Robotic surgery vs conventional laparoscopy for the treatment of rectal cancer: Review of the literature

Laparoscopic surgery has established itself as a safe and effective alternative to open surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer. However, laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer, and in particular of the lower rectum, remains challenging in view of the limitations of operating in the confined pelvic space, limited movementof instruments with fixed tips, assistant-dependant two-dimensional view, easy camera fogging, and poor ergonomics. The introduction of robotic surgery and its application in particular to pelvic surgery, has potentially resolved many of these issues. To define the role of robotic surgery in total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, a review of the current literature was performed using Pub Med, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google databases, identifying clinical trials comparing shortterm outcomes of conventional laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with the robotic approach. Robotic surgery for rectal cancer is a safe alternative to conventional laparoscopy. However, randomised trials are needed to clearly establish its role.     

Cutaneous melanoma: therapeutic lymph node and elective lymph node dissections, lymphatic mapping, and sentinel lymph node biopsy

Early clinical observation in cancer patients suggested that tumors spread in a methodical, stepwise fashion from the primary site, to the regional lymphatics, and only then to distant locations. Based on these observations, the regional lymphatics were believed to be mechanical barriers, at least temporarily preventing the widespread dissemination of tumor. Despite evidence now available disputing its validity, this barrier theory has guided the surgical management of the regional lymphatics in cancer patients for more than a century, influencing the use of such surgical modalities as therapeutic lymph node dissection, elective lymph node dissection, and most recently lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. No published randomized controlled trial exists that demonstrates improved overall patient survival for cancer of any type, including melanoma, after surgical excision of regional lymphatics. This article will review the biology of lymphatics as it relates to regional tumor metastasis, and based on available information, offer practical recommendations for the clinical dermatologist and their patients who have cutaneous melanoma.     

Impact of technology on indications and limitations for transanal surgical removal of rectal neoplasms

Transanal surgery has and continues to be well accepted for local excision of benign rectal disease not amenable to endoscopic resection. More recently, there has been increasing interest in applying transanal surgery to local resection of early malignant disease. In addition, some groups have started utilizing a transanal route in order to accomplish total mesorectal excision(TME) for more advanced rectal malignancies. We aim to review the role of various transanal and endoscopic techniquesin the local resection of benign and malignant rectal disease based on published trial data. Preliminary data on the use of transanal platforms to accomplish TME will also be highlighted. For endoscopically unresectable rectal adenomas, transanal surgery remains a widely accepted method with minimal morbidity that avoids the downsides of a major abdomino-pelvic operation. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery and transanal minimally invasive surgery offer improved visualization and magnification, allowing for finer and more precise dissection of more proximal and larger rectal lesions without compromising patient outcome. Some studies have demonstrated efficacy in utilizing transanal platforms in the surgical management of early rectal malignancies in selected patients. There is an overall higher recurrence rate with transanal surgery with the concern that neither chemoradiation nor salvage surgery may compensate for previous approach and correct the inferior outcome. Application of transanal platforms to accomplish transanal TME in a natural orifice fashion are still in their infancy and currently should be considered experimental. The current data demonstrate that transanal surgery remains an excellent option in the surgical management of benign rectal disease. However, care should be used when selecting patients with malignant disease. The application of transanal platforms continues to evolve. While the new uses of transanal platforms in TME for more advanced rectal malignancy are exciting, it is important to remain cognizant and not sacrifice long term survival for short term decrease in morbidity and improved cosmesis.     

Reactive syringofibroadenomatous hyperplasia in peristomal skin with formation of hybrid epidermal-colonic mucosa glandular structures, intraepidermal areas of sebaceous differentiation, induction of hair follicles, and features of human papillomavirus infection: a diagnostic pitfall

We report a case of reactive syringofibroadenomatous hyperplasia in peristomal skin. The patient was a 62-year-old woman who had undergone abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for rectal adenocarcinoma with subsequent colostomy 2 years earlier. Clinically, a nodule and small, whitish, warty lesions developed at the outer margin of the stoma extending onto the adjacent skin. Following a clinical suspicion of adenocarcinoma, recurrent at the colostomy site, a 5 x 4 x 3-cm excision of the peristomal skin and the affected portion of the stoma was performed and submitted for histologic examination. The biopsy revealed a peculiar composite lesion of reactive syringofibroadenomatous hyperplasia and the excised part of the stoma. Several unusual histopathological features were detected in the syringofibroadenomatous part of the lesion such as the formation of plentiful hybrid epidermal-colonic mucosa glandular structures, intraepidermal areas of sebaceous differentiation, koilocytic changes, induction of rudimentary hair follicles, and intradermal mucinous lakes. The cellular composition of the glandular structures was mainly similar to that seen in a normal colonic mucosa epithelium. They also contained occasional Paneth cells. Being located at a distance from the stoma, these accentuated colonic mucosa epithelial glands reaching the epidermis may be a diagnostic pitfall prompting the consideration of adenocarcinoma involving the stoma. The rudimentary follicles and sebaceous differentiation were probably induced by an altered stroma and/or human papillomavirus (HPV): HPV, type 36 was identified by PCR using consensus primers followed by sequencing of the PCR products.     

