Vishwas D. Pai

Multidisciplinary management of colorectal adenocarcinoma associated with anal fistula: an Indian series.

Adenocarcinomas associated with anal fistula are rare and often present at an advanced stage. They are often mistaken for commonly occurring benign diseases, leading to delayed diagnosis. Previous reports have predicted inferior oncological outcomes for these cases compared with sporadic rectal cancers. We are presenting our series of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma associated with anal fistula who were treated with multimodality therapy at a tertiary cancer centre in India.

Multimodality therapy of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the era of imatinib—an Indian series

BACKGROUND Primary objective was to determine if sphincter preservation is possible with the use of neoadjuvant imatinib in cases of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Secondary objectives were to determine clinicopathological characteristics and intermediate term oncological outcomes of the cases of rectal GIST. METHODS This is a retrospective review of 13 cases of GIST of the rectum diagnosed between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015 at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Clinical parameters that were assessed were duration of the neoadjuvant imatinib therapy, type of surgery performed as well as perioperative morbidity. Pathological parameters that were assessed included the size of the tumor, completeness of resection, mitotic count and mutational analysis. RESULTS Of the 13 patients included, 11 were nonmetastatic at the time of presentation. All the patients received neoadjuvant imatinib in view of locally advanced nature of the tumors. Median distance from anal verge was 2 cm. Median duration of imatinib was 9 months. Of the 9 patients who underwent surgery, three had sphincter preserving surgery (33%) whereas the rest had abdomino-perineal resection. Two patients had perineal wound infections. All the operated patients received adjuvant imatinib therapy for 3 years. Median follow up period was 34 months. One patient developed distant metastasis; otherwise rest had no local or distant recurrence. CONCLUSIONS In cases of rectal GIST, sphincter preservation may not be possible in spite of neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib.

Peritoneal Carcinomatosis in Colorectal Cancers - Management Perspective Needs a Change.

Micro‐Abstract Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancers (CRC) presents a significant treatment challenge. We aimed to find its incidence and outcomes following different treatment modalities. Patients with PC from CRC were included from August 2013 to July 2014 (n = 70). Patients with low peritoneal carcinomatosis index do well. Patients undergoing R0 cytoreduction without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy also have better survival. The incidence of PC in CRC is about 10%. Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancers (CRC) either at initial presentation or at subsequent recurrence presents a significant treatment challenge. The aim of our study was to find its incidence and analyze outcomes of patients with PC from CRC origin managed by different treatment modalities. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients, from August 2013 to July 2014, presenting with metastatic peritoneal disease from CRC with or without metastasis to other sites was performed. PC was classified as limited (peritoneal carcinomatosis index [PCI] < 10) and widespread (PCI > 10). Results: This study included 70 patients; 45 patients had peritoneum as the only site of metastasis and the remaining 25 visceral metastasis with peritoneum. Resections were performed in 23 patients (19 underwent R0 resection and 4 were R+). All patients received systemic chemotherapy (FOLFOX [Oxaliplatin with fluorouracil and folinic acid]/CAPOX [oxaliplatin and capecitabine]). At a median follow‐up of 11 months, the median OS was 14 months. Patients with PCI < 10 had significantly better survival (median not reached) as compared with those with PCI > 10 (15 months). Patients undergoing R0 resection had better survival (24 months) versus those with R+ resection (16 months). The survival of patients receiving only systemic chemotherapy was 11 months. Conclusion: The incidence of peritoneal metastasis in CRC is about 10%. A select group of patients who have low PCI who undergo R0 resection of only the diseased portion, without entire peritonectomy, still do well. Where facilities for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are not available, cytoreduction followed by systemic chemotherapy should be considered. The added role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in this subgroup needs to be evaluated.

Presacral schwannoma: laparoscopic resection, a viable option

Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath tumours arising from Schwann cells. Presacral schwannomas are rare with only case report and short case series being reported in literature. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice for these rare tumours. Approach to surgical resection depends on the type of the tumour. Type 3 tumours have conventionally been treated with open intra or extra peritoneal approach. With improvement in the laparoscopic surgical skills, more and more complex surgical procedures have been attempted via this approach. We are presenting a case of presacral schwannoma in an overweight lady treated by laparoscopic resection.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Approach for Intersphincteric Resection—Results from a Tertiary Cancer Center in India

The study aims to compare open intersphincteric resection (OISR) with laparoscopic intersphincteric resection (LISR) in terms of short-term oncological and clinical outcomes. This is a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database including all the patients of rectal cancer who underwent intersphincteric resection (ISR) at Tata Memorial Centre between 1st July 2013 and 30th November 2015. Short-term oncological parameters evaluated included circumferential resection margin involvement (CRM), distal resection margin involvement, and number of nodes harvested. Perioperative outcomes included blood loss, length of hospital stay and 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality. Chi-square test was used to compare the results between the two groups. Thirty nine cases of OISR and 34 cases of LISR were included in the study. Median BMI was higher in LISR group; otherwise, the two groups were comparable in all aspects. There were no conversions in LISR group. CRM involvement was seen in four patients (10%) in the conventional group compared to none in the LISR group. Median hospital stay was comparable between the two groups. Laparoscopic ISR is safe and can be performed with low conversion rate in selected group of patients.

