Background Preservation of the spleen in distal pancreatectomy has recently attracted considerable attention. Since our first trial and success with spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with conservation of the splenic artery and vein for tumors of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis, this procedure (Kimura's procedure) has been performed very frequently. Methods The techniques for spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SpDP) with conservation of the splenic artery and vein are clarified. The splenic vein is identified behind the pancreas and within the thin connective tissue membrane (fusion fascia of Toldt). The connective tissue membrane is cut longitudinally above the splenic vein. It is important to remove the splenic vein from the pancreas by working from the body of the pancreas toward the spleen (median approach), because it is very difficult to remove it in the other direction. The pancreas is removed from the splenic artery by proceeding from the spleen toward the head of the pancreas. Results Preservation of the spleen offers various advantages. The maximum platelet levels in blood serum are significantly lower in postoperative patients with splenic preservation than in those with splenectomy. The platelet count was maximal on postoperative day 10 in the 16 patients with SpDP and the count was maximal on postoperative day 13 in the 16 patients with distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPS), and there was a smaller increase in the patients with SpDP than in the patients with DPS. Postoperative bleeding from an ablated splenic artery and vein in SpDP has not been encountered. Either DPS or spleen preservation without preservation of the splenic artery and vein may reduce the blood supply to the residual proximal stomach after distal gastrectomy, which is different from the findings in the Kimura procedure. Conclusion In SpDP, a very slight elevation of the platelet count in serum may help to prevent infarction of the lungs and brain compared to DPS. Another advantage of SpDP performed according to our procedure is that the blood supply to the proximal stomach is conserved in patients with SpDP who undergo distal gastrectomy with resection of the left gastric artery. Benign lesions, as well as low-grade malignancy of the body and tail of the pancreas, may be indications for this procedure. Surgeons should know the techniques and significance of SpDP with conservation of the splenic artery and vein, which is a very safe and reliable method.

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As supplementary to the 2012 Fukuoka guideline, we suggest that calculating scores of WF and HRS may have superior diagnostic accuracy in predicting malignant IPMN.

The patient was a 70-year-old woman in whom examination revealed a high level of carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) revealed a multilocular cystic lesion compressing the gallbladder. CT indicated the presence of a multilocular cystic tumor (67 × 68 × 72 mm) in contact with the right hepatic lobe. Intraoperative findings indicated that the cyst diameter was 8.5 × 6.0 cm, and the cyst was continuous with the gallbladder. The gallbladder was resected along with the cyst. The cyst was multilocular and originated from the cystic duct and gallbladder wall. The cyst wall contained cuboidal to columnar mucin-producing epithelial cells and ovarian-like stroma (OS). The final diagnosis was mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the gallbladder with low-grade dysplasia. In the 2010 WHO classification of tumors of the digestive system, MCN have been newly defined as a type of hepatobiliary tract epithelial neoplasms. MCN of the gallbladder with OS is extremely rare. Only three cases have been published in the literature. The presence of OS is necessary for diagnosis of MCN.

BackgroundMetastatic recurrence after resection of pancreatic cancer is considered to be an incurable disease, and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)-like lesions are known as a side effect of fluorouracil agents. We report a very rare case of metastatic recurrence of pancreatic cancer in a Japanese man with DLE-like lesions in which long-term complete response was achieved through S-1 monotherapy.Case presentationA 65-year-old man who had undergone distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy for pancreatic body cancer and had received adjuvant gemcitabine developed postoperative para-aortic lymph node recurrence 17 months after surgery. S-1 monotherapy was started. About 2 weeks after starting this treatment, he developed an erythematous rash on the face and scalp. DLE was diagnosed by skin biopsy. The eruptions were aggravated by the administration of S-1 and improved during periods of respite from S-1. Yet as CA19-9 was reduced by almost half 1 month after starting S-1 chemotherapy, S-1 chemotherapy was continued at a reduced dose. CA19-9 decreased to within a normal range within 6 months after starting S-1 chemotherapy, and a reduction in lymph node metastasis was detected through imaging. The patient is still alive without recurrence or metastasis 113 months after surgery.ConclusionsEven in patients with S-1-induced DLE-like lesions, continuation of S-1 is possible if the dose and duration of S-1 are appropriately regulated and medical therapy is administered for the skin lesions. Further investigation into the possible correlation between skin rash and clinical benefit in connection with S-1 is strongly warranted.

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