Toshifumi Eto

UICC and Japanese stage classifications for carcinoma of the pancreas

SummaryThe stage classification (SC) for carcinoma of the pancreas recommended by UICC (UICC-SC) was compared with that of Japan Pancreas Society (JPN-SC) using 229 patients encountered consecutively at the Second Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University School of Medicine over the past 20 yr. By UICC-SC, 51% of the patients belonged to stage IV and 38% to Stage III. By JPN-SC, 82% of the patients belonged to stage IV. Curative resection rates in JPN stage II and III were significantly higher than those in UICC-SC by the chi-squared test. In 60 patients undergoing resectional surgery, postoperative cumulative survival (PCS) curves and rates by each staging criterion (tumor size [T], lymph node metastasis [N], distant metastasis [M], serosal invasion [S], retroperitoneal invasion [Rp], and invasion to the portal venous systems [V]) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Among these prognostic factors, significant differences in the PCS curves were demonstrated only between Rp(-) and Rp(+), and between V( - ) and V( + ) according to the generalized Wilcoxon’s text. In UICC-SC, the underestimation of these factors leads to a tendency to classify the patients in a less advanced stage than in JPN-SC. JPN-SC is more complex than UICC-SC. Continuing efforts are necessary to establish a more practical, simple, and universal staging system for the disease.

Early Carcinoma of the Extrahepatic Bile Duct

This study attempts to define early carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct through a study of 11 patients whose carcinomatous invasion did not extend to the outer layer of the bile duct. The patients were divided into the following 3 groups, namely; a mucosa group comprised of 3 patients, a fibromuscular layer group comprised of 5 patients, and an adventitia group comprised of 3 patients. None of the patients had any lymphnode metastases. Histological characteristics were determined according to infiltrative growth (INFα, β, γ), lymphatic invasion (ly), venous invasion (v) and perineural invasion (pn). In the mucosa group, INFα was observed in 2 patients, while ly, v, and pn factors were all negative. In the fibromuscular layer group, INFβ was seen in 3 patients, ly was positive in 2 patients, while v, and pn factors were negative in all patients. In the adventitia group, INFγ was found in 2 patients, and ly, v, and pn factors were positive in all patients except for 1 in whom v was negative. Death from recurrence occurred in all the adventitia group patients and in 1 other patient. Early carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct could therefore be defined at present, as being carcinoma confined to within the mucosa and fibromuscular layer.

The surgical treatment for carcinoma of the gallbladder: rationale of the second-look operation for inapparent carcinoma

Eighty-seven patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder treated in our hospital over a 15-year period were reviewed. Macroscopic curative resection was performed in 30 cases, 6 of which received second-look operations, and their cumulative five-year survival rate was 42.6 per cent. Histological and clinical analysis of our cases initially diagnosed by postoperative histologic examination revealed that the depth of carcinomatous invasion was the most important criterion for the indication of second-look operation, and that the second-look operation is mandatory for the inapparent carcinoma limited to the muscularis or subserosa. The surgical procedures of the second-look operation were: resection of the anterior inferior and medial inferior areas of the liver and dissection of the regional lymph-nodes. The presence of invasion of carcinoma to the cut end of the cystic duct or severe carcinomatous invasion to the lymphatic vessels were also important histopathologic findings for a second-look operation. Cases in which lymphatic invasions are remarkably observed, should receive an en bloc hepato-cholecystectomy plus a resection of the extrahepatic bile duct with neural tissues and soft fatty tissues in the hepatoduodenal ligament in a two-stage operation.

Solid and Cystic Tumor of the Pancreas in an Adult Male

A solid and cystic tumor (SCT) was located at the head of the pancreas in a 43‐year‐old Japanese male, and pancreatoduodenectomy was performed on the suspicion of papillary carcinoma or cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The lesion, which measured 4.5 X 4.5 X 4.0 cm, was clearly demarcated by connective tissue. The cut surface showed solid grayish‐white areas with central cystic degenerative changes. The solid areas consisted of small round cells proliferating in a small solid or a pseudopapillary pattern. The tumor cells partially invaded the surrounding normal pancreatic parenchyma. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive staining for alpha‐1‐antitrypsin and neuron‐specific enolase, but no staining for known pancreatic hormones. Moreover, ultrastructural studies showed the absence of zymogen granules and the presence of anullate lamellae and neurosecretory granules. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of SCT of the pancreas was established. In order to clarify the histogenesis and biological behavior of the tumor, it is necessary to accumulate and analyze similar cases, an endeavor which in turn will contribute to the successful management of this disease. Acta Pathol Jpn 41: 763‐770, 1991.

Intussusception of an appendiceal mucocele: Report of a case

A 66 year old Japanese female was admitted to our department for the examination and treatment of a mass in the cecum. She had experienced no symptoms or signs other than a positive test result for fecal occult blood. The mass in the cecum was confirmed by barium enema, colonofiberscopy and CT scanning. The presumptive diagnosis was a submucosal tumor of the cecum, however, a laparotomy subsequently revealed intussusception of an appendiceal mass. An ileocaecal resection with an ileocolic anastomosis was therefore performed and the mass was histologically diagnosed as a mucocele of the appendix. This patient is only the 24th case of intussusception of a mucocele of the appendix to be reported in Japan. A review of the available literature on this condition follows the case report.

