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We evaluated the clinical value of perioperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) levels in predicting recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection, with a focus on the time course as surveillance tools. A total of 165 consecutive HCC patients who had undergone curative hepatectomy at our institution from 2005 to 2007 and whose serum AFP and DCP had been measured before and after hepatectomy were included in this study. The minimum postoperative levels within a 4-month period were used for analysis. Among the patients with a positive level of AFP before operation, the number of patients whose AFP level did not change from positive to negative after operation in the group with recurrence exceeded that in the group without recurrence (48/60, 80.0% vs. 4/23, 17.4%), and the difference was significant (P<0.001). Minimum postoperative AFP level was found to be a significant independent risk factor for recurrence by multivariate analysis (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant correlation between AFP level and grade of hepatitis activity (P=0.599). Postoperative AFP level is a useful tool for predicting recurrence after curative hepatectomy. A positive level of AFP after operation might suggest a site of residual viable cancer. The need for effective adjuvant therapy and close follow-up is suggested in patients with a positive postoperative AFP level.

Background: The aim of this study was to review prognosis following gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients with synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis and to identify predictive factors for improving survival after gastrectomy in this setting., Methods: Records of all patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination in our center between 1993 and 2004 were reviewed., Results: Data of 101 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination were available. Peritoneal dissemination was classified as P1, metastasis to the adjacent peritoneum in 34 patients; P2, a few scattered metastases to the adjacent peritoneum in 13 patients; and P3, numerous metastases in 54 patients. Nineteen patients sustained 21 adverse events. Overall survival was significantly improved for those in the P1 and P2 groups compared with that for the P3 group (median of 18 months and 15 months vs. 9 months; P < 0.001). Seven factors were significant for overall survival: peritoneal carcinomatosis, peritoneal lavage cytology, macroscopic type, resection margin, extent of lymph node dissection, curative potential of gastric resection, and chemotherapy, including perioperative and postrecurrent chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, two factors were identified as independently associated with poor survival: P3 disease (P = 0.002) and absence of chemotherapy (P = 0.009). Univariate analysis of gastric cancer patients with P1 or P2 carcinomatosis revealed only tumor differentiation to be significant., Conclusions: Gastric cancer patients with P1/P2 carcinomatosis and well/moderately differentiated tumors are likely to have an improved survival after gastrectomy. We emphasize that patients with good performance status and P1/P2 carcinomatosis should be considered appropriate surgical candidates before embarking on palliative systemic chemotherapy alone.

Background: Benign obstructions of the liver hilum are occasionally encountered in surgically resected cases. Some of these cases are pathologically classified as benign sclerosing cholangitis and are not clearly categorized. This study aims to elucidate the clinicopathological features of benign sclerosing cholangitis of unknown origin., Methods: Patients who had undergone surgery of the proximal bile duct from 1993 to 2008 on suspicion of proximal bile carcinoma were evaluated, then their clinical presentation, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings were retrospectively analyzed., Results: One hundred seventy-six patients underwent surgery during this period. Of these, five patients were diagnosed with benign sclerosing cholangitis of unknown origin. All five patients were middle-aged with no history of autoimmune disease. One patient died of recurrent cholangitis after surgery. Histopathologically, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrations were observed in all five cases. Among them, the clinicopathological findings of one patient were compatible with IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, and the other two patients had unusual histopathological findings with prominent lymph follicular formation., Conclusions: Although patients with benign sclerosing cholangitis of unknown origin comprise a heterogeneous population, they can be further classified into subgroups. The response to immunosuppressive therapy, long-term prognosis and histological morphology of the disease should be considered in order to classify these cases of sclerosing cholangitis.

Background: Clinicopathological features of remnant gastric cancers after gastrectomy for synchronous multiple gastric cancers have not been fully addressed. In this study we evaluated the potential risk factors attributable to the development of remnant gastric cancers after initial gastrectomy for multiple gastric cancers., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 3042 patients diagnosed with gastric cancers who underwent a gastrectomy. Of these, 922 total gastrectomy cases were excluded and the remaining 2120 cases were clinicopathologically investigated., Results: Among the 2120 patients, 1967 patients were histopathologically diagnosed with a solitary lesion and 153 patients with multiple lesions. The incidence of remnant gastric cancers was higher in patients with multiple lesions at initial surgery than in those with a solitary lesion (7/153 [4.5%] vs. 9/1967 [0.45%], p < 0.05). Among the patients with remnant gastric cancer, the percentages of cases with a combination of undifferentiated-type carcinoma (Type C), differentiated-type carcinoma (Type A), and differentiated- and undifferentiated-type carcinoma (Type B) as initial lesions were 15.0, 3.3, and 2.7%, respectively. Compared with those with no remnant gastric cancer, the incidence of the combination of undifferentiated-type carcinoma (Type C) as an initial lesion was significantly associated with a higher (p < 0.05) incidence of remnant gastric cancer., Conclusion: As initial lesions, a combination of undifferentiated-type carcinoma was a potential risk factor for the development of remnant gastric cancers after initial gastrectomy.

Objective: We evaluated prognostic indicators for distal pancreatectomy with regional lymph node dissection in pancreatic body or tail carcinoma., Methods: Between 1993 and 2008, 50 patients with ductal carcinoma of the body or tail of the pancreas who underwent distal pancreatectomy with regional lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathological factors associated with patient survival were evaluated., Results: No in-hospital deaths occurred among the study patients. The overall 5-year survival rate was 19.3%, and median survival was 22.6 months. Univariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis, intrapancreatic neural infiltration, peripancreatic nerve plexus infiltration, and tumor differentiation affected patient survival significantly. Multivariate analysis validated lymph node metastasis as an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, the lymph nodes attached to the pancreas were the most frequent metastatic nodes, and the number of metastasis in the lymph nodes attached to the pancreas was significantly associated with survival after surgical resection., Conclusions: Lymph node metastasis was a significant and independent prognostic factor for the surgically resected pancreatic body or tail carcinoma. Furthermore, the lymph nodes attached to the pancreas were the most frequent metastatic nodes, and these lymph nodes were potential indicators predicting both tumor extension and survival after surgery for pancreatic body or tail carcinoma.

