David J. Bentrem

T1 Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum: Transanal Excision or Radical Surgery?

Background:Recent studies suggest local excision may be acceptable treatment of T1 adenocarcinoma of the rectum, but there is little comparative data with radical surgery to assess outcomes and quantify risk. We performed a retrospective evaluation of patients with T1 rectal cancers treated by either transanal excision or radical resection at our institution to assess patient selection, cancer recurrence, and survival. Methods:All patients who underwent surgery for T1 adenocarcinomas of the rectum (0–15 cm from anal verge) by either transanal excision (TAE) or radical resection (RAD) between January 1987 and January 2004 were identified from a prospective database. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. Results:Three hundred nineteen consecutive patients with T1 lesions were treated by transanal excision (n = 151) or radical surgery (n = 168) over the 17-year period. RAD surgery was associated with higher tumor location in the rectum, slightly larger tumor size, a similar rate of adverse histology, and a lymph node metastasis rate of 18%. Despite these features, patients who underwent RAD surgery had fewer local recurrences, fewer distant recurrences, and significantly better recurrence-free survival (P = 0.0001). Overall and disease-specific survival was similar for RAD and TAE groups. Conclusion:Despite a similar risk profile in the 2 surgical groups, patients with T1 rectal cancer treated by local excision were observed to have a 3- to 5-fold higher risk of tumor recurrence compared with patients treated by radical surgery. Local excision should be reserved for low-risk cancers in patients who will accept an increased risk of tumor recurrence, prolonged surveillance, and possible need for aggressive salvage surgery. Radical resection is the more definitive surgical treatment of T1 rectal cancers.

The Value of Peritoneal Cytology as a Preoperative Predictor in Patients With Gastric Carcinoma Undergoing a Curative Resection

BackgroundAlthough positive peritoneal cytology is associated with poor prognosis, it has not been found to be independently predictive of outcome when evaluated in context of post-resection pathologic T and N stage. This study was undertaken to evaluate the predictive value of positive cytology in context of other prognostic factors available prior to surgery in patients undergoing R0 resection for gastric cancer, to assess its role in selecting patients for appropriate treatment prior to surgical resection.MethodsClinical variables for all patients undergoing R0 resection for gastric adenocarcinoma at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1993–2002 were reviewed from a prospective database. Patients underwent preoperative assessment of T and N stage with CT scan, laparoscopy, and endoscopic and/or laparoscopic ultrasound. Peritoneal cytology was obtained in all patients.ResultsPatients with gastric cancer (n = 371) underwent R0 resection and staging laparoscopy with peritoneal washings; 24 patients (6.5%) had positive peritoneal cytology. Positive cytology was associated with advanced T stage (P = 0.02) but not with nodal positivity (P = 0.11). Median survival of patients with positive cytology was 14.8 months vs. 98.5 months for patients with negative cytology (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified preoperative T stage, preoperative N stage, site, and cytology as significant predictors of outcome. Positive cytology was the preoperative factor most predictive of death from gastric cancer (RR 2.7, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPositive cytology is information potentially available preoperatively that identifies a patient population at very high risk for early recurrence and death after curative resection of gastric cancer.

Clinical Correlation of Endoscopic Ultrasonography with Pathologic Stage and Outcome in Patients Undergoing Curative Resection for Gastric Cancer

BackgroundEndoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is considered valuable for preoperative staging of gastric cancer and defining patient eligibility for enrollment in neoadjuvant protocols. The aim of this study was to correlate EUS staging with pathologic evaluation and outcome in patients undergoing curative R0 resection for gastric cancer.MethodsAll patients who underwent preoperative clinical assessment of T/N stage with EUS and subsequent R0 resection for gastric adenocarcinoma between 1993 and 2003 were identified from a prospective database. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. Clinical staging results from preoperative EUS were compared with postoperative pathologic staging results and correlated with clinical outcome.ResultsTwo hundred twenty-five patients with gastric cancer underwent EUS followed by R0 resection, without preoperative chemotherapy. The accuracy of the individual EUS T stage was 57% (127 of 223) and was 50% for N stage (110 of 218). Although EUS was less able to predict outcome according to individual T stage, patients with lesions ≤T2 on EUS had a significantly better outcome than patients with lesions ≥T3. Preoperative assessment of risk was not predicted by EUS N stage alone. Patients identified as high risk on EUS and those with a combination of serosal invasion and nodal disease had both the highest concordance with pathology and a significantly worse outcome (Pxa0=xa0.02).ConclusionsThe concordance between EUS and pathologic results was lower than expected for individual T and N stages. Patients with lesions ≤T2 had a significantly better prognosis than patients with more advanced lesions. Individual EUS N stage has limited value in preoperative risk assessment. Combined assessment of serosal invasion and nodal positivity on EUS identifies 77% of patients at risk for death from gastric cancer after curative resection.

Outcomes in Oncologic Surgery: Does Volume Make a Difference?

