[Pathogenetic and clinical remarks apropos of hepato-phrenic dysmorphisms].
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
A Picciocchi
Publications and source records attributed to A Picciocchi.
[Anatomo-clinical contribution to the study of angiomas of the liver].
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Female↗
Sutureless anastomosis of the small intestine and the colon in pigs using an absorbable intraluminal stent and fibrin glue.
A new sutureless anastomosis technique employing a sliding absorbable intraluminal nontoxic stent (SAINT) and fibrin glue with limited (minutes) stump margin pressure is described. Fifty-one (27 small intestine, 24 colon) SAINT anastomoses were performed in 31 Landrace pigs (25-35 kg). Controls consisted of 48 (26 small intestine, 22 colon) continuous single-layer submucosal anastomoses in 26 pigs. SAINTs, which dissolve in about 30-60 min, were formed from heated sucrose and water poured into handcrafted aluminum molds. Follow-up from 7 to 540 days showed no stenosis or anastomotic imperfections in the latter part of the experiment after the SAINT production and surgical techniques were improved. The SAINT group had fewer site adhesions, faster healing, less foreign body reaction, and fewer lymphocytes than the control group. Initial results indicate that the SAINT-fibrin glue procedure may be an effective sutureless anastomotic method from the duodenum to the sigmoid colon.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
Sutureless cholecystojejunostomy in pigs using an absorbable intraluminal stent and fibrin glue.
The absence of foreign bodies in sutureless anastomoses provides faster healing. The first sutureless cholecystojejunostomies were reported by Murphy in 1892. The common bile duct was tied and 11 cholecystojejunostomies plus 12 jejunojejunostomies were performed in 12 Landrace pigs employing sliding absorbable intraluminal nontoxic stents (SAINTs) and fibrin glue. One cholecystojejunostomy was not performed owing to a gallbladder morphologic anomaly. Three animals died of problems unrelated to the SAINT-glue anastomoses. Of the 18 anastomoses in the 9 remaining animals, all were patent at the verification times of 14, 30, 120, and 480 days. Morphologically,there was greater edema and reduced height of the glandular epithelium in the 30-day CJs when compared to the jejunojejunal anastomoses. Results indicate that the sutureless SAINT-fibrin glue procedure is quite versatile and may be utilized for cholecystoenteric anastomoses.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
Sliding, absorbable, reinforced ring and an axially driven stent placement device for sutureless fibrin glue gastrointestinal anastomosis.
Reduced blood flow of from 43 to 71% has been reported in sutured and stapled anastomoses. The sutureless sliding, absorbable, intraluminal, nontoxic stent (SAINT)-fibrin glue anastomotic method, which clamps the stump margins between 2 dissolving surfaces, includes only two stages of temporary compression (about 6 min total using 4 IU/mL thrombin) during the glue application in order to promote vascularization. A SAINT placement device (SAINT-PD) was introduced to facilitate low rectal anastomoses. Morphohistologic results from limited trials using fibrin glue with an untied sutureless stapler technique and a prototype non-gear-driven SAINT-PD, neither having the two dissolvable clamping surfaces of the SAINT, showed a 29 and 25% incidence of intraluminal tissue ridges, respectively. Since these tissue ridges could result in subclinical dilatation or frank stenosis, and the more extensive SAINT trials had an 8% incidence of tissue ridges, redesign of the SAINT-PD was undertaken. Consequently, to improve the anastomotic quality of the SAINT-PD, the sliding absorbable reinforced ring (sucrose base) acting as the second dissolvable surface for the SAINT-PD and a new axially controlled geared SAINT-PD design are described.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
[Surgical resection of pancreatic cancer].
AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Surgical resection offers the only potential cure for pancreatic carcinoma. Although the overall prognosis remains a dismal, several recent series have reported an encouraging increase in 5-year survival after resection, exceeding 20%. As the reasons for this improvement are not clearly understood, numerous clinico-pathological parameters (demographic, intraoperative and histopathologic factors) have been investigated to evaluate their role in predicting long term survival. In this single-institution study, immediate and long-term outcome after pancreatic resection in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma was retrospectively evaluated, focusing attention on the possible impact of different clinico-pathologic factors on long-term survival. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with a confirmed histologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, treated by pancreatic resection at the Department of Surgery of the Catholic University of Rome in the years 1988-1997, were retrospectively analyzed. Morbidity and survival data were reviewed and potential prognostic factors were compared statistically by univariate analysis. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. Twenty-five patients (38%) developed major operative complications. Pancreatic fistula was the most common complication, and occurred in 7 patients (11%). The actuarial overall and disease-specific survival for all 66 patients were respectively 58% and 59% at 1 year, 27% and 31% at 3 years, and 13% and 20% at 5 years, with a median survival time of 13.4 months. Nodal status was the only single factor significantly affecting survival by univariate analysis. The 3-and 5-year survival rates were respectively 35% and 19% for node-negative patients and 7% and 0% for node-positive patients (P = .04). A positive correlation with improved survival, even if not of statistical significance, was shown for other pathologic or intraoperative factors. Among the former, 5-year survival rates were better for patients with negative resection margins as compared to patients with positive margins (12% vs 7%, P = ns). Among the latter, a better actuarial 5-year survival rate was shown for patients with shorter operative time (< 4 hours, 21% survival vs > 4 hours 5%, P = ns) and for patients that received fewer transfusions (0-2 blood units, 14% survival vs 3 or more blood units, 0%; P = ns). Age, gender, tumor diameter and tumor grading showed no influence on survival in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Our series confirmed that nodal status is the strongest independent predictor of survival. Limited intraoperative transfusion, reduced operative time and clear margins could also yeald a prognostic significance, and require further confirmation in larger series.
Adult↗
Ampullary carcinoma: prognostic significance of ploidy, cell-cycle analysis and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study is to assess the nuclear DNA ploidy patterns, the fraction of cells in the various phases of the cell cycle as determined by flow cytometry and to evaluate Proliferative cell-nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in order to examine the relationships between phase-two molecular factors, clinicopathological aspects and outcome of patients with cancers of the ampulla of Vater. METHODOLOGY: Paraffin-embedded specimens from 18 cases of cancers of ampulla of Vater radically resected between 1985 and 1995 were analyzed by flow-cytometry and immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody to the PCNA. The relationships between cell-proliferation kinetics, PCNA-positive cancer cells, clinicopathological findings and the clinical course were evaluated. RESULTS: Pathologist reports documented 17 papillary adenocarcinomas and one case of mucinous carcinoma. According to the TNM classification, 4 patients were in stage I, 7 in stage II and 7 in stage III. Locally advanced ampullary tumors (T3-T4) had a significantly worse prognosis (p = 0.01); survival at 3 and 5 years for stage I-II patients (11 cases) was 90% and 79% as compared to 42% and 42% for patients with stage III (8 cases), respectively (p = n.s.). Thirteen cancers (72%) were diploid and 5 (28%) aneuploid. Patients with aneuploid tumors were younger (mean age: 59 years) than patients with diploid tumors (mean age: 66 years; p = 0.04). No significant correlation was found between size of the tumor (T), lymphnodal status (N), grading (G) or aneuploidy. Difference in terms of survival between aneuploid and diploid patients was relevant (16 vs. 121 months) but, due to the small number of cases, was not statistically significant (p = n.s). The mean value of S-phase fraction (SPF) was 14.8%. PCNA positive rate significantly correlates with size of the tumor (T1-T2 vs. T3-T4; p = 0.03). Actuarial overall survival resulted in 70%, 63% and 31% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. The high rate of diploidy (72%) supports the relative benign behavior of ampullary cancers. CONCLUSIONS: PCNA positive rate significantly correlates with size of the disease. Aneuploidy, although without significant prognostic value, correlates well with survival. Because of the wide range of all variables, more data are needed to establish the relationships between pathological factors, DNA ploidy and PCNA rate and their significance as molecular predictors of prognosis in ampulla of Vater cancers.
Adult↗
[Axillary lymphadenectomy].
Axillary lymphadenectomy represents one of the historical hallmarks in the surgical strategy for breast cancer treatment. In recent years the role of axillary dissection is becoming matter for a renewed debate: up to date better therapeutic results together with new biologic acquisitions and progresses in early diagnosis have been influencing current indications and extension of axillary lymphadenectomy; also, cosmetic and financial considerations play a relevant role. This is the background of a large number of studies investigating the possibility of a more limited applications of axillary dissection provided that oncologic results remain unchanged. In this context sentinel node biopsy is one of the most promising lines of research. It can be stated that, as far as early stages are concerned, a trend towards more conservative resection techniques that started with the first quadrantectomies two decades ago, is now involving axillary dissection too. Possibly, in the next future, an elective axillary lymphadenectomy will not be performed any more if the presence of positive nodes will not be preliminarily ascertained. Nevertheless such conservative strategy can not be recommended to date, until the technique of sentinel node biopsy will be optimized and its results confirmed by randomized trials.
Axilla↗
The role of surgical treatment in colon diverticulitis: indications and results.
