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The Chicago Consensus Working Group provides multidisciplinary recommendations for the management of colorectal cancer specifically as it relates to the management of peritoneal surface malignancy. These guidelines are developed with input from leading experts including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, palliative care physicians, and pharmacists. These guidelines recognize and address the emerging need for increased awareness in the appropriate management of peritoneal surface disease. They are not intended to replace the quest for higher levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chicago Consensus Working Group provides multidisciplinary recommendations for the management of colorectal cancer specifically as it relates to the management of peritoneal surface malignancy. These guidelines are developed with input from leading experts, including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, palliative care physicians, and pharmacists. These guidelines recognize and address the emerging need for increased awareness in the appropriate management of peritoneal surface disease. They are not intended to replace the quest for higher levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging is not routine in patients with localized pancreatic cancer (PC). We evaluated the prognostic value of PET/CT in patients who received neoadjuvant therapy. Methods: Patients with localized PC underwent pretreatment PET/CT with or without posttreatment (preop) PET/CT. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUV) were classified as high or low based on a cut point of 7.5 at diagnosis (SUVdx) and 3.5 after neoadjuvant therapy (preoperative; SUVpreop). Preop carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) was classified as normal (≤ 35 U/mL) or elevated. Results: Pretreatment PET/CT imaging was performed on 201 consecutive patients; SUVdx was high in 98 (49%) and low in 103 (51%). Preop PET/CT was available in 104 (52%) of the 201 patients; SUVpreop was high in 60 (58%) and low in 44 (42%). Following neoadjuvant therapy, preop CA19-9 was normal in 90 (45%) patients and elevated in 111 (55%). Median overall survival (OS) of all patients was 27 months; 33 months for the 103 patients with a low SUVdx and 22 months for the 98 patients with a high SUVdx (p = 0.03). Median OS for patients with low SUVdx/normal preop CA19-9, high SUVdx/normal preop CA19-9, low SUVdx/elevated preop CA19-9, and high SUVdx/elevated preop CA19-9 were 66, 34, 23, and 17 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). OS was 44 months for the 148 (74%) patients who completed all intended neoadjuvant therapy and surgery and 13 months for the 53 (26%) who did not undergo surgery (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Pretreatment PET/CT avidity and preop CA19-9 are clinically significant prognostic markers in patients with PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Elucidating the genomic landscape of sporadic parathyroid carcinoma (PC) has been limited by low tumor incidence. Objective Identify driver mutations of sporadic PC and potential actionable pathways. Methods Patients undergoing surgical resection for sporadic PC between 1980 and 2016 at MD Anderson Cancer Center were identified. Patients with sporadic PC according to World Health Organization diagnostic criteria and with available formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) PC tumor tissue were included and their clinical data analyzed to assess extent of disease. Patients with parathyroid tumors of uncertain malignancy or atypical parathyroid neoplasms were excluded. Thirty-one patients meeting diagnostic criteria had available tissue for analysis. FFPE PC tumors were subjected to DNA extraction and next-generation whole-exome sequencing. All variant calls are single-algorithm only. Twenty-nine samples passed quality assurance after DNA extraction. Main Outcome Measures Somatic or private germline mutations present in sporadic PC and identification of pathways involved in tumorigenesis. Results We identified 35 genes with considerable mutational load; only eight genes were previously identified in other PC cohorts. These genes mediate critical processes, including chromosome organization, DNA repair, and cell cycle regulations. Gene mutations involved in MAPK signaling and immune response are also heavily implicated. These findings are limited by inherent molecular artifacts in FFPE tissue analysis and the absence of matched germline DNA. Additionally, variant calls are only single algorithm and may include false-positive/negative calls. Conclusion We identified 33 candidate driver genes of sporadic PC, in addition to previously known driver genes CDC73 and MEN1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of embryonic origin in patients undergoing resection after chemotherapy for colon cancer liver metastases (CCLM). Methods: