Clues to predict incidental gallbladder cancer

Background: Consequences of incidental gallbladder cancer(iGBC) following cholecystectomy may include repeat operation(depending on T stage) and worse survival(if bile spillage occurred), both avoidable if iGBC were suspected preoperatively.Methods: A retrospective single-institution review was done. Ultrasound images for cases and controls were blindly reviewed by a radiologist. Chi-square and Student's t tests, as well as logistic regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses were used. A P ≤ 0.01 was considered significant.Results: Among 5796 cholecystectomies performed 2000–2013, 26(0.45%) were iGBC cases. These patients were older(75.61 versus 52.27 years), had more laparoscopic-to-open conversions(23.1% versus3.9%), underwent more imaging tests, had larger common bile duct diameter(7.13 versus 5.04 mm) and higher alkaline phosphatase. Ultrasound imaging showed that gallbladder wall thickening(GBWT) without pericholecystic fluid(PCCF), but not focal-versus-diffuse GBWT, was associated significantly with iGBC(73.9% versus 47.4%). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, GBWT without PCCF, and age were the strongest predictors of iGBC. The consequences iGBC depended significantly on intraoperative bile spillage, with nearly all such patients developing carcinomatosis and significantly worse survival.Conclusions: Besides age, GBWT, dilated common bile duct, and elevated alkaline phosphatase, number of preoperative imaging modalities and the presence of GBWT without PCCF are useful predictors of iGBC.Bile spillage causes poor survival in patients with iGBC.     

Disseminated bony metastases following incidental gallbladder cancer detected after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background

In patients with gallbladder cancer bony metastases are usually a late feature.

Case outline

A 47-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of right upper quadrant pain. Ultrasound scan showed gallstones and a thick-walled gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Histopathology showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma infiltrating the muscular layer and vascular invasion. She was referred for further surgery. Staging CT scan of the abdomen showed no local residual disease. However Tc-99 bone scan suggested disseminated bony metastases, which were confirmed by bone trephine biopsy. The cancer progressed rapidly and the patient died 4 months after the diagnosis.

Discussion

Bone metastases can occur with early gallbladder cancer and a radioisotope bone scan can avoid unnecessary extensive liver surgery.     

Abscess of residual lobe after pulmonary resection for lung cancer

Abscess of the residual lobe after lobectomy is a rare but potentially lethal complication. Between January 1975 and December 2006, 1,460 patients underwent elective pulmonary lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer at our institution. Abscess of the residual lung parenchyma occurred in 5 (0.3%) cases (4 bilobectomies and 1 lobectomy). Postoperative chest radiography showed incomplete expansion and consolidation of residual lung parenchyma. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed persistent bronchial occlusion from purulent secretions and/or bronchial collapse. Computed tomography in 3 patients demonstrated lung abscess foci. Surgical treatment included completion right pneumonectomy in 3 patients and a middle lobectomy in one. Complications after repeat thoracotomy comprised contralateral pneumonia and sepsis in 1 patient. Residual lobar abscess after lobectomy should be suspected in patients presenting with fever, leukocytosis, bronchial obstruction and lung consolidation despite antibiotic therapy, physiotherapy and bronchoscopy. Computed tomography is mandatory for early diagnosis. Surgical resection of the affected lobe is recommended.     

Metachronous bile duct cancer nine years after resection of gallbladder cancer

We report a rare case of a 74-year-old man with metachronous gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer who underwent curative resection twice, with the operations nine years apart. At the age of 65 years, the patient underwent a cholecystectomy and resection of the liver bed for gallbladder cancer. This was a welldifferentiated adenocarcinoma, with negative resection margins （T2NOM0, stage Ⅰ B）. Nine years later, during a follow-up examination, abdominal computed tomography and MRCP showed an enhanced 1.7 cm mass in the hilum that extended to the second branch of the right intrahepatic bile duct. We diagnosed this lesion as a perihilar bile duct cancer, Bismuth type Ⅲ a, and performed bile duct excision, right hepatic Iobectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. The histological diagnosis was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with one regional lymph node metastasis （TINIM0, stage Ⅱ B）. Twelve months after the second operation, the patient is well, with no signs of recurrence. This case is compared with 11 other cases of metachronous biliary tract cancer published in the world medical literature.     

