Published papers

BACKGROUND Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a biopsy technique widely used to diagnose pancreatic tumors because of its high sensitivity and specificity. Although needle-tract seeding caused by EUS-FNA has been recently reported, dissemination of pancreatic cancer cells is generally considered to be a rare complication that does not affect patient prognosis. However, the frequency of dissemination and needle-tract seeding appears to have been underestimated. We present a case of peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer due to preoperative EUS-FNA. CASE SUMMARY An 81-year-old man was referred to the Department of Surgery of our hospital in Japan owing to the detection of a pancreatic mass on computed tomography during medical screening. Trans-gastric EUS-FNA revealed that the mass was an adenocarcinoma; hence laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed. No intraoperative peritoneal dissemination and liver metastasis were visually detected, and pelvic lavage cytology was negative for carcinoma cells. The postoperative surgical specimen was negative for carcinoma cells at the dissected margin and the cut end margin; however, pathological findings revealed adenocarcinoma cells on the peritoneal surface proximal to the needle puncture site, and the cells were suspected to be disseminated via EUS-FNA. Hence, the patient received adjuvant therapy with S-1 (tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil potassium); however, computed tomography performed 5 mo after surgery revealed liver metastasis and cancerous peritonitis. The patient received palliative therapy and died 8 mo after the operation. CONCLUSION The indications of EUS-FNA should be carefully considered to avoid iatrogenic dissemination, especially for cancers in the pancreatic body or tail.

Background: Clinical and biological factors that predict liver volume recovery rate (LVRR) after liver resection of different resected volume (RV) have not been studied extensively. Moreover, it remains uncertain whether remnant liver volume influences the liver function recovery rate (LFRR). This study examined the predictive factors for LVRR after liver resections of different RV and investigated LFRR by focusing on LVRR improvements after hepatectomy. Methods: Patients who underwent hepatectomy between January 2013 and August 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. LVRR and LFRR were assessed at postoperative months (POMs) 3, 6, and 12. LVRR was evaluated on the basis of RV (0%–15%, 15%–30%, 30%–45%, and >45%). LFRR was evaluated using total bilirubin, prothrombin time, and platelet count. Results: LVRR was lower with more extensive liver resections. Significant independent predictors of LVRR were type IV collagen 7s domain levels and resection magnitude. Platelet count correlated positively with LVRR at all POMs. Conclusions: Resected livers regenerated after surgery but did not reach preoperative volumes. Preserving the liver as much as possible during resection can result in greater LFRR after hepatectomy. Therefore, decisions regarding liver resection volume should be made very carefully, particularly in patients with higher type IV collagen 7s domain levels.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors associated with pre- and postoperative serum albumin levels in patients with curatively resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). To achieve this, the data of patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC between January 1995 and March 2016 were retrospectively reviewed, and the pre- and postoperative serum albumin levels at postoperative months (POMs) 3, 6, and 12 were evaluated. The serum albumin recovery rate was also investigated. A total of 196 patients were enrolled in the present study. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, lymph node metastasis [hazard ratio (HR): 1.65; P=0.022], serum albumin level at POM 12 (≥3.9 g/dl; HR: 0.60; P=0.017), and serum albumin recovery rate at POM 12 (≥1.00; HR: 0.60; P=0.017) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Lymph node metastasis (HR: 1.79; P=0.013) and serum albumin level at POM 12 (≥3.9 g/dl) (HR: 0.60; P=0.033) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. These results indicated that the postoperative level and recovery rate of serum albumin are potential biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of patients with curatively resected PDAC. However, further studies are required in order to investigate the survival benefit of increasing postoperative serum albumin levels in these patients.

Background: Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare inherited disorder that causes the accumulation of protoporphyrin in the erythrocytes, skin, and liver. Severe protoporphyric hepatopathy results in liver failure, requiring both liver and bone marrow transplantation as a life-saving procedure and to correct the underlying enzymatic defect, respectively. Case presentation: We report a 20-year-old man who underwent split liver transplantation using a right trisegment and caudate lobe graft for EPP-induced liver failure, but succumbed to a deadly combination of early relapse of EPP and subsequent, intractable, late-onset bile leakage from the cut surface of segment 4. EPP recurrence most likely created a high-risk situation for bile leakage from the non-communicating bile ducts of segment 4; therefore, this case shed light on the potential relationship between EPP recurrence and biliary complications. Conclusion: Physicians should recognize the potentially rapid and life-threatening progression of protoporphyric hepatopathy that leads to liver failure. For young patients with EPP, LT and sequential BMT should thoroughly be considered by a multidisciplinary team as soon as hepatic reserve deterioration becomes evident. Split liver transplantation should preferably be avoided and appropriate post-transplant management is critical before protoporphyrin depositions to the bile duct and hepatocyte causes irreversible damage to the liver graft.