The value of laparoscopic staging for patients with colorectal metastases

BACKGROUND: Resection offers the only chance of cure for hepatic colorectal metastases. However, preoperative staging does not always reliably detect unresectable disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the role that laparoscopy with ultrasound may have in detecting unresectable disease, thus sparing patients from unnecessary laparotomy with the associated morbidity and cost. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients considered for liver resection of colorectal metastases during a 3-year period was performed, analyzing factors likely to predict resectable disease, rates of resectability, and success of laparoscopic staging at detecting unresectable disease. RESULTS: Of 73 patients with resectable disease on computed tomography, 24 were deemed to need laparoscopy, and 49 proceeded directly to laparotomy. Those first undergoing laparoscopy had shorter disease-free intervals between diagnosis of colorectal cancer and detection of hepatic recurrence and greater numbers of hepatic metastases. Twelve of the 24 patients who underwent laparoscopy had unresectable disease, and 8 of these were detected at laparoscopy. Forty-six of the 49 patients proceeding to laparotomy directly had resectable disease. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic staging of hepatic colorectal metastatic disease detects most unresectable disease, preventing unnecessary laparotomy. The likelihood of disease being unresectable is in part predicted by the disease-free interval and the number of hepatic metastases.     

Staging laparoscopy for potentially resectable noncolorectal,nonneuroendocrine liver metastases

Background Carefully selected patients with noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine (NCNN) liver metastases may benefit from hepatic resection. The incidence of occult unresectable disease and the possible benefits of staging laparoscopy in these patients are not known. Methods From December 1997 to July 2000, staging laparoscopy was performed in 30 consecutive patients with NCNN metastases before planned open exploration and resection. Demographies, extent of preoperative imaging, operative and postoperative findings, and factors associated with laparoscopic identification of unresectable disease were analyzed. Results Twenty-four patients (80%) had a complete laparoscopic examination, and 23 had laparoscopic ultrasonography. All patients underwent preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and 21 (70%) patients had 2 or more preoperative radiological studies. Overall, nine patients had unresectable disease, six of whom were identified by laparoscopy. Of the remaining 24 patients believed to have resectable disease at laparoscopy, 21 went on to a potentially curative procedure. Laparoscopy did not identify irresectability because of vascular involvement in three patients. Laparoscopy added a median of 30 minutes of operative time to those patients going on to laparotomy. Conclusions Laparoscopy identified the majority of patients with occult unresectable disease, improved resectability, and should be routine in patients being considered for potentially curative hepatic resection. Presented in part at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Washington, DC, March 15–18, 2001.     

Selection of Patients for Resection of Colorectal Metastases to the Liver Using Diagnostic Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) and laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) in the staging and selection of patients with colorectal liver metastasis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Preoperative imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are limited in the assessment of the number and exact location of hepatic metastases and in the detection of extrahepatic metastatic disease. Consequently, the surgeon is often faced with a discrepancy between preoperative imaging results and perioperative findings, resulting in either a different resection than planned or no resection at all. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients were planned for DL and LUS in a separate surgical sitting to assess the resectability of their liver metastases. All patients were considered to be candidates for resection on the basis of preoperative imaging studies. RESULTS: Laparoscopy could not be performed in 3 of the 50 patients because of dense adhesions. The remaining 47 patients underwent DL. On the basis of DL and LUS, 18 (38%) patients were ruled out as candidates for resection. Of the 29 patients who subsequently underwent open exploration and intraoperative ultrasonography, another 6 (13%) were deemed to have unresectable disease. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of DL and LUS significantly improves the selection of candidates for resection of colorectal liver metastases and effectively reduces the number of unnecessary laparotomies.     

