Kenshi Hiratsuka

Prospective analysis of quality of life in the first year after colorectal cancer surgery

Little is known of how the quality of life (QOL) of patients with colorectal cancer changes with time following an operation, and whether or not there are predictors of QOL after one year in this population. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 QOL questionnaire was administered to patients before their operation for colorectal cancer, and monthly following the operation for up to one year. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the predictors of QOL one year after the operation. One hundred patients with a mean age of 64 years participated. The scores of five QOL dimensions (physical function, role function, fatigue, pain, and dyspnoea) dropped significantly below the preoperative values at one month following the operation. The scores returned to the preoperative values within three months following the operation. The scores of seven QOL dimensions (global QOL, emotional function, social function, insomnia, appetite loss, diarrhea, and financial difficulties) had improved within three months after the operation. Other scores, including cognitive function, nausea and vomiting, and constipation remained unchanged. Stepwise regression analyses showed that preoperative performance status predicted various QOL scales one year following the operation. The overall QOL of colorectal cancer patients became stabilized about three months after the operation.

Anal Endosonography in the Diagnosis and Management of Perianal Endometriosis: Report of a Case

We report a rare case of perianal endometriosis, diagnosed in a 39-year-old woman who presented with a several-day history of a painful mass in the perineum. Perianal examination showed redness and swelling in the right anterior direction. A soft tumor was palpated, but there was no evidence of an episiotomy scar, or of fistula orifices. An anal endosonography in the right anterior direction revealed a sharply defined lesion, 17 × 14 mm in diameter, with high echoic enhancement at its center. The lesion was located along the edge of the external anal sphincter but did not involve it. Based on these endosonographic findings, the tumor was not considered to be an abscess or fistula. We detected its location, and judged it possible to enucleate the tumor under local anesthesia without injuring the anal sphincter. The operation was performed uneventfully and a histological diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed. Using anal endosonography, we were able to determine the exact anatomic relationship of the lesion in the internal and external sphincter, which substantially influenced the diagnosis and operative procedures.