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Background: The aim of this study was to report a Western experience in the diagnosis and management of choledochal cyst disease.Results: Sixty-seven patients were identified including 15 children and 52 adults; 76.1 % were females. The median age at diagnosis was 3 [inter-quartile range (IQR) = 6.0-0.7] years for children, and 46 [IQR = 55.6-34.3] years for adults. Forty-eight patients (72 %) were symptomatic. Types of choledochal cyst included: I (n = 49, 73.1 %), II (n = 1, 1.5 %), IV (n = 9, 13.4 %), and V (n = 8, 12 %). The median diameter of the type I choledochal cyst was 35 [IQR = 47-25] mm. All 48 patients underwent excision of cyst with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and eight underwent resection with hepaticoduodenostomy. Six patients underwent liver resection, and five patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Malignancy was concomitant in five adult patients, being identified on preoperative imaging in three cases; and atypia was seen in three additional patients. Early morbidity included Clavien-Dindo classification grades III (n = 7) and II (n = 5), while long-term complications consisted of Clavien-Dindo grades V (n = 5), IV (n = 2), III (n = 18), and II (n = 1).Conclusions: Presentation and management of choledochal cyst is varied. Malignant transformation is often detected incidentally, and so should be the driving source for resection when a choledochal cyst is diagnosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Definitive surgical treatment of gastric myogenic neoplasms such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) typically involves full-thickness resection of the lesion with normal gastric wall as the margin. This is not readily possible with proximal gastric lesions near the gastroesophageal junction, nor necessary for small incidental lesions. We have employed a combined endoscopic/laparoscopic intraluminal enucleation technique for selected patients and report long-term surveillance following this novel technique.Methods: Retrospective review of patients who have undergone intraluminal laparoscopic resection from 1994 to 2008.Results: Fifteen patients who underwent intraluminal enucleation were followed up for a median of 61 months. There were eight men and seven women with a mean age of 62.1 ± 3.38 years. Eight patients (53 %) underwent endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding, six for dyspepsia (40 %), six for anemia (40 %), and four for abdominal pain (27 %). Eight lesions (53 %) were located in the fundus/cardia: six (40 %) in the body and two (13 %) in the antrum. The mean tumor size was 3.5 ± 0.45 (1.5-7.0) cm. GIST lesions with benign histologic features predominated. All operations were successfully completed, including full-thickness resections with no conversion to open procedure, major morbidity, or mortality. Complete endoscopic and endosonographic surveillance was accomplished in 14 patients with no local or distant recurrence and no symptomatic follow-up in any patient.Conclusion: Enucleation of intact gastrointestinal stromal tumors can be accomplished with low risk of recurrence when done with a combined endoscopic/laparoscopic intraluminal technique. It should be the preferred approach considered for small, proximal, intraluminal tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Management and outcomes for duodenal adenomas may vary based on etiology, familial versus sporadic. We reviewed the records of patients managed at our institution for duodenal adenomatous polyps for the 20-year period ending July 2006. Discussion Methods of polyp resection (endoscopic, local surgical resection, or definitive surgical resection) within both sporadic and familial patient groups were compared. Patients with known cancer were excluded. Two hundred seventy-eight patients with duodenal polyps were followed during this time period: 110 patients (39.6%) with sporadic polyps and 168 (60.4%) with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Sporadic patients presented at a mean age of 66.5 years. Endoscopic resection was attempted in 44 patients (40%) with morbidity in 9% and local recurrence rate of 52% with a mean follow-up of 43 months. Surgical resection was performed in 46 patients (42%): 27 by definitive resection and local resection in 19. At a mean follow-up of 41 months, there were no local recurrences in the patients treated by definitive resection and six recurrences (32%) after local resection. Morbidity was 39%. There was a significant difference in local recurrence when comparing definitive resection to both endoscopic and local resection (p<0.001, p=0.002, respectively), but no significant difference between endoscopic and local excision (p=0.13). Cancer was discovered in the surgical specimens of 11 patients (24%) with benign preoperative biopsies. FAP patients began surveillance at a mean age of 39.5 years, and mean surveillance duration was 100 months. Endoscopic resection/ablation was attempted in 40 patients (24%) with a morbidity of 7.5%. With a mean follow-up of 77.5 months, the local recurrence rate was 72.5%. Surgical resection was performed in 50 patients (30%) with a mean follow-up of 44 months. Definitive resection was performed in 47 and local excision in three with local recurrence rates of 9% and 100%, respectively. Surgical morbidity was 48%. Local recurrence was significantly lower following definitive resection compared to endoscopic or local resection (p<0.001), but there was no difference in local recurrence between the latter two groups (p=0.29). Four patients (8%) undergoing surgery were discovered to have invasive cancer despite benign endoscopic biopsies. In summary, endoscopic and local surgical management for both sporadic and familial duodenal polyps are associated with a high rate of local recurrence. Definitive resection in the form of pancreaticoduodenectomy, pancreas-sparing duodenectomy, or segmental duodenectomy offers the best chance for polyp eradication and prevention of carcinoma, regardless of polyp etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal treatment for incidental asymptomatic pancreatic cysts is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nonmucinous cysts by cyst-aspiration analysis can be observed