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Context. As we progress into the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become apparent that this infection is associated with a multitude of systemic effects, some involving the thyroid gland. The thyroid is also frequently affected in the HCV chronic infection. Objective. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of COVID-19 infection on the presence and severity of thyroid disorders associated with chronic HCV infection, at short and mid-term follow-up. Design. We prospectively evaluated patients with documented HCV-associated thyroid disease (with sustained virologic response after antiviral therapy). Subjects and Methods. The study group consisted of 42 patients with HCV-associated thyroid disease, diagnosed with COVID -19 infection between April and October 2020. We determined serum values of thyroidstimulating hormone, freeT3, free T4, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies at one and three months after resolution of infection and compared them to the baseline characteristics of the patient. We also evaluated the changes in thyroid substitution treatments or antithyroid drugs. Results. At baseline, out of the 42 patients, 5 presented hypothyroidism under levothyroxine substitution therapy, while 2 presented hyperthyroidism under methimazole therapy; 37 patients had positive antithyroid antibodies. At one month follow-up, we note an increase in serum values of antibodies, with a decrease in TSH, freeT3 and freeT4 levels, correlated with the severity of COVID-19 infection. Two patients required discontinuation of levothyroxine. At 3 months follow-up, lower levels of antithyroid antibodies were recorded, with an increase in TSH levels. No medication doses were adjusted at this time. Conclusion. Among the systemic effects of COVID-19, the impact of thyroid dysfunction should not be underestimated, especially in the presence of pre-existing conditions, such as HCV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the most prevalent and deadliest forms of skin cancer, resulting from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. It accounts for approximately 1.7% of global cancer diagnoses and is the fifth most common cancer in the US. MM can metastasize to almost any part of the body, with early detection significantly improving prognosis. Case presentation: We report the case of an 81-year-old female with a history of malignant melanoma (primary lesion on the left calf) and various comorbidities. She presented with severe anemia of unknown origin. A CT scan was performed due to her medical history, revealing a circumferential, asymmetrical parietal thickening at the level of a hypogastric ileal loop. The lesion suggested a tumoral substrate. Subsequent colonoscopy showed no metastatic lesions, but surgical intervention confirmed a malignant melanoma ileal metastasis. The patient underwent laparoscopic segmental resection with favorable post-surgery outcomes. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue confirmed the diagnosis of small intestine secondary lesions from the malignant melanoma. Conclusion: This case underscores the necessity of considering metastatic melanoma in patients with a history of MM and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. Early and accurate diagnosis through advanced imaging and endoscopic techniques can significantly improve patient outcomes., (Celsius.)

Background: The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) combines standardized terminology with a classification system for imaging findings in patients with HCC, therefore rendering diagnostic biopsy unnecessary in many cases. This retrospective study included 23 patients with a biopsy diagnosis of HCC, performed either before or after local interventional procedures, in order to evaluate the histopathologic changes induced by previous procedures and their potential influence on the response to immune therapy., Material and Methods: The study encompassed a cohort of patients diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Diagnosis was established via contrast-enhanced computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging that identified LI-RADS-5 nodules in conjunction with historical liver disease and elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels or via histological examination confirming positivity for glypican3, heat shock protein 70, and glutamine synthetase. The study detailed the liver disease etiology, LI-RADS scores, characteristics and dimensions of HCC nodules, serum AFP concentrations, Edmondson-Steiner grading, and the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the tumor cells., Results: Among the study's cohort of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients, a portion had not received any prior treatments, while the remainder experienced local HCC recurrence following trans-arterial chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation. Observations indicated elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in those who had not undergone any previous interventions, showing statistical significance. The Edmondson-Steiner classification predominantly identified grade III differentiation across patients, irrespective of their treatment history. Furthermore, an increase in intra-tumoral programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was noted in patients who had not been subjected to previous therapies., Conclusion: Liver biopsy offers valuable insights for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), assisting in the tailoring of immune therapy strategies, particularly in cases of recurrence following prior local interventions.