Background: Remnant gastric cancers have been extensively investigated; however, little has been unveiled the features of remnant gastric cancers with regard to the existence of synchronous multiple lesions. We evaluated the clinicopathological features of remnant gastric cancers, after initial gastrectomy for both single and multiple gastric cancers., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 3,042 patients diagnosed with gastric cancers who underwent gastrectomy. Of these, total gastrectomy cases were excluded, and remaining 2,120 cases were investigated., Results: Among the 2,120 patients, 1,967 patients were histopathologically diagnosed with solitary lesion and 153 patients with multiple lesions. The incidence of remnant gastric cancers was higher in patients with multiple lesions at initial surgery than those with solitary lesion (P < 0.05). Moreover, remnant cancers developed within shorter duration of follow-up after treatment of synchronous multiple lesions compared to those that developed after treatment of solitary lesions (P = 0.05). Among the patients treated for synchronous multiple lesions, distance from the oral margin was a potential risk factor for the development of secondary cancers in the remnant stomach., Conclusions: Patients with synchronous multiple gastric cancers are more susceptible to the development of secondary cancers in their remnant stomach. These patients need careful follow-up after initial gastrectomy.

The relationship between overexpression of glypican (GPC)-3 that is specific for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the prognosis has not yet been clarified. We attempted to determine the expression profile of GPC3 in association with the clinicopathological factors by immunohistochemical analysis in HCC patients and investigated the potential prognostic value of GPC3 by comparing the survival rate between the GPC3-positive and GPC3-negative HCC patients. Primary HCC tissue samples (n = 107) obtained from patients who had undergone hepatectomy between 2000 and 2001 were analyzed. GPC3 expression was less frequently observed in well-differentiated HCC than in moderately and poorly differentiated HCC, the difference in the frequency being statistically significant. GPC3-positive HCC patients had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate than the GPC3-negative HCC patients (54.5 vs 87.7%, P = 0.031). Among 80 of the 107 (74.6%) patients with initial treatment who underwent hepatectomy, none of GPC3-negative HCC patients (n = 16, 20.0%) died during the follow-up period. No deaths were noted in the GPC3-negative HCC patients among the 71 (88.7%) patients with moderately and poorly differentiated HCC. Multivariate analysis identified GPC3 expression (P = 0.034) as an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival. We showed that GPC3 expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients.

Primary liver cancers are classified into three types based on their morphology and cytogenetic characteristics hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (CHC). It is often difficult to distinguish these liver tumors. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is serological and histochemical marker of hepatocellular carcinoma. In order to separate these three types of liver cancers, we analyzed the GPC3 expression in 85 liver resection specimens, including 46 HCCs, 28 ICCs and 11 CHCs. GPC3 immunohistochemical staining was used to distinguish HCC from ICC by comparing with the conventional biomarker, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The immunostaining of GPC3 was identified in 78.3% (36/46) of HCCs, 60% (9/15) of well differentiated, 88.9% (16/18) of moderately differentiated and 84.6% (11/13) of poorly differentiated HCCs. It was negative in the ICCs. We confirmed that GPC3 expression is specific to HCC component (8/11, 72.7%) but few samples also showed weakly in ICC component (2/11, 18.2%) of CHC sections among 11 cases compared with HCC biomarkers including AFP and hepatocyto paraffin 1 (HepPar1), and ICC biomarkers cytokeratin (CK) 7 and CK19. Three cases in which the macroscopic features resembled ICC did not express GPC3 even in the pathological HCC component. Most (10/11, 91%) of the pathological cholangiocarcinoma components in CHC showed positive staining for CK7 and CK19. The results of this study suggest that GPC3 is a biomarker that is sensitive and specific to HCC component of CHC, and CK7 and CK19 are markers for pathological cholangiocarcinoma component of CHC.

Background: Risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) after hepatectomy under the guideline of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are not well examined., Methods: Hospital records of consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy without biliary reconstruction for liver cancers were reviewed retrospectively. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to patients just before skin incision and every 3 hours during the operations. Clinicopathological factors were compared between patients who developed SSI and those without it., Results: There were 405 patients identified, and the incidence of SSI was 23 cases (5.8%). In multivariate analysis, intraoperative bowel injury, blood loss >2000 ml, and age older than 65 years were significant risk factors of SSI after hepatectomy., Conclusions: Prophylactic antibiotics were necessary only during the operation for most patients who underwent hepatectomy without biliary reconstruction. However, patients with intraoperative bowel injury, blood loss >2000 ml, and age older than 65 years are at risk to develop SSI and might need additional administration of prophylactic antibiotics after surgery.

