Adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus and "gastric cardia" are predominantly esophageal carcinomas

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and gastric cardia are defined by the relationship of its epicenter to the gastro-esophageal junction, which is presently defined as the end of the tubular esophagus. We have recently suggested that the true gastro-esophageal junction is best defined by the proximal limit of gastric oxyntic mucosa. AIM: To reclassify adenocarcinomas of this region by the relationship of the tumor to the proximal limit of gastric oxyntic mucosa. METHODS: Seventy-four patients who had esophago-gastrectomy for adenocarcinomas in this region were classified as adenocarcinoma of distal esophagus (38 patients) and gastric cardia (36 patients) by present criteria. The epithelial type at the epicenter and distal edge of these tumors was assessed. RESULTS: The epicenter of the tumor in 64 patients with noncircumferential tumors had squamous (5 cases), cardiac (21 cases), oxynto-cardiac (4 cases), and intestinal (Barrett-type) (34 cases) epithelia. None had gastric oxyntic mucosa. Of the 10 patients with circumferential tumors, 7 had cardiac or oxynto-cardiac epithelium at the distal tumor edge. CONCLUSIONS: If the gastro-esophageal junction is defined histologically as the proximal limit of oxyntic mucosa, 71/74 patients would be classified as adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus. The other 3 patients were questionable as to gastric or esophageal origin. We suggest that this reclassification based on the proposed new definition of the gastro-esophageal junction provides an explanation for the epidemiologic relationship that exists between adenocarcinoma of the "gastric cardia" and gastro-esophageal reflux disease.     

Primary adenocarcinoma of third and fourth portions of duodenum. Favorable prognosis after resection.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma, a rare malignant lesion, is associated with a poor 5-year survival. Few series have addressed differences between resectable tumors of the proximal and distal duodenum. We reviewed records of 17 consecutive patients with adenocarcinoma of the duodenum who underwent resection: 10 had adenocarcinoma of the proximal duodenum, and seven had tumors of the distal duodenum. Most patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. Five patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal duodenum underwent segmental resection. No perioperative deaths occurred. Six of 10 patients with proximal tumors died of metastatic disease. Of the seven patients with tumors of the distal duodenum, five are alive without evidence of disease, and two died of unrelated causes. The survival of patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal duodenum is surprisingly good, and segmental resection is the procedure of choice.     

Preoperative chemotherapy unmasks underlying Barrett's mucosa in patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus

BACKGROUND: Intestinal metaplasia of the distal esophagus frequently cannot be detected in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. It has therefore been questioned whether Barrett's esophagus is the primary precursor lesion of such lesions. We hypothesized that the underlying Barrett's mucosa may be masked by tumor overgrowth in the majority of these patients. METHODS: The pretherapeutic endoscopy and biopsy records of 79 patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma who had undergone preoperative chemotherapy were reviewed and compared to findings on restaging endoscopy/biopsy and subsequent resection and histopathologic analysis of the resected specimen. RESULTS: Pretherapeutic endoscopy and biopsy showed associated Barrett's esophagus in 59/79 patients, whereas there was no evidence of associated intestinal metaplasia in 20/79 patients on extensive biopsies. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Barrett's mucosa was unmasked and later documented by biopsy or histopathologic assessment of the resected specimen in 18 of the latter 20 patients. This resulted in an overall association of Barrett's mucosa with adenocarcinoma in the distal esophagus of 97.4% CONCLUSION: Underlying Barrett's mucosa is frequently masked by tumor overgrowth in patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus.     

