Objective To discuss the important role of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of mid-low rectal cancer. Methods From the surgical point of view, the evidences from clinic trials in literatures of recent years and also from the results of our single institution were analyzed. Results Preoperative radiotherapy with total dosage of 50 Gy had showed more and more advantages in the past two decades. Preoperative radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy had definite effects in downing stage and improving local control, while its role in sphincter preserving kept in controversy. However, this combined preoperative therapies had not improved long-term survival in rectal cancer. By now, there were no proper indicators to predict the effects of therapies. Conclusion Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is still the only way to improve the rate of R0 resection and decrease the rate of local currence after surgery for patients with mid-low advanced rectal cancer.
Objective To establish the optimal morphological criteria combined with fibrinogen level for evaluation of lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer. Methods A consecutive series of 690 patients who underwent curative surgery for colorectal cancer, were examined by abdominopelvic enhanced multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) scan. If regional lymph nodes appeared, the maximal long-axis diameter (MLAD), maximal short-axis diameter (MSAD), and axial ratio (MSAD/MLAD) were recorded. At each lymph node size cut-off value, the following were calculated: accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Moreover, preoperative plasma level of fibrinogen was retrospectively examined to identify metastatic or inflammatory lymph node combined with MSCT image. Both modalities, MSCT plus fibrinogen and MSCT alone, were compared based on the pathologic findings. Results The study population consisted of 100 patients with regional lymph nodes show. No significant difference was found between metastatic and inflammatory lymph nodes in imaging characteristics (Pgt;0.05). The best cut-off value of MSAD was 6 mm for lymph node metastasis with the sensitivity of 46.8%, specificity of 68.4%, accuracy of 55.0%, PPV of 70.7% and NPV of 44.1%. The best cut-off value of MLAD was 8 mm with the sensitivity of 43.5%, specificity of 63.2%, accuracy of 51.0%, PPV of 65.9% and NPV of 40.7%. Using hyperfibrinogenemia (FIB ≥3.5 g/L) to identify small metastatic lymph node, of which MSAD lt;6 mm or MLAD lt;8 mm, showed statistical diagnostic value (Kappa=0.256, P=0.047). Compared with MSAD (6 mm) alone, MSAD (6 mm) combined with hyperfibrinogenemia had a higher sensitivity (79.0% vs. 46.8%, Plt;0.001), but a similar accuracy (66.0% vs. 55.0%, Pgt;0.05) and a lower specificity (44.7% vs. 68.4%, P=0.037). MLAD (8 mm) combined with hyperfibrinogenemia led to a greater diagnostic value in sensitivity (80.6% vs. 43.5%, Plt;0.001) and accuracy (66.0% vs. 51.0%, P=0.031) than MLAD (8 mm) alone, with a no-significantly decreasing specificity (42.1% vs. 63.2%, Pgt;0.05). Conclusions This present study recommend MSAD ≥6 mm or MLAD ≥8 mm as the optimal criteria for preoperative N staging in colorectal cancer. Moreover, the sensitivity and even accuracy could be improved by combining hyperfibrinogenemia for lymph node metastasis identification.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer. MethodThe literatures about the research progress of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the advanced gastric cancer were reviewed. ResultsThe neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the advanced gastric cancer could significantly improve the R0 resection rate, improve the long-term survival rate, and reduce the risk of death.The course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer without distant metastasis generally was 6-9 weeks, and then according to the results of the curative effect evaluation to decide whether to undergo surgery treatment.Further the clinical research and improvement of chemotherapy sensitivity detection method were helpful to the unity of the standard of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. ConclusionsThe curative effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer is clear.But there is no uniform standard on such as indications, chemotherapy regimens, medication time, and curative effect evaluation index, and so on.It is still needed the further research of multicenter and large clinical trials.
ObjectiveTo study the preoperative evaluation value of serum tumor markers (CA72-4, CEA, CA199 and CA125) in patients with gastric cancer. MethodsSerum levels of tumor markers (CA72-4, CEA, CA199 and CA125) and clinical pathological data of 70 patients with gastric cancer before operation who underwent surgical treatment in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in June 2013 to 2014 June were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsThere were some connection between the concentration of the serum CA72-4 and the tumor diameter, TNM staging, invasion depth, and the number of lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), between CA199 and tumor size, TNM staging, and invasion depth (P < 0.05), between CEA, CA125 and tumor diameter, TNM staging and distant metastasis (P < 0.05), but the CA72-4, CA72-4, CEA and CA125 had nothing to do with patient' age and gender. ConclusionThe serum tumor markers of CA724, CEA, CA199, and CA125 have clinical application value in preoperative evaluation of gastric cancer.