Background: The clinicopathologic features and surgical outcome of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are not fully understood., Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between October 1992 and July 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas were subdivided into solitary tumors and tumors with intrahepatic metastasis., Results: Complete tumor removal (R0 resection) was performed in 42 patients (75%). The 5-year survival rate for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 56), patients with a solitary tumor (n = 46), and patients with intrahepatic metastasis (n = 10) were 32, 38, and 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference in survival between patients with a solitary tumor and those with intrahepatic metastasis (p < 0.0001). The 5-year survival rate for patients with stage I (n = 3), II (n = 9), III (n = 15), and IV disease (n = 26) was 100, 67, 37, and 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference in survival between stage I and stage IV (p = 0.011), between stage II and stage IV (p = 0.0002), and between stage III and stage IV (p = 0.0015). The most frequent site of recurrence was the liver. Univariate analysis showed that intrahepatic metastasis, portal vein invasion, hepatic duct invasion, lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, and positive surgical margin (R1) were significantly associated with poor survival. Multivariate analysis confirmed that intrahepatic metastasis was a significant and independent prognostic indicator after surgical resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (p = 0.001). No patient with intrahepatic metastasis survived more than 10 months in this study., Conclusions: Intrahepatic metastasis was the strongest predictor of poor survival in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic fistula (PF) is still one of the serious complications after total gastrectomy (TG). The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for PF after TG and to evaluate our attempts to prevent PF., Methods: From August 1992 to July 2006, 740 consecutive patients with gastric neoplasm underwent TG at the National Cancer Center Hospital East. Univariate and multivariate analyses of potential risk factors for the development of PF and the effectiveness of operative procedures to prevent PF were performed., Results: Postoperative PF was identified in 130 patients (18%). On multivariate analysis, body mass index (P < 0.001) and the operative procedure (TG with pancreaticosplenectomy) (P = 0.001) were independent risk factors. In TG with splenectomy (pancreas-preserving method), total preservation of the splenic artery was significantly correlated with a lower incidence of PF (P < 0.001). In TG with pancreaticosplenectomy, the use of a linear stapling device was an effective surgical technique for closure of the cut end of the pancreas, but there was no significant difference from conventional methods. Recently, the incidence decreased significantly for TG overall and TG with splenectomy., Conclusions: PF after TG is more likely to occur in obese patients undergoing TG with pancreaticosplenectomy. When TG with splenectomy (pancreas-preserving method) is performed, the splenic artery should be totally preserved. If TG with pancreaticosplenectomy is performed, the use of a linear stapling device for closure of the cut end of the pancreas should be suggested. These improvements in surgical techniques are useful to prevent PF.

Background/aims: Liver regeneration after surgical resection is still a serious concern. The present study is designed to understand the relations between liver injury/regeneration and cytokines after hepatectomy with viral hepatitis., Methodology: Twenty-one consecutive patients undergoing liver resection were studied, which included two patients with biliary tract cancer, three patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer, and sixteen patients with primary liver tumor. They were also divided into two groups according to the existence of chronic viral hepatitis: 10 patients with viral hepatitis and 11 patients without viral hepatitis., Results: Viral hepatitis reduced pre-operative liver function (ICG-R15 and platelet count) with raised levels of sFas. Interestingly, this also reduced postoperative surge of IL-6, but not HGF, though they were equally at basal levels pre-operatively. Recovery of liver size, calculated with resected liver mass and volumetry with CT scan, was deteriorated in liver with viral hepatitis, but any difference of postoperative liver damage was observed between two groups., Conclusions: Viral infection, somehow, increased sFas level pre-operatively, but does not influence the post-operative liver injury. Deficient response of IL-6, but not HGF, may be a major cause for poor liver regeneration after hepatectomy in patients with viral hepatitis independent from liver injury.

Background/aims: Liver damage after hepatectomy is still a serious concern. The present study was designed to clarify the relations between liver injury/surgical stress and cytokines after hepatectomy, in patients with viral hepatitis., Methodology: Ten consecutive patients undergoing hepatectomy were studied, all with hepatocellular carcinoma due to viral hepatitis. Blood samples for interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), soluble Fas (sFas), soluble Fas Ligand and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR) assays were collected before the operation and at the end of the operation., Results: There was a significant and positive correlation between the change in the serum level of HGF and preoperative liver function (ICG-R15). Notably, there were significant correlations between surgical stress and IL-6, HGF and sFas, but not sIL-6R and sTNFR. Furthermore, there was significant correlation between postoperative liver function (total bilirubin, albumin) and HGF, IL-6., Conclusions: There was a close relationship between surgical stress and HGF, IL-6 and sFas after hepatectomy in patients with viral hepatitis. It was useful for the evaluation of surgical stress of hepatectomy to estimate the serum level of HGF, IL-6 and sFas.

Objectives: Systemic disorder is a characteristic of advanced pancreatic cancer. Clinical prognostic factors in earlier disease state than terminal stage are expected to be sensitive markers for the foresight of systemic disorder. This study aimed to find the associations between these sensitive markers and morphological factors of primary tumor that may indicate finding a way of pathogenesis of systemic disorder., Methods: The current study examined 75 patients who received macroscopic curative resection for pancreatic cancer in our institution as follows: (1) identification of clinical prognostic factors at initial recurrence after resection of primary tumor and (2) analysis of correlations between clinical prognostic factors and histological findings in primary tumor., Results: Important prognostic factors were peritoneal dissemination and serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and cholinesterase. Only low levels of serum cholinesterase correlated to nerve plexus invasion in histological findings of primary tumor. Patients with low cholinesterase levels show systemic disorder, including poor performance status, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia., Conclusions: Nerve invasion may thus result in low functional state of the liver followed by systemic disorder. This mechanism may be useful for elucidating cancer cachexia in future studies.

Background/aims: Although hepatocellular carcinoma patients who meet the Milan criteria are optimal candidates for liver transplantation, most such patients in Japan have been treated without liver transplantation., Methodology: In this retrospective analysis, the patient selection criteria were (1) admission between 1992 and 2005, (2) fulfillment of the Milan criteria, (3) classification within the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages A1-A4, and (4) no previous anticancer treatment., Results: Of 451 patients who met the selection criteria, 162 underwent hepatectomy. The proportion of patients who underwent hepatectomy was 58% of 106 with stage A1 and 29% of 345 with stages A2-A4. For patients with stages A2-A4, the survival probability after hepatectomy at 3, 5, and 7 years was 89%, 70%, and 61%, respectively. There were no significant differences in survival time between stages A1 and stages A2-A4 after hepatectomy. Among patients with Child-Pugh scores of 5 and 6 in stages A2-A4, 51% and 29% underwent hepatectomy, respectively., Conclusions: Hepatectomy may be an appropriate first-line treatment option for patients with stages A2-A4 who meet the Milan criteria, when they have a good hepatic reserve and a long waiting time for liver transplantation.

