Clinical and pathologic prognostic factors for curative resection for pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Operative resection is the only therapeutic option with curative potential for this disease.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to correlate clinical and pathologic parameters with survival in patients submitted to pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Surgical resection with curative intent (R0 and R1 resections) was performed in 65 pancreatic cancer patients between 1990 and 2006. The overall results of surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed and compared with the clinicopathologic features of these patients.

RESULTS

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed in 37 patients (56.9%), classic resection in 35.4%, distal pancreatectomy in 4.6% and total pancreatectomy in 3.6%. The inhospital mortality was 5% (three patients). Postoperative complications occurred in 28 patients (43%). Mean survival and five-year survival rate after curative resection were 27 months and 9.0%, respectively. Sex, TNM stage, tumor differentiation, neural invasion, tumor size and involvement of resection margin were significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed tumor differentiation and neural invasion as prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

Patients with pancreatic cancer, even those with poor prognostic factors should be given the opportunity of surgical resection with curative intent.

Preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic leiomyosarcoma

BACKGROUND

The low incidence of pancreatic leiomyosarcoma is responsible for the small number of cases correctly diagnosed preoperatively, the tumor being frequently confused with benign pancreatic lesions.

RESULTS

We describe a symptom free 52-yr-old male bearing an abdominal mass incidentally found at physical examination. Imaging techniques revealed a nonhomogenous large mass at the head of the pancreas that dislodged the portal vein and the superior mesenteric vein. Increased metabolic activity in the tumor area demonstrated by 18F-fluorodeoxyglicose positron emission tomography scan allowed the diagnosis of a malignant lesion. The patient was operated on and a pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy performed. The pathology diagnosis was a low grade leiomyosarcoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for vimentin and smooth muscle specific actin. The clinical course was uneventful after 2 yr follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Pancreatic leiomyosarcoma may be preoperatively diagnosed by image techniques and differentiated from benign lesions by means of fluorodeoxyglicose positron emission tomography scanning (FDGPET).

Surgical and interventional treatment of chronic pancreatitis

The management of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) remains a challenging problem. Main indications for surgery are intractable pain, suspicion of malignancy, and involvement of adjacent organs. The main goal of surgical treatment is improvement of patient quality of life. The surgical treatment approach usually involves proximal pancreatic resection, but lateral pancreaticojejunal drainage may be used for large-duct disease. The newer duodenum-preserving head resections of Beger and Frey provide good pain control and preservation of pancreatic function. Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy and the endoscopic approach await confirmatory trials to confirm their efficiency in the management of CP. Common bile duct obstruction is addressed by distal Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy but when combined with dudodenal obstruction must be treated by pancreatic head resection. Pancreatic ascites due to disrupted pancreatic duct should be treated by internal drainage. The approach to CP is multidisciplinary, tailoring the various therapeutic options to meet each individual patient's needs.

[Surgical treatment of insulinoma: study of 59 cases]

After establishing the diagnosis of an insulinoma the next step is its localization in order to perform the most suitable management approach.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the methods used for the diagnosis of insulinoma and the localization of its site as well as the results of the surgical treatment.

METHODS

Fifty nine consecutive patients with pancreatic insulinomas were studied. The discriminative power of the preoperative investigations in the localization of insulinomas was analysed. Special attention was focused to the intra operative methods of tumor localizations. The early and late results of the surgical treatment were also investigated.

RESULTS

There were 55 benign cases and 4 malignant tumors. Preoperative localization was attempted by using ultrasonography (positive in 28.1%) CT imaging (positive in 25%), selective arteriography (positive in 54.1%), endoscopic ultrasonography (positive in 27.2%) and assay of portal plasma insulin levels (positive in 94.4%). In 54/55 cases (98.2%) the tumors were identified intraoperatively by palpation. By addition of intraoperative ultrasonography all lesions were identified and successfully removed without mortality. Five patients had multiple endocrine neoplasias all with multiple lesions in the pancreas. In patients with benign lesions 29 enucleations and 32 resections were performed. Pancreatic fistulas were the most common complication (29/59). Excluding the patients with malignant lesions the recovery rate was 98.1%. Three patients who underwent corporo caudal pancreactectomy developed diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative localization is not necessary, since a combination of palpation and intraoperative ultrasonography can deal with most cases. Enucleation when possible is the best choice for benign lesions.

