Recurrent or metastatic disease in select patients with adrenocortical carcinoma. Aggressive resection vs chemotherapy.

In a retrospective, nonrandomized comparison of patients with first recurrence of adrenocortical cancer, 18 patients were treated with chemotherapy (primarily mitotane) and 15 patients were treated with surgical resection plus similar chemotherapy. Surgical resection of recurrent adrenocortical cancer was often extensive, with morbidity in 20% of patients and no mortality. Mitotane therapy was ineffective at controlling tumor growth. Median survival from the time of diagnosis for all patients was only 23 months and no patient was cured. Disease-free interval greater than 12 months was associated with prolonged survival, but it only occurred in six patients (18%), with a similar frequency in both treatment groups. Surgical resection of recurrent disease was associated with prolonged survival from the time of first recurrence. The potential benefit of this resection was evident in the 5 patients (33%) who were able to live greater than 5 years from the time of first recurrence with improvement in symptoms and signs of hypercortisolism. Although no patient with recurrent adrenal cancer could be cured, resection of recurrent disease was associated with a slight prolongation of survival and good palliation of Cushing's syndrome.     

Prospective study of gastrinoma localization and resection in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

In 1982, a prospective study was initiated of 52 consecutive patients with proven Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), involving surgical exploration with the goal of removing the gastrinoma after an extensive protocol to localize the tumor. Each patient underwent ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) with oral/intravenous (IV) contrast, and selective arteriography. Eighteen patients had metastatic disease identified by imaging studies and confirmed by percutaneous biopsies, and two patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-I) with negative imaging studies; therefore, these 20 patients did not undergo laparotomy. Each of the remaining 32 patients (3 with MEN-I and positive imaging studies) underwent laparotomy, and gastrinomas were removed in 20 patients. Preoperative ultrasound localized tumors in 20% of patients, CT in 40%, arteriography in 60%, and any of the modalities in 70% of patients. Infusion CT and arteriography were 100% specific. In 18 patients with either negative imaging (17) or false-positive imaging (1 ultrasound), gastrinomas were found and removed in six patients (33%). Twenty-four gastrinomas were found in 20 patients at laparotomy: eight in lymph nodes around the pancreatic head, four in the pancreatic head, one in the pancreatic body, three in the pancreatic tail, three in the pyloric channel, one in the duodenal wall, two in the jejunum at the ligament of Treitz, one in the ovary, and multiple liver metastases in one patient. If one excludes patients with MEN-I or liver metastatic disease, 12/28 (43%) of patients were biochemically "cured" immediately after operation. This result decreased to 7/23 (30%) with greater than 6 months follow-up. No patients with gastrinomas resected have developed recurrent gastrinoma on follow-up imaging studies (longest follow-up: 4 years). This study indicates that 95% of metastatic gastrinoma can be diagnosed before operation and that, by a combination of careful imaging studies and thorough exploration at surgery, 30% of patients with gastrinomas may be curable.     

Surgical resection of intracardiac gastrinoma

There has been only one previous report of an intracardiac gastrinoma causing Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. In this communication we describe the successful surgical resection of a gastrinoma located in the interventricular septum using cardiopulmonary bypass, blood cardioplegia, and mild hypothermia. Preoperative evaluation and histologic examination of the resected tumor strongly suggest that this was a primary intracardiac gastrinoma.     

Combined craniofacial resection for malignant disease.

A combined craniofacial approach has been employed in nineteen patients with tumors involving the base of the skull. Monoblock resection of the temporal bone, anterior fossa, or anterior and middle fossa can be achieved with acceptable mortality, even in cases of advanced cancer that recurs after radiation. Immediate reconstruction with a full thickness flap was routinely employed to provide improved cosmesis and to minimize the risk of intracranial infection.     