PURPOSE: Colon diverticulitis is a common illness with affects 37-45% of western populations. Indications regarding therapy guidelines, operative timing and which surgical procedure to perform are still controversial. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1977 and December 1997, 239 patients, diagnosed with diverticulitis, have been admitted, on emergency, to our Department of General Surgery; 135 males (56%) and 104 females (44%), (mean age of 63 years). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Forty-two patients (18%), clearly diagnosed with diffuse or local peritonitis, underwent delayed emergency surgical procedure; 44 (22%) out of 197 patients, treated with medical therapy and subsequently underwent elective surgery procedures for complications (fistulas or stenosis). Among the 42 patients treated in emergency, 26 cases (62%) underwent to resection with immediate reconstruction. Among the elective surgery group 39 (89%) out of 44 underwent to resection with immediate reconstruction. Complications reached 40% in the group of emergency patients (mortality rate 12%) and 16% in the elective surgery group (mortality rate 2%). Several features possible influencing mortality rate have been analysed; age > 70 years, acute associated diseases, generalised peritonitis and surgical timing show a statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Therefore, a careful evaluation of the patients, an appropriate pre and post-operative medical treatment, with a wider use of the most recent techniques such as CT scan guided drain, intra-operative wash-out and peritoneal lavage are recommended in order to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Adult↗
Synchronous gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma in a patient with H. pylori infection. Could the two neoplasms share a common pathogenesis?
Low-grade primary MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma of the stomach is a neoplasm with an indolent course and a good prognosis. Patients with this type of neoplasm seem to have a higher risk for other neoplasms. Of interest is the association of gastric MALT lymphoma with gastric adenocarcinoma of intestinal type. We report the case of a patient, with a history of H. pylori-related gastritis, in whom a diagnosis of synchronous gastric adenocarcinoma of intestinal type and low-grade MALT lymphoma, occurring as collision tumors, was made. The stage procedures confirmed the presence of a locally advanced gastric tumor staged as T3 N1. The patient underwent two cycles of neoadjuvant EEP (etoposide, epirubicin, cisplatin) chemotherapy. After 2 months, a R0 total gastrectomy with D2-lymphoadenectomy was successfully performed. The development of simultaneous primary gastric lymphoma and carcinoma is a rare event. The possible coexistence of both tumors should be kept in mind, especially in patients infected with H. pylori, since a possible etiopathogenetic role of this bacterium has been differently postulated for both disease.
Adenocarcinoma↗
["Update on gastric carcinoma"].
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Humans↗
[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in gastric carcinoma].
A complete surgical resection currently represents the only curative treatment option for gastric carcinoma, but as regards locally advanced cancer the possibility of local or distant recurrence remains extremely high even following a R0 resection. As far as T3-4/N+ tumors are concerned, unsatisfying results of surgery alone have stressed the need for multimodal treatments: in the recent past adjuvant chemotherapy has represented a common complementary treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer, but conclusive results of most randomized trials did not show a significant impact on long term survival. Literature review shows a growing trend throughout the 90's towards the adoption of a preoperative chemotherapy, initially evaluated as a form of "salvage" palliative treatment for unresectable patients. To date a number of phase II study suggests the efficacy of neo-adjuvant treatment administered to resectable patients with the purpose of inducing tumor downstaging, increasing the rate of R0 resections and controlling recurrencies. From March 1996 the Authors have started a controlled study on neo-adjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer. Accurate staging and patients selection were based upon immediately preoperative laparoscopy. In this ongoing study, patients are administered two preoperative cycles of EEP chemotherapy (Etoposide, Epirubicin, cis-Platin). Preliminary data have been evaluated on the first 15 cases. Grade I myelosuppression has been observed in 12/15 cases and grade II/III in 3/15 cases; 1 patient died by septic complications. Restaging has not shown progression of the disease in 13/14 cases; a macroscopic response was evidenced in 7/14 patients; 14/14 patients could undergo a successful D2 surgical resection following neo-adjuvant therapy. Pathological staging confirmed tumor downstaging in 7 out of 14 cases; 12/14 patients in this group (85.7%) could benefit a R0 resection. These preliminary data encourage us to proceed in our prospective investigation.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Preoperative chemoradiation and total mesorectal excision surgery for low T3 rectal cancer.
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Chemotherapy, Adjuvant↗
[Clinical role of the cytologic study of thyroid nodules].