Malignes Melanom der Haut

Excision is the treatment of choice in stage I malignant melanoma. As supported by several controlled clinical studies, reduced safety surgical margins from 0.5 to 2 cm are sufficient. Most surgical defects can be closed by simple skin flap techniques. In critical anatomic sites (e. g. face, hand, foot) micrographic surgery is the therapy of choice. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was proposed as a minimally-invasive procedure for the histopathologic staging of the regional lymph nodes. Today SLNB is standard in the diagnostic approach to melanomas thicker than 1 mm. The therapeutic relevance of SLNB is unclear. The most common sign of tumor progression is involvement of regional lymph nodes. The treatment of choice in patients with neck metastases is the radical, modified or selective neck dissection. In the case of axillary metastases, levels I-III of the axillary lymph nodes are excised. With groin metastases, superficial inguinal dissection is usually preferred. There are no randomized controlled trials comparing the outcome of combined inguinal and pelvic lymph node dissection and superficial inguinal lymph node dissection.     

纳米炭混悬注射液作为SLN示踪剂对早期宫颈癌盆腔淋巴结转移状态预测价值分析

目的:分析纳米炭混悬注射液作为SLN示踪剂对早期宫颈癌盆腔淋巴结转移状态预测价值。方法:选取我院2015年2月至2015年12月妇科门诊及住院部确诊为浸润性宫颈癌的患者42例。注射纳米炭混悬注射液作为SLN示踪剂,切除黑染淋巴结。然后所有患者均进行广泛子宫切除术和腹腔镜盆腔淋巴结清扫术,标本送往实验室进行病理检验。结果:42例患者中40例检出SLN出现黑染,其中30例双侧均出现黑染。共清除出1004枚盆腔淋巴结,平均每例患者共切除23.9个淋巴结,每例患者平均SLN检验出的淋巴结为3.9。病理结果表明SLN准确率为100%,而假阴性为0%。结论:SLN被检测出来的淋巴引流区最多的是闭孔,其与盆腔淋巴结的转移具有一致性,且初步证明了纳米炭混悬液作为SLN示踪剂检测宫颈癌的安全性和可靠性。     

Basaloid large cell lung carcinoma presenting as cutaneous metastasis at the colostomy site after abdominoperineal resection for rectal carcinoma

The occurrence of a tumor at the colostomy site after abdominoperineal resection for rectal carcinoma is rare and it may be related to a previously resected carcinoma or another primary tumor. We report a 61‐year‐old man who developed an ulcerated skin nodule at her colostomy site 6 years after resection of a rectal adenocarcinoma. Histopathologically, the skin nodule was composed of atypical large and pleomorphic cells with high mitotic rate and they were arranged in nests and within lymphatic channels in the dermis. The neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for cytokeratin (CK) AE1/3, CK7, CK34ßE12, epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin while detection of human papillomavirus and Epstein–Barr virus DNA was negative. A diagnosis of basaloid large cell carcinoma of pulmonary origin was suggested and it was confirmed by computed tomography‐guided fine needle aspiration of a right subpleural mass. A metastatic tumor at the colostomy site is an exceptional finding and may be the first manifestation of lung cancer, especially if it consist of pleomorphic large cells with high mitotic rate and basaloid immunophenotype.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in renal malignancy: The past,present and future

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now an established technique in penile and pelvic cancers, resulting in a lower mortality and morbidity when compared with the traditional lymph node dissection. In renal cancer however, despite some early successes for the SLNB technique, paucity of data remains a problem, thus lymph node dissection and extended lymph node dissection remain the management of choice in clinically node positive patients, with surveillance of lymph nodes in those who are clinically node negative. SLNB is a rapidly evolving technique and the introduction of new techniques such as near infra-red fluorescence optical imaging agents and positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans, may improve sensitivity. Evidence in support of this has already been recorded in bladder and prostate cancer. Although the lack of large multi-centre studies and issues around false negativity currently prevent its widespread use, with evolving techniques improving accuracy and the support of large-scale studies, SLNB does have the potential to become an integral part of staging in renal malignancy.     

