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Background and Aim: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) associated with computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used for the detection and the staging of pancreatic cancer, but data regarding its clinical added value in pre-surgical planning is still lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of FDG PET associated with contrast-enhanced CT in detection of pancreatic cancer., Methods: We prospectively evaluated FDG PET/CT studies obtained in patients with suspicion of operable pancreatic cancer between May 2006 and January 2008. Staging was conducted according to a standardized protocol, and findings were confirmed in all patients by surgical resection or biopsy examination., Results: Forty-five patients with a median age of 69 (range 22-82) were included in this study. Thirty-six had malignant tumors and nine had benign lesions (20%). The sensitivity of enhanced versus unenhanced PET/CT in the detection of pancreatic cancer was 96% versus 72% (P=0.076), the specificity 66.6% versus 33.3% (P=0.52), the positive predictive value 92.3% versus 80% (P=0.3), the negative predictive value 80% versus 25% (P=0.2), and the accuracy 90.3% versus 64% (P=0.085)., Conclusions: Our preliminary data obtained in a limited number of patients shows that contrast-enhanced FDG PET/CT offers good sensitivity in the detection and assessment of pancreatic cancer, but at the price of a relatively low specificity. Enhanced PET/CT seems to be superior to unenhanced PET/CT. Further larger prospective studies are needed to establish its value for pre-surgical diagnosis and staging in pancreatic cancer., (© 2011 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Background: Anastomotic dehiscence is the most severe surgical complication after large bowel resection. This study was designed to assess the incidence, to observe the consequences, and to identify the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery., Materials and Methods: All procedures involving anastomoses of the colon or the rectum, which were performed between November 2002 and February 2006 in a single institution, were prospectively entered into a computerized database., Results: One thousand eighteen colorectal resections and 811 anastomoses were performed over this 40-month period. The most frequent procedures were sigmoid (276) and right colectomies (217). The overall anastomotic leak rate was 3.8%. The mortality rate associated with anastomotic leak was 12.9%. In univariate analysis, the following parameters were associated with an increased risk for anastomotic dehiscence: (1) ASA score >or= 3 (p = 0.004), (2) prolonged (>3 h) operative time (p = 0.02), (3) rectal location of the disease (p < 0.001), (4) and a body mass index > 25 (p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis, ASA score >or= 3 (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-4.3, p < 0.001), operative time > 3 h [OR = 3.0; 95% CI 1.1-8.0, p = 0.02), and rectal location of the disease (OR = 3.75; 95% CI 1.5-9.0 (vs left colon), p = 0.003; OR = 7.69; 95% CI 2.2-27.3 (vs right colon), p = 0.001] were factors significantly associated with a higher risk of anastomotic dehiscence., Conclusions: Three risk factors for anastomotic leak have been identified, one is patient-related (ASA score), one is disease-related (rectal location), the third being surgery-related (prolonged operative time). These factors should be considered in perioperative decision-making regarding defunctioning stoma formation.

Elective colectomies are standard procedures carrying below 1% mortality; by contrast, emergency colonic resections remain surgical challenges in compromised and/or elderly patients and are associated with high complication rates.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of surgery for rectal cancer in patients 80 years of age or more., Methods: A retrospective study of 29 patients older than 80 years, who presented in our institution between 1997 and 2001 with the diagnosis of rectal adenocarcinoma, was undertaken., Results: Median follow-up was 54 (range 27-78) months, and the median age of patients was 85 (range 80-94) years. Twenty-four out of 29 patients (83%) underwent surgery, 23 being operated electively. Twenty out of 24 patients (83%) underwent resection with curative intent, while four patients (17%) had a palliative procedure. Median hospital stay was 13 (range 10-35) days. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were 46% and 12.5%, respectively. However, when considering only elective procedures with curative intent, operative mortality was 5%. At the time of last follow-up, 13 patients were alive, five of them with no evidence of recurrent disease at 5 years, for an overall 2- and 5-year survival rate of 80% and 67%, respectively. Four out of the 7 deaths, which occurred after surgery, were due to medical causes unrelated to cancer., Conclusion: In our institution, two thirds of patients older than 80 years who presented with rectal cancer underwent surgery with curative intent. In this selected population, good results in terms of short-term survival can be achieved, at the price of an elevated postoperative morbidity. Whenever possible, treatment with curative intent should be considered in patients with rectal cancer, irrespective of the age.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to assess the incidence of 1) metachronous colorectal cancer and 2) subsequent extracolonic cancers, in relation to the location (proximal or distal to the splenic flexure) of the first primary colorectal tumor., Methods: In this population-based study, a cancer registry database was used to identify patients diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma between 1970 and 1999. Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and those with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome were excluded from the study, as were patients with nonepithelial tumors. Location of the first tumor was established according to International Classification of Diseases-Oncology-02 classification. The registry covers a population of 500,000 residents., Results: A total of 5,006 patients had sporadic adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum during this period of time, with 1,703 first primary tumors (34 percent) being located proximal to the splenic flexure. One hundred twenty occurrences of second primary colorectal cancer were observed in this population (2.39 percent). The risk for developing a second incidence of primary colorectal cancer was higher in patients whose initial tumor was located in the proximal colon (3.4 percent vs. 1.8 percent; odds ratio, 1.92; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.33-2.77; P < 0.001). The risk for each segment of the large bowel was as follows: cecum, 3.4 percent; right colon, 3 percent; transverse colon, 3.8 percent; left colon, 2.8 percent; sigmoid colon, 1.7 percent; and rectum, 1.8 percent. By contrast, the risk for developing a second, extracolonic tumor did not differ between patients with proximal and distal tumors (13.7 percent vs. 13.4 percent, P = 0.73)., Conclusion: Patients with a first tumor located within the proximal colon are at twice the risk for developing metachronous colorectal cancer. From an epidemiologic standpoint, these data are in accordance with 1) the increasing incidence and 2) the better prognosis of proximal colon cancer in various populations. Our results confirm that proximal colon cancer is a distinct entity, which justifies the reporting of cases of colon cancer according to their location proximal or distal to the splenic flexure.

Objective: To evaluate the cost of islet transplantation in type 1 diabetic patients with a functional renal graft in a multicenter network., Research Design and Methods: The study involved nine diabetic patients transplanted in the Swiss-French Groupe Rhône-Alpes, Rhin et Geneve pour la transplantation d'Ilots Langerhans (GRAGIL) consortium between March 1999 and June 2000. The direct medical costs were estimated from Social Security's perspective from the inclusion of the patient to 1 year after transplantation. All cost components were computed separately and included evaluation, screening and candidacy, organ retrieval, islet processing, pancreas and islet transportation, hospitalization for transplantation, follow-up, medications (immunosuppressive, antidiabetic, and adjuvant drugs), and adverse events requiring hospitalization., Results: During the study period, 56 pancreata were processed and 14 islet preparations were transplanted. The average cost of an islet transplantation (procedure and 1-year follow-up) was 77,745 euro (French rate, year 2000). The four main cost components were islet preparation (30% of the total cost), adverse events (24%), drugs (14%), and hospitalization (13%)., Conclusions: Overall costs of islet transplantation are slightly higher than those of pancreas transplantation. The cell isolation process is a critical point; a reduction in overall cost will require more efficient ways of isolating high yields of viable islets. Costs generated by shipments within the GRAGIL network did not represent an economic burden. It can be expected that the costs will decrease with growing experience and improving technology.