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The use of intraoperative colonoscopy has increased alongside progress in the development of colonoscopy-associated devices and techniques, including the colonoscope itself. In the present review, we focus on four circumstances in which intraoperative colonoscopy is beneficial to colorectal surgery: (i) intraoperative determination of a tumor's location; (ii) observation of the proximal colon in cases of obstructive colorectal cancer; (iii) confirmation of the integrity of anastomosis; and (iv) novel surgical techniques that combine laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. In light of the findings of our review, a combination of colonoscopy and surgery-especially laparoscopic surgery-is expected to facilitate the optimal handling of a variety of colorectal tumors, ranging from benign cases to advanced and obstructive cases.

Colorectal cancer is an obesity-related malignancy. Adiponectin is an adipokine produced exclusively by adipose tissue, and its concentration in the serum is reduced in obesity. A low serum level of adiponectin is associated with an increased risk of various types of malignancies including colorectal cancer. These facts suggest that the epidemiological link between obesity and cancer may have a significant association with adiponectin. Although numerous studies of colorectal cancer have been reported, the results are conflicting about the anti-cancer effect of adiponectin, and how adiponectin affects carcinogenesis or cancer development remains controversial. Because adiponectin has multiple systemic effects and exists as a high serum concentration protein, the main role of adiponectin should be regulation of homeostasis, and it would not likely act as an anti-cancerous hormone. However, as epidemiological evidence shows, a low adiponectin level may be a basic risk factor for colorectal cancer. We speculate that when the colonic epithelium is stimulated or damaged by another carcinogen under the condition of a low adiponectin level, carcinogenesis is promoted and cancer development is facilitated. In this report, we summarize recent findings of the correlation between adiponectin and colorectal cancer and investigate the effect of adiponectin on colorectal cancer.

Proliferating cancer cells are exposed to nutrient deprivation. Numerous previous studies have demonstrated how nutrient deprivation affects cancer cells; however, immune cells exposed to the identical conditions have not been completely examined. Furthermore, T-helper 2 lymphocyte predominance in certain neoplastic diseases has been reported; however, the mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to confirm whether nutrient deprivation affected proliferation and cytokine secretion of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The proliferation of PBLs from healthy donors, cultured in a medium containing various glucose levels, was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay. The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ among CD4(+) T cells, cultured with or without glucose and activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin, were examined using an intracellular cytokine staining method. The proliferation of PBLs cultured in a medium containing

Highlights • We experience involving a case of relatively rare anorectal malignant melanoma with skipped lesion. Multiple black lesions showed malignant melanoma were observed around main tumor. • Careful examination of the lesion is required for skip lesions in anorectal melanoma., Introduction We report our experience involving a case of relatively rare anorectal malignant melanoma with skipped lesion. Presentation of case The patient was a 72-year-old man who had visited a local clinic complaining of a mass in the anal region, whereupon he was referred to our hospital on suspicion of a malignant melanoma. Close examination revealed a 25-mm black type 1 tumor one-third the size of the circumference of the anal canal and located externally to it. We performed transanal resection of the tumor and confirmed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Notably, multiple macular black lesions spaced away from the main lesion were observed during surgery in half of the circumference of the anal canal, from the tumor to the pectinate line. A biopsy of the area also revealed malignant melanoma; therefore, we performed abdominoperineal resection. Pathological diagnosis indicated a submucosal depth; the patient was thus diagnosed with T4 N2c M0 stage IIIb malignant melanoma and was followed on an outpatient basis. Discussion Patients with anorectal malignant melanoma have very poor prognoses owing to early lymph node metastasis and hematogenous metastasis. Our case illustrates that small anorectal malignant melanoma lesions can spread from the main lesion and invade the mucosa; examinations may sometimes miss such skipped lesions. Conclusion Skipped lesions can occur in anorectal melanomas; thus, careful scrutiny of such lesions is required. Moreover, lesion resection is critical for anorectal malignant melanomas.

Highlights • Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is one of the complications after low anterior resection for rectal cancer. • RVF has been considered to be refractory to conservative treatment. • We report a case of RVF in which conservative treatment was successful., Background Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is a serious complication after colorectal anastomosis using a double-stapling technique. RVF following this procedure has been considered to be refractory to conservative treatment. Case presentation A 75-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopy-assisted low anterior resection for early rectal cancer developed RVF on the 12th postoperative day. Conservative treatment was chosen and was successful. She was discharged from the hospital after 3 weeks with a normal oral diet. Colonoscopy on the 50th postoperative day showed that the RVF was closed. Conclusion Conservative treatment may be effective for RVF after colorectal anastomosis using a double-stapling technique when there is no evidence of defecation through the vagina.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer invading the adjacent organs/structures is detected in 5% to 20% of all surgical interventions performed for the management of colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVE Our purpose is to verify the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of locally advanced colorectal cancer invading the adjacent organs. DESIGN This is a retrospective study. SETTINGS The study was conducted at a single institution in Japan. PATIENTS We compared the morbidity, appropriate oncological resection, and disease-free survival of laparoscopic and open multivisceral resection in patients with colorectal carcinoma in the period between 2007 and 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measures were curative resection rate, morbidity rate, and recurrence of laparoscopic and open multivisceral resection in patients with colorectal cancer. RESULTS Thirty-one patients received laparoscopic surgery, and 50 received open surgery. The amount of blood loss was smaller in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (60 vs 595 mL, p < 0.01). Curative surgery was performed in 46 patients of the open group (92.0%) and in 30 patients of the laparoscopic group (96.8%). Days until oral intake (5 vs 7 days, p < 0.01) and postoperative hospital stay (14 vs 19 days, p < 0.01) were shorter in the laparoscopic group. Overall morbidity was not different between the groups (22.5% vs 40.0%). Three-year disease-free survival rates were 62.7% in the open group and 56.7% in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.5776). LIMITATION This study was a retrospective small study conducted at a single institute. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic multivisceral resection may be a safe, less invasive alternative to open surgery, with less blood loss and shorter hospital stay, and was not inferior to open surgery based on long-term oncological end points. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A785.

