Indocyanine green fluorescence and three-dimensional imaging of right gastroepiploic artery in gastric tube cancer

A 79-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of cancer of the gastric tube.Gastrointestinal examination revealed a T1 b Union for International Cancer Control(UICC) tumor at the pyloric region of the gastric tube.Laparotomy did not reveal infiltration intothe serosa,peritoneal dissemination,regional lymph node swelling,or distant metastasis.We performed a distal gastrectomy preserving the right gastroepiploic artery by referencing the preoperative three-dimensional computed tomoangiography.We also evaluated the blood flow of the right gastroepiploic artery and in the proximal gastric tube by using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging intra-operatively and then followed with a gastrojejunal anastomosis with Roux-en-Y reconstruction.The definitive diagnosis was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gastric tube,pT 1bN 0M0,pS tage IA(UICC).His postoperative course was uneventful.Three-dimensional computed tomographic imaging is effective for assessing the course of blood vessels and the relationship with the surrounding structures.Intraoperative evaluation of blood flow of the right gastroepiploic artery and of the gastric tube in the anastomotic portion is very valuable information and could contribute to a safe gastrointestinal reconstruction.

An extremely rare case of pancreatic metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

We report a rare case of a 68-year-old male with metachronous pancreatic metastasis that was resected2 years after salvage esophagectomy for local recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).Two years and 8 mo ago,he had undergone definitive chemoradiotherapy for the lower thoracic ESCC and achieved a complete response.Chemoradiotherapy used the protocol of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial 9906.Approximately 8 mo later,he developed a local recurrence of the ESCC and underwent thoracoscopic salvage esophagectomy followed by reconstruction with a conduit colon graft via a subcutaneous route.Recently,a tumor of the pancreatic body was found on routine follow-up computed tomography(CT).The tumor diameter was 15 mm on CT,and the maximum standardized uptake value of the lesion was 5.49at 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron-emission tomography,strongly suggesting pancreatic cancer.In addition,all tumor markers were within the reference intervals.Therefore,distal pancreatectomy was performed with the resultant histological diagnosis being confirmed as pancreatic metastasis of the ESCC.He was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy,and there has been no evidence of recurrence 9 mo after the surgery.Resection of pancreatic metastasis offers a good prognosis and should be considered for solitary ESCC metastasis.

Use of water jet instruments in gastrointestinal endoscopy

In recent years, water jet instruments have been used in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy, mainly in two clinical situations: Investigation and treatment under endoscopic view. Injecting water jet into the gastrointestinal lumen is helpful for maintaining a clear endoscopic view, washing away blood or mucous in the lumen or on the surface of the tip of the endoscope. This contributes to reducing time and discomfort of examination. Water jet technology is an alternative method for dissecting soft tissue; this method does not harm the small vessels or cause mechanical or thermal damage. However, its use in clinical settings has been limited to the transmucosal injection of water into the submucosal layer that elevates the mucosa to prepare for endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection, instead of tissue dissection, which may occur because of the continuous water jet. A preclinical study has been conducted using a pulsed water jet system as an alternative method for submucosal dissection by reducing intraoperative water consumption and maintenance of dissection capability. This review introduces recent studies pertaining to using a water jet in gastrointestinal endoscopy and discusses future prospects.

Utility of an upright-type 11-gauge stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy device (Mammotome) for the diagnosis of breast microcalcifications

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of an upright-type 11-gauge stereotactic vacuumassisted biopsy device (Mammotome) for the diagnosis of breast microcalcifications Methods: Between May 2001 and October 2005, 154 biopsies in 152 patients with microcalcifications were performed using the upright-type 11-gauge stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy device. Patients in whom this biopsy was diagnosed as carcinoma or a borderline lesion, had a subsequent surgical excision of the lesion. Histopathological and radiological features of the two specimens were then compared with each other. Results: Microcalcification was identified on specimen mammograms and microscopic slides in 97.4% of cases. Of 154 Mammotome biopsies 98 (63.6%) were benign, 51 (33.1%) were malignant, 3 (1.9%) showed atypical hyperplasia, and 2 (1.3%) were indeterminate, respectively. Of the 48 cases that received surgical excision, 6 of 36 ductal carcinomas in situ (16.7%) upstaged to invasive ductal carcinoma and 1 of 2 atypical ductal hyperplasias was upstaged to ductal carcinoma in situ. The positive predictive value of the 11-gauge Mammotome for the diagnosis of invasion in breast cancer was 100%. Linear calcification and pleomorphic calcification linear/segmental distribution was reliable indications of malignancy. The mean follow-up time of the benign lesions was 22 months, and without evidence of lesion growth. Complications included vasovagal reactions (6.3%), bleeding (0.6%) and hematoma (2.6%). Conclusion: The upright stereotactic 11-gauge Mammotome procedure is an effective and reliable method for the diagnosis of breast microcalcifications. It has minimal side effects. For lesions diagnosed as ADH or DCIS with the 11-gauge Mammotome, subsequent surgical excision should be performed.