Predictors of incidental gallbladder cancer in elderly patients

BACKGROUND: At the time of diagnosis, most patients with gallbladder cancer are in advanced stage and the cancer is unresectable. Long-term survivors are usually seen in a small number of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer. This study aimed to identify preoperative predictors of incidental gallbladder cancer in elderly patients.METHODS: A total of 4014 patients of more than 44 years old who had undergone cholecystectomy at our department from January 2000 to December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed Univariate and multivariate modalities were used to identify the predictive factors of incidental gallbladder cancer.RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the 4014 patients who had under gone cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases were histologically diagnosed as having incidental gallbladder can cer. Multivariate analysis identified that elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 combined with carcinoembryonic antigen and/or carbohydrate antigen 125 (P=0.045), a gallbladder polyp greater than or equal to 1.2 cm (P=0.043) and focal gallblad der wall thickening of more than or equal to 5 mm (P=0.002)were predictive factors of incidental gallbladder cancer.CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy is suggested for patients with these predictive factors and intraoperative frozen section should be considered to rule out carcinoma.     

Patterns of recurrence after resection of gallbladder cancer without routine extrahepatic bile duct resection

Objective

Routine extrahepatic bile duct (EBD) resection in non-jaundiced patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) is controversial. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse patterns of recurrence in patients who underwent resection of GBC without routine EBD resection.

Methods

This analysis referred to 58 patients who had undergone explorative laparotomy for GBC during 2000–2012 at a single, tertiary referral centre. Overall survival, time to recurrence, and patterns of recurrence were assessed in patients who underwent conventional negative-margin (R0) resection without routine EBD resection.

Results

Of 58 patients submitted to explorative laparotomy for GBC, 26 (45%) patients underwent R0 resection without EBD resection (tumour stage T1b in five patients, T2 in 17, T3 in three, and T4 in one). The 3-year survival rate among these patients was 78% at a median follow-up of 33 months (range: 13–127 months). Seven patients developed recurrent disease at a median of 9 months (range: 2–25 months) after resection. No patients developed isolated recurrent disease at the EBD.

Conclusions

Of 26 patients resected for GBC, none developed isolated recurrent disease at the EBD after conventional resection of GBC without EBD resection. This finding suggests that routine EBD resection is of no additional value.     

Nomogram to predict overall survival after gallbladder cancer resection in China

AIM To integrate clinically significant variables related to prognosis after curative resection for gallbladder carcinoma(GBC) into a predictive nomogram.METHODS One hundred and forty-two GBC patients who underwent curative intent surgical resection at Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH) were included. This retrospective case study was conducted at PUMCH of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College(CAMS PUMC) in China from January 1, 2003 to January 1, 2018. The continuous variable carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9) was converted into a categorical variable(cCA19-9) based on the normal reference range. Stages 0 to IIIA were merged into one category, while the remaining stages were grouped into another category. Pathological grade X(GX) was treated as a missing value. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to select variables to construct a nomogram. Discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were performed via the concordance index(C-index) and calibration plots. The performance of the nomogram was estimated using the calibration curve. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis(DCA) were performed to evaluate the predictive accuracy and net benefit of the nomogram, respectively.RESULTS Of these 142 GBC patients, 55(38.7%) were male, and the median and mean age were 64 and 63.9 years, respectively. Forty-eight(33.8%) patients in this cohort were censored in the survival analysis. The median survival time was 20 months. A series of methods, including the likelihood ratio test and Akaike information criterion(AIC) as well as stepwise, forward, and backward analyses, were used to select the model, and all yielded identical results. Jaundice [hazard ratio(HR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval(CI): 1.60-5.27], cCA19-9(HR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.91-5.39), stage(HR = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.16-3.09), and resection(R)(HR = 2.82; 95%CI: 1.54-5.16) were selected as significant predictors and combined into a survival time predictive nomogram(C-index = 0.803; 95%CI: 0.766-0.839). High prediction accuracy(adjusted C-index = 0.797) was further verified via bootstrap validation. The calibration plot demonstrated good performance of the nomogram. ROC curve analysis revealed a high sensitivity and specificity. A high net benefit was proven by DCA.CONCLUSION A nomogram has been constructed to predict the overall survival of GBC patients who underwent radical surgery from a clinical database of GBC at PUMCH.     