The value of laparoscopy in the management of ampullary, duodenal, and distal bile duct tumors

Laparoscopy identifies radiologically occult advanced disease in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The value of laparoscopy in the management of peri-ampullary tumors was determined. One hundred forty-four patients with radiologically resectable nonpancreatic adenocarcinoma, periampullary tumors were identified from a prospective database between August 1993 and December 2000. Criteria for laparoscopic unresectability included histologically proved peritoneal or hepatic metastases, distant nodal involvement, arterial involvement, and local extension outside the resection field. Median age at operation was 70 years (range 31 to 87 years) and 56% of the patients were men. An adequate laparoscopy was performed in 134 cases (93%). Laparoscopy identified 13 patients (10%) with unresectable disease. Of 121 patients with laparoscopic resectable disease, 111 (92%) went on to subsequent resection; CT correctly predicted resectability in 82%. Laparoscopy spared 36% of unresectable patients a nontherapeutic laparotomy. Patients with resectable disease were treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 91, 76%), ampullectomy (n = 12, 10%), duodenal resection (n = 10, 9%), or bile duct excision (n = 6, 5%). The addition of diagnostic laparoscopy to dynamic CT scanning in this selected patient population identifies an additional 10% of patients with unresectable disease. We believe that laparoscopy should be used in a selective manner for preoperative staging of patients suspected of having nonpancreatic periampullary tumors. Presented in part at the Forty-Second Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Atlanta, Georgia, May 20–23, 2001. Supported by the Milton and Bernice Stern Foundation.     

Clinical Risk Score predicts yield of staging laparoscopy in patients with colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND: Resection offers the only realistic chance of cure for hepatic colorectal metastases. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of laparoscopy and laparoscopic intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) for detecting incurable disease, and to determine whether the Clinical Risk Score (CRS) is useful in selecting patients for laparoscopy before hepatic resection. METHODS: All patients with potentially curable colorectal liver metastases who underwent staging laparoscopy and laparoscopic IOUS before planned hepatic resection between January 2000 and December 2004 were included. A preoperative CRS was determined for each patient and correlated with curability. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were identified, of whom 133 were found to have resectable disease at laparotomy. Laparoscopy detected 39 (58 per cent) of 67 patients with incurable disease, changing the management in 19.5 per cent of the 200 patients. The CRS correlated with the likelihood of detecting incurable disease; incurable disease was present in two of 31 patients with a CRS of 0-1, 35 of 129 with a score of 2-3 and 30 of 40 with a score of 4-5. The potential benefit of laparoscopy increased progressively with increasing CRS, changing management in none of 31 patients with a CRS of 0-1, 18 of 129 with a score of 2-3 and 21 of 40 with a score of 4-5. CONCLUSION: Staging laparoscopy and IOUS detected more than half of the incurable disease in this cohort. Laparoscopy had a low diagnostic yield in patients with a CRS of 0-1 and its routine use in this group of patients is therefore not recommended.     

Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography avoid exploratory laparotomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluates the value of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography (USG) in avoiding exploratory laparotomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Laparotomy and intraoperative USG is the gold standard to determine the resectability of HCC. No palliation can be offered to patients found to have unresectable disease, and the surgical exploration causes morbidity. METHODS: From June 1994 to June 1996, 110 of 370 patients (30%) with HCC were considered candidates for possible hepatic resection. Preoperative liver function was assessed using Child-Pugh grading and indocyanine green retention test. The extent of disease was evaluated with radiologic studies, including percutaneous USG, computerized tomography scan, and hepatic angiogram. Nineteen patients were excluded from the study because of previous upper abdominal surgery (n = 12), ruptured tumors (n = 4), refusal by patients (n = 2), and instrument failure (n = 1). Laparoscopy and laparoscopic USG was performed on 91 patients immediately before a planned laparotomy aiming at hepatic resection. Laparotomy was aborted when definite evidence of unresectable disease was found on laparoscopic examination. RESULTS: The median time required for laparoscopy and laparoscopic USG was 30 minutes (range, 10 to 120 minutes). Fifteen patients had evidence of unresectable disease on laparoscopic examination. Among the remaining 76 patients who underwent laparotomy, 9 had exploration only and 67 underwent hepatic resection. Thus, exploratory laparotomy was avoided in 63% of patients with unresectable disease. The laparoscopic examination failed to confirm unresectable disease more often when the tumor was >10 cm in diameter. The procedure accurately assessed the adequacy of the liver remnant and the presence of intrahepatic metastases, but it was less sensitive in determining the presence of tumor thrombi in major vascular structures and the extent of invasion of adjacent organs. When unresectable disease was detected without the need for a laparotomy, the postoperative recovery was faster, and the nonoperative treatment for the tumor could be initiated earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy with laparoscopic USG avoids unnecessary laparotomy in patients with HCC and should precede a planned laparotomy aiming at hepatic resection.     

Influence of primary disease factors on outcome after resection of colorectal liver metastases?

