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Major hepatic resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: analysis of 46 patients.

HYPOTHESIS: Major hepatectomy, bile duct resection, and regional lymphadenectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma are associated with actual long-term (>5 years) survival. DESIGN: Retrospective outcome study. SETTING: Single tertiary referral institution. PATIENTS: Between 1979 and 1997, 46 consecutive patients had resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by major hepatectomy, bile duct resection, and regional lymphadenectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall survival and tumor recurrence were correlated to clinicopathological factors, operative morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients underwent left hepatectomy, 17 underwent right hepatectomy, and 4 had extended right hepatectomy. Eighteen patients underwent resection of segment 1. Negative (R0) resection margins were achieved in 37 patients (80%). The operative mortality rate was 9%, and the surgical morbidity rate was 52%. Actual 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 80%, 39%, and 26%, respectively. Factors adversely associated with patient survival rates included: male sex, lymph node metastases, tumor grade 3 or 4, elevated direct serum bilirubin level at diagnosis, elevated preoperative activated partial thromboplastin time, and more than 4 U of red blood cells transfused perioperatively. Tumor size and R0 resection approached significance for survival. Factors associated with tumor recurrence included: male sex, tumor grade 3 or 4, a low hemoglobin level both at diagnosis and preoperatively, and a low preoperative prothrombin time and low alkaline phosphatase level at diagnosis and preoperatively. Median time to recurrence was 3.6 years. Tumor recurrence was predominantly local and regional. CONCLUSIONS: The actual 5-year survival rate of 26% justifies major partial hepatectomy, bile duct resection, and regional lymphadenectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The high frequency of local and regional recurrence warrants investigation of adjuvant therapy.

Aged↗

Liver resection for intrahepatic stones.

HYPOTHESIS: Long-term outcome is good for a selected group of patients with hepatolithiasis treated with liver resection. Liver resection should also be offered to patients with complex hepatolithiasis such as bilateral stones or those with strictures. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Regional hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 174 patients with hepatolithiasis (201 procedures) treated between January 1, 1989, and September 30, 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Liver resection (52 procedures) or removal of stones primarily by percutaneous choledochoscopy (149 procedures). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Recurrence of cholangitis. RESULTS: Most patients in the liver resection group had stones localized to the left side. The overall success rate in this group was 98.0% (49 of 50 patients, excluding 2 patients found to have cholangiocarcinoma). The chance of biliary sepsis at 5 years after resection was 13.3%. The overall success rate of stone removal primarily by percutaneous choledochoscopy was 70.5%. The bilaterality of stones, the presence of stricture, and the presence of atrophy were found to be significant risk factors for a poor long-term outcome after stone removal alone. The chance of biliary sepsis at 5 years was 26.4% and 43.2% for those without and with stricture, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcome after liver resection for hepatolithiasis was excellent for a selected group of patients. Poor outcomes were recorded for patients whose intrahepatic stones were removed primarily by percutaneous choledochoscopy, especially those with strictures. The indication for liver resection for hepatolithiasis should be extended to patients with strictures and those with bilateral stones. A combination of different treatment modalities is necessary to improve the outcome of these patients.

Adult↗

Chronic pancreatitis. Results of Whipple's resection and total pancreatectomy.

The aim of our study was to determine the success of radical pancreatic resection in relieving the pain of chronic pancreatitis. From 1974 to 1985, 30 consecutive patients underwent radical pancreatic resection for the treatment of debilitating pain (15 underwent Whipple's resection and 15 underwent total pancreatectomy). Patients were not randomized but were subjected to the procedure deemed indicated for their clinical presentation; thus, the two groups were not strictly comparable. There was no operative mortality; major morbidity occurred in three patients (20%) in each group (four patients experienced anastomotic bile leak and two experienced abdominal sepsis). Following Whipple's resection, mean follow-up was 6.2 years (range, 1.5 to 12.1 years). Complete pain relief occurred in eight patients (53%) and significant relief in an additional four (27%). Endocrine insufficiency developed in six patients and exocrine insufficiency in eight. Following total pancreatectomy, mean follow-up was 9.1 years (range, 2.1 to 13.1 years). Complete pain relief occurred in only four patients (27%) and significant relief in an additional six (40%). Significant pain persisted in about 33% of patients after total pancreatic resection. We concluded that radical pancreatic resection can be performed safely in patients with chronic pancreatitis but with gratifying results in only 67% to 80% of patients. Whipple's resection may be preferable for disease located primarily in the head of the gland.

