A meta-analysis on salvage surgery as a potentially curative procedure in patients with isolated local recurrent or persistent esophageal cancer after chemoradiotherapy

BackgroundIsolated local recurrent or persistent esophageal cancer (EC) after curative intended definitive (dCRT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) with initially omitted surgery, is a potential indication for salvage surgery. We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of salvage surgery in these patients.Material and methodsA systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines was performed using databases of PubMed/Medline. All included studies were performed in patients with persistent or recurrent EC after initial treatment with dCRT or nCRT, between 2007 and 2017. Survival analysis was performed with an inverse-variance weighting method.ResultsOf the 278 identified studies, 28 were eligible, including a total of 1076 patients. Postoperative complications after salvage esophagectomy were significantly more common among patients with isolated persistent than in those with locoregional recurrent EC, including respiratory (36.6% versus 22.7%; difference in proportion 10.9 with 95% confidence interval (CI) [3.1; 18.7]) and cardiovascular complications (10.4% versus 4.5%; difference in proportion 5.9 with 95% CI [1.5; 10.2]). The pooled estimated 30- and 90-day mortality was 2.6% [1.6; 3.6] and 8.0% [6.3; 9.8], respectively. The pooled estimated 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 39.0% (95% CI: [35.8; 42.2]) and 19.4% [95% CI:16.5; 22.4], respectively. Patients with isolated persistent or recurrent EC after initial CRT had similar 5-year OS (14.0% versus 19.7%, difference in proportion −5.7, 95% CI [-13.7; 2.3]).ConclusionsSalvage surgery is a potentially curative procedure in patients with locally recurrent or persistent esophageal cancer and can be performed safely after definitive or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy when surgery was initially omitted.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin gland is not HPV-related: A case report and review of literature

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the Bartholin gland is a rare gynaecological entity. Despite its slow growth and inconspicuous presentation, vulvar ACC has a propensity for perineural invasion and is therefore associated with high local recurrence rates.We report a case of vulvar ACC in a 61-year-old woman with a prolonged swelling of the Bartholin gland. This patient presented with pulmonary metastases at the moment of histological diagnosis. The vulvar and the pulmonary lesions showed identical histology. Despite a history of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related usual type vulvar intra-epithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous cell carcinoma, the vulvar ACC was negative for both p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV-DNA.We conclude that HPV is not involved in the pathogenesis of pure ACC of the Bartholin gland. Additionally, we advocate a low threshold for performing biopsies of vulvar swellings in women aged >40 years, to rule out malignancy and to prevent diagnostic delays.     

甲状腺周围筋膜及筋膜间隙的应用解剖学观察

目的　从临床应用解剖角度重新认识甲状腺周围筋膜及筋膜间隙的解剖特点,为甲状腺癌中央区清扫术的手术范围、入路层面等提供可以借鉴的解剖依据。  方法　5具10侧标本,对甲状腺周围筋膜和筋膜间隙进行观察;10例甲状腺癌患者进行手术解剖验证观察。  结果　气管前筋膜分为前后两层,两层之间是脂肪淋巴组织及甲状腺下静脉等;气管前间隙是气管前筋膜后层与气管之间的无血管的间隙。气管旁脂肪组织与气管前脂肪组织相延续,甲状腺血管、淋巴系统走行其中。气管旁、气管前脂肪淋巴组织前后均有一层筋膜覆盖,前后筋膜在外侧与血管鞘相融合,并开口于甲状腺血管根部,内侧与甲状腺相连,其结构与功能均类似肠系膜。气管旁脂肪组织在前方与甲状腺之间存在一间隙,后方与椎前筋膜之间存在一间隙。  结论　甲状腺有系膜且呈“U”分布于气管前及气管旁。甲状腺系膜切除能达到彻底清扫中央区淋巴组织的目的。甲状腺系膜与脏器之间的筋膜间隙是进行手术操作的外科平面。     

The morphology and clinical significance of the dorsal meningovertebra ligaments in the lumbosacral epidural space

