorte histórica onde as principais variáveis em estudo foram: idade, localização do tumor, estadiamento, doenças associadas, complicações do procedimento cirúrgico e mortalidade operatória. Os pacientes foram separados em dois grupos em relação à idade [Grupo I (< 65 anos) e Grupo II ( 65 anos)], de maneira que os fatores associados com maior mortalidade fossem analisados de forma independente. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 160 pacientes submetidos à ressecção gástrica. A média de idade foi 60,7 anos. Presença de doenças associadas, classificação ASA III ou IV e mortalidade operatória foram associados com indivíduos mais velhos. Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação à localização do tumor no estômago, ressecção empregada, estágio dos tumores e complicações pós-operatórias. A mortalidade operatória foi 6,1% no Grupo I e 12,9% no Grupo II. O principal fator de risco para o óbito na análise univariada foi a presença de doenças associadas (p<0,03). Na análise multivariada, o único fator de risco significativo para maior mortalidade foi classificação ASA mais avançada. CONCLUSÃO: Os idosos operados por adenocarcinoma gástrico apresentam fator de risco mais acentuado de morte pós-operatória. Contudo, a idade cronológica não pode ser definida como um fator determinante, e sim circunstâncias de doenças associadas e condições fisiológicas que os acompanham nessa faixa etária.

Laparoscopic Triple Cholecystectomy

Gallbladder triplication is an unusual congenital biliary malformation, and its laparoscopic management has not been described. We report the 11th case of gallbladder triplication and the first successfully treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We consider the procedure reliable and safe, after proper identification of the common biliary duct.

Hepatic steatosis in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and its relationship to body mass index and co-morbidities

BACKGROUND

Although non-alcoholic hepatitis usually is asymptomatic and benign, this condition may progress to cirrhosis and hepatic failure. Some findings are similar to alcoholic hepatitis, but there is no history of excessive alcohol consumption. Among the factors associated with non-alcoholic hepatitis, obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemia are the most important.

METHODS

77 consecutive patients undergoing bariatric surgery had their liver biopsy compared to the presence of co-morbidities and BMI.

RESULTS

67 patients (87.1%) had an abnormal liver biopsy, mostly due to steatosis (83.1%), but also steatohepatitis (2.6%) and cirrhosis (1.3%). The degree of liver damage was related to higher BMI scores. Co-morbidities were present in 46.9% of the patients with hepatic steatosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors suggest that a liver biopsy should be performed in all patients at bariatric surgery, in order to evaluate possible liver damage and to assist postoperative care.