Identification of secondary colonic neoplasia proximal to obstructing colorectal cancer is essential for determining the range of colorectal resection. We examined the accuracy of 18-fluoro deoxy glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for detection of colonic neoplasia. We recruited patients with obstructing colorectal cancer from our registry. Preoperative FDG-PET was performed, and the detection rate for colonic neoplasia was estimated. Preoperative colonoscopy or postoperative colonoscopy within a year after operation was employed as the indexed standard. Ninety-three patients were included in this study. Colonic neoplasia proximal to obstruction was confirmed in 83 cases. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of FDG-PET were 25.3% and 77.8%, respectively. The sensitivity was higher in larger lesions (3.2% for 21 mm) and in higher pathological grade lesions (14.6% for low-grade adenoma, 38.5% for high-grade adenoma, 66.7% for carcinoma in situ, and 100% for invasive carcinoma). The round shape in PET images was a predictor for neoplasia, with an area under the curve of 0.75293 at an aspect ratio of 1.70. FDG-PET should be used as a screening modality for invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) proximal to obstructing colorectal cancer.

Background Colorectal neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are a rare manifestation of colorectal neoplasia, requiring for radical dissection of the regional lymph nodes along with colorectal resection similar to that required for colorectal cancer. However, thus far, no reports have described the ability of computed tomography (CT) to predict lymph node involvement. In this study, we revealed the prediction rate of lymph node metastasis using contrast-enhanced CT. Patients and methods A total of 21 patients with colorectal NET undergoing colorectal resection were recruited from January 2010 to June 2016. We compared the CT findings between samples with or without pathologically proven lymph node metastasis, in each field (pericolic/perirectal and intermediate nodes). Results Within the pericolic/perirectal field, any lymph node larger than 5 mm in the CT images was a predictive indicator of lymph node metastasis with a sensitivity, specificity, and area under ROC curve (AUC) of 66.7%, 87.5%, and 0.844, respectively. Within the intermediate field, any visible lymph node on the CT was a predictive indicator of lymph node metastasis with a sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of 100%, 76.4%, and 0.890, respectively. In addition, when we observed lymph nodes larger than 3 mm on the CT images, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 82.4%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.8971. Conclusion CT images provide predictive information for lymph node metastasis with a high rate of accuracy.

Background: The expression of doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) has been investigated in cancer; however not in precancerous adenomatous polyps. Materials and Methods: Immunohistological expression of DCLK1 was evaluated in various grades of adenomas, cancerous polyps, and hyperplastic polyps in resected human tissue specimens. Results: Ninety-two specimens were positive for DCLK1 and 134 were negative. Cancerous polyps showed a high DCLK1 positivity rate compared to adenomas (68.4% vs. 36.8%; p

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a standard therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer; however, the response varies depending on cases. Therefore, CRT-response predictors need to be elucidated. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), comprising a small part of tumors, are associated with tumor progression and recurrence due to their self-renewal and proliferation abilities. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is one of the several putative CSC markers; however, the clinical impact of its expression in rectal cancer has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical impact of DCLK1 expression in rectal cancer. We immunohistochemically evaluated DCLK1 expression in surgical specimens of 106 rectal cancer patients, including those who underwent preoperative CRT. The correlations between DCLK1 expression, and clinicopathological features and patient prognosis were then assessed. In rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative CRT, DCLK1 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.02) and poor cancer-specific survival (p = 0.049). However, in patients treated without preoperative therapy, no such correlation was found. DCLK1 expression can be associated with lymph node metastasis and poor cancer-specific survival in rectal cancer patients who receive CRT.

AIM Surgery for colorectal cancer located in the splenic flexure is difficult to perform because of the complex anatomy. Recently, in addition to the middle colic artery and left colic artery (LCA), the accessory middle colic artery (AMCA) has been recognized as a feeding artery for the left-sided colon. This study aimed to evaluate the vascular anatomy of the splenic flexure focusing on the AMCA in a large number of patients. METHOD A total of 734 patients who underwent CT before surgery for colorectal cancer were enrolled. We retrospectively evaluated the vascular anatomy using both two- and three-dimensional CT angiography. RESULTS The AMCA existed in 36.4% of the cases (n = 267). In many cases, it originated from the superior mesenteric artery (n = 228, 85.4%). The AMCA had a common trunk with the transverse pancreatic artery in 54 patients (20.2%). The frequency of the presence of the AMCA was associated with the branching pattern of the LCA, and was more frequent when the LCA was absent (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The presence of the AMCA is not rare and the AMCA has some branching patterns; therefore, recognizing it preoperatively and intra-operatively is important, being especially careful when the LCA is absent.

Multivisceral resection for colorectal cancer invading into the adjacent organs may often be difficult and may involve serious complications. Preoperative therapy may facilitate resection with safe margins. Between August 2007 and July 2016, 23 patients with colorectal cancer invading into the adjacent organs treated with preoperative treatment (chemoradiotherpay, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) were retrospectively investigated. All 23 patients received surgery with curative intent. Four patients had distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Two patients had distant metastasis after preoperative treatment. The mean operative time was 535.3±185.5 min and the median amount of blood loss was 1,050 ml. Histopathological examination revealed malignant infiltration of the adjacent organs in 14 patients (60.9%). R0 resection rate was 73.9%. Postoperative complications were identified in nine patients (39.1%) and a high incidence of infectious complications was observed. Patients with curative resection showed a significantly better survival than patients with R1 or R2 resection (P

Background Cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) is caused by small crystals of cholesterol dispersed from atherosclerotic plaques of the aorta. There is an increasing interest in CCE because of the increased use of endovascular treatments. Here, we report a rare case of intestinal stenosis caused by CCE after functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA). To our knowledge, this is the first report of CCE causing such an anastomotic stenosis. Case presentation A 77-year-old male patient underwent laparoscopy-assisted low anterior resection and protective ileostomy for rectal carcinoid tumor. He was admitted to our hospital with ileus 1 year after stoma closure. Eosinophils and creatine kinase level were slightly elevated. Computed tomography revealed a stricture with thickened intestinal wall just distal to the anastomosis site of the ileostomy. The wall of the descending aorta appeared shaggy due to thrombosis. The patient underwent laparoscopic small-bowel resection because ileus reoccurred after any oral intake. Histopathological findings of the resected specimen showed fibrotic changes distal to the anastomosis site, and needle-shaped cholesterol embolus was observed in the submucosal layer. Thus, the stenosis was considered to be caused by CCE. Conclusion This appears to be the first published report of stenosis due to CCE at such an anastomotic site. Intestinal CCE is difficult to diagnose preoperatively and is associated with poor prognosis. If eosinophilia is present or shaggy aorta is observed, CCE should be suspected to make correct diagnosis and prevent recurrence of CCE.