Background/purpose: The best surgical treatment for solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a matter of debate., Methods: Fourteen patients with solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas who underwent surgical resection, including enucleation, between June 1996 and January 2007 were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the effect of the treatment., Results: The mean age of the patients was 39 years (range, 15 to 59 years). The mean size of the tumor was 4.4 cm (range, 2.0 to 12 cm). Ten tumors (71%) had a well-defined capsule, and 6 tumors (43%) extended beyond the pancreas. Eight of the 14 tumors (57%) had a cystic component, and calcification was observed in 6 tumors (43%). The frequency of microscopic venous invasion, lymphatic invasion, and nerve invasion was 29% (4 of 14), 0%, and 21% (3 of 14), respectively. No lymph node involvement or liver metastasis was observed. Six patients underwent positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F] fluoro-D-glucose (FDG), and stronger FDG accumulation compared with the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma was observed in 5 of the 6 patients. The median standardized uptake value (SUV) was 6.3 (range, 0.9 to 42.8). Distal pancreatectomy (n = 5), subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 3), local resection (n = 3), enucleation (n = 2), and duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (n = 1) were performed. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 43% and 0%, respectively. All patients were still alive without recurrent disease after a median follow-up of 46 months., Conclusions: Patients with solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas had a favorable outcome after surgical treatment, including enucleation.

Two cases of a focal type of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) with distinct double mass lesions within the pancreas are described. In both patients, computed tomography (CT) showed localized pancreatic masses with delayed enhancement, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed localized stenoses of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) with mild upstream dilatation. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) examination, performed in one patient, showed intense uptake concordant with tumors. Both patients received pancreatic resection with a presumptive diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Histologic evaluation of the tumors showed marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and fibrosis around the large and medium pancreatic ducts, without any evidence of malignancy. Serum IgG4 concentration, measured postoperatively, was elevated in both patients. The characteristic morphological features of AIP are diffuse swelling of the pancreatic parenchyma and diffuse narrowing of the MPD. Recently, a focal type of AIP, which mimics pancreatic carcinoma, has been recognized. Considering the favorable response of AIP to steroid therapy, it is clinically important to differentiate the focal type of AIP from pancreatic carcinoma and to know that AIP sometimes exhibits multiple lesions within the pancreas.

Objective: With an increase in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) being reported, the focal type of AIP, which shows localized narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and focal swelling of the pancreas, has recently been recognized. Therefore, cases of focal-type AIP subjected to surgical intervention for presumptive malignancy might previously have been diagnosed as mass-forming chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence of focal-type AIP in resected chronic pancreatitis at a single tertiary cancer center. The clinical and radiological features of focal-type AIP were also evaluated., Material and Methods: We re-evaluated 15 patients who underwent pancreatic resection with a presumed diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and who in the past had been diagnosed pathologically as having chronic pancreatitis., Results: Seven of 15 patients showed AIP, and the other 8 patients were diagnosed as having mass-forming chronic pancreatitis not otherwise specified by pathological retrospective examination. In other words, nearly half of the cases of resected chronic pancreatitis that were suspected to be pancreatic carcinoma preoperatively showed focal-type AIP. Regarding the characteristic findings of focal-type AIP, narrowing of the pancreatic duct on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) might be diagnostic., Conclusions: Focal-type AIP is not a rare clinical entity and might be buried in previously resected pancreatic specimens that in the past were diagnosed simply as mass-forming pancreatitis.

Although the pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) classification is the histologic prognostic classification currently used clinically worldwide to predict the outcome of patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EBDC), some patients with EBDC in the early pTNM stage experience tumor recurrence and some of them die of their disease. We have confirmed that the histologic characteristics of tumor cells and tumor stromal cells in the vessels and lymph nodes of patients with EBDC are more strongly associated with tumor recurrence or death than in the primary tumor. The purpose of this study was to establish a primary tumor/vessel tumor/nodal tumor (PVN) classification for EBDC that would accurately predict the outcome of 72 patients. Multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to compare the ability of the PVN classification to predict tumor recurrence and death with that of the pTNM, the American Joint Committee on Cancer, and the Japanese pTNM classification systems; and the results showed that only the PVN classification significantly increased the hazard rates for tumor recurrence and death independent of nodal status (P < .05). We conclude that the PVN classification is probably the most accurate prognostic classification system available for EBDC.

It is extremely rare to encounter tumors arising exclusively in the minor duodenal papilla. We report a 60-year-old male patient with a polypoid type of adenocarcinoma of the minor papilla. Preoperative examinations, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), suggested pancreas divisum and showed a series of stones in the dorsal pancreatic duct. The patient underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (SSpPD). On histology, an adenocarcinoma was located in the minor papilla, which was limited to the mucosa, without invasion of the duodenum, sphincter muscles of the minor papilla, or the underlying pancreas. The carcinoma cells, together with dysplastic and hyperplastic epithelium of the pancreatic duct, extended peripherally within the pancreatic duct. No cystic dilatation of the pancreatic duct was observed. The ventral pancreatic duct was short and narrow; there was evidence of chronic pancreatitis in the dorsal pancreas, whereas the ventral pancreas was almost normal, suggesting the existence of pancreas divisum. Although it is well known that adenocarcinoma of the duodenal papilla is sometimes accompanied by intraepithelial spread in the pancreatic duct, an adenocarcinoma arising in the minor papilla in this case with pancreas divisum was more extended than our thoughts.