Carcinoid tumor of the esophagus: a clinicopathologic study of four cases

Several case reports have emphasized that esophageal carcinoid tumors are associated with a poor prognosis. To expand our knowledge about the pathology and biologic behavior of these rare tumors, we reviewed the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of four cases of primary esophageal carcinoid. The age of the patients ranged from 48 to 82 years (mean 63 years; median 61 years). The lower segment of the esophagus was involved in two cases and the mid segment was involved in one case. The sizes of the tumors ranged from 0.3 cm to 3.5 cm. Two tumors were confined to the lamina propria and two invaded into the muscular wall. Two tumors appeared polypoid, whereas the remaining two were incidental findings and associated with adenocarcinoma arising in a background of Barrett esophagus. The adenocarcinoma was superficially invasive in one case, whereas it penetrated the muscular wall in the other. All four carcinoid tumors were immunoreactive with chromogranin and synaptophysin. There was focal expression of serotonin in two cases, glucagon in one case, and pancreatic polypeptide in one case. Endocrine cell hyperplasia was noted in both the Barrett esophagus and the invasive adenocarcinoma. One patient died secondary to postoperative pneumonia. Three patients are alive and disease free at 1, 6, and 23 years status post therapy. None of the patients had metastatic disease. These findings show that esophageal carcinoids are associated with a favorable prognosis. They arise in two settings: (1) a single large polypoid tumor or (2) an incidental finding and in association with adenocarcinoma arising in the background of Barrett esophagus. The presence of endocrine cell hyperplasia in the Barrett mucosa and the adenocarcinoma supports the hypothesis that these lesions arise from a common stem cell.     

PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN 160 PATIENTS WITH BARRETT’S OESOPHAGUS OR BARRETT’S ADENOCARCINOMA

Background : The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the development of Barrett’s oesophagus and its complications is uncertain. The aim of the present study was to determine the importance of H. pylori infection in this disease by comparing the frequency of oesophageal and gastric H. pylori infection in a group of patients with Barrett’s oesophagus or adenocarcinoma, with the frequency of infection in a control group without Barrett’s disease. Methods : The study group included 160 patients (123 male, 37 female; mean age: 61.2 years) who were classified (according to the highest grade pathological lesion in the oesophagus) as having Barrett’s intestinal metaplasia (IM; 88 patients), Barrett’s oesophagus with low‐grade dysplasia (LGD; 28 patients), high‐grade dysplasia (HGD; five patients), Barrett’s indefinite for dysplasia (n = 4), and Barrett’s adenocarcinoma (33 patients). A total of 91 of these patients had gastric antral specimens available for study. The control group consisted of 214 consecutive, prospectively enrolled symptomatic patients (122 male, 92 female; mean age: 57.2 years) who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and in whom Barrett’s oesophagus or Barrett’s adenocarcinoma was not found. A modified Warthin–Starry method was used to detect H. pylori infection. Results : Oesophageal H. pylori infection was found in eight of 160 (5%) patients with Barrett’s oesophagus or Barrett’s adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter pylori organisms in the oesophagus were found only on non‐intestinalized cardiac or oxyntocardiac mucosa. All patients with oesophageal H. pylori infection and an antral biopsy available for study had antral H. pylori infection. Gastric antral H. pylori infection was significantly less prevalent in patients in the Barrett’s study group (15/91, 16.5%) than in the non‐Barrett’s control group (67/214, 31.3%; Fisher’s exact test, P = 0.01). Patients from the control group with an endoscopic diagnosis of duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, gastritis, or duodenitis had a significantly higher prevalence of infection compared with the Barrett’s group, but there was no difference in the infection prevalence in patients in the Barrett’s group and patients with reflux oesophagitis, hiatal hernia, no endoscopic abnormality, or any other diagnosis. Conclusions : Oesophageal H. pylori infection is uncommon in patients with Barrett’s IM, dysplasia, or adenocarcinoma, and may be restricted to non‐intestinalized columnar epithelium. Gastric H. pylori infection may have a protective effect for the development of Barrett’s oesophagus.     

Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction

Since 1985, 57 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal (GE) junction have undergone surgical resection. In this group, 16 of the tumors arose in a Barrett's esophagus. There was a significant predilection toward white men above the age of 55 (15/16; 94%) in this subgroup. The mean proximal extent of abnormal columnar involvement was 5.4 cm above the gastroesophageal junction (range 2.5 to 11 cm). The mean location of the neoplasm centered in the distal esophagus 1.8 +/- 0.5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction. During the same time period, 30 patients with Barrett's esophagus were seen without associated adenocarcinoma. There were no statistical differences in the proximal extent of columnar involvement or the presence of reflux symptoms between the two groups. There were no significant differences in age, smoking history, and alcohol consumption between patients with benign or malignant Barrett's esophagus as compared to those with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction not associated with Barrett's mucosa. The marked male predominance seen in the group with malignant Barrett's esophagus was in contrast to the benign cases (16/30; 53%) but was similar to the adenocarcinoma group, without recognized Barrett's esophagus (38/41; 93%). The mean location of the tumor in the latter was 0.9 +/- 1.2 cm above the gastroesophageal junction and was comparable to the location in the group with Barrett's adenocarcinoma. The 4-year survival rate of patients in the non-Barrett's adenocarcinoma group is approximately 30%. Of those with Barrett's adenocarcinoma, the present 4-year survival rate is 60%. The demographic and morphometric similarities between the Barrett's and non-Barrett's adenocarcinoma groups may be of primary importance in determining the true clinical prevalence of Barrett's adenocarcinoma. Our findings suggest that the sensitivity of endoscopic surveillance may be improved if biopsy specimens are concentrated within the distal 3 cm of the esophagus and the esophagogastric junction. Finally, the reason for the current difference in survival between the Barrett's and non-Barrett's adenocarcinoma groups is uncertain but may be related to endoscopic surveillance permitting earlier diagnosis and treatment.     

Endoscopic endoluminal radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus: initial results and lessons learned

Background

Ablating Barrett’s epithelium may reduce the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. This study reports the experience of a single surgeon using an endoscopic endoluminal device that delivers radiofrequency energy (the BARRx device) to ablate Barrett’s esophagus.

Methods

All patients who underwent ablation of Barrett’s epithelium with the BARRx system were reviewed for length of Barrett’s metaplasia, presence of high-grade dysplasia, postprocedure complications, completeness of ablation at first follow-up endoscopy, need for additional ablation, completeness of ablation at second follow-up endoscopy, and concomitant performance of a Nissen fundoplication.

Results

Sixty-six patients underwent Barrett’s ablation. The median length of the Barrett’s esophagus was 3 (range, 1–14) cm. Twelve patients (18%) had high-grade dysplasia. There were no immediate procedure-related complications. Four strictures occurred: three in patients with ≥12-cm segments of Barrett’s and one in a 6-cm segment. Twenty-nine of 49 patients (59%) who had planned 3-month follow-up endoscopy had complete ablation. Five patients had planned two-stage ablation. Twenty patients with incomplete ablation had additional ablation. Twenty-seven patients had planned follow-up endoscopy at ≥1 year: 25 of 27 (93%) had biopsy-proven normal esophageal mucosa. The median length of Barrett’s esophagus in patients with initially incomplete ablation was 6 cm, compared with 2 cm in the initially complete ablation patients. Seven Nissen fundoplications were present at the time of ablation, whereas six were performed concomitantly with the ablation without increased difficulty.

Conclusions

Complete ablation of Barrett’s esophagus with radiofrequency endoluminal ablation is achievable in >90% of patients. Patients with longer segments are likely to require additional ablation. Patients with very long segments are at risk for stricture and should be approach cautiously. Performance of a fundoplication is not hindered by concomitant ablation.     

Extended transthoracic resection compared with limited transhiatal resection for adenocarcinoma of the mid/distal esophagus: five-year survival of a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether extended transthoracic esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma of the mid/distal esophagus improves long-term survival. BACKGROUND: A randomized trial was performed to compare surgical techniques. Complete 5-year survival data are now available. METHODS: A total of 220 patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus (type I) or gastric cardia involving the distal esophagus (type II) were randomly assigned to limited transhiatal esophagectomy or to extended transthoracic esophagectomy with en bloc lymphadenectomy. Patients with peroperatively irresectable/incurable cancer were excluded from this analysis (n = 15). A total of 95 patients underwent transhiatal esophagectomy and 110 patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. RESULTS: After transhiatal and transthoracic resection, 5-year survival was 34% and 36%, respectively (P = 0.71, per protocol analysis). In a subgroup analysis, based on the location of the primary tumor according to the resection specimen, no overall survival benefit for either surgical approach was seen in 115 patients with a type II tumor (P = 0.81). In 90 patients with a type I tumor, a survival benefit of 14% was seen with the transthoracic approach (51% vs. 37%, P = 0.33). There was evidence that the treatment effect differed depending on the number of positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen (test for interaction P = 0.06). In patients (n = 55) without positive nodes locoregional disease-free survival after transhiatal esophagectomy was comparable to that after transthoracic esophagectomy (86% and 89%, respectively). The same was true for patients (n = 46) with more than 8 positive nodes (0% in both groups). Patients (n = 104) with 1 to 8 positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen showed a 5-year locoregional disease-free survival advantage if operated via the transthoracic route (23% vs. 64%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: There is no significant overall survival benefit for either approach. However, compared with limited transhiatal resection extended transthoracic esophagectomy for type I esophageal adenocarcinoma shows an ongoing trend towards better 5-year survival. Moreover, patients with a limited number of positive lymph nodes in the resection specimen seem to benefit from an extended transthoracic esophagectomy.     

