The role of the sentinel lymph node in gastrointestinal cancer

Evaluation of the clinical significance of the sentinel node concept in GI cancer has just begun. The authors' preliminary data, using intraoperative radiation techniques and the gamma probe, suggest that it is worthwhile to continue the evaluation of this procedure to determine its role in an accurate staging and a minimally invasive approach to GI cancers.     

Domino liver transplantation from a living related donor

BACKGROUND: Although domino liver transplantations (OLT) from cadaveric donors have been performed in about 50 cases since 1995, only one case in the Japanese literature has been reported on a domino OLT from a living related donor. The difficulties of the later surgery lie in the small size of the graft volume and the short length of the vascular cuffs in the graft. METHODS: The left lobe graft was procured from a 43-year-old younger brother of a familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) patient. Next, the left lobe graft (510 g, 44% of the estimated standard liver volume of the FAP patient) was implanted into the 48-year-old female FAP patient. At surgery for the FAP patient, a sufficient length of the vascular cuffs was secured by an extended left lobe resection, although the right lobe graft was able to maintain sufficient vascular cuffs. The right lobe graft (720 g, 54% of the recipient's estimated standard liver volume) was then implanted in the 43-year-old male patient with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (stage IV-A). RESULTS: The two recipients were discharged from the hospital 1 month after OLT. At 7 months after OLT, they are both doing well and the domino recipient is free of any tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: A domino OLT from the living related donor can therefore be done safely when careful attention is paid to the graft volume and the length of the vascular cuffs for anastomosis.     

Effects of perioperative protease inhibitor on inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins in patients with hepatic resection

AIM: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of perioperative administration of ulinastatin, or urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), on inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins induced by inflammatory cytokines in patients who had undergone hepatic resection. METHOD: Twenty patients admitted to the hospital for hepatic resection were equally randomized to one of two groups: the UTI group, those who were administered perioperative UTI, and the control group. RESULTS: The UTI group had no adverse effects from using UTI. Production of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) tended to be attenuated in the UTI group when compared with the control group. Moreover, the UTI group had significantly decreased positive acute-phase C-reactive protein (p < 0.05) and significantly increased negative acute-phase protein prealbumin and retinol-binding protein (p < 0.05). Serum IL-6 levels significantly correlated with serum C-reactive protein levels on postoperative day 1 (r = 0.70, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that perioperative administration of UTI might deserve further assessment for use in modulating acute-phase responses without adverse effects in patients who have undergone hepatic resection.     

Genetic Alterations of Mixed Hyperplastic Adenomatous Polyps in the Colon and Rectum

Some mixed hyperplastic adenomatous polyps (MHAPs) contain dysplastic lesions or even carcinomas. These polyps are considered to be different from ordinary hyperplastic polyps and may have a preneoplastic potential. We investigated APC and K- ras mutations in MHAPs of the colon and rectum, and also in colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps to identify molecular differences between MHAPs, adenomas and hyperplastic polyps, using direct sequencing of mutation cluster regions (MCR) in APC and K- ras . No APC mutations were identified in 12 MHAPs and 8 hyperplastic polyps, whereas 10 of 27 (37.0%) adenomas showed somatic mutations. K- ras mutations were identified in one of 12 (8.3%) MHAPs, one of 8 (12.5%) hyperplastic polyps, and 10 of 27 (37.0%) adenomas. p53 mutation was found in a carcinoma arising in an MHAP. Mutations other than APC mutations may play a role in the development of MHAPs.     

Chemoradiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of anal canal cancer: report of a case

We report a case of anal canal cancer in a 65-year-old woman who had complained of bloody stool. Physical examination revealed a 2.5 cm ulcerated tumor in the anterior wall of the anal canal astride the dentate line. Histological examination of biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Chemoradiation therapy included whole pelvic irradiation amounting to 4140 cGy followed by conformal boost irradiation of 2000 cGy and 5-fluorouracil div 750 mg/24 hr 3 days, mitomycin C iv 10 mg day 1, and cisplatinum div 50 mg day 2. Six weeks later the tumor had completely regressed, and there was no evidence of recurrence 21 months later. Her anorectal function was retained.     

Sarcomatoid chordoma: chordoma with a massive malignant spindle-cell component

We report a case of chordoma containing a spindle cell sarcomatoid component with a gradual transition from conventional chordoma. Immunohistochemically, many tumor cells in both conventional chordoma and sarcomatoid components were positive for cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, CAM5.2) and epithelial membrane antigen as well as vimentin. This report provides a rare example of sarcomatoid chordoma. Familiarity with this type of bone tumor should help to avoid confusion with dedifferentiated chordoma and other spindle cell sarcomas or carcinomas. Received: 25 February 2000 Revision requested: 28 March 2000 Revision received: 30 May 2000 Accepted: 28 June 2000     

Assessment of intestinal viability using a non-contact laser tissue blood flowmeter

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative assessment of small intestinal viability following ischemic insult from arterial occlusion has remained difficult. The purpose of the present study was to assess the applicability of non-contact tissue blood flowmeter (NCLBF) with regard to intraoperative assessment of intestinal viability. METHODS: Using the ischemia-reperfusion model of rabbits, the relationship between the records of NCLBF, pulse oximetry (PO), and histological grade and the comparison of accuracy of intestinal viability among NCLBF, PO, and fluorescein (FL) were examined. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between NCLBF and the histological grade (coefficient-0.80, P <0.0001); however, PO was not related. The accuracy and sensitivity of bowel viability of NCLBF (76%, 88%) were better than those of PO (58%, 23%) and FL (48%, 4%), respectively (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: NCLBF is useful to assess intestinal viability, suggesting the possibility of clinical use.     

An analysis of risk factors of perioperative bleeding in surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

BACKGROUND: In surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), excessive bleeding which causes postoperative complications is sometimes observed. To determine the risk factors of perioperative excessive blood loss, this retrospective study was performed. METHODS: Design. A retrospective study. Setting. An academic medical center. Participants. One hundred and forty patients underwent elective surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) at our institution from 1995 through 1997. Measurements. The present study includes critical review of 140 consecutive charts of patients undergoing elective surgical repair of AAA. Preoperative laboratory data, intraoperative data and amount of blood loss to identify risk factors of perioperative blood loss. Factors which were found to be significantly associated with the amount of perioperative blood loss were preoperative plasma fibrin degradation product (FDP) level (r=0.445), amount of immediate re-infusion of shed blood (r=0.438), and duration of operation (r=0.411). RESULTS: Preoperative fibrinogen level correlated with perioperative blood loss little (r=-0.187). Preoperative platelet count or the other coagulation profile did not affect the amount of perioperative blood loss. The patients whose preoperative FDP were more than 40 microg x ml(-1) significantly increased the risk of excessive blood loss compared with less than 40 microg x ml(-1). CONCLUSIONS: The significant preoperative risk factor of perioperative blood loss was only FDP level in present study. Especially, the patients whose preoperative FDP were more than 40 microg x ml(-1) increased the risk of excessive blood loss.