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Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an effective treatment for various non-healing wounds, and V.A.C.® Therapy was the first-approved NPWT device by the Japanese government in 2009. We report the case of a 19-week pregnant patient where V.A.C.® Therapy was applied to her dehisced laparotomy wound with satisfactory results. The patient was a 30-year-old female who was referred to our hospital from her previous doctor because of the presence of an ovarian cyst on the left ovary. The patient presented at 14 weeks into her pregnancy, and surgery was considered because of no reduction in the size of the cyst. An oophorocystectomy was performed, and then the surgical incision was re-opened at postoperative day (POD) 10 due to a surgical site infection. V.A.C.® Therapy was initiated on POD 26 (20 weeks of pregnancy) and continued for 28 days. After 28 days of V.A.C.® Therapy (POD 54), the wound was sutured for complete closure. The foetus did not experience any adverse affects from the surgery and, subsequently, normal vaginal delivery was achieved. This case is the first report of the use of V.A.C.® Therapy over a dehisced abdominal wound on a pregnant patient in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the insurance coverage of colorectal stents for bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer in 2012, the use of colorectal stenting for palliation has rapidly spread. We report a case of ascending colon cancer in which a colorectal stent was placed for palliation, but the stent was reimplanted due to obstruction, followed by radical resection. The patient was a 92- year-old woman who was brought to the emergency room at the age of 90 years with repeated vomiting and abdominal pain, and was diagnosed as colorectal cancer ileus caused by ascending colon cancer, and a colorectal stent was inserted. She received palliative care and had been asymptomatic for 1 year and 3 months, but due to in-stent stenosis, she had bowel obstruction and sent to emergency room, and another stent was installed. The patient had a good course, but 4 months after the second stenting, she was concerned about restenosis and referred to the department of surgery, then performed a radical resection. The indication for colorectal stents for palliative purposes should be considered on a case-by- case basis, including ADL, stage of the disease, and prognosis.

An 84-year-old man with gastric cancer, cT2N0M0, cStage Ⅰ underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy, D1+dissection, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction. We started enteral nutrition on the second postoperative day, but milky drainage appeared from the drain on the fifth postoperative day. The triglyceride in the ascites was markedly elevated, and it was diagnosed as a lymphorrhea. Neither conservative treatment nor lymphangiography were successful. We decided to perform surgical intervention because the lymphorrhea did not improve for about 1 month after gastrectomy. At laparotomy, we detected the lymphatic ducts using enteral nutrition of fat formulas during surgery and successfully closed the lymphatic ducts by suturing and ligation on the 38th postoperative day. Prolonged lymphorrhea causes extreme deterioration of the patient's general condition. Prolonged total parenteral nutrition also increases the risk of infection. It is important to perform surgical treatment for intractable lymphorrhea that does not improve with conservative treatment without hesitation.

A 69-year-old man with dysphagia was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. He had undergone pancreatic tail and partial transverse colon resection for pancreatic cancer, and right hilar lymph node biopsy and partial lower lobe resection for the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT)scan showed no change over time in lymph node enlargement in the mediastinum, so metastasis of esophageal cancer was considered to be negative. Therefore, the diagnosis of advanced esophageal cancer, Mt, type 2, T2N0M0, cStage Ⅱ, was made, and surgery was performed after 2 courses of DCF therapy. Because of the adhesions in the thoracic cavity and possible problems with elevation of the gastric tube and blood flow due to resection of the pancreatic tail, it was decided to perform two-stage operation. Although imaging studies over time, as in the present case, can help in the diagnosis, it is difficult to distinguish whether enlarged lymph nodes are reactive changes or metastases. In this study, we experienced a case of thoracic esophageal cancer complicated by sarcoidosis with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes.

Background: Advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination is difficult to treat, although prognosis has improved with chemotherapy and the introduction of molecular targeted drugs., Case: A 65-year-old male was diagnosed as type 3 advanced gastric cancer on the posterior wall of antrum by esophagogastroduodenoscopy for anemia screening. When the patient underwent radical surgery, multiple disseminated nodules(P1c)were detected. After chemotherapy(SOX, PTX plus RAM)was administered, the tumor shrank, and staging laparoscopy was performed. Since disseminated nodules have disappeared, distal gastrectomy(R0)was performed as conversion surgery. As postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, S-1 was administered for about 1 year and 6 months. During repair of incisional hernia at 1 year postoperatively, the patient was confirmed to have no disseminated recurrence. The patient is currently alive with no sign of recurrence for 4 years.

