Surgically removed adrenal metastasis from cancer of the rectum

A woman was operated on for pulmonary metastasis four years after a radiaal resection of the rectum, and four years thereafter a solitary metastasis to the left adrenal was found. An elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level indicated the lesion. Adrenalectomy was performed and the patient has been well with no further evidence of disease.     

Solitary adrenal metastasis in a patient with sigmoid colon cancer; report of a case

A 73-year-old man had sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer in December 2001. Although he was followed regularly with chemotherapy, his serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) increased on August 2002. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a right adrenal mass and no other abnormality. The preoperative diagnosis was a solitary adrenal metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer; the lesion was removed in September 2002. On pathology, adrenal metastasis was confirmed. Although the patient’s serum CEA normalized soon thereafter, 12 months after adrenalectomy, the CEA again increased; the patient had local recurrence of the resected adrenal lesion and liver metastasis. Therefore, the patient was given systemic chemotherapy, but his condition deteriorated, and he died 38 months after adrenalectomy. Adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer is not unusual; however, a solitary metastasis is rarely found and resected surgically. As surgical treatment of the metastatic lesion could improve patients’ prognosis to some extent if it is detected early, the possibility of adrenal metastasis should be kept in mind when colorectal cancer patients are followed.     

不同部位结直肠癌肝转移瘤肝内分布规律分析

目的探讨不同部位结直肠癌肝转移灶肝内的分布规律。 方法收集90例结直肠癌肝转移临床资料,对原发灶部位,肝转移瘤的位置、数目、不同时相CT值及肠系膜下静脉回流汇入门静脉的位置进行记录。 结果90例结直肠癌肝转移瘤患者转移灶实性部分平扫及增强三期CT值如下：平扫(35.05±8.04)HU、动脉期(50.24±10.91)HU、门脉期(55.77±14.86)HU、延迟期(58.14±12.07)HU,表现为明显的持续上升型。CT平扫及三期增强图像中,门脉期检出病灶比率最多96.94%(634/654)。右半大肠癌肝转移患者,肝右叶优势占77.78%(28/36),肝转移灶在肝左右叶分布差异具有统计学意义(P＝0.003)。左半大肠癌肝转移患者,转移灶在肝脏右叶、左叶分布差异无统计学意义(P＝0.853)。左半大肠癌肝转移患者,IMV汇入SPV组有71.43%(15/21)患者转移灶主要分布在肝左叶,转移灶在肝左、肝右叶的分布差异有统计学意义(P＝0.001)。IMV汇入SMV组有71.43%(20/28)患者转移灶位置主要分布在肝右叶,转移灶在肝左、肝右叶的分布差异有统计学意义(P＝0.003)。IMV汇入SPV与SMV汇合处时,转移灶在肝左、肝右叶的分布差异无统计学意义(P＝0.080)。右半大肠癌患者与左半大肠癌患者相比,肝右叶与肝左叶转移瘤分布构成比差异具有统计学意义(χ²＝7.113,P＝0.000)。 结论左右半大肠癌原发灶位置对肝转移灶分布可能有一定的预测作用,有助于在初诊及随访时提高结直肠癌肝转移的检出率。     

血管性痴呆的扩散张量成像研究

目的应用扩散张量成像(DTI)技术,探讨皮质下缺血性血管性痴呆(SIVD)患者脑白质变化的特点及不同脑区DTI参数改变与认知的关系。方法对34例SIVD患者(SIVD组)及26例健康老年人(对照组)行DTI扫描,测量双侧前额叶、额叶深部、眶额内侧、下额叶、颞叶、顶叶、枕叶白质及T_2WI高信号区、T_2WI高信号周围正常白质区的分量各向异性(FA)、主各向异性(PA)及表观弥散系数(ADC)值。结果对照组左侧前额叶白质PA值大于右侧,ADC值小于右侧。SIVD组双侧前额叶、双侧额叶深部、下额叶、眶额内侧的FA值及PA值明显下降,平均ADC值升高;双侧顶叶的FA值下降,平均ADC值升高;双侧颞叶、枕叶平均ADC值升高;左侧下额叶、眶额内侧白质的FA与PA值较右侧小;左侧下额叶ADC值较右侧大。病变区及病变周围区的FA和PA值小于正常区,ADC值大于正常区。前额叶FA与简易智能状态检查表评分呈正相关。结论 SIVD患者脑白质FA、PA和ADC改变具有区域选择性,前部及左侧脑区损伤明显,后部及右侧相对保留白质的完整性。DTI是研究SIVD脑白质损伤的一种理想的方法。     

