Takuya Nojiri

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Mimicking Hepatic Inflammatory Pseudotumor

A 50-year-old male with hepatitis B was referred for a small intrahepatic nodule. Magnetic resonance images raised strong suspicion of a benign lesion, such as an inflammatory pseudotumor, while the other radiological studies were equivocal. Furthermore, the high-intensity image on diffusion magnified-weighted imaging with a low B value strongly suggested a benign tumor. In spite of the absence of typical clinical or radiological findings, needle biopsy revealed an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The diagnosis of peripheral ICC rich in fibrous tissue seems to require needle biopsy for pathological examination with immunohistochemical staining because it frequently mimics other diseases, including benign tumors.

Pancreatic granular cell tumor combined with carcinoma in situ

A 58‐year‐old man was treated for a granular cell tumor (GCT) of the pancreas; a very rarely occurring tumor. The patient, who had been followed for 6 years due to alcoholic hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels from smoking, was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of back pain, diarrhea and constipation. The patient was diagnosed as having pancreatic head cancer using clinical imaging studies, and a pylorus‐preserving pancreatico‐duodenectomy was done. In the resected specimen, a white tumor measuring 13 mm in diameter was observed at the pancreatic head, and there was marked fibrous change surrounding the tumor. The microscopic appearance of the pancreas showed atrophy of acinar cells, fibrosis, and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD). Within the tumor were oval cells with low‐grade atypia and an increased number of diffuse eosinophilic granules. Neither mitosis nor invasive findings were observed. Periodic acid–Schiff staining and immunohistochemical staining for the S‐100 protein were positive, thus the tumor was diagnosed as a benign GCT. In addition, carcinoma in situ was found at the dilatated MPD. Therefore, this patient was diagnosed as having GCT with carcinoma in situ of the pancreas. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the fourth case of GCT of the pancreas to be reported.

Technical and mechanical risk factors for postoperative pancreatic fistula in pancreaticojejunostomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The purpose of this study was to identify basic risk factors for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticojejunostomy. METHODOLOGY Seventy-one patients underwent pancreaticojejunostomy with duct-to-mucosa anastomosis (DMA). Between POPF group (n=8) and non- POPF group (n=63), the following clinical parameters were compared; pancreatic texture evaluated pathologically with score, diameter of the pancreatic duct, total number of sutures, interval between sutures and the size of suture (5-0 vs. 6-0) for DMA. RESULTS The mean diameter of the pancreatic duct (POPF/non-POPF) was 3.0±1.4/4.2±2.0mm, total number of sutures for DMA was 6.8±1.6/7.0±2.8, whereas mean interval between sutures was 1.4±0.5/2.1±1.1mm, which failed to achieve significant difference. All cases except one that produced POPF had soft pancreas (p=0.0022). However, for the soft pancreas, the score of pancreatic texture did not achieve significant difference between POPF and non-POPF. 5-0 sutures had less chance of POPF (p=0.0035). As a result of multivariate analysis, suture size and pancreatic texture correlated with POPF. CONCLUSIONS The suture size and pancreatic texture were risk factors for POPF. Since these factors are related to surgical techniques, gentle handling during pancreaticojejunostomy seems important.

Successful adjuvant bi-weekly gemcitabine chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer without impairing patients’ quality of life

BackgroundAlthough adjuvant gemcitabine (GEM) chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer is standard, the quality of life (QOL) in those patients is still impaired by the standard regimen of GEM. Therefore, we studied whether mild dose-intensity adjuvant chemotherapy with bi-weekly GEM administration could provide a survival benefit with acceptable QOL to the patients with pancreatic cancer.MethodsAfter a phase I trial, an adjuvant bi-weekly 1,000 mg/m2 of GEM chemotherapy was performed in 58 patients with pancreatic cancer for at least 12 courses (Group A). In contrast, 36 patients who declined the adjuvant bi-weekly GEM chemotherapy underwent traditional adjuvant 5FU-based chemotherapy (Group B). Careful periodical follow-ups for side effects of GEM and disease recurrence, and assessment of patients’ QOL using the EORTC QOL questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and pancreatic cancer-specific supplemental module (QLQ-PAN26) were performed. Retrospectively, the degree of side effects, patients’ QOL, compliance rate, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in Group A were compared with those in Group B.ResultsNo severe side effects (higher than Grade 2 according to the common toxicity criteria of ECOG) were observed, except for patients in Group B, who were switched to the standard GEM chemotherapy. Patients’ QOL was better in Group A than B (fatigue: 48.9 ± 32.1 versus 68.1 ± 36.3, nausea and vomiting: 26.8 ± 20.4 versus 53.7 ± 32.6, diarrhea: 21.0 ± 22.6 versus 53.9 ± 38.5, difficulty gaining weight: 49.5 ± 34.4 versus 67.7 ± 40.5, P < 0.05). Compliance rates in Groups A and B were 93% and 47%. There was a significant difference in the median DFS between both groups (Group A : B =12.5 : 6.6 months, P < 0.001). The median OS of Group A was prolonged markedly compared with Group B (20.2 versus 11.9 months, P < 0.005). For OS between both groups, univariate analysis revealed no statistical difference in 69-year-old or under females, and T1–2 factors, moreover, multivariate analysis indicated three factors, such as bi-weekly adjuvant GEM chemotherapy, T2 or less, and R0.ConclusionsAdjuvant chemotherapy with bi-weekly GEM offered not only the advantage of survival benefits but the excellent compliance with acceptable QOL for postoperative pancreatic cancer patients.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis expressing high levels of DUPAN-II

We report a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) showing high levels of serum DUPAN-II in a 65-year-old woman. Preoperative radiologic examination showed no abnormal findings except in the gallbladder. Endoscopic ultrasonography was effective for differentiating chronic cholecystitis from gallbladder cancer before the operation. Cholecystectomy was performed by laparotomy, and the diagnosis of XGC was confirmed intraoperatively by examining a frozen section. Histologically, no cancer lesion was observed in the gallbladder, while immunochemical reactivity to DUPAN-II was demonstrated in the brush-border area of the epithelium and in histiocytes in the gallbladder. The half-life of serum DUPAN-II in our patient after cholecystectomy was approximately 1 month, and finally dropped to within the normal range after cholecystectomy.

Multiple minute carcinoids in type A gastritis: Attempt at 3-D reconstruction

In type A gastritis, the numbers of endocrine cell micronests (ECM) and carcinoids increase through the trophic action of gastrin. This study examined the characteristics and growth of carcinoids in type A gastritis. A total of 395 lesions in five surgically removed stomachs with type A gastritis were investigated, in terms of number, size, distribution and histological appearance, to clarify the tumorigenesis and progression of carcinoids. 3‐D reconstruction using serial paraffin sections was used to study carcinoid progression. Our findings suggest that in type A gastritis, carcinoids arise in areas where minute carcinoids are present at a high density. They also suggest that early stage carcinoids not only become large expansively, but also develop in a very complex manner, by maintaining contact with surrounding minute carcinoids.