Satoki Kinoshita

Primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: Report of a case

Primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive neoplasm without an established treatment protocol because so few cases have been described. We report a case of primary smallcell neuroendocrine carcinoma in a 31-year-old woman. The patient came to our hospital 10 days after consulting another clinic, where a diagnosis of locally advanced breast cancer suitable for neoadjuvant chemotherapy had been made. Core needle biopsy under ultrasonographic guidance revealed invasive carcinoma. The doubling time of the tumor progression was calculated as 12 days based on ultrasonographic measurement. After three cycles of chemotherapeutic regimens consisting of adriamycin plus docetaxel, the disease was judged to be progressive and the patient underwent surgery. Definitive histopathological examination revealed primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Local and mediastinal recurrence with multiple liver metastases developed only 5 weeks after surgery. Cisplatin plus irinotecan combination chemotherapy was started; however, the patient died of aggressive recurrent tumor progression 6 months after surgery, in spite of the transient tumor regression achieved by chemotherapy. This case reinforces the importance of an early correct diagnosis and the standardization of a treatment regimen for this very rare tumor.

Usefulness of radio-guided surgery using Technetium-99m. Methoxyisobutylisonitrile for primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism

The efficacy of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI)-guided surgery for detecting abnormal parathyroid glands in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (2-HPT) was evaluated and compared with the results from the same examination in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (1-HPT). The results were also compared with those found by ultrasonography (US) and preoperative 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy was also made. At operation 99mTc-MIBI accumulated in 64 nodules of 15 cases of 2-HPT, and all of 60 parathyroid swellings were detected (true-positives 60, sensitivity 100%, accuracy 94%). In the cases of 1-HPT, 99mTc-MIBI revealed 11 hot nodules in 10 cases, and the evaluation was true-positive 10, sensitivity 100%, and accuracy 91%. US and preoperative 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in patients with 2-HPT had a sensitivity of 75% and 67% and an accuracy of 70% and 66%, respectively. The usefulness of 99mTc-MIBI-guided surgery for detecting abnormal parathyroid tissue in 2-HPT patients was similar to that in 1-HPT patients but was superior to US and preoperative 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy. Intraoperative 9mTc-MIBI for patients with 2-HPT is effective and makes the surgery easier, especially when the parathyroid glands are ectopic or when a few glands are markedly enlarged but the other glands are atrophied.

Retrospective Comparison of Non-Skin-Sparing Mastectomy and Skin-Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Background. We compared Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate breast reconstruction and Non-skin-sparing mastectomy (NSSM), various types of incision in SSM. Method. Records of 202 consecutive breast cancer patients were reviewed retrospectively. Also in the SSM, three types of skin incision were used. Type A was a periareolar incision with a lateral extension, type B was a periareolar incision and axillary incision, and type C included straight incisions, a small elliptical incision (base line of nipple) within areolar complex and axillary incision. Results. Seventy-three SSMs and 129 NSSMs were performed. The mean follow-up was 30.0 (SSM) and 41.1 (NSSM) months. Respective values for the two groups were: mean age 47.0 and 57; seven-year cumulative local disease-free survival 92.1% and 95.2%; post operative skin necrosis 4.1% and 3.1%. In the SSM, average areolar diameter in type A & B was 35.4 mm, 43.0 mm in type C and postoperative nipple-areolar plasty was performed 61% in type A & B, 17% in type C, respectively. Conclusion. SSM for early breast cancer is associated with low morbidity and oncological safety that are as good as those of NSSM. Also in SSM, Type C is far superior as regards cost and cosmetic outcomes.

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segments of the lung with three aberrant arteries

We report a case of anomalous systemic arterial supply with three aberrant arteries supplying the basal segments of the right lung. There is no published report of a patient of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the basal segments with three aberrant arteries. Transverse computed tomography (CT) showed one aberrant artery in the right lower lobe, and preoperative three-dimensional CT showed three aberrant arteries, which provided detailed information and assisted in the thoracoscopic surgery. The patient underwent a complete thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy.

Thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary metastases after chemotherapy using a tailor-made virtual lung

PurposeDetails with regard to the standard criteria for a therapeutic metastasectomy and the use of videoassisted thoracic surgery (VATS) remain elusive. To evaluate the feasibility of VATS using a tailor-made virtual lung for patients with pulmonary metastases after chemotherapy, we reviewed the following cases.MethodsClinical data from October 2006 to April 2010 were obtained from patients who received chemotherapy before a pulmonary metastasectomy (lobectomy or segmentectomy). VATS was the primarily selected surgical approach except for treating hilar lesions. A lobectomy was performed when the metastasis was greater than 3.0 cm in diameter or located deeply in the lobe. Tailormade virtual lungs were created using three-dimensional multidetector computed tomography before lobectomy on a routine basis. The virtual lung consisted of threedimensional pulmonary vessels, a tracheobronchial tree, pulmonary parenchyma, and tumors.ResultsTwelve operations, consisting of 1 segmentectomy, 10 lobectomies, and 1 wedge bronchoplasty upper lobectomy, were performed on 11 patients during the study period. VATS was completed in 10 of these 12 operations. The mean operative time for the lobectomies was 257 min, and the mean operative bleeding volume was 215 ml. Two cases experienced postoperative transient atrial fibrillation, and no mortalities associated with these operations were reported.ConclusionVATS was performed safely in instances of metastasectomy after chemotherapy, and the tailormade virtual lung assisted in lung orientation during the operation.

