Surgical treatment of patients with T2 gallbladder carcinoma invading the subserosal layer

BACKGROUND: Because T2 carcinoma of the gallbladder that invades perimuscular connective tissue without extension beyond serosa or into the liver has a hope for longterm survival, we attempted to clarify significant prognostic factors with respect to tumor- and surgery-related variables. STUDY DESIGN: Of 65 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who had undergone surgical resection from 1983 to 1999, 28 had T2 carcinoma histologically proved. The significance of variables for survival was examined by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test followed by multivariate analyses using Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULTS: There were 17 patients with stage II carcinoma (T2 N0 M0), 6 with stage III (T2 N1 M0), and 5 with stage IVB. Lymph node metastasis was present in 11 patients (39%) and it reached to the peripancreatic head region (N2) in 5 of them. Lymphatic, venous, and perineural invasions were found in 68%, 57%, and 43%, respectively. With respect to tumor factors, the absence of perineural invasion (Odds ratio [OR] 16.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.17-129.94, p = 0.0069), absence of lymph node metastasis (OR 15.00, 95% CI 2.08-108.33, p = 0.0073), and stage II (II versus III and IVB, OR 15.00, 95% CI 2.08-108.33, p = 0.0073) were significant factors related to good postoperative survival in the multivariate analysis. Surgical procedure (radical resection versus cholecystectomy, OR 4.31, 95% CI 1.34-13.82, p = 0.0142) and surgical margin (OR 7.41, 95% CI 2.19-25.13, p = 0.0013) were significant factors in the univariate analysis. Cancer-free surgical margins provided a significantly better survival (5-year survival rate, 62%); none with cancer-positive surgical margins survived for more than 27 months. In the multivariate analysis, surgical procedure was significant (OR 25.49, 95% CI 1.62-400.72, p = 0.021). Radical surgery, including extended cholecystectomy (resection of the gallbladder together with the gallbladder bed of the liver) and anatomic resection of liver segment 5 and of the lower part of segment 4, gave a significantly better 5-year survival rate than cholecystectomy (59% versus 17%). The 5-year survival rate after radical resection in patients with stage II was 75%; that in patients with stage III and IVB was 33%. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that radical surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with T2 carcinoma of the gallbladder. The presence of lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, or both suggests the necessity of additional treatment after radical surgery.     

Differences in biliary lipid excretion after major hepatectomy in obstructive jaundiced rats with preoperative internal,external, or no biliary drainage

Necessity of preoperative biliary drainage for patients with obstructive jaundice is still controversial. We recently reported that liver regeneration after major hepatectomy was better restored in a rat model of obstructive jaundice with preoperative internal biliary drainage than that without biliary drainage or with external biliary drainage. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in biliary lipid excretion after hepatectomy in obstructive jaundiced rats with or without preoperative internal or external biliary drainage. After bile duct ligation for 7 days, rats were randomly divided into the three groups; obstructive jaundice-hepatectomy (OJ-Hx), internal biliary drainage-hepatectomy (ID-Hx), and external biliary drainage-hepatectomy (ED-Hx) groups. 70% hepatectomy and internal biliary drainage were carried out 7 days after biliary decompression in the latter two groups and without biliary decompression in the OJ-Hx group. On the day of and on days 1, 2, 3 and 7 after hepatectomy, the liver weight, DNA synthesis rate, biliary lipids excretion rates, and bile acid composition were determined. In the ID-Hx group, the DNA synthesis rate and relative liver weight were significantly higher than those of the OJ-Hx and ED-Hx groups. The excretion rates of biliary lipids were disturbed in the ED-Hx group compared with those in the ID-Hx group and the values in the OJ-Hx group were in-between the ID-Hx and ED-Hx group. The liver regeneration rate was significantly correlated with bile flow and excretion rates of biliary lipids. The maintenance of enterohepatic circulation of biliary lipids before hepatectomy may be important for the liver regeneration.     

