Performance of CT in the locoregional staging of colon cancer: detailed radiology-pathology correlation with special emphasis on tumor deposits, extramural venous invasion and T staging

PURPOSE

To investigate the performance of computed tomography (CT) in the local staging of colon cancer in different segments, with emphasis on parameters that have been found to be significant for rectal cancer, namely, extramural venous invasion (EMVI) and tumor deposits (TDs).

METHODS

CT and pathology data from 137 patients were independently reviewed by radiology and pathology teams. The performance of CT in categorizing a given patient into good, versus poor prognostic groups was assessed for each segment, as well as the presence of lymph nodes (LNs), TDs and EMVIs. Discordant cases were re-evaluated to determine potential sources of error. Elastic stain was applied for EMVI discordance.

RESULTS

The T staging accuracy was 80.2%. For T stage stratification, CT performed slightly better in the left colon, and the lowest accuracy was in the transverse colon. Under-staging was more common (in 12.4%), and most of the mis-staged cases were in sigmoid colon. According to the first comprehensive correlative analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT for detecting TDs were found to be 57.9%, 92.4%, 87.6%, respectively. These figures were 44.7%, 72.7%, and 63.5% for LN, and 58.5%, 82.1% and 73% for EMVI. The detection rate was better for multifocal EMVI. The detection rate was also comparable (although substantially underestimated) for LNs, with the half of the LNs missed by CT being < 5 mm. Four patients that were classified as TD by CT, disclosed to be LNs by pathology. Correlative analysis led to refinement of the pathology criteria, with subsequent modifications of the initial reports in 13 (9.5%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Overall, CT performed well in the evaluation of colon cancer, as did TD and EMVI. It is advisable to include these parameters in CT-based staging. Radiologists should be aware of the pitfalls that occur more commonly in different segments.

Is there no need to discuss adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colon cancer patients with high tumor budding and lymphovascular invasion?

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic associations of tumor budding (Bd) as well as other potential prognosticators including lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in T3/4aN0 colon cancer patients and to investigate their impact on the outcome.

METHODS

The patients were enrolled in three groups according to the number of budding as Bd1 (0-4 buds), Bd2 (5-9 buds), and Bd3 (> 10 buds). These groups were retrospectively compared in terms of demographic features, other tumor characteristics, operative outcomes, recurrences, and survival. The mean follow-up time was 58 ± 22 months.

RESULTS

A total of 194 patients were divided as follows: 97 in Bd1, 41 in Bd2, and 56 in Bd3 groups. The Bd3 group was associated with significantly higher LVI and larger tumor size. The rate of recurrence increased progressively from 5.2% in Bd1 to 9.8% in Bd2 and to 17.9% in Bd3 group (p = 0.03). More importantly, the 5-year overall survival (OS: Bd1 = 92.3% vs. Bd2 = 88% vs. Bd3 = 69.5%, p = 0.03) and disease-free survival (DFS: Bd1 = 87.9% vs. Bd2 = 75.3% vs. Bd3 = 66%, p = 0.02) were significantly worse in Bd3 group. In addition, in the subgroup of patients with the presence of Bd3 and LVI together, the 5-year OS (60% vs. 92%, p = 0.001) and DFS (56.1% vs. 85.4%, p = 0.001) were significantly worse. In multivariate analysis, Bd3+LVI was significantly associated with poor OS and DFS (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In patients with T3/4aN0 colon cancer, high tumor budding negatively affects long-term oncological outcomes. These findings strongly suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy be considered for the patients with Bd3 and LVI together.

Open mesh and laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair under spinal and general anesthesia

INTRODUCTION

Mesh placement is the main standard in repair of inguinal hernia, and laparoscopic repair is the standard of care via spinal, epidural, or combined anesthesia. Here, we compared open and laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) repairs under general (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA).

METHODS

Inguinal hernia patients (n=440) were analyzed retrospectively. There were four groups: Group 1 was TEP under GA (TEP-GA) (n=111); Group 2 was open mesh repair (OM) under SA (n=116) (OM-SA); Group 3 was open mesh repair under GA (n=117) (OM-GA); Group four was TEP under SA (n=96) (TEP-SA). The age, body mass index, duration of operation, hospital stay, postoperative Visual Analog Scale scores, recurrence, postoperative pain, urinary retention, headache, and patient satisfaction were all recorded.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in terms of hypotension, vomiting, seroma and scrotal edema, recurrence, and wound infection incidence between the groups. However, the operation duration, hospital stay period, headache, urinary retention, postoperative Visual Analog Scale scores, chronic pain, and patient satisfaction showed significant differences between groups.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic TEP hernia repair is a safe and effective method along with its advantages of shorter hospital stay, less recurrence, less postoperative pain, higher patient satisfaction, and similar postoperative complication rates. SA has the disadvantage of higher incidence of headache and urinary retention compared to GA.