Introduction Recent progressive imaging technology such as multiplanar reconstruction on computed tomography (CT) and colonoscopy has made preoperative T staging of colorectal cancer (CRC) more accurate. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to make a correct diagnosis in some cases. The aim of this case study was to investigate the accuracy of T staging diagnosis in patients with CRC who underwent curative operations and to identify the causes of preoperative over-diagnosis. Method Medical charts of 1013 colorectal cancer patients who underwent a curative operation in the University of Tokyo Hospital between January 2011 and December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. We defined a two-level or more difference between clinical and pathological T stages as over-diagnosis or under-diagnosis. Results Nine patients were over-diagnosed in T stage preoperatively. The rate of over-diagnosis was 0.9%. At least three main factors for over-diagnosis were identified: close-to-circumferential or obstructive lesion; a rough appearance in the adipose tissues around the tumor on CT; and a tumor with a depressed structure. Conclusions Clinical T stage is overestimated with a marked difference from pathological T stage in approximately 1% of CRC patients. Further progress in diagnostic modalities is required for more accurate staging., Highlights • The rate of one-level over-diagnosis in T stage was 14.8%. • The rate of two-levels or more over-diagnosis in T stage was 0.9%. • At least three main factors for two-levels or more over-diagnosis were identified.

Although systemic chemotherapy has been improved, peritoneal carcinomatosis remains a factor of poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. In order to achieve a higher drug concentration in the peritoneal cavity, intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been performed. However, the optimal regimen for intraperitoneal chemotherapy has not been determined. In this review of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, we summarize regimens of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and other intraperitoneal chemotherapy modalities, such as early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) and sequential postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (SPIC). Mitomycin C and oxaliplatin are the most common chemotherapeutic agents used for HIPEC. Some combination therapies such as those involving bevacizumab, H2O2, and amifostine have potential to increase HIPEC efficacy. 5-Fluorouracil is used mainly for EPIC and SPIC. Some new agents such as paclitaxel, melphalan, and various nanoparticles have been developed. These novel chemotherapeutic agents may achieve clinical implementation in the future.

Background The Currarino triad is a rare hereditary syndrome comprising anorectal malformation, sacral bony defect, and presacral mass. Most of the patients are diagnosed during infancy. Case presentation A 44-year-old man was diagnosed with Currarino triad, with a huge presacral teratoma and meningocele. One-stage surgery via posterior approach was successful. Conclusions Treatment of the presacral mass in the Currarino triad, diagnosed in adulthood, is challenging. Multidisciplinary management and detailed planning before surgery are important for a satisfactory outcome.

Perforation of the colon is a rare complication for patients with colon cancer and usually requires emergent surgery. The characteristics of perforation differ based on the site of perforation, presenting as either perforation at the cancer site or perforation proximal to the cancer site. Peritonitis due to perforation tends to be more severe in cases of perforation proximal to the cancer site; however, the difference in the outcome between the two types remains unclear. Surgical treatment of colon cancer with perforation has changed over time. Recently, many reports have shown the safety and effectiveness of single-stage operation consisting of resection and primary anastomosis with intraoperative colonic lavage. Under certain conditions, laparoscopic surgery can be feasible and help minimize the invasion. However, emergent surgery for colon cancer with perforation is associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The long-term prognosis seems to have no association with the existence of perforation. Oncologically curative resection may be warranted for perforated colon cancer. In this report, we perform a literature review and investigate the characteristics and surgical strategy for colon cancer with perforation.

Long-standing ulcerative colitis patients are known to be at high risk for the development of colorectal cancer. Therefore, surveillance colonoscopy has been recommended for these patients. Because colitis-associated colorectal cancer may be difficult to identify even by colonoscopy, a random biopsy method has been recommended. However, the procedure of carrying out a random biopsy is tedious and its effectiveness has also not yet been demonstrated. Instead, targeted biopsy with chromoendoscopy has gained popularity in European and Asian countries. Chromoendoscopy is generally considered to be an effective tool for ulcerative colitis surveillance and is recommended in the guidelines of the British Society of Gastroenterology and the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Although image-enhanced endoscopy, such as narrow-band imaging and autofluorescence imaging, has been investigated as a potential ulcerative colitis surveillance tool, it is not routinely applied for ulcerative colitis surveillance in its present form. The appropriate intervals of surveillance colonoscopy have yet to be determined. Although the Japanese and American guidelines recommend annual or biannual colonoscopy, the British Society of Gastroenterology and the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation stratified their guidelines according to the risks of colorectal cancer. A randomized controlled trial comparing random and targeted biopsy methods has been conducted in Japan and although the final analysis is still ongoing, the results of this study should address this issue. In the present review, we focus on the current detection methods and characterization of dysplasia/cancer and discuss the appropriate intervals of colonoscopy according to the stratified risks.

