Jean M. Butte

Gallbladder cancer: differences in presentation, surgical treatment, and survival in patients treated at centers in three countries.

BACKGROUND Gallbladder cancer (GBCA) is a rare malignancy with a variable incidence worldwide. This study analyzed GBCA patients treated at centers in 3 countries. The aim was to assess for location-specific differences in presentation and outcomes, which might suggest differences in pathogenesis or disease biology. STUDY DESIGN Data for consecutive patients submitted to operation at Instituto Oncológico Fundación Arturo López Pérez (FALP, Chile), Yokohama City University (YCU, Japan), and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC, USA) between 1999 and 2007 were studied retrospectively. Patient demographics, disease- and treatment-related variables and outcomes were analyzed by chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and log-rank test. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-one patients (MSKCC, 130; FALP, 85; YCU, 46) underwent exploration, and 160 (MSKCC, 91; FALP, 33; YCU, 36) underwent R0 resection. Patients treated at FALP were younger (median 57 years, p < 0.001) and more often female (80%, p < 0.005); at YCU there were fewer patients with incidental tumors (19.5% compared with more than 60% at FALP and MSKCC, p < 0.001). En bloc liver and bile duct resections were performed more commonly at MSKCC and YCU (p < 0.001). Patients treated at FALP had more advanced tumor stage compared with those treated at MSKCC and YCU (p < 0.001). Disease-specific survival (DSS) was not different among the groups when patients submitted to an R0 resection were analyzed (p = 0.12). On multivariate analysis, T-stage, nodal involvement, and bile duct involvement were predictors of DSS; center was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Despite some differences in presentation, disease extent, and surgical treatment, DSS after curative intent resection was similar among all 3 groups. The most important predictors of outcomes were related to tumor extent rather than country of origin.

Rate of residual disease after complete endoscopic resection of malignant colonic polyp.

BACKGROUND: Following polypectomy, colectomy is performed selectively to ensure complete clearance of neoplasia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with residual disease at colectomy following malignant polypectomy. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. SETTING: This investigation took place at a tertiary teaching cancer center. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients undergoing polypectomy followed by colectomy from 1990 to 2007 were identified from a prospective database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors associated with residual disease at colectomy were associated with clinicopathologic features. RESULTS: Colectomy following polypectomy was performed in 143 patients: 127 with clear invasion of polyp submucosa (invasive disease), and 16 suspicious for submucosal invasion. Residual disease after colectomy was diagnosed in 27 (19%) of 143 patients. Disease was present in the colonic wall in 19 patients (13%): invasive in 16 (11%), and noninvasive in 3 (2.1%). Of the 16 patients with residual invasive disease at colectomy, 15 had clearly invasive disease at polypectomy and 1 was suspicious for invasive disease at polypectomy. Lymph node metastasis was noted in 10 (7.0%) patients. When analyzing patients with clearly invasive disease at polypectomy by margin status, residual invasive disease in the colon wall was noted in 8 of 50 (16%) with <1 mm (positive) polypectomy margin, 7 of 33 (21%) with indeterminate polypectomy margin, and 0 of 44 with ≥1 mm (negative) polypectomy margin (p = 0.009). Nodal metastasis was associated with the presence of lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.01). LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its retrospective nature and selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: Following malignant polypectomy, colectomy should be considered in medically fit patients if the polypectomy margin is positive (⩽1 mm) or unknown, or if lymphovascular invasion is present.

Incidental gallbladder cancer: analysis of surgical findings and survival.

Incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBCA) has risen worldwide and its prognosis depends on complete radical cholecystectomy (CRC). This study evaluated surgical findings during re‐operation and survival of patients with IGBCA.

