Scoring system supporting suture decision-making for duodenal submucosal tumors

BACKGROUND In recent years,endoscopic resection(ER)has been employed for the excision of submucosal tumors(SMTs).Nonetheless,ER in the duodenum is linked to ele-vated risks of both immediate and delayed hemorrhagic complications and perforations.Satisfactory suturing is crucial for reducing the occurrence of complications.AIM To establish a clinical score model for supporting suture decision-making of duodenal SMTs.METHODS This study included 137 individuals diagnosed with duodenal SMTs who under-went ER.Participants were evenly divided into two groups:A training cohort(TC)comprising 95 cases and an internal validation cohort(VC)with 42 cases.Subsequently,a scoring system was formulated utilizing multivariate logistic regression analysis within the TC,which was then subjected to evaluation in the VC.RESULTS The clinical scoring system incorporated two key factors:Extraluminal growth,which was assigned 2 points,and endoscopic full-thickness resection,which was given 3 points.This model demonstrated strong predictive accuracy,as evidenced by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.900(95%confidence interval:0.823-0.976).Additionally,the model’s goodness-of-fit was validated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test(P=0.404).The probability of purse-string suturing in low(score 0-2)and high(score>3)categories were 3.0%and 64.3%in the TC,and 6.1%and 88.9%in the VC,respectively.CONCLUSION This scoring system may function as a beneficial instrumentality for medical practitioners,facilitating the decision-making process concerning suture techniques in the context of duodenal SMTs.

Innovative approaches in predicting outcomes for rectal neuroendocrine tumors

Rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms pose significant challenges due to their varied presentations and prognoses.Traditional prognostic models,while useful,often fall short of accurately predicting clinical outcomes for these patients.This article discusses the development and implications of a novel prognostic tool,the GATIS score,which aims to enhance predictive accuracy and guide treatment strategies more effectively than current methods.Utilizing data from a large cohort and employing sophisticated statistical models,the GATIS score integrates clinical and pathological markers to provide a nuanced assessment of prognosis.We evaluate the potential of this score to transform clinical decision-making processes,its integration into current medical practices,and future directions for its develo-pment.The integration of genetic markers and other biomarkers could further refine its predictive power,highlighting the ongoing need for innovation in the management of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Hepatic hemangiomas mimicking gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A case report

BACKGROUND Hepatic hemangiomas can be challenging to diagnose,particularly when they present with atypical features that mimic other conditions,such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs).This case highlights the diagnostic difficulties encountered when imaging subepithelial lesions,especially when conventional methods such as computed tomography(CT)and endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)are used.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old woman presented with intermittent abdominal distension and heartburn for three months.Her medical history included iron deficiency anemia,menorrhagia,and previous cholecystectomy.One week prior to admission,an endoscopy suggested a bulging gastric fundus,which was likely a GIST,along with chronic nonatrophic gastritis and bile reflux.CT and EUS revealed nodules in the gastric fundus,which were initially considered benign tumors with a differential diagnosis of stromal tumor or leiomyoma.During surgery,unexpected lesions were found in the liver pressing against the gastric fundus,leading to laparoscopic liver resection.Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of hepatic cavernous hemangiomas.The patient recovered well and was discharged five days later,with normal follow-up results at three months.CONCLUSION This case underscores the challenges in the preoperative diagnosis of GISTs,particularly the limitations of the use of CT and EUS for the evaluation of subepithelial lesions.While CT is the primary tool for visualizing abdominal tumors,it is difficult to detect smaller lesions and assess the layers of the gastrointestinal wall on CT.EUS is recommended for the evaluation of nodules smaller than 2 cm and is useful for distinguishing GISTs from other lesions;however,its accuracy with regard to the differential diagnosis is relatively low.In this case,the gastric distension observed on imaging led to the compression of a liver tumor against the stomach,resulting in the misinterpretation of the tumor as a gastric wall lesion.

Rectal neuroendocrine tumors: Can we predict their behavior?

Rectal neuroendocrine tumors(r-NETs)are the second most common type of neuroendocrine tumor in the gastrointestinal tract,with an increase in incidence in the last decades.They are low-grade tumors and,given their low risk of meta-stasis,current guidelines recommend endoscopic resection for small lesions.The GATIS predicting score,proposed by Zeng et al,represents an innovative model designed to predict individualized survival outcomes for patients with r-NETs,analyzing the relationship between clinicopathological features and patient prog-noses.The authors identified tumor grade,T stage,tumor size,age,and progno-stic nutritional index as key prognostic factors,demonstrating that the GATIS Score provides a more accurate prognosis assessment compared to the World Health Organization classification or the tumor-node-metastasis staging system.Nevertheless,further larger prospective studies are necessary,and the scientific community's efforts in this context should be directed toward developing interna-tional multicentric prospective studies,with the ultimate aim of accurately de-fining and understanding the behavior of these conditions.