The role of PET-CT in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer

Introduction:

After a cholecystectomy, incidental gallbladder cancer (IGC) requires accurate imaging studies to determine the actual extent of the disease to properly tailor subsequent treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (¹⁸FDG PET-CT) to provide optimal pre-treatment staging in patients with IGC.

Material and Methods:

Between January 2006 and August 2008, all patients with IGC and at least muscular layer invasion were studied with ¹⁸FDG PET-CT. The examination was considered positive when the standardized uptake values (SUV) were ≥2.5. In all instances patients were offered to undergo definitive exploration and possible radical resection.

Results:

The series included 32 patients, 26 women and 6 men, with a median age of 57 years (range 30–81 years). The examination was performed at a median time of 6 weeks after cholecystectomy (range 2–52 weeks). ¹⁸FDG PET-CT was negative in 13 patients and positive in 19 patients: 9 with localized potentially resectable disease (PRD) and in 10 with disseminated disease. Of the 13 patients with negative PET-CT, 9 refused surgery and 4 underwent formal exploration: 3 patients were resected with no disease identified in the final pathology report (FPR) and 1 was not resected as a result of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Of the 9 with PRD, 4 patients refused reoperation and 5 underwent exploration: 3 were resected with residual disease noted in the FPR and 2 did not undergo resection because of dissemination. Two patients with disseminated disease were reoperated and in both instances disseminated disease was confirmed. The median survival for the entire group was 20.3 months (range 1.6–32.9 months). The median survival for those patients with negative PET-CT was 13.5 months (range 5.6–32.9 months), 6.2 months (range 1.6–18.7 months) for localized potentially resectable disease and 4.9 months (range 2–14.1 months) for disseminated disease (P < 0.003).

Conclusions:

For patients presenting with stage T1b or greater IGC, the use of ¹⁸FDG PET-CT will help reduce the number of patients undergoing non-therapeutic re-exploration and may help to determine the likely prognosis. ¹⁸FDG PET-CT might be a useful tool for the selection of patients for potentially curative treatment.     

Results of liver resection for primary liver cancer

At the Zhong Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, between 1960 and 1991, liver resection was performed in 896 patients with primary liver cancer; local resection was performed in 552 patients (61.6%), left lateral segmentectomy in 114 (12.7%), left hemihepatectomy in 157 (17.5%), extended left hemihepatectomy in 19 (2.1%), right hemihepatectomy in 50 (5.6%), and extended right hemihepatectomy in 4 (0.4%). The overall operative mortality was 4.6%, but it was 22.0% in 1960–1970, 7.0% in 1971–1980, and 2.8% in 1981–1991. Encouraging changes in the prognostic pattern were observed when comparing the data for 1960–1970 (n=59), 1971–1980 (n=115), and 1981–1991 (n=722): the 5-year survival rate was 14.0%, 36.0%, and 50.8%, respectively, and the 10-year survival rate was 12.3%, 25.5%, and 40.8%, respectively. Significant differences in survival patterns were noted when these were analyzed on the basis of tumor size (≤5 vs >5cm), curative resection, tumor number, tumor capsule, and tumor emboli in the portal vein. In the entire series, 135 patients have survived for more than 5 years after resection, and 40 patients for more than 10 years after resection. One patient has survived for 32 years and is still alive, free of disease. The approaches to decreasing operative mortality and prolonging survival rate are discussed.     