The role of laparoscopic staging in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND The role of staging laparoscopy (SL) in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) is ill defined. This study evaluates the utility of SL with the aim of identifying variables associated with disseminated disease (DD). METHODS Consecutive patients with IGBC who underwent re-exploration between 1998 and 2009 were identified from a prospective database. The yield and accuracy of SL were calculated. Demographics, tumour- and treatment-related variables were correlated with findings of DD. RESULTS Of the 136 patients submitted to re-exploration for possible definitive resection, 19 (14.0%) had DD. Staging laparoscopy was carried out in 46 (33.8%) patients, of whom 10 (21.8%) had DD (peritoneal disease [n = 6], liver metastases [n = 3], retroperitoneal disease [n = 1]). Disseminated disease was identified by SL in two patients (yield = 4.3%), whereas eight were diagnosed after conversion to laparotomy (accuracy = 20.0%). The likelihood of DD correlated closely with T-stage (T1b, n = 0; T2, n = 5 [7.0%], T3, n = 14 [26.0%]; P = 0.004). A positive margin at initial cholecystectomy (odds ratio [OR] 5.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-24.37; P = 0.004) and tumour differentiation (OR 7.64, 95% CI 1.1-NA; P= 0.006) were independent predictors of DD on multivariate analysis. DISCUSSION Disseminated disease is relatively uncommon in patients with IGBC and SL provides a very low yield. However, patients with poorly differentiated, T3 or positive-margin gallbladder tumours are at high risk for DD and targeting these patients may increase the yield of SL.

The role of PET-CT in patients with incidental gallbladder cancer

INTRODUCTION After a cholecystectomy, incidental gallbladder cancer (IGC) requires accurate imaging studies to determine the actual extent of the disease to properly tailor subsequent treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)FDG PET-CT) to provide optimal pre-treatment staging in patients with IGC. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between January 2006 and August 2008, all patients with IGC and at least muscular layer invasion were studied with (18)FDG PET-CT. The examination was considered positive when the standardized uptake values (SUV) were >/=2.5. In all instances patients were offered to undergo definitive exploration and possible radical resection. RESULTS The series included 32 patients, 26 women and 6 men, with a median age of 57 years (range 30-81 years). The examination was performed at a median time of 6 weeks after cholecystectomy (range 2-52 weeks). (18)FDG PET-CT was negative in 13 patients and positive in 19 patients: 9 with localized potentially resectable disease (PRD) and in 10 with disseminated disease. Of the 13 patients with negative PET-CT, 9 refused surgery and 4 underwent formal exploration: 3 patients were resected with no disease identified in the final pathology report (FPR) and 1 was not resected as a result of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Of the 9 with PRD, 4 patients refused reoperation and 5 underwent exploration: 3 were resected with residual disease noted in the FPR and 2 did not undergo resection because of dissemination. Two patients with disseminated disease were reoperated and in both instances disseminated disease was confirmed. The median survival for the entire group was 20.3 months (range 1.6-32.9 months). The median survival for those patients with negative PET-CT was 13.5 months (range 5.6-32.9 months), 6.2 months (range 1.6-18.7 months) for localized potentially resectable disease and 4.9 months (range 2-14.1 months) for disseminated disease (P < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS For patients presenting with stage T1b or greater IGC, the use of (18)FDG PET-CT will help reduce the number of patients undergoing non-therapeutic re-exploration and may help to determine the likely prognosis. (18)FDG PET-CT might be a useful tool for the selection of patients for potentially curative treatment.

Prognostic significance of early recurrence: a conditional survival analysis in patients with resected colorectal liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND For patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal metastases, specific clinico-pathological variables have been shown to be prognostic at baseline. This study analyses how the prognostic capability of these variables changes in a conditional survival model. METHODS Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent an R0 resection of colorectal liver metastases from 1994 to 2004 at a single institution. RESULTS In total, 807 patients were identified, with an 87-month median follow-up for survivors. Five- and 10-year disease-specific survivals (DSS) were 68% and 55%, respectively. The probability of further survival increased as the survival time increased. For 3-year survivors (n = 504), DSS were no longer significantly different between patients with a low (0-2) or high (3-5) clinical risk score (CRS, P = 0.19). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of DSS for 3-year survivors were recurrence within the first 3 years after a liver resection, a pre-operative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) >200 ng/ml and disease-free interval <12 months prior to the diagnosis of liver metastasis. However, for those patients who were recurrence free at 1 year, no clinico-pathological variables retained prognostic significance. DISCUSSION After 3 years of DSS and 1 year of recurrence-free survival, baseline clinico-pathological variables have a limited ability to predict future survival. Early post-operative recurrence appears to be the most useful single clinical feature in estimating conditional DSS.

