Double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography improves diagnostic accuracy of T staging compared with multi-detector computed tomography in gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is the most common malignant tumor and ranks third for cancer-related deaths among the worldwide.The disease poses a serious public health problem in China,ranking fifth for incidence and third for mortality.Knowledge of the invasive depth of the tumor is vital to treatment decisions.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic performance of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(DCEUS)for preoperative T staging in patients with GC by comparing with multi-detector computed tomography(MDCT).METHODS This single prospective study enrolled patients with GC confirmed by preoperative gastroscopy from July 2021 to March 2023.Patients underwent DCEUS,including ultrasonography(US)and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS),and MDCT examinations for the assessment of preoperative T staging.Features of GC were identified on DCEUS and criteria developed to evaluate T staging according to the 8th edition of AJCC cancer staging manual.The diagnostic performance of DCEUS was evaluated by comparing it with that of MDCT and surgical-pathological findings were considered as the gold standard.RESULTS A total of 229 patients with GC(80 T1,33 T2,59 T3 and 57 T4)were included.Overall accuracies were 86.9%for DCEUS and 61.1%for MDCT(P<0.001).DCEUS was superior to MDCT for T1(92.5%vs 70.0%,P<0.001),T2(72.7%vs 51.5%,P=0.041),T3(86.4%vs 45.8%,P<0.001)and T4(87.7%vs 70.2%,P=0.022)staging of GC.CONCLUSION DCEUS improved the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative T staging in patients with GC compared with MDCT,and constitutes a promising imaging modality for preoperative evaluation of GC to aid individualized treatment decision-making.

Lymph node dissection does not affect the survival of patients with tumor node metastasis stages Ⅰ and Ⅱ colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND The effect of the number of lymph node dissections(LNDs)during radical resection for colorectal cancer(CRC)on overall survival(OS)remains controver-sial.AIM To investigate the association between the number of LNDs and OS in patients with tumor node metastasis(TNM)stage Ⅰ–Ⅱ CRC undergoing radical resection.METHODS Patients who underwent radical resection for CRC at a single-center hospital between January 2011 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the independent predictors of OS at different T stages.RESULTS A total of 2850 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection for CRC were enrolled.At stage T1,age[P<0.01,hazard ratio(HR)=1.075,95%confidence interval(CI):1.019-1.134]and tumour size(P=0.021,HR=3.635,95%CI:1.210-10.917)were independent risk factors for OS.At stage T2,age(P<0.01,HR=1.064,95%CI:1.032-1.098)and overall complications(P=0.012,HR=2.297,95%CI:1.200-4.397)were independent risk factors for OS.At stage T3,only age(P<0.01,HR=1.047,95%CI:1.027-1.066)was an independent risk factor for OS.At stage T4,age(P<0.01,HR=1.057,95%CI:1.039-1.075)and body mass index(P=0.034,HR=0.941,95%CI:0.890-0.995)were independent risk factors for OS.However,there was no association between LNDs and OS in stages Ⅰ and Ⅱ.CONCLUSION The number of LDNs did not affect the survival of patients with TNM stages Ⅰ and Ⅱ CRC.Therefore,insufficient LNDs should not be a cause for alarm during the surgery.

Preoperative evaluation of colorectal cancer using CT colonography, MRI, and PET/CT

Imaging studies are a major component in the evaluation of patients for the screening,staging and surveillance of colorectal cancer.This review presents commonly encountered findings in the diagnosis and staging of patients with colorectal cancer using computed tomography(CT)colonography,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and positron emission tomography(PET)/CT colonography.CT colonography provides important information for the preoperative assessment of T staging.Wall deformities are associated with muscular or subserosal invasion.Lymph node metastases from colorectal cancer often present with calcifications.CT is superior to detect calcified metastases.Three-dimensional CT to image the vascular anatomy facilitates laparoscopic surgery.T staging of rectal cancer by MRI is an established modality because MRI can diagnose rectal wall laminar structure.N staging in patients with colorectal cancer is still challenging using any imaging modality.MRI is more accurate than CT for the evaluation of liver metastases.PET/CT colonography isvaluable in the evaluation of extra-colonic and hepatic disease.PET/CT colonography is useful for obstructing colorectal cancers that cannot be traversed colonoscopically.PET/CT colonography is able to localize synchronous colon cancers proximal to the obstruction precisely.However,there is no definite evidence to support the routine clinical use of PET/CT colonography.