Case: A man in his 60s reported upper abdominal pain; close examination revealed a tumor in the body-tail of the pancreas that was suspected to be infiltrating the stomach. Multiple liver lesions(S3, S4)were also detected. Histological examination by EUS-FNA showed poorly-differentiated carcinoma; thus, this case was diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer with liver metastases(cT3, cN1[No. 7], cM1[P0, H1], cStage Ⅳ: JPS 7th). After 2 kinds of systemic chemotherapy(9 courses of GEM plus nab-PTX and 9 courses of modified FOLFIRINOX), obvious distant metastases or local progression did not appear and conversion surgery was scheduled. Although a metastatic lesion was identified at S5 of the liver just before the surgery, it was assumed that an R0 resection could be achieved; therefore, the operation(distal pancreatectomy with combined proximal gastrectomy, left adrenalectomy, lymph node dissection, partial hepatectomy of S5, and cholecystectomy)was performed. Histopathological examination showed squamous metaplasia of the epithelial tissue combined with glandular formation. This case was, thus, diagnosed as adenosquamous carcinoma of pancreas. This patient was discharged 90 days after the operation. The patient is still alive 2 years and 2 months since the first diagnosis.

Case 1 is a 68-year-old woman with locally recurrent rectal cancer(LRRC)developed 5 years after resection of primary rectal cancer. The tumor seized right lateral side in pelvic. We performed tumor excision after preoperative chemoradiation comprised external beam radiation with oral S-1(tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil). He has been relapse-free for 3 years 3months after surgery. Case 2 is a 74-year-old man with LRRC developed 2 years after resection of primary rectal cancer. The tumor was located dorsal to anastomosis site in pelvic. We performed abdominoperineal resection for LRRC after preoperative chemoradiation with oral S-1. He has been relapse-free for 2 years. It was suggested that preoperative radiotherapy combined with oral FU for local recurrence after rectal cancer may contribute to distant and local control.

A 67-year-oldman underwent lower anterior resection for rectal cancer andresection of liver metastatic tumor 5 years later. Seven years and 2 months after the initial surgery, a soft tissue mass was detected in the left diaphragm. Further retrospective review of CT scan images showedthat the diaphragmatic tumor was present just before the hepatectomy. Partial resection of the left diaphragm was performed, and no relapse has occurred since then for 2 years. Most cases of diaphragmatic metastasis are considered to arise from dissemination, but we considered this case as more likely to be hematogenous. When surgery is chosen to treat metastatic tumors of colorectal cancer, checking for other metastasis via preoperative imaging andperforming curative resection is important.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an effective treatment for various non-healing wounds, and V.A.C.(®) Therapy was the first-approved NPWT device by the Japanese government in 2009. We report the case of a 19-week pregnant patient where V.A.C.(®) Therapy was applied to her dehisced laparotomy wound with satisfactory results. The patient was a 30-year-old female who was referred to our hospital from her previous doctor because of the presence of an ovarian cyst on the left ovary. The patient presented at 14 weeks into her pregnancy, and surgery was considered because of no reduction in the size of the cyst. An oophorocystectomy was performed, and then the surgical incision was re-opened at postoperative day (POD) 10 due to a surgical site infection. V.A.C.(®) Therapy was initiated on POD 26 (20 weeks of pregnancy) and continued for 28 days. After 28 days of V.A.C.(®) Therapy (POD 54), the wound was sutured for complete closure. The foetus did not experience any adverse affects from the surgery and, subsequently, normal vaginal delivery was achieved. This case is the first report of the use of V.A.C.(®) Therapy over a dehisced abdominal wound on a pregnant patient in our country., (© 2014 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2014 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Recently, self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) have been found to be useful for treatment of intestinal obstruction by colorectal cancer, either as a bridge to surgery or terminal treatment. When SEMS are used for patients in the terminal stage with obstruction due to colorectal cancer, re-obstruction is a severe problem. We report 2 cases of re-insertion of SEMS for obstruction of colon cancer after the first insertion of SEMS. No major problems occurred in either the 2 cases. In the first case, the patient suffered from re-obstruction of colon cancer 6 months after the first SEMS treatment and died 9 months after the second SEMS treatment. In the second case, the patient suffered from re-obstruction of colon cancer 5 months after the first SEMS treatment and died 7 months after the second SEMS treatment. Re-insertion of SEMS for a second obstruction due to colorectal cancer after SEMS treatment is useful for terminal treatment for maintaining QOL.

