Hirohito Fujikawa

A prospective validation study to diagnose serosal invasion and nodal metastases of gastric cancer by multidetector-row CT.

BackgroundMultidetector-row CT (MDCT) may provide accurate preoperative staging of resectable gastric cancer. However, the standard methods and criteria to diagnose the T and N stages to select the patients who are good candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy have not been established yet.MethodsThe aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of MDCT to diagnose the serosal invasion and nodal metastases of gastric cancer. Patients who had gastric adenocarcinoma underwent MDCT scanning using a standardized method. The T and N stage were diagnosed by prespecified criteria. The analyses were performed in the patients who had cN0–2 and M0 tumors and underwent curative gastrectomy as a primary treatment. The accuracy was calculated by comparing the results of MDCT with the histopathological findings.ResultsA total of 315 patients were analyzed. The overall diagnostic accuracy (95 % confidence interval) of T staging was 71.4 % (225 of 315, 66.2–76.1). The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for serosal invasion were 85.7 % (81.4–89.1), 54.5 % (42.6–66.0), and 94.0 % (90.3–96.3), respectively. The false-positive rate for serosal invasion was 6.0 % (2.9–7.7). The overall diagnostic accuracy of N staging was 75.9 % (239 of 315, 70.9–80.3). The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for nodal metastases were 81.3 % (76.6–85.2), 46.4 % (36.8–56.3), and 96.8 % (93.5–98.4), respectively. The false-positive rate for nodal metastases was 3.2 % (1.6–6.5 %).ConclusionsThese results suggest that MDCT provides an accurate diagnosis with high specificity and a low false-positive rate and can be used to select the patients who are candidates for preoperative chemotherapy.

Laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy using the EndoStitch and a circular stapler under a direct view created by the ENDOCAMELEON

Laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy using a circular stapler is associated with technical difficulties in the purse-string sutures used to insert the anvil head and in obtaining an adequate visual field to prevent rolling the mesentery and the wall of the jejunum on the mesenteric side into the anastomosis. To overcome these difficulties, we used the EndoStitch to create the purse-string suture and the ENDOCAMELEON to create the visual field to stretch the jejunum. After resecting the esophagus, purse-string sutures were placed using the EndoStitch. A total of five to six needle deliveries were performed. Next, the anvil head was inserted into the esophagus. The main unit of the EEA was inserted from the end of the resected jejunum. Then, the scope was changed to the ENDOCAMELEON. The main unit was slowly moved toward the anvil head. After making sure that the mesentery and the wall of the jejunum on the mesenteric side were not rolled into the anastomosis under the visual field created by the ENDOCAMELEON, the main unit was then fired. Thereafter, esophagojejunostomy was successfully completed. This technique was applied in 20 patients between April 2010 and May 2012. Laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer was completed in all 20 patients. No case required conversion to open surgery. Neither anastomotic leakage nor stenosis was observed. This method is simple and useful for laparoscopic esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for an Early Gastric Cancer Patient With Situs Inversus Totalis

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a congenital condition in which there is complete right to left reversal of the thoracic and abdominal organs. This report describes laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for an early gastric cancer patient with SIT. The preoperative diagnosis was c-stage IA (cT1a cN0 cH0 cP0 cM0). LADG with D1+ dissection and Billroth-I reconstruction was successfully performed by standing at the opposite position. The operating time was 234 minutes and blood loss was 5 mL. Although a mechanical obstruction occurred after surgery, the patient recovered after re-operation with Roux-en-Y bypass.

Prognostic factors in stage IB gastric cancer.

AIM To identify the subset of patients with stage IB gastric cancer with an unfavorable prognosis. METHODS Overall survival (OS) rates were examined in 103 patients with stage IB (T1N1M0 and T2N0M0) gastric cancer between January 2000 and December 2011. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS The OS rates of patients with T1N1 and T2N0 cancer were 89.2% and 94.1% at 5-years, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that tumor location was the only significant prognostic factor. The OS rate was 81.8% at 5-years when the tumor was located in the upper third of the stomach and was 95.5% at 5-years when the tumor was located in the middle or lower third of the stomach (P = 0.0093). CONCLUSION These data may suggest that tumor location is associated with survival in patients with stage IB gastric cancer.

Exploratory Analysis to Find Unfavorable Subset of Stage II Gastric Cancer for Which Surgery Alone Is the Standard Treatment; Another Target for Adjuvant Chemotherapy.

The aim of the present study was to explore the unfavorable subset of patients with Stage II gastric cancer for whom surgery alone is the standard treatment (T1N2M0, T1N3M0, and T3N0M0). Recurrence-free survival rates were examined in 52 patients with stage T1N2-3M0 and stage T3N0M0 gastric cancer between January 2000 and March 2010. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors using a Cox proportional hazards model. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates of the patients with stages T1N2, T1N3, and T3N0 cancer were 80.0, 76.4, and 100% at 5 years, respectively. The only significant prognostic factor for the survival rates of the patients with stage pT1N2-3 cancer measured by univariate and multivariate analyses was pathological tumor diameter. The 5-year RFS rates of the patients with stage pT1N2-3 cancer were 60.0%, when the tumor diameters measured <30 mm, and 88.9% when the tumor diameters measured >30 mm (P = 0.0248). These data may suggest that pathological tumor diameter is associated with poor survival in patients with small T1N2-3 tumors. Because our study was a retrospective single-center study with a small sample size, a prospective multicenter study is necessary to confirm whether small tumors are risk factor for the RFS in T1N2-3 disease.