Background and Aims: The sofosbuvir (SOF) / velpatasvir (VEL) / voxilaprevir (VOX) combination has been evaluated in more than 800 patients enrolled in phase II and phase III studies, where it demonstrated excellent safety and efficacy, achieving overall sustained viral response (SVR) rates of more than 95%. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of SOF/VEL/VOX in a real-world study, including patients previously treated for genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection that did not obtain a sustained viral response with previous direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy., Methods: In Romania, through a nationwide government-funded program in 2019-2020, 213 patients with chronic hepatitis C non-responders to previous DAAs therapy, received treatment with SOF/VEL/ VOX 400/100/100 mg/day for 12 weeks. We performed a retrospective longitudinal study that included 143 individuals who were treated in Bucharest, Iași, Craiova and Constanța clinics, all with genotype 1b HCV infection. Efficacy was assessed by the percentage of patients achieving SVR 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12). Serious adverse events (SAE) were registered., Results: Our cohort comprised 53% males with a median age of 60 years (27÷77); 47% were pre-treated with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir+dasabuvir ± ribavirin, 40% with ledipasvir/SOF, 13% with elbasvir/ grazoprevir. 42% of patients associated co-morbidities, 45% had compensated liver cirrhosis, 2% had treated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 1% had hepatitis B virus co-infection. SVR by intention to treat was reported in 139/143 (97.2%) and per protocol in 141/143 (98.6%). No predictive factors for SVR were identified. Rate of liver decompensation in patients with cirrhosis was 6% and was statistically associated in multivariate analysis with Child-Pugh score (p<0.01) and with severe steatosis (p=0.004). Occurrence of new HCC was reported in 3.6% of all patients with cirrhosis and was associated with poor liver function [higher Child-Pugh score (p=0.001) and low albumin levels (p=0.02)]. Serious adverse events related to therapy were reported in 1/143(0.7%)., Conclusions: SOF/VEL/VOX was highly efficient in our population of patients with a 97.2% SVR. Liver decompensation occurred in 6% of cirrhotic patients at SVR, related to hepatic dysfunction.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of a direct-acting antiviral treatment, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, without ribavirin, in a real-life setting., Patients and Methods: We performed a prospective observational study including 108 patients undergoing hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease, referred to our clinic for antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Patients received treatment with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, for 12 weeks. Sustained virologic response (SVR) was defined as undetectable viremia at 12 weeks after the end of therapy. For safety analysis, we monitored serum levels of hemoglobin, albumin, total bilirubin, alanine-aminotransferase and aspartate- aminotransferase at the beginning and end of therapy, as well as at SVR. Verbal Numeric Rating Scale was used to assess the presence of nausea, headaches and fatigue., Results: We noted a high prevalence of diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy as the underlying cause of chronic kidney disease. Most of the patients had F2 and F3 liver fibrosis (32.40% and 34.25%, respectively). The SVR rate was 96.2% (103/107 patients). We recorded an unrelated death after the completion of antiviral therapy. We found increased levels of nausea, headaches and fatigue at the end of therapy compared to at initiation, The presence and degree of symptoms did not correlate with the underlying cause of renal disease (p=0.72) nor with the degree of fibrosis (p=0.08). Minimal increases in transaminases and bilirubin were recorded at the end of treatment, with no statistical significance., Conclusion: Oral antiviral therapy with ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir can be safely used in hemodialysis patients, with similar response rates compared to the general population., (Copyright © 2022, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND In the European Union, a tablet with fixed doses of ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir combined with dasabuvir is an authorized treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral used in several treatment regimens for patients with HCV infection. This real-world study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir combined with dasabuvir, with or without ribavirin, in 587 patients with chronic hepatitis C attending the Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is an observational prospective study including 315 patients with F4 degree of fibrosis and compensated cirrhosis, 185 patients with F3 fibrosis, and 83 patients with F2 fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by liver biopsy or Fibromax. Efficacy was defined as undetectable HCV-RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. In terms of safety, we monitored the development of adverse reactions, liver cytolysis, cholestasis, and hematologic disorders. RESULTS Of the 587 patients, 2 patients with B-cell lymphoma died during therapy. In total, 3/585 patients (0.51%) did not achieve sustained virologic response. Common adverse effects were nausea and asthenia (especially in patients with other medical treatments; P=0.03 and P=0.04, respectively) and anemia in patients who received ribavirin (P<0.01). None of the patients discontinued antiviral treatment. Patients with kidney transplant or end-stage kidney disease did not receive or discontinued ribavirin. CONCLUSIONS Ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir combined with dasabuvir, with or without ribavirin had an efficacy rate of over 99% in HCV genotype 1b infection. We report no serious adverse reactions.

Inflammatory liver diseases are, nowadays, multifactorial and wide-spread, thus having an important socio-economic impact. Although the therapeutic algorithms are well-known in hepatitis, regardless of etiology, strategies to identify inflammatory hepatic lesions in early stages and to develop new epigenetic therapies should be prioritized. The main entities of inflammatory liver disease are: alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, viral hepatitis and Wilson disease. The main epigenetic processes include: DNA methylation/demethylation, which imply changes in DNA tertiary structure; post-translational histone covalent changes (methylation/demethylation, acetylation/deacetylation, ubiquitination), that cause DNA-histone instability; synthesis of small, non-coding RNA molecules, called microRNAs, that modulate translational potential of transcripts (mRNAs) and post-translational modification of polypeptide chains. Consequently, the epigenetic interactions aforementioned, play an important modulatory role in disease progression and response to conventional therapies The present review focused on the main epigenetic changes in inflammatory liver conditions, considering a new perspective: Epigenetic therapy. This approach is more than welcomed, taking into consideration that conventional therapeutic strategies are almost exhausted., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Isac et al.)