The outcome after resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer is influenced not only by factors of metastatic lesions but also those of primary disease. To clarify whether primary disease factors are predictive of post-resection outcome of colorectal liver metastases, 180 patients (male : female = 114 : 66; 61.1 +/-10.5 yrs; synchronous: metachronous = 95 : 85; colon: rectum = 124 : 56 who underwent surgery of colorectal liver metastases in Cancer Institute Hospital from 1995 to 2005 were recruited for analysis. Post-resection outcome of the patients with colorectal liver metastases was significantly influenced by 1) depth of invasion, 2) grade of lymph node metastasis , 3) number of metastatic lymph nodes and 4) Dukes stage of primary disease. The patients with lymph node metastases further than grade 3 showed median survival time of less than 2 years and did not survive longer than 5 years. Thus such condition seemed not warrant resective treatment for liver metastases. In case of synchronous metastatic disease, primary disease information, such as lymph node metastases, depth of invasion, and Dukes stage, were significant predictive factors after hepatectomy. Meanwhile, such factors did not show significant influence in the patients with metachronous liver metastases. In conclusion, influence of primary disease factors should be considered for deciding the indication of hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases, especially when patients have synchronous lesions.     

Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography in staging carcinoma of the gastric cardia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography in the staging of carcinoma of the gastric cardia that is involving the distal oesophagus. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series. SETTING: Tertiary care centre, The Netherlands. SUBJECTS: 48 patients (34 men and 14 women, median age 63 years, range 39-84) who presented with tumours of the gastric cardia that involved the distal oesophagus and in whom non-invasive staging had not shown unresectable locoregional disease or distant metastases. INTERVENTIONS: In addition to laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography, biopsy of all suspected lesions outside the area of potential resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of patients in whom the findings obviated the need for exploratory laparotomy. RESULTS: There were no complications related to the laparoscopy. The investigation showed distant metastases (which were histologically verified) in 11 patients (23%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 16 to 30). These patients had non-operative palliation. Seven were identified by laparoscopy, and laparoscopic ultrasonography showed the other four. In three patients whose distant metastases had already been identified by laparoscopy, ultrasonography was omitted. Three additional patients had suspect lesions, but these were not confirmed histologically. However, these lesions were shown to be cancerous at laparotomy. One additional patient had an intra-abdominal metastasis which was missed by laparoscopy with ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy with ultrasonography safely detected metastases that had not been shown by conventional staging investigations in 23% of 48 patients with carcinoma of the gastric cardia. The investigation should therefore be added to the standard staging procedures in patients with carcinoma of the gastric cardia that is involving the distal oesophagus.     

Staging of pancreatic and ampullary cancers for resectability using laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasound

Background: Cancers of the pancreas and periampullary region are rarely curable. We set out to determine the efficacy of laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasound in the staging of pancreatic and ampullary malignancies for resectability. Methods: Between January 1994 and September 1999, we retrospectively reviewed the laparoscopic staging (LS) of tumors already deemed resectable by standard radiologic criteria in 27 patients using laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS). Patients found to be resectable by LS evaluation underwent laparotomy (LA). We then compared the results of the LS and LA findings. Results: Of the 27 patients evaluated, 17 were men and 10 were women. Their mean age was 66 years. Preoperative computerized tomography (CT) scans were done in all 27 patients (100%), and transabdominal and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was done in 21 (78%). By LS, seven patients (26%) were found to have unresectable disease. Two patients with mesenteric tumor infiltration (one with peritoneal implants, and one with a visible liver metastasis) were judged to be unresectable by laparoscopy alone. LUS revealed that one patient had portal vein (PV) occlusion and two had metastases to the lymph nodes or liver that were not revealed by preoperative studies or laparoscopy alone. Among 20 patients (74%) deemed resectable by LS, two (10%) were found to be unresectable at LA, one due to PV involvement and the other due to local tumor extension with superior mesenteric lymph node metastasis. Eighteen of those in whom resection was attempted (90%) were resectable, with no unexpected findings of distant lymph node or hepatic metastasis. Pathology examination showed that eight had regional metastases (44%). The sensitivity of LS in determining unresectability was 77% (seven true positives and two false negatives). The negative predictive value (reflecting resectability) was 90%. Laparoscopy alone had a sensitivity of 44%, with a negative predictive value of 78%. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of LS was 100%, reflecting no false positive examinations. Conclusions: LS can effectively stage most patients and reliably predict which of them will benefit from LA. Intervention for unresectable patients can then be limited to laparoscopic or endoscopic bypass. The main limitation is that LS may underestimate PV and regional lymph node involvement.     