Resection of liver metastasis after a pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer: a case report

A case of resected liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer, in a 69-year-old woman who obtained a relatively long survival, is presented. Primary pancreatic cancer was found in a patient presenting with obstructive jaundice and a loss of appetite. A pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was carried out on December 2, 1996. Eleven months later, a 1.5-cm mass was found in the right posterior segment of the liver. Although the tumor size had increased to 2.5 cm 5 months later, no other metastases were observed. Therefore, the right posterior segment of the liver was resected. Eleven months after the second operation, recurrence was found in the cut surface of the liver and the left caudate lobe. She died on May 1, 1999. This case demonstrated a relatively favorable prognosis in comparison to other common type of liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer. This study discusses the peculiarities of this case and emphasizes the necessity to carefully select the patients before attempting to resect the liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer.     

非痴呆型皮质下小血管性认知障碍患者的MRI、DTI表现

目的探讨常规磁共振成像(MRI)和扩散张量成像(DTI)在非痴呆型皮质下小血管性认知障碍(VCIND-SSVD)诊断中的价值。方法采用蒙特利尔认知量表(MoCA)、简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE)对26例非痴呆型血管性认知障碍和24例正常对照者的认知功能进行评价,通过常规MRI分析两组脑叶萎缩、皮质下白质疏松和腔隙性脑梗死等影像学参数的差异;通过DTI技术测量双侧额叶、顶叶、颞叶、枕叶、内囊前肢、内囊膝部及内囊后肢的分量各向异性(FA)和平均扩散率(MD)的差异;对VCIND-SSVD组患者MoCA总分及其子项评分与FA和MD进行相关分析。结果常规MRI显示脑叶萎缩、皮质下白质疏松和腔隙性脑梗死等影像学参数在两组间无明显差异,与认知功能无明显相关(均P>0.05)。VCIND-SSVD组双侧额叶FA值与对照组比较明显下降,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.01);VCIND-SSVD组双侧额叶MD值与对照组比较明显升高,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.01);两组间顶叶、颞叶、枕叶、内囊前肢、内囊膝部及内囊后肢的FA、MD值差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。VCIND-SSVD组患者双侧额叶FA值下降程度与MoCA评分及注意力、语言功能、抽象概括能力、视空间与执行能力等子项评分均呈正相关,(r=0.43~0.71,P<0.05,<0.01),MD值升高程度与MoCA评分及注意力、语言功能、抽象概括能力、视空间与执行能力等子项评分均呈负相关(r=-0.43~-0.67,P<0.05,<0.01)。结论 VCIND-SSVD患者认知功能损害可能与双侧额叶白质损伤有关,DTI在VCIND早期诊断中起着重要的作用。     

Adrenal metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): report of 3 cases.

Although autopsy reports show that the adrenal gland is the second most common organ of hematogeneous metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), paradoxically there is found to be a very scarce number of the adrenal metastasis in clinical practice. We have recently experienced rare patients with right adrenal metastasis from HCC. Case 1: A 51 year-old man with a 5-year history of chronic hepatitis was admitted with hematemesis to Nippon Medical School Hospital. CT revealed a main tumor associated with a few daughter tumors in the hepatic posterior segment and in addition another tumor located between the right hepatic lobe and right kidney. The diagnosis of HCC with a right adrenal gland metastasis was made, and hepatectomy and right adrenalectomy was performed. Twenty months after operation he was alive and free of disease. Case 2: A 78 year-old man underwent resection of the lateral segment of the left hepatic lobe for HCC. Twelve months later, recurrent foci in the residual liver were found and those were treated with transarterial embolization (TAE). Right adrenal metastasis was found on CT 26 months after hepatectomy. TAE was done for the hepatic recurrent tumors and adrenal metastasis. Twelve months after, he survived in good condition. Case 3: A 47 year-old man presented with liver cirrhosis with a long history. He was diagnosed as having HCC with multiple intrahepatic metastases and was treated with TAE 4 times. Follow-up CT revealed right adrenal metastasis. TAE was done for hepatic recurrent tumor and right adrenal metastasis. Three months later the patient died of liver failure.     