Background/aim: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cirrhosis are more prone to developing type 2 diabetes mellitus than patients with any other etiology of cirrhosis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of all oral antiviral treatment with ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir (OBV/PTV/r + DSV) in patients with chronic genotype 1b HCV infection., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 806 patients who underwent antiviral therapy between December 2015 and July 2019. The laboratory data analyzed were liver function tests, kidney function tests, HCV viremia, fasting glucose levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin., Results: Patients with impaired glucose metabolism were predominantly male and of older age compared to patients with normal glucose tolerance, and also had higher levels of transaminases. Proteinuria and higher creatinine levels were found in patients with impaired glucose metabolism. Overall, we found a 98.01% rate of sustained virologic response (SVR), with a non-significant difference between patients with normal and abnormal glucose metabolism. A statistically significant difference in SVR rates in patients with low degrees of fibrosis (F0-F2) versus those with advanced degrees of fibrosis (F3-F4) was found in both groups. Antiviral treatment resulted in significant decreases in fasting glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in all patients with impaired glucose metabolism at SVR., Conclusion: Patients with pre-diabetes, as well as diabetic patients, achieved a better glycemic control after SVR obtained by ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir., (Copyright © 2022, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Peritoneal carcinomatosis, as well as the presence of liver metastases from colorectal cancer, has been long considered as the sign of a systemic disease, transforming the patient into a candidate for palliation and best supportive care. However, in recent decades, progress in the field of medical and surgical oncology has allowed scientists worldwide to produce curative therapeutic strategies for these cases such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) or extended liver resection. In addition, the association of these two therapies has also been performed with encouraging results. The aim of the current study was to review articles published thus far in regard to the association of these two therapeutic strategies, in order to identify which cases can benefit the most, which is the most efficient agent or combination of agents, and whether these types of therapy should be performed as monotherapy or as a two-stage procedure., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Background/aim: In women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer type and at the same time the main cause of cancer-related death. Many mechanisms are involved in the tumor microenvironment to restrict the anti-tumor activity by the immune system. Identification of novel prognostic tools based on immunological data could make significant impact in developing innovative immunotherapy strategies that will restore the anti-tumor immune system efficacy., Patients and Methods: The study was performed on patients diagnosed with breast cancer, who were divided into two groups depending on the expression of HER2. For the studied group, first we described the infiltrate inflammatory on slides stained with haematoxylin eosin (HE) and in the second part we used flow cytometry in order to measure the percentage of T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood before and after breast cancer treatment., Results: High presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was associated with prognostic improvement, better disease-free survival, distant disease-free survival and overall survival. In breast cancer, the presence of TILs predicts the full pathological response rate (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. TILs are one of the best examples of the strict relationship existing between natural defence and carcinogenesis., Conclusion: Modulation of the immune system is a promising strategy in the treatment of breast cancer, especially in triple-negative and HER2-positive molecular subtypes, the most immunogenic subtypes with a poor prognosis., (Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Viral hepatitis C represents a significant liver pathology worldwide, with a detrimental impact on national health systems. The present study aimed to correlate the levels of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) with prognostic tools such as Fibroscan ® , the presence of mixed cryoglobulinemia, and various demographic and standard biochemical markers, in patients with chronic hepatitis C, unrelated to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A clinical study was designed considering three study groups: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) group including 35 patients with chronic hepatitis C and detectible viral load; sustained viral response (SVR) group including 20 HCV patients without detectable virus load 12 weeks after therapy cessation; a control group represented by 37 healthy volunteers. It was observed that serum AFP was moderately increased in the HCV and SVR groups and was positively correlated with aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT). The incidence of mixed cryoglobulinemia was increased in the HCV group, and the degree of fibrosis assessed by Fibroscan ® was increased in both the HCV and SVR groups. In conclusion, the data revealed that a moderate increase in AFP levels could be present in patients with HCV even in the absence of HCC, unrelated to viral load or therapy response and that there was a linear positive correlation between serum levels of AFP and the degree of hepatic cytolysis and cholestasis. Additionally, mixed cryoglobulinemia was present in HCV patients with patent viral load, decreasing in those with SVR after therapy cessation unrelated to any renal impairment, while the degree of fibrosis was increased in HCV-infected patients, with no reversibility 12 weeks after successful therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Isac et al.)

Immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment, and many types of cancer show a response rate of 20-40% and a significant increase in five-year survival. However, immunotherapy is expensive and may cause serious adverse events. Therefore, a predictive method allowing identification of responding patients before starting the treatment would be very useful. In this study, we aimed to identify and implement other individual prognosis factors, factors that could lead to an improved clinical decision made in regard to the patient to establish an individualized treatment. Materials and Methods . All patients recruited from October 2018 to July 2019 were treated in OncoFort Hospital, Bucharest, with nivolumab or pembrolizumab. We investigated T lymphocyte CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4/CD8 cells by flow cytometry in patients before and after receiving treatment with anti-PD-1 agents. Results . We found that the responder group showed higher expression on CD4+ cells than the nonresponder group after the first cycle of immunotherapy. The prediction of the immunotherapeutic effect revealed that the elevation of T lymphocytes CD8+ and CD4+ after the first cycle of immunotherapy was followed by a decrease in their expression after the second cycle and was followed by a return almost to that one after the first administration. Conclusion . Our work indicates that the evaluation of the cells of the immune system in relation to the tumor and immunotherapy may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and the identification of prognostic and predictive factors that will more effectively model the therapeutic approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Bacinschi Xenia Elena et al.)

Background/aim: The Covid-19 epidemic has severely strained health care systems across the globe. The impacts are multiple especially for patients cared for cancer. The Covid-19 epidemic has several impacts on the management of lung cancer patients. The aim of this work was to summarize the available epidemiological data on patients diagnosed with lung cancer infected with Covid-19 and describe the different strategies to improve the management of these patients by summarizing the recommendations in this area., Patients and Methods: The Teravolt cohort is an observational multicenter registry, including patients with non-small cell cancer, small cell cancer or mesothelioma but also epithelial tumors and a diagnosis of Covid-19. The Theravolt registry indicates an unexpectedly high mortality rate in patients with thoracic malignancies with COVID-19., Results: Between March 26 and April 12, 2020, 200 patients treated in 8 countries were included. They had a performance status (PS) of 0-1 in 72% of cases, were smokers or ex-smokers in 81% of cases, had non-small cell cancer (76% of cases), were under treatment in 74% of cases, and the majority were first-line cases (57%). The hospitalization rate was 76% and the mortality rate 33%; only 10% of patients with criteria for intensive care hospitalization were admitted to the intensive care., Conclusion: Data presented in this registry suggest a high mortality in patients with thoracic cancer and Covid-19. Therofere, the importance to create a safe healthcare system during Covid-19 pandemic is underlined along with the need for essential effective clinical service delivery to patients with lung cancer., (Copyright© 2021, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Cervical cancer represents a general health issue spread all over the globe, which prompts the surge of scientific survey toward the rise of survival and condition of life of these patients. American and European guidelines suggest the open surgery, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery are the main therapeutic approaches for radical hysterectomy for patients with cervical cancer. This is the first survey to analyze the long-term oncological outcome of an extensive series of subjects cared for with multimodality treatment, here comprising robotic surgery.This study intents to evaluate the long-term oncological result in patients diagnosed with cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy (±chemotherapy) and robotic surgery compared with open surgery. Medical files of 56 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer who underwent a robotic hysterectomy and radiotherapy ± chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.The median age at diagnosis was 50.5 (range: 23-70). Eleven patients (19.6%) presented in an early stage (IB-IIA) and 80.4% advanced stage (IIB-IVA). Overall response rate after radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy was 96.2%. Pathologic complete response was obtained in 64% of patients. After a median follow-up of 60 months (range: 6-105 months), 8 patients (14.2%) presented local recurrence or distant metastases. Disease-free survival (DFS) was 92% at 2 years and 84% at 3 and 5 years. Overall survival (OS) rates at 2, 3, and 5 years for patients with robotic surgery were 91%, 78%, and 73%, median OS not reached. OS was lower in the arm of open surgery (2, 3, and 5 years 87%, 71%, and 61%, respectively; median OS was 72 months P = .054). The multivariate analysis regarding the outcome of patients revealed an advantage for complete versus partial response (P < .002), for early versus advanced stages (P = .014) and a 10% gained in DFS at 3 years for patients in whom chemoradiotherapy was administered (DFS at 3 years 75% vs 85%) in patients with advanced stages.Robotic surgery has a favorable oncological outcome when associated with multimodal therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and Aims: The 12-week regimen of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir (OPrD) has shown high efficacy and tolerability in clinical trials for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The shorter 8-week regimen has been recently incorporated into clinical guidelines and on-label indications, but real-world evidence on its use is limited. Given this knowledge gap, the AMETHYST study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 8- and 12-week regimens of OPrD in treatment-naive patients with HCV with mild to moderate liver fibrosis in Romanian clinical practice., Methods: This was a secondary data collection study analyzing data from a 1-year Patient Support Program in HCV in Romania. Patients received OPrD treatment for 8 or 12 weeks. The effectiveness endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12)., Results: A total of 1,835 treatment-naive patients with HCV with mild or moderate fibrosis were included in the study. Of these, 426 and 1,375 completed the 8-week and 12-week regimens, respectively. SVR12 was 98.1% in the 8-week treatment group and 98.7% in the 12-week treatment group., Conclusion: The study provides real-world evidence that 8-week and 12-week treatment regimens of OPrD are highly effective in treatment-naive patients with HCV with mild to moderate liver fibrosis.

