Analysis of gallstone disease after gastric cancer surgery

Background

The incidence rate of newly developed gallstone disease after gastrectomy for gastric cancer is thought to be higher than that in the general population. However, the presentation and management of these gallstones remain under debate, and the role of prophylactic cholecystectomy remains questionable.

Methods

Data on adult patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer and received gastrectomy between 2000 and 2011 were extracted from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A patient was excluded if he or she had gallstone disease or received cholecystectomy before the index date. The incidence of newly developed gallstone disease and its subsequent management were recorded. Data were analyzed to evaluate the factors associated with gallstone development and treatment options.

Results

A total of 17,325 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy were eligible for analysis. During the follow-up period (mean 4.1 years; median, 2.9 years), 1280 (7.4%) patients developed gallstone disease and 560 (3.2%) patients subsequently underwent cholecystectomy. The in-hospital mortality for cholecystectomy was 1.8% (10/560). Development of gallstone disease was associated with older age, total gastrectomy, duodenal exclusion, diabetes, cirrhosis, and more comorbidities. Factors associated with the use of cholecystectomy to treat gallstone disease included younger age, fewer comorbidities, medical center admission, and presentation as cholecystitis.

Conclusions

Although few patients required further gallbladder removal after gastrectomy for gastric malignancy, the increased mortality rate for subsequent cholecystectomy was worth noting. The decision to undergo prophylactic cholecystectomy might be individualized based upon patient characteristics and the surgeon’s discretion.

     

The risk of gallbladder cancer from polyps in a large multiethnic series

Background

The aim of this study is assess whether patients with Indian ethnic background are at an increased risk of developing gallbladder cancer (GBC) if they have been diagnosed with ultrasonic abnormalities of the gallbladder.

Methods

Between January 1998 and July 2006, 137,655 abdominal ultrasound examinations were performed in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. After the exclusion of repeat scans and those performed for renal or pelvic disease, 71,431 reports were included in this analysis. Patients in whom the diagnosis of GBC has been made without histology have been identified from the database of Northern and Yorkshire Cancer Registry and the presence of GBC was correlated with ultrasonic gallbladder abnormalities.

Results

Gallbladder polyps (GBP) were detected in 3.3% of patients and these were larger than 10 mm in 0.1% of the cases. Age above 60 years, Indian ethnic background, single GBP larger than 10 mm, the presence of gallstones, severe gallbladder wall thickening and irregular thickening were independently associated with the higher odds of developing GBC. The prevalence of malignancy in those with GBP was significantly higher among patients with Indian ethnic background compared to Caucasian patients, 5.5% versus 0.08%, p < 0.001.

Conclusions

The presence of GBP, irrelevant of size, amongst patients of Indian ethnic decent, is an indication for further investigation and/or cholecystectomy.     

Cholecystectomy,gallstones, tonsillectomy,and pancreatic cancer risk: a population-based case-control study in minnesota

Background:

Associations between medical conditions and pancreatic cancer risk are controversial and are thus evaluated in a study conducted during 1994–1998 in Minnesota.

Methods:

Cases (n=215) were ascertained from hospitals in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities and the Mayo Clinic. Controls (n=676) were randomly selected from the general population and frequency matched to cases by age and sex. The history of medical conditions was gathered with a questionnaire during in-person interviews. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression.

Results:

After adjustment for confounders, subjects who had cholecystectomy or gallstones experienced a significantly higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those who did not (OR (95% CI): 2.11 (1.32–3.35) for cholecystectomy and 1.97 (1.23–3.12) for gallstones), whereas opposite results were observed for tonsillectomy (0.67 (0.48–0.94)). Increased risk associated with cholecystectomy was the greatest when it occurred ⩽2 years before the cancer diagnosis (5.93 (2.36–15.7)) but remained statistically significant when that interval was ⩾20 years (2.27 (1.16–4.32)).

