Tsann-Long Hwang

Malignant perihilar biliary obstruction: magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatographic findings

OBJECTIVE:We studied the efficacy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the evaluation of malignant perihilar biliary obstructions, with reference to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).METHODS:A total of 40 patients with malignant perihilar biliary obstructions, who underwent both MRCP (Magnetom Vision; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany; projection technique and multislice plus maximum intensity projection) and ERCP examinations, were studied. The study group included hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor) in 26 patients, icteric hepatocellular carcinoma in four patients, gallbladder carcinoma in five patients, and metastasis from other than hepatobiliary origin in five patients. Axial and coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images were added simultaneously to the MRCP. The mean serum bilirubin level on admission was 11.5 mg/ml (range, 2.8–28.5 mg/ml). The presence and extent of malignant biliary obstruction were determined with both MRCP and ERCP following the known criteria: an abrupt and irregular character of a distal narrow segment, a proportionally dilated biliary tree proximally, and an irregularly shaped intraluminal filling defect. The efficacy of the MRCP examination in detecting the presence of biliary obstruction, its anatomical extent, and the underlying cause, respectively, was compared to that of ERCP.RESULTS:MRCP examination was successfully performed on all patients, whereas ERCP examination was unsuccessful in two patients. Both MRCP and ERCP were very effective in detecting the presence of biliary obstructions (40 of 40 vs 38 of 38, p = 1.0). MRCP was superior in its investigation of anatomical extent (34 of 40 vs 24 of 38, p = 0.015) and the cause of the jaundice (31 of 40 vs 22 of 38, p = 0.023) compared to ERCP. Specifically, the performance of MRCP is promising for the interpretation of cholangiocarcinoma (22 of 26) and gallbladder carcinoma (five of five), but is relatively ineffective for the interpretation of icteric HCC (two of four) and metastasis (two of five).CONCLUSION:MRCP represented an ideal noninvasive diagnostic tool for the evaluation of malignant perihilar biliary obstructions with reference to ERCP.

Surgical treatment of hepatolithiasis : long-term results

BACKGROUND Hepatolithiasis is a common disease in East Asia and is prevalent in Taiwan. Surgical and nonsurgical procedures for management of hepatolithiasis have been discussed, but long-term follow-up results of surgical treatment of hepatolithiasis are rarely reported. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of case records of patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent surgical or nonsurgical percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy treatment. Of 614 patients with hepatolithiasis seen between January 1984 and December 1988, 427 underwent follow-up after surgical (380) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (47) treatment for 4 to 10 years and constituted the basis of this study. RESULTS Long-term results of 427 patients with hepatolithiasis after surgical and nonsurgical treatment within 4 to 10 years of follow-up were recurrent stone rate 29.6% (105 of 355), repeated operation 18.7% (80 of 427), secondary biliary cirrhosis 6.8% (29 of 427), late development of cholangiocarcinoma 2.8% (12 of 427), and mortality rate 10.3% (44 of 427). The patients with hepatectomy had a better quality of life (symptom-free) with a lower recurrent stone rate (9.5%), lower mortality rate (2.1%), and lower incidence of secondary biliary cirrhosis (2.1%) and cholangiocarcinoma (0%) than did the nonhepatectomy group (p < 0.01). The patients without residual stones after choledochoscopy had a better quality of life than did the residual stone group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Long-term follow-up study of hepatolithiasis after surgical treatment revealed a high recurrent stone rate (29.6%) that required repeated surgery and a high mortality rate (10.3%) resulting from repeated cholangitis, secondary biliary cirrhosis, and late development of cholangiocarcinoma. Patients who received hepatectomy or without residual stones after choledochoscopy had a good prognosis and quality of life.

Intraoperative Ultrasonographically Guided Excisional Biopsy or Vacuum-Assisted Core Needle Biopsy for Nonpalpable Breast Lesions

Objective: To compare duration and rates of underestimation and complete excision for nonpalpable breast lesions using either intraoperative ultrasonographically guided excisioned biopsy (IUGE) or directional vacuum-assisted biopsy (DVAB). Summary Background Data: Percutaneous ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy is preferable to stereotactic biopsy for treatment of nonpalpable breast lesions; however, underestimation and false-negative results can occur, and rebiopsy may be required. To date, however, there has been no comparison of these two procedures in terms of diagnostic accuracy and duration. Methods: For 4 consecutive years, IUGE was performed for 104 nonpalpable breast lesions and DVAB for 128 lesions at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Of the DVAB cases, the handheld mammotome was used for 53 procedures, with all lesions removed as completely as possible. The duration of the two procedures was calculated from initial skin incision until completion of wound closure. Most of the patients with benign pathology underwent ultrasonographic examination at 3 months after surgery, with a follow-up examination at 1 year. Surgery was performed subsequently for all of the malignancy cases. Results: The average ages and mean tumor sizes for patients undergoing IUGE or DVAB were 46 and 47 years and 1.1 and 1.0 cm, respectively. The average IUGE and DVAB surgery durations for 88 benign tumors and 117 benign lesions were 44.3 and 21.5 minutes, respectively (P < 0.001), and 43.5 and 20.6 minutes for the malignant tumors (n = 16 and n = 11), respectively (P = 0.036). The IUGE and DVAB surgery durations for tumors <1 cm in diameter were 43.5 and 20.6 minutes, respectively, and 44.2 and 23.6 minutes for tumors over that size (P < 0.001). An older-model mammotome was used for 75 patients, with an average duration of 24 minutes in comparison to 18 minutes for the handheld variant (P < 0.001). No false-negative results were noted and, except in the case of the malignant tumors, there was no need for reexcisional biopsy. Further, there were no underestimates of the disease for the 4 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia and the 12 of noninvasive carcinoma. No further ultrasonographic evidence of tumors was noted for 95% of the benign pathologies, with no residual abnormality detected for 13 of the 27 malignant tumors after IUGE or DVAB. Conclusions: For treatment of nonpalpable breast lesions, both IUGE and DVAB eliminate false-negative results, underestimates, and the requirement for reexcisional biopsies. In comparison to IUGE, DVAB is more convenient and time efficient for excisional biopsy of nonpalpable breast lesions.