Common bile duct exploration—Primary closure of the duct with retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage—

A new method of retrograde transhepatic biliary drainage (RTBD) using and RTBD tube with primary closure of the common duct was investigated with special reference to the usefulness and feasibility of this procedure. At operation, an atraumatic vinyl chloride tube was inserted from a choledochotomy incision and in most cases advancedvia the left hepatic duct to the liver surface, which was then penetrated. After the choledochotomy incision had been primarily sutured, the RTBD tube was fixed to the abdominal wall. This drainage method was applied to 71 patients as an alternative to the conventional T-tube drainage and its effect on bile drainage was prominent. The insertion of an RTBD tube did not influence liver function tests and an RTBD tube cholangiography revealed no severe deformity at the primary closure site of the bile duct. The most common complication was movement of the optimal site for stenting of the bile duct, however, no serious complications were encountered. On average, the RTBD tube was removed on the 16th postoperative day, the mean postoperative stay in hospital being 22 days. These findings suggest the need for a prospective randomized clinical trial to prove the usefulness and feasibility of primary bile duct closure using our drainage method.

Heterotopic pancreas: A rare cause of bile duct dilatation —Report of a case and review of the literature—

A case of a 77 year old woman with a heterotopic pancreas in the distal common bile duct is reported herein. The patient had no symptoms, but an ultrasound examination showed bile duct dilatation and subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography demonstrated a spherical filling defect in the distal common bile duct. Under suspicion of a benign neoplasm in the common bile duct, resection of the common bile duct and hepaticojejunostomy using a Roux-en Y jejunal limb were successfully performed. Pathological examination revealed heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the distal common bile duct. This is only the ninth reported case of heterotopic pancreas occurring in the common bile duct or ampulla of Vater, and thus, a review of the literature is also given.

Gallstone formation in dogs after selective occlusion of the portal vein branches

The effects of selective portal blood interruption on gallstone formation were investigated experimentally in dogs. The gallstone incidence in group I (left portal vein occlusion, N=10) was 60 per cent at 1 month after the ligation, 64 per cent at 2 months (N=9) and 88 per cent at 3 months (N=8), whereas the incidence in group II (right portal vein occlusion, N=5) was 0 per cent at 1 and 2 months (N=5) after the ligation and 20 per cent at 3 months (N=5). All canine gallstones, which were similar to human black stones on morphological and infrared spectroscopic examination, formed only in the gallbladders of both groups. Bile analysis showed that cholesterol, phospholipids and total bile acid concentrations in the gallbladder bile were significantly decreased in group I after the ligation. Microscopy of the gallbladders in group I showed prominent PAS-positive material in the gallbladders. Gallstone formation after portal vein occlusion is thought to depend on the extent of the area of portal blood interruption.

Compression of the common hepatic duct by the right hepatic artery in intrahepatic gallstones.

Two cases of intrahepatic gallstones with stenosis of the common hepatic duct caused by overriding of the right hepatic artery are described. The probable diagnosis of the compression of the bile duct by the artery was obtained by superimposing a direct cholangiogram on an angiogram. The final diagnosis was made at operation. The first patient was successfully treated by resection of the compressed common hepatic duct with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy anterior to the right hepatic artery. In the second patient, lateral segmentectomy and cholangiojejunostomy were performed.RésuméDeux cas de calculs biliaires intrahépatiques coexistant avec une sténose du canal hépatique commun, secondaire à la compression exercée sur le canal biliaire par la branche droite de lartère hépatique, sont rapportés. Le diagnostic de probabilité en faveur de la compression du canal hépatique commun par la branche droite de lartère hépatique fut envisagé en superposant cholangiographies et angiographies. Le diagnostic de certitude fut porté lors de lintervention. La première malade fut opérée avec succès en réséquant le segment biliaire comprimé et en établissant une hépatico-jéjunostomie en avant de la branche artérielle à lorigine de la compression. Chez la deuxième malade, on a pratiqué une résection hépatique segmentaire latérale et une cholangio-jéjunostomie.ResumenSe describen dos casos de cálculos biliares intrahepáticos con estenosis del canal hepático común producida por compresión por la arteria hepática derecha. La posibilidad del diagnóstico de compresión del canal biliar por la arteria fue planteada al sobreponer un colangiograma directo sobre un angiograma, y el diagnóstico definitivo fue establecido durante la operación. La primera paciente fue tratada con éxito mediante resección del canal hepático común comprimido y hepaticoyeyunostomía en Y de Roux anterior a la arteria hepática derecha. En la segunda paciente se realizó una segmentectomía lateral con colangioyeyunostomía.

Tuberculous liver abscess with bronchobiliary and gastrobiliary fistulae--a case report.

A rare case of a primary tuberculous liver abscess with bronchobiliary and gastrobiliary fistula formation is presented herein, emphasizing the difficulty in establishing its diagnosis. The clinical course was complicated and a wide range of antibiotics administered repeatedly, based on the initial diagnosis of a liver abscess, until the final diagnosis of a tuberculous liver abscess was established by histopathological reinvestigation of the resected liver specimen. Thereafter, antituberculous chemotherapy proved extremely effective for the alleviation of symptoms, reduction of the abscess and closure of the fistulae.