Conclusions:

Cholecystectomy, gallstones, and tonsillectomy were associated with an altered risk of pancreatic cancer. Our study suggests that cholecystectomy increased risk but reverse causality may partially account for high risk associated with recent cholecystectomy.     

Staging,Treatment, and Future Approaches of Gallbladder Carcinoma

Background

Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant cancer of the bile ducts and third most common gastrointestinal malignant in the world for public health. Its relatively low incidence and confused symptoms result in advanced disease at the time of presentation, contributing to poor prognosis and reduced survival associated with this disease. The main function of the gallbladder is to store excreted bile acids from the liver in preparation for a meal. Its main risk factor is prolonged exposure to biliary calculations, although bacterial infections and other inflammatory conditions are associated. Chronic inflammatory bowel conditions are associated with gallbladder cancer. T stage translates to identifying residual disease at reoperation for incidental gallbladder cancer and residual disease negatively affects survival.

Conclusion

It is the most common cancer of gallbladder, gallbladder cancer remains a rare disease. Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease that can be accidentally diagnosed after cholecystectomy or accidentally, often with more advanced disease. The prognosis is generally extremely poor and improvements in surgical resection of this approach have to be re-evaluated, while the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy remains controversial.

     

Estimating the demand for radiotherapy from the evidence: A review of changes from 2003 to 2012

Background and Purpose

In 2003 we estimated that 52.3% of new cases of cancer in Australia had an indication for external beam radiotherapy at least once at some time during the course of their illness. This update reviews the contemporary evidence to define the optimal proportion of new cancers that would benefit from radiotherapy as part of their treatment and estimates the changes to the optimal radiotherapy utilisation rate from 2003 to 2012.

Materials and Methods

National and international guidelines were reviewed for external beam radiotherapy indications in the management of cancers. Epidemiological data on the proportion of new cases of cancer with each indication for radiotherapy were identified. Indications and epidemiological data were merged to develop an optimal radiotherapy utilisation tree. Univariate and Monte Carlo simulations were used in sensitivity analysis.

Results

The overall optimal radiotherapy utilisation rate (external beam radiotherapy) for all registered cancers in Australia changed from 52.3% in 2003 to 48.3% in 2012. Overall 8.9% of all cancer patients in Australia have at least one indication for concurrent chemo-radiotherapy during the course of their illness.

Conclusions

The reduction in the radiotherapy utilisation rate was due to changes in epidemiological data, changes to radiotherapy indications and refinements of the model structure.     

Gallstones and cholecystectomy in relation to risk of intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background:

Cholangiocarcinomas are highly lethal tumours of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary tract. The aetiology is largely unknown, and the potential roles of gallstones and gall bladder removal (cholecystectomy) need to be addressed in a large study with a long follow-up.

Methods:

A population-based nationwide Swedish cohort study was carried out, in which patients hospitalised for gallstone diagnosis with or without gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) between 1965 and 2008 were identified in the Swedish Patient Registry. The cohort was followed up for cancer in the Swedish Cancer Registry. The observed numbers of intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas that developed after one year of follow-up were compared with the expected numbers, calculated from the corresponding background population, and the relative risks were estimated by standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results:

Among the 192 960 non-cholecystectomised individuals with gallstones, there was a more than two-fold overall increased risk of both intra- and extra- hepatic cholangiocarcinomas, which remained stable over the follow-up period (SIR 2.77, 95% CI 2.17–3.49, and SIR 2.58, 95% CI 2.21–3.00, respectively). In the cholecystectomy cohort, including 345 251 people and 4 854 969 person-years, 325 incident cholangiocarcinomas were identified, of which 98 (30%) were intrahepatic and 227 (70%) were extrahepatic. Initially (1–4 years after surgery), the risk was increased for both intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (SIR 1.80, 95% CI 1.19–2.62) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (SIR 2.29, 95% CI 1.83–2.82), but no increase remained after 10 years of follow-up or more (SIR 1.10, 95% CI 0.79–1.48, and SIR 0.87, 95% CI 0.70–1.07, respectively).