Hepatic Resection of the Intraductal Papillary Type of Peripheral Cholangiocarcinoma

BackgroundPeripheral cholangiocarcinoma (PCC) can be grossly classified into mass-forming, periductal-infiltrating, and intraductal papillary (IP) types. Information on IP-PCC patients undergoing hepatectomy is sparse because of the small number of cases.MethodsThe clinical features of 40 IP-PCC patients undergoing hepatectomy between 1977 and 2000 were reviewed. The clinical features of 94 PCC patients without IP growth undergoing hepatectomy were used for comparison.ResultsIP-PCC and non–IP-PCC groups had similar age distributions (P = .674), sex ratios (P = .079), and positive rates for serum carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 19–9 (P = .121 and .795, respectively). The two groups also exhibited similar rates of association between hepatolithiasis and PCC (P = .230). However, more IP-PCC patients exhibited signs during admission, and more had ALT values >36 IU/L; they also had smaller tumors, more mucobilia association, and tumors in earlier stages and had undergone more postoperative chemotherapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only ALT >36 IU/L differentiated IP-PCC from non–IP-PCC patients. The two groups exhibited similar operative mortality (P = 1.0). Follow-up ranged from 1.6 to 125.2 months (mean and median, 44.6 and 5.7 months, respectively). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 72.9%, 41.2%, and 24.7%, respectively, in the IP-PCC group and 43.3, 6.03%, and 2.01% in the non–IP-PCC group. The prognosis was favorable for the IP-PCC patients (P < .00001), particularly for IP-PCC patients who received curative hepatectomy (P = .013).ConclusionsIP-PCC patients had significantly better survival than non–IP-PCC patients, and aggressive curative hepatic resection is associated with a longer survival.

Surgical treatment and prognostic analysis for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) of the small intestine: before the era of imatinib mesylate

BackgroundGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), the most common type of mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, demonstrate positive kit staining. We report our surgical experience with 100 small intestine GIST patients and identify predictors for long-term disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) to clarify the difference between high- and low-risk patients.MethodsThe clinicopathologic and follow-up records of 100 small intestine GIST patients who were treated at Chung Gung Memorial Hospital between 1983 and 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and pathological factors were assessed for long-term DFS and OS by using a univariate log-rank test and a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsThe patients included 52 men and 48 women. Their ages ranged from 27 to 82 years. Among the 85 patients who underwent curative resection, 44 (51.8%) developed disease recurrence (liver metastasis was the most common form of recurrence). The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 202 months (median: 33.2 months). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS and OS rates were 85.2%, 53.8%, and 43.7%, and 91.5%, 66.6%, and 50.5%, respectively. Using multivariate analysis, it was found that high tumor cellularity, mitotic count >5/50 high-power field, and a Ki-67 index ≧10% were three independent factors that were inversely associated with DFS. However, absence of tumor perforation, mitotic count < 5/50 high power field, and tumor with low cellularity were predictors of long-term favorable OS.ConclusionTumors with low cellularity, low mitotic count, and low Ki-67 index, which indicate low risk, predict a more favorable DFS for small intestine GIST patients undergoing curative resection. Absence of tumor perforation with low mitotic count and low cellularity, which indicates low risk, can predict long-term OS for small intestine GIST patients who have undergone curative resection.