Two-stage subtotal hepatectomy for metastatic adrenal adenocarcinoma, a case report

Adrenal adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. We present a case of recurrent adrenal adenocarcinoma with synchronous bilobar liver metastases that was treated by a two-stage subtotal hepatectomy. A formal right hemihepatectomy was performed with cryotherapy to a left lobe metastasis that was subsequently resected after a period of hepatic regeneration.     

静息态fMRI技术观察肝性脑病患者双侧苍白球与全脑网络连接的改变研究*

目的 采用静息态功能MR（fMRI）技术探讨肝性脑病（HE）患者双侧苍白球与全脑网络连接的改变。方法 2015年2月~2017年6月诊治的明显HE患者（OHE）28例,轻微型HE患者（MHE）30例和选择健康人30例,受试者接受静息态fMRI扫描,选取双侧苍白球为种子点并进行全脑功能连接,分析比较各组双侧苍白球区域的脑功能网络连接差异。结果 HE患者苍白球与全脑网络连接出现差异的位置主要集中在额叶、顶叶和颞叶（P均<0.05）,与健康人比,OHE患者右侧枕下回、右侧额中回、左侧眶部额上回等脑区连接减弱,而在左海马旁回、双侧尾状核、左三角部额下回连接增强;MHE患者左中央前回、左内侧额上回、双侧颞中回等脑区连接减弱;与MHE患者比,OHE患者右侧楔前叶、右侧颞中回、右梭状回、右侧角回连接减弱,而双侧尾状核和右侧颞下回连接增强（P均<0.05）。结论 HE患者双侧苍白球区域与多个脑区的功能连接受损,可能与临床出现的认知功能障碍有关。     

Near total hepatectomy in two steps for surgical treatment of liver metastasis of colorectal tumor

Liver resections for metastases of colorectal carcinomas are generally accepted. The 5-year survival rate is higher than 30 percent. Major resections can be performed safely with normal remnant liver. The liver regenerates following extended hepatectomies or other major resections. Authors operated on a 57-year-old man for a secondary liver tumor. The primary tumor was in the colon sigmoideum and sigma-resection was made at another hospital 16 months before. The metastasis was in the right lobe of the liver. Authors performed right extended hepatectomy. After systemic chemotherapy, 4.5 months later a new metastasis developed in the left lobe. Despite locoregional chemotherapy, chemoembolization and radiofrequency treatment, the tumor was still growing so a left lobectomy was performed. The patient is macroscopically tumor-free 17 months after the first hepatic resection. The interest in this case is that segments IV to VIII were removed first time, and segments II and III at the second liver resection. Liver regeneration after the first resection made the second operation possible. Only segment I of the original segments remained. Utilizing the regeneration of the liver we can make an effort to perform a complete tumor ablation in two steps.     

Intrathyroideal papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with a solitary brain metastasis

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and typically has an excellent prognosis. The incidence of distant metastasis from PTC is low. However, once metastasis has developed in a distant site, prognosis is markedly diminished. Brain metastases from PTC are extremely rare. No consensus regarding management has yet been reached. We report on the case of a patient who presented with signs of intracranial hypertension. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a lesion of the right temporofrontoparietal lobe. The patient underwent a craniotomy with a total removal of the tumor. Histologic examination of the lesion showed a metastasis of papillary adenocarcinoma. We observed a cold nodule in the right lobe of the thyroid on physical examination and imaging techniques (e.g., CT and scintigraphy). Fine-needle-aspiration cytology of the nodule was reported as PTC. A total thyroidectomy was performed and histopathological examination showed intrathyroidal variant of PTC. Postoperatively adjuvant whole brain radiation therapy with 44 Gy to multiple brain metastases of PTC was applied. One month later, the patient then underwent ¹³¹I radioiodine therapy with 150 mCi of ¹³¹I given orally. In conclusion, the present case underwent an aggressive multimodal approach therapy. This report indicates that the early detection and control of brain metastases may contribute to a better quality of life for patients affected by brain metastases.     