We identified 725 patients with primary colon cancer and known RAS mutation status who underwent hepatic resection after preoperative chemotherapy for CCLM (1990 to 2015). Survival after resection of CCLM from midgut origin (n = 238) and hindgut origin (n = 487) was analyzed. Predictors of pathologic response and survival were determined. Prognostic value of embryonic origin was validated with a separate cohort of 252 patients with primary colon cancer who underwent resection of CCLM without preoperative chemotherapy. Results: Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after hepatic resection were worse in patients with midgut origin tumors (RFS rate at 3 years: 15% vs 27%, P < 0.001; OS rate at 3 years: 46% vs 68%, P < 0.001). Independent factors associated with minor pathologic response were midgut embryonic origin [odds ratio (OR) 1.55, P = 0.010], absence of bevacizumab (OR 1.42, P = 0.034), and mutant RAS (OR 1.41, P = 0.043). Independent factors associated with worse OS were midgut embryonic origin [hazard ratio (HR) 2.04, P < 0.001], carcinoembryonic antigen value ≥5 ng/ mL at hepatic resection (HR 1.46, P = 0.0021), synchronous CCLM (HR 1.45, P = 0.012), and mutant RAS (HR 1.43, P = 0.0040). In the validation cohort, patients with CCLM of midgut origin had a worse 3-year OS rate (55% vs 78%, P = 0.003). Conclusions: Compared with CCLM from hindgut origin, CCLM from midgut origin are associated with worse pathologic response to chemotherapy and worse survival after resection. This effect appears to be independent of RAS mutation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insurance prior authorization (PA) is a determination of need, required by a health insurer for an ordered test/procedure. If the test/procedure is denied, a peer-to-peer (P2P) discussion between ordering provider and payer is used to appeal the decision. The objective of this study was to measure the number and patterns of unnecessary PA denials. This was a retrospective review at a quaternary cancer center from October 2021 to March 2022. Included were all patients with outpatient imaging orders for surgical planning or surveillance of gastrointestinal, endocrine, or skin cancer. Primary outcome was unnecessary initial denial (UID) defined as an order that required preauthorization, was initially denied by the insurer, and subsequently overturned by P2P. Nine hundred fifty seven orders were placed and 419 required PA (44%). Of tests requiring authorization, 55/419 (13.1%) were denied. Variability in the likelihood of initial denial was seen across insurers, ranging from 0% to 57%. Following P2P, 32/55 were overturned (58.2% UID). The insurers most likely to have a UID were Aetna (100%), Anthem (77.8%), and Cigna (50.0%). UID was most common for gastrointestinal (58.9%) and endocrine (58.3%) cancers. Average P2P was 33.5 min (interquartile range 28-40). The majority of imaging studies initially denied were overturned after P2P. If all UIDs were eliminated, this would represent 108 less P2P discussions with an estimated time-savings of 60.3 h annually within a high-volume surgical oncology practice. Combined personnel costs to the health systems and stress on patients with cancer due to image-associated PAs and P2P appear hard to justify. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: None.

Background: Controversy exists regarding the benefit of lymphadenectomy for nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNET)., Patients and Methods: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) published between 1990 and 2021. Studies of functional PNET were excluded. Reported incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and survival analysis of either disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) were required for inclusion., Results: Overall, 52 studies analyzing 24,608 PNET met the inclusion criteria. The reported LNM rate for NF-PNET ranged from 7 to 64 % (median 24.5%). Reported LNM rates ranged from 7 to 51% (median 11%) for NF-PNET< 2 cm in 14 studies and 29-47% (median 38%) in NF-PNET > 2 cm. In total, 19 studies (66%) reported LNM to have a negative impact on DFS. Additionally, 21 studies (60%) reported LNM to have a negative impact on OS. Two studies investigating the impact of lymphadenectomy (LND) found LND had the greatest impact for large, high-grade tumors. The overall quality of available evidence was low as assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation System., Conclusions: Published literature evaluating the impact of regional LNM and LND in PNET is confounded by heterogeneity in practice patterns and the retrospective nature of these cohort studies. Most studies suggest high rates of LNM in NF-PNET that negatively impact DFS and OS. Given the high rate of LNM in NF-PNET and its potential detrimental effect on DFS and OS, we recommend lymphadenectomy be completed for NF-PNET > 2 cm and strongly considered for NF-PNET < 2 