Takashi Sawata

Advanced cancer with situs inversus totalis associated with KIF3 complex deficiency: Report of two cases

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a relatively rare congenital anomaly, occurring at an incidence of 1 in 10 000–50 000 live births. Although there are some case reports of SIT with the presence of cancer, there are few reports on the relationship between SIT and cancer. However, the recent phylogenetic investigations of this condition suggest that this may be linked to the development and progression of cancer on the molecular level. The key elements are one of the intracellular motor proteins, the KIF3 complex, and the cell-adhesion factors N-cadherin and β-catenin. We herein present the cases of advanced gastric cancer and lung cancer with SIT, and review the relationship between SIT and the development and progression of cancer.

Isolated port-site metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma after laparoscopic liver resection

Port‐site metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely rare, and only one case has been reported in the English‐language literature. Contamination with malignant cells along the needle tract during percutaneous biopsy or radiofrequency ablation is a well‐recognized cause of HCC recurrence. Here, we describe a case of port‐site metastasis after laparoscopic liver resection of HCC. The patient, who had undergone laparoscopic partial resection of the left lateral segment of the liver 18 months earlier, was diagnosed with HCC. CT showed a nodule in the abdominal wall where the laparoscopic port had been inserted during resection. Local excision was performed, and histological examination revealed HCC consistent with recurrence after laparoscopic resection. The experience described in this report highlights the risk of port‐site metastasis of HCC. Imaging for oncologic surveillance after laparoscopic resection must include all port sites.

A cavernous hemangioma of the rectum treated as a hemorrhoid for 1 year prior to its diagnosis: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 28-year-old woman with a rectal cavernous hemangioma in whom recurrent rectal bleeding and marked anemia were interpreted as being caused by her coexisting internal hemorrhoids, resulting in a delay in the correct diagnosis for 1 year. Digital examination revealed a walnut-sized, wide-based, and elastic soft mass, 3 cm proximal from the anal verge, in addition to the internal hemorrhoids. Colonofiberscopy revealed a bluish submucosal lesion with superficial capillary dilatation at the same site. A transanal local resection was performed and the histological diagnosis of the tumor was cavernous hemangioma. The patient has been well without any recurrence of rectal bleeding for 2 years and 6 months since her operation. Thus, although rectal cavernous hemangioma is rare, a lack of awareness of this condition could lead to misdiagnosis as hemorrhoids and subsequent inappropriate therapy.

Congenital choledochal dilatation associated with carcinoma after choledochocystoduodenostomy —Case report and a review of the literature—

A 24-year old Japanese woman with congenital choledochal dilatation associated with carcinoma, cholelithiasis and pancreatolithiasis was treated. She had undergone choledochocystoduodenostomy at the age of 5 years. At the present admission, a dilated choledochus was excised and hepaticojejunostomy (Roux-en-Y anastomosis) and pancreatic ductojejunostomy were performed. Adenocarcinoma involved the entire mucosal surface of the resected specimen. We also present a review of the literature on the treatment and prognosis of patients with congenital biliary dilatation associated with carcinoma after bypass operation in childhood. We emphasize that in patients with congenital choledochal dilatation, the dilated choledochus should be excised, even in young children.

C-Reactive Protein/Albumin Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index Are Strong Prognostic Indicators of Survival in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Purpose: We evaluated the clinical importance, such as the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) or prognosis, of preoperative serum markers of chronic inflammation, nutrition, and immunity, as well as that of serum tumor markers after curative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Methods: Between 2006 and 2015, 43 patients with PDACs underwent curative resection at Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital. We analyzed which preoperative indicators (i.e., C-reactive protein/albumin ratio [CAR], neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio [NLR], prognostic nutritional index [PNI], carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA 19-9]) were the most relevant risk factors for occurrence of POPF and poor patient survival. Results: POPF was detected in 8/43 (18.6%) patients. One patient died of pancreatic fistula at 2 months postoperatively. Among nine candidate factors (operative procedure, operation time, tumor stage, preoperative serum amylase, preoperative CAR, NLR, PNI, CEA, and CA 19-9), we did not identify any significant risk factor for the occurrence of POPF. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the 43 patients was 22.4%, and the overall median survival time was 21 months. The multivariate OS analysis demonstrated that high CAR and low PNI were strong preoperative markers of poor prognosis independently of tumor stage. Conclusions: Preoperative CAR and PNI are useful prognostic markers for patients with operable PDACs.