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors with diffuse membranous distribution with bleeding:A case report

BACKGROUND Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors(EGIST)and gastrointestinal stromal tumors are of similar pathological type and form.Here we report a rare case of EGIST diffusely distributed in membranous tissue in abdominal cavity,the feature of which included diffuse tumors at membranous tissue in entire abdominal cavity and spontaneous bleeding of the tumors.CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 71-year man and hospitalized due to continuous pain at lower abdomen for more than 10 days.Upon physical examination,the patient had flat and tough abdomen with mild pressing pain at lower abdomen,no obvious abdominal mass was touchable,and shifting dullness was positive.Positron emission tomography-computed tomography(CT)showed that in his peritoneal cavity,there were multiple nodules of various sizes,seroperitoneum,multiple enlarged lymph nodes in abdominal/pelvic cavity and right external ilium as well as pulmonary nodules.Plain CT scanning at epigastrium/hypogastrium/pelvic cavity+enhanced three-dimensional reconstruction revealed multiple soft tissue nodules in abdominal/pelvic cavity,peritoneum and right groin.Tumor marker of carbohydrate antigen 125 was 808 U/mL,diffuse tuberous tumor was seen in abdominal/pelvic cavity during operation with hematocelia,and postoperative pathological examination confirmed EGIST.Imatinib was administered with better therapeutic effect.CONCLUSION Gene testing showed breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 interacting protein C-terminal helicase 1 and KIT genovariation,and the patient was treated with imatinib follow-up visit found that his clinical symptoms disappeared and the tumor load alleviated obviously via imageological examination.

Pancreatic primitive neuroectodermal tumors:Clinical features,treatment,and influencing factors

BACKGROUND Data on clinical characteristics,treatment outcomes,and prognosis of pancreatic primitive neuroectodermal tumors(PNETs)are limited.AIM To analyze the clinical data of 30 patients with pancreatic PNETs to identify their clinical characteristics and factors associated with prognosis.METHODS We used the keywords"primary neuroectodermal tumor,""digestive tract,""pancreas,""pancreatic,"and"gastrointestinal,"individually or in combination,to collect data from a global database for all patients with pancreatic PNET to date.Univariate and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for patient survival.RESULTS A total of 30 cases of pancreatic PNET were included in this study:15 males and 15 females with a mean age of 24 years.The main symptom was abdominal pain(73.3%),and the median tumor size was 7.85 cm.Twenty-four patients(80.0%)underwent surgery and nineteen patients received adjuvant therapy.Local metastasis was observed in 13 patients(43.3%),lymph node metastasis in 10 patients(33.3%),and distant metastasis in 6 patients(20.0%).Local recurrence was observed in 13 patients(43.3%).The median survival time of all patients was 29.4 months,and the overall estimated 1-year and 3-year survival rates were approximately 66.0%and 36.4%,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that chemotherapy(P=0.036),local metastasis(P=0.041),lymph node metastasis(P=0.003),distant metastasis(P=0.049),and surgical margins(P=0.048)were the prognostic factors affecting survival.Multivariate analysis revealed only lymph node metastasis(P=0.012)as a prognostic factor.CONCLUSION Pancreatic PNET is extremely rare,occurs in young adults,has no apparent sex predisposition,has a high rate of metastasis and early recurrence,and has a very poor prognosis.The diagnosis of pancreatic PNET requires a combination of clinical symptoms,pathologic features,immunohistochemistry,and cytogenetic analysis.Univariate analysis suggested that chemotherapy,metastasis,and surgical margins were prognostic factors affecting survival,and multivariate analysis suggested that lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor.Therefore,early diagnosis,early and extensive resection,and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy may help improve prognosis.