Interpretation:

Gallstones seem to increase the risk of both intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, this risk seems to decline to the level of the background population with time after cholecystectomy.     

T-category reflects the histopathologic characteristics of gallbladder cancer

Aims

Gallbladder (GB) cancer is a relatively uncommon gastrointestinal malignancy and is known to often result in unfavorable outcomes. Recent advances in aggressive surgical resection have improved the overall survival rate of patients with GB cancer. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors of GB cancer following a surgical resection with curative intent.

Methods

Between March 2001 and March 2009, 89 patients with GB cancer underwent surgical resection with curative intent at the National Cancer Center of Korea. We then conducted a retrospective analysis of clinicopathologic data.

Results

Nineteen patients underwent simple cholecystectomy and 70 patients underwent extended cholecystectomy. Tumor-free resection margins were obtained in 84 cases. The 1-, 3- and 5-year disease-specific survival rates in the 89 patients were 85.8%, 68.0% and 64.1%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, only the T-category was significant (p < 0.001). The T-category showed a close correlation with all of the other histopathologic factors which were significant in univariate analysis.

Conclusion

The T-category of GB cancer represents not only the depth of the primary tumor but also the aggressiveness of its histopathologic nature.     

Carcinoma of the gallbladder: Patterns of presentation,prognostic factors and survival rate. An 11-year single centre experience

Background

This report examines the patterns of presentation, prognostic factors and survival rate of all patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) evaluated at our tertiary academic hospital over an 11-year period.

Methods

A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of all patients with GBC presenting between January 1998 and December 2008 was performed.

Results

102 GBC-patients were included: 69 women and 33 men (median age: 65,5 years). Forty-five patients presented with incidental gallbladder cancer (IGC) and 57 with nonincidental cancer (NIGC). Curative surgery rate was 84.4% for IGC and 29.8% for NIGC (p < 0.001). Five-year actuarial survival rate was 63.2% for patients with curative intent surgery and 0% for patients with palliative approach. Patients with IGC had a longer survival rate compared to patients with NIGC (median: 25.8 vs. 4.4 months, p < 0.0001). For patients with radical resection (42 patients), there was no difference between IGC and NIGC. The incidence of liver involvement was respectively 0%, 20.8%, 58.3%, 100% for pT1, pT2, pT3 and pT4 tumors. Univariate analysis showed that survival rate was significantly affected by perineural invasion, T, N and M-stage, R0 resection, liver involvement, CA-19.9. In multivariate analysis, liver involvement was the only independent factor.

Conclusions

Majority of patients with a potentially curable disease had IGC. Almost 80% of patients with NIGC presented with unresectable disease. For patients who underwent resection with curative intent, actuarial 5-year survival was 63.2%. Liver involvement was the only independent prognostic factor. All patients with IGC and a pT2 or more advanced T stage should undergo a second radical resection.     

A review of the surgical strategies for the management of gallbladder carcinoma based on T stage and growth type of the tumour

Aims

Surgery for gallbladder carcinoma is a technically challenging exercise. The extent of resection varies based on a number of factors, and controversy exists regarding what constitutes an acceptable resection. A review of current recommendations and practice was undertaken.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was performed, searching Medline for articles published since 2000, using the MeSH heading of ‘gallbladder cancer’ and ‘surgery’. Abstracts were reviewed and articles retrieved if the main focus of the article centred on the surgical management of gallbladder carcinoma.

Observations

The extent of hepatic resection and lymph node dissection required varies in particular with T stage. Growth pattern and anatomical location of the tumour within the gallbladder also influence surgical management.

Conclusions

Discrepancy exists between the Eastern and Western literature in terms of what constitutes an acceptable limit of resection, and these issues are discussed.     

Nipple sparing mastectomy: Can we predict the factors predisposing to necrosis?

