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Journal of Surgical Case Reports Feb 2024Ganglioneuromas (GN) are benign neuroblastic tumors that arise from neural crest cells. Since they present with nonspecific symptoms, diagnosis is often incidental. We...
Ganglioneuromas (GN) are benign neuroblastic tumors that arise from neural crest cells. Since they present with nonspecific symptoms, diagnosis is often incidental. We are reporting a case of an adult appendiceal GN incidentally found during rectal cancer surgery. A 42-year-old male was diagnosed with recurrent rectal cancer after experiencing urinary difficulties and buttock pain. A multiple-stage pelvic exenteration was carried out after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiation. Prophylactic appendectomy was done during the course of surgery, and pathology reported an appendix with GN at the distal tip. GN are often found incidentally and rarely cause appendicitis. Depending on their location and size, they might become symptomatic. While there is some controversy on whether surgery is the treatment of choice for all GN, diagnosis is rarely apparent preoperatively, and all appendiceal masses should be resected.
PubMed: 38370592
DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjae019 -
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons... Feb 2024Pelvic exenteration (PE) is now the standard of care for locally advanced (LARC) and locally recurrent (LRRC) rectal cancer. Reports of the significant short-term... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Pelvic exenteration (PE) is now the standard of care for locally advanced (LARC) and locally recurrent (LRRC) rectal cancer. Reports of the significant short-term morbidity and survival advantage conferred by R0 resection are well established. However, longer-term outcomes are rarely addressed. This systematic review focuses on long-term oncosurgical and quality of life (QoL) outcomes following PE for rectal cancer.
METHODS
A systematic review of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted, in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies were included if they reported long-term outcomes following PE for LARC or LRRC. Studies with fewer than 20 patients were excluded.
FINDINGS
A total of 25 papers reported outcomes for 5,489 patients. Of these, 4,744 underwent PE for LARC (57.5%) or LRRC (42.5%). R0 resection rates ranged from 23.2% to 98.4% and from 14.9% to 77.8% respectively. The overall morbidity rates were 17.8-87.0%. The median survival ranged from 12.5 to 140.0 months. None of these studies reported functional outcomes and only four studies reported QoL outcomes. Numerous different metrics and timepoints were utilised, with QoL scores frequently returning to baseline by 12 months.
CONCLUSIONS
This review demonstrates that PE is safe, with a good prospect of R0 resection and acceptable mortality rates in selected patients. Morbidity rates remain high, highlighting the importance of shared decision making with patients. Longer-term oncological outcomes as well as QoL and functional outcomes need to be addressed in future studies. Development of a core outcomes set would facilitate better reporting in this complex and challenging patient group.
PubMed: 38362800
DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2023.0031 -
BMJ Open Feb 2024The empty pelvis syndrome is a significant source of morbidity following pelvic exenteration surgery. It remains poorly defined with research in this field being...
INTRODUCTION
The empty pelvis syndrome is a significant source of morbidity following pelvic exenteration surgery. It remains poorly defined with research in this field being heterogeneous and of low quality. Furthermore, there has been minimal engagement with patient representatives following pelvic exenteration with respect to the empty pelvic syndrome. 'PelvEx-Beating the empty pelvis syndrome' aims to engage both patient representatives and healthcare professionals to achieve an international consensus on a core outcome set, pathophysiology and mitigation of the empty pelvis syndrome.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
A modified-Delphi approach will be followed with a three-stage study design. First, statements will be longlisted using a recent systematic review, healthcare professional event, patient and public engagement, and Delphi piloting. Second, statements will be shortlisted using up to three rounds of online modified Delphi. Third, statements will be confirmed and instruments for measurable statements selected using a virtual patient-representative consensus meeting, and finally a face-to-face healthcare professional consensus meeting.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine ethics committee has approved this protocol, which is registered as a study with the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials Initiative. Publication of this study will increase the potential for comparative research to further understanding and prevent the empty pelvis syndrome.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT05683795.
Topics: Humans; Consensus; Delphi Technique; Health Personnel; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Research Design; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38316595
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076538 -
BMJ Open Jan 2024The surgical treatment for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer requires oncological clearance with a pelvic exenteration or a beyond total mesorectal excision...
INTRODUCTION
The surgical treatment for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer requires oncological clearance with a pelvic exenteration or a beyond total mesorectal excision (TME). The aim of this systematic review is to explore the safety and feasibility of robotic surgery in locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer by evaluating perioperative outcomes, oncological clearance rates, and survival and recurrence rates postrobotic beyond TME surgery.