A methylene blue-assisted technique for harvesting lymph nodes after radical surgery for gastric cancer: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Harvesting lymph nodes (LNs) after gastrectomy is essential for accurate staging. This trial evaluated the efficiency and quality of a conventional method and a methylene blue–assisted method in a randomized manner. The key eligibility criteria were as follows: (i) histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the stomach; (ii) clinical stage I-III; (iii) R0 resection planned by gastrectomy with D1+ or D2 lymphadenectomy. The primary endpoint was the ratio of the pathologic number of harvested LNs per time (minutes) as an efficacy measure. The secondary endpoint was the number of harvested LNs, as a quality measure. Between August 2012 and December 2012, 60 patients were assigned to undergo treatment using the conventional method (n=29) and the methylene blue dye method (n=31). The baseline demographics were mostly well balanced between the 2 groups. The number of harvested LNs (mean±SD) was 33.6±11.9 in the conventional arm and 43.4±13.9 in the methylene blue arm (P=0.005). The ratio of the number of the harvested LNs per time was 1.12±0.46 LNs/min in the conventional arm and 1.49±0.59 LNs/min in the methylene blue arm (P=0.010). In the subgroup analyses, the quality and efficacy were both superior for the methylene blue dye method compared with the conventional method. The methylene blue technique is recommended for harvesting LNs during gastric cancer surgery on the basis of both the quality and efficacy.

Preoperative evaluation of skeletal muscle mass in the risk assessment for the short‑term outcome of elderly colorectal cancer patients undergoing colectomy

The prevalence of colorectal cancer in the elderly population is increasing; therefore, surgical interventions with a risk of potential complications are more frequently performed. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether sarcopenia has a clinical impact on short-term outcomes, such as morbidity and hospital stay after surgery, in elderly patients with colorectal cancer. A total of 82 elderly patients undergoing colectomy for colorectal cancer between January 2011 and December 2015 in our institute were included in the study, and skeletal muscle mass was measured as total psoas area at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) using enhanced computed tomography scans. The patients were divided into two subgroups, namely those with and those without sarcopenia, based on median skeletal muscle mass in men and women, and the association with complications was analyzed. A total of 40 patients (48.8%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The patients with sarcopenia exhibited a significantly higher incidence of total complications (55 vs. 31.0%, P=0.028) and longer hospital stay (25.9±21.2 vs. 18.2±8.5 days, P=0.039). The multivariate logistic analysis revealed that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for postoperative surgical complications. The short-term outcomes, such as postoperative surgical complications and hospital stay, were affected by preoperative sarcopenia in elderly colorectal cancer patients. To improve the short-term outcomes of such patients, it is necessary to carefully plan the surgical procedure, perioperative care and the surgical strategy using preoperative sarcopenia assessment.

Risk factors for severe weight loss at 1 month after gastrectomy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Body weight loss (BWL) is frequently observed in gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The risk factors for severe BWL after gastrectomy remain unclear. METHODS The present study retrospectively examined patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between January 2012 and June 2014 at Kanagawa Cancer Center. All patients received perioperative care based on the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol. The %BWL value was calculated based on the percentage of body weight at 1 month after surgery in comparison to the preoperative body weight. Severe BWL was defined as %BWL > 10%. The risk factors for severe BWL were determined by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS There were 278 patients examined. The median age of the patients was 68 years. The operative procedures included total gastrectomy [n=97; open (n=61) and laparoscopic {n=36)] and distal gastrectomy (n=181). Surgical complications of grade ≥ 2 (as defined by the Clavien-Dindo classification) were observed in 37 patients, these included: pancreatic fistula (n=9), anastomotic leakage (n=5), and abdominal abscess (n=3). There were no cases of surgery-associated mortality. Both univariate and multivariate logistic analyses demonstrated that surgical complications, and total gastrectomy were significant risk factors for severe BWL. CONCLUSIONS Surgical complications and total gastrectomy were identified as being significant risk factors for severe BWL in the 1st month after gastrectomy. To maintain body weight after gastrectomy, physicians should pay careful attention to patients who undergo total gastrectomy and those who develop surgical complications.

Risk factors for loss of lean body mass after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

79 Background: Lean body mass loss after surgery, which decreases compliance of adjuvant chemotherapy, is frequently observed in gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. However, the risk factors of lean body mass loss remain unclear. Methods: The present study retrospectively examined the patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer between June 2010 and March 2014 at Kanagawa Cancer Center. All patients received perioperative care of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol. % Lean body mass loss was calculated by percentile of lean body mass at one month after surgery to preoperative lean body mass. Severe lean body mass loss was defined as % lean body mass loss over 5%. Risk factors for severe lean body mass loss were determined by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Four-hundred eighty five patients were examined. Median age was 67 years. Operative procedure was total gastrectomy in 190 patients and distal gastrect...

Effects of a planned preoperative exercise program on body composition in early gastric cancer patients with metabolic syndrome.

206 Background: Visceral fat obesity and skeletal muscle depletion were reported to be both risk factors for complications in abdominal cancers surgery. Preoperative exercise may reduce morbidity by modifying body composition. Methods: We conducted an exploratory study attached to a prospective study (AEGES) to examine the effects of a 4-weeks exercise in stage I gastric cancer patients with metabolic syndrome. The AEGES enrolled 50 patients between 2007 and 2013, of which 18 were assigned to the exercise arm. The exercise program consisted of aerobic training 3-7 days a week, resistance training once or twice a week, and stretching. The expected energy expenditure of exercise was set at 30 kcal/kg/week. The total energy expenditure was measured using a calorie counter. After completion of the exercise, the patients received CT and endoscopy for re-staging, then underwent curative gastrectomy. Total skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (cm2) was evaluated on the average of two adjacent axial images at L3....