Sang Myung Woo

Survival Analysis of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Resection

BackgroundIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy, but the studies for the outcome after resection of ICC are rare. The aim of this study was to elucidate outcomes and prognostic factors of ICC in patients undergoing hepatic resection.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted with a total of 63 patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent for ICC. We performed the survival analysis with preoperative and postoperative clinicopathologic factors according to the clinical outcome.ResultsThe cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 68.2, 50.5, and 31.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that patient’s old age, high preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level, major vessel invasion, T classification, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, intrahepatic metastasis, and narrow resection margin were statistically significant. By multivariate analysis, patient’s old age, high preoperative CA19-9 level, lymphatic invasion, and narrow resection margin were independent dismal prognostic factors. The preoperative CA19-9 level shows a significant correlation with some histopathologic factors including major vessel invasion, bile duct invasion, and perineural invasion.ConclusionsPreoperative CA19-9 level was a valuable clinical factor for predicting histopathologic invasiveness as well as clinical outcome. An adequate resection margin was the only modifiable factor by a surgeon during hepatic resection for ICC.

Survival and prognosis of invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: comparison with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: Invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is often considered to have a better prognosis than pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the prognosis and clinicopathologic features between 2 groups. Methods: Clinicopathologic features and long-term outcome of 32 patients with invasive IPMN were retrospectively evaluated and compared with those of 332 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Results: Asymptomatic patients were more frequently observed in the group of invasive IPMN than ductal adenocarcinoma (28% vs 11%, P = 0.013). The distribution of stages of invasive IPMN was as follows: stage I (n = 10, 31%), II (n = 8, 25%), III (n = 3, 9%), and IV (n = 11, 34%). Among 19 patients who underwent resection for invasive IPMN, 10 (53%), 1 (5%), 1 (5%), and 2 (11%) had T1 stage tumors and tumor with lymph node metastasis, lymphatic, and perineural invasions, respectively, which were significantly infrequently observed compared with those with ductal adenocarcinoma. The 5-year survival rate of invasive IPMN was 33.9% compared with 9% of ductal adenocarcinoma (P = 0.011). The difference in the mean survival rates between invasive IPMN and ductal adenocarcinoma in patients without metastasis was also significant but not in patients with metastasis. During the median follow-up period of 18.4 months, 3 patients (16%) had a recurrence after resection for invasive IPMN. Conclusions: Both the less aggressive pathological factors concerned with tumor invasiveness and early diagnosis of invasive IPMN contribute to higher survival rates of invasive IPMN than ductal adenocarcinoma. However, the prognosis of metastatic invasive IPMN is as poor as that of ductal adenocarcinoma.

A comparison of metal and plastic stents for the relief of jaundice in unresectable malignant biliary obstruction in Korea: an emphasis on cost-effectiveness in a country with a low ERCP cost

BACKGROUND In countries where ERCP costs are low relative to those of metal stents (eg, Korea), initial endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) with a plastic stent is thought to be more economical. OBJECTIVE We conducted this study to compare metal and plastic stent-based ERBD in efficacy, complications, and total cost of biliary drainage. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS A total of 112 patients who had not undergone previous biliary drainage procedures and who underwent ERBD for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction. INTERVENTIONS Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed, and covered or uncovered Wallstents were used in 56 patients and plastic stents in 56 patients. RESULTS Stent occlusion occurred in 31 patients after a mean of 278 days in the metal stent group and in 39 patients after a mean of 133 days in the plastic stent group (P = .0004). The incidence of and length of hospitalization for cholangitis were significantly lower in the metal stent group. There was no difference in the total number of drainage procedures between the 2 groups. There was no statistical difference in the mean cost of the relief of jaundice between the 2 groups (

Adjuvant chemoradiation therapy in gallbladder cancer.

1488.77 in the metal stent group vs

Preventive effects of ulinastatin on post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in high-risk patients: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

1319.26 in the plastic stent group, P = .422). LIMITATIONS Nonrandomized, retrospective study. CONCLUSION Even in countries where ERCP costs are lower than those of metal stents, ERBD with metal biliary stents as the first-line treatment may offer better palliation without a significant increased cost in patients with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction.

A comparison of the Niti-D biliary uncovered stent and the uncovered Wallstent in malignant biliary obstruction

Gallbladder cancer is a relatively uncommon gastrointestinal malgnancy. Indications for adjuvant chemoradiation therapy after surgical resection have not yet been determined. We aimed this study to elucidate the effectiveness of adjuvant chemoradiation therapy according to TNM stage for gallbladder cancer.