Objective: An increasing number of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas have been reported in recent years. However, the clinicopathologic features and surgical outcome of this neoplasm are not fully understood because of the limited number of cases. The objective of this study is to clarify the clinicopathologic features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas and evaluate prognostic factors influencing survival., Methods: Eighty-two patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm undergoing surgical resection at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between April 1994 and October 2006 were retrospectively analyzed., Results: There were 31 patients with adenoma and 51 patients with carcinoma. Carcinomas were subdivided into noninvasive carcinoma (n = 14), minimally invasive carcinoma (n = 6), and invasive carcinoma (n = 31). The postoperative mortality rate was 0%. The 5-year survival rate for patients with intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma, noninvasive carcinoma, minimally invasive carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma was 80%, 78%, 83%, and 24%, respectively. Regardless of the margin status, no patient with adenoma developed recurrent disease. There were significant differences in survival between noninvasive carcinoma and invasive carcinoma (P = .016) and between minimally invasive carcinoma and invasive carcinoma (P = .030). Multivariate analysis confirmed that lymph node metastasis (P = .004) and age (P = .015) were significant prognostic factors after surgical resection of these neoplasms., Conclusions: Patients with intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma, noninvasive carcinoma, and minimally invasive carcinoma showed favorable survival. In contrast, invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma was associated with poor survival regardless of the margin status. Nodal involvement was the strongest predictor of poor survival.

Nerve plexus invasion is regarded as one of the most important prognostic factors in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas, though nerve plexus invasion has not been evaluated in terms of prognostic impact on the basis of detailed histologic investigation. The purpose of this study was to precisely examine morphologic characteristics of nerve plexus invasion and analyze its prognostic predictive power compared with the well-known prognostic parameters of pancreatic IDCs. The outcome and histologic features of 75 patients with pancreatic IDC in the pancreas head were investigated, and 422 lesions of nerve plexus invasion were evaluated. Tumor cells invading nerve plexus showed a duct-forming differentiated feature and predominantly existed in the perineurium and perineural space. Multivariate analyses revealed that the important prognostic factors, in addition to invasive tumor size and tumor necrosis, were at long distances from nerve plexus invasion to pancreatic capsule and perineural invasion in nerve plexus invasion.

Background/aims: Pancreas-sparing duodenectomy (PSD) represents an attractive operation for benign or premalignant duodenal disease. However, use of PSD is controversial for indications that include malignancy., Methodology: The present study investigated 16 patients who underwent PSD for duodenal neoplasms including adenoma, cancer, carcinoid and non-epithelial tumor. Indications for PSD were divided into 3 categories: early stage neoplasms; isolated duodenal neoplasms in high-risk patients; and duodenal involvement from adjacent organ malignancies. This study classified PSD into 4 types based on the resected portion of the duodenum, as used in gastrectomy (total, subtotal, distal, and proximal) and we experienced pancreas-sparing proximal duodenectomy and pancreas-sparing distal duodenectomy., Results: Pancreatic fistula or anastomotic leak occurred in 2 patients, and were closed with nonoperative management. Although 1 patient with gallbladder cancer died postoperatively due to the results of a concomitant operation, no postoperative deaths or re-operations related to PSD were encountered. Mean duration of follow-up was 65 months. Three patients died as a result of distant metastases from primary cancer without local recurrence, and 2 patients died from other causes. The remaining 10 patients are well, with no symptoms related to the hepatobiliary and pancreatic systems., Conclusions: Good results after long-term follow-up suggest that PSD represents an attractive option for duodenal neoplasms. Moreover, absence of local recurrence suggests that PSD may also be acceptable for selected duodenal malignancies.

Background: Resections are effective for some patients with both hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer, but the best selection criteria for the resections and effective treatment for recurrence after the resections have not been determined., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 30 consecutive patients who received aggressive multiple resections for both hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer. Recurrences after resections were surgically treated whenever resectable., Results: For the 30 patients, 45 hepatectomies and 40 pulmonary resections were performed and 17 patients received three or more resections. No mortality was observed. Overall survival after the first metastasectomy for the second organ (liver or lung) was 58% and nine 5-year survivors were observed. Multivariate analyses revealed that primary colon cancer, stage IV in TNM classification and maximum size of hepatic tumor >3 cm at initial hepatectomy were poor prognostic factors, but several long-term survivors were observed even among patients with those factors., Conclusions: Multiple resections for hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer are safe and effective. No single factor is considered to be a contraindication for the resections. For recurrence after the resections, surgical resection is also recommended if resectable.

A 46-year-old woman with epigastric pain was found to have a cystic tumor in the pancreas head on radiological examinations. The tumor was hypervascular, and its multilocular appearance resembled the "honeycomb" pattern of serous cystic tumor (SCT). The patient underwent surgery. The cut surface of the tumor showed a thick fibrous capsule with multiple cystic components, which contained necrotic tissue and brownish serous fluid, indicating an episode of hemorrhage. The cut surface of the tumor resembled solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) on gross appearance. On immunohistochemical staining, the tumor cells showed diffuse and strong staining for synaptophysin (SYN), chromogranin A (CGA), and grimelius, and no staining for alpha 1-antitrypsin or CD10. We finally made a diagnosis of pancreatic endocrine tumor (PET). As PET sometimes shows an atypical multicystic appearance, immunohistochemical staining is mandatory for its correct diagnosis.

We report a case of anaplastic ductal carcinoma of the pancreas with production of granulocytecolony stimulating factor in a 46-year-old man. He underwent distal pancreatectomy, total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction and splenectomy. He recovered uneventfully postoperatively and was discharged from hospital on the 22nd postoperative day. Histological examination showed anaplastic ductal carcinoma (giant cell type) of the pancreas. However, three months after the operation, multiple liver metastases were demonstrated by CT scan and the peripheral leukocyte count rose to 81,800/microL. Serum granulocyte-colony stimulating factor concentration was 155pg/mL (normal 5.78-27.5 pg/mL). Therefore, we diagnosed granulocyte-colony stimulating factor-producing pancreatic cancer. Anaplastic ductal carcinoma of the pancreas with production of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is very rare. Tumors with production of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor are highly malignant, and this patient died of hepatic failure four months after the operation.