Barrett esophagus: risk factors for progression to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk factors for dysplasia and adenocarcinoma development in nondysplastic Barrett mucosa. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The risk for patients with Barrett esophagus to develop esophageal adenocarcinoma is low, and most patients undergoing surveillance will not develop malignancy. Identification of risk factors may allow for more rational surveillance programs in which patients are stratified according to their individual risk of progressing to dysplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The development of dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma was studied during long-term endoscopic and histologic surveillance in 140 patients with Barrett esophagus free from dysplasia. Risk factors for progression to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma were evaluated. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 5.8 years. Forty-four patients (31.4%) developed low-grade dysplasia and 7 patients (5%) developed high-grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma. Dysplasia development was significantly less common after antireflux surgery compared with conventional medical therapy. Low-grade dysplasia (relative risk = 5.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-28.6) and long duration of reflux symptoms (relative risk = 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.7) were independently associated with an increased risk of developing high-grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Successful antireflux surgery protects the Barrett mucosa from developing high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma, possibly by better control of reflux of gastric contents. Low-grade dysplasia is the only clinically useful risk factor that permits stratification of the surveillance intervals according to the risk of the individual patient.     

Outcomes of Korean patients with clinically localized urachal or non-urachal adenocarcinoma of the bladder

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference between clinically localized urachal and non-urachal adenocarcinomas in terms of patient survival.MethodsA total of 31 patients without evidence of distant metastasis who were treated by radical or partial cystectomy were included in the study. Of the 31 cases, 17 and 14 fulfilled the histologic criteria for urachal and non-urachal carcinoma, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 54.2 months (range: 6.6–188.8).ResultsPatients with urachal adenocarcinoma were significantly younger than patients with non-urachal adenocarcinomas (45.7 vs. 70.0 years; P = 0.002). The rates of local or distant recurrence were similar (47.1 vs. 50.0%; P = 0.507, log-rank test). Patients with ≤4-cm tumors had a better disease-free survival than those with >4-cm tumors (P = 0.043, log-rank test). Patients with mucinous type adenocarcinoma tended to have better disease-free survival than those with other histologic types of adenocarcinoma (P = 0.064, log-rank test). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that only tumor size and histologic type could predict the disease-free survival after surgery of patients with primary adenocarcinoma.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the disease-free survivals associated with urachal and non-urachal adenocarcinoma do not differ significantly but that attempts should be made to diagnose these aggressive tumors early, when they are more likely to be small, since the survivors without disease after surgery appear to be patients in whom the tumor was small.     

Gastrointestinal carcinoids: characterization by site of origin and hormone production

OBJECTIVE: To describe a large series of patients with carcinoid tumors in terms of presenting symptoms, hormonal data, stage at diagnosis, pathologic features, and survival. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Published series have described significant prognostic features of carcinoid tumors as site of origin, age, sex, stage at diagnosis, presence of high hormone levels, and increased T stage. Of these, stage at diagnosis and T stage seem to emerge most often as independent predictors of survival in multivariate analyses. Of carcinoid tumors, those arising from a midgut location have higher levels of serotonin and serotonin breakdown products, as well as more frequent metastatic disease at presentation, than those arising from either foregut or hindgut locations. METHODS: A prospective database of carcinoid patients seen at Duke University Medical Center was kept from 1970 to the present. Retrospective medical record review was performed on this database to record presenting symptoms, hormonal data, pathologic features, and survival. Statistical methods included analysis of variance, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Mantel-Cox proportional hazard survival analysis, with P <.05 considered significant for all tests. RESULTS: Carcinoids arising in different locations had different presentations: rectal carcinoids presented significantly more often with gastrointestinal bleeding, and midgut carcinoids presented significantly more often with flushing, diarrhea, and the carcinoid syndrome. Patients with midgut tumors had significantly higher levels of serotonin and serotonin breakdown products, corresponding to higher metastatic tumor burdens. Although age, stage, region of origin, and urinary level of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid predicted survival by univariate analysis, only the latter three were independent predictors of survival by multivariate analysis. Of the patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis, those with midgut tumors had better survival than those with foregut or hindgut tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Although region of origin is certainly an important factor in determination of prognosis, stage of disease at presentation is more predictive of survival. Pancreatic and midgut carcinoids are metastatic at diagnosis more often than those arising in other locations, leading to a worse overall prognosis. Among patients with distant metastases, patients with midgut primary tumors have improved survival despite increased hormone production compared with patients with tumors arising in other primary sites.     