HER-2 Protein Overexpression in Metastatic Breast Carcinoma Found at Autopsy

OBJECTIVE The overexpression of HER-2 protein has generally been considered to be consistent in primary and metastatic tumor tissues. We evaluated HER-2 protein overexpression levels in 31 autopsied cases. METHODS Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistological staining Hercep Test II were performed on the primary tumors and the lung, liver, brain and bone metastatic tumors. RESULTS Nine (29%) of the 31 primary tumors were HER-2 score 3+ and HER-2 score 3+ cases were significantly more frequent in carcinomas of nuclear Grade 3 than in those of Grade 1 or 2. In these 31 patients, the HER-2 status in the primary tumors was consistent with the metastatic foci of the lung, liver, brain and bone in 96% (25 of 26), 91% (21 of 23), 100% (12 of 12) and 85% (11 of 13), respectively. With regard to the nine patients with HER-2 score 3+ primary tumors, the HER-2 status in the primary tumors was consistent with the metastatic foci of the lung, liver, brain and bone in 87% (seven of eight), 78% (seven of nine), 100% (only one) and 33% (one of three), respectively. In 11 (92%) of the 12 patients with brain metastasis, the HER-2 was not overexpressed. CONCLUSIONS Even in the far-advanced stages of autopsy, HER-2 status of the primary tumors appeared to be maintained especially in the foci of the lung, liver and brain metastases. As there was a high degree of agreement in HER-2 status between the primary tumors and the metastatic foci to the lung, liver and brain, it is considered to be reasonable to treat patients with such metastatic foci based on the HER-2 status of the primary tumors.

An extracellular matrix molecule, secreted by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition is associated with lymph node metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma often has lymph node metastasis, compared with follicular thyroid carcinoma. The study showed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition occurs in carcinoma cells during the first stage of metastasis, where some extracellular matrix molecules are secreted in large quantities. Sialic acid carried by fibronectin as the antigen of the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) JT-95, was detected in 90% of papillary thyroid carcinoma cases, and in a few follicular thyroid carcinomas, in the extracellular matrix of thyroid carcinoma cells. Objectives: The current study was conducted to investigate the association between increasing the number of extracellular matrix molecules, fibronectin, and lymph node metastasis. We also co-cultured a thyroid carcinoma cell line and lymphocyte cell line, with and without MoAb JT-95, in order to investigate the mechanism of cell to cell interaction. Patients and Methods: Immunostaining with JT-95 was performed in 45 papillary thyroid carcinoma cases, and 20 follicular type tumors, to investigate the association between the quantity of fibronectin expression and the frequency of lymph node metastasis. The thyroid carcinoma cell line (SW1736), which secreted fibronectin, and the B cell-lymphoma cell line (Daudi), which held integrin on the cell surface, were co-cultured to observe the adhesion of cells to each other. The SW1736 cell line, pretreated with JT-95, was also co-cultured with the Daudi cell line. Results: There were 39 cases with lymph node metastasis in 59 malignant tumors, and 0 cases in 6 benign follicular type tumors. The staining scores by JT-95 of the 39 tumors with lymph node metastasis were 5+ in eight cases and 6+ in 31 cases. On the other hand, the scores of 20 malignant tumors without lymph node metastasis were < 4+ in all of the cases. In the co-cultured assay, numerous adhesions were observed between the SW1736 and Daudi cells. In contrast, the inhibition of adherences was observed in proportion to the concentrations of JT-95. Conclusions: Increased fibronectin expression in thyroid malignancies is correlated with lymph node metastasis.

Three-dimensional computed tomography for lung cancer in a patient with three right vein ostia

Some variations in pulmonary vein anatomy can have serious consequences in patients undergoing lung surgery, but clinicians rarely encounter patients with these variations. We report here a thoracoscopic lobectomy for right lung cancer in a patient with three right vein ostia. Preoperative review of three-dimensional 64-row multidetector computed tomography (3D-MDCT) of the patient showed a variation that was not confirmed in transverse plane computed tomography films. However, the variant anomaly was confirmed during thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 10. Preoperative 3D-MDCT of the pulmonary vein produced a precise preoperative simulation for the surgeon and clearly showed the orientation of the patient’s vascular variant during surgery. This imaging technology contributes to safer thoracic surgery, especially thoracoscopic surgery.

Usefulness of intraoperative 99mTc-MIBI-guided detection for recurrent sites in secondary hyperparathyroidism: A case-controlled study

PURPOSE (99m)Tc-Methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI)-guided surgery for the detection of abnormal parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism (1-HPT) has gained popularity as an effective technique. However, in secondary hyperparathyroidism (2-HPT), the efficacy of this method remains controversial, especially for the recurrence sites of 2-HPT. METHODS (99m)Tc-MIBI-guided surgery was performed for 28 recurrent sites of transplanted parathyroid tissue in 4 patients, and the detection rates of this method were compared with the results of preoperative ultrasound (US) examination and computed tomography (CT) scanning. RESULTS The results of (99m)Tc-MIBI-guided surgery for regions of recurrence were a sensitivity of 100% (28/28) and an accuracy of 100% (29/29), compared with preoperative US and CT which had a sensitivity of 92.9% (26/28) and 0% (0/28), and an accuracy of 89.7% (26/29) and 0% (0/28), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Intraoperative (99m)Tc-MIBI-guided surgery can identify recurrent parathyroid tissues of 2-HPT more precisely than preoperative US examination or CT scanning, and makes the surgery easier to perform.

Breast metastasis nine years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma: A case report

Highlights • We report an extremely rare case of breast metastasis from RCC.• Including the present case, only 23 cases of breast metastasis from RCC have been described in the literature.• It is important that the differential diagnosis of primary breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer be de determined by histological examination.• Minimally invasive surgery or nonsurgical ablation should be performed in accordance with the prognosis.