Malignant melanoma and its therapy: a review.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is an important cutaneous neoplasm. In classic cases, histologic levels of tumor invasion have been used as indicators of prognosis. Recent research suggests that vertical tumor thickness may be an equally valuable guide to prognosis and also to therapy. The standard surgical approach of wide excision and regional lymph node dissection may not be mandatory for all patients with MM. Regional perfusion of accessible primary tumors as an adjunct to surgery has yielded encouraging results. Immunotherapy of MM alone and in combination with chemotherapy may improve the poor outlook for disseminated MM.     

Merkel cell carcinoma: epidemiology,clinical features,diagnosis and treatment of a rare disease

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare skin cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation. The risk factors include sun exposure, advanced age, immunosuppression (such as transplant recipients, patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms, or patients with HIV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus infection. Clinically, Merkel cell carcinoma appears as a cutaneous or subcutaneous plaque or nodule, but this tumor diagnosis is rarely made clinically. Therefore, histopathology and immunohistochemistry are usually necessary. Primary tumors without evidence of metastases are treated with complete surgical excision and appropriate surgical margins. The presence of occult metastasis in a lymph node is frequent and a sentinel lymph node biopsy should be performed. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy increases local tumor control. Recently, agents that block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway have shown objective and durable tumor regression in patients with advanced solid malignancies. The first anti-PD-L1 antibody used in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma was avelumab, but pembrolizumab and nivolumab have also shown efficacy. This article describes the current state of knowledge of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and staging of Merkel cell carcinoma, as well as new strategies for its systemic treatment.     

Preventive lymphadenectomy in cutaneous malignant melanomas. A matched pair study

Data on 70 patients with melanomas classified as clinical stage I, who had been treated surgically with wide excision (n = 49) or wide excision plus prophylactic lymph node dissection (n = 21) at the University Dermatology Clinic, Freiburg i. Br. between 1975 and 1977, were reviewed in a retrospective study. The effectiveness of elective lymph node dissection was examined by creating 21 pairs of patients, matched according to sex as well as to the level, location and thickness of the tumors (to within +/- 5%). One patient in each pair underwent wide local excision and prophylactic lymph node dissection (WE + PLND) to others did not (WE only). Depending on tumor thickness there was a better chance of survival for the PLND patient group. However, these differences were not statistically significant.     

Altered drainage patterns in patients with melanoma and previous axillary dissection

The incidence of melanoma is increasing rapidly in the United States. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an important diagnostic tool in the treatment and staging of melanoma. However, many patients with melanoma will have had lymph node surgery for previous melanoma or breast cancer. We set out to examine alterations in drainage patterns in patients with previous axillary dissection for breast cancer. We reviewed four patients with truncal and/or extremity melanomas and examined their lymphoscintigraphy and drainage patterns. Three patients with truncal melanoma mapped to cervical lymph nodes and a fourth patient with an arm melanoma mapped to her previously dissected axilla. Sentinel lymph node mapping is still an important adjunct in patients with melanoma despite previous axillary dissection.     

旋转皮瓣联合耳后筋膜瓣修复脑起搏器外露1例及临床分析

目的应用旋转皮瓣联合耳后筋膜瓣的方法修复脑起搏器外露。方法在脑起搏器外露皮损周围选择、设计旋转皮瓣及耳后筋膜瓣;皮瓣下耳后筋膜瓣包埋外露导管,皮瓣旋转移位修复创面。结果术后随访,皮瓣成活,修复区头发生长良好,无明显瘢痕;起搏器运行良好。结论旋转皮瓣联合耳后筋膜瓣修复术可成功纠正脑起搏器外露问题,无不良反应,可以临床借鉴。     

Skin incisions in inguinal lymph-node excision]

Wound complications in the postoperative period of the inguinal lymph node dissection are frequent events. The main factor in wound complications is due to dissection of the vascular architecture. In most of the cases the impaired wound healing occurs distal to Poupart's ligament. Suggestion for its prevention is the use of an oblique, subinquinal, wide spindle-S-shaped skin excision crossing over Scarpa's triangle with an extension to the anterior superior iliac spine from its lateral and a vertical prolongation onto the thigh from its medial end. The wide spindle-S-shaped excision minimizes the later devascularisation of skin flaps. The anatomic outline of the inguinal lymphatic basin to be removed can easily be reached by the extend of these two incision lines. Besides an undisturbed healing the technique offers two further possibilities. If malignant skin tumors are in anatomical positions which lend themselves to incontinuity dissection, removing primary tumor, intervening lymphatics and regional lymph nodes en bloc can be combined with the incision lines. Furthermore the excised groin skin can be used for a free flap to cover the excision wound of the primary tumor. The method is described in ten cases.     

