Peritoneal Staging Research Articles

Borderline tumours of ovary and fertility preservation–Outcomes from a tertiary care center in India

ObjectiveBorderline ovarian tumors (BOT) are characterized by atypical epithelial proliferation without stromal invasion and majority are diagnosed in women of reproductive age group desirous of fertility preservation. MethodsA retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with BOT and on regular follow up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, during a nine-year study period from March 2014 to March 2023 was performed. Surgical treatment was classified as radical or fertility sparing surgery (FSS). Surgical staging was defined as complete, partial or un-staged. ResultsMedian age of 91 women was 34 years. Follow up period ranged from 4 to 222 months (median 77 months). Among 68 premenopausal women, 31 (46 %) underwent radical surgery and FSS in 37 (54 %) cases. Median time to conception in 29 women with future fertility wishes was 13 months (range, 4 to38 m). Seven of 29 cases (29 %) required ovulation induction. The pregnancy rate was 82.7 % and live birth rate was 80 %. Eight cases (8.7 %) had a recurrence (7- un-staged, 1- partially staged) and median time to recur was 36 months. There was no significant difference in recurrence between cystectomy/oophorectomy. Ovary was the site of recurrence in all surgically salvaged cases except peritoneal cavity in 1 case with mortality. Relapse free survival at 5 and 10 years in FSS and radical surgery group were similar. ConclusionFSS is a safe procedure and should be considered in young patients desirous of future fertility along with a comprehensive peritoneal staging. Reproductive outcomes are excellent.

Abstract 3784: Methylated DNA markers for detection of peritoneal metastasis in pancreatic cancer

Abstract Introduction: Laparoscopy with peritoneal lavage enhances staging accuracy in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Occult intra-abdominal metastases are identified by staging laparoscopy in approximately 20% of patients with radiologically localized PDAC. Peritoneal fluid cytology has limited sensitivity in detecting occult intra-abdominal metastasis. Methylated DNA markers (MDMs) can accurately detect PDAC from tumor tissue, blood, and pancreatic secretions. This study aims to assess the feasibility of assaying MDMs in peritoneal lavage fluid obtained at the time of staging laparoscopy for patients with PDAC. Methods: Peritoneal lavage fluid (25-60 mL) obtained from patients with PDAC at the time of staging laparoscopy was centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1200 × g. The pellet was resuspended and aliquoted into 200µL tubes and frozen at -80°C. DNA extracted from one aliquot was assayed for mutant KRAS (G12A and G13D) and then bisulfite converted to measure 13 MDMs (GRIN2D, CD1D, ZNF781, FER1L4, RYR2, CLEC11A, AK055957, LRRC4, MAX.CHR5.4295, HOXA1, PRKCB, SHISA9, NTRK3) and a normalizing reference gene (B3GALT6) using quantitative methylation specific PCR. The association of KRAS and the average signal from the 13 MDMs (MDMscore) with intra-abdominal metastasis (Y/N) was assessed with the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Among 48 PDAC patients, staging laparoscopy revealed intra-abdominal metastasis in 15 (31%). Of the 15 intra-abdominal metastases, 6 were found to have biopsy-confirmed intra-abdominal metastasis and positive peritoneal cytology, 4 were positive on peritoneal cytology alone, and 5 had biopsy-confirmed intra-abdominal metastasis alone. The sensitivity of the MDMscore for intra-abdominal metastasis was 87% (CI: 60-98%) at 90% (CI: 76-98%) specificity whereas the sensitivity for KRAS was 40% (CI: 16-68%) at 85% (CI: 68-95) specificity. The AUC for the MDMscore was 0.98 (CI: 0.94-1.00) compared to 0.62 (CI: 0.48-0.77) for that of KRAS (p<0.0001). Conclusion: MDMs assayed from peritoneal lavage fluid collected during staging laparoscopy is a novel tool for accurate molecular staging of PDAC. These early results warrant further study in a larger cohort to assess impact on peritoneal staging and its clinical utility in the neoadjuvant treatment paradigm of PDAC. Citation Format: Kalika Maheshwari, Calise K. Berger, William R. Taylor, Douglas W. Mahoney, Kelli N. Burger, Adriana M. Delgado, Karen A. Doering, Heather M. Streich, Patrick H. Foote, Sean P. Cleary, Travis E. Grotz, Micheal L. Kendrick, Rory L. Smoot, Patrick P. Starlinger, Cornelius A. Thiels, Mark J. Truty, Susanne G. Warner, John B. Kisiel, Shounak Majumder. Methylated DNA markers for detection of peritoneal metastasis in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3784.