Effect of inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production on pancreatic infection in experimental acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

Acute pancreatitis is one the important causes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). SIRS results in gut barrier dysfunction that allows bacterial translocation and pancreatic infection to occur. Indomethacin has been used to reduce inflammatory process and bacterial translocation in experimental models. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production on pancreatic infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An experimental model of severe acute pancreatitis (AP) was utilized. The animals were divided into three groups: sham (surgical procedure without AP induction); pancreatitis (AP induction); and indomethacin (AP induction plus administration of 3 mg/kg of indomethacin). Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, PGE2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were measured 2 h after the induction of AP. We analyzed the occurrence of pancreatic infection with bacterial cultures performed 24 h after the induction of AP. The occurrence of pancreatic infection (considered positive when the CFU/g was >105), pancreatic histologic analysis, and mortality rate were studied.

RESULTS

In spite of the reduction of IL-6, IL-10, and PGE2 levels in the indomethacin group, TNF-alpha level, bacterial translocation, and pancreatic infection were not influenced by administration of indomethacin. The inhibition of PGE2 production did not reduce pancreatic infection, histologic score, or mortality rate.

CONCLUSION

The inhibition of PGE2 production was not able to reduce the occurrence of pancreatic infection and does not have any beneficial effect in this experimental model. Further investigations will be necessary to discover a specific inhibitor that would make it possible to develop an anti-inflammatory therapy.

Prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression in pancreas cancer and nodal metastasis

BACKGROUND

Identification of molecular markers in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) has the potential to guide targeted therapy. The objective of this study is to determine the prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression (membrane and cytoplasmic) in resected PA and its correlation with lymph node metastasis and survival.

METHODS

EGFR overexpression was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the pattern of expression was compared between the primary tumour, adjacent normal pancreas and involved lymph nodes.

RESULTS

A total of 88 patients had curative resection. No difference was found in mEGFR overexpression between tumoural and metastatic nodal tissues (P = 0.28). Median overall survival time was 22.9 months. Overall cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival was 48%, 20% and 18%, respectively. In positive mEGFR tumour expression, survival was 46% at 1 year, 8% at 3 years and 0% at 5 years (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that male gender, portal vein (PV) resection, perineural, lymphovascular and peri-pancreatic invasion, positive margins and positive mEGFR expression in tumour tissue had worse survival. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender, PV resection, vascular and perineural invasion remained independent predictors of poor survival.

CONCLUSION

Positive mEGFR overexpression is associated with decreased survival; however, it is not an independent prognostic factor.

Liver resection for the treatment of post-cholecystectomy biliary stricture with vascular injury

AIM

To report experience with liver resection in a select group of patients with postoperative biliary stricture associated with vascular injury.

METHODS

From a prospective database of patients treated for benign biliary strictures at our hospital, cases that underwent liver resections were reviewed. All cases were referred after one or more attempts to repair bile duct injuries following cholecystectomy (open or laparoscopic). Liver resection was indicated in patients with Strasberg E3/E4 (hilar stricture) bile duct lesions associated with vascular damage (arterial and/or portal), ipsilateral liver atrophy/abscess, recurrent attacks of cholangitis, and failure of previous hepaticojejunostomy.

RESULTS

Of 148 patients treated for benign biliary strictures, nine (6.1%) underwent liver resection; eight women and one man with a mean age of 38.6 years. Six patients had previously been submitted to open cholecystectomy and three to laparoscopic surgery. The mean number of surgical procedures before definitive treatment was 2.4. All patients had Strasberg E3/E4 injuries, and vascular injury was present in all cases. Eight patients underwent right hepatectomy and one underwent left lateral sectionectomy without mortality. Mean time of follow up was 69.1 mo and after long-term follow up, eight patients are asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

Liver resection is a good therapeutic option for patients with complex postoperative biliary stricture and vascular injury presenting with liver atrophy/abscess in which previous hepaticojejunostomy has failed.

