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Frontiers in Pediatrics 2021The use of robotics-assisted surgery in oncology has been proved effective and safe in adults. Despite these results, the use of robotics has been rarely reported for...
AIM
The use of robotics-assisted surgery in oncology has been proved effective and safe in adults. Despite these results, the use of robotics has been rarely reported for pediatric oncology. Our review aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of robotics-assisted surgery in this field, analyzing our experience and performing a systematic review of the most recent studies.
METHODS
We reviewed all patients affected by an oncological disease who underwent a robotics-assisted procedure at our institute. We performed a systematic review of the literature from 2012 to 2021 on the subjects.
FINDINGS
A total of 14 patients underwent robotics-assisted tumor resection. Eleven procedures (median age 13.2-years old) were carried out in children with adnexal lesions (seven tumor excision and four ovariectomies). Histological diagnosis was mature teratoma (six), serous papillary cystadenofibromas of the fallopian tube (two), ovarian serous cystadenoma (one), ovarian mucinous cystadenoma (one), and ovarian seromucinous cystadenoma. The median length of stay was 2 days. No recurrences or complications at a median follow-up of 2.1-years were observed. A 5-year-old girl underwent a complete posterior resection of a type 3 sacrococcygeal tumor with a robotics-assisted approach for the dissection of a possible intraabdominal residual component of the lesion. No intra- and postoperative complications were recorded. Complete excision of a recurrent differentiating neuroblastoma of the left para-renal region was performed on a 9-year-old girl. An idiopathic anaphylactic shock occurred 1 day after the procedure. At 9 months' follow-up, no local recurrences of the lesion were observed. Overall, we reported no conversion to open surgery. Lastly, a robotic excision of a growing left superior mediastinal intermixed ganglioneuroblastoma was performed on an 8-year-old girl with no postoperative complications. Follow-up was uneventful (7 months). In the literature, the rate of complications ranges from 0 to 28%, mainly related to difficult dissection and impaired anatomy. Conversion is reported in 5% of all oncological procedures, due to more invading tumors and altered anatomical features. No robotics-related complications were reported.
CONCLUSION
Robotics-assisted surgery in pediatric oncology has proven to be feasible. Nevertheless, its use should be limited to selected cases and performed by highly trained oncological surgeons. Preparation and patient positioning, alongside a correct port placement, are crucial to carrying out these procedures. Further innovations in robotics may allow a wider application of this technology in pediatric oncology.
PubMed: 35118030
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.780830 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Jun 2024To provide a comprehensive review of nonsurgical approaches for the management of Warthin's tumors (WTs) and evaluate their safety and efficacy as alternatives to... (Review)
Review
To provide a comprehensive review of nonsurgical approaches for the management of Warthin's tumors (WTs) and evaluate their safety and efficacy as alternatives to surgical intervention. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases using specific keywords related to WT and nonsurgical treatments. Studies published before 2012, non-English publications, and mixed methodology articles were excluded. The selection process involved title and abstract screening, followed by a thorough assessment of the remaining articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data regarding study characteristics, participants, interventions, and outcomes were collected. A total of 1582 records were analyzed, and 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies evaluated different nonsurgical interventions for WT management, including microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and ultrasound-guided ethanol sclerotherapy. The findings demonstrated that microwave ablation and radiofrequency ablation led to a significant reduction in tumor size and improved cosmetic appearance. Ultrasound-guided ethanol sclerotherapy also resulted in a notable decrease in tumor size without complications. The included studies supported the safety and efficacy of these nonsurgical options for the treatment of WTs. Nonsurgical approaches, such as microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and ultrasound-guided ethanol sclerotherapy, have emerged as viable alternatives to surgical intervention for the management of WTs. These interventions offer promising outcomes in terms of tumor size reduction and cosmetic improvement. Further research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is warranted to validate these findings and establish standardized protocols for nonsurgical management of WTs.
PubMed: 38864169
DOI: 10.1177/01455613241260969 -
Annals of Gastroenterology 2021The American Gastroenterological Association recommends endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for evaluating pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) with ≥2 high-risk features (HRF),...
BACKGROUND
The American Gastroenterological Association recommends endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for evaluating pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL) with ≥2 high-risk features (HRF), whereas the American College of Gastroenterology recommends EUS for ≥1 HRF. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the diagnostic accuracy of using ≥1 vs. ≥2 HRF for assessing the risk of advanced neoplasia (AN) and performing EUS in PCL.
METHODS
An electronic database search was performed for eligible studies. AN was defined as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm or mucinous cystadenoma with high-grade dysplasia, pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. HRF included cyst size ≥3 cm, solid component, and dilated pancreatic duct ≥5 mm. The primary outcome was the sensitivity and specificity of using ≥1 vs. ≥2 HRF as an indication for EUS to detect AN in PCL.
RESULTS
Of 38 studies initially screened, 8 were included in the final analysis. Seven studies assessed the accuracy of ≥2 HRF and 4 studies assessed ≥1 HRF. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of EUS for detecting AN were 41.7% (95% confidence interval 19.5-67.8%), 90.8% (81.9-95.5%), 30.4% (19.4-44.2%) and 94.3% (89.6-97.0%) with ≥2HRFs, and 77.1% (66.1-85.3%), 72.7% (50.4-87.5%), 17.95% (10.3-29.4%), 98.1% (90.8-99.6%), respectively, with ≥1 HRF.
CONCLUSION
Performing EUS for PCL with ≥1 HRF could offer greater sensitivity in detecting AN compared to ≥2 HRF, with a similar negative predictive value.
PubMed: 34475747
DOI: 10.20524/aog.2021.0630