AIM The treatment strategies for T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) include both surgical and endoscopic resection. Surgical resection is indicated if lymphovascular invasion is present; however, the endoscopic prediction of lymphovascular invasion has not been reported. We aimed to correlate endoscopic morphology with pathological findings, including lymphovascular invasion, in non-polypoid T1 CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively investigated 63 patients with non-polypoid T1 CRC surgically resected between 2008 and 2016. Four typical endoscopic findings related to deep submucosal invasion, namely protrusion from a depressed surface, fold convergence, fullness and hardness, were assessed to elucidate their association with pathological findings. RESULTS Protrusion was the only finding significantly correlated with positive venous invasion (67.9% of the lesions with protrusion vs. 34.3% of those without protrusion, p=0.01), which was also confirmed by a multivariable analysis (odds ratio(OR)=3.72, 95% confidence interval(CI)=1.24-11.2, p=0.02). CONCLUSION The endoscopic finding of protrusion on a depressed surface may be a sign indicating venous invasion in non-polypoid T1 CRC.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has been performed as a standard therapy for advanced low rectal cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been reported to contribute to resistance to treatment and patient prognosis. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) and cluster of differentiation (CD133) are putative markers for CSCs. However, their prognostic ability remains unknown, and evaluation of a single marker can be insufficient due to the heterogeneity of cancer. LGR5 and CD133 expression was immunohistochemically evaluated in surgical specimens of 56 patients who received curative resection following chemoradiotherapy for advanced low rectal cancer. In addition, the correlations between their expression levels, and clinicopathological features and patient prognosis were asessed. LGR5 expression was significantly correlated with lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor node metastasic (TNM) stage. CD133 expression was significantly correlated with vascular invasion and the tumor regression grade. Combined expression was significantly correlated with lymphatic invasion, tumor regression grade and TNM stage, but not with overall, and disease-free survival. LGR5 and CD133 expressions may represent useful markers associated with tumor progression and resistance to chemoradiotherapy in patients with low rectal cancer. Furthermore, combined expression of these markers may be a more useful marker compared with the expression of each single marker.

BACKGROUND/AIM Few studies have evaluated the risk of postoperative colorectal neoplasms stratified by the nature of primary colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we revealed it on the basis of the microsatellite (MS) status of primary CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 338 patients with CRC and calculated the risk of neoplasms during postoperative surveillance colonoscopy in association with the MS status of primary CRC. A propensity score method was applied. RESULTS We identified a higher incidence of metachronous rectal neoplasms after the resection of MS stable CRC than MS instable CRC (adjusted HR 5.74, p=0.04). We also observed a higher incidence of colorectal tubular adenoma in patients with MSS CRC (adjusted hazard ratio 7.09, p

Anti-thrombotic medications are commonly used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Laparoscopic resection of colon cancer has generally been accepted with favorable outcomes being reported in randomized control trials. However, the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer patients receiving chronic anti-thrombotic therapy (AT) remain unclear. We identified 951 patients who underwent elective resection for colon cancer between 2009 and 2016 from our database. Patients were classified according to the surgical approach and chronic AT. Clinicopathological factors and surgical outcomes were analyzed between patient groups. Patients’ backgrounds were matched using propensity scores in laparoscopic surgery. Anti-thrombotic drugs were chronically used in 135 patients. Among 714 patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted surgery, 96 received AT. The laparoscopic approach was superior to open surgery in terms of bleeding, surgical site infections, and hospital stay in patients receiving AT. In laparoscopy-assisted surgery, the AT group patients were older and showed lower hemoglobin and albumin levels than those not receiving AT (non-AT group), and were predominantly male. After propensity score matching, estimated blood loss and operative times were similar between the two groups (93 matched patients). The frequencies of postoperative bleeding (2.2%) and thrombotic complications (0%) in the AT group did not significantly differ from those in the non-AT group (1.1 and 0%, respectively). Moreover, AT did not affect survivals. Laparoscopic approach appears to be safer and beneficial for colonic cancer patients receiving long-term AT. Bleeding and thrombotic events associated with laparoscopic surgery were not significantly affected by AT.

Highlights • We report an interesting case with ascending colon cancer and situs inversus totalis (SIT) who underwent laparoscopic hemicolectomy. • SIT is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence rate of 1 per 5000–10,000 adults. • In cases of SIT, the left and right aspects of the thoracic and intra-abdominal organs are inverted, like a mirror image., Introduction Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital anomaly in which the left and right aspects of the thoracic and intra-abdominal organs are inverted, like a mirror image. Surgical procedures in a patients with SIT is difficult as their anatomy is abnormal. In particular, laparoscopic procedures are considered more difficult in patients with SIT because of the mirror-image anatomy. Presentation of case The patient was a 75-year-old woman with ascending colon cancer. Laparoscopic hemicolectomy with radical lymphadenectomy was performed. After surgery, no specific complications developed. On the ninth postoperative day, the patient was discharged from our hospital. Recognition of the inverted anatomy by the surgeon using preoperative imaging permitted safe operation using techniques not otherwise differing from those used in ordinary cases. Discussion and conclusions Laparoscopic colectomy is considered to be a safe and feasible option for patients with colorectal cancer and SIT.

Background Nivolumab is a monoclonal antibody against programmed death 1 and has become a standard treatment of advanced melanoma because of its durable response and survival benefits. In this report, we present a case of severe intestinal perforation after nivolumab immunotherapy for malignant melanoma. Case presentation A 73-year-old man with stage IV malignant melanoma underwent nivolumab therapy. The patient presented to our hospital because of a progressing abdominal pain. Radiological evaluation revealed evidence of free intraperitoneal air. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient as having an intestinal perforation, which was successfully resolved after surgical treatment. Conclusion Although intestinal perforation after nivolumab immunotherapy is rare, it can be severe and requires early diagnosis and emergency surgery to ensure a favorable prognosis.

Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article ( https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-017-1715-8 ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are at risk of UC-associated colorectal cancer (CRC); however, little is known about genetic alterations occurring during UC carcinogenesis. We examined mutational changes in patients with colitic cancer and the features that differed between the carcinogenesis of UC and sporadic CRC. Material and Methods: Specimens were obtained from the non-neoplastic mucosa and cancer cells of 12 patients with colitic cancer. The mutational rate of oncogenes in colitic cancer was analyzed and compared to that of oncogenes in sporadic CRC. Results: We observed a lower mutation rate in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) (16.7%(2/12) vs. 75.9%(161/212), respectively, p=0.0001) and KRAS (16.7%(2/12) vs. 42% (89/212), respectively, p=0.04) in colitic cancer than in sporadic CRC. With respect to cadherin 1 (CDH1) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), the mutational rates for non-neoplastic colorectal mucosa were similar to those in sporadic CRC. Conclusion: We demonstrated that mutational rates for APC and KRAS differ between colitic cancer and sporadic CRC. Furthermore, we revealed that CDH1 and FGFR2 become mutated at an earlier stage in colitic carcinogenesis than in sporadic CRC.