Better prognostic determination of cT3 rectal cancer through measurement of distance to mesorectal fascia:A multicenter study

Objective:To forward the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)based distance between the deepest tumor invasion and mesorectal fascia(DMRF),and to explore its prognosis differentiation value in cT3 stage rectal cancer with comparison of cT3 substage.Methods:This was a retrospective,multicenter cohort study including cT3 rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery from January 2013 to September 2014.DMRF and cT3 substage were evaluated from baseline MRI.The cutoff of DMRF was determined by disease progression.Multivariate cox regression was used to test the prognostic values of baseline variables.Results:A total of 804 patients were included,of which 226(28.1%)developed progression.A DMRF cutoff of7 mm was chosen.DMRF category,the clock position of the deepest position of tumor invasion(CDTI)and extramural venous invasion(EMVI)were independent predictors for disease progression,and hazard ratios(HRs)were 0.26[95%confidence interval(95%CI),0.13-0.56],1.88(95%CI,1.33-2.65)and 1.57(95%CI,1.13-2.18),respectively.cT3 substage was not a predictor for disease progression.Conclusions:The measurement of DMRF value on baseline MRI can better distinguish cT3 rectal cancer prognosis rather than cT3 substage,and was recommended in clinical evaluation.

Short-and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic vs open surgery for T2 gallbladder cancer:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND With the development of laparoscopic techniques,gallbladder cancer(GBC)is no longer a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery(LS).Although LS is recommended for stage T1 GBC,the value of LS for stage T2 GBC is still controversial.AIM To evaluate the short-and long-term outcomes of LS in comparison to those of open surgery(OS)for stage T2 GBC.METHODS We searched the PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Ovid,Google Scholar,and Web of Science databases for published studies comparing the efficacy of LS and OS in the treatment of stage T2 GBC,with a cutoff date of September 2022.The Stata 15 statistical software was used for analysis.Relative risk(RR)and weighted mean difference(WMD)were calculated to assess binary and continuous outcome indicators,respectively.Begg’s test and Egger’s test were used for detecting publication bias.RESULTS A total of five studies were included,with a total of 297 patients,153 in the LS group and 144 in the OS group.Meta-analysis results showed that the LS group was better than the OS group in terms of operative time[WMD=-41.29,95%confidence interval(CI):-75.66 to-6.92,P=0.02],estimated blood loss(WMD=-261.96,95%CI:-472.60 to-51.31,P=0.01),and hospital stay(WMD=-5.67,95%CI:-8.53 to-2.81,P=0.0001),whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of blood transfusion(RR=0.60,95%CI:0.31-1.15,P=0.13),complications(RR=0.72,95%CI:0.39-1.33,P=0.29),number of lymph nodes retrieved(WMD=–1.71,95%CI:-4.27 to-0.84,P=0.19),recurrence(RR=0.41,95%CI:0.06-2.84,P=0.36),3-year and 5-year overall survival(RR=0.99,95%CI:0.82-1.18,P=0.89 and RR=1.02,95%CI:0.68-1.53,P=0.92;respectively),and 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival(RR=1.01,95%CI:0.84-1.21,P=0.93 and RR=1.15,95%CI:0.90-1.46,P=0.26;respectively).CONCLUSION The long-term outcomes of LS for T2 GBC are similar to those of OS,but LS is superior to OS in terms of operative time,intraoperative bleeding,and postoperative hospital stay.Nevertheless,these findings should be validated via high-quality randomized controlled trials and longer follow-ups.

Clinical value of extended lymphadenectomy in radical surgery for pancreatic head carcinoma at different T stages

BACKGROUND As the lymph-node metastasis rate and sites vary among pancreatic head carcinomas(PHCs)of different T stages,selective extended lymphadenectomy(ELD)performance may improve the prognosis of patients with PHC.AIM To investigate the effect of ELD on the long-term prognosis of patients with PHC of different T stages.METHODS We analyzed data from 216 patients with PHC who underwent surgery at our hospital between January 2011 and December 2021.The patients were divided into extended and standard lymphadenectomy(SLD)groups according to extent of lymphadenectomy and into T1,T2,and T3 groups according to the 8 th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s staging system.Perioperative data and prognoses were compared among groups.Risk factors associated with prognoses were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses.RESULTS The 1-,2-and 3-year overall survival(OS)rates in the extended and SLD groups were 69.0%,39.5%,and 26.8%and 55.1%,32.6%,and 22.1%,respectively(P=0.073).The 1-,2-and 3-year disease-free survival rates in the extended and SLD groups of patients with stage-T3 PHC were 50.3%,25.1%,and 15.1%and 22.1%,1.7%,and 0%,respectively(P=0.025);the corresponding OS rates were 65.3%,38.1%,and 21.8%and 36.1%,7.5%,and 0%,respectively(P=0.073).Multivariate analysis indicated that portal vein invasion and lymphadenectomy extent were risk factors for prognosis in patients with stage-T3 PHC.CONCLUSION ELD may improve the prognosis of patients with stage-T3 PHC and may be of benefit if performed selectively.