METHODS
The systematic review will include studies published until the end of December 2023. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases will be searched. The screening process, study selection, data extraction, quality assessment and analysis will be performed by two independent reviewers. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus with a third independent reviewer. The risk of bias will be assessed with validated scores. The primary outcomes will be oncological clearance, overall and disease-free survival, and local and systemic recurrence rates post robotic or robot-assisted beyond TME surgery for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer. Secondary outcomes will include perioperative outcomes.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
No ethical approval is required for this systematic review as no individual patient cases are studied requiring access to individual medical records. The results of the systematic review will be disseminated with conference presentations and peer-reviewed paper publications.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION OF THE STUDY
CRD42023408098.
Topics: Humans; Robotics; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Treatment Outcome; Laparoscopy; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Rectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38272558
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080043 -
Cancers Jan 2024Pelvic exenteration (PE) is one of the most radical surgical approaches. In earlier times, PE was associated with high morbidity and mortality. Nowadays, due to improved...
Pelvic exenteration (PE) is one of the most radical surgical approaches. In earlier times, PE was associated with high morbidity and mortality. Nowadays, due to improved selection of suitable patients, perioperative settings, and postoperative care, patients' outcomes have been optimized. To investigate patients' outcomes and identify possible influencing clinical and histopathological factors, we analysed 17 patients with recurrent vulvar cancer who underwent PE in our department between 2007 and 2022. The median age was 64.9 years, with a difference of 40 years between the youngest and the oldest patient (41 vs. 81 years). The mean overall survival time was 55.7 months; the longest survival time reached up to 164 months. The achievement of complete cytoreduction ( = 0.02), the indication for surgery (curative vs. palliative), and the presence of distant metastases (both = 0.01) showed a significant impact on overall survival. The presence of lymphatic metastases ( = 0.11) seems to have an influence on overall survival (OS) time. Major complications appeared in 35% of the patients. Our results support the existing data for PE in cases of recurrent vulvar cancer; for a group of selected patients, PE is a treatment option with good overall survival times and acceptable morbidity.
PubMed: 38254766
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020276 -
Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery Jan 2024We report the short/mid-term results of surgery for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC, four courses of...
AIM
We report the short/mid-term results of surgery for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC, four courses of S-1 + oxaliplatin+ bevacizumab) without radiotherapy with the primary aim of ypT0-2.
METHODS
High-risk LARC was defined as cT4b, mesorectal fascia (MRF) ≤1 mm (MRF+), or lateral lymph node metastasis (cLLN+) on high-resolution MRI. The planned 32 cases from April 2018 to December 2021 were all included.
RESULTS
There were 10 patients at cT4b (31.2%), 26 MRF+ (81.3%), and 22 cLLN+ (68.8%). Thirteen (40.6%) underwent NAC after a colostomy for stenosis. NAC was completed in 26 (81.2%) cases. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in six (18.7%). One patient developed progressive disease (3.2%). Eleven were ycT0-3MRF-LLN- (34.3%). Curative-intent surgery was performed on 31, with sphincter-preserving surgery in 20, abdominoperineal resection in nine, total pelvic exenteration in two, and lateral lymph node dissection in 24. Two had R1/2 resection (6.4%). A Grade 3 or higher postoperative complication rate occurred in 3.2%. Pathological complete response and ypT0-2 rates were 12.9% and 45.1%. Three-year disease-free survival rates (3yDFS) for ypT0-2 and ypT ≥3 were 81.2%, 46.6% ( = 0.061), and 3-year local recurrence rates (3yLR) were 0%, 48.8% ( = 0.015). 3yDFS for ycT0-3MRF-LLN- and ycT4/MRF+/LLN+ were 87.5%, 48.0% ( = 0.031) and 3yLR were 0%, 42.8% ( = 0.045).
CONCLUSION
NAC yielded a clinically significant effect in about half of high-risk LARC patients. If NAC alone is ineffective, radiotherapy should be added, even if extended surgery is intended.
PubMed: 38250676
DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12720 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Jan 2024The aim of this study was to explore the outcomes of pelvic reconstruction with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous (RAM) or rectus abdominis myoperitoneal (RAMP) flap...