Hepatic resection for metastatic disease

Hepatic resection for metastatic disease is reviewed in 30 patients (mean age 58.9 years). The primary site was the colorectum in 25; the other primary tumours were leiomyosarcoma, plasmacytoma, and adenocarcinoma (all of gastric origin), ocular melanoma and an unknown primary. Operative procedures included 7 wedge resections, 5 segmentectomies and 21 lobectomies (11 right, 4 extended right and 6 left). Major complications in seven patients included intraoperative hemorrhage in three, two of whom died, bile-duct injury in two, small-bowel infarction in one and cerebrovascular accident in one. Operative death rate was 6.7% (2 of 30). Thirteen patients were alive and free of disease a mean of 24 months after hepatic resection while 5 more were alive with disease at a mean of 36.9 months. Life-table analysis projected a 5-year survival of 50.3% for those with colorectal primaries, with no apparent difference in survival between patients with single (55.0%) and multiple (54.0%) metastases. Improved survival was projected for patients with metachronous (66.6%) versus synchronous (45.0%) tumours, primary Dukes' class A or B (66.1%) versus Dukes' class C (46.0%) tumours and those having wedge resection or segmentectomy (66.6%) versus lobectomy or extended lobectomy (48.0%). Hepatic resection for metastatic disease can be done with acceptable morbidity and mortality and the expectation of substantially prolonged survival particularly in patients with metachronous lesions or Dukes's A or B colorectal primary lesions.     

Positron emission tomography defines metastatic disease but not locoregional disease in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging often fail to predict resectability in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Small studies suggest that fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography may improve staging. We analyzed our experience to determine more definitively the potential utility of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. METHODS: Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography scanning were identified from an institutional database. All patients fasted and received a minimum of 10 mCi of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose. Whole-body emission studies were acquired, followed by whole-body transmission studies, allowing iterative reconstruction. Blinded review of positron emission tomography scans was performed for clinical staging, which was then correlated with surgical and pathologic findings. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for tumor and nodal status. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2002, 63 patients underwent positron emission tomography scans, 60 preoperatively and 3 to assess disease recurrence after surgery. Increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake was seen in all but 1 tumor, which was very early stage (IA). Positron emission tomography findings yielded sensitivities of only 19% and 11% for tumor and nodal status, respectively. However, a high standard uptake value in the primary tumor correlated with the presence of N2 disease. Positron emission tomography correctly identified supraclavicular N3 or M1 disease in 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Positron emission tomography does not identify the local extent of tumor or mediastinal nodal metastases reliably but detects extrathoracic metastases, thereby obviating inappropriate thoracotomy. Further studies of the association between tumor standard uptake value and the presence of N2 disease are warranted.     

Long-term cimetidine and anticholinergic therapy in patients with gastrinoma.

Two patients with gastrinomas were treated with cimetidine and an anticholinergic drug for greater than 20 months after exploratory laparotomy disclosed no solitary resectable tumor. Both have done well, and thus this therapy is recommended as a safe and effective alternative to total gastrectomy in reliable patients. Additional therapeutic methods are needed to control tumor growth.     

Surgical resection for benign and malignant liver disease.

The indications for major hepatic resections in 32 patients and the results are presented. Twelve right lobectomies, eight partial left lobectomies, five left lobectomies, four extended right lobectomies and three partial right lobectomies were performed with a 46% complication rate and an operative mortality rate of 12.5%. Ten primary liver cancers, 12 metastatic lesions, four hemangiomas and six "benign" lesions were removed. Of seven patients with hepatomas, four are alive at an average of 24 months postresection and three have no evidence of recurrence. Of 11 adult patients with metastatic lesions, six are alive at an average of 27 months postresection and three patients have no evidence of recurrence. All four patients with hemangioma are alive at an average of seven years. As in other series, our experience has increased with seven resections prior to 1970 and 25 since. Operative mortality has decreased in that period of time (42% to 4%); however, our complication rate in survivors has remained elevated (25% to 50%). Our experience agrees with others that cautious selection of patients for resection of malignant tumors of the liver can extend survival.     

Splenectomy for non-haematological metastatic malignant disease

Purpose  

Multiple cases and small series of patients who have undergone splenectomy for metastatic malignant disease have been reported. This study examines the outcome of patients with metastatic malignant disease to the spleen treated by splenectomy at a tertiary oncology centre and a review of cases published in the last 10 years.     