Early and late complications of pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy in Japan 1998

Early (within 1 month after operation) and late (more than 1 month after surgery) complications after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PpPD) were analyzed in 1066 Japanese patients collected from 74 authentic institutions in Japan. As early postoperative complications after PpPD, delayed gastric emptying was evident in 46% of patients, pancreatoenterostomy leakage in 16%, intra-abdominal infection in 14%, cholangitis in 8.9%, hepaticojejunostomy leakage in 4.7%, intra-abdominal hemorrhage in 3.5%, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 3.2%, and duodenojejunostomy leakage in 2.0%. Delayed gastric emptying resolved 1—24 months after PpPD (mean, 3.1 months). The direct operative mortality (death within 1 month after the operation) was 2.4%. Univariate and multivariate analysis of pancreatoenterostomy leakage showed that male sex (P = 0.0151) and soft consistency of the pancreas (P < 0.0001) were independent significant factors. Univariate analysis of delayed gastric emptying showed that establishment of gastrostomy (P < 0.0001), length of the preserved duodenum (P = 0.0406), gastric juice output (P = 0.0001), length of gastric tube placement (P < 0.0001), and administration of cisapride (P = 0.0059) were significant variants. As late complications, stomal ulcer was evident in 3.6% of patients, cholangitis in 6.7%, and liver abscess in 1.2%. Glucose intolerance appeared in 61 patients, resolved in 15, showed no change in 170, was absent in 695, and was ameliorated in 17. As a result, the dosage of hypoglycemic agents or insulin showed no change in 187 patients, decreased in 16, and increased in 52. Diabetes appeared 0—42 months after PpPD (mean, 102 months). When present, diabetes deteriorated 0—36 months postoperatively (mean, 6.3 months). Univariate analysis of the appearance or deterioration of diabetes showed that diabetes occurred more frequently in the following patients; those with Billroth I reconstruction compared with those with Billroth II (P = 0.0041), those with pancreatogastrostomy vs those with pancreatojejunostomy (P = 0.0229), those with pancreatogastrostomy vs those with end-to-side pancreatojejunostomy (P = 0.0165), and those with total tube drainage vs those with pancreatico-whole thickness anastomosis (P = 0.0392); a high American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score (P = 0.0211) and pancreatoenterostomy leakage (P = 0.0361) were also significant factors. Postoperative body weight loss (>3 kg) was evident in 62% of patients. Body weight loss reached a maximum 4.2 ± 5.8 months after PpPD (mean, 6.0 kg) and returned to the preoperative level 4.8 months thereafter. These results suggest that PpPD has been performed safely in Japan, the operative mortality being 2.4%. However, delayed gastric emptying was evident in 46% of the patients and pancreatoenterostomy leakage in 16%. Impairment of glucose tolerance occurred in about 10% of patients more than 1 month after PpPD. Therefore, during the early postoperative period, patients should be closely monitored for pancreatoenterostomy leakage and delayed gastric emptying and in the late postoperative period, glucose tolerance should be carefully followed-up.     

Biliary lipids and bile acid composition before and after endoscopic sphincterotomy

The effect induced by endoscopic sphincterotomy on biliary lipids and bile acid composition was examined by following up the seven patients prior to early (1-2 week) and late (0.5-1 year) after the endoscopic sphincterotomy. The concentrations of total bile acids, phospholipid and cholesterol were essentially constant throughout the one-year observation period. Cholesterol saturation indices were not significantly altered. No bile acid concentration changed significantly. The results indicate that endoscopic sphincterotomy has little undesirable effect on the biliary lipids and bile acid compositions over an observed period.     