safely. Methods: A prospective protocol was initiated in September of 1999 for all suspected cystic neoplasms. Asymptomatic patients with negative cyst aspirates (no extracellular mucin, and concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen in the cyst fluid <200 ng/mL) were followed-up clinically and radiographically. Results: Through December 2004, 221 patients have been evaluated, and 80 (36%) initially were operated. There were 141 (64%) patients with indeterminate cysts, 98 have been followed-up for more than 12 months. Compared with resected patients, observed patients were older (62 vs 56 y, P < .006), and had smaller cysts (2.4 vs 4.0, P = .001). At a mean follow-up period of 24 months, 4 patients (4%) were resected. The indication, time to resection, and pathology were as follows: 2 patients for symptoms (abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice) at 24 and 72 months, respectively: mucinous and serous cystadenomas; 1 patient for an increase in size (6.6 to 7.8 cm) at 18 months: lymphoepithelial cyst; and 1 patient for abdominal pain and increase in size (2.0 to 3.7 cm) at 41 months: pseudocyst. The only patient resected for a mucinous neoplasm had a cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen level of 896 ng/mL. In the remaining observed patients, 20 (23%) showed a decrease in cyst size, and 16 (19%) showed an increase in size (mean diameter change, 21%). Conclusions: Initial follow-up evaluation indicates that asymptomatic patients without evidence of a mucinous neoplasm by cyst aspiration can be followed clinically and with interval imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Perceived excess morbidity during the early learning curve of minimally-invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (MIPD) has limited widespread adoption. It was hypothesized that robot-assisted reconstruction (RA) after MIPD allows anastomotic outcomes equivalent to open pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Methods Intent to treat analysis of centrally audited data accrued during early adoption of RA-MIPD at five centers. Results CUSUM analysis of operating times at each center identified 92 RA-MIPD during the early learning curve. Mean age was 65 ± 12 years with body mass index 25.8 ± 5.0. Surgical indications included malignant (60%) and premalignant (38%) lesions. Median operating time was 504 min (interquartile range 133) with 242 ml median estimated blood loss (IQR 398) and twelve (13%) conversions to open PD. Major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo III/IV) was 24% with 2 (2.2%) deaths and ten (10.9%) reoperations. Nine (9.9%) clinically significant pancreatic fistulae were observed (4 grade B; 5 grade C). Margin negative resection rate for malignancy was 90% (75% for PDA) with mean harvest of 16 ± 8 lymph nodes. Conclusions These multicenter data during the early learning curve for RA-MIPD do not demonstrate excess anastomotic morbidity compared to open. Further studies are required to determine whether surgeon proficiency and evolving technique improve anastomotic outcomes compared to open. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Data have indicated that the lymph node ratio ( LNR) may be a better prognostic indicator than lymph node status in pancreatic cancer. Objectives To analyse the value of the LNR in patients undergoing resection for periampullary carcinomas. Methods A cut off value of 0.2 was assigned to the LNR in accordance with published studies. The impact of histopathological factors including a LNR was analysed using Kaplan- Meier and Cox regression methods. Results In total, 551 patients undergoing a resection ( January 2000 to December 2010) were analysed. The median lymph node yield was 15, and 198 (34%) patients had a LNR > 0.2. In patients with a LNR of > 0.2, the median overall survival ( OS) was 18 versus 33 months in patients with an LNR < 0.2 ( P < 0.001). Univariate analysis demonstrated a LNR > 0.2, T and N stage, vascular or perineural invasion, grade and resection margin status to be significantly associated with OS. On multivariate analysis, only a LNR > 0.2, vascular or perineural invasion and margin positivity remained significant. In N1 disease, a LNR was able to distinguish survival in patients with a similar lymph node burden, and correlated with more aggressive tumour pathological variables. Conclusion A LNR > 0.2, and not lymph note status, is an independent prognostic factor for OS indicating the LNR should be utilized in outcome stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The management of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts is controversial and indications for excision are based on pathology and natural history. Objectives: This study aimed to examine outcomes of asymptomatic lesions using a protocol based on size and cyst fluid analysis. Methods: Asymptomatic cysts were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Sequential cross-sectional imaging studies were assessed, and results of endoscopic ultrasound-guided aspiration were co-analysed. Results: A total of 338 asymptomatic patients underwent evaluation. Overall, 84 cysts were <1.5 cm and 254 were ≥1.5 cm in diameter. Median patient follow-up was 5.1 years [interquartile range (IQR): 4.1-6.9 years]. In the group in which cysts measured <1.5 cm in diameter, median cyst size was 1.0 cm (IQR: 0.6-1.2 cm) at presentation and increased to 1.2 cm (IQR: 0.7-1.6 cm) during follow-up. Five (6.0%) patients underwent resection, all within 2 months of presentation. In the group in which cysts measured ≥1.5 cm in diameter, median cyst size was 2.5 cm (IQR: 2.0-3.4 cm) at presentation and increased to 2.7 cm (IQR: 3.0-4.2 cm). A total of 63 (24.8%) patients underwent resection. Surgery was performed with 2 months in 53 (84.1%) patients, within 12 months in four (6.3%) patients and at >12 months post-presentation in six (9.5%) patients. A total of 70.6% of resected specimens were identified as malignancies or mucinous lesions. Conclusions: Asymptomatic cysts of <1.5 cm in diameter can safely be followed by imaging and are expected to undergo little change. A quarter of all asymptomatic cysts measuring ≥1.5 cm are appropriately resected based on imaging and cyst fluid analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]