cm., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Objective: To evaluate characteristics of matched and unmatched general surgery residency (GSR) applicants., Background: Given the recent change of the United States Medical Licensing Exam Step 1 grading to pass/fail, understanding the factors that influence GSR match success is integral to identifying potential interventions to improve match rates for diverse medical students., Methods: Retrospective review of GSR National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) applicant and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) active resident data between 2011 and 2022. Data included application characteristics for United States ("US") and "independent" applicants, factors cited by program directors in the interview and ranking process, paths pursued if applicants went unmatched, and racial/ethnic representation., Results: A total of 9149 US and 3985 independent applicants applied to GSR between 2011 and 2021. Matched versus unmatched applicants had higher step 1 scores (US: 236 vs 218, P = 0.005; independent: 237 vs 228, P = 0.001), higher step 2 scores (US: 248 vs 232, P = 0.006; independent: 245 vs 234, P < 0.001), more likely to belong to alpha omega alpha (US: 17.1% vs 1.6%, P = 0.002) or to attend a top 40 National Institutes of Health-funded school (US: 31.0% vs 19.4%, P = 0.002) compared to unmatched applicants. Program directors heavily factored step 1 and step 2 scores, letters of recommendation, interactions with faculty and trainees, and interpersonal skills when interviewing and ranking applicants. The proportion of active general surgery residents versus applicants was lower for Asians (12.3% vs 20.9%, P < 0.001), Black/African American (5.0% vs 8.8%, P < 0.001), Hispanic/Latino (5.0% vs 9.4%, P = 0.001), and underrepresented in medicine students (10.3% vs 19.1%, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: In the pass/fail step 1 era, factors including step 2 score and other subjective metrics may be more heavily weighted in the GSR match process., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Importance: Many surgeons cite mentorship as a critical component of training. However, little evidence exists regarding factors associated with mentorship and the influence of mentorship on trainee education or wellness., Objectives: To evaluate factors associated with surgical trainees' perceptions of meaningful mentorship, assess associations of mentorship with resident education and wellness, and evaluate programmatic variation in mentorship., Design, Setting, and Participants: A voluntary, anonymous survey was administered to clinically active residents in all accredited US general surgery residency programs following the 2019 American Board of Surgery In-Service Training Examination. Data were analyzed from July 2019 to July 2022., Exposure: Residents were asked, "Do you have a mentor who genuinely cares about you and your career?", Main Outcomes and Measures: Resident characteristics associated with report of meaningful mentorship were evaluated with multivariable logistic regression. Associations of mentorship with education (clinical and operative autonomy) and wellness (career satisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, suicidality) were examined using cluster-adjusted multivariable logistic regression controlling for resident and program factors. Residents' race and ethnicity were self-identified using US census categories (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White), which were combined and dichotomized as non-Hispanic White vs non-White or Hispanic., Results: A total of 6956 residents from 301 programs completed the survey (85.6% response rate); 6373 responded to all relevant questions (2572 [40.3%] female; 2539 [39.8%] non-White or Hispanic). Of these, 4256 (66.8%) reported meaningful mentorship. Non-White or Hispanic residents were less likely than non-Hispanic White residents to report meaningful mentorship (odds ratio [OR], 0.81, 95% CI, 0.71-0.91). Senior residents (postgraduate year 4/5) were more likely to report meaningful mentorship than interns (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 2.59-3.62). Residents with meaningful mentorship were more likely to endorse operative autonomy (OR, 3.87; 95% CI, 3.35-4.46) and less likely to report burnout (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.46-0.58), thoughts of attrition (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.36-0.50), and suicidality (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.37-0.60) compared with residents without meaningful mentorship., Conclusions and Relevance: One-third of trainees reported lack of meaningful mentorship, particularly non-White or Hispanic trainees. Although education and wellness are multifactorial issues, mentorship was associated with improvement; thus, efforts to facilitate mentorship are needed, especially for minoritized residents.