We experienced a rare case of liposarcoma that we were able to remove laparoscopically based on a preoperative diagnosis. The patient in this case was a 67-year-old woman. Abdominal CT and pelvic MRI showed a mass of 15 cm in diameter on the left side of the pelvis. Well-differentiated liposarcoma was diagnosed based on these images. Based on imaging findings, the possibility of permeation to the neighboring organs was considered to be low, and so the operation was performed laparoscopically. The location of the tumor was similar to that seen during preoperative imaging diagnosis, and we were able to remove it laparoscopically without resecting the organ. The postoperative progress was good, and the patient left the hospital on the fourth postoperative day. This case shows how with detailed preoperative imaging, a minimally invasive approach is possible for the treatment of liposarcoma.

For patients with Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer, primary site resection improves survival and relieves symptoms of bleeding and obstruction by the primary lesion. Laparoscopic surgery is thought to be useful for Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer because of its low aggressiveness and the short recovery time. We examined the usefulness of laparoscopic resection of primary lesions for Stage Ⅳ colon cancer patients. Forty-one cases of Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer treated by resection of the primary lesion were investigated, and we compared the group of patients with laparoscopic surgery (LAC) to the group of patients with open laparotomy (OP). The LAC Group was superior to the OP Group from the viewpoint of blood loss, days of hospitalization, and length of time from operation to start of chemotherapy. For Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer, laparoscopic resection of the primary lesion is thought to be a useful method to reduce the invasiveness of treatment.

Ileus due to colon cancer often develops from a timing and the method of the operation and perioperative care, comparing with ordinary cases. The use of self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) was first authorized by insurance and became available nationwide in Japan in 2012. Insertion of SEMS for ileus due to colorectal cancer is useful as a bridge to surgery (BTS) approach and releases stenosis as palliative care. Here we report 5 successful cases of anastomosis performed during a laparoscopic operation for ileus due to colorectal cancer after BTS using SEMS. Successful SEMS insertion for colon cancer ileus enables observation of the proximal side. Because the decompression efficiency with SEMS is high, laparoscopic surgery becomes possible. SEMS insertion as a BTS is useful for ileus due to colorectal cancer.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) has been reported to be related to the prognosis of various types of cancer. In particular, a high N/L ratio has been suggested to be associated with poor outcome. We investigated the changes in N/L ratio during treatment in 12 patients who had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer and were receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy with a combination of chemotherapy and polysaccharide-K (PSK). The patients were stratified into 2 groups according to the preoperative N/L ratio (cut-off ratio was 2.5): high N/L (≥2.5) and low N/L (<2.5). The changes in N/L ratio and other clinical parameters over time were investigated. In patients with a high preoperative N/L ratio, the use of postoperative PSK-chemotherapy controlled the N/L ratio at low levels. The N/L ratio tended to remain low in patients with low preoperative N/L ratios. No difference in outcome was observed between patients with high and low N/L ratios. In patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery, postoperative adjuvant therapy with a combination of chemotherapy and PSK succeeded in controlling the N/L ratio at low levels. Further studies with more patients are required to explore the outcomes associated with changing N/L ratios.