Synchronous adenocarcinoma of the major and minor duodenal papilla

A 50-year-old woman presented with pancreatitis, fluctuant jaundice, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and abdominal ultrasound showed slight dilatation of the biliary tree and gallbladder without calculi. Endoscopy demonstrated a tumor protruding from the papilla of Vater. First endoscopically biopsy diagnosed no tumor, and a second biopsy diagnosed as papillary adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent duodenopancreatectomy. The specimen was fixed in formalin (10%). The tissue was processed routinely, and paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid Schiff. Gross examination showed two tumors seen as prolapsed nodules growing isolated from the minor and major duodenal papillae measuring 1.5 and 1.0 cm, respectively, both covered by duodenal mucosa and the histologic study of both lesions demonstrated a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, which invaded duodenal wall. After surgery, she is alive 24 months without evidence of recurrence.

Effects of intravenous administration of pentoxifylline in pancreatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic strategies to reduce the occurrence of pancreatic ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury might improve outcomes in human pancreas and kidney transplantation. In addition to its haemorrheologic effects, pentoxifylline has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-κB activation. This group has previously demonstrated that pentoxifylline induces an anti-inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis and liver I-R models. This led to the hypothesis that pentoxifylline might reduce pancreatic and renal lesions and the systemic inflammatory response in pancreatic I-R injury. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline administration in a rat model of pancreatic I-R injury.

METHODS

Pancreatic I-R was performed in Wistar rats over 1 h by clamping the splenic vessels. The animals submitted to I-R were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 20, control) rats received saline solution administered i.v. at 45 min after ischaemia, and Group 2 (n = 20) rats received pentoxifylline (25 mg/kg) administered i.v. at 45 min after ischaemia. Blood samples were collected to enable the determination of amylase, creatinine, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10. Pancreatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, pancreas histology and pulmonary myeloperoxidase (MPO) were also assessed.

RESULTS

Significant reductions in serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 were observed in Group 2 compared with Group 1 (P < 0.05). No differences in pancreatic MDA content or serum amylase levels were observed between the two groups. The histologic score was significantly lower in pentoxifylline-treated animals, denoting less severe pancreatic histologic damage.

CONCLUSIONS

Pentoxifylline administration reduced the systemic inflammatory response, the pancreatic histological lesion and renal dysfunction in pancreatic I-R injury and may be a useful tool in pancreas and kidney transplantation.

Do the effects of pentoxifylline on the inflammatory process and pancreatic infection justify its use in acute pancreatitis?

Severe acute pancreatitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. At the present time, no specific therapy has been shown to be uniformly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in this disease. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of pentoxifylline on the pancreatic and systemic inflammatory process, pancreatic infection, and mortality rate in severe acute pancreatitis in rats.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: sham, pancreatitis, and pentoxifylline (acute pancreatitis induction plus administration of 25 mg/kg pentoxifylline). Inflammatory response was measured by histological studies, inflammatory cytokine production (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha), and mortality rate. Pancreatic infection was evaluated by bacterial cultures expressed in colony-forming units per gram.

RESULTS

Pentoxifylline-treated animals had a statistically significant reduction of inflammatory cytokine levels, pancreatic histological damage, occurrence of bacterial translocation and pancreatic infection (p < 0.05), associated with a significant reduction in mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Pentoxifylline administration in this experimental model of acute pancreatitis reduces local and systemic inflammatory responses and decreases the pancreatic infection and the mortality rate.

Analysis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumor staging and resection according to previous body mass index and diabetes duration

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with pancreatic cancer. The present study evaluated tumor staging and resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PaC) according to previous Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI on admission and DM duration.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 151 consecutive patients with PaC was performed: 73 were evaluated according to BMI preceding tumor-related weight loss and BMI on admission; 118 according to DM diagnosis; and 38 were assessed according to DM duration (less than 1 year [recent-onset] versus more than 2 years [long-standing]).

RESULTS

There was no difference in the prevalence of tumor stage III or IV between previously normal weight and overweight/obese patients (56 vs. 42%, NS). Tumor resection rate was higher in previously obese than in previously lean patients (58 vs. 24%, p < 0.05). Tumor staging and resection were similar between normal weight and overweight/obese patients considering BMI on admission and diagnosis of DM. Weight loss was more pronounced in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (21.7 vs. 13.3%, p < 0.01). Tumor staging and resection were similar between recent-onset and long-standing diabetic patients.