A case of stage IV primary lung cancer with no metastasis except in the choroid plexus]

A 69-year-old man become aware of myiodesopsia. He visited the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University Hospital and choroidal metastasis of the right eye was diagnosed. A tumor shadow was detected in the lower lobe of the left lung on chest radiographs, and the serum CEA concentration was found to be significantly increased. Through bronchoscopic examinations, he was confirmed to have primary lung cancer (histological classification: adenocarcinoma). Although detailed systemic examinations were performed, no metastasis to lymph nodes or distant organs except the choroid plexus was detected, which is very rare in a case of stage IV primary lung cancer. In conclusion, it is suggested to be very important to look for ophthalmological abnormalities, even in the case of apparently early lung cancer that seems to be resectable.     

Long-term survival after multidisciplinary therapy for brain metastases from asymptomatic esophageal adenocarcinoma

Asymptomatic T1 (invaded submucosa) esophageal carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the brain. A 53-year-old Japanese man complaining of right hemiparesis and convulsion was admitted to our hospital. Brain imaging demonstrated a ring-like, enhanced brain tumor in the left parietal lobe. The pathological findings of the resected tumor were consistent with a metastatic adenocarcinoma from the gastrointestinal tract. Additional examinations revealed an elevated-type tumor in the lower third of the thoracic esophagus. The patient underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with lymph node dissection followed by reconstruction with gastric tube substitution. The immunohistochemical findings of the resected specimen were similar to those of the metastatic brain tumor. Although the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, docetaxel plus cisplatin), a solitary small brain metastasis was detected 4 months after esophagectomy. Excision of the sequential metastases with whole-brain radiation therapy and gamma-knife therapy were performed. The patient survived for 50 months after beginning the initial treatment. This report describes a rare case of brain metastases from T1 esophageal adenocarcinoma in a patient without gastrointestinal symptoms.     

Is a patient with metastatic pancreatic tumor from rectal cancer a candidate for resection?

A 54-year-old man who had undergone Miles' operation for rectal cancer in 1999 was found to have four brain metastases, which were treated by partial resection and gamma knife therapy in February 2003. During follow-up, ultrasound (US) showed a hypoechoic lesion in the head of the pancreas, and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated low-density tumors in the pancreatic head and left adrenal gland. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed severe stenosis of the main pancreatic duct, and endoscopic ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic lesion in the pancreas head. This patient was also found to have a coin lesion in the middle of the right lung by chest CT. All lesions were considered resectable. The patient underwent pancreato-duodenectomy and left adrenectomy. Histologically, these tumors were diagnosed as metastases from the rectal cancer. Although the patient's postoperative course was uneventful, CT showed multiple metastases in the both lungs. These were not resectable, and the patient died eight months after surgery. In summary, patients with metastases from rectal cancer to multiple organs, including the pancreas, may not be candidates for pancreatic resection.     

A case of non-small-cell lung cancer with intramedullary spinal cord metastasis diagnosed pre-mortem]

The patient was a 54-year-old man who in May 1999 received a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, T4 N2 M1, stage IV. Systemic chemotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery were performed only to result in further progression of the disease. In August 1999, he experienced gait disturbance due to lumbar pain. Rehabilitation improved the gait disturbance and he was discharged. In October, since the pain reappeared and there was numbness in the right leg, he was readmitted. Brain MRI revealed multiple brain metastasis and whole brain irradiation was performed. But his symptoms deteriorated, and palsy of the right leg ensued. Later, bladder dysfunction also developed. Since spinal cord MRI revealed intramedullary metastasis at Th 12 and L1 levels, we performed radiotherapy for the lumbar medullary lesion, together with systemic chemotherapy. After chemoradiotherapy the tumor size decreased and the pain improved. Cases of lung cancer with intramedullary metastasis are rare, especially those diagnosed before death.     

Long-term survivors of colorectal cancer with unresectable hepatic metastases

Five patients with colorectal cancer and unresectable synchronous liver metastases have survived for over five years at this writing. Four of the five had multiple metastases over both lobes, as diagnosed preoperatively, and the other had multiple metastases in the right lobe not evident preoperatively. The primary foci were excised completely in four patients. For one patient with multiple metastases limited to the right lobe, the postoperative cancer chemotherapy prescribed was intravenous mitomycin C (MMC; 12 mg) and oral ftorafur (a derivative of 5-FU) for a total dose of 291 gm over 63 weeks. The remaining four patients underwent postoperative intra-arterial infusion therapy with the average total dose of 20.5 mg of MMC plus 5600 mg of 5-FU; subsequently, they received protracted chemotherapy with oral ftorafur of 354 gm as an average, with little or no side effects. In these four patients, duration of intra-arterial treatment was an average of 3.2 weeks, and the subsequent oral treatment continued for an average of 85 weeks. Recent hepatic echography and CEA determinations show these patients to be free from intrahepatic metastasis.     

