Kazuki Kano

Lung cancer associated with an azygos lobe successfully treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Primary lung cancer associated with an azygos lobe is extremely rare. Herein, we report the case of a 64‐year‐old woman with lung adenocarcinoma arising in the right upper lobe with an azygos lobe. The patient underwent a right upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection with video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer of this variant has yet to be reported. We demonstrate the intraoperative findings and the resected pulmonary lobe. This is the first case of primary lung cancer associated with the azygos lobe treated by lobectomy with video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Lung adenocarcinoma with Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome indicated by voltage-gated calcium channel: a case report

IntroductionLambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a rare disorder and it is known as a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. Small cell lung cancer often accompanies this syndrome. Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome associated with lung adenocarcinoma is extremely rare; there are only a few reported cases worldwide.Case presentationA 75-year-old Japanese man with a past history of chronic rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren syndrome was diagnosed with Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome by electromyography and serum anti-P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibody level preceding the diagnosis of lung cancer. A chest computed tomography to screen for malignant lesions revealed an abnormal shadow in the lung. Although a histopathological examination by bronchoscopic study could not reveal the malignancy, lung cancer was mostly suspected after the results of a chest computed tomography and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. An intraoperative diagnosis based on the frozen section obtained by tumor biopsy was adenocarcinoma so the patient underwent a lobectomy of the right lower lobe and lymph node dissection with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The permanent pathological examination was the same as the frozen diagnosis (pT2aN1M0: Stage IIa: TNM staging 7th edition). Immunohistochemistry revealed that most of the cancer cells were positive for P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel.ConclusionsOur case is a rare combination of Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome associated with lung adenocarcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren syndrome, and to the best of our knowledge it is the first report that indicates the presence of voltage-gated calcium channel in lung adenocarcinoma by immunostaining.

Prediction of postoperative inflammatory complications after esophageal cancer surgery based on early changes in the C-reactive protein level in patients who received perioperative steroid therapy and enhanced recovery after surgery care: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundSerum C-reactive protein (CRP) level can be an indicator of the early stage of infectious complications. However, its utility in advanced esophageal cancer patients who receive radical esophagectomy with two- or three-field lymph node dissection with perioperative steroid therapy and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) care is unclear.MethodsThe present study retrospectively examined 117 consecutive esophageal cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical esophagectomy. All patients received perioperative steroid therapy and ERAS care. The utility of the CRP value in the early detection of serious infectious complications (SICs) was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for SICs.ResultsSICs were observed in 20 patients (17.1%). The CRP level on postoperative day (POD) 4 had superior diagnostic accuracy for SICs (AUC 0.778). The cut-off value for CRP was determined to be 4.0 mg/dl. A multivariate analysis identified CRP ≥ 4.0 mg/dl on POD 4 (odds ratio, 18.600; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.610–75.200) and three-field lymph node dissection (odds ratio, 7.950; 95% CI, 1.900–33.400) as independent predictive factors.ConclusionsCRP value on POD 4 may be useful for predicting SICs in esophageal cancer patients who receive radical esophagectomy with perioperative steroid therapy and ERAS care. This result may encourage the performance of imaging studies to detect the focus and thereby lead to the early medical and/or surgical intervention to improve short-term outcomes.

A Comparison of the Body Composition Changes Between Laparoscopy-assisted and Open Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Background/Aim: Laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) for gastric cancer may prevent the loss of body weight or lean body mass after surgery due to its reduced surgical stress compared with open total gastrectomy (OTG). Patients and Methods: A total of 303 patients were examined in this study. All patients received the same perioperative care via fast-track surgery. The body weight and composition were evaluated using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer within 1 week before and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. Results: Two hundred and eight patients received OTG, and 95 received LATG. Although the clinical T factor and N factor were significantly different between these two groups, other clinical factors were similar. The respective body weight loss (1 week/1 month/3 months) was -4.7%/-8.0%/-11.9% in the OTG group and -4.7%/-8.2%/-11.6% in the LATG group, that were not significantly different between the two groups at any time point of measurement (p=0.698/0.528/0.534, respectively). The respective lean body mass loss (1 week/1 month/3 months) was -4.2%/-6.4%/-7.4% in the OTG group and -4.0%/-5.8%/-6.2% in the LATG group, that were not significantly different between the groups (p=0.503/0.588/0.946, respectively). Conclusion: The body composition changes were similar between the OTG and LATG groups using the same perioperative care of fast-track surgery. Adopting a laparoscopic approach would not help in reducing loss of body weight or lean body mass after gastric cancer surgery.

The Negative Survival Impact of Infectious Complications After Surgery is Canceled Out by the Response of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Esophageal Cancer

BackgroundThis study was designed to investigate whether postoperative infectious complications (ICs) are a risk factor for the prognosis in esophageal cancer patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy by stratifying the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsThe present study retrospectively examined patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy between January 2011 and September 2015. Risk factors for overall survival (OS) were examined by Cox proportional hazard analyses. Pathological responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were defined as those with a tumor disappearance of more than one-third of the initial tumor. Postoperative ICs were defined using the Clavien–Dindo classification.ResultsOf the 111 patients examined, 45 (40.5%) developed postoperative ICs. A pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was observed in 54 (48.6%) patients. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that postoperative ICs were a significant independent risk factor for the OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.359; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.057–5.263, p = 0.036). In the subset analysis, postoperative ICs were a marginally significant independent risk factor for OS in the nonresponders (HR 2.862; 95% CI 0.942–8.696, p = 0.063) but not in the responders (HR 0.867; 95% CI 0.122–6.153, p = 0.886).ConclusionsThese results suggested that the negative survival impact of postoperative ICs can be canceled out in esophageal cancer patients who respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Entral feeding tube insertion after esophagectomy: Technique via transgastric conduit or transduodenal.

210Background: We always used early enteral feeding after esophagectomy as perioperative management. The common procedure for feeding tube insertion is jejunostomy, but sometimes complication such as internal hernia was occurred. In case of retrosternal gastric tube reconstruction, we usually inserted feeding tube through gastric conduit. But in case of posterior mediastinal gastric tube reconstruction, this procedure was not available because of the distance between abdominal wall and gastric tube. So we have developed the new procedure for feeding tube insertion using the mobilized round ligament of liver. Methods: The aims of the study is to clarify the safety of these procedures. In case of retrosternal reconstruction, we usually inserted feeding tube from prepylorus of gastric conduit, and feeding tube was delivered through pyloric ring to 3rd portion of duodenum(Procedure A). Insertion point of the tube was always close to abdominal wall, and easy to be guided to extra-abdomen. On the other hand, in...

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...

Survival and prognosticators of gastric cancer patients with only positive peritoneal lavage cytology.

16 Background: Treatment strategies for only positive peritoneal lavage cytology findings have not yet been established. The objective of this retrospective study was to clarify the survival and prognosticators in these patients. Methods: Overall survival (OS) rates were examined in 39 patients with gastric cancer who underwent a curative resection and had positive peritoneal cytology in the absence of overt peritoneal metastases between January 2000 and June 2015. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 39 patients were evaluated. The median overall survival was significantly longer in the 34 patients who received chemotherapy after surgery than that in the 5 who did not (19.1 vs 5.9 months, p < 0.01). Among the patients who received chemotherapy after surgery, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that pN3b was an independent significant prognosticator (hazard ratio of 4.169 with 95% CI: 1.108-15.684, ...