Takahito Taniura

Early Gastric Cancer Associated With Gastric Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder that is characterized by the formation of noncaseating granulomas. Although sarcoidosis can affect any organ, gastrointestinal tract involvement in sarcoidosis is very rare, and gastric cancer associated with gastric sarcoidosis has hardly been reported. A 64-year-old female with a 10-year history of the medical treatment of gastric sarcoidosis received a routine follow-up gastrointestinal endoscopy and an irregular-shaped, elevated lesion was detected in the gastric corpus. The gastric mucosal surface was nodular and ulcerated throughout the stomach. The gastric lumen was narrow, and the gastric wall was stiff and nondistensible, resembling linitis plastica. The biopsies of the elevated lesion in the gastric corpus revealed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. An endoscopic ultrasonography was then performed, but it failed to assess precisely the depth of cancer invasion because of sarcoidosis-related gastritis and fibrosis of the gastric wall. The patient underwent a laparoscopic total gastrectomy under the diagnosis of gastric cancer associated with gastric sarcoidosis. Histologic examination of the surgical specimen demonstrated well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the gastric corpus, and the histologic mapping of cancer cells revealed that the tumor spread within the mucosal layer of the stomach. No lymph node metastasis was found. The patients postoperative course was uneventful. We experienced a rare case of early gastric cancer associated with gastric sarcoidosis, which identified the troublesome issue that the assessment of depth of cancer invasion is difficult, because patients with longstanding gastric sarcoidosis may involve various degrees of fibrosis of the gastric wall.

Validation of a novel prognostic scoring system using inflammatory response biomarkers in patients undergoing curative thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background Systemic inflammatory markers, including the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio have been shown to predict postoperative recurrence and survival in various types of cancer. However, their role in esophageal cancer has yet to be determined. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of an inflammatory response biomarker (IRB) score, independent of conventional clinicopathological criteria, in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing curative resection. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed a database containing the medical records of 147 consecutive patients who underwent curative esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The IRB score was determined as follows: a low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (<4), a low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (<1.6), and a high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (>147), which were each scored as 1, with all remaining values scored as 0. The scores were added together to produce the IRB score (range: 0–3). Results An IRB score of 2–3 (hazard ratio: 6.023, 95% confidence interval: 1.675–13.078; P<0.01) was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor of cancer-specific survival (CSS) in a multivariate logic regression analysis. The 5-year CSS rates in patients with the IRB scores of 0−1, 2, and 3 were 37.8%, 67.8%, and 72.5%, respectively. As determined by Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test, these differences were significant (P<0.001). Conclusion The IRB score can predict the systemic inflammatory response as accurately as conventional tumor markers and is useful for determining CSS in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing curative thoracoscopic esophagectomy.

Bevacizumab-induced intestinal perforation in a patient with inoperable breast cancer: a case report and review of the literature

BackgroundGastrointestinal perforation is known as a serious adverse event, but, for breast cancer, there are very few reports of gastrointestinal perforation. This report highlights gastrointestinal perforation caused by bevacizumab for breast cancer, which is of special interest because gastrointestinal perforations caused by bevacizumab are very rare in breast cancer.Case presentationWe describe the case of 54-year-old Japanese woman. She was diagnosed as having inoperable breast cancer T2 N1 M1 (pleura, peritoneum), Stage IV, and received chemotherapy by paclitaxel. There was reduction in the primary tumor and disappearance of the pleural effusion; however, the ascites did not change. We performed diagnostic laparoscopy which revealed that her whole peritoneum was thickened, and her small intestine, colon, and her omentum were grouped and formed an omental cake. We submitted a part of her peritoneum to pathological examination and diagnosed the peritoneum dissemination of breast cancer. On the basis of these results, paclitaxel and bevacizumab combination chemotherapy was started, and a decrease in ascites was seen. However, a gastrointestinal perforation occurred on 26th day of second cycle of bevacizumab + paclitaxel, and we performed an emergency operation. In the operation, the omental cake was resolved, and we could search the full length of the gastrointestinal tract. Two small perforations of her small intestine were seen. We performed simple closures for perforations, and peritoneal lavage and drainage. She was in a state of septic shock, but it improved. It was thought that the small intestinal perforations were caused by the bevacizumab-additional chemotherapy which was very effective.ConclusionsWe report a very rare and valuable case. This case suggests that the risk of gastrointestinal perforation must be considered in a case of bevacizumab administration, and it is necessary to determine carefully the patient administered bevacizumab, regardless of the type of cancer.

Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index Predicts Long-term Outcome in Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis

Background/Aim: Recent evidence suggests that preoperative malnutrition may lead to poor survival in cancer patients. This study aimed to determine the ability of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) to predict survival in gastric cancer patients. Patients and Methods: Two hundred and eighteen patients who had undergone laparoscopic gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed via propensity score-matched analysis. Results: In multivariate analysis of overall patients, pTNM stage, carcinoembryonic antigen, and PNI were independent predictors of overall survival (OS), and pTNM stage and PNI were independent predictors of cancer-specific survival (CSS). Among the 92 non-elderly patients, pTNM stage and PNI were independent predictors of OS, and pTNM stage, PNI, and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent predictors of CSS in multivariate analysis. On the other hand, among the 126 elderly patients, low PNI value was identified as a significant predictor of shorter OS in univariate analysis. Conclusion: PNI is associated with OS and CSS in gastric cancer patients, especially non-elderly patients.

Case of colonic intussusception secondary to mobile cecum syndrome repaired by laparoscopic cecopexy using a barbed wound suture device

A 27-year-old man with recurrent right lower quadrant pain was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasonography and computed tomography examination of the abdomen revealed a target sign in the ascending colon, which was compatible with the diagnosis of cecal intussusception. The intussusception was spontaneously resolved at that time, but it relapsed 6 mo later. The patient underwent a successful colonoscopic disinvagination; there was no evidence of neoplastic or inflammatory lesions in the colon and terminal ileum. The patient underwent laparoscopic surgery for recurring cecal intussusception. During laparoscopy, we observed an unfixed cecum on the posterior peritoneum (i.e. a mobile cecum). Thus, we performed laparoscopic appendectomy and cecopexy with a lateral peritoneal flap using a barbed wound suture device. The patient’s post-operative course was uneventful, and he continued to do well without recurrence at 10 mo after surgery. Laparoscopic cecopexy using a barbed wound suture device is a simple and reliable procedure that can be the treatment of choice for recurrent cecal intussusception associated with a mobile cecum.