Peritoneal Tumor DNA as a Prognostic Biomarker in Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Gastric cancers commonly spread to the peritoneum. Its presence significantly alters patient prognosis and treatment-intent; however, current methods of peritoneal staging are inaccurate. Peritoneal tumor DNA (ptDNA) is tumor-derived DNA detectable in peritoneal lavage fluid. ptDNA positivity may indicate peritoneal micrometastasis and may be more sensitive than cytology in staging the peritoneum. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the prognostic potential of ptDNA in gastric cancer. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched using PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between January 1, 1990, and April 30, 2023, containing quantitative data relating to ptDNA in gastric cancer were meta-analyzed. Six studies were analyzed. Of the total 757 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, 318 (42.0%) were stage I, 311 (41.0%) were stage II/III, 116 (15.3%) were stage IV, and 22 (2.9%) were undetermined. Overall, ptDNA detected cytology-positive cases with a sensitivity and specificity of 85.2% (95% CI, 66.5 to 100.0) and 91.5% (95% CI, 86.5 to 96.6), respectively. Additionally, ptDNA was detected in 54 (8.5%) of 634 cytology-negative patients. The presence of ptDNA negatively correlated with pathological stage I (relative risk [RR], 0.29 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.66]) and positively correlated with pathological stage IV (RR, 8.61 [95% CI, 1.86 to 39.89]) disease. Importantly, ptDNA positivity predicted an increased risk of peritoneal-specific metastasis (RR, 13.81 [95% CI, 8.11 to 23.53]) and reduced 3-year progression-free (RR, 5.37 [95% CI, 1.39 to 20.74]) and overall (hazard ratio, 4.13 [95% CI, 1.51 to 11.32]) survival. ptDNA carries valuable prognostic information and can detect peritoneal micrometastases in patients with gastric cancer. Its clinical utility in peritoneal staging for gastric cancer deserves further investigation.

BORDERLINE TUMORS OF THE OVARY

Borderline tumors of the ovary are lesions that have certain abnormalities, particularly microscopic, common with cancers, nevertheless they are not cancer in the strict sense of the term. The diagnosis of this pathology requires a good expertise in anatomo-pathology because there are several histological variants that can modulate the therapeutic management. They can be located only on one or two ovaries but can also extend to the lymph nodes and/or the peritoneum. These tumors have a very good prognosis overall. The most important prognostic factors are: the stage, the type of peritoneal implants (less good prognosis in case of invasive implants in serous tumors) and the existence of a tumor remnant (in stages II or III). Treatment is primarily surgical. The reference surgery for ovarian tumours (in a patient no longer of childbearing age) is bilateral adnexectomy. However, this surgery must be conservative in a young woman in the case of a stage I or stage II/III tumour but without invasive implants. In case of tumor with peritoneal implants, surgical resection of peritoneal locations is the rule. In macroscopically limited ovarian stages, there is an indication to perform a peritoneal staging (cytology, multiple biopsies and omentectomy) in serous micropapillary forms. Treatment is in the vast majority of cases exclusively surgical (most often conservative - in order to preserve future fertility - in young patients). Indications for chemotherapy are rare. The only indications for chemotherapy are the presence of invasive peritoneal implants and certain forms of lymph node involvement. Follow-up is done on a regular basis, especially in the case of conservative treatment, and is based on a clinical examination, markers and imaging by abdomino-pelvic ultrasound (in patients who have had conservative treatment). Recurrences are not life-threatening since they usually occur in a borderline mode and therefore have a good prognosis. Surveillance beyond 10 years is required (especially after conservative treatment). This surveillance is then based on clinical examination, marker assay and imaging.

Risk reducing surgery with peritoneal staging in BRCA1-2 mutation carriers. A prospective study

IntroductionInternational guidelines recommend risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in BRCA1-2 mutations carriers to decrease ovarian cancer occurrence. In this prospective study, we describe the incidence of occult malignancies and the surgical outcomes in asymptomatic BRCA mutation carriers submitted to RRSO. MethodsData on BRCA1-2 carriers undergoing RRSO with peritoneal washing and peritoneal/omental biopsies (PeS), between January 2019 until March 2021, were prospectively collected. ResultsA total of 132 patients were enrolled: 74 BRCA1 and 58 BRCA2 mutation carriers. 31.1% women underwent RRSO and PeS (16.2% of BRCA1 and 50% of BRCA2 carriers), while 68.9% patients were submitted also to concomitant hysterectomy. Almost all the procedures (99.2%) were performed by minimally invasive surgery. Postoperative complications occurred in twelve patients (9.1%): 10 in the concomitant hysterectomy group and two complications in the RRSO group. At the final pathological examination, 6 (4.5%) occult carcinomas were diagnosed: 3 fallopian tube carcinomas, one ovarian carcinoma and two serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STICs), with negative PeS. Median age of occult carcinomas patients at RRSO was 54 (range: 48–79) years. The mean follow up was 20 (range: 7–34) months. During the follow up, no primary peritoneal cancer has been diagnosed. ConclusionsOccult pathologic findings in RRSO occurred in 4.5% (3% invasive carcinomas, STIC 1.5%) among our patients. The routine use of peritoneal biopsies does not improve the detection of occult malignancies. Our data confirm the importance of timely performing RRSO in BRCA1-2 carriers.

Surgical treatment for clinical early-stage expansile and infiltrative mucinous ovarian cancer: can staging surgeries safely be omitted?