Background: Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC) with massive portal venous tumor thrombus (PVTT) face a dismal prognosis as no standard therapy has been defined. A cancer board was established at our hospital 5 years ago., Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate our surgical and multidisciplinary treatment for HCC with massive PVTT., Patients and Methods: From July 2007 to June 2012, 8 patients with HCC with PVTT extending into the main portal trunk were treated. Hemihepatectomy and PVTT removal were performed in 4 patients. Postoperative multidisciplinary treatment included transarterial chemoembolization, hepatic arterial infusion therapy, and administration of sorafenib. In 1 patient, intrahepatic recurrence and bilateral adrenal metastases were resected., Results: There was no in- hospital mortality. The median postoperative hospital stay was 30 days. The overall median survival for patients who underwent surgery and who did not undergo surgery was 344.5 days and 67 days, respectively., Conclusions: Resection for HCC with PVTT extending into the main portal trunk is acceptable at medium-scale teaching hospitals in Japan. Surgery and postoperative multidisciplinary therapy may improve the outcome of patients with HCC with massive PVTT.

The aim of this study was to investigate the responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer according to subtype. The study included 69 women who received NAC at our hospital between January 2004 and January 2013. Complete response( CR) was achieved in 14 patients( 20.3%) and partial response( PR) was achieved in 37 patients (53.6%).CR and PR rates according to subtype were as follows: 0% and 57.1% for the luminal type, 0% and 66.7% for the luminal-human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 type, 16% and 56% for the triple negative type, and 58.8% and 41.2% for the HER2 type, respectively. The CR rate was the highest among patients with HER2-type breast cancer. Trastuzumab was additionally administered to 12 patients with HER2-type breast cancer, and the CR rate among these patients was significantly higher after trastuzumab treatment( 75%).Thus, it is important to select a treatment strategy for breast cancer on the basis of the subtype diagnosed.

We report the long-term survival in two cases of colon cancer through multidisciplinary treatment, including surgery. Case 1: A 67-year-old male patient underwent anterior rectal resection, partial hepatectomy(S4, S5, S5/8) and cholecystectomy for rectal cancer with liver metastasis in July 2006(pSS, pN0, sH1, sP0, sM0, Stage IV, Cur B). Liver metastasis, lung metastasis, and metastatic colon cancer occurred 5 times during the 59 months following the first operation. We performed surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy to treat each recurrence. Case 2: A 42-year-old male patient underwent sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer with multiple liver metastasis in May 2007 (pSS, pN0, sH2, sP0, sM0, Stage IV, Cur C). Recurrence occurred 7 times at the liver and lung during the 58 months after the first operation. We performed surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy to treat each recurrence.

Here, we present the case of a 76-year-old woman who consulted us in April 2010, following a positive fecal occult blood test, and was diagnosed with lower rectal cancer. Signet-ring cell carcinoma was diagnosed by histology. Because hydronephrosis of both sides was considered the cause of dissemination of the tumor, only chemotherapy was performed. After the eighth course of XELOX+bevacizumab treatment, hydronephrosis of both sides improved and the tumor marker level became normal. An abdominoperineal rectal resection was performed in February 2011. The results of pathological examination of the resected specimen showed complete response. After the operation, the tumor marker level was elevated, and recurrence in the pelvic cavity and multiple bone metastases were detected by positron emission tomography/ computed tomography. Chemotherapy has now been resumed. Signet-ring cell carcinoma is rare in colorectal cancer. The frequency of multiple organ metastases is high, and the growth rate of the tumor is also high. Poor prognosis compared to the usual colorectal cancer has been reported.

A 76-year-old woman, weighing 40 kg, was scheduled for laparoscopic right-hemicolectomy. Forty minutes after starting the laparoscopic procedure, PaCO2 increased to 64.3 mmHg. Massive subcutaneous emphysema from the anterior thorax to the abdomen was noted and we stopped the laparoscopic procedure. In the laparoscopic procedure for the treatment of colectomy, it is important to discover abnormalities such as snowball crepitation and arrhythmia, and to monitor ETCO2 continuously in order to avoid massive subcutaneous emphysema and hypercapnia. During a laparoscopic procedure, hypercapnia might cause acidosis, arrhythmia, hypotension, myocardial ischemia, and cardiac arrest.