肝癌切除术后手术部位感染的预防

手术部位感染(SSI)往往增加肝癌切除术患者住院时间和经济负担,甚至增加病死率。针对性地采取相关预防措施,有利于减少SSI的发生。介绍了SSI的相关预防措施,主要包括改善患者自身因素(如术前戒烟、控制血糖、改善营养和肝功能等),改进手术操作(如皮肤消毒、切口处理、精准肝切除、腹腔镜肝切除、肝断面处理、腹腔冲洗、引流管放置、预防肠道损伤和胆汁漏)以及预防性使用抗生素。指出肝癌切除术后发生SSI是多种危险因素联合作用的结果,预防的关键是严格把握手术指征,做到术前精确评估,术中精细操作,术后精心管理和合理使用抗生素。     

The role of laparoscopic staging in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer

BackgroundThe role of staging laparoscopy (SL) in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) is ill defined. This study evaluates the utility of SL with the aim of identifying variables associated with disseminated disease (DD).MethodsConsecutive patients with IGBC who underwent re-exploration between 1998 and 2009 were identified from a prospective database. The yield and accuracy of SL were calculated. Demographics, tumour- and treatment-related variables were correlated with findings of DD.ResultsOf the 136 patients submitted to re-exploration for possible definitive resection, 19 (14.0%) had DD. Staging laparoscopy was carried out in 46 (33.8%) patients, of whom 10 (21.8%) had DD (peritoneal disease [n= 6], liver metastases [n= 3], retroperitoneal disease [n= 1]). Disseminated disease was identified by SL in two patients (yield = 4.3%), whereas eight were diagnosed after conversion to laparotomy (accuracy = 20.0%). The likelihood of DD correlated closely with T-stage (T1b, n= 0; T2, n= 5 [7.0%], T3, n= 14 [26.0%]; P= 0.004). A positive margin at initial cholecystectomy (odds ratio [OR] 5.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51–24.37; P= 0.004) and tumour differentiation (OR 7.64, 95% CI 1.1–NA; P= 0.006) were independent predictors of DD on multivariate analysis.DiscussionDisseminated disease is relatively uncommon in patients with IGBC and SL provides a very low yield. However, patients with poorly differentiated, T3 or positive-margin gallbladder tumours are at high risk for DD and targeting these patients may increase the yield of SL.     

肝癌切除术后并发症的预防及治疗

目的探讨肝癌切除术后常见并发症的预防和治疗,以保障手术安全。方法回顾性分析近10年来我院行肝癌切除术的89例病例资料,对其中发生并发症的原因、处理及预防等进行分析。结果全组并发症包括腹腔继发出血5例、上消化道出血2例、肝功能衰竭4例、胆瘘1例、胸腔积液12例、膈下感染4例。因并发症死亡5例,病死率为5.6%。结论正确掌握手术适应证,提高手术操作技巧,积极的围手术期处理,可降低并发症发生率和手术死亡率。     

An incidental case of triple gallbladder

Triplication of the gallbladder is a very rare congenital anomaly of the biliary tract; there are only eleven reported cases to date. Gallbladder multiplications are not likely to be discovered unless associated with cholelithiasis, sludge, cholecystitis and carcinoma. Here we report an incidentally diagnosed triplicate gallbladder in a patient with sigmoid diverticulitis; two of the triplicate gallbladder were demonstrated with ultrasound and computed tomography, and an additional galballder was found at surgery.     

Delayed bile leak with avastin after liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer

Chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer is constantly advancing. Its use in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting is also increasing. However, while long-term survival is improving, clinicians must be aware of the possible adverse events that can occur when treating with adjuvant chemotherapy and liver resection. We present a case of a life-threatening delayed bile leak following a liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer in association with adjuvant treatment with bevacizumab. A 53-year-old man was treated with neoadjuvant bevacizumab followed by liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer. He made an uneventful recovery. Forty-three days post-surgery he received bevacizumab and developed acute life-threatening bile leaks from the cut surface of the liver. He spent a total of 65 days in hospital, and required ERCP repeatedly and eventually had a repeat liver resection to resolve the bile leak. This case reports a possible association between bevacizumab and a life threatening delayed bile leak following liver resection.     

Outcome after repeat resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Introduction

Although advances in multimodal treatment have led to prolongation of survival in patients after resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CRC-LM), most patients develop recurrence, which is often confined to the liver. Repeat hepatic resection (RHR) may prolong survival or even provide cure in selected patients. We evaluated the perioperative and long-term outcomes after RHR for CRC-LM in a single institution series.

