Kiyoshi Yoshikawa

Impact of tumor-associated macrophages on invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas head.

Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are candidate histological factors in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. Tumor‐associated macrophages can be affected by cancer‐related inflammation and pancreatitis and interact with important invasive behavior in a recurrent manner in pancreatic IDC. These features may help elucidate the aggressiveness of pancreatic IDC. The aim of this study was to characterize TAMs in pancreatic IDC in comparison with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and to reveal TAM‐related factors and the clinical impact of TAMs. CD68 (a pan‐macrophage marker) and CD204 (an M2 macrophage marker) immunohistochemistry was carried out in pancreas head specimens from 107 IDC cases and 11 CP cases. Immunopositive cell areas were calculated at the periphery and center of the tumor. The distributions of macrophages in IDC and CP and the relationship between TAMs and histological tumor factors, survival, and recurrence were evaluated. Macrophages were more frequently observed in the lesion periphery than the center in IDC and CP. The density of macrophages was elevated in IDC compared to CP. Dense M2 macrophages at the tumor periphery were frequently seen in large tumors and showed an independent impact on overall survival and disease‐free time. Early recurrence in the liver or the local manipulated area was associated with high accumulation of peripheral M2 macrophages. More M2 macrophages were seen in IDC than in CP in both the periphery and the center. High numbers of peripheral M2 macrophages were associated with large tumor size, early recurrence in the liver, local recurrence, and shortened survival time in patients with pancreatic IDC. (Cancer Sci, doi: 10.1111/j.1349‐7006.2012.02411.x, 2012)

Prognostic impact of M2 macrophages at neural invasion in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas

BACKGROUND Neural invasion is a characteristic pattern of invasion and an important prognostic factor for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. M2 macrophages have reportedly been associated with poor prognosis in various cancers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic impact of M2 macrophages at extrapancreatic nerve plexus invasion (plx-inv) of pancreatic IDC. METHODS Participants comprised 170 patients who underwent curative pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic IDC. Immunohistochemical examination of surgical specimens was performed by using CD204 as an M2 macrophage marker, and the area of immunopositive cells was calculated automatically. Prognostic analyses of clinicopathological factors including CD204-positive cells at plx-inv were performed. RESULTS Plx-inv was observed in 91 patients (53.5%). Forty-eight patients showed a high percentage of CD204-positive cell area at plx-inv (plx-inv CD204%(high)). Plx-inv CD204%(high) was an independent predictor of poor outcomes for overall survival (OS) (P<0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P<0.001). Patients with plx-inv CD204%(high) showed a shorter time to peritoneal dissemination (P<0.001) and locoregonal recurrence (P<0.001). In patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, plx-inv CD204%(high) was correlated with shorter OS (P=0.011) and DFS (P=0.038) in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS Plx-inv CD204%(high) was associated with shortened OS and DFS and early recurrence in the peritoneal cavity and locoregional space. The prognostic value of plx-inv CD204%(high) was also applicable to patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy. High accumulation of M2 macrophages at plx-inv represents an important predictor of poor prognosis.

Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the liver: literature review and 3 case reports.

Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) is a benign non-specific lesion having an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The lesion is found in various organs but is rare in the liver. We report 3 cases of hepatic RLH associated with an extrahepatic malignant tumor. We also provide a literature review based on a search of the PubMed database from 1983 to 2009. The 3 cases showed radiological findings similar to those for malignant tumors and all cases were misdiagnosed as malignant tumors on the basis of these findings. It is difficult to distinguish RLH from malignant or metastatic tumors on the basis of imaging findings. Hepatic RLH is a rare entity and may cause a false diagnosis of malignancy. Because RLH occurs most commonly in middle-aged females, diagnosis of a hypervascular tumor of the liver requires particular care in these patients, especially if an extrahepatic malignancy is present.