Adult↗

Nonanatomic hepatic resection for secondary hepatic tumors with special reference to hemostatic technique.

The techniques for resection of hepatic tumors have traditionally been based on lobar anatomy. The morbidity and mortality associated with hepatic resection have been most closely correlated with intraoperative blood loss. The results of 37 hepatic resections for secondary neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. This group included 18 patients who underwent anatomic resections and 19 patients who underwent nonanatomic resections. The nonanatomic group experienced significantly less blood loss, shorter operating times, shorter hospital stays, and no significant difference in long-term survival. A positive relationship between blood loss and postoperative complications is demonstrated for the combined groups. These results support the use of nonanatomic resection whenever feasible for secondary hepatic tumors. We describe the technique for nonanatomic hepatic resection for metastatic lesions, with special emphasis on hemostatic techniques.

Adult↗

Outcomes after curative resections of cholangiocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the clinical and pathologic features of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and to identify prognostic variables in patients treated surgically. DESIGN: Retrospective review of clinical records of patients undergoing surgical exploration for cholangiocarcinoma, with univariate and multivariate analyses of the clinical and pathologic factors that influenced patient survival. SETTING: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: One hundred seventy-one patients undergoing operative intervention for diagnostic, palliative, or curative reasons between 1976 and 1985. Follow-up was complete until death or for a minimum of 5 years for surviving patients. INTERVENTION: A curative surgical resection was performed in 29% of patients, while the remainder underwent tumor biopsy or a palliative procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Patient survival following operative treatment. RESULTS: The operative mortality in this patient cohort was 5% and median survival was 13 months. Overall 5-year survival was 16%, with 44% of patients having a curative resection still alive at 5 years. Using univariate analysis, curative resection, tumor stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, total bilirubin concentration, lymph node status, liver invasion, tumor morphology, tumor grade, and site of tumor origin were significant determinants of prognosis. Using the Cox proportional hazards model for multivariate analysis, curative resection, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, total bilirubin concentration, and tumor grade were the only variables predictive of patient outcome. A curative resection of a proximal cholangiocarcinoma had a similar chance of providing long-term survival as a curative distal ductal resection. CONCLUSIONS: Although the tumor extent and the patient's overall health will affect outcome, curative resection for cholangiocarcinoma at all sites should be undertaken since this treatment offers the best chance for long-term survival.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Resection of the suprarenal inferior vena cava. The role of prosthetic replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To review the role of prosthetic replacement after resection of the suprarenal portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). DESIGN: Retrospective review of a series of six patients with malignant infiltration of the suprarenal IVC undergoing operation in the last 11 years. SETTING: Multispecialty referral center. PATIENTS: One primary leiomyosarcoma and five involvements of the IVC by liver carcinoma (n = 2), adrenal carcinoma (n = 2), and recurrent renal carcinoma (n = 1). INTERVENTIONS: En bloc resection of the tumor with the IVC under total vascular exclusion of the liver in four cases, combined major liver resection in four cases, venous resection including the renal confluence in four cases, prosthetic venous replacement in four cases, and no venous replacement in two cases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, venous patency, clinical assessment, and malignant recurrence. RESULTS: One postoperative death (renal failure) following extended resection with right nephrectomy and ligature of the left renal vein. Graft patency was controlled in survivors, with good functional result. Among two patients without venous replacement, one with complete caval obstruction and marked collateral circulation has had a good result, and one with partial caval obstruction experienced transient symptoms of venous insufficiency. Malignant recurrence led to death in four patients (4, 6, 37, and 42 months after surgery). CONCLUSIONS: Suprarenal IVC reconstruction is justified in selected cases, with good functional results. When the renal confluence is resected along with the IVC, renal vein reconstruction may be needed to avoid acute renal failure. The oncologic results of such extensive resections are poor. Adjuvant therapy should be evaluated.

Adult↗

Defining the criteria for local resection of ampullary neoplasms.