Selective extra levator versus conventional abdomino perineal resection: experience from a tertiary-care center

BACKGROUND To compare extra levator abdomino perineal resection (ELAPER) with conventional abdominoperineal resection (APER) in terms of short-term oncological and clinical outcomes. METHODS This is a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database including all the patients of rectal cancer who underwent APER at Tata Memorial Center between July 1, 2013, and January 31, 2015. Short-term oncological parameters evaluated included circumferential resection margin involvement (CRM), tumor site perforation, and number of nodes harvested. Peri operative outcomes included blood loss, length of hospital stay, postoperative perineal wound complications, and 30-day mortality. The χ(2)-test was used to compare the results between the two groups. RESULTS Forty-two cases of ELAPER and 78 cases of conventional APER were included in the study. Levator involvement was significantly higher in the ELAPER compared with the conventional group; otherwise, the two groups were comparable in all the aspects. CRM involvement was seen in seven patients (8.9%) in the conventional group compared with three patients (7.14%) in the ELAPER group. Median hospital stay was significantly longer with ELAPER. The univariate analysis of the factors influencing CRM positivity did not show any significance. CONCLUSIONS ELAPER should be the preferred approach for low rectal tumors with involvement of levators. For those cases in which levators are not involved, as shown in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the current evidence is insufficient to recommend ELAPER over conventional APER. This stresses the importance of preoperative MRI in determining the best approach for an individual patient.

Robotic adrenalectomy for sigmoid colon cancer oligometastasis

Solitary adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer is rare with reported incidence from 3.1% to 14.4% in the literature. Conventionally, adrenal metastasis is considered as indicative of widespread systemic disease and hence treated with palliative intent. Surgical resection remains controversial although a median survival of 32 months was found in the largest reported case series. It has been postulated that surgical resection should be offered when the adrenal metastasis develops more than 6 months after the treatment of the primary tumor. For the metastatic lesions and potentially malignant lesions, role of minimally invasive surgery is still considered controversial. We are presenting a case of metachronous, solitary adrenal metastasis from sigmoid colon carcinoma treated surgically with curative intent.

Multivisceral resections for rectal cancers: short-term oncological and clinical outcomes from a tertiary-care center in India

BACKGROUND Locally advanced rectal cancers (LARCs) involve one or more of the adjacent organs in upto 10-20% patients. The cause of the adhesions may be inflammatory or neoplastic, and the exact causes cannot be determined pre- or intra-operatively. To achieve complete resection, partial or total mesorectal excision (TME) en bloc with the involved organs is essential. The primary objective of this study is to determine short-term oncological and clinical outcomes in these patients undergoing multivisceral resections (MVRs). METHODS This is a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database. Between 1 July 2013 and 31 May 2015, all patients undergoing MVRs for adenocarcinoma of the rectum were identified from this database. All patients who had en bloc resection of an adjacent organ or part of an adjacent organ were included. Those with unresectable metastatic disease after neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. RESULTS Fifty-four patients were included in the study. Median age of the patients was 43 years. Mucinous histology was detected in 29.6% patients, and signet ring cell adenocarcinoma was found in 24.1% patients. Neoadjuvant therapy was given in 83.4% patients. R0 resection was achieved in 87% patients. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 70% for the entire cohort of population. CONCLUSIONS In Indian subcontinent, MVRs in young patients with high proportion of signet ring cell adenocarcinomas based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of response assessment (MRI 2) is associated with similar circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement and similar adjacent organ involvement as the western patients who are older and surgery is being planned on MRI 1 (baseline pelvis). However, longer follow-up is needed to confirm noninferiority of oncological outcomes.

Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision with Enbloc Resection of Seminal Vesicle for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Complete surgical resection remains the primary goal of rectal cancer surgeries. However, in 10%-20% patients, rectal tumors invade adjacent pelvic organs and resection of such organs is essential to achieve an R0 resection. Seminal vesicle is the most commonly involved organ in males. Although laparoscopic surgery has been found to be safe and feasible for rectal cancer surgeries, multivisceral resection is considered complex, and hence majority of these patients are offered open surgical resection. However, with improved surgical expertise as well as better laparoscopic equipment, surgeons have been attempting more complex rectal surgeries through the laparoscopic approach. We are delineating the technical details as well as initial results of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with enbloc resection of seminal vesicle.

Is there a Role of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in the Current Era of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men. Total mesorectal excision remains the gold standard treatment for rectal cancer with chemoradiotherapy preceding the surgery in all locally advanced rectal malignancies. Lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND), although a part of standard surgery for rectal cancers treatment in Japan has not been adopted by surgeons in the rest of the world. There is a long-standing controversy on whether lateral pelvic node metastasis represents localized or metastatic disease. Current standard in Japan is to consider lateral pelvic nodes as regional disease and, hence, perform prophylactic LPLND in low rectal cancers of stage T3 or more or with involved mesorectal nodes. In contrast, standard therapy in west is to consider lateral pelvic nodes as systemic disease and, hence, to either ignore them or treat obvious nodes with chemoradiotherapy. In Japan, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACTRT) is less commonly used for locally advanced rectal cancers in contrast to the practice in the west. The role of LPLND in patients receiving NACTRT remains to be established. The aim of this article is to review the evidence for the role of LPLND in the current era of NACTRT.