Staging laparoscopy in patients with extrahepatic biliary carcinoma. Analysis of 100 patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of staging laparoscopy in patients with gallbladder cancer and hilar cholangiocarcinoma. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In patients with extrahepatic biliary carcinoma, unresectable disease is often found at the time of exploration despite extensive preoperative evaluation, thus resulting in unnecessary laparotomy. METHODS: From October 1997 to May 2001, 100 patients with potentially resectable gallbladder cancer (n = 44) and hilar cholangiocarcinoma (n = 56) were prospectively evaluated. All patients underwent staging laparoscopy followed by laparotomy if the tumor appeared resectable. Surgical findings, resectability rate, length of stay, and operative time were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients underwent multiple preoperative imaging tests, including computed tomography scan, ultrasound, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and direct cholangiography. Laparoscopy identified unresectable disease in 35 of 100 patients. In the 65 patients undergoing open exploration, 34 were found to have unresectable disease. Therefore, the overall accuracy for detecting unresectable disease was 51%. There was no difference in the accuracy of laparoscopy between patients with gallbladder cancer and hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Laparoscopy detected the majority of patients with peritoneal or liver metastases but failed to detect all locally advanced tumors. In patients undergoing biopsy only, laparoscopic identification of unresectable disease significantly reduced operative time and length of stay compared with patients undergoing laparotomy. The yield of laparoscopy was 48% in patients with gallbladder cancer (56% in those who did not undergo previous cholecystectomy), but only 25% in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, in patients with locally advanced but potentially resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, the yield of laparoscopy was greater, 36% (12/33, T2/T3 tumors) versus 9% (2/23, T1 tumors). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy identifies the majority of patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder carcinoma, thereby reducing both the incidence of unnecessary laparotomy and the length of stay. The yield of laparoscopy is lower for hilar cholangiocarcinoma but can be improved by targeting patients at higher risk of occult unresectable disease. All patients with potentially resectable primary gallbladder cancer and patients with T2/T3 hilar cholangiocarcinoma should undergo staging laparoscopy before surgical exploration.     

Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma benefit from staging laparoscopy

Background: Unnecessary laparotomy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer may both compromise the quality of life and delay the initiation of more appropriate therapy. Very often, peritoneal small liver metastases and true local status cannot be fully determined without surgery. Laparoscopy may spare laparotomy and decrease morbidity for patients with nonresectable advanced disease. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of laparoscopy in patients with potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of patients undergoing pancreatic surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center from October 2001 to April 2005. A total of 59 patients were included in the study. All patients were staged radiographically with a high resolution helical computed tomography scan and their tumors were considered resectable. Thirty-seven patients underwent staging laparoscopy while 22 proceeded directly to laparotomy. Results: Of the 37 patients who underwent laparoscopic staging, 9 (24.3%) were detected to have metastatic disease or advanced tumor; the remaining 28 (75.7%) patients with negative laparoscopy proceeded to laparotomy. Of those, 24 patients (85.7%) underwent pancreatic resection with curative intent, while 4 patients had metastatic or locally advanced disease at subsequent laparotomy which was missed on staging laparoscopy (false negative rate of 14.3%). Of the 22 patients who proceeded directly to laparotomy, 16 (72.7%) received curative Whipple resection and 6 (27.3%) were found to have advanced disease and received bypass procedures or biopsy alone. Conclusion: These findings suggest that staging laparoscopy is beneficial in a significant proportion of patients deemed resectable by routine noninvasive preoperative studies. We plan to add intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound to our staging protocol in order to decrease the false negative rate.     