OBJECTIVES: To delineate factors determined preoperatively, which predict successful local resection of ampullary neoplasms. DESIGN: Retrospective review of case series of the author's experience from 1988 through 1995. The median follow-up of patients with malignancies was 29 months. SETTING: Tertiary care university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven patients underwent surgery. The decision to perform either an ampullectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) was based on the size of the lesion, the presence of a "field defect" (ie, familial polyposis), depth of invasion determined by preoperative endoscopic ultrasound, and extent of pancreatic and bile duct involvement seen on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. INTERVENTIONS: Fourteen patients underwent ampullectomy, 12 patients underwent PD, and one patient had a retroperitoneal node biopsy performed without resection of the primary tumor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resectability, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: Depth of invasion was accurately determined in nine of 12 patients studied by preoperative endoscopic ultrasound. Preoperative endoscopic biopsy specimens were obtained in 21 patients and were inaccurate in seven of 21 cases. The length of stay following local resection was 10.5 +/- 3.7 days vs 15.4 +/- 5.8 days following PD (P=.02). One patient died following PD, and there were no deaths following ampullectomy. Six of 12 patients undergoing PD had postoperative complications vs two of 14 patients undergoing local resection. CONCLUSIONS: Ampullectomy is the procedure of choice for resecting benign lesions smaller than 3 cm, small neuroendocrine tumors, and T1 carcinomas of the ampulla. While endoscopic ultrasonography is helpful in identifying stage T1 lesions suitable for local resection, no preoperative test proved accurate enough to substitute for clinical judgment and intraoperative pathological confirmation.

Adult↗

Hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer results in cure for some patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term disease-free and overall survivals for patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases and to define significant predictors of improved patients survival. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Single tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Two hundred eighty consecutive patients underwent hepatic resection for colorectal cancer metastases at the Mayo Clinic from 1960 to 1987. Fifty patients alive at the completion of the study had a mean follow-up of 11.3 years (median, 121 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disease-free interval following initial hepatic resection and death. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival of the 280 patients was 27%. Twenty-eight patients were alive at 10 years from the time of hepatic resection, and the 10-year actuarial survival was 20%. Only 2 patients alive and free of disease at 5 years had recurrent disease. For all other patients who were free of disease more than 5 years after hepatic resection and died, the cause of death was not cancer related. No patients characteristics or features of the primary tumor affected survival. Clinical presentation of metastatic disease, configuration of hepatic lesions, the presence of extrahepatic lymph node involvement, and the existence of resectable extrahepatic disease significantly affected long-term patient survival. Need for perioperative blood product transfusion was associated with a lower probability of long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Disease-free patient survival beyond 5 years from surgical resection of colorectal cancer metastases to the liver represents patient cure in nearly all instances.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

Relationship between magnitude of resection, complication, and prosthetic survival after prosthetic knee reconstructions for distal femoral tumors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Limb-sparing surgery has become the preferred surgical treatment of malignant bone tumors. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors that influence the morbidity and outcome of prosthetic knee replacement after resection of malignant tumors of the distal femur. METHODS: Eighty-two patients who had a resection of malignant tumor of the distal femur and implantation of a segmental knee prosthesis (minimum follow-up, 2 years) were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (35%) underwent 32 prosthetic revisions, 6 from perioperative wound complications, 13 from aseptic loosening, and 13 from other complications. The 3-, 5-, and 10-year Kaplan-Meier prosthetic survival rates were 82%, 71%, and 50%, respectively. On univariate analysis, patients who had more than 40% resection of the distal femur (P = 0.010) and those who had all their vasti muscles resected (P = 0.011) had significantly worse prosthetic survivals than the others. On multivariate analysis, resection of more than 40% of the distal femur was a significant negative prognostic factor for prosthetic survival (P = 0.017). Aseptic loosening was the primary cause of late prosthetic failure. Differences in the magnitude of resection influenced prosthetic survivorship more than prosthetic design. CONCLUSIONS: In the distal femoral endoprosthetic replacement, higher short- and long-term complications were found after extensive resections. Aseptic loosening was the primary cause of prosthetic failure.

Adolescent↗

Resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: More than 40% of patients who undergo curative resection of advanced colorectal carcinoma can be expected to have recurrence of the disease. The most frequent sites of recurrence are the liver (33% of patients) and lung (22%). Interest has therefore focused on treating hepatic or pulmonary metastases, or both, to improve the outcomes of these patients. Although surgical resection has become an increasingly accepted treatment for resectable localized hepatic or localized pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma, the value of aggressive surgery for the removal of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases from patients with primary colorectal carcinoma remains to be clarified. METHODS: Data on 30 patients who had undergone resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma were included in the study. RESULTS: Independent, significant prognostic features were found to be the time that hepatic or pulmonary metastases occurred and the distribution of pulmonary metastases. Median survival times were 30 months (range, 7-108 months) after resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases and 48.5 months (range, 11-149 months) after excision of the primary colorectal tumor. Actuarial 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival after resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases was 86.7%, 49.3%, and 43.8%, respectively. No perioperative mortality occurred. There were three cases of minor morbidity, which the authors considered acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma may help to prolong the survival of a small group of patients with these metastases.