Postoperative chemotherapy and follow-up program in colon cancer with high serum CEA level.

We present a patient with colon cancer who had a high serum CEA level without detectable liver metastases at surgery. He underwent hepatic arterial infusional chemotherapy for suspicious liver metastasis concomitant with colon resection at the initial operation. He was followed closely by monitoring the serum CEA levels as well as abdominal US and CT. Five months after the first operation, a small but apparent metastatic lesion was detected in the liver, for which curative resection was performed. The importance of postoperative management with chemotherapy for occult metastases in the liver and close follow-up by CEA monitoring is discussed for such a patient.     

A case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma accompanied by minimal change nephrotic syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome and warm-type autoimmune hemolytic anemia]

A 49-year-old man was urgently admitted due to edema in both leg and left toe pain. A chest radiograph revealed a solitary nodule in the right lung field. Detailed investigations including bronchoscopy and renal biopsy led to a simultaneous diagnosis of clinical stage IIIB pulmonary adenocarcinoma, minimal change nephrotic syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, and warm-type autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Prednisolone was administered for nephrotic syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome and warm-type autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and 6 courses of chemotherapy with 70Gy radio-therapy were performed. The pulmonary nodule significantly decreased in size and the other three autoimmune diseases appeared to be well-controlled. Thirteen months after admission, multiple brain metastases developed along with worsening antiphospholipid syndrome symptoms including lupus anticoagulant. Following whole-brain irradiation, the brain metastases decreased in size and antiphospholipid syndrome symptoms improved. Thirty-nine months after the initial visit, the primary lung cancer, its brain metastasis and the 3 other autoimmune diseases appeared to be well-controlled. The temporal correlation of the lung cancer and the three autoimmune diseases suggests the latter may be paraneoplastic syndrome.     

Postoperative management for donor safety in living related donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Living related donor liver transplantation must hold on in absolute donor safety. Nevertheless, the risks to the donors are increased because of the use of right lobe for size mismatch. Therefore the intensive management for donor operation can hardly be overestimated. In this study, we investigated the utility of prostaglandin E1, methylprednisolone and C-tube in the postoperative management for donor operation based on our understanding of the mechanisms of liver injury after massive hepatectomy. METHODOLOGY: Outcome of the thirteen donors, whose right lobe was removed (right lobe group: 7 cases) or the left lobe only (3 cases) and left lobe plus caudate lobe (3 cases) (left lobe group: 6 cases) from 1999 March to 2000 August, for living related liver transplantation were evaluated. Indication for right lobe living related liver transplantation was basically defined as an estimated left lobe volume/recipient body weight ratio (GVBW ratio) of < 0.8% (range: 0.65-1.4, right lobe group: 1.05 +/- 0.18, left lobe group: 0.89 +/- 0.16). RESULTS: The donors recovered from the operation without the differentiation between right and left lobe group. There were no significant differences in the operative time, the operative hemorrhage, the hospital stays and the postoperative liver function in the two groups. They had no bile leakage and no serious complications. We experienced the left lobe donor who suffered from a cholangitis without any infection and he recovered by the administration of prostaglandin E1 and steroid. They improved bile secretion and bilirubinemia. Eleven recipients (84.6%) were successfully treated. The two causes of death were the sepsis (right lobe) and brain hemorrhage (left lobe). CONCLUSIONS: The current series of right lobe donation was able to show successful results as well as left lobe donation by the postoperative management with steroid, prostaglandin E1 and C-tube drainage based on our understanding of liver injury after massive hepatectomy in the adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.     

Complete necrosis of a giant tumor in liver by transcatheter arterial embolization and percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization before liver resection

A 67-year-old man admitted for abdominal pain. Abdominal CT showed a liver tumor 14 cm in diameter in the right lobe, and a low density area spreading along the left branch of the Glisson's sheath. Serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) level was found extremely high. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was performed three times, resulting the lesion reduced to 7cm in diameter. As the last TAE showed little effectiveness, we planed to percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization (PTPE) followed by extended right hepatectomy. After PTPE, PIVKA-II was normalized. Histologically, complete necrosis of the tumor lesions was observed in the resected liver.