Diagnosis and tactical approach to surgery for early gastric carcinoma: A retrospective analysis of the past 16 years in an Austrian General Hospital

In principle, many authors advocate a radical surgical approach for early gastric cancer (gastrectomy on principle). Our own experience with subtotal gastrectomy (including N1 + N2 lymphadenectomy; limited resection even without groups 11, 12) shows that this method yields comparable results. With an operative mortality of 2%, the survival rate was 84.3% after 5 years and 70.5% after 10 years, instead of the predicted values of 82.8% and 63.4% respectively. Applied to the same age group without gastric carcinoma, this yields a 5-year survival rate of 101.8% and thus almost reaches Japanese standards.     

Anaerobic bacteremia in a general hospital: retrospective five-year analysis

Anaerobic bacteremia (116 cases) represented 5.4% of the total cases of bacteremia in the Hospital Nuestra Se?ora de Covadonga of Oviedo, Spain, during a five-year period (1981-1985). Microbiologic data for all 116 cases and clinical data for 63 patients were analyzed. A total of 129 isolates were identified as gram-negative bacilli (45.7%), gram-positive bacilli (38.0%), gram-positive cocci (14.0%), and gram-negative cocci (2.3%). Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium perfringens were the most frequently occurring species. Anaerobic polymicrobial infection was detected in 21 patients. The most relevant clinical features were fever (79%), metastatic abscesses (33%), anemia (27%), septic shock (25%), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (6%). The overall mortality rate was 25.4%, and the factors associated with a poor prognosis were age over 60 years, lack of adequate surgical treatment, severe underlying disease, metastatic foci, and polymicrobial and/or nosocomial infection.     

Laparoscopy-assisted and open distal gastrectomies for early gastric cancer at a general hospital in Japan

BACKGROUND/AIMS: At general hospitals in Japan, laparoscopic surgery for early gastric cancer is not yet popular. The benefits and feasibility of this procedure remain to be established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) in comparison with open distal gastrectomy (ODG) in a general hospital. METHODOLOGY: We performed LADG in 20 patients with early gastric cancer between 2000 and 2001. Clinicopathologic data, blood analyses, clinical course and financial cost of treating patients with LADG were compared with 22 patients treated with ODG between 1998 and 1999. RESULTS: All patients were treated successfully by LADG. Neither reduced operative curability nor increased complications were found with this procedure. Although LADG required a significantly longer operation time than ODG, blood loss was lower in LADG than in ODG. The leukocyte count on day 1 and day 3, and serum C-reactive protein levels on day 1 were significantly lower after LADG than after ODG. There was no significant difference between LADG and ODG in the period and volume of analgesics required. High body temperature continued longer after ODG than after LADG. The first walking, passage of flatus and oral diet initiation were significantly earlier in patients with LADG than in those with ODG. LADG required a significantly shorter hospital stay and less total hospital charge than ODG. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy offered faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, a shorter hospital stay, and consequently less financial cost when compared with open surgery. Therefore, LADG may be a safe and recommendable procedure for patients with early gastric cancer at general hospitals in Japan.     

Reoperation for early postoperative complications after gastric cancer surgery in a Chinese hospital

AIM:To investigate the occurrence of postoperative complications of gastric cancer surgery,and analyze the potential causes of reoperation for early postoperative complications. METHODS:A total of 1639 patients who underwent radical or palliative gastrectomies for gastric cancer were included in the study.The study endpoint was the analysis of postoperative complications in inpatients. RESULTS:About 31%of patients had early postoperative complications,and complications of infection occurred most frequently....     

Reoperation for early postoperative complications after gastric cancer surgery in a Chinese hospital

AIM:To investigate the occurrence of postoperative complications of gastric cancer surgery,and analyze the potential causes of reoperation for early postoperative complications. METHODS:A total of 1639 patients who underwent radical or palliative gastrectomies for gastric cancer were included in the study.The study endpoint was the analysis of postoperative complications in inpatients. RESULTS:About 31%of patients had early postoperative complications,and complications of infection occurred most frequently....     