Pancreatic head cancer is frequently associated with invasion of the surrounding vascular structures, such cases being considered for a long period of time as unresectable. Improvement of the vascular surgery techniques allowed association of extended vascular resections and reconstructions, increasing in this way the percentage of patients benefiting from radical surgery. We present the case of a 47-year-old male patient with no significant medical history diagnosed with a large pancreatic head tumor invading the common and proper hepatic artery as well as the portal vein. The venous reconstruction was performed using a synthetic prosthesis while the left hepatic artery was sutured to the left gastric artery; meanwhile the right hepatic artery was reconstructed using the splenic artery. In conclusion, extended hepatic artery resection followed by arterial reconstruction in association with portal vein resection and prosthetic replacement might be needed in cases presenting large pancreatic head tumors with vascular invasion., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Pulmonary carcinoid tumors represent bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms which might synthetize serotonin, histamine, bombesin or other types of hormones responsible for the development of a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms, known as carcinoid syndrome. Data of 98 patients submitted to surgery for bronchial carcinoid tumors in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic of the 'Marius Nasta' Institute of Pneumophtisiology between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were submitted to paraclinical tests, imagistic studies (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), bronchoscopy and biopsy in order to have a positive diagnostic of pulmonary carcinoid. The most common clinical symptoms at the time of presentation were: Persistent cough followed by dyspnea and recurrent pulmonary infections. The main neuroendocrine syndromes found were Cushing and Carcinoid Syndrome. All patients were submitted to surgery with curative intent consisting of wedge resection (in 4 cases, 4.08%), lobectomy (in 79 cases, 80.61%), bilobectomy (in 5 cases, 5.1%) and pneumonectomy respectively (in 10 cases, 10.2%). In all cases neuroendocrine specific symptoms disappeared once the carcinoid tumor was removed. In conclusion, bronchial carcinoid tumors have a positive outcome in most cases. Specific neuroendocrine markers as well as neuroendocrine syndrome disappears once the tumor is removed., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Background/aim: Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas (CPF) are benign tumors, frequently asymptomatic, characterized by a mobile pedunculated mass that arises from the endocardium. When CPF is located in the left ventricle, it may protrude into the left ventricular outflow tract and affect hemodynamics. They are highly thrombogenic, and can also cause some life-threatening events such as cerebral and peripheral embolization., Case Report: We herein report a case of a 74-year-old female admitted to our center with palpitations and dyspnea on exertion. Her past medical history revealed that she had had a transient ischemic attack 7 months before presentation. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intracardiac mass anchored in the anteroapical interventricular septum without interference with aortic or mitral valve functionality. Surgical resection of the left ventricular mass was performed through the left apical ventriculotomy approach. Histopathological examination of the tumor was suggestive of papillary fibroelastoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged home on the eighth postoperative day, with no recurrence at 6 months., Conclusion: Although left ventricular papillary fibroelastomas are benign tumors, they carry a high risk for embolic complications and therefore surgery should be proposed, the transapical approach being a safe and effective method., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Thoracic neurogenic tumors are most frequently located in the posterior part of the mediastinum or on the chest wall, along the intercostal nerves. Schwannomas are very well tolerated for a long period, until the tumor reaches a large size and compression of the neighbouring mediastinal organs, chest wall or spine appears. The purpose of this article was to present a case of a giant right forth intercostal nerve Schwannoma, completely resected by a right antero-lateral thoracotomy. In addition, intrathoracic giant neurogenic tumors are a rarity., Case Report: The patient presented with only diminished tolerance to physical activity with no other obvious symptoms. Standard chest radiography revealed a well-defined opacity of subcostal intensity, occupying two thirds of the right hemithorax, forming a common body with the mediastinal shadow. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) identified a 21/11 cm solid mass that compresses the right lung and the right main bronchus with both a solid component and a central liquid area. Open surgery was performed in order to remove the tumor, which was 20.5/12.5/9 cm in size and weighed 1,830 g, well defined, with no invasion of the adjacent organs, having a solid-fibromatous aspect as well as a central necrotic area. The origin of the tumor was confirmed from the posterolateral part of the forth intercostal nerve. Pathology examination and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of a benign Schwannoma., Conclusion: Benign intrathoracic Schwannomas are asymptomatic for long periods and the main therapeutic option is complete surgical resection. The surgical approach, either open or video-assisted is dictated by the localisation of the tumor, local extension and most importantly the size of the neurogenic mass., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Due to the wide introduction of screening tests, patients with neoplastic diseases of the uterine cervix trend to be diagnosed in early stages of the disease, and less invasive surgical procedures are needed in certain cases. In this respect, the technique of sentinel lymph node dissection has been widely implemented as part of the therapeutic strategy, indocyanine green (ICG) being one of the most reliable markers for sentinel lymph node detection. However, it seems that this agent is extremely useful in order to achieve better short-term and long-term results after cervical cancer surgery, due to its capacity to determine the uterine vascular perfusion in cases in which conservative treatment, such as trachelectomy, is performed, as well as to prevent and treat lower limb lymphedema. A literature review was conducted of the studies which focused on the role of ICG utility in cervical cancer patients besides sentinel lymph node detection, special focus was given to vascularization preservation and lower limb lymphedema prevention and treatment., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Although superior mesenteric artery stenosis is a relatively common situation, it is rarely symptomatic due to the fact that in a significant number of cases an adequate collateral circulation exists. The aim of this study is to report a case in which arterial reconstruction was needed due to the absence of such a patent collateral circulation. The 47-year-old patient was investigated for chronic postprandial pain and was diagnosed with superior mesenteric artery stenosis. Percutaneous treatment was the initial option of choice but the patient rapidly became symptomatic again. Therefore surgery was performed, the segment of arterial stenosis was resected and the arterial continuity was re-established by using a synthetic prosthesis. The postoperative outcome was uneventful, the patient was discharged in the seventh postoperative day under anticoagulant therapy. In conclusion, superior mesenteric artery reconstruction by using a synthetic prosthesis can be useful in cases presenting chronic mesenteric ischemia and failure of percutaneous treatment., (Copyright © 2020, Spandidos Publications.)

Background and Aims: Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) with or without Ribavirin (RBV) has shown good results in terms of efficacy and safety in clinical trials in advanced liver cirrhosis, but real-life data are still needed in order to confirm this profile. We investigated the efficacy and safety of LDV/SOF in a large Romanian population with liver cirrhosis and genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV)., Methods: We analyzed a multicentric retrospective cohort enrolling 349 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis due to HCV who received LDV/SOF±RBV 12/24 weeks (301/48). Patients were included between 2017-2018, all with genotype 1b. Main inclusion criteria were liver cirrhosis and detectable HCV RNA. The cases were followed-up monthly during therapy and 12 weeks after the end of therapy., Results: The cohort included 60% females with a median age of 61, 16% interferon (IFN) pre-treated, 53% with comorbidities, 40/53/7 % with Child Pugh A/B/C, 4% with virus B co-infection and 8% with previously treated hepatocellular carcinoma. Mean initial MELD score was 11.92 (6.82÷ 24.5). Six patients were lost during follow-up. Sustained virologic response (SVR) in intention-to-treat was reported in 85.1%. Predictive factors of SVR in decompensated cirrhosis were female gender (p=0.01), advanced age (p<0.001), lower bilirubin levels (p=0.002) and lower CTP score (p=0.02). In patients with CTP score B or C low bilirubin levels (p=0.003), low INR (p<0.001), increased platelet count (p=0.04), low CTP score (p<0.001), lack of encephalopathy (p=0.02), serum albumin >3.5g/dl (p=0.002) predicted improvement of liver function. Serious adverse events were reported in 16/349 (4.6%), most of them due to severe liver decompensation (9/16)., Conclusions: LDV/SOF±RBV proved to be highly efficient in our difficult to treat population with 85.1% SVR.