Precision oncology: The role of minimally-invasive ablation therapy in the management of solid organ tumors

Solid organ tumors present a significant healthcare challenge,both economically and logistically,due to their high incidence and treatment complexity.In 2023,out of the 1.9 million new cancer cases in the United States,over 73%were solid organ tumors.Ablative therapies offer minimally invasive solutions for malignant tissue destruction in situ,often with reduced cost and morbidity compared to surgical resection.This review examines the current Food and Drug Administration-approved locoregional ablative therapies(radiofrequency,microwave,cryogenic,high-intensity focused ultrasound,histotripsy)and their evolving role in cancer care.Data were collected through a comprehensive survey of the PubMed-inde-xed literature on tumor ablation techniques,their clinical indications,and outco-mes.Over time,emerging clinical data will help establish these therapies as the standard of care in solid organ tumor treatment,supported by improved long-term outcomes and progression-free survival.

Relationship between gastric mucosal atrophy by endoscopy and non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors(NADETs)is not fully understood.NADETs that express gastric-type mucin phenotypes(GNADETs)are noteworthy because of their high malignancy.Gastric foveolar metaplasia,from which G-NADETs originate,protects the duodenal mucosa from gastric acidity.As gastric acid secretion is affected by endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy(EGMA),we hypothesized that EGMA would be associated with GNADETs.AIM To evaluate the association between EGMA and the occurrence of G-NADETs.METHODS This cross-sectional retrospective study investigated the relationship between EGMA and NADETs in 134 patients.The duodenum was divided into parts 1(bulb),2(superior duodenal angle to the papilla),and 3(anal side of the papilla to the horizontal part).The effects of gastric acidity and presence of Brunner’s glands were considered.EGMA was divided into types C(no or mild atrophy)and O(severe atrophy).Mucin phenotype expressions in NADETs were divided into gastric,intestinal,gastrointestinal,and unclassifiable.RESULTS When NADETs were classified according to EGMA,105 were classified as type C and 29 as type O.G-NADETs were present in 11.9%(16 cases)of all cases,and all 16 cases were of type C.Among G-NADETs,93.8%(15 cases)were present in part 1 or 2.There was an association between G-NADETs and type C in part 1,and 50.0%(eight of 16 cases)of G-NADETs were associated with a current or previous Helicobacter pylori infection status.Additionally,all eight cases occurred in part 1.CONCLUSION G-NADETs were significantly associated with type C.Gastric acidity and Brunner's gland growth may be associated with G-NADETs.

Humanistic and graded psychological nursing care for patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastrointestinal tumors

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has become a widely accepted,minimally invasive treatment for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.It has been reported that humanistic nursing care with graded psychological interventions can effectively enhance patients’physical activity in patients,reduce postoperative complications,and improve their postoperative quality of life.AIM To investigate the effects of combining humanistic care with graded psychological support on nursing satisfaction and quality of life in patients undergoing ESD for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 180 patients who underwent ESD surgery for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors at our hospital between March 2021 and February 2023.Patients were allocated into groups based on the nursing care they received:The control group,which received routine care(n=90),and the observation group,which was subjected to humanistic nursing care in combination with graded psychological support(n=90).Patient anxiety and depression were assessed using the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and self-rating depression scale(SDS).Quality of life was evaluated using the shortform 36 health survey,and additional indications such as time to first food intake,surgery duration,length of hospital stay,nursing satisfaction,and adverse reactions were also recorded.Data was analyzed using SPSS22.0,with t-tests employed for continuous variables andχ2 tests for categorical data.RESULTS Patients in the observation group experienced significantly shorter times to first postoperative meal,surgery,and hospital stay compared to the control group.After the intervention,the SAS score of the observation group was 43.17±5.68,and the SDS score was 41.57±6.52,both significantly lower than those of the control group,with SAS score of 52.38±5.21 and SDS score of 51.23±8.25.In addition,the observation group scored significantly higher in daily living,physical function,psychological well-being,and social functioning(80.01±6.39,83.59±6.89,81.69±5.34,and 85.23±6.05,respectively).Moreover,the observation group also exhibited higher satisfaction and selfefficacy scores and a lower incidence of adverse reactions compared to the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION For patients undergoing ESD for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors,humanistic nursing care in combination with graded psychological nursing care significantly shorten the times to first postoperative meal,surgery,and hospital stay,effectively alleviates anxiety and depression,improves quality of life and nursing satisfaction,and mitigate the incidence of adverse reactions.