Objective To investigate the influence of preoperative symptom duration on effectiveness of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) patients. Methods The clinical data of 90 CSR patients who underwent single-segment CDA between January 2008 and March 2020 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Based on preoperative symptom duration, patients were divided into an early intervention group (preoperative symptom duration <24 months) and a late intervention group (preoperative symptom duration ≥24 months). There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05), including age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, surgical segment, preoperative neck disability index (NDI), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, cervical lordosis (CL), C2-C7 range of motion (ROM), disc angle (DA), disc ROM (DROM), and disc intervertebral height (DIH). The early intervention group had a slightly higher preoperative Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) score than the late intervention group (P<0.05). Perioperative indicators such as operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. The changes of JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up compared with those before operation were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy, and the imaging evaluation of CL, C2-C7 ROM, DA, DROM, and DIH was performed before operation, immediately after operation, and at last follow-up. The incidence of prosthesis-related complications, including heterotopic ossification (HO), anterior bone loss (ABL), and prosthesis subsidence, was also assessed at last follow-up. Results Patients in both groups were followed up 24-120 months, with an average of 53.4 months. There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or follow-up duration between the groups (P>0.05). However, the late intervention group had significantly longer postoperative hospital stay compared to the early intervention group (P<0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the changes of JOA score, NDI, and VAS score between the two groups before and after operation (P>0.05). During the follow-up, there was no surgical revision in the two groups, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of HO, ABL, and prosthesis subsidence between the two groups at last follow-up (P>0.05). Imaging evaluation showed that there was no significant difference in CL, C2-C7 ROM, DA, DROM, and DIH between the two groups at each time point before and after operation (P>0.05). The intra-group comparison showed that the early intervention group could maintain the immediate postoperative CL at last follow-up, while the late intervention group had recovered to the preoperative level. Additionally, the C2-C7 ROM, DROM, and DA had all recovered to preoperative levels at last follow-up in both groups; meanwhile, the DIH significantly increased immediately after operation and sustained until the last follow-up.ConclusionPreoperative symptom duration significantly affects the effectiveness of CDA in CSR patients. Patients with preoperative symptom duration ≥24 months have longer postoperative hospital stays and potentially poorer ability to maintain CL compared with patients with preoperative symptom duration <24 months.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of pathological differentiation in the effect of preoperative chemo-therapy for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). MethodsThirty-two patients with LAGA received preoperative chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOX regimen).According to the pathological examina-tion, patients were classified into better (well and moderate, 16 cases) and poorly (16 cases) differentiated groups, and the clinical response rate, type of gastrectomy, and negative tumor residual rate were compared between the two groups.Morphological changes and toxic reactions were monitored after chemotherapy. ResultsThe results showed that the clinical response rate in the better differentiated group was significantly higher than that in the poorly differentiated group (100% vs.6.4%, P=0.000).The partial gastrectomy rate in the better differentiated group was significantly higher than that in the poorly differentiated group (87.5% vs.25.0%, P=0.000).A significant shrinking of tumor size and necrosis of tumor tissues caused by chemotherapy could be observed. ConclusionThe better differentiated group with locally advanced gastric cancer is suitable for preoperative chemotherapy with XELOX regimen, and as a result of effective preoperative chemotherapy, much more gastric tissue can be preserved for better differentiated group.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a novel three dimensional (3D) preoperative simulation software in a clinical setting for patients undergoing precise hepatectomy. MethodsThe clinical data of 85 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent precise hepatectomy were retrospectively studied. All the patients received CT screening and subsequent evaluation on the liver resection volume and margin and the percentage of resected tumor by 3D preoperative simulation software, which compared with the actual resection liver values. The operation plan was optimized by virtual hepatectomy. ResultsThe liver, tumor as well as blood vessel could be clearly showed and reconstructed by 3D preoperative simulation software. All the patients underwent precise hepatectomy. After operation ascites occurred in 3 patients on 2 d, moderate pleural effusion occurred in 2 patients on 2 d, and bile leakage appeared in 4 patients on 5 d, which were improved by conservative treatment. The length of stay in all patients ranged from 6 to 88 d (mean 23 d), and no recurrence and death occurred within 30 d of operation. The predicted resection liver volume was significantly correlated with the actual resection volume (r=0.960, Plt;0.001), and the difference between the mean volume of predicted and actual resection liver was not significant (896.7 ml vs. 819.1 ml， t=1.851, P=0.068). In addition, the predicted resection margin was also correlated with the actual resection margin (r=0.972, Plt;0.001), with the difference in the mean resection margin was not significant too (12.2 mm vs. 11.9 mm， t=1.143, P=0.256). No patients suffered from severe postoperative complications. ConclusionsThe 3D preoperative simulation software is able to evaluate and simulate liver resection accurately, which may contribute to a safe precise hepatectomy plan.