Transurethral incision and posterior resection of prostate (TUI-PRP) for selected patients with benign obstructive prostatic disease.

Transurethral incision and posterior resection of the prostate (TUI-PRP) is described and used to overcome my three concerns in performing transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP). The favorable result from TUI-PRP is presented.     

Reoperative pulmonary resection in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

Resection of pulmonary metastases from soft tissue sarcoma has been shown to be associated with a 3-year survival of 25% to 30%. The role of multiple resections for recurrent pulmonary metastases, however, has not been clearly defined. Since 1976, 43 patients have had two or more thoracic explorations for the purpose of resecting pulmonary metastases from adult soft tissue sarcoma at our institution. In 89 reexplorations, through either median sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy, the operative mortality was 0%, and 31 of the 43 patients (72%) could be rendered free of disease at the second thoracotomy. Median survival from the second thoracotomy for the patients with resectable disease was 25 months, whereas median survival of patients who had unresectable disease was 10 months. A disease-free interval between the first and second thoracotomies of greater than 18 months was associated with prolonged survival from the second thoracotomy. Owing to lack of other therapies with proven salvage efficacy and in the absence of randomized trials, repeated thoracotomies to render patients free of disease from pulmonary soft-tissue sarcoma metastases appear justified considering the potential survival benefit and low attendant risk.     

Posterior pancreatic head excision in malignant duodenal gastrinoma

Summary. We report on a case of malignant gastrinoma located on the posterior surface of the descending duodenum, presenting with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The tumor was not evident on preoperative imaging studies, metastasis was not present and there was no coincidence with multiple endocrine neoplasia type-I. As the gastrinoma was located on the posterior surface of the pancreatic head, to obtain a sufficiant safety margin, partial excision of this region was necessary. Under preservation of the Oddi's sphincter, the reconstruction was completed by direct suturing of the duodenal wall to the pancreatic surface without need for enteral diversion procedures. This technique represents a possible non-invasive resection modality for benign and malignant duodenal gastrinomas located close to the pancreatic head region.      

Results of resection for bronchogenic carcinoma with mediastinal lymph node metastases in selected patients.

Between 1982 and 1988, 254 consecutive patients underwent resection for bronchogenic carcinoma with mediastinal lymph node metastases at Marie Lannelongue Hospital. Selection of cases for surgery was carried out using CT and mediastinoscopy. The surgical procedure performed were pneumonectomy (169), lobectomy (65), or bilobectomy (20) associated with resection of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes. Almost all diseased nodes appeared grossly enlarged at surgery and only a few were of normal size. Postoperative mortality was 5.6%. Resection was potentially curative in 191 cases (75%) and palliative in 63 cases (25%). Almost all patients received adjuvant treatment (mainly radiotherapy). Actuarial 5-year survival was 18% for the entire group, and 23% for those who underwent curative resection. No patient with palliative resection survived 5 years. The following factors proved to be significantly associated with a better prognosis: complete resection, independent lymph node metastases, involvement of only one level, lower paratracheal involvement. On the other hand, there was no difference between pathological types (squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, oat cell carcinomas) with regard to prognosis. We advocate an aggressive approach in selected cases of N2 bronchogenic carcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be tested in these specific patients with a view to the possibility of improving results.     

Limited hepatic resection effective for selected cirrhotic patients with primary liver cancer.

We evaluated in retrospect the applicability of limited hepatic resection in cases of primary liver cancer in cirrhotic patients. According to the severity of impaired liver function, 37 patients underwent limited resection, and for 13, standard major hepatic resection was done. The mortality rate in case of limited resection was 10.8%, and the rate in case of massive excision was 15.4%. One, two- and five-year survival rates of limited operation were 79.9, 60.3, and 32.6%, respectively. After standard resection, the rates were 78.7, 67.5, and 22.5%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the mortality and survival rates between the two groups. These results indicate that, for the patient with a small liver cancer, and poor liver function, the limited procedure leads to a comparatively longer survival. This limited resection can be selectively used to treat cancer associated with cirrhosis and encapsulated tumors. For the preoperative evaluation, hepatic arteriograms aid in patient selection.