Long-term survival in carcinoma of the biliary tract. Analysis of prognostic factors in 146 resections

In 146 consecutive patients undergoing resection for carcinoma of the biliary tract, various tumor characteristics that affected long-term survival of the patients were studied. Patients with gallbladder carcinoma whose tumors had no serosal infiltration or vessel invasion were grossly papillary, or were papillary or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma histologically survived longer than those without these tumor characteristics. In upper-third lesions, patients whose tumors showed no serosal infiltration or vessel invasion, were grossly papillary, were papillary or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma histologically, or were treated with hepatic lobectomy had a higher chance of long-term survival. Patients with the middle-third lesions, whose tumors were grossly papillary or nodular or whose margins were tumor-free, were apt to survive longer. Long-term survival for patients with lower-third lesions was obtained most often in patients without lymph node metastasis or vessel invasion.     

Carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas: is curative resection justified?

BACKGROUND. The role of resection in the treatment of carcinoma of the distal pancreas remains unclear. The less frequent occurrence of tumor in the distal gland, advanced tumor stage at diagnosis, and a lack of reported success have combined to produce therapeutic nihilism in the minds of many surgeons. The goal of this review was to assess long-term survival after distal pancreatectomy for carcinoma of the pancreas. METHODS. The records of all patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy at the Mayo Clinic for a primary pancreatic malignant tumor during the 25-year period from 1963 to 1987 were reviewed. Forty-four patients undergoing potentially curative distal pancreatectomies were identified: 26 patients for ductal adenocarcinoma, 12 patients for islet cell carcinoma, and six patients for cystadenocarcinoma. RESULTS. Major postoperative morbidity occurred in 9% of the patients and operative death in 2% of the patients. Patients with ductal adenocarcinoma frequently were admitted with advanced disease (stage II or III). The median overall survival for patients with ductal adenocarcinoma was 10 months. Fifteen percent of the patients survived 2 years after operation, and 8% of the patients survived 5 years. In contrast, the 5-year survival after resection of islet cell carcinomas and cystadenocarcinomas was excellent (83% and 100%, respectively). CONCLUSION. The prognosis for patients with ductal adenocarcinoma in the distal pancreas who were treated with potentially curative distal pancreatectomy is poor; however, the results are not substantially different from those reported after pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignant tumors of the proximal pancreas. Some patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal pancreas who were treated with resection may be long-term survivors. We recommend resection of carcinoma of the distal pancreas when the disease is limited to the gland and believe that all patients with ductal adenocarcinoma should be considered for postoperative adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy.     

Relationship of gastroesophageal reflux disease with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) increases the risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia. In order to further define this risk, we studied the relationship of GERD in patients with or without gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. METHODS: The records of all patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia treated between 1991 and 1999 were reviewed for the following data: gender, age of diagnosis, presence of GERD, presence of GERD for >4 years, and GERD treatment. A control group of patients without gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma were matched for age and gender. Data obtained from the control group included presence of GERD and treatment for GERD. RESULTS: 60 patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and cardia were identified. 40% of cancer patients had GERD at the time of diagnosis, (odds ratio 39, p < 0.0001). 27% of cancer patients had GERD for >4 years (odds ratio 21, p < 0.0001). 50% of cancer patients with GERD were being treated with either H(2)-blockers or proton pump inhibitors at the time of cancer diagnosis, with an average duration of treatment of 17 months, compared to none of the patients without GERD (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma had a higher prevalence of GERD-like symptoms compared to age- and gender-matched controls. This supports an association between GERD and gastroesophageal junction cancers. In addition, cancer patients with GERD may be treated for prolonged periods of time with acid-suppression medication prior to the diagnosis of cancer, masking the symptoms of cancer. Patients with long-standing GERD or older patients with new onset GERD may need endoscopy or imaging studies to evaluate for cancer of the distal esophagus or cardia.     

Resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: results of 70 cases

HYPOTHESIS: Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas can be managed surgically with excellent outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Seventy consecutive patients who underwent resection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2005. INTERVENTIONS: Pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, or enucleation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients, 50 (71.4%) had nonfunctional tumors. Thirty-seven patients (52.9%) had neuroendocrine carcinomas and 13 (18.6%) had benign islet cell neoplasms. Twenty patients had functional tumors. Of these 20 patients, 16 had insulinomas, 2 had glucagonomas, and 2 had gastrinomas. Twenty-seven patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 32 had distal pancreatectomy, and 11 underwent enucleation. Patients undergoing enucleation as compared with those not undergoing enucleation were younger (mean age, 39 vs 51 years, respectively; P = .009) and had smaller tumors (mean tumor size, 2 vs 5 cm, respectively; P<.001). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 patients (48.1%) after pancreaticoduodenectomy, in 4 patients (12.5%) after distal pancreatectomy, and in 0 patients after enucleation. There were no perioperative mortalities. With a median follow-up of 50 months, the 5-year actuarial survival for the patients with malignant neuroendocrine carcinomas (n = 37) was 77%, and all of the patients with functional tumors are alive. The presence of lymphovascular invasion closely approached significance when survival was evaluated (P = .06). Lymph node status, perineural invasion, and liver metastasis did not impact survival. CONCLUSIONS: This single-institutional case series demonstrates that pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors can be safely resected without mortality and with minimal morbidity. The presence of lymphovascular invasion can be used to classify neuroendocrine tumors as malignant, and this appears to predict survival. Patients with malignant tumors can expect long-term survival even in the setting of metastatic disease.     

Results of surgical treatment of periampullary tumors: a thirty-five-year experience

Data on 126 consecutive patients with periampullary tumors resected at the Cleveland Clinic between January 1950 and December 1984 were reviewed. One hundred five patients underwent pancreatoduodenal resection, 10 patients total pancreatectomy, and 11 patients local resection of the tumor. The site of tumor was ampulla of Vater (59), head of the pancreas (30), duodenum (20), and distal common bile duct (11). Six patients had benign disease. The operative mortality rate for radical resection for the entire period was 7.8%; it has declined to 5.4% since 1974. The operative mortality rate for local resection was 9.1% (one patient). The overall 5-year survival rate for all malignant tumors of the periampullary area was 28% and 25.5% for invasive adenocarcinoma. Survival was affected primarily by location and histologic findings. The 5-year survival rate for adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater was 37.2%, 27.5% for the duodenum, 16.7% for the distal common bile, and 4.3% for the pancreas (p = 0.0001). Papillary adenocarcinoma had a 5-year survival rate of 49.2% in contrast to 18.4% for nonpapillary ductal adenocarcinoma (p = 0.002). Patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma treated by local resection had a 5-year survival rate of 40.9%. These data justify continued use of a selective radical approach in the resection of most periampullary tumors with local resection for small tumors in high-risk patients.     

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Complete Tumor Extirpation Improves Survival Benefit Despite Larger Tumors for Patients Who Undergo Distal Pancreatectomy and Splenectomy

Introduction  

Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma have poor survival. Presumably, tumors in the body or tail of the pancreas, due to paucity of symptoms, present later than patients with tumors in the head of the pancreas. This study was undertaken to determine if tumors amenable to complete extirpation by distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy have worse survival when compared to their proximal counterparts.     