Background

Nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) is an accepted surgical approach in selected breast cancer and prophylactic mastectomy, nevertheless post-mastectomy skin necrosis is one of the frequent complications. This study aimed to analyze the factors that may lead to skin necrosis after NSM.

Patients and methods

From May 2010 to July 2010, we prospectively registered 50 consecutive NSM from 45 patients. There were 40 mastectomies for cancer, and 10 prophylactic mastectomies. The various patient’s and surgical factors were registered during pre-, intra- and postoperative period.

Results

No total necrosis of the nipple areola complex (NAC) was observed. There were thirteen cases with partial necrosis (26.0%) of the areola or the adjacent skin. All these necrosis were partial both for the surface and the thickness. Surgical debridement was performed in 9 (18.0%) cases. The significant risk factors are smoking, young age, type of incision and NAC involvement with areola flap thickness less than 5 mm.

Conclusion

NSM should be done with high caution in smokers. Young patients, periareolar incision and superior circumareolar incision have also a higher risk of necrosis. We recommend keeping areolar flap thickness more than 5 mm in areola region.     

Bone metastasis,skeletal-related events,and mortality in lung cancer patients: A Danish population-based cohort study

Objectives

To estimate the incidence rate of bone metastasis and subsequent skeletal-related events (SREs) (radiation to bone, spinal cord compression, fracture, and surgery to bone) in lung cancer patients and to quantify their impact on mortality.

Materials and methods

We conducted a nationwide cohort study of patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 1999 and 2010 in Denmark. We computed the cumulative incidence (%) of bone metastasis and subsequent SREs (treating death as a competing risk) and corresponding incidence rates (per 1000 person-years). Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method for three dynamic lung cancer patient cohorts–no bone metastasis; bone metastasis without SREs; and bone metastasis with SREs. Based on a Cox proportional hazards model, we computed mortality rate ratios (MRRs) comparing mortality rates between these patient cohorts, adjusting for age, comorbidity, stage, and histology. Analyses were conducted for the lung cancer patient cohort overall and by histologic subtype.

Results

We identified 29,720 patients with incident lung cancer (median follow-up: 7.3 months). The 1-year cumulative incidence of bone metastasis was 5.9%, and the 1-year cumulative incidence of subsequent SREs was 55.0%. The incidence of bone metastasis and SREs was higher in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) versus SCLC. One-year survival was 37.4% in patients with no bone metastasis; 12.1% in patients with bone metastasis without SREs; and 5.1% in patients with both bone metastasis and SREs. When mortality rates between patients with bone metastasis with and without an SRE were compared, 2-month mortality rates were similar, but the >2-month adjusted MRR was 2.0 (95% confidence interval: 1.7–2.2).

Conclusion

Bone metastases predict a poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. The majority of lung cancer patients with bone metastasis will also experience an SRE, which may further increase the rate of mortality.     

Meta-analysis of the risk for anastomotic leakage,the postoperative mortality caused by leakage in relation to the overall postoperative mortality

Background

Availability of anastomotic leakage rates and mortality rates following anastomotic leakage is essential when informing patients with rectal cancer preoperatively. We performed a meta-analysis of studies describing anastomotic leakage and the subsequent postoperative mortality in relation to the overall postoperative mortality after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Methods

A systematic search was performed of the published literature. Data on the definition and incidence rate of AL, postoperative mortality caused by AL, and overall postoperative mortality were extracted. Data were pooled and a meta-analysis was performed.

Results

Twenty-two studies with 10,343 patients in total were analyzed. Meta-analysis of the data showed an average AL rate of 9%, postoperative mortality caused by leakage of 0.7% and overall postoperative mortality of 2%. The studies showed variation in incidence, definition and measurement of all outcomes.

Conclusion

We found a considerable overall AL rate and a large contribution of AL to the overall postoperative mortality. The variability of definitions and measurement of AL, postoperative mortality caused by leakage and overall postoperative mortality may hinder providing reliable risk information. Large-scale audit programs may provide accurate and valid risk information which can be used for preoperative decision making.     