Abdominal surgery in patients 90 years of age and older at a provincial general hospital

Background:   It has been commonly accepted that age itself is never an absolute contraindication for surgical treatment in the elderly. Some of the many problems with the oldest old could be solved by surgical intervention. However, there are quite a few issues to be resolved for the surgical treatment of patients aged in their nineties. We therefore investigated cases of abdominal operations performed during the past decade, and wish to give our point of view on the indication, significance, merits and demerits of conducting surgical operations in this age-group of patients.
Methods:   We studied perioperative status, postoperative morbidity/mortality, and short- and long-term outcomes of abdominal surgery in patients 90 years of age and older who underwent abdominal surgical operation at a provincial general hospital.
Results:   Seven patients had elective operations and six patients underwent emergency operations. The postoperative morbidity was fairly high after both elective and emergency operations. Major complications occurred in one patient who died of multiple organ failure 20 days after the operation. One patient stayed in the hospital and died there 240 days after gastrectomy. Three patients survived more than 4 years after surgery. No definite relationship was revealed between the risk score and postoperative morbidity/mortality. No evident change was recognized in the performance status in patients who received abdominal surgical operations.
Conclusion:   The results indicate that more meticulous consideration as well as more precise decision about the indication for surgical intervention, and more intensive perioperative management will be necessary in order to secure more favorable outcomes of therapy and quality of life for high-risk patients aged in their nineties.     

单中心早期胃癌内镜下治疗10年回顾性研究

目的：探讨早期胃癌内镜下治疗的疗效、安全性及其影响因素。 方法：回顾性分析2006年1月至2015年12月于北京协和医院消化内镜中心拟诊早期胃癌、接受内镜下治疗并证实的病例186例次,根据内镜下治疗适应证分组,统计治愈性切除率及并发症的发生率,分析其影响因素。统计随访事件的发生情况。 结果：研究期间,接受内镜下切除的早期胃癌共186例次,绝对适应证组治愈性切除率86.9%（73/84）,扩大适应证组61.7%（50/81）,非适应证组33.3%（7/21）,不同适应证组治愈性切除率有显著差异（P<0.01）。多因素分析显示,胃下1/3、无溃疡、直径≤2cm、无黏连、分化型癌均为治愈性切除的独立预测因素。病理分化程度改变或浸润深度升级是完全切除的扩大适应证病变无法达到治愈性切除的主要原因。出血及穿孔的发生率分别为4.8%（9/186）、3.8%（7/186）。胃下1/3、无黏连、整块切除的病变穿孔发生率低,差异有统计学意义。成功随访154例患者,中位随访时间22.3个月。治愈性切除者同时癌及异时癌的发生率分别为7.5%、0.9%。 结论：早期胃癌内镜下治疗的绝对适应证患者其治愈性切除率高;而扩大适应证者采取内镜下治疗需慎重。术前应进行细致的内镜评估,尤其是辨别未分化成分及垂直浸润深度。内镜治疗后应密切随访以早期发现同时癌及异时癌     

EMR for early gastric cancer in Korea: a multicenter retrospective study

BACKGROUND: EMR has been accepted as a treatment modality for selected cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) in Japan. However, long-term outcomes after EMR for EGC have not been fully documented. OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the experiences of EMR for EGC in Korea, with emphasis on the long-term outcome. DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective study. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively by use of the on-line database registry system. From January 2000 to December 2002, 514 EGCs in 506 patients were treated by EMR in 13 institutions in Korea. Median age of the patients was 60 years (range 45-83 years). The resection was regarded as incomplete if histopathologic examination revealed a positive resection margin or submucosal invasion or positive lymphovascular invasion or undifferentiated histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: The most commonly used technique was circumferential precutting followed by snare resection (EMR-P, n = 269, 52.3%). Complete resection and incomplete resection after EMR were confirmed in 399 lesions (77.6%) and 103 lesions (20.0%), respectively. For completely resected mucosal cancers (n = 399), the median duration of follow-up was 23.5 months (range 5-70 months). In this group, local recurrence was detected in 24 cases (6.0%) with a median interval between EMR and recurrence of 17.9 months (range 3.5-51.7 months). There were 3 cases with perforation and 71 cases with bleeding. No deaths were related to recurrence of gastric cancer during the overall median follow-up period of 39 months. LIMITATIONS: Multicenter retrospective design, no controls. CONCLUSIONS: EMR is an effective therapeutic modality for selected cases of EGC in Korea.     