Laparoscopic staging and subsequent palliation in patients with peripancreatic carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that laparoscopic staging improves outcome in patients with peripancreatic carcinoma compared to standard radiology staging. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Diagnostic laparoscopy of peripancreatic malignancies has been reported to improve assessment of tumor stage and to prevent unnecessary exploratory laparotomies in 10% to 76% of patients. METHODS: Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound were performed in 297 consecutive patients with peripancreatic carcinoma scheduled for surgery after radiologic staging. Patients with pathology-proven unresectable tumors were randomly allocated to either surgical or endoscopic palliation. All others underwent laparotomy. RESULTS: Laparoscopic staging detected biopsy-proven unresectable disease in 39 patients (13%). At laparotomy, unresectable disease was found in another 72 patients, leading to a detection rate for laparoscopic staging of 35%. In total, 145 of the 197 patients classified as having "possibly resectable" disease after laparoscopic staging underwent resection (74%). Average survival in the group of 14 patients with biopsy-proven unresectable tumors randomly allocated to endoscopic palliation was 116 days, with a mean hospital-free survival of 94 days. The corresponding figures were 192 days and 164 days in the 13 patients allocated to surgical palliation. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the limited detection rate for unresectable metastatic disease and the likely absence of a large gain after switching from surgical to endoscopic palliation, laparoscopic staging should not be performed routinely in patients with peripancreatic carcinoma.     

Role of staging laparoscopy in peri-pancreatic and hepatobiliary malignancy

Even after extensive preoperative assessment, staging laparoscopy may allow avoidance of non-therapeutic laparotomy in patients with radiographically occult metastatic or locally unresectable disease. Staging laparoscopy is associated with decreased postoperative pain, a shorter hospital stay and a higher likelihood of receiving systemic therapy compared to laparotomy but its yield has decreased with improvements in imaging techniques. Current uses of staging laparoscopy include the following: (1) In the staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, laparoscopic staging allows for the identification of sub-radiographic metastatic disease in locally advanced cancer in approximately 30% of patients and, in radiographically resectable cancer, may identify metastatic disease in 10%-15% of cases; (2) In colorectal liver metastases, selective use of laparoscopic staging in patients with a clinical risk score of over 2 identifies unresectable disease in approximately 20% of patients; (3) In hepatocellular carcinoma, laparoscopic staging could be selectively used in high-risk patients such as those with clinically apparent liver cirrhosis and in patients with major vascular invasion or bilobar tumors; and (4) In biliary tract malignancy, staging laparoscopy may be used in all patients with potentially resectable primary gallbladder cancer and in selected patients with T2/T3 hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Because of the decreasing yield of SL secondary to improvements in imaging techniques, staging laparoscopy should be used selectively for patients with pancreatic and hepatobiliary malignancy to avoid unnecessary non-therapeutic laparotomy and to improve resource utilization. Each individual surgeon should apply his or her threshold as to whether staging laparoscopy is indicated according to the quality of preoperative imaging studies and the availability of resources at their own institution.     

Treatment strategy for synchronous metastases of colorectal cancer: is hepatic resection after an observation interval appropriate?

Background In cases of synchronous colorectal hepatic metastases, the primary colorectal cancer strongly influences on the metastases. Our treatment policy has been to conduct hepatic resection for the metastases at an interval of 3 months after colorectal resection. We examined the appropriateness of interval hepatic resection for synchronous hepatic metastasis. Materials and methods The subjects were 164 patients who underwent resection of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer (synchronous, 70 patients; metachronous, 94 patients). Background factors for hepatic metastasis and postoperative results were compared for synchronous and metachronous cases. Results The cumulative survival rate for 164 patients at 3, 5, and 10 years postoperatively was 71.9%, 51.8%, and 36.6%, and the post-resection recurrence rate in remnant livers was 26.8%. Interval resection for synchronous hepatic metastases was conducted in 49 cases after a mean interval of 131 days. No difference was seen in postoperative outcome between synchronous and metachronous cases. Conclusion The outcome was similarly favorable in cases of synchronous hepatic metastasis and in cases of metachronous metastasis. Delaying resection allows accurate understanding of the number and location of hepatic metastases, and is beneficial in determining candidates for surgery and in selecting surgical procedure.     