Introduction: Patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) are increasingly treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). Unfortunately, data identifying preoperative risk factors for poor oncologic outcomes after this procedure are limited. We aimed to determine the prognostic value of preoperative CEA, CA 125, and CA 19-9 on disease progression after CRS/HIPEC., Methods: Patients with CRPM treated with curative intent CRS/HIPEC from 12 participating sites in the United States from 2000 to 2017 were identified. Progression-free survival (PFS), defined as disease progression or recurrence, was the primary outcome., Results: In 279 patients who met inclusion criteria, the rate of disease progression was 63.8%, with a median PFS of 11 months (interquartile range [IQR] 5-20). Elevated CA 19-9 was associated with dismal PFS at 2 years (8.9% elevated vs. 30% not elevated, p < 0.01). In 113 patients who underwent upfront CRS/HIPEC, CA 19-9 emerged as the sole tumor marker independently predictive of worse PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.88, p = 0.048). In the subgroup of patients who had received neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), no variable was independently predictive of PFS. CA 19-9 levels over 37 U/ml were highly specific for accelerated disease progression after CRS/HIPEC. Lastly, there was no association between PFS and elevated CEA or CA 125., Conclusions: Elevated CA 19-9 is associated with decreased PFS in patients with CRPM. While traditionally CEA is the main tumor marker assessed in colon cancer, we found that CA 19-9 may better inform preoperative risk stratification for poor oncologic outcomes in patients with CRPM. However, prospective studies are required to confirm this association., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Celiac artery compression can complicate the performance of pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy due to the need for ligation of the gastroduodenal artery. Median arcuate ligament release restores normal arterial flow to the liver, spleen, and stomach and may avoid complications related to poor perfusion of the foregut., Methods: All patients who underwent median arcuate ligament release for celiac artery compression at the time of pancreatectomy between 2009 and 2023 were reviewed. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography was used to categorize celiac artery compression by the extent of compression (types A [<50%], B [50%-80%], and C [>80%])., Results: Of 695 patients who underwent pancreatectomy, 22 (3%) had celiac artery compression, and a majority (17) were identified on preoperative imaging. Median celiac artery compression was 52% (interquartile range = 18); 8 (36%) patients had type A and 14 (64%) had type B compression with a median celiac artery compression of 39% (interquartile range = 18) and 59% (interquartile range = 14), respectively (P < .001). Postoperative imaging was available for 20 (90%) patients, and a reduction in the median celiac artery compression occurred in all patients: type A, 14%, and type B, 31%. Complications included 1 (5%) death after hospital discharge, 1 (5%) pancreatic fistula, 1 (5%) delayed gastric emptying, and 4 (18%) readmissions. No patient had evidence of a biliary leak or liver dysfunction., Conclusion: Preoperative computed tomography allows accurate identification of celiac artery compression. Ligation of the gastroduodenal artery during pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy in the setting of celiac artery compression requires median arcuate ligament release to restore normal arterial flow to the foregut and avoid preventable complications., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Gastrointestinal midgut neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of uncommon malignancies. For well-differentiated NENs, known as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), surgery is a cornerstone of management in localized and metastatic disease. Because of heterogeneous tumor behaviour, association with endocrine syndrome, and prognosis, the management of NETs must be individualized to all these factors in addition to the primary site. With the fast pace of advancement in the field, both for therapies and understanding of tumoral etiology and behaviour, it is important for surgical oncologists to remain updated on guidelines recommendations and suggested treatment pathways. Those guidelines provide important guidance for management of NETs but are largely based on expert opinions and interpretation of retrospective evidence. This article reviews highlights of most recent practice guidelines for midgut (gastric, duodenal, small intestinal, and appendiceal) NETs., (© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Objective: To describe a high-volume experience with biliary drainage before neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for patients with operable pancreatic cancer (PC) and characterize the association between biliary adverse events (BAEs) and patient outcome., Background: Patients with PC presenting with biliary obstruction require durable decompression before NAT., Methods: Patients with operable PC and tumor-associated biliary obstruction were examined and grouped by the presence or absence of a BAE during NAT. The incidence, timing, and management of BAEs are described, and outcomes, including the completion of all treatment and overall survival (OS), were compared., Results: Of 426 patients who received pretreatment biliary decompression, 92 (22%) experienced at least 1 BAE during NAT, and 56 (13%) required repeat intervention on their biliary stent. The median duration of NAT was 161 days for all patients and was not different in the group that experienced BAEs. The median time from initial stent placement to BAE was 64 days. An interruption in the delivery of NAT (median 7 days) occurred in 25 (6%) of 426 patients. Among 426 patients, 290 (68%) completed all NAT, including surgery: 60 (65%) of 92 patients with BAE and 230 (69%) of 334 patients without BAE ( P =0.51). Among 290 patients who completed NAT and surgery, the