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Here, we present the case of a 47-year-old woman with liver masses having distinct borders, which were located approximately 13 cm from the left hepatic lobe S4, as visualized on a CT scan. Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)was suspected from these contrast findings. Additionally, we found nodules in the right upper lobe of the lung and in the left apex. Although test results for hepatitis B and C viruses were negative, the α-fetoprotein(AFP)level was elevated. The tumor was diagnosed as a HCC with suspected multiple lung metastases. Thereafter, a resection was performed for the HCC. However, multiple recurrences were observed. Arterial embolization using transcatheterization was performed thrice 5 months after resection. Further, 6 months after resection, lenvatinib therapy was initiated as the pulmonary nodule increased in size. One year after the operation, a recurrent neoplastic lesion in the liver was detected on the contrast-enhanced MRI. Since the earlier treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization proved to be minimally effective, we opted for arterial injection chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-FU for approximately 3 months. The contrast-enhanced CT revealed that the lesion became a low absorption lesion in the liver outside the central area, and the AFP also decreased rapidly. Therefore, the therapy was considered effective. As a side effect of arterial injection chemotherapy, the patient developed a duodenal ulcer. However, after treating the ulcer, a pulmonary metastasectomy was performed and no obvious recurrence was noted. Typically, for treatment of extrahepatic metastases of HCC, drugs such as sorafenib or lenvatinib that have molecular targets are selected according to a treatment algorithm based on liver cancer practice guidelines. However, these drugs were not effective in this case, whereas arterial injection chemotherapy showed satisfactory therapeutic effect on the recurrences in the liver. Although there was a complication of duodenal ulcer, this case report highlights that combined modality therapy including arterial injection chemotherapy is successful in treating HCC.

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The authors report a case involving a 55-year-old female patient who presented with melena and anemia 8 years ago. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT did not reveal any sign of lesions except multiple uterine myoma. On reevaluation after the onset of melena, we did not find any lesions. However, the patient had a recurrent episode of melena with progressive anemia(Hb level 12.8 g/dL→9.8 g/dL). CT revealed a 29mm mass in the right side of the pelvis, which was retrospectively observed in the past CT scan, although its position had changed. We suspected gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Small intestine fluoroscopy revealed the tumor with effusion of barium inside the translucent areas of the ileum. For diagnostic treatment, laparoscopic partial jejunum resection was performed. Pathological diagnostic examination revealed that the tumor consisted of spindle cell disarray with moderate density, fewer heterocysts, and rare mitosis. The tumor cells were c-kit positive and CD34 negative in immunohistochemistry. All the results were consistent with GIST. Eight years had passed before diagnosis and surgical treatment were performed. This case report emphasizes the difficulty of diagnose of GIST because of its low malignancy and slow progression.

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We report a case of long-term survival in a 65-year-old woman with recurrent appendix cancer. In March 2002, she was diagnosed with appendix cancer and underwent ileocecal resection. The pathological diagnosis was mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, pT2N0M0, Stage Ⅰ. In April 2006, ovariohysterectomy was performed for right ovarian metastases. In February 2011, tumor resection was performed for disseminated recurrence after 4 courses of systemic chemotherapy(bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX6). Although no recurrent lesions had been detected on imaging, stepwise elevation of serum CEA level was observed from June 2016. In November 2017, computed tomography scan revealed a slow-growing tumor on the liver. We performed partial resection of the right hemidiaphragm for the disseminated tumor, and the pathological diagnosis was mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient has been on continuous postoperative follow-up without recurrence until June 2019. Appendix cancer is relatively rare and has a worse prognosis compared to colorectal cancer because of higher frequency of disseminated metastases. With the multimodality therapy, our patient showed long-term survival over 17 years despite a disseminated recurrence. In cases of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix, persistent follow-up and aggressive treatment are recommended.

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BACKGROUND: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an objective tool that is widely used to assess the nutritional status in patients, including those with cancer. The relationship between the CONUT score and prognosis in patients who have undergone hepatic resection has not been evaluated in a multi-institutional study. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected for 2461 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone hepatic resection with curative intent at 13 institutions between January 2004 and December 2015. Patients were assigned to two groups: preoperative CONUT scores ≤ 3 (low CONUT score) and ≥ 4 (high CONUT score). Clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival were compared using propensity score matching analysis. RESULTS: Of the 2461 patients, 540 (21.9%) had high (≥ 4) and 1921 (78.1%) had low (≤ 3) preoperative CONUT scores. Overall, a high CONUT score was significantly associated with older age, female sex, low body mass index, low serum albumin, high serum total bilirubin, low lymphocyte count, low serum cholesterol, shorter prothrombin time, higher indocyanine green retention test at 15 min, Child-Pugh B (vs. A), liver cirrhosis, minor resection, shorter operation time, massive blood loss, blood transfusion, and postoperative complications. After propensity score matching, a higher CONUT score was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) using multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective, multi-institutional analysis showed that, in patients who undergo curative hepatectomy for HCC, the preoperative CONUT score is predictive of worse OS and RFS, even after propensity score matching analysis.

