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Frozen section analysis (FS) during cancer surgery is widely used to assess resection margins. However, in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA), FS may be less reliable because of the specific growth characteristics of the tumor. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and consequences of intraoperative FS of the proximal bile duct margins in HCCA. Between 1990 and 2014, 67 patients underwent combined extrahepatic bile duct resection and partial liver resection for HCCA with the use of FS. Sensitivity and specificity of FS was 68% and 97%, respectively. Seventeen of 67 patients (25%) displayed a positive bile duct margin at FS. The false-negative rate was 16% (eight patients). Ten patients (15%) with a positive bile duct margin underwent an additional resection in an attempt to achieve negative margins, which succeeded in three patients (4%). However, only one of these three patients did not have concomitant lymph node metastases, which are associated with a poor prognosis by itself. The use of FS of the proximal bile duct is of limited clinical value because of the relatively low sensitivity, high risk of false-negative results, and the low rate of secondary obtained tumor-free resection margins. Supported by the literature, a new approach to the use of FS in HCCA should be adopted, reserving the technique only for cases in which a substantial additional resection is possible., (© 2016 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: We present a rare but serious complication of Essure microinsert sterilization., Study Design: Case report., Results: A 42-year-old woman presented with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and abdominal distension 1 month after uncomplicated Essure sterilization. Abdominal X-ray showed small bowel obstruction. At subsequent laparotomy, a stretched Essure device was found ensnaring the terminal ileum. It had caused strangulation and local perforation of the bowel wall. The device was removed and an ileocecal resection with side-to-side ileocolostomy was performed. In retrospect, the aberrant location of the right Essure device near the ileocecal junction was noticed on the abdominal X-ray., Conclusions: This case illustrates that perforation of an Essure device can result in a serious complication leading to ileocecal resection. An abdominal X-ray with specific attention to the correct location of the Essure coils is advisable for patients presenting with small bowel obstruction after Essure sterilization., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Liver transplantation after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has emerged as an effective treatment for patients with localized, node-negative, unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or CCA arising in the setting of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). However, concern has arisen regarding the potential for vascular complications due to high-dose neoadjuvant therapy before transplantation. We reviewed our experience with specific aims to determine the incidences of arterial, portal, and hepatic venous complications in patients transplanted for CCA compared with patients who undergo transplantation for other indications, and to describe patient outcome as a result of these vascular complications. We reviewed data for all patients who underwent liver transplantation for CCA between January 1993 and April 2006 and compared the incidences of vascular complications to whole organ and living donor recipient control groups. Sixty-eight patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy and subsequent liver transplantation. Arterial complications arose in 21%; portal venous complications arose in 22%; and overall, 40% developed vascular complications. Late hepatic artery complications occurred more often in living donor recipients transplanted for CCA compared with the living donor control group (P=0.047). Late portal vein complications occurred more often in both whole organ and living donor recipients transplanted for CCA compared with the control groups (P=0.01 and P=0.009). Hepatic venous complications were rare. Patient and graft survival were not different between CCA and control patients. Liver transplantation with neoadjuvant therapy is associated with far higher rates of late arterial and portal venous complications, but these complications do not adversely affect patient and graft survival., (Copyright (c) 2007 AASLD.)