STUDY DESIGN.: A dissection-based study of 30 embalmed cadavers. OBJECTIVE.: To determine the morphology and morphometry of the dorsal meningovertebral ligaments in the lumbosacral segments and to discuss their clinical significance. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage is associated with longer hospital stays and significant implications for the patient, the surgeons, and society as a whole. To protect the dural sac during lumbar surgery, knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the dorsal meningovertebral ligaments is crucial. METHODS.: A total of 30 adult embalmed cadavers (52-70 yr of age; mean age of 64 yr) were used. The vertebral canal was divided to expose the dural sac and the spinal nerve roots, and the spinal cord was removed. The morphology, quantity, and attachment of the dorsal meningovertebral ligaments in the lumbosacral region were observed, and the length, width, or diameter and thickness of the ligaments were measured with vernier calipers. RESULTS.: The dorsal meningovertebral ligaments in the lumbosacral region connect the dura to the ligamenta flava or the lamina. The number of the attachment points on the ligamenta flava was relatively larger than that on the lamina, and the occurrence rate of dorsal meningovertebral ligaments was 97% at L5-S1. The thickest ligaments were observed at the L5 and S1 vertebrae. The length of the ligaments varied from 5.16 to 40.24 mm, and the ligaments extended caudally from their origin on the dura to their attachment to the lamina or the ligamentum flavum. The morphology of the dorsal meningovertebral ligaments was divided into 5 types: strip type, cord type, "Y"-shaped type, grid type, and thin slice type. CONCLUSION.: The dorsal meningovertebral ligaments may contribute to dura laceration and epidural hemorrhage during flavectomy and laminectomy, and an appreciation of this relationship might help reduce the risk of such complications.     

Incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers: Secular trends in urban Shanghai,China over 40 years

AimAppraisal of cancer trends is essential for future cancer control, but relevant studies in China are scarce due to a lack of long-term data. With 40-years of cancer registry data, we sought to evaluate secular time trends in incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers in an urban Chinese population.Materials and methodsData on incidence and mortality of invasive cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer were collected by the Shanghai Cancer Registry. Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates were calculated for women aged 20–84 in urban Shanghai between 1973 and 2012. Age-period-cohort Poisson regression models were used to evaluate age, period and cohort effects. Overall linear trends, interpreted as the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), were derived from the net drift in age-drift models.ResultsOverall, cervical cancer incidence and mortality substantially decreased (EAPC = −4.5% and −5.5%, respectively); however, an upward trend was apparent among younger women (age <60). Uterine cancer incidence increased slightly (EAPC = 1.8%), while mortality decreased over time (EAPC = −2.4%). Ovarian cancer incidence and mortality both increased, although the increase in incidence (EAPC = 1.8%) was larger than mortality (EAPC = 0.6%). While cohort effects were most evident for cervical cancer incidence and mortality, significant age, period, and cohort effects were found for all three gynaecological cancers evaluated.ConclusionsThese secular trends in incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers in Shanghai likely reflect changing risk factor profiles and improved cancer prognosis over time, and suggest new priorities and call for additional efforts for gynaecological cancer prevention and control for women in China.     

气管前筋膜的再认识及其在甲状腺癌手术中的意义

目的从应用解剖学的角度重新认识气管前筋膜及其周围间隙,为甲状腺癌手术提供解剖学依据。方法对福尔马林固定的尸体标本进行解剖以及术中甲状腺癌患者的气管前筋膜进行观察,观察气管前筋膜及气管前间隙的特点。结果气管前筋膜分为前后两层,两层筋膜之间是甲状腺峡部、脂肪、气管前淋巴结、甲状腺最下动脉、胸腺,甲状腺下静脉等。前层筋膜与舌骨下肌筋膜之间存在一间隙,为舌骨下肌后间隙;后层筋膜与气管之间存在一个无血管的间隙,为气管前间隙,该间隙向下通向纵膈,向上经甲状腺峡部后方通向喉前,向两侧延伸至气管食管沟。结论气管前筋膜分为前后两层,分离显露甲状腺及气管前脂肪淋巴组织时应该保持气管前筋膜前层的完整性;气管前间隙是处理峡部和气管前淋巴结的外科层面。     

Arantius韧带头侧附着处的形态观察及临床意义

目的　为临床手术通过Arantius（肝静脉）韧带寻找肝左静脉背侧的方法提供依据。 方法　解剖观察33例尸肝Arantius韧带，并追踪其头侧附着处。 结果　Arantius韧带头侧附着处成多样性；33例左肝静脉背侧均被显露。 结论　通过Arantius韧带追踪肝左静脉方便可行。