Swallowing dysfunction in head and neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy: Review and recommendations of the supportive task group of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology

Purpose

Dysphagia is a debilitating complication in head and neck cancer patients (HNCPs) that may cause a high mortality rate for aspiration pneumonia. The aims of this paper were to summarize the normal swallowing mechanism focusing on its anatomo-physiology, to review the relevant literature in order to identify the main causes of dysphagia in HNCPs and to develop recommendations to be adopted for radiation oncology patients. The chemotherapy and surgery considerations on this topic were reported in recommendations only when they were supposed to increase the adverse effects of radiotherapy on dysphagia.

Materials and methods

The review of literature was focused on studies reporting dysphagia as a pre-treatment evaluation and as cancer and cancer therapy related side-effects, respectively. Relevant literature through the primary literature search and by articles identified in references was considered. The members of the group discussed the results and elaborated recommendations according to the Oxford CRBM levels of evidence and recommendations. The recommendations were revised by external Radiation Oncology, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Medical Oncology and Speech Language Pathology (SLP) experts.

Results

Recommendations on pre-treatment assessment and on patients submitted to radiotherapy were given. The effects of concurrent therapies (i.e. surgery or chemotherapy) were taken into account.

Conclusions

In HNCPs treatment, disease control has to be considered in tandem with functional impact on swallowing function. SLPs should be included in a multidisciplinary approach to head and neck cancer.     

Urinary tract fistulas in radical surgery for cervical cancer: The importance of early diagnosis

Background

Urinary fistulas are a well-recognised complication of radical gynaecological oncology surgery for cervical cancer. Reported incidence varies between 0.6 and 5.1%.

Methods

A retrospective case-note review of vesical and ureteric fistulas diagnosed in cases that underwent radical surgery for the new diagnosis of early stage cervical cancer between January 2000 and June 2010.

Results

A total of 323 radical procedures for cervical cancer were performed during the study period. There were nine urinary tract fistulas found in eight women undergoing radical surgery for stage 1b1 cervical cancer, giving an incidence of 2.7%. Haemorrhage was the commonest associated factor and the commonest presenting symptom for fistula was leaking of urine per vagina. The fistulas were managed conservatively or surgically depending on their nature and severity. The longer the delay in confirming the diagnosis and initiating treatment the more severe were the long-term symptoms and morbidity.

Conclusion

Identification of predisposing factors, high index of suspicion, early investigations and multidisciplinary team management of urinary tract fistula are necessary to reduce post-operative morbidity and minimise renal loss.     

Staging laparoscopy in patients scheduled for pancreaticoduodenectomy minimizes hospitalization in the remaining life time when metastatic carcinoma is found

Objective

To compare the burden of total hospitalization as a ratio of survival of staging laparoscopy versus prophylactic bypass surgery in patients with unresectable periampullary adenocarcinoma.

Background

Periampullary adenocarcinoma is an aggressive cancer with up to 35% of the patients at surgery found to be unresectable. Palliative prophylactic surgical bypass versus endoscopic stenting has been addressed by randomized controlled trials, but none reported on the burden of hospitalization.

Methods

From a prospective database all patients with periampullary adenocarcinomas with a preoperative patent biliary stent and absent gastric outlet obstruction, but found unresectable during surgery, were analysed. They underwent a staging laparoscopy only versus prophylactic palliative bypass surgery. In-hospital days of the initial admission as well as all consecutive admission days during the remaining life span were compared both in absolute numbers and as relative impact.

Results

The inclusion criteria were met by 205 patients. Of these 131 patients underwent a staging laparoscopy detecting metastases in 21 patients. In 184 laparotomies 54 patients underwent prophylactic palliative bypass surgery for unresectable disease. Median total in-hospital-stay in the Laparoscopy Group was 3 days versus 11 days in the Palliative Bypass Group (p = 0.0003). Patients with metastatic disease found during laparoscopy stayed 3.5% of the remaining life time in hospital vs. 10.0% (p = 0.029) in patients with metastatic disease who underwent bypass surgery.