浅表性阴茎癌保留阴茎完整性切除术的可行性以及对患者及配偶性心理影响(附3例报告)

目的:探讨浅表性阴茎癌保留阴茎完整性手术的可行性以及术后对患者及配偶的心理生理学影响。方法:3例患者术前均行必要体检确定肿瘤未侵及白膜,常规术前病理活检证实为阴茎鳞癌,常规检查胸片、髂血管走行区超声及盆腔CT未发现局部淋巴结转移及远处转移。切除肿瘤组织及远端0.5cm包皮组织,深达白膜层,近端切除多余包皮内板及适当外板包皮组织连同阴茎筋膜达白膜层,术中冰冻病例证实切缘阴性。术后1周预防性加用双侧腹股沟区放疗治疗。结果:3例患者均按时复诊,随诊18个月~3年,局部无肿瘤复发,腹股沟区及腹膜后淋巴结未见转移。术后生殖器外观满意,排尿正常,性欲及性生活满意度为满意。结论:浅表性阴茎肿瘤保留阴茎完整性阴茎切除术从手术方案方面是可行的,从手术效果上看,可使患者更好的保持良好的性自信、性功能和性生活满意度,使患者夫妇对生活充满希望及保持幸福。     

Circumferential scouting punch biopsies to delineate surgical margin for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon soft-tissue tumor involving the dermis and subcutaneous tissue with a high local recurrence rate after standard excision. Mohs micrographic surgery offers a lower recurrence rate. However, the procedure requires multiple stages of excision with intraoperative histopathological mapping, which is time consuming and expensive. We report our experience of using circumferential scouting punch biopsy technique in five patients to determine in advance the resection margins for DFSP prior to wide excision. Multiple 4 mm punches, usually eight in number, were performed 1–2.5 cm around the palpable borders of DFSP to delineate the resection margins in five consecutive patients. Tumors were excised at a later date along the margin defined by these biopsies and the wounds were repaired with skin graft. The operation was completed in 2 hours in all cases excluding one that required frozen sections for deep margin. No recurrence was noted 2–10 years after the operations. The results suggest that circumferential scouting punch biopsies before wide excision may be an alternative method to define the resection margins for DFSP when Mohs surgery is not available.     

乳房外Paget病的治疗进展

乳房外Paget病好发于老年人,多发生于肛门及外生殖器周围,由于早期皮损与湿疹、皮炎类似,容易误诊。乳房外Paget病的首选治疗方法为手术治疗,由于皮损边界不清、有多处病灶、肿瘤组织呈跳跃性生长,很难保证切除干净致术后复发率高。其他治疗方法有：放射治疗、化学治疗、光动力疗法、免疫调节剂治疗、分子靶向治疗等。乳房外Paget病预后主要与肿瘤的浸润深度、区域淋巴结转移、淋巴血管转移相关。前哨淋巴结活检对淋巴结清扫有指导意义,选择性淋巴结清扫有助于后续治疗,提高患者生存率。     

低位直肠癌保肛手术后对青年患者性功能的影响

目的：通过对行保留盆腔自主神经的低位直肠癌保肛手术患者进行术后随访,探讨青年男子低位直肠癌保肛手术对术后性功能的影响。方法：对我院62例符合保肛手术的年轻男性患者进行保留盆腔自主神经（PANP）的低位全直肠系膜切除（TME）手术,与实施TME手术低位直肠癌保肛手术的56例患者进行对比分析,考察两组患者的勃起性功能和射精功能。结果：术后勃起功能比较,观察组正常勃起患者44例,对照组正常勃起24例,观察组优于对照组（P〈0.05）;术后射精功能比较,观察组正常射精患者40例,对照组正常勃起20例,观察组优于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论：行保留盆腔自主神经的保肛手术对低位直肠癌患者的性功能具有一定的保护作用,有利于患者术后生活质量的提高。     

Sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE) and positron emission tomography in the staging of stage I-II melanoma patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE) and positron emission tomography (PET) were evaluated in the staging of 51 Stage I and II melanoma patients (staged according to the guidelines of the German Dermatological Society). PATIENTS/METHODS AND RESULTS: Tumor thickness ranged from 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm (median: 1.5 mm; mean: 2.07 mm). At least one sentinel lymph node (SLN) was excised in all patients; 80 SLN were excised from 69 lymphatic drainage areas. Positive SLN were detected in 6 patients (11.8%). Additional positive lymph nodes were not detected in any of these patients in the following complete lymph node dissection of the affected lymph node basin. Preoperative PET was performed in 40 patients and did not detect any of the micrometastases that were subsequently found by SLNE. During the follow up of 7-40 months (mean 21.9 months) 3 patients experienced tumor progression; 2 of 3 had a positive SLN. CONCLUSIONS: According to the current literature SLNE is recommended in primary tumors greater than 1 mm thickness. PET cannot be expected to give additional information in the staging of stage I-II patients.