The aim of this study was to explore the outcomes of pelvic reconstruction with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous (RAM) or rectus abdominis myoperitoneal (RAMP) flap following radical surgery for gynecologic malignancy. This is a retrospective case series of all pelvic reconstructions with RAM or RAMP flap performed in a gynecologic oncology service between 1998 and 2023. Reconstructions with other flaps were excluded. A total of 28 patients were included. Most patients had vulvar cancer ( = 15, 53.6%) and the majority had disease recurrence ( = 20, 71.4%). Exenteration was the most common procedure, being carried out in 20 (71.4%) patients. Pelvic reconstruction was carried out with a RAM flap in 24 (85.7%) cases and a RAMP flap in 4 (14.3%) cases. Flap-specific complications included cellulitis (14.3%), partial breakdown (17.9%), and necrosis (17.9%). Donor site complications included surgical site infection and necrosis occurring in seven (25.0%) and three (10.7%) patients, respectively. Neovaginal reconstruction was performed in 14 patients. Out of those, two (14.3%) had neovaginal stenosis and three (21.4%) had rectovaginal fistula. In total, 50% of patients were disease-free at the time of the last follow up. In conclusion, pelvic reconstruction with RAM/RAMP flaps, at the time of radical surgery for gynecologic cancer, is an uncommon procedure. In our case series, we had a significant complication rate with the most common being infection and necrosis. The development of a team approach, with input from services including Gynecologic Oncology and Plastic Surgery should be developed to decrease post-operative complications and improve patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Surgery, Plastic; Retrospective Studies; Cellulitis; Necrosis
PubMed: 38248111
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31010026 -
Melanoma Management Sep 2023Vulvo-vaginal melanomas are one of the rarest gynecological oncology diseases with a poor survival compared with other malignancies. The 5-year survival varies from 13%... (Review)
Review
Vulvo-vaginal melanomas are one of the rarest gynecological oncology diseases with a poor survival compared with other malignancies. The 5-year survival varies from 13% to 32.3%. Vulvo-vaginal melanomas involving the upper 2/3rds of the vagina are usually treated with total pelvic exenteration (TPE). TPE surgery carries a 50% risk of major complications and also morbidity associated with double stomas. Central pelvic compartment resection is a novel organ-sparing surgical approach entailing radical total laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy, laparoscopic vaginectomy and vulvectomy to reduce morbidity compared with TPE. Permanent suprapubic catheters are used if there is urethral involvement but require quality of life studies to assess their long-term outcomes.
PubMed: 38229953
DOI: 10.2217/mmt-2023-0001 -
BMC Cancer Jan 2024Recently, with the advancement of medical technology, the postoperative morbidity of pelvic exenteration (PE) has gradually decreased, and it has become a curative...
BACKGROUND
Recently, with the advancement of medical technology, the postoperative morbidity of pelvic exenteration (PE) has gradually decreased, and it has become a curative treatment option for some patients with recurrent gynecological malignancies. However, more evidence is still needed to support its efficacy. This study aimed to explore the safety and long-term survival outcome of PE and the feasibility of umbilical single-port laparoscopic PE for gynecologic malignancies in a single medical center in China.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
PE for gynecological cancers except for ovarian cancer conducted by a single surgical team in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between July 2014 and December 2019 were included and the data were retrospectively analyzed.
RESULTS
Forty-one cases were included and median age at diagnosis was 53 years. Cervical cancer accounted for 87.8% of all cases, and most of them received prior treatment (95.1%). Sixteen procedures were performed in 2016 and before, and 25 after 2016. Three anterior PE were performed by umbilical single-site laparoscopy. The median operation time was 460 min, and the median estimated blood loss was 600 ml. There was no perioperative death. The years of the operations was significantly associated with the length of the operation time (P = 0.0018). The overall morbidity was 52.4%, while the severe complications rate was 19.0%. The most common complication was pelvic and abdominal infection. The years of surgery was also significantly associated with the occurrence of severe complication (P = 0.040). The median follow-up time was 55.8 months. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 17.9 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 25.3 months. The 5-year DFS was 28.5%, and the 5-year OS was 30.8%.
CONCLUSION
PE is safe for patient who is selected by a multi-disciplinary treatment, and can be a curative treatment for some patients. PE demands a high level of experience from the surgical team. Umbilical single-port laparoscopy was a technically feasible approach for APE, meriting further investigation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Retrospective Studies; Pelvic Exenteration; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
PubMed: 38229045
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11836-3