Commonly performed elective surgical procedures on the alimentary tract are carried out with low morbidity and low mortality in most hospitals in the United States. There are some procedures on the alimentary tract that are performed with a relatively low frequency and are associated with higher mortality. Volume is a surrogate marker associated with improved outcome, with relative differences being dependent on the complexity of the procedure and the frequency with which it is done. Both surgeon and institutional volume matters, but it seems that improved operative mortality can be reached with lower surgeon volume in high-volume institutions. It appears that volume can be substituted in part for by specialization and training, with improved outcomes based on specialist credentials and fellowship training.

Predictors of intensive care unit admission and related outcome for patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy

High-volume centers have low morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Less is known about treatment pathways and their influence on intensive care unit (ICU) utilization. Patients who underwent PD at a tertiary cancer center during the five-year period between January 1998 and December 2003 were identified from a prospective database. Preoperative and intraoperative factors relating to ICU admission and outcome were analyzed. Five hundred ninety-one pancreaticoduodenectomies were performed during the study period. Of these, 536 patients had complete records for analysis. Of the 536 patients, 51 (10%) were admitted to the ICU after surgery. Admission to the ICU was associated with decreased overall survival (P < .0001). Of the preoperative predictors of ICU admission, serum creatinine, albumin, and increased body mass index (BMI) were associated with ICU admission (P = .02, .05, and .002, respectively). Age, blood glucose, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were not predictive of ICU admission on univariate analysis. Of the intraoperative factors, longer operative time and estimated blood loss (EBL) correlated with ICU admission (P = .003 and .0001, respectively). On multivariate analysis, only preoperative BMI and intraoperative EBL were independent predictors of ICU admission (P = .03 and .003, respectively). Patients with a preoperative BMI greater than 30 had a substantially higher risk of ICU admission (relative risk 2.4). The majority of patients who undergo PD do not require admission to the ICU. Factors most associated with ICU admission after PD are increased preoperative BMI and intraoperative blood loss.

Outcome of patients with known metastatic gastric cancer undergoing resection with therapeutic intent.

BackgroundMetastatic gastric cancer has a dismal prognosis. We identified a subset of patients where surgical resection with therapeutic intent was undertaken in the setting of known metastatic disease.MethodsReview of a prospectively maintained database of gastric cancer patients at a single institution over a 19-year period was performed.ResultsThirty-seven patients with metastatic disease known prior to resection with therapeutic intent were identified out of 3384 patients with gastric cancer (1%). Twelve patients had positive peritoneal cytology as the only evidence of metastasis, 21 had gross metastasis limited to peritoneal surfaces, one had peritoneal and ovarian metastasis, one had liver metastasis, one had retropancreatic lymph node metastasis, and one had a malignant pleural effusion. Thirty-six patients (97%) received chemotherapy prior to resection, and 30 (81%) received postoperative chemotherapy. The median time from diagnosis to resection was 4.5 months (range 1–22) in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy. Median survival was 12 months after resection with no three-year survivors. Predictors of worse prognosis were cytologic or pathologic evidence of persistent metastatic disease at the time of resection or at laparoscopy within six weeks of resection (Pxa0<xa0.01), N3 disease (Pxa0=xa0.03), and total gastrectomy or additional organ resection (Pxa0=xa0.04). Metastatic disease as evidenced by cytology only was not associated with improved prognosis.ConclusionsHighly selected patients with metastatic gastric cancer undergoing surgical resection with therapeutic intent have a relatively poor prognosis. Persistent detectable metastatic disease after preoperative chemotherapy portends a particularly poor prognosis.

The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in Paget's disease of the breast.

ABSTRACTBackgroundSentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a standard of care for axillary lymph node staging in breast cancer and appears suitable for virtually all patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) invasive disease. However, its role in Paget’s disease of the breast, a condition in which invasion may or may not be present, remains undefined.MethodsAmong 7,083 consecutive SLN biopsy procedures, we retrospectively identified 39 patients with Paget’s disease of the breast. Nineteen patients had no associated clinical/radiographic features (“Paget’s only”), and 20 patients had associated clinical/radiographic findings (“Paget’s with findings”).ResultsThe mean ages for the Paget’s alone and with findings groups were 63.6 and 49.6 years, respectively. The use of breast conservation therapy was 32% in the Paget’s alone group and 10% in the Paget’s with findings group. Invasive carcinoma was found in 27% of patients in the Paget’s alone group and 55% of patients in the Paget’s with findings group. The success rate of SLN biopsy was 98%, and the mean number of SLNs removed was 3 in both groups. In the entire cohort of Paget’s disease, 28% (11/39) of the patients had positive SLNs (11%, Paget’s alone; 45%, Paget’s with findings).ConclusionIn our “Paget’s only” cohort, invasive cancer was found in 27% of cases and positive SLNs in 11%. SLN biopsy should be considered in all patients with Paget’s disease of the breast, whether associated clinical/radiographic findings are present.