Adult↗

Resection of brain metastases from colorectal carcinoma in 73 patients.

BACKGROUND: At the time of diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma, 2-3% of patients are likely to be harboring brain metastases, and another 10% of patients will develop brain lesions during the course of their disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical course of a group of patients with metastatic brain disease who underwent surgical resection in a single institution. The authors believe this information will be useful for establishing prognostic factors and for clinical decision making. METHODS: Between 1974 and 1993, 709 consecutive patients underwent surgical resection of brain metastases at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Seventy-three patients had histologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma. The medical records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively, and the data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The median age of the 43 women and 30 men was 61.5 years. The median interval from the time of diagnosis of the primary tumor and the development of brain metastases was 27.6 months. The primary colorectal tumor was resected in all patients, and the median survival from the day of surgery was 38 months. The median survival from the time of craniotomy was 8.3 months. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 31.5% and 6.8%, respectively. Postoperative mortality was 4%. Gender, presence of multiple metastases, presence of lung lesions, and adjuvant brain radiation after craniotomy appeared to have no impact on survival as determined by multivariate Cox analysis. Only the presence of cerebellar brain metastases was associated with decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this series, which the authors believe is the largest series of resected brain metastases from colorectal carcinoma published to date, indicate that surgical resection may increase the survival of these patients. Analysis of prognostic factors shows that infratentorial tumor location is associated with a poorer survival compared with supratentorial tumor location (5.1 months vs. 9.1 months; P < 0.002). In patients with recurrent brain disease, repeated resection is a worthwhile consideration because it may prolong survival compared with patients who do not undergo re-resection.

Adult↗

Endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer.

Progress in the detection of early gastric cancer has made endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) possible for the treatment of gastric cancer instead of only conventional surgical resection. The most commonly employed modalities include strip biopsy, double snare polypectomy, and resection with combined use of highly concentrated saline and epinephrine, and resection using a cap. The indications should be strictly limited to the differentiated IIa type (the slightly elevated type) that is smaller than 2 cm, or the differentiated IIc type (slightly depressed type) without ulcer formation and smaller than 1 cm. Both of these entities are thought to have a negligible risk of lymph node metastasis. Prognosis after this treatment is comparable that of surgical resection for early gastric cancer in completely resected cases. EMR also permits local resection in elderly patients with various complications who would be at risk for conventional surgical operations. EMR should be encouraged for treatment of gastric cancer if the indications are strictly chosen.

Aged↗

Cavernous malformations: results of image-guided resection.

With increased use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnosis of cavernous malformations (CMs) has become straightforward. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for these lesions. These malformations, though, are often small and can be difficult to localize during surgery. In these cases, stereotactic resection with a frame-based system is recommended to aid in localization of the malformation. However, use of these frame-based systems can be time consuming for the surgeon and onerous for the patient. With the advent of frameless stereotactic systems, these problems can be circumvented. Therefore, stereotactic resection of 17 CMs was performed for 15 patients over the course of 2 years at our institution during an investigative trial of a frameless stereotactic device. Eight patients presented with seizures, five patients with hemorrhage, and two patients with progressive headaches. Twelve of fifteen patients had normal neurological examination results on presentation, whereas three patients had deficits resulting from intracranial hemorrhages. All patients underwent diagnostic MRI preoperatively. Fourteen lesions were found to be cortical and subcortical; the other three lesions were in the basal ganglia, lateral ventricle, and pons. Following resection, 11 of 15 patients improved. Two patients developed postoperative deficits shortly after resection. One patient with a preoperative neurological deficit remained unchanged, and one patient had a recurrence of a deficit several months following resection. Image-guided stereotactic resection provides for easy localization of small malformations without requiring the use of a stereotactic frame or retractor and is well suited for resection of cavernous malformations.

Adolescent↗

Results of a prospective randomized trial of continuous regional chemotherapy and hepatic resection as treatment of hepatic metastases from colorectal primaries.