Clinical significance of a papillary adenocarcinoma component in early gastric cancer: a single-center retrospective analysis of 628 surgically resected early gastric cancers

Background

We recently reported that the presence of a papillary adenocarcinoma (pap) component was an independent risk factor for lymphatic involvement in endoscopically resected early gastric cancer (EGC). This study aimed to investigate the potential association between the presence of a pap component in EGC and lymph node metastasis (LNM).

Methods

In order to evaluate the association between LNM and clinicopathological features, including a pap component, we reviewed 628 surgically resected EGCs at our institution between 2009 and 2012. Clinicopathological features included age, gender, tumor location, macroscopic type, tumor size, histological type, depth, ulcerative findings, and lymphatic and venous involvement. In addition, the association between clinicopathological features and lymphatic involvement was also evaluated.

Results

LNM was observed in 52 cases (8.3%). Univariate analyses revealed a significant correlation between a pap component and LNM as well as tumor size, depth, macroscopic type, a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma component, and lymphatic and venous involvement. The percentage of positive LNM among the EGC cases with a pap component was significantly higher than in those without the component (18.2 vs. 7.3%, P = 0.010). Via multivariate analyses lymphatic involvement was identified as the strongest risk factor for LNM [odds ratio (OR) 14.1] and a pap component was revealed as an independent risk factor for lymphatic involvement (OR 3.1).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that EGC cases with a pap component were at higher risk of lymphatic involvement and showed a higher percentage of positive LNM. More attention should be paid to a pap component in EGC.

     

Changing trends in gastric carcinoma at a university medical center: a twelve-year retrospective analysis

Over the past 60 years, the epidemiology of gastric adenocarcinoma has changed considerably. The most striking change in the epidemiology of gastric adenocarcinoma has been the rapid increase in cancers of the proximal stomach. We performed a retrospective analysis of all gastric adenocarcinomas diagnosed at two hospitals in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A., between 1985 and 1996. Two hundred seventeen patients were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma. Patients were divided into three 4-year cohorts. We found that the proportions of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma in cohorts 1, 2, and 3 were 31%, 36%, and 42%, respectively (p = 0.52). Median survival in the three cohorts was 5, 8, and 8 months, respectively (p = 0.22). Median survival (stages 1-4) was 41.5, 11.5, 10, and 3 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Well-, moderately-, and poorly- differentiated adenocarcinoma had median survivals of 18, 7.5, and 6 months, respectively (p = 0.07). We concluded that patients with gastric adenocarcinoma continue to be diagnosed at late stages. There has been a trend toward an increasing proportion of cardia adenocarcinoma. Stage at presentation was the only significant predictor of survival.     

Early carcinoma of the stomach after gastric surgery: comparison with early carcinoma in the non-operated stomach

The relationships between the gross and histological types of early gastric carcinoma and non tumorous gastric mucosa were investigated in 12 cases of carcinoma of the stomach after operation and 46 cases of cardiac carcinoma within 5 cm of the squamocolumnar junction. Histological studies were made by examining specimens obtained by gastrectomy. Grossly elevated and histologically differentiated carcinomas were statistically more frequent after gastric surgery, than before. Comparison between cases of elevated and differentiated adenocarcinoma that had undergone gastric surgery with those that had not showed that atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia in the surrounding mucosa of the tumor were significantly slighter after gastric operation than in unoperated cases. Results suggested that early carcinomas developing after gastric surgery are different from those in the upper portion of the unoperated stomach.     

Usefulness of the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines for community pneumonia: a retrospective analysis of community-acquired pneumonia between 2000 and 2002 in a general hospital

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the causative organisms of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) diagnosed between 2000 and 2002 and to evaluate the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guidelines. METHODOLOGY: A total of 124 cases of CAP diagnosed during the study period were analyzed, and the results were compared with those of a previous study by the authors' research group. Determination of the causative organisms of CAP was based on Gram stain, morphology of colonies, quantitative culture of sputum, identification of bacterial isolates, and serological tests. RESULTS: During the study period, the causative organisms were identified in 42 cases (33.8%). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were the major causative organisms. Patients were classified into three groups based on the severity of CAP according to the JRS guidelines. The survival rates of patients with moderate and severe CAP were significantly lower than those of the mild group as evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method (moderate vs mild, 70% vs 100%; severe vs mild, 40% vs 100%; P < 0.001 for both). Seven patients died during the study, and the risk factors were old age, bedridden status with cerebral infarction, and microaspiration, which was associated with recurrent pneumonia within 17 days. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the JRS guidelines for CAP are useful for treating patients with CAP in Japan.     