Determining resectability for hepatocellular carcinoma: the role of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography

We reviewed our experience with preoperative determination of resectability in patients with hepatocel-lular carcinoma (HCC) over the last 10 years, and evaluated the role of laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography (USG) since we instituted this technique in June 1994. From January 1989 to December 1998, 500 of 1741 patients with HCC (28.7%) were considered suitable for hepatic resection after preoperative assessment. Significantly more contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans and fewer percutaneous USGs or hepatic arteriograms were performed in the 299 patients managed since June 1994 (group 2) than in the 201 patients managed before then (group 1). One hundred and ninety-eight patients in group 2 (66%) underwent laparoscopy with laparoscopic USG. Unresectable disease was found in 41 patients in group 1 (20.4%) (all at laparotomy), and in 68 patients in group 2 (22.7%) (16 at laparotomy without laparoscopic examination, 31 at laparoscopic examination alone, and 21 at laparotomy after an inconclusive laparoscopic examination) (P = 0.5). The most common features of unresectable disease were the presence of bilobar intrahepatic metastases and an inadequate liver remnant with cirrhosis. The adoption of the laparoscopic examination after June 1994 improved the overall resection rate at laparotomy in group 2 from 77.3% to 86.2%, which was better than that in group 1 (79.6%, P = 0.057). For patients with unresectable disease, the operation time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in group 2. The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 9.8% and 4.9%, respectively, in group 1, and 5.9% and 2.9% in group 2. There was no operative morbidity in the 31 patients who had unresectable disease detected by the laparoscopic examination alone. Laparoscopy with laparoscopic USG avoids unnecessary laparotomy, and has a definite role in determining resectability in patients with HCC. Received for publication on Jan. 17, 2000; accepted on April 1, 2000     

Peritoneal washings are not predictive of occult peritoneal disease in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND:

Evaluation of peritoneal cytology provides valuable staging information in patients with gastric and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but its usefulness in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of peritoneal cytology in patients with potentially resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This study evaluated a possible association between positive peritoneal cytology and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, which is commonly used in these patients and may result in peritoneal biliary leakage and peritoneal seeding.

STUDY DESIGN:

From October 1997 through June 2000 26 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent staging laparoscopy immediately before planned open exploration and resection. Peritoneal washings were obtained during laparoscopic examination before any biopsies were taken. Cytologic analysis was performed using the Papanicolau technique.

RESULTS:

There were 18 men and 8 women, with a median age of 69 years (range 42 to 81 years). The most common presenting symptom was jaundice (n = 19). Previous biliary drainage was performed in 23 patients: 9 percutaneous and 14 endoscopic. Metastatic disease was suspected preoperatively in six patients, three to the liver, two to the peritoneum, and one to regional lymph nodes, all of which were confirmed at laparoscopy. Laparoscopy identified five additional patients with metastatic disease. Peritoneal cytology was positive for malignant cells in two patients, both of whom had gross peritoneal metastases. Nine other patients had metastatic disease to distant sites within the abdomen, but none had positive cytology. Overall, six patients had metastatic disease to the peritoneal cavity, only one of whom had undergone earlier percutaneous biliary drainage.

CONCLUSIONS:

Peritoneal cytology was not predictive of occult metastatic disease. Laparoscopic staging identified some patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma, but analysis of peritoneal cytology provided no additional information. There was no association between percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and peritoneal tumor seeding.     

Is laparoscopic sonography a reliable and sensitive procedure for staging colorectal cancer?

Background: Laparoscopic colectomy has developed rapidly with the explosion of technology. In most cases, laparoscopic resection is performed for colorectal cancer. Intraoperative staging during laparoscopic procedure is limited. Laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) represents the only real alternative to manual palpation during laparoscopic surgery. Methods: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of LUS in comparison with preoperative staging and laparoscopy in 33 patients with colorectal cancer. Preoperative staging included abdominal US, CT, and endoscopic US (for rectal cancer). Laparoscopy and LUS were performed in all cases. Pre- and intraoperative staging were related to definitive histology. Staging was done according to the TNM classification. Results: LUS obtained good results in the evaluation of hepatic metastases, with a sensitivity of 100% versus 62.5% and 75% by preoperative diagnostic means and laparoscopy, respectively. Nodal metastases were diagnosed with a sensitivity of 94% versus 18% with preoperative staging and 6% with laparoscopy, but the method had a low specificity (53%). The therapeutic program was changed thanks to laparoscopy and LUS in 11 cases (33%). In four cases (12%), the planned therapeutic approach was changed after LUS alone. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study demonstrate that LUS is an accurate and highly sensitive procedure in staging colorectal cancer, providing a useful and reliable diagnostic tool complementary to laparoscopy. Received: 2 May 1997/Accepted: 11 February 1998     