Patterns of failure in patients with early onset (synchronous) resectable liver metastases from rectal cancer

The optimal combination of available therapies for patients with resectable synchronous liver metastases from rectal cancer (SLMRC) is unknown, and the pattern of recurrence after resection has been poorly investigated. In this study, the authors examined recurrence patterns and survival after resection of SLMRC.

Ileal intussusception secondary to small bowel metastases from melanoma

A 54-year-old man on palliative treatment for disseminated cutaneous malignant melanoma presented with abdominal pain and abdominal distention. A computed tomography scan showed an area in the distal ileum suggesting intussusceptions. In an exploratory laparotomy, a 10-cm mass was found comprised of the distal ileum that had intussuscepted secondary to the small bowel metastases of melanoma. A palliative resection of 2 segments of the small bowel was performed.

The Volume of Lactated Ringer's Solution Required to Maintain Preload and Cardiac Index During Open and Laparoscopic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have emphasized the importance of perioperative fluid restriction. However, fluid restriction regimens may increase the likelihood of insufficient perioperative fluid administration or may result in excess intravascular crystalloid replacement. We postulate that the use of transesophageal echocardiography may reduce the amount of crystalloid administered during open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery. METHODS: Fifteen ASA I and II patients scheduled for open colorectal surgery, and 15 patients scheduled for laparoscopic surgery were studied. Lactated Ringers solution was infused during the procedures. Left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and cardiac index were assessed throughout surgery and used to guide the rate of lactated Ringers solution administration. Statistical analysis was performed with Students t-test for unpaired samples. RESULTS: The rate of crystalloid administration required to maintain baseline LVEDVI and cardiac index was 5.9 ± 2 mL · kg−1 · h−1 for open surgery and 3.4 ± 0.8 mL · kg−1 · h−1 for laparoscopic surgery (P < 0.01). This slower rate for laparoscopic surgery was offset by the longer surgical duration. CONCLUSION: The rate of crystalloid solution to maintain baseline LVEDVI and cardiac index was greater in open surgery than laparoscopic surgery, and lower than commonly recommended for colorectal surgery.

Hospital readmissions after liver surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Hospital readmission rates after surgery are increasingly used as a measure of quality of care. Numerous efforts to decrease these rates have been established by care providers and insurance companies. There is sparse information available regarding readmission rates after liver resection for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS Data from hospital readmissions occurring within 30 days after liver resection and/or open ablation for mCRC between 2005 and 2010 were captured from the urgent care center (emergency room) database and were compared with data from the institutional database. Complications during the primary stay and those leading to readmission were analyzed and graded with an established scoring system. The time course of complications and their therapeutic management were analyzed as well. RESULTS Of 746 patients who underwent surgery during this period, 277 (37%) developed medical or surgical complications within 30 days, and 97 (13%) required readmission after discharge. The most common causes for readmission were perihepatic or intra-abdominal collections (40%), wound issues (13%), and gastrointestinal issues (12%). Forty-four patients had complications grade 3 or higher during readmission, thus representing 34% of all major complications (grade 3 or higher). Seventy-four readmitted patients (27% of all patients with complications) had a complication of lesser grade during their primary stay. The median postoperative day of readmission was 15 (range, 6-30) with wide variation among complication types. CONCLUSION Readmission is common after liver resection and/or ablation for mCRC. One quarter of patients who develop complications postoperatively will have their most significant complication as an outpatient and require rehospitalization.