A case of breast cancer coexisting with florid papillomatosis of the nipple

We report a 47 year-old woman with a unique breast cancer coexisting with florid papillomatosis (FP) of the left nipple. The diseased nipple was enlarged and reddened. There was an area of erosion on the surface. Incisional biopsy revealed FP of the nipple. Under the nipple, there was an elastic hard tumor with an unclear border and irregular surface. Aspiration biopsy cytology of the tumor revealed carcinoma. Modified radical mastectomy was performed. Histological examination showed that the superior portion of the tumor was FP, and most of the tumor in and under the nipple was breast cancer. To the best of our knowledge, only 16 cases of FP of the nipple have been reported in the Japanese literature. FP of the nipple coexisting with carcinoma in the same nipple has never been reported. This is thought to be the first case in Japan of mammary carcinoma coexisting with FP in the same nipple.

Surgical management for the reduction of postoperative hospital stay following distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Pancreatic fistula remains a major cause of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing pancreatectomy and is generally difficult to cure. None of the several surgical techniques and devices available for managing pancreatic remnant have been clinically evaluated. METHODOLOGY We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 120 consecutive patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy at our institution between October 1992 and September 2009. Furthermore, we divided these cases into 3 periods based on 2 points at which we changed our surgical strategy. One was September 2004, when we introduced a stapling technique for managing remnant pancreas. The other was November 2006, when we started using a closed active drain. We evaluated the incidence of pancreatic fistula, risk factors for its development, and our strategy in the perioperative period. RESULTS The overall and clinical pancreatic fistula rates gradually decreased but were not significant. The persistent drainage period gradually reduced from 19 days to 8 days (p=0.071) over a time period. Postoperative hospital stay was significantly reduced from 24 days to 14 days (p=0.026). CONCLUSION Utilization of a stapling technique and closed active drain significantly reduces postoperative hospital stay.

Spontaneous esophageal rupture treated with staged operations

Spontaneous esophageal rupture is a life-threatening entity. Here, a 64-year-old male who presented with sudden onset of severe back pain was diagnosed as having an esophageal rupture to the right pleural cavity. Emergency operation was carried out 16 hours after the onset. The rupture was as large as 7 cm and the surrounding tissue was fragile and necrotic. We performed an esophagectomy as a primary salvage procedure. An esophageal reconstruction was carried out successfully 6 months after the initial operation. Staged operative strategy including esophagectomy is still an important option to treat this kind of high risk patient.

POSTOPERATIVE GASTRIC EMPTYING AND QOL IN RECONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE USING GASTRIC TUBE AFTER PROXIMAL GASTRECTOMY FOR UPPER GASTRIC CANCER

胃上部癌に対して噴切後,食道胃管吻合を施行した15例を対象とした.年齢は47～81歳,男性12例,女性3例であった.手術適応はEC-junction近傍の早期癌やhigh risk症例でU領域を占拠する進行癌とした.リンパ節は(1), (2), (3), (7)番のみ郭清し,胃管の長さは約20～25cmとした.術後のQOLとして経口摂取量の変化,体重の推移,臨床症状の有無,内視鏡所見,排出能を検討した.退院時,経口摂取量は術前の50～85%,体重は術前の80%まで低下したが術後1年目には15例中8例が術前のレベルに回復した.食後のつかえ感は1例にみられたが,胸やけやDumping症状は認めなかった.内視鏡検査では逆流性食道炎を12例中3例に認めたが保存的に軽快した.残胃炎や胃石は認めなかった.噴切症例の排出能は墜落型のパターンを呈した.胃上部癌に対する噴切後の大彎側胃管を用いた再建法は手術手技も簡便であり,術後のQOLも良好に保たれていた.

An Adult Case of Duodenal Anomaly

A distal gastrectomy reconstruction using the Billroth II procedure was performed for epigastralgia and liver dysfunction caused by a duodenal anomaly in an adult. Hypotonic duodenography revealed the duodenum to be obliterated at the junction of the second and third portion, while the third portion was joined to the first portion. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) and ultrasonography showed a normal construction of the common bile and pancreatic ducts, as well as gallstones. To prevent ingested food from the stomach from entering the obliterated second portion, a distal gastrectomy (Billroth II) was thus performed. The patient has remained asymptomatic for 4 years since surgery. A distal gastrectomy reconstructed by a gastrojejunostomy is thus considered to be an effective method for improving the symptoms caused by food stasis in the obliterated second portion of the duodenum.