Hiroto Muroi

Esophageal granular cell tumor successfully resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection

Granular cell tumors of the esophagus are rare neoplasms and their diagnosis is mainly based on histopathologic examination of endoscopic biopsies. With the development of endoscopic techniques, there has been a marked increase in local treatment modalities for early esophageal neoplasms. In this case report, we describe the removal of a granular cell tumor by the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique, and briefly discuss the literature on clinicopathologic aspects and management of granular cell tumors.

Salvage Lymphadenectomy for Recurrent Esophageal Cancer After Chemoradiotherapy

Although salvage esophagectomies are widely performed, reports on salvage lymphadenectomy (SL) are few. We review our SL cases to clarify the indications. Fifty-five patients with esophageal cancer underwent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, including 3 patients with single lymph node (LN) recurrences and one with allochronic double cervical node recurrence. Our department removed 5 recurrent LNs from these 4 patients. In Case 1, right supraclavicular LN was judged to be metastatic and R0 resection was carried out; he is alive without recurrence. In Case 2, we found, allochronically, metastases in his left cervical paraesophageal LN and left supraclavicular LN; residual tumors were R1 in both lesions. He is alive despite esophageal recurrence. In Case 3, a lymphadenectomy was performed on his thoracic para-aortic LN; however, tumor was removed incompletely, and he died 4 months after SL from disease progression. In Case 4, a subcarinal LN was thought to be metastatic, and was removed but no malignant tissues detected. He died 17 months after SL from pneumonia. Our experiences suggest that some patients survive relatively long with SL. Moreover, molecular examination of resected lesions could guide subsequent therapies. SL might be more widely used for these patients if not otherwise contraindicated.

Minimally Invasive Salvage Operations for Esophageal Cancer after Definitive Chemoradiotherapy

Background/Aims: Because salvage surgery after definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer is associated with high postoperative mortality and morbidity, minimally invasive methods are desirable. We analyzed the validity of minimally invasive salvage operations (MISO). Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent salvage operation between 2010 and 2016 in our institution, 10 having undergone right transthoracic salvage esophagectomy (TTSE group), 6 transhiatal salvage esophagectomy (THSE), 6 salvage lymphadenectomy (SLA), and 3 salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection (SESD). Patients who had undergone THSE, SLA, or SESD were categorized as the MISO group. Short- and long-term outcomes were assessed. Results: The mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the SLA groups than in the TTSE group (p = 0.0248). Blood loss was significantly less in the SLA than the TTSE group (p = 0.0340). Intensive care unit stay was shorter in the THSE than the TTSE group (p = 0.0412). There was no significant difference in postoperative mortality between the MISO and THSE groups. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the SLA than the TTSE group (p = 0.0061). Patients’ survivals did not differ significantly between the MISO and TTSE groups (p = 0.752). Multivariate analysis revealed that residual disease (R0; HR 4.872, 95% CI 1.387–17.110, p = 0.013) was the only independent factor influencing overall survival. Conclusion: MISO is preferable because short-term outcomes are better and long-term outcomes do not differ from those of TTSE.

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and 5-Fluorouracil Combination Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Carcinoma.

A dose-escalation study of docetaxel (DOC), cisplatin (CDDP), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; DCF combination regimen) was performed to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose (RD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) in advanced esophageal carcinoma. Eighteen patients with esophageal carcinoma were enrolled and received DCF combination therapy at different dose levels. DLTs included febrile neutropenia and oral mucositis. DLT occurred in 2 out of 6 patients at level 2 and 3. The study proceeded to level 4, according to the protocol. The level 4 dose was defined as the MTD and the level 3 dose was defined as the RD. The RD for DCF combination chemotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma in the present study was 70 mg/m(2) DOC plus 70 mg/m(2) CDDP on day 1 plus 700 mg/m(2) 5-FU on days 1-5 at 4-week intervals. This regimen was tolerable and highly active. A phase II study has been started.

Effectiveness of sternocleidomastoid flap repair for cervical anastomotic leakage after esophageal reconstruction.

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) flap repair for anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy. Methods: A refractory cutaneous fistula from the gastric stump developed in 8 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagogastric anastomosis after esophagectomy. All patients underwent SCM flap repair. The cutaneous fistula was removed and resutured. The sternal head of the left SCM was dissected from the manubrium of the sternum and sutured onto the repaired gastric stump. Results: The operative duration was 80-220 min (median, 120 min). The amount of intraoperative bleeding ranged from 5 to 182 g (median, 15 g). The absence of recurrent anastomotic leakage was confirmed after the SCM flap repair in every patient. Oral intake was initiated 7-15 days (median, 10 days) after the repair operation without discomfort. Conclusions: SCM flap repair is an effective and minimally invasive treatment method for cervical anastomotic leakage after esophageal reconstruction. This method may be considered in patients with refractory leakage of the gastric stump after staple anastomosis. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Base Excess and White Blood Cell Counts Predict Bowel Gangrene in Japanese Sigmoid Colon Volvulus Patients