Background: The efficacy of positron emission tomography with 18F fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET) is obscure in evaluating viability or the extent of colorectal hepatic metastasis (CHM), down-staged by chemotherapy., Patients and Methods: A retrospective lesion-by-lesion analysis was performed for seven consecutive patients, who had received rescue hepatectomy for initially unresectable CHM, in order to evaluate the correlation between results of imaging modalities and the corresponding pathology., Results: The sensitivity and positive predictive value of the conventional modalities (CT and MRI) were 92% and 42%, respectively, while the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FDG-PET were 58%, 100%, 100% and 75% respectively. The sensitivity of FDG-PET was 100% in evaluating the viability of tumors >2 cm, however, this fell to 17% in tumors <2 cm., Conclusion: FDG-PET is effective in assessing the viability of tumors >2 cm, but not those <2 cm, in patients with CHM down-staged by chemotherapy.

Background: Few studies have compared the prognostic impact of reduction hepatectomy (RH) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with that of non-surgical treatment or curative hepatectomy., Patients and Methods: The treatment outcome of 30 RH patients was compared to that of two control groups: control group A, including 71 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy; control group B, including 106 patients who did not receive definitive local therapy or best supportive care., Results: In patients with tumor extension in >50% of the liver, 1-year survival rates for patients according to treatment (RH, control A and B) were 50%, 90% and 11% and 3-year survival rates were 42%, 60% and 0%, respectively. There was no significant difference between RH and control A, but there was a significant difference between RH and control B., Conclusion: RH could be recommended to patients with multiple advanced HCC extending to >50% of the whole liver.

Background: Early recurrence is a major problem after hepatic resection of colorectal hepatic metastasis (CHM). Our aim was to investigate the relationship between time to recurrence after CHM resection and overall survival., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 101 consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection for CHM and have been followed more than 5 years., Results: Among 101 patients, 82 (81%) had a recurrence. Overall survival of patients with recurrence within 6 months after CHM resection was significantly worse than that of patients with recurrence after more than 6 months (P < 0.01). Overall survival was poorer when time to recurrence was shorter. One of the reasons for poor prognosis of patients with recurrence within 6 months was that only a few patients could undergo a second resection for recurrence after CHM resection. Histological type, including poorly differentiated signet ring cell or mucinous adenocarcinoma in the primary tumor, bilobar metastases, microscopic positive surgical margin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) above 15 ng/ml had predictive value for decreased recurrence-free survival after CHM resection., Conclusion: Short time to recurrence after CHM resection correlates with a poor prognosis. Histological type of poorly differentiated signet ring cell or mucinous adenocarcinoma in the primary tumor might be a predictor for early recurrence after CHM resection.

Background/aims: Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with an extremely poor prognosis. The outcome of pancreatic head cancer after surgical resection is still difficult to predict., Methodology: Between September 1992 and December 2003, 100 consecutive patients with invasive adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas who underwent surgical resection were retrospectively analyzed to clarify the influence of clinicopathological factors., Results: The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for the 100 patients with pancreatic head cancer were 55%, 16%, and 6%, respectively. Among the 16 clinicopathologic factors, 9 were significantly associated with outcome in univariate analysis: tumor type (invasive ductal cancer), poor histological differentiation, extrapancreatic plexus invasion, bile duct invasion, duodenal invasion, intrapancreatic nerve invasion, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and nodal involvement. Multivariate analysis confirmed that nodal involvement (p = 0.005) and extrapancreatic plexus invasion (p = 0.03) were significant independent factors for overall survival., Conclusions: Nodal involvement was the strongest predictor of poor survival after pancreatic resection for invasive adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas.

Purpose: Although there are no definitive studies that characterize the survival benefit of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), the therapy does not seem to produce significant complication. In our institution, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and IORT are often complicated by the development of extrahepatic portal vein occlusion (EHPO). The aim of this study was to characterize the phenomenon of EHPO after PD and IORT., Methods and Materials: Between September 1992 and December 2001, 107 patients received macroscopic curative PD for periampullary disease in our institution. IORT (radiation dose: 20 Gy) was performed in 53 of these patients. Criteria for diagnosis of EHPO were as follows: (1) computerized tomography findings of occlusive extrahepatic portal vein, (2) symptoms of portal hypertension, and (3) confirmation to exclude tumor recurrence from origin of EHPO, because this study examined whether EHPO was a complication of PD and IORT., Results: EHPO was diagnosed in 12 patients. Among patient and operative variables, IORT was the only statistically significant factor associated with a diagnosis of EHPO (p = 0.0052). The median developed time to EHPO and overall survival after surgery in EHPO patients were 358 days and 2,562 days, respectively. Eight patients (67%) with EHPO died during the follow-up period. At 5 years after therapy, EHPO was diagnosed in 67% of survivors who had received IORT., Conclusions: Patients undergoing IORT and PD have a relatively high incidence of EHPO, and patients who develop postoperative EHPO have poor prognoses.

Background: The prognosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor, particularly in patients with tumor thrombi (TT) in the major vessels., Patients and Methods: From July 1992 to October 2004, 161 patients diagnosed as having advanced HCC with major vascular involvement were seen consecutively at our hospital. Among these patients, 32 (20%) underwent surgical resection [16 complete resection (CR), 16 reductive resection (RR)]. Eighteen patients (11%) received radiotherapy (RT), 73 (45%) underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI), 8 (5%) with distant metastases received systemic chemotherapy, and 30 (19%) received palliative therapy., Results: Excluding the CR group, the patients in the RR group had a higher 1-year survival rate than the other treatment groups. However, there was no significant difference in the overall survival rates of the RR, RT, and TACE/TAI groups. When we evaluated prognostic factors to clarify the indications for RR in the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with advanced HCC with TT, prothrombin activity (PA) was identified as a significant independent preoperative factor for overall survival in the RR group. The survival rate in patients with PA of < or = 78% was significantly lower than that of patients with PA of > 78% (P = 0.0004). The median survival time of patients with serum PA of > 78% who underwent RR was 13.9 months and that of patients who underwent CR was 9.1 months, with no survival difference between the groups., Conclusion: In advanced HCC with major vascular involvement, patients who had RR with PA of greater 78% achieved a similar survival to those who had CR. The surgeon should still proceed with RR in those patients with serum PA of > 78% if CR does not seem feasible on preoperative evaluation.