CONCLUSION

Tumor resection rate was lower in previously normal weight patients. Diabetics lost more weight than non-diabetic patients. Neither BMI on admission nor the presence of DM nor DM duration influenced tumor staging or resection in PaC patients.

Phagocytosis and production of H2O2 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND

The immune function is altered in jaundiced patients; here, the ability of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells to perform phagocytosis and to release H2O2 was analyzed.

METHODS

Cells from 53 patients before surgery for relief of cholestasis, from 38 patients 1 week and from 15 patients 2 weeks after surgery were separated and cultured for 1 h in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate. H2O2 release was evaluated colorimetrically and phagocytosis by the ingestion of Escherichia coli in vitro.

RESULTS

Before surgery for relief of cholestasis, the cells of the patients were unable to release H2O2, but, after surgery, an increasing percentage of patients had cells that were able to produce H2O2 (13% after 1 week; 33% after 2 weeks). This recovery did not correlate with bilirubinemia. When cultured for 1 week in the presence of normal or jaundiced plasma, regardless of collection time, cells of 12/12 patients released H2O2, but in lower levels if in the presence of jaundiced plasma. In contrast, H2O2 release by normal donor cells was enhanced in the presence of jaundiced plasma. Phagocytosis by cells of the patients was lower, but when present was associated with a significantly higher bactericidal activity.

CONCLUSION

These significant, but reversible alterations of monocyte function in jaundiced patients might contribute to their enhanced susceptibility to surgical complications.

Massive infestation by Ascaris lumbricoides of the biliary tract: report of a successfully treated case

This is a report of a 25 years old black woman from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, who developed acute obstructive cholangitis of Ascaris lumbricoides with septicemia and multiple hepatic abscesses. The patient had sickle cell trait and normal delivery 3 months ago. Massive infestation of the biliary tract by Ascaris lumbricoides was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Sixty worms were removed from the common bile duct and hepatic abscesses were drained by surgery. The infectious process was polymicrobial. The patient's recovery was complete after a long evolution with a wide spectrum antibiotic therapy. New surgeries were needed to remove residual worms in the biliary tract. The diagnostic methods, clinical-biochemical features and also the clinical and surgical management are presented. The biliary ascariasis pathophysiology is commented.

[Bouveret's syndrome: a case report]

A patient with duodenal obstruction resulting from passage of a gallstone through the wall of the gallbladder into the duodenum is reported. The patient was successfully treated by removal of the gallstone. A review of literature concerning the diagnosis, treatment and etiopathogenesis is presented.

Pancreatic head tumors with portal vein involvement: an alternative surgical approach

BACKGROUND/AIMS

One of the determining factors for the unresectability of pancreatic head tumors is the involvement of the portal venous system. Recent reports show that the resection of tumors with portal vein involvement has similar results to lesions with same stage without portal vein invasion. The aim of this study is to present a technique that allows the resection of portal vein segments without the use of grafts and with a shorter period of intraoperative venous occlusion.

METHODOLOGY

Fifteen patients with pancreatic head tumors and portal vein involvement were submitted to pancreaticoduodenectomy according to this technique. The main feature of the technique is starting the pancreatic dissection at the posterior aspect of the head of the pancreas. The superior mesenteric artery is completely dissected from the pancreatic tissues leaving the section of the pancreas and the resection of the portal vein to the last step.

RESULTS

Portal vein flow occlusion did not exceed 10 minutes. There were no major postoperative complications or mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This maneuver allows an easier resection of the mobilized portal vein with a shorter period of venous clamping and reconstruction without the need of venous graft.

The Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Hepatic Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury in Wistar Rats: An Experimental Study

Liver ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) during hepatic surgeries can lead to liver cell death via oxidative stress and the activation of immune cells, the release of cytokines, and damage-associated molecular patterns. Ascorbic acid has been shown to confer potential protective effects against IR injury, mainly due to its antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the effect of ascorbic acid infusion at different time points during hepatic IR in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups that received the same total ascorbic acid dose at three different infusion times: before ischaemia, before reperfusion, or before both ischaemia and reperfusion. All of the animals experienced hepatic IR injury. We measured the hepatic enzymes, cytokines, and portal blood flow. Animals receiving ascorbic acid before both ischaemia and reperfusion had lower liver enzyme levels, reduced inflammation, and better portal venous flow than other animals. Divided doses of ascorbic acid before IR may be beneficial for reducing liver injury associated with IR.

