Ahmed A. S. Salem

Practical prognostic index for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine

Aim:  The aim of this study was to identify factors that predict treatment outcome in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine, and then to use these factors to develop a practical prognostic index.

Pancreatic endocrine neoplasm can mimic serous cystadenoma.

A 57-yr-old female patient was referred to our hospital with a cystic lesion of the head of the pancreas that had been noted on abdominal computed tomography (CT). Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed a 3.0 cm rounded mass in the head of the pancreas. EUS images showed that the tumor had a solid component consisting of multiple microcysts separated by septae and a cystic component consisting of a macrocystic lesion. Thus, the tumor was suspected of being a serous cystadenoma (SCA). However, the histopathological diagnosis based on endoscopic ultrasound- guided fine-needle-aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) was that of a pancreatic endocrine neoplasm (PEN). Surgical resection was performed. Despite having very similar macroscopic findings to SCA, microscopic examination revealed that the patient’s tumor was definitely a PEN. This case suggests that it is very difficult to distinguish PENs from SCAs based solely on imaging methods. EUS-FNAB is essential for determining the appropriate therapeutic strategy, as it provides the histopathological diagnosis.

LONG-TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Background:  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB).

Impact of reconstruction methods and pathological factors on survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background: Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy for pancreatic head (PH) and periampullary carcinoma (PC) and provides the only chance of cure. Improvements of surgical technique, increased surgical experience and advances in anesthesia, intensive care and parenteral nutrition have substantially decreased surgical complications and increased survival. We evaluate the effects of reconstruction type, complications and pathological factors on survival and quality of life. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study to evaluate the impact of various reconstruction methods of the pancreatic remnant after pancreaticoduodenectomy and the pathological characteristics of PC patients over 3.5 years. Patient characteristics and descriptive analysis in the three variable methods either with or without stent were compared with Chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was performed with the logistic regression analysis test and multinomial logistic regression analysis test. Survival rate was analyzed by use Kaplan-Meier test. Results: Forty-one consecutive patients with PC were enrolled. There were 23 men (56.1%) and 18 women (43.9%), with a median age of 56 years (16 to 70 years). There were 24 cases of PH cancer, eight cases of PC, four cases of distal CBD cancer and five cases of duodenal carcinoma. Nine patients underwent duct-to-mucosa pancreatico jejunostomy (PJ), 17 patients underwent telescoping pancreatico jejunostomy (PJ) and 15 patients pancreaticogastrostomy (PG). The pancreatic duct was stented in 30 patients while in 11 patients, the duct was not stented. The PJ duct-to-mucosa caused significantly less leakage, but longer operative and reconstructive times. Telescoping PJ was associated with the shortest hospital stay. There were 5 postoperative mortalities, while postoperative morbidities included pancreatic fistula-6 patients, delayed gastric emptying in-11, GI fistula-3, wound infection-12, burst abdomen-6 and pulmonary infection-2. Factors that predisposed to development of pancreatic leakage included male gender, preoperative albumin < 30g/dl, pre-operative hemoglobin < 10g/dl and non PJ-duct to mucosa type of reconstruction. The ampullary cancers presented at an earlier stage and had a better prognosis than pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Early stage (I and II), negative surgical margin, well and moderate differentiation and absence of lymph node involvement significantly predicted for longer survival. Conclusions: PJ duct-to-mucosa anastomosis was safe, caused least pancreatic leakage and least blood loss compared with the other methods of reconstruction and was associated with early return back to home and prolonged disease free and overall survival.

ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROINTESTINAL SUBMUCOSAL TUMORS

Gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMT) detected by barium meal study or endoscopy include various kinds of diseases and various degrees of malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can provide useful information about the differentiation of intra‐ and extra‐wall lesions, location and originating layer, presumption of their histological nature, measurement of the actual size of the lesion, and the possibility of differentiating between a benign and a malignant lesion. However, EUS alone does not reveal the complete pathology. EUS fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB) has been reported to be a useful tissue sampling method for pancreatic mass lesions, lymph nodes swelling, posterior mediastinal masses and also gastrointestinal submucosal tumors. The EUS‐FNAB procedure is effective not only for the differential diagnosis of benignancy and malignancy, but also for the specific histopathological nature of gastrointestinal SMT using immunohistochemical staining. When used with MIB‐1 (Ki‐67) staining, and gene analysis in case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, EUS‐FNAB may indicate its prognosis and influence decisions regarding therapeutic strategy. Thus, EUS‐FNAB is an indispensable procedure in the diagnosis of SMT.

Laparoscopy Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for Cancer at a Tertiary Center in Egypt. Is It Safe and Feasible

Background: Laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for cancer has significant short- and long-term advantages. The feasibility and safety of laparoscopicdistal gastrectomy for cancer (LADG) is unclear in low to middle income countries as resources are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of (LADG) in low to middle income countries; Egypt as an example. Methods: Thirty four Patients with stage I-II cancer at the pylorus and antrum have been enrolled for LADG between 2012 and 2015 with the reuse of single use vascular sealing device has been evaluated. Results: Finally 27 patients had been included in the study and successful LADG has been done for all selected cases. The average operative time was 151 ± 10 minutes. The average estimated blood loss was 73.3 ± 13 ml. No intra-operative complications have been recorded. The average time for post-operative patient ambulation was 9 hours (SD ± 1.8) and for oral fluid intake was 3.5 SD ± 1 days. The average duration of the hospital stay was 9.3 ± 1.2 days. The average number of retrieved lymph nodes was 21.7 ± 3.8 days. All the cases had free surgical margin. The median number of reuse of the vascular sealing device was 3.8 times (3 - 5 times). Conclusion: Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for cancer could be safe and feasible in developing countries and give similar results for that of developed countries. Safe reuse of single use expensive parts of some instruments for laparoscopy could help in utilization of these advanced surgeries in low to middle income countries. Long term follow up as well as comparative studies with open surgery are required.

Simultaneous Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocelluar Carcinoma and Hepatic Artery Aneurysm, Case Report

IntroductionHepatic artery aneurysm is uncommon with an estimated incidence of less than 0.25%. Because most patients are asymptomatic, the diagnosis is usually made as an incidental finding on imaging studies performed for other reasons. Because of their propensity to rupture with potential catastrophic intraperitoneal hemorrhage, early diagnosis is important. Herein, relatively asymptomatic aneurysm of the common hepatic artery mostly of atherosclerotic etiology is presented. The importance of imaging findings in the diagnosis of this condition is discussed and relevant literature is reviewed (1, 2). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the most common malignancies worldwide, and the prognosis for patients with HCC is typically poor. Chemoembolization has become the mainstay of treatment for patients with unresectable HCC. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is intended to deliver a highly concentrated dose of chemotherapy to tumor cells, prolong the contact time between the chemotherapeutic agents and the cancer cells, and minimize systemic toxicity. Ideally, achieving these goals will result in a tumor shrinkage, symptomatic relief, improved quality of life, and increased patient survival (3).MethodsWe will present a case of male patient, 72 years old, who was referred for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocelluar carcinoma.ResultsHelical CT scan showed right lobe mass infiltrating the peritoneum with enhancement in the early arterial phase together with hepatic artery aneurysm that was successfully treated at the same time using emulsion of N-butyl cyanoacylate and lipodol with a concentration of 1:1.ConclusionHepatic artery aneurysms are uncommon lesions that have varied clinical presentations. Early diagnosis is essential because the natural tendency of the lesion is to rupture into peritoneal cavity or surrounding organs. Chemoembolization has become the mainstay of treatment for patients with unresectable HCC. Our case is notable, because atherosclerotic aneurysms of the hepatic artery are extremely rare with very few cases reported so far and to diagnose a hepatic artery aneurysm and to treat it in one setting with chemoembolization of unresectable HCC without rupture of the aneurysm is also unusual.