One hundred patients were entered on a randomized prospective protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of hepatic resection of single as well as multiple hepatic metastases from colorectal primaries in combination with continuous hepatic artery infusion (CHAI) of fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) via the implantable pump (Infusaid, Intermedics Infusaid Inc., Norwood, MA). The eight patients with single metastases were randomized to hepatic resection alone (three patients) or hepatic resection plus CHAI (five patients). The 22 patients with resectable multiple metastases were randomized between receiving CHAI only (12) or CHAI after resection of all metastases (10). Patients who had positive portal lymph nodes (14) were all treated with CHAI. Patients with unresectable metastases (31) were randomized between intravenous 5-fluorouracil or CHAI of FUDR. FUDR was alternately infused every 2 weeks at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/24 hour escalated to .3 mg/kg/24 hour with heparinized saline as the alternative infusate. The median follow-up of all patients was 20 months. All patients with multiple resectable metastases had at least a partial response (PR) to the CHAI (PR defined as greater than or equal to 50% decrease of the sum of the products of the diameters of the lesions measured on computerized axial tomography scans), and four patients given CHAI only had no metastases in the liver on relaparotomy. Patients with resection and CHAI had a better survival than patients with CHAI only; however, the difference was not significant. Patients with positive portal nodes and CHAI had a lower PR (36%) than patients with unresectable disease treated with CHAI (52%). Patients with positive portal nodes or metastatic disease outside of the liver did significantly worse than patients with unresectable disease treated with CHAI.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Long-term survivors after resection for primary liver cancer. Clinical analysis of 19 patients surviving more than ten years.

From July 1958 to June 1978, a total of 333 cases with pathologically proven primary liver cancer (PLC) were admitted to the Zhong Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, the people's Republic of China. Of these, 39.6% (132 of 333) were resected and 14.4% (19 of 132) survived over 10 years after resection for PLC. These 19 patients surviving over 10 years were investigated in this paper. All 19 patients underwent radical resection, including right hemihepatectomy in two cases, left hemihepatectomy in ten cases, left lateral segmentectomy in three cases, and local resection in four cases. By the end of June 1988, follow-up varied from 10 years and 1 month to 26 years and 7 months, with a mean follow-up of 15 years and 4 months. All 19 patients are still alive with free of disease. The longest survival patient had a tumor measuring 10 X 8 X 6 cm in size and underwent local resection. Upon follow-up after 26 years and 7 months, the patient was found to be still living and well. Two patients with intraperitoneal ruptured PLC have survived for 19 years and 4 months, and 16 years and 11 months, respectively, after resection of the tumors free of disease and have returned to work. Subclinical recurrence of PLC was discovered in one patient in whom reoperation with cryosurgery was carried out. The patient has been in good condition with negative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for 8 years and 10 months after cryosurgery. Subclinical solitary pulmonary metastasis was detected in two patients because of a secondary rise in AFP level. Reoperations were carried out and the metastatic tumors were removed. These two patients are still in good health with negative AFP 9 years and 6 months, and 10 years and 1 months, respectively, after reoperation. These results indicate that early and radical resection are the principal factors influencing long-term survival; reoperation for subclinical recurrence and solitary metastasis remains an important approach to prolong survival further; intraperitoneal rupture of PLC does not exclude the possibility of cure; new surgical techniques, such as cryosurgery and bloodless hepatectomy, have been shown to be effective in some patients.

Adult↗

The effect of extent of resection on recurrence in patients with low grade cerebral hemisphere gliomas.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of radical resection for low grade cerebral hemisphere gliomas, the authors analyzed the preoperative and postoperative radiographic tumor volumes (computed tomography hypodensity, magnetic resonance imaging-T2 signal hyperintensity) in 53 patients. METHODS: Using a previously described method of computerized image analysis, the authors evaluated whether the percent of resection and volume of residual disease, postoperatively, influenced the incidence of recurrence, time to tumor progression, and histology of the recurrent tumor. Survival was not analyzed in this study. RESULTS: No recurrence was detected, regardless of percent of resection and volume of residual disease, in patients with preoperative tumor volumes less than 10 cm2 (mean follow-up, 41.7 months). Patients with tumors measuring 10-30 cm3 had an incidence of recurrence and time to tumor progression of 13.6% and 58 months, respectively, compared with tumors measuring greater than 30 cm3, which had an incidence of recurrence and time to tumor progression of 41.2% and 30 months, respectively (P = 0.016). All patients (n = 13) who underwent a 100% resection had a recurrence-free follow-up period (mean, 54 months). In the remaining patients (n = 40), as the percent of resection decreased, the incidence of recurrence increased along with a shorter time to tumor progression (P = 0.03). Patients with a volume of residual disease of greater than 10 cm3 had a higher incidence of recurrence (46.2%) and a shorter time to tumor progression (30 months) compared with patients with a tumor volume of residual disease of less than 10 cm3 (incidence of recurrence, 14.8% and time to tumor progression, 50 months) (P = 0.002). Forty-six percent of patients with a tumor volume of residual disease of more than 10 cm3 had a recurrence of higher histologic grade, and this was significantly more frequent than patients with a volume of residual disease less than 10 cm3 (3.7%) (P = 0.0009). Age, radiotherapy, and histologic subtype had no influence on recurrence patterns. CONCLUSION: For tumors greater than 10 cm3, the authors' data suggest that a greater percent of resection and a smaller volume of residual disease conveys a significant advantage, that is, terms of incidence of recurrence and the recurrent tumor phenotype, for patients with low grade cerebral hemisphere gliomas, compared with those who have a less aggressive resection or biopsy. While this may also be the case with tumors less than 10 cm3, further follow-up is necessary to determine the effect of surgery on recurrence patterns for this subset of patients.