Conclusions

Staging laparoscopy and early discharge in patients with metastatic peri-ampullary carcinoma resulted in reduced hospitalization, both in absolute number of days and as a rate of survival time.     

Analysis of Carcinogenic Heavy Metals in Gallstones and its Role in Gallbladder Carcinogenesis

Purpose

Gallstone is a high-risk factor for gallbladder pre-malignancy or malignancy (GB PM-M) but which substances of gallstones definitely assist to turn out in to GB PM-M, remains unclear. This study aimed to find out the presence of carcinogenic heavy metals in gallstones and to explore the aetiopathogenesis of gallbladder pre-malignancy and malignancy.

Methods

Presence of elements in gallstones was detected by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and then level of carcinogenic heavy metals was estimated in gallstones using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The experiment was carried out in gallstone samples of 46 patients with gallbladder pre-malignant and malignant condition (PM-M group) and 65 sex and age-matched patients with chronic cholecystitis (C-C group). Gallstones were also classified in to three types such as cholesterol stone, mixed stone, and black pigment stone.

Results

EDS analysis detected presence of mercury, lead, and cobalt elements in all types of gallstones of both PM-M and C-C groups. AAS analysis revealed significantly higher amount of mercury (p < 0.001), lead (p < 0.0001), cobalt (p < 0.01), and cadmium (p < 0.01) in the gallstones of PM-M than C-C groups. The presence of these heavy metals also varied among stone types of both groups. EDS phase analysis showed ‘dense deposits’ of these metals in gallstones.

Conclusions

Presence of significantly higher amount of mercury, lead, cobalt, and cadmium in gallstones may play a pivotal role as risk factors in the development of gallbladder malignancy or pre-malignancy. ‘Dense deposits’ of these metals in the gallstones which is the first observation, may act as crucial doses of carcinogens.

     

Boosting imaging defined dominant prostatic tumors: A systematic review

Introduction

Dominant cancer foci within the prostate are associated with sites of local recurrence post radiotherapy. In this systematic review we sought to address the question: “what is the clinical evidence to support differential boosting to an imaging defined GTV volume within the prostate when delivered by external beam or brachytherapy”.

Materials and methods

A systematic review was conducted to identify clinical series reporting the use of radiation boosts to imaging defined GTVs.

Results

Thirteen papers describing 11 unique patient series and 833 patients in total were identified. Methods and details of GTV definition and treatment varied substantially between series. GTV boosts were on average 8 Gy (range 3–35 Gy) for external beam, or 150% for brachytherapy (range 130–155%) and GTV volumes were small (<10 ml). Reported toxicity rates were low and may reflect the modest boost doses, small volumes and conservative DVH constraints employed in most studies. Variability in patient populations, study methodologies and outcomes reporting precluded conclusions regarding efficacy.

Conclusions

Despite a large cohort of patients treated differential boosts to imaging defined intra-prostatic targets, conclusions regarding optimal techniques and/or efficacy of this approach are elusive, and this approach cannot be considered standard of care. There is a need to build consensus and evidence. Ongoing prospective randomized trials are underway and will help to better define the role of differential prostate boosts based on imaging defined GTVs.     

Audit of the autoantibody test,EarlyCDT-Lung,in 1600 patients: An evaluation of its performance in routine clinical practice

Objectives

EarlyCDT^®-Lung may enhance detection of early stage lung cancer by aiding physicians in assessing high-risk patients through measurement of biological markers (i.e., autoantibodies). The test's performance characteristics in routine clinical practice were evaluated by auditing clinical outcomes of 1613 US patients deemed at high risk for lung cancer by their physician, who ordered the EarlyCDT-Lung test for their patient.