Background/aim: The presence of extensive lesions of peritoneal carcinomatosis is found in a significant number of cases of extended digestive resection surgery, such as subtotal colectomy. The aim of this study was to report a series of 17 cases that necessitated performing subtotal colectomy as part of cytoreductive surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer., Patients and Methods: Between 2012 and 2020 subtotal colectomy was associated as part of the debulking effort in 17 cases., Results: The median age at the time of surgery was 59 years, while the initial stage at the time of diagnosis was IIIC in 14 cases, and respectively IV in three cases. Optimal debulking surgery was achieved in all cases. The continuity of the digestive tract was reestablished in 11 cases, while in the remaining 6 cases a terminal ileostomy was performed., Conclusion: Extended digestive tract resections may be needed in certain cases in order to maximize the debulking effort in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Endometrial cancer is one of the most commonly encountered malignancies among obese women worldwide, a strong causality relationship being established between the two entities. Furthermore, obesity is also associated with metabolic syndrome; the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome on the postoperative outcomes of patients with endometrial cancer., Patients and Methods: Data of 23 patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer and metabolic syndrome were retrospectively reviewed and compared to the those of a control group of patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer in the absence of metabolic syndrome., Results: Patients in the first group presented significantly higher values of body mass index when compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in terms of stage, histopathological subtype or degree of differentiation between the two groups. The completeness of cytoreduction was lower among patients with metabolic syndrome, however, this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.08). Although the rate of complete debulking was lower among those with metabolic syndrome, the rates of postoperative complications were significantly higher., Conclusion: The association of metabolic syndrome significantly influences the risk of postoperative complications in patients with endometrial cancer; moreover, in certain cases, it might preclude the achievement of freedom from residual disease., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Rationale: Advanced stage ovarian cancer is rarely encountered in pregnant women, due to the high number of ultrasound imagistic studies performed during this period. The clinical course of patients diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer is similar in pregnant and nonpregnant women., Patient Concerns: We present the case of a 27-year-old woman initially submitted to emergency surgery for ovarian cyst torsion in the ninth week of gestation, at that moment ovarian cystectomy being performed., Diagnoses: The histopathological studies demonstrated the presence of a moderately differentiated epithelial ovarian cancer., Interventions: Although the interdisciplinary team decided for staging surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy beginning from the second trimester of pregnancy, both the patient and her family refused this strategy and opined for total hysterectomy en bloc with bilateral adnexectomy. Surprisingly, intraoperatively both ovaries had a tumoral aspect, whereas peritoneal carcinomatosis nodules were found in the Douglas pouch. Therefore, the neoplastic process was staged as a IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer, a total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, Douglas pouch peritonectomy, omentectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection being performed., Outcomes: The patient was discharged in the sixth postoperative day and was confined to the oncology service in order to be submitted to the standard taxanes and platinum based chemotherapy., Lessons: Although ovarian cancer has been rarely reported during pregnancy, this diagnostic should be taken in consideration whenever persistent adnexal masses are encountered.

Background/aim: Association between cervical cancer and uterine prolapse represents a scarce eventuality. This is a case series of 11 patients diagnosed with different stages of cervical cancer in association with uterine prolapse., Patients and Methods: Between 2014 and 2020, 11 patients were diagnosed with cervical cancer on prolapsed uterine cervix., Results: The mean age of patients at the time of uterine cervix diagnosis was 68 years. In six cases, the first intent treatment was surgery, while in the remaining five cases it consisted of radio-chemotherapy, followed by radical surgery. The perioperative and postoperative outcomes were compared to those reported in a similar series of patients diagnosed in similar stages of the disease, but in the absence of uterine prolapse, no significant differences being encountered., Conclusion: Although it represents an unusual situation, malignant transformation of the uterine cervix might be encountered even in cases presenting uterine prolapse. In such cases, the therapeutic strategy should be tailored according to the stage of the disease., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: The presence of "omental cake" has been considered since long as a negative prognostic factor in patients diagnosed with advanced-stage ovarian cancer. The aim of this paper was to study the impact of "omental cake" presence on the perioperative outcomes in advanced-stage ovarian cancer., Patients and Methods: Between 2015 and 2020, 85 patients were submitted to surgery for advanced-stage ovarian cancer., Results: Among cases diagnosed with "omental cake" the rate of complete cytoreduction was significantly diminished when compared to cases in which this entity was not revealed. In the meantime, the presence of omental cake among cases in which complete debulking was achievable was significantly associated with a higher number of digestive resections when compared to the other cases submitted to surgery and in which tumoral transformation of the omentum was encountered., Conclusion: The presence of "omental cake" is associated with a higher rate of incomplete resections. However, in cases in which complete debulking was achieved, the presence of omental cake was associated with a significantly higher number of digestive tract resections., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Malignant transformation of mature cystic ovarian teratoma is a scarce eventuality, only rare cases being reported so far. Furthermore, development of this transformation in the setting of an abscessed tumor is even scarcer. The aim of this study was to report the case of a 47-year-old patient submitted to surgery for such a lesion., Case Report: The patient was investigated for diffuse pelvic pain and diagnosed with a 10×7×8 cm mass at the level of the left adnexa with imaging findings suggesting the presence of an ovarian teratoma. The