Adolescent↗

Lymphatic vessel invasion is an independent prognostic factor in patients with a primary resected tumor with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Little data exist about the prognostic role of a lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) in patients with esophageal carcinoma. The objective of this study was to clarify the presence and prognostic impact of LVI in a large group of patients resected for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at one surgical center. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-six patients, who had a primary resection for SCC, were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Follow-up was complete for 93.7% patients with a median follow-up of 8.3 years. RESULTS: The total rate of LVI was 39.1% (n = 143). Univariate analysis revealed a significant relation between LVI and different T classifications (P = 0.001), N classifications (P < 0.0001), M classifications (P < 0.0001), International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stages (P < 0.0001), and residual tumor (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis of the patients with R0-resected tumors proved LVI as an independent prognostic factor. The 2-, 5- and 10-year survival rates in patients with LVI were 28.5%, 11.1%, and 9.2% compared with 63.4%, 46.6%, and 27%, respectively, without LVI (P < 0.0001). Patients with LVI had a median survival time of 11.4 months compared with 28.6 months without LVI (P < 0.0001). Patients with R0-resected tumors without LVI had a median survival time of 54.1 months compared with 12.1 months in patients with LVI (P < 0.0001) and compared with 11.3 months in patients with R1-resected tumors P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data clearly show that LVI is an independent prognostic factor in patients with SCC and confirm the importance of a systematic pathohistologic workup. The prognosis of patients with R0-resected tumors with LVI is equal to patients with an incomplete tumor resection. This supports the inclusion of LVI in the UICC classification system for esophageal carcinoma.

Adult↗

Preoperative chemotherapy for resectable thoracic esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgery has been the treatment of choice for localized esophageal cancer. A number of studies have investigated whether preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery leads to an improvement in cure rates but the individual reports have been conflicting. An explicit systematic update of the role of preoperative chemotherapy in the treatment of resectable thoracic esophageal cancer is, therefore, warranted. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review is to determine the role of preoperative chemotherapy on patients with resectable thoracic esophageal carcinomas. SEARCH STRATEGY: Trials were identified by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), EMBASE (1988 to 2006) and CANCERLIT (1993 to 2002). There were no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: All trials of patients with potentially resectable carcinomas of the esophagus (of any histologic type) who were randomised to having either chemotherapy or no chemotherapy before surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The primary outcome was survival, which was assessed using hazard ratios. This is an amendment to the original review which used relative risks to assess survival at yearly intervals. Hazard ratios (HR) have now been introduced to summarise the complete survival experience in a single analysis. The risk ratio (relative risk; RR) was used to compare rates of resections, tumour recurrences and treatment morbidity and mortality. MAIN RESULTS: There were eleven randomised trials involving 2019 patients. Eight trials (1729 patients) reported sufficient detail on survival to be included in a meta-analysis for the primary outcome. There was some evidence to suggest that preoperative chemotherapy improves survival, but this was inconclusive (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.04). There was no evidence to suggest that the overall rate of resections (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.01) or the rate of complete resections (R0) (RR 1.05; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.15) differ between the preoperative chemotherapy arm and surgery alone. There is no evidence that tumour recurrence (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.22) or non-fatal complication rates (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.06) differ for preoperative chemotherapy compared to surgery alone. Trials reported risks of toxicity with chemotherapy that ranged from 11% to 90%. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In summary, preoperative chemotherapy plus surgery may offer a survival advantage compared to surgery alone for resectable thoracic esophageal cancer, but the evidence is inconclusive. There is some evidence of toxicity and preoperative mortality associated with chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