Kazuhito Misawa

Treatment of lymph node recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The clinicopathological features and results of lymph node dissection were investigated in four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who developed lymph node recurrence following hepatectomy. One patient was found to have metastasis in the periportal lymph nodes at the time of a second laparotomy, while the other three developed posterior pancreaticoduodenal lymph node metastasis. All four patients had concomitant cirrhosis of the liver and were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen. No relationship between the site of the primary lesion and the location of lymph node metastasis was found. Two of the four patients are alive and in good health 4 years and 3 months, and 7 years and 3 months after their first operation, respectively. Thus, we conclude that the posterior pancreaticoduodenal lymph nodes are the most common site of lymph node recurrence of HCC, and that dissection of the affected lymph nodes offers the best chance of longterm survival.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei due to mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in situ of the urachus presenting as an inguinal hernia.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is generally caused by appendiceal and ovarian tumors. Other primary sites have been rarely reported. We describe herein the second reported case of pseudomyxoma peritonei due to mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the urachus. A 54-year-old man was admitted with a left inguinal hernia that had developed several months prior to his admission. During herniorrhaphy, we found a large amount of gelatinous mucinous material in the indirect-hernia sac and made a diagnosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei on cytological grounds. At re-operation, the origin of the pseudomyxoma peritonei proved to be a ruptured urachal cyst. The urachal cyst and the dome of the urinary bladder were excised. In addition, we removed as much of the gelatinous material as possible. On histological examination, a unilocular cyst was found to consist of noninvasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. We succeeded in removing the rest of the mucinous material by postoperative intraperitoneal lavage with dextran solution, and have observed no evidence of recurrence for 7 years since the operation.

Evaluation of malignancy using Ki-67 labeling index for gastric stromal tumor

AbstractBackground. Assessment of malignant potential in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is still problematic. The maximum tumor diameter and the mitotic index are generally used as an index of malignancy of GISTs. The Ki-67 labeling index has recently been used as an index of cell growth, and the prognosis of GISTs was reported to be significantly poor when the value of this index was 10% or higher. Methods. Clinicopathological and immunohistological factors were analyzed in 15 patients who underwent surgical resection of gastric stromal tumors at our department between April 1997 and July 2002. The patients were divided into “metastasis/recurrence” and “benign” groups. Also, the relationship of changes in the Ki-67 labeling index to the degree of malignancy in recurrent lesions was assessed in an 84-year-old woman who underwent five reoperations because of recurrences in the peritoneum. Results. Significant differences were noted between the metastasis/recurrence and benign groups in relation to the mean maximum tumor diameter (186.7 ± 80.8 mm vs 41.3 ± 22.9 mm), mitotic index (88.3 ± 5.0/50 high-power fields [HPF] vs 3.0 ± 2.9/50 HPF), and the Ki-67 labeling index (11.4 ± 2.5% vs 0.01 ± 0.51%). In the patient who had metastasis to the liver 3.5 years after initial operation and underwent five reoperations before death, the intervals until detection of recurrence tended to be shortened gradually. The Ki-67 labeling index varied with each operation, and tended to be higher at the time of reoperations than at the initial operation. Conclusion. The maximum tumor diameter, mitotic index, and Ki-67 labeling index were useful as an index of malignancy for gastric stromal tumor. The efficacy of surgical resection alone may be insufficient in patients with disseminated metastasis to the peritoneum.

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract: A 62-year-old Japanese man with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis revealed α-fetoprotein (AFP) elevation. Dynamic computed tomography, taken at this time, showed a liver tumor in the anterior segment. As the patient refused any further medical treatment, he was observed in an outpatient clinic. The size of the tumor reduced and the serum level of AFP decreased gradually without any treatment. Twelve months after the initial diagnosis, the tumor could not be detected by computed tomography (CT) scan, and the level of AFP had declined to the normal range. Blood supply is essential for tumor growth and an arterioportal shunt near the tumor may change the dynamics of blood flow to the tumor. The shunt found in this patient was thought to be one of the causative factors leading to regression, but it could not be denied that immunological mechanisms may have played an important role in the spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Treatment of recurrent primary liver cancer

Resection of the liver offers the most favorable prognosis for primary liver cancer (PLC) [1]. Recently, an increasing number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been treated with resection, and the survival periods have been prolonged. However, the rate of recurrence after resection is still high, and there is much room for improvement. [2–5].

Midline extraperitoneal approach for bilateral widespread retroperitoneal abscess originating from anorectal infection

Highlights • Retroperitoneal abscesses originating from anorectal infection are rare events.• Surgical drainage of widespread retroperitoneal abscesses might be challenging.• Midline extraperitoneal approach is a useful option for retroperitoneal abscesses.

Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Intra-Arterial Infusion of THP-Adriamycin Under Occlusion of Hepatic Arterial Flow

Recently, we developed an intrahepatic artery catheter and device attached with an implantable double lumen reservoir which can be used for repeated intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (IAIC) in out patients clinic. Eight patients with unresectable hepatocellular careinoma(HCC) were treated by infusion of THP-Adriamycin with this method. Combined administration of carbo-platin was done in two patients. The catheter was inserted into proper hepatic artery under laparotomy. The occlusion balloon was attached to the common hepatic artery, and catheters were connected to subcutaneous double lumen reservoir. Six out of eight patients were survived more than 2 years. Compared with the results of the previous conventional IAIC group, the more favorable survival rates were obtained by using this method.

Preoperative Radiation Therapy and Surgery in Three Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a Tumor Thrombus in the Portal Trunk.

門脈本幹に腫瘍塞栓を合併する肝細胞癌3例において, 腫瘍塞栓に対し放射線照射を施行し, 腫瘍塞栓の縮小後に肝切除を行った. 症例は39歳の女性, 57歳の男性, 38歳の男性で, 術前に腫瘍塞栓に対し30.0～34.5Gyの放射線照射を施行した. 全例で腫瘍塞栓の門脈1次分枝までの退縮を認め, おのおの右3区域切除, 拡大右葉切除, 右葉切除を定型的に行った. 病理組織学的変化では, 全例に腫瘍塞栓の変性, 壊死が高度に認められ, 術中操作による経門脈性播種の危険性を低下させると考えられた. 術前放射線照射を併用しなかったVp3切除症例の平均生存期間が診断より7.5か月, 術後無再発期間の平均が1.7か月であったのに対し, これら術前放射線照射を併用した肝切除症例では, おのおの13.3か月, 5.3か月と有意に延長しており, 術前放射線照射併用肝切除術の有効性が示唆された.