Background/aims: Nafamostat Mesilate (NM) is a synthetic serine protease inhibitor that is capable of inhibiting the various coagulation factors. To determine whether NM may also be useful in attenuating operative invasiveness, we investigated the effects of perioperative administration of NM on postoperative serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)., Methodology: Thirty patients undergoing hepatectomy with hepatocellular carcinoma, biliary carcinoma and metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study. These patients were separated into two groups; high invasive group (resected liver volume: 1000cm3 <) and less invasive group (resected liver volume: 1000cm3 >). The high invasive group of 11 patients received perioperative administration of NM (Group NM), while the less invasive group of 19 patients did not (Group C). Serum levels of IL-6, HGF and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) were simultaneously measured on preoperative and postoperative day ('day 0', 'day 7')., Results: Serum IL-6 levels on day 0 were significantly elevated and returned to preoperative levels on day 7 in both groups, and the serum IL-6 level in Group NM on day 0 was significantly lower than that in Group C on day 0. Serum HGF levels on day 0 and day 7 were significantly higher in Group NM than those in Group C. Compared with healthy control subjects, the higher serum level of HGF on the preoperative day in all patients was attributable to tumor-burden. The sIL-6R levels on day 0 decreased in both groups, and their levels in Group NM were significantly lower than those in Group C, suggesting that increased synthesis of IL-6/sIL-6R complex which could accelerate liver regeneration., Conclusions: These results suggested that perioperative administration of NM may attenuate surgical stress by decreasing production of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6, and may accelerate liver regeneration through stimulation with the IL-6/sIL-6R complex and possible involvement of increased production of HGF.

Bile duct hamartomas, also known as von Meyenburg complexes, are benign liver malformations which usually present as multiple small nodules scattered in both lobes of the liver. We report a unique case of bile duct hamartoma. An asymptomatic 30-year-old man who had a solitary cystic lesion underwent partial hepatectomy. Macroscopically, the lesion, measuring 3.6 cm in diameter, was composed of a number of small grayish-white cysts measuring 0.1 to 1.2 cm in diameter. Histologically, the constituent cysts were embedded in a fibrous stroma and were lined by low columnar or cuboidal epithelium. By immunohistochemistry, the MIB-1 index was below 1%, and p53 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were negative. These findings lead us to conjecture that the lesion was a bile duct hamartoma, although its solitary nature and large size differed from those of typical bile duct hamartoma.

Background: Recent advances in cancer chemotherapy have increased not only the survival rate but also the treatment cost, although there has been little interest in cost analyses in Japan., Method: The actual cost of pancreatic cancer treatment was surveyed especially with respect to the difference after April 2001, which was the date that gemcitabine was introduced in Japan., Results: A total of 113 patients were admitted consecutively from April 2000 to March 2002. Among the 113 patients, the total treatment cost over a lifetime was calculated in 54. In those 54 patients, the median treatment cost and survival time were $43,865 and 26.2 months for resectable disease (n = 14), $30,676 and 10.0 months for locally advanced disease (n = 21), and $29,255 and 4.8 months for metastatic disease (n = 19), respectively. Of the 54, 26 patients were admitted before April 2001 (Group A) and the remaining 28 were admitted thereafter (Group B). There were significantly more patients who received gemcitabine chemotherapy in Group B (19 of the 28) than in Group A (none of the 26). The median treatment cost and survival times were $35,744 and 7.4 months in Group A, and $35,226 and 8.8 months in Group B, respectively, whereas the total cost of anticancer agents was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A., Conclusion: Although cost of gemcitabine is about 18-fold higher than 5-fluorouracil in Japan, the total costs after gemcitabine introduction did not tend to become higher in our hospital, probably because of simplification in examinations and shorter hospitalization.

Background/aims: Lymphatic spread patterns in relation to the location of primary tumors of the superficial thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma have not been well established. We therefore analyzed patterns of lymph node metastasis in these patients., Methodology: We reviewed medical records of 65 patients who underwent systematic three-field dissection for superficial squamous carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus from 1993 through 2000., Results: Lymph node involvement was found in 0% (0/13) and 44% (23/52) of patients whose tumor invaded the muscularis mucosa and submucosal layer, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 77% in the node-negative group and 59% in the node-positive group (P<0.05). None of the patients with upper thoracic esophageal cancer had metastasis to the mediastinal and abdominal nodes. Patients with lower thoracic esophageal tumors (Lt) had no metastasis to the cervical nodes. Patients with middle thoracic esophageal tumors (Mt) and Lt patients rarely had metastasis (2-5%) in the lower mediasinal nodes (Nos. 108-112). No patient with superficial thoracic esophageal cancer had metastasis to the subcarinal nodes in this study., Conclusions: In our series, no patient with intramucosal carcinoma had lymphatic metastases. Some patients with submucosal cancers metastasized beyond regional lymph nodes. However, this study suggests that subcarinal nodes might not need to be sampled or dissected in patients with superficial carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. In Mt and Lt patients, metastases to the mediastinal nodes were infrequent (2-7%). Mediastinal nodes other than #107 can easily be sampled through cervical and abdominal incisions. Therefore, combined with lymph node sampling in cervical, mediasinal and abdominal stations through cervical and abdominal incisions, esophagectomy without thoracotomy might be acceptable in Mt and Lt patients with superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Background: There is no standard treatment for patients with extrahepatic spread from hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify candidates for aggressive intervention or new drug trial among such patients., Methods: Retrospective exploration was performed to extract a patient cohort step by step using univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: There were 201 subjects from the past 12 years. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 31.0, 9.2 and 4.5%, respectively. The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval of median survival time did not reach 3 months in patients with a performance status of 2 or worse, or with Child-Pugh grades B or C. After excluding those, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in the remaining 124 subjects. Three independent prognostic factors--brain metastasis, number of metastatic tumors and primary tumor status--were identified. The final cohort was set at 121 after excluding three with brain metastasis. Among these 121, there were 11 with a solitary metastatic tumor and T1/2 primary tumor. In this subgroup, 10 underwent complete removal of the metastatic tumor, and the median survival time exceeded 5 years., Conclusion: Candidates for anti-cancer treatment should meet the following requirements: a performance status of 0 or 1, a Child-Pugh grade A and no brain metastasis. Among these, challenging locoregional intervention was acceptable only for patients with solitary metastatic tumor and T1/2 primary tumor.