Background/aim Intersphincteric resection (ISR) aims to preserve anal function in patients with very low rectal tumors. Here, we analyzed patients who underwent neoadjuvant imatinib therapy followed by ISR for low rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed patients with low rectal GISTs who underwent neoadjuvant imatinib therapy and ISR between January 2013 and December 2015 at the University of Tokyo hospital. Results The study included 4 men and 1 woman, with a median age of 67 years (range=45-67). All patients received 400 mg of neoadjuvant imatinib once daily for the median duration of 4 months (range=3-12). Microscopically, R0 resection was performed in 4 patients, and R1, in 1 patient. There was 1 recurrence event during the median follow-up duration of 35 months. Conclusion Neoadjuvant imatinib therapy and ISR for low rectal GISTs is a challenging, but promising, alternative to achieve complete resection margins and preserve anal function.

Colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC), which acts like an aggressive tumor, is a rare clinical manifestation on which only a limited amount of literature exists. Surgical resection by regional lymphadenectomy is considered as the only curative treatment for colorectal MANEC, and adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy is recommended because of its high recurrence rate. Colorectal MANEC is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it is unresectable, and chemotherapy plays a central role in its treatment. Pathological confirmation of the target lesion component is critical for regimen selection. If the lesion comprises an adenocarcinomatous component, a regimen for colorectal adenocarcinoma should be administered. For lesions comprising mainly a neuroendocrine carcinomatous component, cisplatin combined with etoposide or irinotecan has proven to be clinically appropriate. Everolimus, a mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway inhibitor, also improves survival. Sunitinib malate, another molecular targeting agent, is effective for treating neuroendocrine carcinoma; however, the evidence on its effectiveness for treating gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma is insufficient.

Background Open laparotomy is widely accepted as the standard surgical treatment for small bowel obstruction (SBO). However, laparoscopic surgery has recently become a treatment option. There is no consensus on the appropriate settings for the laparoscopic treatment of SBO. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for SBO. Patients and methods From January 2012 to May 2016, 48 consecutive patients underwent surgical treatment for SBO in our department. We retrospectively reviewed these cases and compared the features and the outcomes between laparoscopic and open surgery. Results Thirty-four and 14 patients underwent open surgery and laparoscopic surgery, respectively. Four of the laparoscopic cases (28.6%) were converted to open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery tended to be associated with a shorter operative time than open surgery (p = 0.066). The first postoperative oral intake was significantly earlier in patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.044). The duration of hospitalization after surgery and the rates of postoperative complications did not differ to a statistically significant extent. Laparoscopic treatment was accomplished in 7 out of 8 cases (87.5%) with SBO due to band occlusion. Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery for SBO is less invasive than open surgery and is equally feasible in selected patients. SBO due to band occlusion may be a preferable indication for laparoscopic surgery. In order to confirm the safety of laparoscopic treatment, and to clarify the appropriate settings for laparoscopic surgery for SBO, it will be necessary to perform further studies in a larger population and with a long follow-up period., Highlights • Surgical treatment for small bowel obstruction in 48 patients were retrospectively reviewed. • Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 14 patients, and 4 cases were converted to open surgery. • Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than open surgery and is equally feasible in selected patients. • Band occlusion may be a preferable indication to laparoscopic surgery.

Summary: Background/Objective: Positive carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) messenger RNA (mRNA) in peritoneal lavage is associated with poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer. However, there are no reports about rectal cancer. Therefore we aimed to evaluate the frequency of positive CEA mRNA in peritoneal lavage and the significance of CEA mRNA in patients with low rectal cancer. Methods: A total of 55 patients with low rectal cancer who received curative surgical resection were enrolled. CEA mRNA in peritoneal lavage was measured using the transcription–reverse transcription concerted method, a quantitative RNA amplification method. The correlation between CEA mRNA and overall and peritoneal recurrence-free survival was evaluated. Results: Among 55 patients, 6 (10.9%) had positive CEA mRNA in peritoneal lavage. Patients with positive CEA mRNA resulted in significantly higher recurrence rate than those with negative CEA mRNA (p=0.007). Similarly, the local recurrence rate was significantly higher in the positive CEA mRNA group than in the negative CEA mRNA group (p=0.0009). Lymph node metastasis and positive CEA mRNA were independent risk factors for overall and local recurrence. Conclusion: Positive CEA mRNA in low rectal cancer is a factor that predisposes patients to a high risk for overall recurrence, especially for local recurrence. Keywords: carcinoembryonic antigen messenger RNA, low rectal cancer, micrometastasis, peritoneal lavage, transcription–reverse transcription concerted method

Metastases to the colon are rare and a high-frequency primary region is the stomach. In cases of metastases to the colon, the morphological type of the metastatic region is mostly the infiltrating type of poorly differentiated or undifferentiated adenocarcinoma with lymph and blood vessel invasion. A case of cancer metastasis to the transverse colon that originated from advanced gastric cancer, which shows the difficulties in the precise diagnosis of metastases to the colon, is presented. In the present case, the gastric carcinoma was determined to be an advanced infiltrative ulcerative adenocarcinoma and the colon carcinoma was determined to be a superficial depressed adenocarcinoma. After surgery, the colon carcinoma was diagnosed as a metastatic adenocarcinoma from gastric adenocarcinoma with high invasion of vessels, by immunohistopathological analysis of CK7, CK20, p53 and HER-2. In this report, previously reported cases of metastases to the colon from gastric cancer were reviewed and their morphological characteristics were analyzed.