Lymph node metastasis in differentiated-type early gastric cancer: a single-center retrospective analysis of surgically resected cases

Background. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) from early gastric cancer (EGC) is rare, especially for differentiated-type EGC. However, LNM has been reported in a few cases after endoscopic curative resection of differentiated-type EGC. This study aimed to evaluate LNM risk factors to identify those that should be considered during the preoperative evaluation of differentiated-type EGC. Patients and methods. A total of 976 EGC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were reviewed in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the predictive factors for LNM based on the histology of the differentiated-type EGC cases. Results. Differentiated-type EGC was observed in 59% of the cases. The rate of LNM was 6.6% (38/576 patients) in the differentiated-type EGC cases. Macroscopic shape, ulcers, tumor size, deeper invasion and lymphovascular invasion were shown to be related to LNM in differentiated-type EGC. Multivariate analysis revealed that size, depth, ulceration and lymphovascular invasion were independent predictors of LNM in differentiated-type EGC. When lymphovascular invasion was absent, the presence of one or more of the risk factors of ulcer lesions, tumor size >30 mm and submucosal invasion increased the rate of LNM. Thirteen patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were shown to have differentiated-type EGC with LNM that met the standard and expanded criteria of endoscopic submucosal dissection. Conclusions. As endoscopic resection is widely used, it is important to clarify the clinical significance of LNM in differentiated-type EGC and to screen for LNM with this incidence in mind and to follow the clinical courses of such cases, especially in China.     

CASE REPORT: Metachronous early gastric carcinoma in a reconstructed gastric tube after radical operation for oesophageal carcinoma

The incidence of double cancer has increased as a result of the signi?cant advances in both diagnostic procedures and anti-cancer therapy, and as the outcome of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has improved, the number of cases of double cancer of the oesophagus and stomach has also increased. Two patients with metachronous early gastric carcinoma in a reconstructed gastric tube were successfully treated after subtotal oesophagectomy for ESCC. These cases have shown that early diagnosis of second cancer is very important for curative therapy.     

Myelitis associated with atopic disorders in Japan: a retrospective clinical study of the past 20 years

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the clinical features of myelitis associated with atopic disorders in Japanese patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical, immunological and electrophysiological features of 68 consecutive patients with myelitis of acute or subacute onset diagnosed at Kyushu University Hospital during the past 20 years. RESULTS: While only 2 of 28 (7%) patients with myelitis diagnosed between 1979 and 1993 had either atopic dermatitis (AD) or bronchial asthma (BA), 19 of 40 (48%) patients with myelitis diagnosed between 1994 and 1998 did. Among the 40 patients with myelitis diagnosed between 1994 and 1998, 19 patients with either AD or BA as well as 21 patients without either disease showed a significantly higher level of serum total IgE, higher frequency of hyperIgEaemia and higher frequency of mite antigen-specific IgE than 82 healthy controls. Myelitis patients with AD presenting as persistent paresthesia/dysesthesia in all four limbs showed cervical cord lesions on MRI and abnormalities in upper limb motor evoked potentials but no abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), while myelitis patients with BA showed preferential involvement of the lower motor neurons clinically and electromyographically. In addition, 12 patients with myelitis who had hyperIgEaemia and mite antigen-specific IgE but neither AD nor BA showed incomplete transverse myelitis with mild motor disability and few CSF abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of myelitis associated with atopic disorders were in part distinguished by the type of preceding atopic disorder, and also were different from those of hyperIgEaemic myelitis with no preceding atopic disorders.     

Acute hepatic failure in a teaching hospital: a review of 20 cases in the past seven years

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a medical emergency which entails a multisistemic affectation almost always. Twenty cases of ALF have been reviewed in a teaching hospital with active liver transplantation programme. A high percentage of patients with alcohol abuse was observed although these patients did not have previously known hepatic damage. Although microbiological, toxicological and anatomopatological studies were performed in all cases, an important difficulty for establishing the etiologic agent was observed. We observed a worse prognosis in those patients older than 40, those with grade IV encephalophaty and those that did not undergo a liver transplantation. Most patients needed UCI attention and more than half died.