Clinical significance of portal-superior mesenteric vein resection in pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic head cancer.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that ulinastatin may be effective at preventing pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, routine administration of ulinastatin is unlikely to be cost-effective. So the aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose ulinastatin at preventing pancreatitis in patients at high risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Methods: A total of 227 patients (mean age, 63 years; 54% men) were randomized to receive placebo (n = 108) or active drug (n = 119) immediately after ERCP and received active drug (100,000 U of ulinastatin) or placebo. Occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The overall incidence of pancreatitis was 6.2%, and no significant differences were observed between placebo- and ulinastatin-treated patients in terms of the frequencies of pancreatitis (5.6% vs 6.7%), abdominal pain, or hyperamylasemia. Pancreatic duct acinarization, papillectomy of ampulla of Vater adenoma, difficult cannulation, and female sex were identified as risk factors for pancreatitis in univariate analysis. Conclusions: Low-dose prophylactic treatment with ulinastatin immediately after ERCP did not show a beneficial influence on the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia in high-risk patients.

Feasibility of endoscopic papillectomy in early stage ampulla of Vater cancer

BACKGROUND The conformability of uncovered self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) plays an important role in maintaining stent patency. However, whether increased conformability can prolong the duration of SEMS patency remains to be proved. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and complication rates of the Niti-D biliary uncovered metal stent (NDS), which is more conformable than the uncovered Wallstent. DESIGN Nonrandomized, retrospective study. SETTING Tertiary-care academic medical center. PATIENTS From March 2005 to July 2007, 101 patients received an NDS (41 cases) or a Wallstent (60 cases) for malignant biliary obstruction. INTERVENTIONS SEMS placement. RESULTS Stent occlusion occurred in 11 patients (26.8%) with the NDS and 17 patients (28.3%) with the Wallstent. The median duration of stent patency tended to be longer for the NDS group (153 days) than for the Wallstent group (124 days); however, the difference was not statistically significant (P = .204). The median duration of overall survival of patients was 160 days for the NDS and 148 days for the Wallstent. The subgroup analysis showed that 27 patients had hilar obstruction (NDS 13, Wallstent 14). The median duration of stent patency was 249 days for the NDS group and 76 days for the Wallstent group; this difference was statistically significant (P = .006). The complications included pancreatitis in 3 NDS cases and 5 Wallstent cases. LIMITATION The absence of prospective randomized recruitment. CONCLUSION The results of this study showed no significant differences between the NDS and the Wallstent for the palliative endoscopic management of malignant biliary obstruction. There were no significant differences in patency, complication rates, and patient survival between the more conformable NDS and the conventional Wallstent. However, the NDS, which has good conformability, may be preferred for hilar obstruction.

Optimal interventional treatment and long-term outcomes for biliary stricture after liver transplantation.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of portal vein–superior mesenteric vein (PV-SMV) invasion on survival in patients who underwent margin-negative pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with PV-SMV resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 60 patients who underwent margin-negative PD with or without PV-SMV resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma between August 2001 and December 2007. The depth of vessel invasion was investigated and was categorized into 3 groups: tunica adventitia, media, and intima. Clinicopathologic factors and survival were analyzed. Results Portal vein–superior mesenteric vein resection was performed on 19 patients, but only 15 patients (78.9%) had histologically true invasion and showed poorer survival (median survival, 14 vs 9 months; P < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that poorly differentiated tumor, lymphatic invasion, endovascular invasion, PV-SMV invasion, and invasion into the intima of PV-SMV were statistically significant. Poorly differentiated tumor and invasion into the intima of PV-SMV were significant in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Aggressive surgical resection should be attempted in cases with suspected PV-SMV invasion because 21.1% of patients had no true invasion and showed better survival than those with true invasion. However, invasion into the tunica intima may be a poor prognostic factor for survival even after margin-negative PD for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Appropriate diagnosis of biliary cystic tumors: comparison with atypical hepatic simple cysts.

Background and Aim:  Although endoscopic papillectomy has been attempted in early stage ampullary cancer (pTis, T1), its curative role and indications remain uncertain. The present study was designed to assess the factors that predict malignancy and lymph node metastasis and to suggest potential indications for endoscopic papillectomy by analyzing clinicopathological data.