Radiation-associated colon cancer is a rare clinical entity. We herein describe the case of a patient with radiation-associated colon cancer who had undergone low anterior resection for rectal cancer following preoperative radiotherapy. Certain characteristics of radiation-associated colon cancer are highlighted. The patient was a 48-year-old man who had undergone low anterior resection for rectal cancer following preoperative radiotherapy at a total dose of 50 Gy, at the age of 29 years. When the patient presented at the University of Tokyo Hospital, 19 years after the surgery, he complained of severe anal pain and frequent defecation. Colonoscopy revealed two flat tumors in the sigmoid colon, located 10 cm to the oral side of the anastomosis site, which were diagnosed as well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. In addition, colonoscopy identified five flat polyps near the tumors, which were resected endoscopically. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the sigmoid colon and no evidence of distant metastasis. Laparoscopic-assisted intersphincteric resection of the rectum and sigmoid colon with diverting ileostomy was performed. There were no specific postoperative complications and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 20th postoperative day. On pathological examination, the resected rectum and sigmoid colon contained two separate tumors and six flat polyps. The two tumors were diagnosed as well-differentiated adenocarcinomas with invasion of the subserosa and submucosa, respectively. A total of 17 regional lymph nodes without metastasis were resected. The six flat polyps were diagnosed as tubular adenomas. We herein present a case of a radiation-associated colon cancer in a patient who had undergone low anterior resection for rectal cancer following preoperative radiotherapy 19 years prior. Colonoscopic surveillance of radiation-associated colon cancer may be indicated for rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy, particularly for those with long-standing radiation-induced colitis.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been actively used in Europe and the United States to treat advanced low rectal cancer, and provides excellent local control. In Japan, however, the standard treatment is lateral lymph node dissection, and to date CRT has not been actively used. In recent years, an increasing number of Japanese institutions have been using preoperative CRT to treat locally advanced rectal cancer. In this review, we describe the latest trends in CRT under five headings: short-course or long-course radiation, efforts to improve combined chemotherapy, the addition of preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the watch and wait strategy, and the significance of lateral lymph node dissection in patients receiving CRT.

Background/Aims: Anastomotic leakage remains the most serious complications of colorectal surgery. To prevent colorectal anastomotic leakage (CAL), an air leak test (ALT) with intraoperative colonoscopy (IOCS) is performed to detect mechanically insufficient colorectal anastomoses. The approaches to an intraoperative anastomotic air leak (IOAL) have not been fully investigated. This study aimed to clarify the safe management of an IOAL in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: One hundred forty-eight consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic resection with double-stapling technique (DST) anastomosis for left-sided colorectal cancer between April 2015 and June 2016 were included and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Intraoperative anastomotic ALT yielded positive results in 7 patients. In all 7 patients, reanastomoses were performed, and diverting stomas were constructed to protect the anastomosis in 2 patients whose reanastomosis sites were close to the anus. Three of the revised DST anastomoses showed air leakage on the repeat ALT; these sites underwent suturing repair and were confirmed to be airtight. None of the patients with a positive intraoperative ALT had postoperative CAL. The overall CAL rate was 1.4%. Conclusions: Combination management using DST revision, direct suturing repair, and a diverting stoma is recommended for intraoperative repair of anastomotic defects detected by IOCS.

Many risk factors for recurrence in stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) have been proposed, and the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy is still controversial. This study aimed to identify risk factors for tumor recurrence and assess whether they are related to the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II CRC.Patients with stage II CRC that was curatively operated on in a tertiary hospital between 2005 and 2014 were analyzed. Cox's proportional hazards models were applied to identify risk factors for recurrence and overall mortality. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to evaluate whether adjuvant chemotherapy was beneficial in terms of recurrence-free survival (RFS).A total of 384 patients were identified, among whom 38 (10%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. In a median follow-up of 48.6 months, 52 patients (14%) developed recurrence. Multivariate analyses identified two independent parameters that significantly decreased RFS; pathological T4 [hazard ratio (HR), 2.34; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.31-4.15; p = .0045) and preoperative carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 37 U/ml (HR 1.96; 95% CI 1.02-3.58; p = .045). These factors also inversely correlated with overall survival; T4: HR 2.10, p = .019) and CA 19-9 37 U/ml (HR 2.15, p = .025). The combination of T4 and CA 19-9 37 U/ml resulted in an increased HR (3.52) for recurrence. However, adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve RFS in patients with these features.The present study demonstrated elevated CA 19-9 levels as well as T4 independently predicted worse long-term outcomes in patients with stage II CRC. However, the characterization of patients who gain survival advantages by adjuvant chemotherapy requires further investigation.

Background Continuous lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage is a rare condition, but it often requires proper management. We report a case of a patient with gastrointestinal hemorrhage 18 years after stapled J-pouch ileoanal canal anastomosis who was successfully treated with argon plasma coagulation. Case presentation Our patient was a 54-year-old Japanese man who had developed ulcerative colitis 28 years ago. A J-shaped ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with a double-staple technique was indicated 18 years ago when the patient became refractory to the conventional medication. When he presented to our hospital, 18 years after the operation, the patient complained of faintness and fresh blood in the stool of 2 days’ duration, and was admitted for investigation. Lower endoscopy revealed that the hemorrhage was from a neovascularization area close to the site of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Cap-assisted argon plasma coagulation was carried out for hemostasis, and complete hemostasis was achieved without complications. Conclusions We present a case of a patient with hemorrhage following a J-shaped ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with a double-staple technique performed 18 years ago. Argon plasma coagulation treatment was successful, suggesting the potential safety and effectiveness of colonoscopic electrocoagulation for controlling unremitting hemorrhage from a neovascularization area around a stapled ileoanal canal anastomotic site.

We present the first ever report on a colonic mucocele observed at the distal stump of a transverse loop colostomy caused by neoplasia. A 37-year-old female consulted us because of abdominal pain and vomiting caused by cystic lesions in the upper left abdominal quadrant. A preoperative checkup revealed no sign of neoplastic lesions; however, tumor resection was performed because of the symptoms. The tumor was a mucocele of the distal stump of the transverse colon with obstruction interposed between the mucocele and stoma. Pathological diagnosis was low-grade adenoma; however, it appeared like low-grade mucinous neoplasia of the appendix rather than a normal colonic adenoma. The neoplasia existed in the transitional segment between obstruction and dilatation. As this is the first case of colonic mucocele caused by mucinous neoplasia, no definite consensus for diagnosis and treatment exists. With reference to low-grade mucinous neoplasia, we propose that complete surgical resection be performed for diagnosis and a favorable outcome.