Objective To summarize the current value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for potentially resectable gastric cancer. Methods The recent 5-year literatures searched through the PubMed with the key words: stomach neoplasm, gastric cancer/carcinoma, neoadjuvant therapy/chemotherapy and preoperative therapy/chemotherapy as well as the relevant reports presented in the ASCO Annual Meeting in 2007 and 2008 were analyzed. The present status of NAC for advanced gastric cancer was summarized, the necessity and feasibility were evaluated, and the patients features for selecting, the predictors for response, the mainly existing problems and development trend of NAC were analyzed. Results At present, there were 7 randomized control trails (RCT) published, and among them 3 were phase Ⅲ. It was safe, effective and feasible to most of trails in NAC for gastric cancer. However, it was still little to obtain survival benefit for NAC RCT, and short of randomized trial comparing strict preoperative chemotherapy to surgery alone or perioperative chemotherapy to surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. It remained lots of problems such as how to select the appropriate patients, the effective induced regimes and the predicted factors, the evaluated indices for response. Conclusion NAC is a safe, feasible and efficient method to potentially resectable gastric cancer, but strict phase Ⅲ randomized trials are needed. In the future, substantial improvements of treatment outcome will likely depend on the novel drugs and molecular biological targeted therapies.
Objective To probe CT grading criteria of vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer. Methods Retrieved articles in CNKI and PubMed about value of CT in preoperative assessment of vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer last ten years. Results Multislice helical CT is considered the best imaging method to assess the invaded peripancreatic vessels in pancreatic cancer. There are different CT criteria of vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer based on extension of hypodense tumor and its relation to blood vessels, on the degree of circumferential contiguity of tumor to vessel, on the degree of lumen stenosis, and on the degree of contiguity between tumor and vessels combined vascular caliber. Conclusion CT grading criteria are not uniform, each one has defects.
Objective To determine the influence and significance of combinative assessment of 64 multi-slice spiral computer tomography (MSCT) with serum amyloid A protein (SAA) or fibrinogen (FIB) on the selection of operative procedures of rectal cancer under the multidisciplinary team. Methods Prospectively enrolled 240 patients diagnosed definitely as rectal cancer at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from February to June 2009 were randomly assigned into two groups. In one group named MSCT+SAA group, both MSCT and SAA combinative assessment were made for the preoperative evaluation. In another group named MSCT+FIB group, both MSCT and FIB combinative assessment were made for preoperative evaluation. Furthermore, the preoperative staging and predicted operation procedures were compared with postoperative pathologic staging and practical operation procedures, respectively, and the relationship between the choice of operation procedures and clinicopathologic factors was analyzed. Results According to the criteria, 234 patients were actually included into MSCT+SAA group (n=118) and MSCT+FIB group (n=116). The baseline characteristics of two groups were statistically similar (Pgt;0.05). For MSCT+SAA group, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 72.9%, 83.1%, 100% and 80.1%, respectively. For MSCT+FIB group, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 68.1%, 75.0%, 100% and 74.1%, respectively, and there was not a statistically significant difference (Pgt;0.05). There was also not a statistically significant difference of the accuracy of prediction to operative procedures in two groups (99.6% vs. 96.6%, Pgt;0.05). The preoperative T staging (P＜0.001), N staging (P＜0.001), TNM staging (P＜0.001), serum level of SAA (P＜0.001), serum level of FIB (Plt;0.001) and distance of tumor to the dentate line (P＜0.05) were associated to the operative procedures. Conclusions Combinative assessment of MSCT and FIB could improve the accuracy of preoperative staging and operative procedures prediction, however, it may be not superior to MSCT plus SAA.