Esophageal reconstruction after salvage esophagectomy in patients who have undergone curative-intent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer is associated with a significant risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. In particular, anastomotic leakage can cause severe and potentially fatal complications, including mediastinitis and pneumonia. The authors performed esophageal reconstruction with a pedicled right colon graft after salvage esophagectomy in eight patients. To decrease the rate of anastomotic leakage, the authors performed an additional microvascular anastomosis at the distal end of the graft. The distal stumps of the ileocolic artery and vein were anastomosed to the cervical vessels. After surgery, aspiration pneumonia and localized wound infection were observed in two patients each, but slight anastomotic leakage was observed in only one patient. Postoperative swallowing function was satisfactory in all patients. Although the incidence of anastomotic leakage is reportedly high, the authors observed anastomotic leakage in only one of eight patients. The authors believe that additional microvascular anastomosis helps prevent anastomotic leakage, especially in patients who have undergone salvage esophagectomy after curative chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of reductive surgery on the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)., Methods: Eligible patients had a main tumor greater than 10 cm in diameter with multiple intrahepatic metastases (>5 nodules), and good liver function (Child-Pugh class A), but no tumor thrombus in the main portal vein. The main tumor was surgically removed but the metastases were not removed and were treated with repeated transcatheter hepatic arterial chemo-embolization (TAE)., Results: From Jun 1997 to May 2003, 13 patients (median age 61 years, range: 48-74) were prospectively enrolled. The median diameter of the main tumor was 14 cm (range 11.5-18.0). No major surgical complications were observed and the median hospital stay was 12 days (range 7-20). The first TAE was performed 1 month after hepatectomy in all patients and was repeated for median of 5 (range: 1 to 16) times. Complete remission was observed in two patients. One patient had recurrence afterwards but another patient survived 41 months without recurrence. Three patients survived more than 3 years. The overall 1-, 3-, and 4-year survival rates of the 13 patients were 67.7%, 40.6%, and 40.6%, respectively., Conclusions: Volume reduction surgery followed by TAE might prolong the survival of patients with a large HCC and intrahepatic metastases, especially those with a main tumor on the right side.

We reviewed salvage surgery cases for esophageal cancer following radical chemoradiotherapy. From January 1998 through January 2001, 6 patients (4 men, 2 women) underwent salvage operation at our department. Mean age was 56 years (range: 46-66). According to the Japanese Society for Esophageal Diseases localization schema, there was one case in the upper third of the thoracic esophagus, 3 cases in the middle third and 2 cases in the lower third. The histology was squamous cell carcinoma in all cases. Our radical chemoradiotherapy regimen for esophageal cancer was fluorouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m2/24 hours i.v. on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, cisplatin (CDDP) 40 mg/m2/2 hours i.v. on days 1 and 8, and concurrent radiation therapy (2 Gy/day on days 1 to 5, 8 to 12 and 15 to 19). This regimen was repeated in 5 weeks, followed by 5-FU 800 mg/m2/24 hours i.v. on days 1 to 5 and CDDP 80 mg/m2/2 hours i.v. on day 1, which was repeated in 4 weeks. After these chemoradiotherapy, patients who were confirmed to have local recurrence or esophagobronchial fistula underwent salvage operation. Postoperative complications were anastomosis leakage in 1 patient, and anastomosis stenosis in 2 and esophagobronchial fistula in 1. Although no postoperative hospitalized death occurred, 1 patient died because of empyema 3 months after salvage operation. Another patient died due to respiratory failure 15 months later. The salvage operation outcomes are not acceptable. Salvage procedure and indication for salvage intervention need to be changed.

We report a rare adult case of gallbladder agenesis with no other biliary tract abnormality. The patient was a 29-year-old man with pain in the right upper-quadrant of the abdomen, and vomiting. The gallbladder was not visualized by ultrasonography, computed tomography, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. The common bile duct was slightly dilated. No other abnormalities, including anomalous choledochopancreatic duct junction, were found. Based on these imaging findings and the patient's right hypochondrial pain, there was a high index of suspicion of chronic cholecystitis caused by incarcerated gallstones in the neck of the gallbladder. At operation, we carefully observed the gallbladder fossa, using laparoscopy, and found gallbladder to be absent. Although the operation involved only observation via a laparoscope, the patient has since remained well and asymptomatic. It is difficult to make a correct diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis preoperatively. We believe that, if the gallbladder is not visualized by imaging techniques, it may be better to perform laparoscopy for observation before performing laparotomy, in order to reduce surgical stress.

POSSUM, a Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity, is a scoring system which assesses perioperative surgical risks (Copeland GP et al.: Br J Surg, 1991, Vol 78, 356-360). The POSSUM scoring system consists of two categories of assessment to assess the risk of surgery. A 12-factor (age, cardiac status, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, respiratory status, Glasgow Coma Score, serum concentration of urea, potassium and sodium, hemoglobin concentration, white cell count and findings on electrocardiography) and 4-grade physiological score (PS) were developed. This was combined with a 6-factor (type of surgical procedure, number of procedures, blood loss, peritoneal soiling, presence of malignancy and mode of surgery) and 4-grade operative severity score (OSS). The present paper attempts to validate it retrospectively. Postoperative hospitalization period and duration of antibiotics administration were both significantly correlated with OSS, but not with PS. These results suggest that the POSSUM scoring system is useful for predicting the postoperative clinical course.