The clinical course of metachronous peritoneal metastasis of colorectal origin is poorly understood. In this retrospective study, we aimed to elucidate survival and prognostic factors for metachronous peritoneal metastasis.Patients with metachronous peritoneal metastasis after curative resection for stage I-III colon cancer were retrospectively reviewed, and the incidence and prognosis of metachronous peritoneal metastasis were investigated. Prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses.Among 1582 surgically resected stage I-III colon cancer patients, 65 developed metachronous peritoneal metastasis. The 5-year cumulative incidence rate was 4.5%, and the median survival after diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis was 29.6 months. None of the patients underwent peritonectomy or intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Independent prognostic factors included right colon cancer [hazard ratio (HR) 2.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-5.64; p = 0.011], time to metachronous peritoneal metastasis of1 year (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.04-3.87; p = 0.040), Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI)10 (HR 3.68, 95% CI 1.37-8.99; p = 0.012), concurrent metastases (HR 4.09, 95% CI 2.02-8.23; p 0.001), and peritoneal nodule resection (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13-0.65; p = 0.002).A proportion of colon cancer patients with metachronous peritoneal metastasis may benefit from combined peritoneal nodule resection and systemic chemotherapy. Right colon cancer, early peritoneal metastasis, a high PCI, and concurrent metastases negatively affected prognosis in patients with metachronous peritoneal metastasis.

The requisite for a rigorous preoperative understanding of vascular branching continues to grow in parallel with the implementation of laparoscopic surgery. Three-dimensional (3D)-computed tomography (CT) angiography is a less-invasive modality than traditional angiographic examination. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate branching patterns of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). In the present study, 536 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative 3D-CT angiography from April 2012 to March 2014 were prospectively enrolled. The branching pattern of the right colic artery (RCA) and the intersectional patterns of the RCA, ileocolic artery (ICA), and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) were evaluated. The RCA existed in only 179 cases (33.4 %); the remaining 357 patients (66.6 %) lacked evidence of the RCA. The ICA was detected in all cases. The RCA ran ventral to the SMV in the majority of cases (89.4 %). Conversely, the ICA ran ventral to the SMV in only half of the cases (50.6 %). When the RCA was observed to pass dorsal to the SMV, the ICA also ran dorsal to SMV in all cases. 3D-CT angiography can aid surgeons in identifying and understanding the anatomical vascular variations and intersectional patterns of the RCA, ICA, and SMV. Developing awareness of these variations can aid in the prevention of unexpected vascular injury during laparoscopic right-sided colon surgery.

We aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of lateral pelvic lymph node (LPN) dissection (LPND) for rectal cancer through a multicenter retrospective study using propensity score analysis. A total of 1238 patients with pathological T2-4, M0 rectal cancer who had undergone curative operation between 2007 and 2008 were examined. Majority of the patients (96 %) were treated without preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Clinical background data of the patients treated with LPND and those treated without LPND were matched using propensity scores, and hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer-specific mortality were compared. LPND was performed more frequently for lower rectal cancers and in patients with more advanced disease, and 29 % of the patients were treated with LPND. After matching background features by propensity scores, LPND did not correlate with improved cancer-specific survival (CSS) among the entire study population [HR, 0.73; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.41–1.31; P = 0.28]; however, LPND was correlated with significantly improved CSS in female patients (HR, 0.23; 95 % CI, 0.06–0.89; P = 0.04) but not in male patients (HR, 0.95; 95 % CI, 0.48–1.89; P = 0.89). The results were similar when patients treated with LPND finally diagnosed as pathologically negative for LPN metastasis were compared with those curatively treated without LPND. It is suggested that the prognostic impact of LPND for rectal cancer treated without CRT might be different between sexes, and LPND should be considered for female rectal cancer patients although they are diagnosed as clinically negative for LPN metastasis.

Background: Computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is reported to be feasible for screening of colorectal polyps; however, its efficacy in preoperative workup remains unknown. This study was done to define our CTC methodology and assess CTC's potential for preoperative examination in patients with colon cancer. Methods: A total of 86 colon cancer patients underwent CTC prior to laparoscopic colectomy in our department from February 2014 to November 2015. The location of primary colon cancer determined by CTC was compared with that confirmed during the surgery. CTC was performed just after preoperative colonoscopy; for a small colon cancer, we performed clipping during colonoscopy to enhance CTC detectability. We classified wall deformities and compared them with the pathological T stage. Results: CTC accurately located all 87 primary colon cancers prior to surgery. No patient experienced complications associated with CTC. The deformity classification correlated significantly with the pathological T stage (p

Objective: The anti-p53 autoantibody is an emerging tumor marker that is commonly produced in response to p53 mutations. The usefulness of this antibody has been suggested in screening for and the monitoring of recurrence in colorectal cancer; however, its significance as a marker during chemotherapy remains largely unknown. Methods: We measured serum anti-p53 antibody levels in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer who underwent first-line systemic chemotherapy. Tumor responses were evaluated by computed tomography. We determined whether temporal changes in this antibody during therapy are associated with radiological responses. Results: Of the 83 patients in our study, 29 (35%) had elevated serum anti-p53 antibody levels before chemotherapy. Among these, antibody levels decreased in all 14 responders. In contrast, among those patients with elevated pretherapeutic serum anti-p53 antibody levels, 89% showed a paradoxical decrease in antibody levels and exhibited disease progression after chemotherapy. Moreover, serum anti-p53 antibody levels before and after chemotherapy were not associated with survival. Conclusion: These results suggest that serum anti-p53 antibody levels are of limited value in the evaluation of responses to palliative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background Curative resection of sigmoid colon and rectal cancer includes “high tie” of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). However, IMA ligation compromises blood flow to the anastomosis, which may increase the leakage rate, and it is unclear whether this confers a survival advantage. Accordingly, the IMA may be ligated at a point just below the origin of the left colic artery (LCA) “low tie” combined with lymph node dissection (LND) around the origin of the IMA (low tie with LND). However, no study has investigated the detailed prognostic results between “high tie” and “low tie with LND.” The aim of this study was to assess the utility of “low tie with LND” on survival in patients with sigmoid colon or rectal cancer. Methods A total of 189 sigmoid colon or rectal cancer patients who underwent curative operation from 1997 to 2007 were enrolled in this study. The patient’s medical records were reviewed to obtain clinicopathological information. Overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with differences assessed using log-rank test. Results Forty-two and 147 patients were ligated at the origin of the IMA (high tie) and just below the origin of the LCA combined with LND around the origin of the IMA (low tie with LND), respectively. No significant differences were observed in the complication rate and OS and RFS rates in the two groups. Further, no significant difference was observed in the OS and RFS rates in the lymph node-positive cases in the two groups. Conclusions “Low tie with LND” is anatomically less invasive and is not inferior to “high tie” with prognostic point of view.

