Abstract. Serous microcystic adenomas are rare and account for 1-2% of all exocrine pancreatic tumors and 25% of all pancreatic cystic neoplasms. Recently, with advances in imaging techniques, these adenomas have been identified at an increasing frequency. A 63-year-old woman visited her doctor in 1999 due to a gastric deformity detected by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a cystic lesion measuring 6.0 cm in diameter, resulting in a diagnosis of serous microcystic adenoma of the pancreatic head. During follow-up, the tumor increased steadily in size, measuring 6.0 cm in diameter in 1999 and 13.0 cm in 2008, while remaining asymptomatic throughout this period of time. The risk of malignant transformation appears to be low even over the long-term. However, some cases of malignant transformation to serous cystadenocarcinoma have recently been reported. In this case, assessment of the relationship between the tumor and adjacent vascular structures, such as massive drainage vein development on the surface or tumor flow into the portal and superior mesenteric veins and the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries, was critical for determining tumor resectability. The risk of massive intra-operative hemorrhage was felt to be considerable, given the extent of the veins on the surface of the tumor, as well as the size and location of the primary pancreatic mass. Therefore, preoperative embolization of the tumor-feeding arteries arising from the celiac axis (gastroduodenal, splenic and dorsal pancreatic arteries) was performed. Tumor resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed without a blood transfusion, with an estimated blood loss of 570 ml. The final pathology confirmed the diagnosis of serous microcystic adenoma. The patient is currently alive and disease-free. Preoperative partial embolization of the tumor feeding arteries and intra-operative resection of the right gastric and inferior pancreatoduodenal arteries, allowed the tumor blood supply to be arrested without preoperative tumor necrosis. Subsequently, intraoperative blood loss was reduced. Preoperative partial embolization of the feeding arteries is useful for the resection of hypervascular large tumors of the pancreas.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a malignant neoplasm that normally differentiates to form striated muscle, is the most common type of childhood soft tissue sarcoma. However, it infrequently occurs in adults and is uncommon in the liver. We herein report a case of RMS of the liver in an adult. Case presentation: A 73-year-old woman was admitted to our institution for investigation of a hepatic mass. She had been followed for primary biliary cirrhosis for the past 20 years. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a 12-× 10-cm heterogeneous low-density mass lesion containing cystic and solid components. A percutaneous liver biopsy was performed, and poorly differentiated cancer containing an RMS celllike component was observed. The patient was diagnosed with RMS of the liver, and open surgery with right hepatic lobectomy was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of pleomorphic RMS of the liver. The patient died of rapid progression of the tumor 6 months after the operation. Conclusions: The tumor site in the present case is rare. The details of this case add to the current evidence base regarding establishment of the standard diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition. We recommend consideration of RMS as a differential diagnosis for hepatic tumors.

The prognosis of patients with unresectable and recurrent biliary tract cancer (BTC) is very poor. Although gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin therapy is useful for unresectable cases, the median overall survival (OS) of the patients is <1 year, and third-line chemotherapy following failure of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and GEM plus cisplatin is currently unavailable. The clinical efficacy and basic effects of low-dose paclitaxel (PTX) therapy for patients with BTC was previously reported. We herein present the results of a phase I clinical trial of weekly low-dose PTX as third-line palliative chemotherapy. PTX was administered on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle and repeated twice as follows: Level 1, 40 mg/m; level 2, 50 mg/m (n=3). During the two cycles, grade 1 or 2 adverse events were observed in 3 patients, whereas dose-limiting adverse events (grade 3 or 4) were not observed. The disease control rate was 83.3% (partial response, n=3; stable disease, n=2). The OS and median survival were 15.4 and 9.0 months, respectively. In conclusion, palliative chemotherapy with low-dose PTX following failure of GEM and 5-FU was well-tolerated, safe and effective for patients with unresectable or recurrent BTCs, and the optimal dose was 50 mg/m.

Abstract.A 56-year-old female with metastatic gallbladder cancer involving the liver and stenosis of the hilar bile duct was treated with gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m 2 ) plus S-1 (60 mg/m 2 ). After 9 cycles of therapy, CT showed evidence of stable disease; however, the serum CEA level was increased. Therefore, the chemotherapy regimen was changed to weekly low-dose paclitaxel (60 mg/m 2 ). After 12 cycles of therapy, paclitaxel was reduced to 30 mg/m 2 as the patient developed neutropenia. The patient completed 32 cycles of therapy, and the tumor was reduced in size and marked improvement in bile duct stenosis was noted without any impairment in quality of life. The patient succumbed to the disease 25 months after treatment was initiated. Thus, in this case paclitaxel was more effective than gemcitabine plus S-1. Palliative chemotherapy with paclitaxel after failure of gemcitabine and 5-FU was well-tolerated; therefore, it may be an effective treatment for biliary tract cancer (BTC). A phase I study of palliative chemotherapy with weekly low-dose paclitaxel following gemcitabine (plus cisplatin) and 5-FU is currently in progress in patients with unresectable or recurrent BTC.

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