Patients and methods

Since 1999, 92 repeat hepatic resections (63 % wedge/segmental, 37 % hemihepatectomy or greater) for recurrent CRC-LM were performed in 80 patients. Median interval from initial liver resection to first RHR was 1.25 years. Any kind of chemotherapy (CTx) had been given in 88 % before RHR. Neoadjuvant CTx was given in 38 %.

Results

Hepatic margin-negative resection was achieved in 79 %. Mortality was 3.8 %. Overall complication rates were 53 %, including infection (17 %), operative re-intervention (12 %), and hepatic failure (5.4 %). Overall 5-year survival after first RHR was 50.3 %. Univariately, primary tumor stage, the extent of liver resection, postoperative complications, and the overall resection margin correlated with survival. By multivariate analysis, primary T stage, size of metastasis, and overall R0 resection influenced survival. Survival was not independently influenced by hepatic resection margins or (neoadjuvant) CTx.

Conclusions

Repeat hepatic resection for recurrent CRC-LM can be performed with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. Survival after repeat hepatic resection in this selected group of patients is encouraging and comparable to results after first liver resections.     

Two incidental cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm and gallbladder cancer. Further data influencing the management of patients affected by aneurysm and gallbladder disease

Abdominal aortic aneurysm and cholelithiasis are two common diseases in the elderly population. The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms ranges between 1.8 and 6.6% in autoptic series and it's estimated that 2.5% of the over sixty year old population is affected. Carcinoma of the gallbladder is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract and in the United States is the fifth most frequent digestive tract malignancy; it's incidence ranges between 2 to 10 cases of 100,000 persons/year. No adequate guidelines are now available to assist the surgeon, in the case of concomitant gallbladder disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm. In this paper the management of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with gallbladder disease is discussed in order to assist the surgeon deciding whether to perform concomitant aneurysm resection and cholecystectomy. In 162 aneurysmectomies (1987-1997) 18 (11.11%) patients underwent combined aneurysmectomy and cholecystectomy operation. The patients ranged in age from 49 to 88 years (average 69 years). In two cases the anatomo-histological specimen examinations (twelve sections) demonstrated a gallbladder carcinoma. The overall mortality rate was 5.56% either for aneurysmectomy alone or for combined therapy. In case of abdominal aortic aneurysm and concomitant gallbladder disease, in choosing simple endoaneurysmectomy, the surgeon has to consider the risk of early and late complications of leaving a diseased gallbladder in place. In case of concomitant performance of both operations, the risks of a possible septic graft contamination must be considered. We believe that the patient may be best served by performing the vascular and nonvascular procedures in the same operation. In this paper a new proof, till now never considered in the international literature, is presented to support our opinion: the possibility of concomitant unknown cancer or precancerous lesions in a lithiasic gallbladder. Diagnosis of these lesions is, indeed, not easy to perform in the preoperative phase and is often a postoperative anatomo-histological detection.     

Analysis of prognostic factors after curative resection for gallbladder carcinoma]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite the development in diagnostic tools, gallbladder carcinoma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, early diagnosis and radical resection are most important factors for the prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma. However, prognostic factors after radical resection of gallbladder carcinoma have not been well identified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors of gallbladder carcinoma after curative resection. METHODS: We reviewed the records of the 115 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who underwent curative surgery between 1989 and 2004 at Yonsei University Medical Center (YUMC). The relationship between survival and clinicopathological variables was assessed. RESULTS: In 311 patients presenting with gallbladder carcinoma, 195 patients (62.5%) were radically resected. Among 195 patients, 80 patients were excluded because of incomplete clinicopathologic data and unsatisfactory follow-up. The 5 year overall survival rate was 36.0%, and disease free 5 year survival rate was 3.9%. Univariate analysis showed that survival was closely related to gross morphology, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and preoperative serum CA19-9 level. Three significant factors identified by multivariate analysis were depth of tumor invasion, gross morphology, and preoperative serum CA19-9 level. CONCLUSIONS: Depth of tumor invasion, gross morphology, and preoperative serum CA19-9 level are independent significant prognostic factors of resectable gallbladder carcinoma.