Objective: This study aimed to investigate factors that predict bowel gangrene in sigmoid colon volvulus patients. Methods: Nine sigmoid colon volvulus cases were retrospectively analyzed for prediction of bowel necrosis. Laboratory parameters were extracted from medical records, and subsequently, a receiving operator curve for each parameter was drawn. Using these cut-off values, a comparison between the “with necrosis” and “without necrosis” groups was performed. Results: In the emergent cases, necrosis of the intestine was observed in 4 cases and not observed in 4 cases. The values of area under the curve were high in metabolic acidosis and white blood cell counts. For base excess, the cut off value was -2.4 mEq/L. A lower base excess is significantly associated with bowel gangrene (p = 0.029). For white blood cell count, the cut off value is 8400/mm3. A lower white blood cell counts is significantly associated with bowel gangrene (p = 0.029). Conclusions: In addition to physiological findings, blood gas analysis and white blood cell counts are useful to detect ischemia due to sigmoid volvulus.

Laparoscopic surgery for a Bochdalek hernia triggered by pregnancy in an adult woman: A case report

Highlights • We report a case of Bochdalek hernia (BH) triggered by pregnancy in a pregnant adult.• Laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed for BH without complications.• We reviewed 30 cases of laparoscopic and/or thoracoscopic repair of adult BH.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography can be used to determine the indication for endoscopic resection of superficial esophageal cancer

18F‐Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) is a useful imaging modality that reflects the tumor activity. However, FDG‐PET is mainly used for advanced cancer, not superficial cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the superficial tumor depth of esophageal cancer and the FDG uptake to determine the indications for endoscopic resection (ER). From 2009 to 2017, 444 patients with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and 195 patients were pathologically diagnosed with superficial cancer. Among them, 146 patients were examined by FDG‐PET before esophagectomy or ESD. In these 146 patients, the relationship between the pathological tumor depth and FDG uptake was analyzed. The mean maximum standardized uptake value in pT1a‐EP/LPM tumors was 1.362 ± 0.890, that in pT1a‐MM/pT1b‐SM1 tumors was 2.453 ± 1.872, and that in pT1b‐SM2/SM3 tumors was 4.265 ± 3.233 (P < .0001). Among 51 pT1a‐EP/LPM tumors, 10 (19.6%) showed positive detection of FDG. For pT1a‐MM/pT1b‐SM1 and pT1b‐SM2/SM3 tumors, the detection rate was 52.9% (18/34) and 82.0% (50/61), respectively. The detection rate of pT1a‐EP/LPM was significantly lower than in the other two groups (P < .0001). Among 10 FDG‐PET‐positive lesions, only 1 had no apparent reason for PET positivity; however, 9 of 10 had a suitable reason for detectability by PET and inadequacy for ER. Negative detection of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by FDG‐PET is useful to determine the indication for ER when the tumor depth cannot be diagnosed even after performing magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography. When FDG uptake is recognized, a therapeutic modality other than ER should be considered.

Treatment outcome of obstructive colorectal cancer with bowel perforation.

Objective: We reported the analysis of long and short-term treatment outcomes of pa-tients with bowel perforation caused by obstructive colorectal cancer. Summary of Background Date: From April 2003 to March 2013, 15 patients with bowel perforation caused by obstructive colorectal cancer underwent emergent surgery in our hospital. Methods: Clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed by age, gender, tumor loca-tion, time to surgery from diagnosis, operative method, stage, postoperative complication, and preoperative severity score by APACHE II scoring system. We studied outcome of short-term outcomes and long-term prognosis used by overall survival. Results: The median age was 67.6 years. Male to female ratio was 10:5. The mortality rate was 20% and the median of APACHE II score was 15. The survival cases (n=11) showed significantly lower APACHE II score compared with fatal cases (n=4) (p=0.02). The median overall survival was 18.9 months in survival cases except for stage IV case. 5 patients had recur...

Effectiveness of proton beam therapy on liver metastases of esophageal cancer: report of a case.

A 53-year-old man with multiple liver metastasis of esophageal cancer underwent four courses of chemotherapy. After four courses of chemotherapy, positron emission tomography showed progressive disease. Because it was difficult to control the cancer only by chemotherapy, we performed proton beam therapy (PBT) combined with chemotherapy. The irradiated parts were the primary tumor, liver metastases (S2/S4/S6), and mediastinal lymph nodes. The primary tumor including the mediastinal lymph nodes and the S2/S4/S6 metastases received proton beam irradiation at a total dose of 68.2 Gy in 31 fractions and 66.0 Gy in 30 fractions, respectively, according to tumor location. This resulted in a complete response as shown by positron emission tomography. In our experience, PBT exerted a curative effect on liver metastases of esophageal cancer. It is thought that PBT may be effective in the treatment of esophageal cancer. This is the first report about PBT for liver metastases of esophageal cancer.