Results of laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal adenocarcinoma: retrospective analysis of 157 cases

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic excision of rectal tumors has gained favor in the last decade and several issues have reported encouraging results: still, the use of laparoscopy remains open to debate. The aim of the current study is to assess the reliability of laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer analyzing short-term outcomes and long-term survival. METHODS: The charts of 157 patients were reviewed retrospectively after anterior resection for rectal adenocarcinoma performed by minimal access. Patients undergoing emergency surgery were excluded. LAR was excluded in presence of preoperative features at computed tomography (CT) scan suggesting bulky tumors unresectable by laparoscopy or in case of anesthesiologic contraindications. Conversion rate and functional and oncologic outcomes were analyzed. Data on long-term results and survival were evaluated. RESULTS: LAR was performed in 157 patients, and conversion to laparotomy was required in 12 cases. Mean operation time for nonconverted patients was 229 minutes (overall 238 minutes). Total mesorectal excision (TME) was performed in tumors of the mid and low rectum and a temporary ileostomy was performed in 56 patients. The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was 10.5 days. Morbidity of anterior resection included 17 anastomotic leaks after laparoscopic surgery (LS; 5 in the converted patients). Conversion increased significantly the risk of leak (P < .005). Two leaks caused death. The mean number of nodes collected was 12. The incidence of local relapse was 4%, and the rate of anastomotic recurrence was nil. Survival probability with LS was .73 at 5 years. Patients in stage III took advantage of adjuvant treatment and had a better survival than patients in stage II (P = not significant [NS]). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study suggest that LAR for rectal cancer is a reliable procedure. Oncologic requirements were respected; parameters such as length of specimen, distal margin, and number of nodes retrieved were quite acceptable. Incidences of local recurrence and long-term survival were comparable with those of other series.     

Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors: Factors that Predict Outcome

Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumors originating in multiple locations throughout the GI tract. The prognosis for patients with GI carcinoid tumors is diverse. To determine the factors that significantly affect prognosis, we reviewed our experience. Between 1992 and 2000 a total of 70 patients with GI carcinoid tumors underwent surgical resection at our institution. The patients were grouped into three categories based on the origin of the carcinoid tumor: foregut, midgut, hindgut. The mean age of the patients was 56 ± 2 years. All patients with foregut carcinoids had symptoms upon presentation, whereas 61% of those with midgut carcinoids and only 37% of those with hindgut carcinoids had symptoms (p < 0.001). The factors that most strongly affected survival on univariate analysis were a symptomatic presentation and the site of origin. Patients with foregut or midgut lesions had lower 5-year disease-free survivals than those with hindgut tumors. Moreover, the size of the primary tumor and the presence of liver metastases were not independent predictors of survival. Despite the larger tumor size and the higher incidence of liver metastases, patients with foregut carcinoids appear to have the same prognosis as those with midgut carcinoids. These data therefore suggest that the outcomes of patients with carcinoid tumors are highly dependent on the presence of symptoms and the site of origin.     

Results of total pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

HYPOTHESIS: Total pancreatectomy for infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma is not superior to pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients. SETTING: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. PATIENTS: All patients (n = 488) undergoing pancreatic resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of operation, estimated blood loss, complications, length of stay, number of positive lymph nodes, presence of a positive margin, and survival times were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were identified who underwent total pancreatectomy, 28 of whom had adenocarcinoma. Median length of stay was 32 days; 19 (54%) developed postoperative complications, of which 63% were infectious. Thirty-day mortality was 3% (1 patient). Median survival was 9.3 months (range, 0.6-172 months). There was no significant difference between patients with and without adenocarcinoma in terms of duration of operation, estimated blood loss, complications, length of stay, or number of readmissions. In patients with adenocarcinoma, margin or nodal status were not significant survival variables. Patients undergoing total pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma had a significantly worse overall survival than those undergoing total pancreatectomy for other reasons (P<.001), or compared with a contemporaneous cohort with adenocarcinoma undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 409) and distal pancreatectomy (n = 51) (7.9 vs 17.2 months; P<.002). CONCLUSIONS: Total pancreatectomy can be performed safely with low mortality; survival is predicted by the underlying pathologic findings: patients undergoing total pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma have a uniformly poor outcome. Those undergoing total pancreatectomy for benign disease or nonadenocarcinoma variants can have long-term survival. In patients who require total pancreatectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma, the survival is so poor as to bring into question the value of the operation.