Prediction of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in breast carcinoma

PURPOSE Supraclavicular lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients has a poor prognosis, and aggressive local treatment has usually resulted in severe morbidity. The purpose of this study was to select high-risk neck metastasis patients for prophylactic radiotherapy. METHODS Between 1990 and 1998, 2658 consecutive invasive breast cancer patients underwent surgery and adjuvant therapy in the hospital. The median age was 47 years (range 22-92). The median follow-up period was 39 months. The following factors were analyzed: age, tumor size, tumor location, histologic type, histologic grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, DNA flow cytometry study results, number of positive axillary lymph nodes, use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy, and level of involved axillary nodes. RESULTS Of the 2658 patients, 113 (4.3%) developed supraclavicular lymph node metastasis during this period. Young age (< or =40 years), tumor size >3 cm, high histologic grade, angiolymphatic invasion, negative estrogen receptor status, synthetic phase fraction >4%, >4 positive nodes, and level II or III involved nodes were all significant for predicting neck metastasis in the univariate analysis. Three predictive factors were significant after multivariate analysis: high histologic grade, >4 positive nodes, and axillary level II or III involved nodes. In patients with axillary level I involved nodes and < or =4 positive nodes, the incidence was 4.4%. If axillary level III was involved, the rate of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis was 15.1%. CONCLUSION The incidence of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis was higher in the groups with >4 positive nodes and in those with axillary level II or III involved nodes. Selective use of comprehensive radiotherapy for these high-risk patients will achieve good locoregional control.

Impact of HER-2 Overexpression/Amplification on the Prognosis of Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Resection: A Single-Center Study of 1,036 Patients

BACKGROUND Opinions regarding the impact of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 overexpression or HER-2 amplification on the prognosis of gastric cancer patients are mixed. The present study attempted to clarify this issue by investigating a large cohort of surgical patients. METHODS We investigated 1,036 gastric cancer patients undergoing curative-intent resection. Their surgical specimens were evaluated for HER-2 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and those with HER-2 expression levels of 2+ were additionally subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Data on demographic and clinicopathological features and relevant prognostic factors in these patients were analyzed. RESULTS HER-2 positivity was noted in 64 (6.1%) of 1,036 gastric cancer patients, including 46 patients whose HER-2 expression level was 3+ on IHC and 18 patients whose FISH results were positive. On univariate analysis, HER-2 positivity was more often associated with differentiated histology, intestinal type, and negative resection margins, whereas only differentiated histology was independently associated with HER-2 positivity in a logistic regression model. For stage I-IV gastric cancer, HER-2 was not a prognostic factor. In a subpopulation study, although HER-2 positivity emerged as a favorable prognostic factor for stage III-IV gastric cancer on univariate analysis, it failed to be an independent prognostic factor after multivariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of HER-2 positivity, determined using standardized assays and scoring criteria in a large cohort of gastric cancer patients after resection, was 6.1%. HER-2 positivity was phenotypically associated with differentiated histology. HER-2 is not an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer.

Surgical management in metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients after imatinib mesylate treatment

Imatinib mesylate (IM) demonstrates substantial efficacy in most patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). However, progression of GIST eventually develops and emerges as a challenge. To assess the role of surgery in the multidisciplinary management of GISTs, we studied the surgical outcomes in GIST patients receiving IM.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of gastric cancer patients aged 40 years or younger.

Gastric adenocarcinoma (GC) occurs frequently in the sixth decade of life and is uncommon in patients aged 40 years or younger. The aims of this study were to define the clinicopathological features and elucidate the prognostic factors of GC in the young.

Re: Aggressive Surgical Approach for Patients with T4 Gastric Carcinoma: Promise or Myth?

We read the article by Cheng et al. in January issue of Annals of Surgical Oncology with interest. They analyzed a cohort of 179 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent, and they asserted that aggressive surgical management of T4 gastric cancer should be limited to patients without adverse prognostic factors, such as advanced nodal involvement and pancreatic invasion. However, we worried about some confusion made by the mixed-up usage of the pathologic terminology in terms of the classification of T stage, especially regarding the ‘‘pT4’’ group. According to the sixth edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System (AJCC), T4 designated as ‘‘the tumor has penetrated the peritoneal lining or serosa of the stomach and invaded the adjacent organ.’’ In this study, Cheng et al. described that among 91 patients with pT4 treated with multiple organ resection (MOR) only 18 patients (19%) had pathologically proven cancer cell infiltration in resected organs. Based on this result, the other 73 patients who were proven not to have adjacent organ infiltration with cancer cell should be classified as pT3 not pT4 based on sixth AJCC. Here, the authors might use the pT4 as in the seventh AJCC classification. We agreed that in cases of clinically T4 (cT4) gastric cancer based on preoperative evaluation, it is not always easy to discern whether it invades adjacent organ. Secondly, Cheng et al. proposed that radical gastrectomy with combined MOR should be applied to patients without advanced nodal involvement and pancreatic invasion. In our opinion, the advanced nodal involvement could be inevitably associated with advanced disease status of the main mass lesion of the stomach. So, it is not appropriate to say that advanced nodal involvement itself should be regarded as exclusion criteria for aggressive surgical approach. Also, pancreatic invasion may impose the morbidity or mortality, such as pancreatic fistula, bleeding, or leakage. But it is rather associated with the preoperative performances of the patient not with the advanced disease status. We proposed that Cheng et al. must clarify their definition of pT4 because of the mixed-up application of the sixth or seventh AJCC classification. In this report, we could probably draw a conclusion as such; in some cT4 patients, they could get survival benefit by the aggressive surgical approach if they are proven to have pT3 disease.