Indication to surgical treatment for thyroid nodules still represents a relevant clinical dilemma. With this regard, on a consecutive series of 434 thyroidectomies carried out in the last 3 years, the role of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) on 139 cases has been statistically evaluated. All cytologic diagnoses have been classified in three subsets: malignant [group 1]; suspect (follicular or Hurtle cell proliferation) [group 2]; benign [group 3]. Our data confirm previous observations about the high specificity of FNAB in case of diagnosis of malignancy (97.6%). On the other hand 51.6% of our cases are included in group 2; only 31.9% of these cases have shown a postoperative diagnosis of malignancy, following a suspect at FNAB. In this study, the sensibility of FNAB has been calculated including among positive results the cytologic diagnoses of group 1 + group 2: the resulting figure of 87.3% weighs the impact of FNAB on our surgical decision process. FNAB plays a crucial role in the management of nodular diseases of the thyroid, even if its overall value is limited by the burden of "suspect" cytologic diagnoses. In our hands, the integration of FNAB results with all relevant clinical data has undoubtedly contributed to increase the portion of thyroidectomies carried out for cancer, from 12.8% of our historical series to 23.2% of the last 3 years.
Humans↗
[Surgery and radiotherapy in rectal cancer: indications for anal sphincter conservation].
PURPOSE: Aim of this study is to evaluate the possible increase of sphincter preservation rate in locally advanced extraperitoneal rectal cancer after neoadjuvant treatment. METHODS: 123 patients with a T3 or N+ cancer of middle or lower rectum have been included in this study. Accurate measurement of pre-treatment tumor distance from the anal canal and an individual judgment of the surgeon about the technical feasibility of a sphincter saving resection have been recorded. Two different protocols of concomitant preoperative chemoradiation have been adopted. Radiotherapy ranged from 37.8 to 50.4 Gy. Chemotherapy regimens included mitomycin-C 10 mg/m2; 5FU 1000 mg/m2 and c-DDP 60 mg/m2. All patients underwent surgery 4-8 weeks after the end of chemoradiation. RESULTS: 16 out of a total 121 resected patients (13%) had a complete histologically response at surgical specimen examination (pT0). The post-treatment variation of tumor distance from the anal canal was 1 cm. in 50% of cases, 2 cm. in 20% of cases and > 3 cm. in 10% of cases. 80% of patients (97/121) could benefit of a sphincter saving procedure compared to a pre-treatment expected rate of 55%. 69% of 70 patients with a tumor of the distal rectum maintained their sphincter function; in particular, a sphincter saving procedure was made possible in 16 of 37 patients (43%) with a tumor located in the distal 3 cm. of the rectum. No significant difference in sphincter saving rate was observed between the two different protocols of neoadjuvant treatment. DISCUSSION: Decrease of tumor size, post-treatment variation of tumor distance from the anal canal, histological downstaging and decrease of tumor fixity to adjacent structures are the main effects of neoadjuvant treatment which are responsible for an increase of sphincter saving rate. CONCLUSION: According to the presented data, neoadjuvant protocols of concomitant chemoradiation therapy are effective in increasing the rate of sphincter saving procedures in locally advanced cancer of distal rectum.
Adult↗
[Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the left colon and rectum as an emergency. A new method for assessing operative risk].
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The surgical treatment of the left colon and rectal cancer emergencies is still controversial. In our opinion the choices to be based on the general health status of the patient. METHODOLOGY: The authors analysed a series of 63 patients submitted to immediate resection and anastomosis. RESULTS: Factors significantly related to short term results were chronic heart disease, low albumin serum levels, and colonic perforation. The presence of a diverting colostomy did not provide a protective factor against anastomotic dehiscence. We constructed a Colorectal Tumours Emergencies Score made of the identified four factors in which the score of each factor is the approximated odds ratio (chronic renal failure 7 points, low albumin serum levels 6 points, heart disease 5 points, colon perforation 4 points). Each patient was classified as Low Risk (CTES < 4), Moderate Risk (CTES 4-12), High Risk (CTES > 12), mortality and morbidity being 4% and 20%, 19.3% and 61.3%, 88.9% and 88.9% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High risk patients may undergo a staged procedure. Moderate risk patients may be treated by immediate resection of the tumor, without anastomosis. Immediate resection and anastomosis may be reserved to low risk patients.
Adult↗
[Prognostic factors of pancreatic carcinoma: analysis of the 5-year-survivor cases].
Pancreatic carcinoma remains a letal disease with an overall 5-year survival of less than 5%. Recent reports of increases in actuarial survival after resection have determined some optimism. Our objective was to identify the actual 5-year survival rate of patients with pancreatic carcinoma who underwent a resection with curative intent, analyzing those factors associated with a more favorable prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma↗
[Duodenocephalopancreatectomy for periampullary neoplasm in elderly patients].
As life expectancy continue to increase, many elderly patients may be considered for pancreaticoduodenal resection. The purpose of the study was to review our experience with pancreatic resection for periampullary evaluating immediate and long-term results in patients aged 75 or older.
Adolescent↗