median OS was 39 months, 26 months for the 60 patients with BAE, and 43 months for the 230 patients without BAE ( P =0.02)., Conclusions: During extended multimodal NAT for PC, 22% of patients experienced a BAE. Although BAEs were not associated with a significant interruption of treatment, patients who experienced a BAE had worse OS., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) improves survival in select patients with peritoneal metastases (PM), but the impact of social determinants of health on CRS/HIPEC outcomes remains unclear., Patients and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of a multi-institutional database of patients with PM who underwent CRS/HIPEC in the USA between 2000 and 2017. The area deprivation index (ADI) was linked to the patient's residential address. Patients were categorized as living in low (1-49) or high (50-100) ADI residences, with increasing scores indicating higher socioeconomic disadvantage. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included perioperative complications, hospital/intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and disease-free survival (DFS)., Results: Among 1675 patients 1061 (63.3%) resided in low ADI areas and 614 (36.7%) high ADI areas. Appendiceal tumors (n = 1102, 65.8%) and colon cancer (n = 322, 19.2%) were the most common histologies. On multivariate analysis, high ADI was not associated with increased perioperative complications, hospital/ICU LOS, or DFS. High ADI was associated with worse OS (median not reached versus 49 months; 5 year OS 61.0% versus 28.2%, P < 0.0001). On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, high ADI (HR, 2.26; 95% CI 1.13-4.50; P < 0.001), cancer recurrence (HR, 2.26; 95% CI 1.61-3.20; P < 0.0001), increases in peritoneal carcinomatosis index (HR, 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.05; P < 0.001), and incomplete cytoreduction (HR, 4.48; 95% CI 3.01-6.53; P < 0.0001) were associated with worse OS., Conclusions: Even after controlling for cancer-specific variables, adverse outcomes persisted in association with neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage. The individual and structural-level factors leading to these cancer disparities warrant further investigation to improve outcomes for all patients with peritoneal malignancies., (© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Objective: To determine how the severity of prior history (Hx) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection influences postoperative outcomes after major elective inpatient surgery., Background: Surgical guidelines instituted early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic recommended a delay in surgery of up to 8 weeks after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. This was based on the observation of elevated surgical risk after recovery from COVID-19 early in the pandemic. As the pandemic shifts to an endemic phase, it is unclear whether this association remains, especially for those recovering from asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19., Methods: Utilizing the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, we assessed postoperative outcomes for adults with and without a Hx of COVID-19 who underwent major elective inpatient surgery between January 2020 and February 2023. COVID-19 severity and time from infection to surgery were each used as independent variables in multivariable logistic regression models., Results: This study included 387,030 patients, of whom 37,354 (9.7%) were diagnosed with preoperative COVID-19. Hx of COVID-19 was found to be an independent risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes even after a 12-week delay for patients with moderate and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with mild COVID-19 did not have an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes at any time point. Vaccination decreased the odds of respiratory failure., Conclusions: Impact of COVID-19 on postoperative outcomes is dependent on the severity of illness, with only moderate and severe disease leading to a higher risk of adverse outcomes. Existing perioperative policies should be updated to include consideration of COVID-19 disease severity and vaccination status., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cancer incidence is expected to increase in coming decades, disproportionately so among minoritized communities. Racially and ethnically concordant care is essential to addressing disparities in cancer outcomes within at-risk groups. Here, we assess trends in racial and ethnic representation of medical students (MS), general surgery (GS) residents, and complex general surgical oncology (CGSO) fellows., Methods: This is a retrospective review of data from the American Association of Medical Colleges and the Accreditation Council of Medical Education (ACGME) from 2015 to 2020. Self-reported race and ethnicity was obtained for MS, GS, and CGSO trainees. Race and ethnicity proportions were compared with respective representation in the 2020 US Census. Mann-Kendall, Wilcoxon rank sum, and linear regression were used to assess trends, as appropriate., Results: A total of 316,448 MS applicants, 128,729 MS matriculants, 27,574 GS applicants, 46,927 active GS residents, 710 CGSO applicants, and 659 active CGSO fellows were included. With every progressive stage in training, there was a smaller proportion of URM active trainees than applicants. Further, URM, Hispanic/Latino, and Black/African American trainees were significantly underrepresented compared with 2020 Census data. While the proportion of White CGSO fellows increased over time (54.5-69.2%, p = 0.009), the proportion of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino (URM) CGSO fellows did not significantly change over the study period, though URM representation was lower in 2020 as compared with 2015., Discussion: From 2015 to 2020, minority representation decreased at every advancing stage in surgical oncology training. Efforts to address barriers for URM applicants to CGSO fellowships are needed., (© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.)