Nationwide questionnaire survey on pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan

BACKGROUND Pediatric pancreatic tumors are rare and account for<0.1%of all childhood cancers.The primary treatment for pancreatic tumors is surgical resection.However,because of the lack of knowledge regarding pediatric pancreatic tumors,no comprehensive treatment plans for pediatric pancreatic tumors have been developed.AIM To compared the clinical features,treatment methods,and prognosis of pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan with those in other countries.METHODS Questionnaires were sent to 213 pediatric surgical units in Japan.Pancreatic tumors that were not surgically treated were excluded from the survey.The primary survey investigated the number of patients aged 0-18 years who underwent pancreatic tumor surgery and the type of tumors managed during the 22-year study period(from January 1,2000 to December 31,2021)by post card.The secondary survey assessed the clinical images,treatment methods,and tumor outcomes via email.RESULTS The primary survey enrolled 228 patients.In the secondary survey,213 patients were eventually enrolled.The most common type of pancreatic tumor was solid pseudopapillary neoplasm(SPN)[n=164(77.0%)],followed by pancreatoblastoma[n=16(7.5%)],pancreatic endocrine tumor[n=14(6.6%)],non-epithelial tumor[n=9(4.2%)],pancreatic tumor[n=7(3.3%)],and metastatic pancreatic tumor[n=3(1.4%)].Overall,123(57.7%)patients underwent distal pancreatectomy,of whom 49 underwent laparoscopic surgery.Forty-four(20.7%)patients underwent enucleation,of whom eight underwent laparoscopic surgery.Thirty-two(15.0%)patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy,of whom one underwent laparoscopic surgery.All patients with SPN,including those with distant metastases and recurrent disease,survived.CONCLUSION SPN was more common in Japan than in other countries.Regardless of the histological type,resection is the most effective treatment for pediatric pancreatic tumors.

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors in 2020

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are rare slow-growing tumors with distinct histological,biological,and clinical characteristics that have increased in incidence and prevalence within the last few decades.They contain chromogranin A,synaptophysin and neuron-specific enolase which are necessary for making a diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor.Ki-67 index and mitotic index correlate with cellular proliferation.Serum chromogranin A is the most commonly used biomarker to assess the bulk of disease and monitor treatment and is raised in both functioning and non-functioning neuroendocrine tumors.Most of the gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are non-functional.World Health Organization updated the classification of neuroendocrine tumors in 2017 and renamed mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma into mixed neuroendocrine neoplasm.Gastric neuroendocrine tumors arise from enterochromaffin like cells.They are classified into 4 types.Only type I and type II are gastrin dependent.Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumor is the most common small bowel malignancy.More than two-third of them occur in the terminal ileum within 60 cm of ileocecal valve.Patients with small intestinal neuroendrocrine tumors frequently show clinical symptoms and develop distant metastases more often than those with neuroendocrine tumors of other organs.Duodenal and jejunoileal neuroendocrine tumors are distinct biologically and clinically.Carcinoid syndrome generally occurs when jejuno-ileal neuroendocrine tumors metastasize to the liver.Appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors are generally detected after appendectomy.Colonic neuroendocrine tumors generally present as a large tumor with local or distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis.Rectal neuroendocrine tumors are increasingly being diagnosed since the implementation of screening colonoscopy in 2000.Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors are diagnosed and staged by endoscopy with biopsy,endoscopic ultrasound,serology of biomarkers,imaging studies and functional somatostatin scans.Various treatment options are available for curative and palliative treatment of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.

Hepatic perivascular epithelioid cell tumors:The importance of preoperative diagnosis

Accurate preoperative diagnosis is highly important for the treatment of perivascular epithelioid cell tumors(PEComas)because PEComas are mainly benign tumors and may not require surgical intervention.By analyzing the causes,properties and clinical manifestations of PEComas,we summarize the challenges and solutions in the diagnosis of PEComas.