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BACKGROUND: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) represents a spectrum of serious disorders characterized by occlusive microvascular thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and end-organ damage. TMA is associated with a broad range of conditions and is also a well-described complication of both cancer and its treatment. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old Japanese woman underwent S-1 and cisplatin chemotherapy for treatment of advanced gastric cancer with multiple lymph node and liver metastases. She was found with severe anemia and thrombocytopenia during the third course of chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with TMA based on thrombocytopenia, schistocytosis, hemolytic anemia and renal dysfunction. She underwent treatment with plasmapheresis; however, her response to treatment was poor and died on day 16 of hospitalization. The autopsy performed revealed microthrombi in the glomeruli and tubulonecrosis in the kidneys. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of TMA in association with the use of S-1 and cisplatin. Therapists have to take account of TMA when using S-1 and cisplatin treatment.

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INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a low platelet count and normal bone marrow. Patients with ITP undergoing surgery are thought to have increased risk for postoperative complications because of their thrombocytopenia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: we report the case of a 66-year-old woman with ITP who required an emergency operation for acute appendicitis associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Preoperative therapy consisted of platelet transfusions only, and intraoperative hemostasis was achieved. Postoperatively, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy led to an increased, stable, and adequate platelet count and good hemostasis. DISCUSSION: The outcome of this case suggests that IVIg therapy is not always required for preoperative management of patients with. CONCLUSION: IVIg therapy may be useful for postoperative management after emergency surgery.

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PURPOSE: Little has been reported on routine prophylactic abdominal drainage after gastrectomy, especially after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). We conducted this retrospective study on patients undergoing LADG to evaluate the benefit of routine drainage in LADG procedures. METHODS: The subjects were 21 patients who underwent surgery for early gastric cancer (EGC) between January 2004 and March 2008. They comprised 10 who underwent LADG with drainage before January 2006 and 11 who underwent LADG without drainage after February 2006. We compared patient and tumor characteristics, operative results, and postoperative outcomes between the groups. RESULTS: The no-drain group of patients were able to eat their first meal significantly sooner than the drain group patients (P < 0.01); however, the time to start ambulating, passing flatus, and drinking was similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in the postoperative complication rate or the postoperative hospital stay. The drain did not seem to add benefit, and no complications due to the lack of drain placement were noted in the no-drain group. CONCLUSION: Routine prophylactic abdominal drainage after LADG for EGC may not be necessary.

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AIM: As techniques in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) have improved, the role of routine prophylactic abdominal drainage may be limited. A retrospective review was carried out of patients undergoing elective LC to evaluate the benefit of routine drainage in simple uncomplicated procedures. METHODS: This study of 295 patients with cholecystolithiasis or gallbladder polyp included 145 patients who underwent LC with drainage and 150 patients who underwent LC without drainage between 2003 and 2007. Allocation to drain or not to drain was non-randomized and based on surgeon preference according to intraoperative findings. Patient characteristics, operative results, and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups with univariate analysis. RESULTS: Time to first flatus and length of postoperative hospital stay in the LC without drainage group were shorter than in the LC with drainage group. There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to postoperative complication rate. No complications were noted due to the lack of drain placement. CONCLUSION: The use of drain after simple elective uncomplicated LC could safely be limited to appropriate patients as judged by the operating surgeon.

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A complete resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) producing the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was performed and is reported here. The patient had a few general symptoms and complications, such as the paraneoplastic syndrome. He had marked granulocytosis, and his serum levels of G-CSF and interleukin-6 were elevated. The pathological findings of the resected specimen revealed poorly differentiated HCC with sarcomatous change and showed, immunohistochemically, staining of G-CSF. Only a few cases of G-CSF-producing HCC have been reported, and they resulted in rapid tumour growth and poor prognosis. The case presented here may be the first complete resection ever performed, but the patient's prognosis was similar to that observed in typical cases.

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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer patients without lymph node metastasis usually show a favorable prognosis with low recurrence rates; however, there is an increased risk of the development of a second primary cancer. Understanding the features of a second primary cancer is important to establish an effective postoperative follow-up program for colorectal cancer without lymph node metastasis. METHODOLOGY: The clinicopathological data on 801 patients with Dukes' A and Dukes' B colorectal cancer were examined in respect to second primary cancer. RESULTS: In patients with Dukes' A cancer, the incidences of recurrence and second primary cancer were similar. When tumor invasion was limited within subserosa in Dukes' B patients, the incidence of a second primary cancer was almost two-thirds that of recurrence. More than half of the second primary cancers again developed from the colorectum, followed by stomach and lung. CONCLUSIONS: When colorectal cancer patients without lymph node metastasis show tumor invasion limited within the subserosa, postoperative follow-up should monitor a balance of recurrence with a second primary cancer.

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BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study investigates the effect of prostacyclin, which is thought to be involved in the hemodynamic circulation, on the gastric mucosa of rats with portal hypertension. METHODOLOGY: Various gastric functions were evaluated in portal vein ligated rats after the intraperitoneal administration of either a placebo or prostacyclin for 7 days. RESULTS: The gastric mucosal damage induced by the instillation of 90% ethanol was significantly greater in the prostacyclin-treated group than in placebo-treated group. The portal pressure was similar in both groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in plasma concentration of 6-keto-PGF1a (a stable metabolite of prostacyclin), whereas the mucosal content of 6-keto-PGF1a was significantly higher in the prostacyclin-treated group than in the placebo-treated group. Prostacyclin pretreatment significantly increased the gastric mucosal blood flow, estimated by laser-Doppler flowmetry, and the hemoglobin content of the gastric mucosa, measured by reflectance spectrophotometry, whereas the oxygen content remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that the increased gastric mucosal perfusion induced by a high content of prostacyclin in the portal hypertensive gastric mucosa may play a role in the pathogenesis of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage.

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