[Biliary fistula after elective conventional cholecystectomy]

The use or not of drainage after elective cholecystectomy has been recently studied, and we will discuss the real incidence of the subhepatic biliary collection and its clinical significance. In this sense, we studied 20 patients with a mean age of 45 years (4 male and 16 female), submitted to elective cholecystectomy according to selective techniques patterned by our group, where we realized ligature of all vessels of the gallbladder bed, and subhepatic drainage. These patients receibed 99 mTc-DISIDA at the moment we closed the abdomen, and in a period of 24 and 48 hours we studied its presence in the subhepatic bed and in the drainage material. All the patients had not post-operative complications and none biliary drainage or subhepatic collection scanned. We concluded that using our preconized techniques, the subhepatic drainage is unnecessary after elective cholecystectomy.

Evaluation of pH and residual gastric volume after colon preparation with mannitol: prospective randomized study comparing procedure performed after 3 hours versus 6 hours

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to compare the hydrogen potential (pH) and residual gastric volume (RGV) of patients undergoing colonoscopy after 3 and 6 hours of colon preparation with mannitol.

METHODS

We described a prospective randomized trial with a 50:50 allocation rate of two distinct times of colonoscopy after colon preparation with 10% mannitol. We included outpatients aged over 18 years, with no history of gastric surgeries and an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)-rated anesthetic risk below III. Colonoscopy was performed after upper digestive endoscopy at two different times: 3 versus 6-hour after mannitol ingestion. During upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, we measured RGV and evaluated pH with a digital pH meter. Clinical trials.gov: 71123317.9.3001.0065.

RESULTS

We randomized a total of 100 participants to the 3 and 6-hour groups, with the patients in the 6-hour group being younger and presenting a higher body mass index (BMI). The intervention did not result in any statistically significant differences between the two groups, neither for the RGV (p=0.98) or the pH (p=0.732). However, the subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus showed statistically significant higher RGV values in the 3-hour group.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference between RGV and pH values at 3 versus 6-hour after bowel preparation with mannitol, except for RGV in diabetic patients at 3 hours. As prolonged fasting protocols may result in adverse events such as dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, we can infer that colonic preparation with mannitol in shorter fasting periods, such as 3 hours, can be adopted safely and routinely.

Insulinoma: diagnostic strategies and surgical treatment. A 22-year experience

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The efficacy of preoperative localization methods and the results of the surgical treatment of insulinoma were studied.

METHODOLOGY

Fifty-nine patients referred for surgical treatment were studied and the results of the diagnostic tools for tumor localization were compared with findings at surgical intervention. The influence of the type of surgical procedure in the immediate and late postoperative course was also studied.

RESULTS

Ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 30%, computed tomography 25%, angiography 54%, portal vein sampling 94%, endoscopic ultrasonography 27% and magnetic resonance 17%. Intraoperative palpation localized 98.2% of the tumors and by the addition of intraoperative echography, all lesions were identified. In 55 patients with benign lesions, 22 enucleations, 25 distal pancreatectomies, 7 pancreatectomies plus enucleation and one duodenopancreatectomy were performed. Malignant tumors were treated by pancreatic resection, postoperative hepatic artery embolization and systemic chemotherapy. There was no postoperative mortality. Pancreatic fistula was the most common complication. Three patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy developed late diabetes (9.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive preoperative investigation, mainly with invasive methods, is not indicated and by combining intraoperative palpation and echography most of the cases can be adequately dealt with. Preservation of pancreatic tissue with enucleation and preservation of the spleen are the best choice for treatment of benign insulinomas.

[Prognostic value of the sites of pancreatic necrosis determined by computed tomography of the abdomen]

Correlations between tomographic findings and the outcome of the disease was made in 49 patients with necrotizing pancreatitis submitted to surgical treatment. Mortality rate was 20.40% resulting mostly from sepsis and multiple organ failures. There was no correlation between APACHE II index and number of necrotic areas diagnosed by abdominal computed tomography although they were closely related with mortality. These findings suggest that different necrotic areas have different prognostic values. The root of the superior mesenteric artery and retropancreatic area were related to worst prognosis with 100% mortality rate. Incomplete necrotic tissue removal is the possible explanation for the high mortality rate.