Endoscopic“calabash”ligation and resection for small gastric mesenchymal tumors

BACKGROUND Gastric mesenchymal tumors(GMT)are identified as soft tissue neoplasms that arise from mesenchymal stem cells within the gastrointestinal tract.GMT pri-marily encompass gastric stromal tumors(GST),gastric leiomyomas,and gastric schwannomas.Although most GMT are benign,there are still potential malignant changes,especially GST.Thus,early surgical intervention is the primary treat-ment for GMT.We have designed a simple endoscopic“calabash”ligation and resection(ECLR)procedure to treat GMT.Its efficacy and safety need to be com-pared with those of traditional endoscopic techniques,such as endoscopic sub-mucosal excavation(ESE).AIM To assess the safety and effectiveness of ECLR in managing small GMT(sGMT)with a maximum diameter≤20 mm by comparing to ESE.METHODS This retrospective analysis involved patients who were hospitalized in our institution between November 2021 and March 2023,underwent endoscopic resection,and received a pathological diagnosis of GMT.Cases with a tumor diameter≤20 mm were chosen and categorized into two cohorts:Study and control groups.The study group was composed of patients treated with ECLR,whereas the control group was composed of those treated with ESE.Data on general clinical characteristics(gender,age,tumor diameter,tumor growth direction,tumor pathological type,and risk grade),surgery-related information(complete tumor resection rate,operation duration,hospitalization duration,hospitalization cost,and surgical complications),and postoperative follow-up were collected for both groups.The aforementioned data were subsequently analyzed and compared.RESULTS Five hundred and eighty-nine individuals were included,with 297 cases in the control group and 292 in the study group.After propensity score matching,the final analysis incorporated 260 subjects in each cohort.The findings indicated that the study group exhibited shorter operation duration and lowered medical expenses relative to the control group.Furthermore,the study group reported less postoperative abdominal pain and had a lower incidence of intraoperative perforation and postoperative electrocoagulation syndrome than the control group.There were no substantial variations observed in other parameters among the two cohorts.CONCLUSION ECLR is a viable and effective approach for managing sGMT.

Clinicopathological and molecular insights into odontogenic tumors associated with syndromes:A comprehensive review

The association between genetic syndromes and odontogenic tumors encompasses several entities,reflecting the intricate interplay between genetic factors and the development of these lesions.The present study aimed to comprehensively investigate the associations between genetic syndromes and odontogenic tumors.We delineated the diverse spectrum of syndromic connections,including key syndromes such as Gardner syndrome,Gorlin syndrome,Schimmelpenning syndrome,and others.Our findings underscore the clinical significance of recognizing odontogenic tumors associated with genetic syndromes as diagnostic indicators for early intervention.We advocate for multidisciplinary collaboration among clinicians,geneticists,and researchers to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving these syndromic associations.In light of this,our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge in dentistry and medical genetics,offering insights that may inform clinical practice and enhance patient care for individuals affected by genetic syndromes and odontogenic tumors.

Metformin and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Most patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors(pNETs)die due to tumor progression.Therefore,identifying new therapies with low toxicity and good tolerability to use concomitantly with the established pNET treatment is relevant.In this perspective,metformin is emerging as a molecule of interest.Retrospective studies have described metformin,a widely used agent for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),to be effective in modulating different tumor-related events,including cancer incidence,recurrence and survival by inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation.This systematic review evaluates the role of T2DM and metformin in the insurgence and post-treatment outcomes in patients with pNET.AIM To systematically analyze and summarize evidence related to the diagnostic and prognostic value of T2DM and metformin for predicting the insurgence and posttreatment outcomes of pNET.METHODS A systematic review of the published literature was undertaken,focusing on the role of T2DM and metformin in insurgence and prognosis of pNET,measured through outcomes of tumor-free survival(TFS),overall survival and progression free survival.RESULTS A total of 13 studies(5674 patients)were included in this review.Analysis of 809 pNET cases from five retrospective studies(low study heterogeneity with I^(2)=0%)confirms the correlation between T2DM and insurgence of pNET(OR=2.13,95%CI=1.56-4.55;P<0.001).The pooled data from 1174 pNET patients showed the correlation between T2DM and post-treatment TFS in pNET patients(hazard ratio=1.84,95%CI=0.78-2.90;P<0.001).The study heterogeneity was intermediate,with I^(2)=51%.A few studies limited the possibility of performing pooled analysis in the setting of metformin;therefore,results were heterogeneous,with no statistical relevance to the use of this drug in the diagnosis and prognosis of pNET.CONCLUSION T2DM represents a risk factor for the insurgence of pNET and is a significant predictor of poor post-treatment TFS of pNET patients.Unfortunately,a few studies with heterogeneous results limited the possibility of exploring the effect of metformin in the diagnosis and prognosis of pNET.