Invagination in adults is rare compared to children. We experienced 3 sigmoid colon cancers in which symptoms of invagination were discovered. Because the tumors in 2 of the 3 cases could be reduced, operations were electively performed. The tumor in the remaining case could not be reduced and an urgent operation was required. Because all cases responded in the early stage, their postoperative progress was good. Invagination in adults is typically caused by an organic disease, particularly cancer. It is necessary to consider not only reduction of the invagination but also treatment of the primary disease causing invagination. It is important that the malignant symptoms be detected promptly in order to develop a suitable treatment strategy.

CASE 1: A 45-year-old female underwent sigmoidectomy, simple total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexotomy for sigmoid colon cancer and a right ovarian metastasis in December 2007. As adjuvant chemotherapy, S-1 was conducted for six months. She remains disease-free for 38 months after the surgery. CASE 2: A 61-year-old female underwent simple total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexotomy for bilateral ovarian tumors following the surgery for colon cancer, metastatic liver cancer and gastric cancer in January 2010. As adjuvant chemotherapy, capecitabine was administered seven times. Five months after the last surgery, para-aortic lymph node recurrence was diagnosed. FOLFIRI/panitumumab therapy was maintained. For both of the two cases in immune-staining, CK20 staining was positive, and CK7 staining was negative. Ovarian tumors were diagnosed as metastasis from colon cancer. Ovarian metastasis of colon cancer is a relatively rare event, but a long-term survival case has been reported by multimodality therapy including surgery.

We report two cases of recurrence at an anastomosis site with leakage after operation for rectal cancer. In these cases, we thought that an implantation on leakage sites should be occurring by remaining stool with cancer cell. Colorectal cancer with ileus owing to obstacle by tumor, such as our cases, has a high risk of leakage at the anastomosis site and developed a complication that increased the risk of local recurrence. In our case of colorectal cancer with ileus owing to stenosis by tumor, a treatment method including the selection of operation should be contemplated how to prevent a local recurrence.

The case was an 80-year-old woman with inferior bile duct cancer. The patient had undergone subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy. Postoperative pancreatic fistula was observed in a short period and was treated by somatostatin analog administration and abscess drainage. Despite these conservative therapies, pancreatic fistula resulted in abdominal bleeding from the branch of dorsal pancreatic artery, which stopped by emergent transcatheter arterial embolization. Because pancreatic fistula had become refractory, the intestinal decompression catheter insertion was performed under local anesthesia to the jejunum located directly below abdominal wall. After this surgery, pancreatic fistula was resolved over a few weeks. This technique could be safely performed and avoided the injury of drainage fistula, and was considered to be an option for treating refractory pancreatic fistula.

An 80-year-old female patient was undergone sigmoidectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for type 2 sigmoid colon cancer in February 2007. A post operative pathological finding of cancer was SS, N0, P0, H0, M0 (Stage II), curative A. Twelve months after the operation, elevated CEA level was observed. CT scan and MRI revealed a mass of 10 cm in diameter with multiple cysts in the pelvic cavity, which was diagnosed a malignant ovarian tumor. In May 2008, total hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and partial omentectomy were performed and its pathological finding was metastatic ovarian tumor originating from colon cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, as cancer cells were detected in the ascites. The patient has been in good health without recurrence for 25 months after the second operation.

This is an account of a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the small intestine with peritoneal dissemination successfully treated with chemotherapy. A 64-year-old woman was admitted with a complaint of severe abdominal distension. Abdominal computerized tomography revealed a bowel obstruction with tumor and the remarkable small bowel dilation of oral side of tumor. The tumor was found at surgery to be at the ileum 15 cm proximal from the ileocecal region. Peritoneal dissemination was recognized around the ileocecal region, so ileum partial resection was performed for the primary cancer lesion and dissemination region. Pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was adenocarcinoma with lymph nodes metastasis. The peritoneal dissemination consisted of metastatic adenocarcinoma from small intestine. After an operation, internal use of S-1 was performed as adjuvant chemotherapy. But a recurrent lesion at the ovarium was detected 6 months after surgery. The patient was subsequently treated with resection of the ovarium. For lung metastasis, the combination chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 + bevacizumab was administered. Primary small intestinal adenocarcinoma is a rare disease, and it is often diagnosed as advanced cancer because of few characteristic symptoms. So carcinoma of the small intestine usually has a poor prognosis.