Misdiagnosis of an elevated lesion in the esophagus:A case report

BACKGROUND Esophageal carcinosarcoma(ECS) is a rare biphasic tumor and a type of esophageal malignancy,which presents as protruding or elevated lesions.ECS patients are often not hospitalized until they have severe dysphagia.ECS is easily misdiagnosed as a benign tumor due to its atypical characteristics under endoscopy.With the popularization of endoscopic treatment,these patients are often referred to endoscopic treatment,such as endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).However,there is a lack of consensus on the endoscopic features and therapies for ECS.Here,we report a case of ECS and discuss the value of endoscopic diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with dysphagia.During the endoscopic examination,an elevated lesion was found with an erosive and hyperemic surface covered with white pseudomembranous inflammation.Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS),biopsies,and enhanced thoracic computed tomography were performed,suggesting that it was a benign lesion and located within the submucosal layer.This lesion was diagnosed as a fibrovascular polyp with a Paris classification of 0-Ip.The patient was then referred to ESD treatment.However,the post-ESD pathological and immunohistochemical study showed that this lesion was ECS with a vertical positive margin(T1b stage),indicating that we made a misdiagnosis and achieved a noncurative resection.Due to the potential tumor residue,additional open surgery was performed at the patient’s request.In the postoperative pathological study,no tumor remnants or metastases were discovered.The patient was followed for 1 year and had no recurrence.CONCLUSION ECS can be misdiagnosed at the initial endoscopy.EUS can help to identify the tumor stage.Patients with T1b stage ECS cannot be routinely referred to ESD treatment due to the high risk of metastasis and recurrence rate.

Surgical outcomes in patients with T4 gastric carcinoma: a retrospective study of 162 patients

Objective: There is controversy about the best therapeutic surgical approach for treatment of patients with T4 gastric cancer. We evaluated the survival benefit of resection in this group of patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 288 patients with T4 gastric carcinoma to compare the clinicopathological results in patients with curative resection (n = 49) with patients with non-curative resection (n = 113) from 1980 to 2000. Results: Curative resection was performed in 49 (30.2%) patients, with the pancreas being the most frequently resected organ. The 5-year survival rate was 9.3% and the median survival time was 12 months for all 162 registered patients. The 5-year survival rates in patients after curative and non-curative resection were 14.3% vs 7.1% respectively. These values differed considerably between the two groups (P = 0.033). Operative type and curability were independent statistically significant prognostic parameters. Conclusion: Curability was an independent prognostic factor among all registered patients. Patients with T4 gastric carcinoma might be benefited from curative resection.

Selective Internal Iliac Artery Oxaliplatin Infusion： Another Facultative Treatment to Unremitting Hematuria in Stage T4 Bladder Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To observe and evaluate the value of utilizing selective internal iliac artery infusion and selective internal iliac artery embolization for the treatment of unremitting gross hematuria of stage T4 bladder carcinoma. METHODS Fifty-eight stage T4 bladder carcinoma patients were selected. The patients were grouped to the TAI group and the TAE group. The main symptom of hemorrhage was gross hematuria. None of the patients in our study could receive trunk embolization. The infusion plan was oxaliplatin （100 mg/m2） and epirubicin （EPI 50mg/m2）. Embolization was done with coils or strips of gelatin sponge. The duration of gross hematuria was observed. Routine urinalysis and routine blood examination were performed. EORTC QLQ-C30 was used to evaluate the quality of life before and after treatment. RESULTS Gross hematuria and hematuria by light microscope in all patients were reviewed. Resolution time of gross hematuria in the TAI group was 6.7 ± 1.8 days and that in the TAE group was 3.5 ± 0.7 days. The changes in routine urianlysis, routine blood examination and EORTC QLQ-C30 are shown in Figs.l-3. Gross hematuria disappeared in both groups within 7 days after treatment, but the time for the gross hematuria to resolve in the TAE group was much less than that in TAI group （t = 2.51, P 〈 0.01）, and there were no significant differences in the 7th and 21st day between the 2 groups. On the 90th day, the number of erythrocytes in the urine was near 30, close to gross hematuria. The EORTC QLQ-C30 scores decreased after interventional therapy in both groups, which means that quality of life was increased, but there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Selective internal iliac artery infusion and selective internal iliac artery embolization are safe, and, in our study, therapeutic efficacy was satisfactory in treating unremitting gross hematuria of stage T4 bladder carcinoma in patients who could not receive trunk embolization. TAE can stop gross hematuria in the short term, but it can be used just once and the long-term therapeutic effect is not satisfactory. TAI had a therapeutic effect similar to TAE, but for a shorter duration, and TAI can be performed multiple times. TAI is one of the facultative treatments for treating gross hematuria of stage T4 bladder carcinoma.

Does lymph node dissection improve the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer?

The number of lymph nodes(LNs)dissected during surgery has become an interesting topic.Simple intuition always leads us to believe that dissecting more LNs will result in more accurate pathological staging and assurance of surgical quality.However,when the number of LNs dissected reaches a certain threshold,the patient’s prognosis does not continue to improve as the number of dissected nodes increases.Instead,an increase in the number of dissected LNs may be accompanied by a higher incidence of complications.Currently,there are only less than 40%of colorectal cancer patients undergoing adequate LN evaluation.Therefore,obtaining a sufficient number of LNs in clinical practice is extremely challenging.How to further address the insufficiency of LN dissection due to various reasons,which results in concerns of surgeons about patient prognosis,is currently a critical focus.