Double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following endoscopic resection of large(≥3 cm)gastric submucosal tumors

BACKGROUND Endoscopic full-thickness resection(EFTR)of gastric submucosal tumors(SMTs)is safe and effective;however,postoperative wound management is equally important.Literature on suturing following EFTR for large(≥3 cm)SMTs is scarce and limited.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and clinical value of double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following EFTR of large(≥3 cm)SMTs.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data of 85 patients with gastric SMTs in the fundus of the stomach or in the lesser curvature of the gastric body whose wounds were treated with double-nylon purse-string sutures after successful tumor resection at the Endoscopy Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.The operative,postoperative,and follow-up conditions of the patients were evaluated.RESULTS All tumors were completely resected using EFTR.36(42.35%)patients had tumors located in the fundus of the stomach,and 49(57.65%)had tumors located in the body of the stomach.All patients underwent suturing with double-nylon sutures after EFTR without laparoscopic assistance or further surgical treatment.Postoperative fever and stomach pain were reported in 13(15.29%)and 14(16.47%)patients,respectively.No serious adverse events occurred during the intraoperative or postoperative periods.A postoperative review of all patients revealed no residual or recurrent lesions.CONCLUSION Double-nylon purse-string sutures can be used to successfully close wounds that cannot be completely closed with a single nylon suture,especially for large(≥3 cm)EFTR wounds in SMTs.

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine tumors:The quest for evidence

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms(MiNENs)are rare mixed tumors containing both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine components that occupy at least 30%of the whole tumor.Biologically,both components appear to derive from an identical cellular precursor undergoing early dual differentiation or late transdifferentiation.While our understanding of MiNENs has improved in recent years,many areas of uncertainty remain.In this context,setting diagnostic criteria capable of capturing the continuum of disease biology while providing clinically meaningful information in terms of prognosis and response to treatments appears vital to advance the field and improve patients’outcomes.Evidence is needed to generate robust classification schemes,and multi-institutional cooperation will likely play a crucial role in building adequately powered cohorts to address some of the most pressing questions discussed in this Editorial.What is the minimum representation for each component needed to define MiNENs?How can the epidemiology of MiNENs change according to different diagnostic definitions?How can we generate the clinical evidence nee-ded to optimize the management of MiNENs?

Two different mutational types of familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract,and cases of GISTs tend to be of the disseminated type,with a global incidence of 10 to 15 cases/million each year.The rarer familial GISTs,which often represent a population,differ in screening,diagnosis,and treatment.Familial GISTs include primary familial GISTs with predominantly KIT/PDGFRA mutations and wild-type GISTs.However,whether the same genetic family has different phenotypes has not been reported.CASE SUMMARY We report two cases of rare GISTs in the same family:A male patient with the V561D mutation in exon 12 of the PDGFRA gene,who has been taking the targeted drug imatinib since undergoing surgery,and a female patient diagnosed with wild-type GIST,who has been taking imatinib for 3 years since undergoing surgery.The favorable prognosis of these patients during the 7-year follow-up period validates the accuracy of our treatment strategy,and we have refined the entire process of diagnosis and treatment of familial GISTs in order to better manage this rare familial disease.CONCLUSION Different mutation types of familial GISTs in the same family are very rare,thus it is very important to make the correct diagnosis and treatment strategies according to the results of molecular detection for the management of familial GISTs.

Effects and mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori infection on the occurrence of extra-gastric tumors

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)colonizes the human stomach and many studies have discussed the mechanisms of H.pylori infection leading to gastric diseases,including gastric cancer.Additionally,increasing data have shown that the infection of H.pylori may contribute to the development of extra-gastric diseases and tumors.Inflammation,systemic immune responses,microbiome disorders,and hypergastrinemia caused by H.pylori infection are associated with many extra-gastric malignancies.This review highlights recent discoveries;discusses the relationship between H.pylori and various extra-gastric tumors,such as colorectal cancer,lung cancer,cholangiocarcinoma,and gallbladder carcinoma;and explores the mechanisms of extra-gastric carcinogenesis by H.pylori.Overall,these findings refine our understanding of the pathogenic processes of H.pylori,provide guidance for the clinical treatment and management of H.pylori-related extra-gastric tumors,and help improve prognosis.

Initial experience with robot-assisted adrenalectomy for giant adrenal tumors

Dear Editor,Adrenocortical carcinomas and adrenal cysts,including pseudocysts,are uncommon tumors[1,2].No consistent approach to surgery for large adrenal tumors including cysts,has been established,and especially when malignancy is suspected,consideration is still given to the option of laparotomy.Using robot-assisted surgery,we successfully performed the resection of a giant adrenal pseudocyst and a giant adrenocortical carcinoma,as reported previously[3],underlining the advantages of robot-assisted surgery for large adrenal tumors.