Methods

Clinical outcomes for all 1613 patients who provided HIPAA authorization are reported. Clinical data were collected from each patient's treating physician. Pathology reports when available were reviewed for diagnostic classification. Staging was assessed on histology, otherwise on imaging.

Results

Six month follow-up for the positives/negatives was 99%/93%. Sixty-one patients (4%) were identified with lung cancer, 25 of whom tested positive by EarlyCDT-Lung (sensitivity = 41%). A positive EarlyCDT-Lung test on the current panel was associated with a 5.4-fold increase in lung cancer incidence versus a negative. Importantly, 57% (8/14) of non-small cell lung cancers detected as positive (where stage was known) were stage I or II.

Conclusions

EarlyCDT-Lung has been extensively tested and validated in case–control settings and has now been shown in this audit to perform in routine clinical practice as predicted. EarlyCDT-Lung may be a complementary tool to CT for detection of early lung cancer.     

A systematic review of non-surgical treatments for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Introduction

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs) are rare and the majority of patients present with advanced disease. Such patients have limited treatment options. We conducted a systematic review of published clinical trials of non-surgical interventions in pNET, to understand the efficacy, safety and health related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes from the current evidence base.

Methods

Electronic databases and manual bibliographic searches were conducted to identify relevant studies. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers.

Results

Forty seven clinical studies met the predefined inclusion criteria. The following interventions were included: targeted therapies (two RCTs and six single-arm studies), chemotherapy (two RCTs, one prospective nonrandomised, comparative study and 14 single-arm studies);somatostatin analogues (SSA) and radiolabeled SSA therapies (nine single-arm studies), liver-directed therapies (six single-arm studies), mixed treatment regimens (one RCT, four single-arm studies) and other interventions such as interferon and recombinant human endostatin (one single-arm study for each). The paucity of RCT data and lack of consistency in reporting validated study outcomes and differing patient inclusion criteria between studies made it difficult to compare the relative efficacy of therapies.

Discussion

The majority of published studies assessing treatment regimens for the management of pNET are single arm, non-randomised studies, often enrolling a small number of patients and not reporting clinically meaningful outcomes. However data from recently conducted studies assessing targeted therapies indicate that it is possible to conduct adequately powered RCTs reporting standardised oncological endpoints in this rare cancer. Further, similarly robust studies should be conducted to define the optimal treatment algorithm.     

Patterns of Presentation,Treatment, and Survival Rates of Gallbladder Cancer: a Prospective Study at a Tertiary Care Centre

Background

India has high incidence of gallbladder carcinoma with regional variation in incidence, the highest in Northern India. This study examines the patterns of presentation, treatment strategies, and survival rate of all patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) evaluated at our tertiary academic hospital over a period of 2 years.

Methods

All patients presented to our institute with established tissue diagnosis of carcinoma gallbladder were accrued in our study over a time period of 2 years. Presentation, treatment modalities, and survival rates were analyzed.

Results

One hundred six patients were included: 80 females and 26 males (F: M = 3:1). Median age was 60 years. Eighty patients (75%) had gallstones and 20 patients (21%) had typical history of chronic cholecystitis. The common symptom and sign at presentation were pain in the right upper abdomen (81%) and lump abdomen (49%), respectively. Overall resectability rate was 19.8% (21/106). Eighty-five patients were unresectable or metastatic and treated with palliative intent. Stagewise distribution at diagnosis was stage I (0%), stage II (4%), stage IIIA (10%), stage IIIB (8%), stage IVA (17%), and stage IVB (61%). Estimated 1-year survival for stages II, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, and IVB was 100, 76, 47.4, 26, and 10.6%, respectively. Significant difference in OS was observed among different stages of GBC (p value <0.001).

Conclusion

If proper investigations are done, radical surgery including multi-organ resection can be curative with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Stage at presentation and ability to perform curative resection are the most important prognostic factors predicting survival. Palliative chemotherapy should be considered for metastatic GBC.