Cystadenocarcinoma of the liver without mesenchymal stroma: possible progression from a benign cystic lesion suspected by follow-up imagings

Received: November 30, 2001 / Accepted: May 17, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Reprint requests to: K. Yamaguchi     

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma cell infiltration. case report

This is the first case report of gastric mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) cell infiltration. A 43-yr-old Japanese woman who was seropositive for antihuman T cell leukemia virus-I antibody complained of epigastric pain in April, 1996. Endoscopy showed gastric ulcers in the antrum. Biopsy specimens showed Helicobacter pylori infection. Her symptoms were relieved by treatment with ranitidine. In March, 1998, she complained of epigastric pain and abdominal fullness. Smears of peripheral blood revealed atypical lymphocytes with nuclear irregularity, consistent with ATLL cells. She was diagnosed to have ATLL. Endoscopy revealed multiple gastric ulcers in the antrum and the angle. Biopsy specimens demonstrated small centrocyte-like cells forming lymphoepithelial lesions, with infiltrations of large atypical lymphoid cells of ATLL. On immunohistochemical staining, the small centrocyte-like cells were positive for B cell markers (L26, CD20), whereas the large atypical lymphoid cells were positive for T cell marker (UCHL-1, CD45RO). Her findings were attributed to gastric mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with gastric involvement with ATLL.     

Desensitization for sulfasalazine-induced skin rash in a patient with ulcerative colitis

A patient with ulcerative colitis developed a sulfasalazine-induced skin allergy manifested by a urticaria rash. The patient underwent drug desensitization. The first desensitization, done according to Holdsworth's protocol, resulted in eruption with itching at a dose of 800 mg. The second desensitization, with Das's protocol, failed to reintroduce the drug because of urticarial eruptions. The third challenge, with a more gradual increase in sulfasalazine dose than that use in Holdsworth's protocol, successfully desensitized the patient. The relationship between the drug and various adverse reactions is reviewed and the desensitization to sulfasalazine is discussed.     

Laparoscopic choledochotomy for bile duct stones

In the era of laparoscopic surgery, treatment strategies for common bile duct stones remain controversial. Laparoscopic choledochotomy is usually indicated only when transcystic duct exploration is not feasible. However, laparoscopic choledochotomy provides complete access to the ductal system and has a higher clearance rate than the transcystic approach. In addition, primary closure of the choledochotomy with a running suture and absorbable clips facilitates the procedure. Therefore, to avoid postoperative biliary stenosis, all patients with bile duct stones can be indicated for choledochotomy, except for those with nondilated common bile duct. Placement of a C‐tube also provides access for the clearance of possible retained stones by endoscopic sphincterotomy as a backup procedure. C‐tube placement, in contrast to T‐tube insertion, is advantageous in terms of a relatively short hospital stay. In conclusion, laparoscopic choledochotomy with C‐tube drainage is recommended as the treatment of choice for patients with common bile duct stones.     

Endoscopic Ultrasonography Findings in Acute Gastric Anisakiasis

To clarify the components of the thickened gastric wall in acute gastric anisakiasis, we evaluated endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings of acute gastric anisakiasis. Ten patients with acute gastric anisakiasis underwent endoscopic ultrasonography immediately after anisakiasis was diagnosed by endoscopy. In the acute phase of gastric anisakiasis, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) detected a thickening of the gastric wall made of mainly thickened third layer with low echoic changes. When EUS was performed 7 to 11 days later in seven patients, the EUS findings had normalized. We made clear EUS findings in acute gastritis due to gastric anisakiasis. Consequently, we found, by EUS, that the main inflammatory lesion in anisakiasis was in the submucosal layer of gastric wall.     

Risk factors for early death after liver resection in patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/Purpose

Although most patients who receive hepatectomy for a solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a relatively fair result, some have a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for early death after hepatectomy in patients with a solitary HCC.

Methods

Eligible patients (n = 110) who had undergone hepatectomy for solitary HCC between 1990 and 2002 and were able to be followed up for more than 2 years after the hepatectomy were divided into two groups, those who died of cancer recurrence within 2 years (early-death group; n = 18) and those who survived for more than 2 years after the surgery (survival group; n = 92). Risk factors for early death after liver resection were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The gross tumor classification, tumor diameter, macroscopic portal vein invasion, microscopic growth pattern, microscopic vascular invasion (MVI), and the width of the surgical margin were significant (P < 0.05) factors by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of MVI was an independent and significant risk factor for early death of recurrence.

Conclusions

Among patients with solitary HCC, the presence of MVI indicates a poor prognosis. These patients need adjuvant chemotherapy in the early period after hepatectomy.