Estimating the prognosis of hepatic resection in patients with metastatic liver tumors from colorectal cancer with special concern for the timing of hepatectomy

BACKGROUND. The effect of the time interval between colorectal and liver resection for metastatic lesions on the patient's survival remains controversial. Pretreatment classification for predicting the prognosis of this disease has not yet been reported. METHODS. Nine clinical factors revealed by preoperative examinations, intraoperative screening before liver resection, and resection margin were examined in 304 patients who underwent hepatic resections for metastatic colorectal carcinoma. The patients were divided according to the timing of hepatectomy and both tumor number and maximum diameter to devise a staging system. RESULTS. Tumor number and maximum tumor size were significant prognostic factors in the metachronous hepatectomy group, and resection margin was significant in the synchronous group. The following staging system was proposed: stage I, n < or = 3 and diameter < 5 cm in the metachronous hepatectomy group (n = 86); stage II, n < or = 3 and diameter > or = 5 cm in the metachronous hepatectomy group (n = 46); and stage III, n > or = 4 and diameter > 5 cm in the metachronous group and the synchronous hepatectomy group (n = 144). CONCLUSIONS. The current study revealed that the factors that influenced the patient's prognosis were different between the synchronous and metachronous groups. It may be useful to develop a staging system that considers this difference.     

Laparoscopy in the staging of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, laparoscopy has emerged as a popular method of detecting extrapancreatic metastatic disease in patients presumed to have localized pancreatic cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: The English language literature on laparoscopic staging of pancreatic cancer was reviewed. Interpretation of this literature on staging laparoscopy is difficult because (1) there has been inconsistent use of high-quality computed tomography (CT) in prospective studies, (2) many studies have included patients with locally advanced disease, and (3) the R0/R1/R2 resection rates among patients staged by laparoscopy have not been reported, making it impossible to correlate laparoscopic findings with the R0 resection rate. Laparoscopy may prevent unnecessary laparotomy in a proportion of CT-staged patients presumed to have resectable pancreatic cancer. However, routine laparoscopy is performed on patients judged to have resectable disease by high-quality CT, this fraction of patients is between 4 and 13 per cent. CONCLUSION: When state-of-the-art CT is available, the routine use of staging laparoscopy may not be easily justified from the data in the recent literature. Selective use of laparoscopy may be more appropriate and will probably be a more cost-effective staging approach. Criteria are presented for the selective use of laparoscopy in the staging of patients with localized pancreatic cancer.     

Carcinoma of the pancreatic head and periampullary region. Tumor staging with laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: The authors performed a prospective evaluation of staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography in predicting surgical resectability in patients with carcinomas of the pancreatic head and periampullary region. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Pancreatic resection with curative intent is possible in a select minority of patients who have carcinomas of the pancreatic head and periampullary region. Patient selection is important to plan appropriate therapy and avoid unnecessary laparotomy in patients with unresectable disease. Laparoscopic ultrasonography is a novel technique that combines the proven benefits of staging laparoscopy with high resolution intraoperative ultrasound of the liver and pancreas, but which has yet to be evaluated critically in the staging of pancreatic malignancy. METHODS: A cohort of 40 consecutive patients referred to a tertiary referral center and with a diagnosis of potentially resectable pancreatic or periampullary cancer underwent staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography. The diagnostic accuracy of staging laparoscopy alone and in conjunction with laparoscopic ultrasonography was evaluated in predicting tumor resectability (absence of peritoneal or liver metastases; absence of malignant regional lymphadenopathy; tumor confined to pancreatic head or periampullary region). RESULTS: "Occult" metastatic lesions were demonstrated by staging laparoscopy in 14 patients (35%). Laparoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated factors confirming unresectable tumor in 23 patients (59%), provided staging information in addition to that of laparoscopy alone in 20 patients (53%), and changed the decision regarding tumor resectability in 10 patients (25%). Staging laparoscopy with laparoscopic ultrasonography was more specific and accurate in predicting tumor resectability than laparoscopy alone (88% and 89% versus 50% and 65%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Staging laparoscopy is indispensable in the detection of "occult" intra-abdominal metastases. Laparoscopic ultrasonography improves the accuracy of laparoscopic staging in patients with potentially resectable pancreatic and periampullary carcinomas.