Colon cancers in male and female patients are suggested to be oncologically different. The aim of this study is to elucidate the prognostic impact of lymph node dissection (LND) in male and female colon cancer patients. A total of 5941 stage I-III colon cancer patients who were curatively operated on during the period from 1997 to 2007 were retrospectively studied. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was individually compared between for male and female patients treated with D3, D2, and D1 LND. Background differences of the patients were matched using propensity scores. D3, D2, and D1 LND were performed in 3756 (63 %), 1707 (29 %), and 478 (8 %), respectively, and more extensive LND was indicated for younger patients and more advanced disease. D2 LND was significantly associated with decreased cancer-specific mortality compared to D1 LND in male patients (HR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.32–0.89, p = 0.04), but not in female patients. D3 LND did not correlate to an improved prognosis compared to D2 LND both in male and female patients. D2 LND was associated with an improved CSS in male, but not female colon cancer patients, compared to D1 LND. This suggested that colon cancer in male and female patients might be oncologically different, and that the prognostic impact of the extent of surgical intervention for colon cancer might therefore be different between sexes.

Background We present a case of asynchronously occurring adenocarcinomas 29 and 36 years after ureterosigmoidostomy for bladder cancer, respectively, at both anastomosis sites. Case presentation A colonoscopy that was performed on a 69-year-old man because of bloody stool and an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level revealed a polypoid lesion at the right ureterosigmoid anastomosis site 29 years after the patient’s ureterosigmoidostomy. Endoscopic resection was performed, and the lesion was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. Seven years later (36 years after ureterosigmoidostomy), an elevated lesion was detected at the left ureterosigmoid anastomosis site by colonoscopy performed after detection of high CEA levels. Biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma that was immunohistologically positive for CDX2; sigmoidectomy and ureterectomy were subsequently performed. The pathological diagnosis of the second tumor was adenocarcinoma arising in the ureterosigmoid anastomosis site and invading the left ureter. Conclusions Diligent long-term follow-up of patients who underwent ureterosigmoidostomy is essential.

Along with an aging society, the number of elderly patients with colorectal cancer treated with a surgical modality has gradually increased. Our purpose is to verify the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer in elderly patients. We compared the short-term outcomes of open versus laparoscopic surgery in patients aged 80 years or older with colorectal cancer between 2007 and 2014. Of 150 elderly colorectal patients, 62 patients received laparoscopic surgery, and 88 patients, open surgery. In the laparoscopic surgery group, two patients were converted to open surgery due to extensive adhesion. The amount of blood loss was smaller in patients treated with laparoscopic surgery than those with open surgery (44.0 ± 86.5 vs. 329.9 ± 482.1 ml, P

Background/Aims: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in young people is increasing, indicating an urgent need for understanding young-onset CRC. This study serves to clarify the characteristics and prognosis of young CRC patients. Methods: Using a detailed database, various clinicopathological findings including symptoms, family history and prognosis of 70 young CRC patients under 50 years who underwent surgical resection between 2005 and 2011 were compared to 786 old CRC patients over 50 years. For the comparison of prognosis, a matched 1:4 case-control study adjusting for gender, tumor location, tumor differentiation type, and Union For International Cancer Control stage was conducted. Results: The young group had a higher proportion of rectal cancer (51.4 vs. 36.4%, p = 0.004) and a higher positive rate for the Amsterdam criteria II (7.1 vs. 1.9%, p = 0.02) than the old group. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) between the young and old groups (5-year OS: 84.7 vs. 76.9%, p = 0.18; 5-year CSS: 84.7 vs. 82.8%, p = 0.55). Conclusion: This study may add a new perspective to understanding young-onset CRC. The prognosis of young CRC patients was equivalent to that of old CRC patients.

Aim Ulcerative colitis (UC) is considered to be a disease of continuous mucosal inflammation extending proximally from the rectum. However, appendiceal orifice inflammation (AOI) is a skip lesion with segments of continuous involvement from the rectum. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics and clinical course, particularly focused on proximal extension, of UC in patients with AOI. Method A retrospective evaluation of patients with UC who underwent total colonoscopy at the Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, from 2004 to 2014. The degree of AOI was graded endoscopically as follows: 0 (no inflammation); 1 (slight oedema); 2 (moderate inflammation); and 3 (marked inflammation). A total of 189 patient records were reviewed retrospectively. The presence of AOI was analysed with regard to the clinical information of each patient, and its association with proximal extension of proctitis or left-sided colitis was evaluated. Results Of 189 patients with UC who underwent total colonoscopy at our institution, 92 were diagnosed with pancolitis, 50 with left-sided colitis and 47 with proctitis. Endoscopic findings of AOI were observed in 26 patients, including 11 (12.0%) with pancolitis, six (12.0%) with left-sided colitis and nine (19.1%) with proctitis. During follow up, proximal extension of the disease occurred in all nine patients with proctitis AOI. Conclusion AOI is more frequently observed in patients with proctitis. Our results showed correlations between AOI and subsequent proximal extension of mucosal inflammation in patients with proctitis.