patient was submitted to surgery involving a total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, lymphadenectomy and peritoneal biopsies. The histopathological examination demonstrated the presence of squamous cell carcinoma areas transformation in association with areas of abscess. Postoperatively the patient was submitted to six cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and concurrent external radiotherapy. At one-year follow-up she is free of recurrent disease., Conclusion: Although malignisation of mature cystic ovarian teratoma is a rare event, it should not be omitted when mature ovarian teratoma is suspected; however, association between malignant transformation and abscess is a scarcer eventuality., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: The right upper abdominal involvement is frequently encountered in patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer. The aim of this paper is to study the safety and efficacy of extended resections at this level as well as to determine the sites of residual disease., Patients and Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2019, 26 patients submitted to right upper abdominal resections were identified., Results: Peritoneal stripping and full thickness resections were the most commonly performed resections (in 57% and 19% of cases, respectively), followed by capsular liver resection and atypical liver resection (in 30% and 23% of cases, respectively) while the most common sites where resection was incomplete were the liver pedicle and porta hepatis. Exceptionally, one case necessitated performing a pancreatoduodenectomy as part of debulking surgery. Postoperatively, two cases developed serious complications and required reintervention; however, the overall mortality was null., Conclusion: Right upper abdominal resections seem to be feasible and effective in order to maximize the debulking effort with acceptable risks arising from perioperative complications., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: Gastroenteropancreatic neuro-endocrine carcinomas represent poorly differentiated neoplasms with a high capacity of spreading inducing the development of distant metastases. In such cases debulking surgery seems to offer a good chance for survival especially in well and moderately differentiated lesions. The aim of this study was to report the case of a 48-year-old patient submitted to surgery for moderately differentiated neuroendocrine gastric carcinoma with distant metastases., Case Report: The patient was initially investigated for hematemesis and weight loss and was diagnosed with a lesser curvature gastric tumor in association with liver and peritoneal metastases. Due to the extent of the disease, the patient was initially submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery with radical intent. At the time of surgery subtotal gastrectomy en bloc with total omentectomy, peritonectomy, cholecystectomy and atypical liver resection were performed. Moreover, the two ovaries presented large tumoral masses so total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy was performed. The histopathological studies confirmed the presence of a moderately differentiated neuroendocrine gastric carcinoma with negative resection margins., Conclusion: Multiple visceral resections might be needed in order to maximize the debulking effort in metastatic gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background/Aim: Synchronous gynecological malignancies are rarely encountered, and most often these cases are represented by synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancer. The aim of this paper is to present the case of a 53-year-old patient who was diagnosed with synchronous cervical and ovarian cancer. Case presentation: The patient had been initially investigated for vaginal bleeding and was submitted to a biopsy confirming the presence of a cervical adenocarcinoma. Once the diagnostic of malignancy was confirmed, the patient was submitted to a computed tomography which revealed the presence of large abdominal tumoral nodules of peritoneal carcinomatosis and was submitted to palliative chemotherapy with poor response. Eighteen months later she developed intestinal obstruction and was submitted to surgery. At that moment, synchronous ovarian and cervical tumors were diagnosed. Total radical hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection, omentectomy, and pelvic peritonectomy was performed; in the meantime, the histopathological studies confirmed the presence of two synchronous malignancies. Conclusion : Although synchronous lesions are rarely encountered, this eventuality should not be omitted. In such cases, surgery should be taken in consideration and the intent of radicality should regard both lesions.

Background and objectives: To identify the risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastases in cases with presumed early stage ovarian cancer. Materials and methods : Between 2014 and 2019, 48 patients with apparent early stage ovarian cancer were submitted to surgery. In all cases, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection was performed for staging purposes. Results : Among the 48 cases we identified nine cases with positive pelvic lymph nodes and 11 cases with positive para-aortic lymph nodes. The positivity of the retrieved lymph nodes was significantly correlated with the histopathological subtype represented by serous histology ( p = 0.02), as well as with the degree of differentiation ( p = 0.004). Conclusion : Patients with serous ovarian carcinomas in association with a poorer degree of differentiation are at risk of associated lymph node metastases even in presumed early stages of the disease. Therefore, lymph node dissection should be performed in such cases in order to provide adequate staging and tailoring of further treatment.

Background/aim: During the last decade it has been widely demonstrated that venous involvement in pancreatic head cancer is not a sign of poor prognostic, while surgery with curative intent is feasible and with encouraging results. However, the location and extent of venous invasion can occasionally pose serious problems in terms of reconstruction. The aim of the paper is to describe a case in which total superior mesenteric and portal vein resection followed by reconstruction were successfully performed., Case Report: We present the case of a 74-year-old patient submitted to surgery for locally advanced pancreatic cancer invading the portal and superior mesenteric veins. Surgery consisting of pancreatoduodenectomy en bloc with portal vein and superior mesenteric vein resection was performed. The venous axis was reconstructed by using a venous cadaveric allograft originating from the external iliac vein. The postoperative outcome was favorable and the histopathological studies confirmed the local invasion of the resected venous structures., Conclusion: The cadaveric venous allograft can be safely used in order to reconstruct the venous axis following extended vascular resections for pancreatic cancer., (Copyright© 2020, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)