The above model can be objectively applied to predict the presence of CBD stones.

Klatskin tumor is a rare hepatobiliary malignancy whose outcome and prognostic factors are not clearly documented. Between April 1998 and January 2007, 96 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent resection. Data were collected prospectively. Thirty-one variables were evaluated for prognostic significance. There were 40 trisectionectomies, 40 hemihepatectomies, five central hepatectomies, and 11 biliary hilar resections. Thirty-seven (n = 37) patients required vascular reconstruction. There were 68 R0, 26 R1, and two R2 resections. Age ( P = 0.048), pT status ( P = 0.046), R class ( P = 0.034), and adjuvant chemoradiation ( P = 0.045) showed predictive significance by multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. A point scoring system was determined as follows: age younger than 62 years:age 62 years or older = 1:2 points; pT1:pT2 to 4 = 1:2 points; R0:R1/2 = 1:2 points; and chemoradiation yes:no = 1:2 points. The only model that reached statistical significance ( P = 0.0332) described the following three groups: score 6 or less; score = 7; and score = 8. Median survival for score 6 or less, score = 7, and score = 8 was 26.5, 12, and 2.2 months, respectively ( P = 0.032). The corresponding 1- and 3-year survival rates were 73 to 56 per cent, 52 to 38 per cent, and 17 to 0 per cent, respectively. We propose a scoring system predictive of long-term surgical outcome that could potentially improve patient selection for further postoperative oncologic treatment for Klatskin tumors.

The objective of this study is to assess transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) as a surgical strategy for stage I rectal cancer. The literature lacks level I and level II evidence of the oncologic competence of TEM. Three randomized controlled, one prospective, and seven retrospective comparative studies were evaluated. End-points included perioperative outcomes, margin involvement, disease-free and overall survival, and recurrence. The number of patients with major (odds ratio (OR) = 0.24,95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07–0.91) and overall postoperative complications (OR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.06-0.38) were significantly lower in TEM. The disease-free survival was higher in standard resection (SR) group compared with TEM (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.24-0.88). The number of patients with positive margins were less in the SR group (OR = 6.49, 95% CI 1.49-24.91), which was associated with lower local recurrence (OR = 4.92,95% CI 1.81-13.41) and overall recurrence rate (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.15-3.57). No survival advantage was observed in favor of either procedure. TEM had lower rate of positive margins and longer disease-free survival when compared with transanal excision (TAE). TEM seems to be superior to SR concerning morbidity whilst less effective in obtaining negative surgical margins, and it is associated with higher local and overall recurrence. No survival advantage was observed in favor of either procedure. Unfavorable tumor preoperative histology does not seem to influence the selection between TEM and SR. TEM is more effective than TAE in obtaining negative surgical margins and shows a greater disease-free survival.

Background/Aims: Present meta-analysis aims to evaluate studies of low-versus high-dose proton pump Inhibitors (PPI) post-endo-

No abstract

The objective of this study was to establish a prediction model of lymph node status in T1b esophageal carcinoma and define the best squamous and adenocarcinoma predictors. The literature lacks a satisfactory level of evidence of T1b esophageal cancer management. We performed an analysis pooling the effects of outcomes of 2098 patients enrolled into 37 retrospective studies using “neural networks” as data mining techniques. The percentages for lymph node, lymphatic (L1), and vascular (V1) invasion in Sm1 esophageal cancers were 24, 46, and 20 per cent, respectively. The same parameters apply to Sm2 with 34, 63, and 38 per cent as opposed to Sm3 with 51, 69, and 47 per cent. The respective number of patients with well, moderate, and poor histologic differentiation totaled 267, 752, and 582. The rank order of the predictors of lymph node positivity was, respectively: Grade III, (L1), (V1), Sm3 invasion, Sm2 invasion, and Sm1 invasion. Histologic-type squamous and adenocarcinoma (ADC/SCC) was not included in the model. The best predictors for SCC lymph node positivity were sm3 invasion and (V1). As concerns ADC, the most important predictor was (L1). Submucosal esophageal cancer should be managed with surgical resection. However, this is subject to the histologic type and presence of specific predictors that could well alter the perspective of multimodality management.

ObjectiveOsteonectin plays a central role in various processes during the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This prospective pilot study was performed to determine the feasibility of serum osteonectin as a screening tool for pancreatic cancer.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 15 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer and 30 matched healthy controls. Serum osteonectin was measured using an osteonectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The primary outcomes were the diagnostic performance of serum osteonectin and the threshold value for differentiation of patients from controls.ResultsThe median/quartile range of serum osteonectin in patients and controls were 306.8/288.5 ng/mL and 67.5/39.8 ng/mL, respectively. Osteonectin concentrations significantly differed among the study groups. A plasma osteonectin concentration of >100.18 ng/mL as selected by the receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated an estimated area under the curve of 86% for prediction of pancreatic cancer. Tumour size was a significant predictor of serum osteonectin. A statistically significant difference in serum osteonectin between T1/T2 and T3/T4 tumours was found. Post-hoc comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in the serum osteonectin among the control, T1/T2, and T3/T4 groups.ConclusionOsteonectin may be used as a screening tool for pancreatic cancer, although this must be validated in prospective studies.

minimally invasive heller myotomy has evolved the "gold standard" procedure for achalasia in the spectrum of current treatment options. the laparoscopic technique has proved superior to the thoracoscopic approach due to improved visualization of the esophagogastric junction. operative controversies most recently include the length of the myotomy, especially of its fundic part, with respect to the balance between postoperative persistent dysphagia and development of gastroesophageal reflux, as well as the type of the added antireflux procedure. perioperative mortality should approach 0%, and favorable long-term results can be achieved in > 90%.