Mucinous ovarian cancers (MOCs) are categorized into infiltrative and expansile subtypes. These subtypes have different characteristics and prognoses. Patients with clinical early-stage disease of both subtypes currently undergo surgical staging (peritoneal washing, biopsies, omentectomy). Peritoneal and lymph node metastases of expansile MOC are rare, but whereas lymph node sampling (LNS) is omitted in these patients, peritoneal staging is not. Therefore, we collected all available MOC data to determine whether staging surgeries could safely be omitted in clinical early-stage expansile and infiltrative MOC. Current literature confirms that peritoneal metastases are rare in expansile MOC: more than 90% of patients have early-stage disease. Only 3.4% of the patients with clinical early-stage expansile MOC had positive peritoneal washings at surgical staging. Patients with infiltrative MOC were diagnosed more frequently with advanced-stage disease (21-54%). Moreover, upstaging clinical early-stage infiltrative MOC based on positive cytology, peritoneum and omentum metastases occurred in 10.3% of the patients. Therefore, we recommend that patients with early-stage infiltrative MOC undergo peritoneal staging and LNS. However, in addition to omitting LNS, we can also safely recommend omitting peritoneal staging in patients with clinical early stage expansile MOC. Peritoneal metastases are rare in clinical early-stage expansile MOC and peritoneal staging can therefore safely be omitted.

Risk Factors for Recurrence of Borderline Ovarian Tumours after Conservative Surgery and Impact on Fertility: A Multicentre Study by the Francogyn Group.

Introduction: Borderline ovarian tumours (BOT) represent 10–20% of epithelial tumours of the ovary. Although their prognosis is excellent, the recurrence rate can be as high as 30%, and recurrence in the infiltrative form accounts for 3% to 5% of recurrences. Affecting, in one third of cases, women of childbearing age, the surgical strategy with ovarian conservation is now recommended despite a significant risk of recurrence. Few studies have focused exclusively on patients who have received ovarian conservative treatment in an attempt to identify factors predictive of recurrence and the impact on fertility. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for recurrence of BOT after conservative treatment and the impact on fertility. Material and methods: This was a retrospective, multicentre study of women who received conservative surgery for BOT between February 1997 and September 2020. We divided the patients into two groups, the “R group” with recurrence and the “NR group” without recurrence. Results: Of 175 patients included, 35 had a recurrence (R group, 20%) and 140 had no recurrence (NR group, 80%). With a mean follow-up of 30 months (IQ 8–62.5), the overall recurrence rate was 20%. Recurrence was BOT in 17.7% (31/175) and invasive in 2.3% (4/175). The mean time to recurrence was 29.5 months (IQ 16.5–52.5). Initial complete peritoneal staging (ICPS) was performed in 42.5% of patients (n = 75). In multivariate analysis, age at diagnosis, nulliparity, advanced FIGO stage, the presence of peritoneal implants, and the presence of a micropapillary component for serous tumours were factors influencing the occurrence of recurrence. The post-surgery fertility rate was 67%. Conclusion: This multicentre study is to date one of the largest studies analysing the risk factors for recurrence of BOT after conservative surgery. Five risk factors were found: age at diagnosis, nulliparity, advanced FIGO stage, the presence of implants, and a micropapillary component. Only 25% of the patients with recurrence underwent ICPS. These results reinforce the interest of initial peritoneal staging to avoid ignoring an advanced tumour stage.

Clear Cell Borderline Ovarian Tumor: Clinical Characteristics, Prognosis, and Management.

Clear cell borderline ovarian tumor (CCBOT) is one of the rarest subtypes of borderline ovarian malignancies. The aim of this study was to determine the prognosis of a series of CCBOT. A retrospective review of patients with CCBOT treated or referred to our institutions. A centralized histological review by a reference pathologist and data on the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients were required for inclusion. Nineteen patients were identified. Median age was 62 (range 36-83) years. Four patients underwent a conservative surgery and 14 a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy +/- hysterectomy (unknown in 1 case). One patient had bilateral tumor, and all cases were stage-I disease. All CCBOTs showed an adenofibromatous pattern. Stromal microinvasion was observed in seven cases and intraepithelial carcinoma in two cases. Endometriosis was histologically associated in one case. The median follow-up was 76 (range 6-231) months. No recurrence occurred. Two patients died of intercurrent disease. Peritoneal staging procedures should always be associated, but restaging surgery could be omitted if there was no suspicious lesion in the peritoneum during initial surgery, since all patients reported had stage-I disease. Fertility-sparing surgery appears to be a safe alternative in young patients. Synchronous endometrial disorders with atypia are infrequent. Prognosis is generally excellent, and long-term risk of recurrence is low. The two recurrences described in literature occurred in stage-IC diseases, highlighting the importance of avoiding perioperative rupture.

The Search for New 2-18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging Biomarkers in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients: Focus on Peritoneal Staging for Guiding Precision Medicine and Management Decisions.

The Search for New 2-18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging Biomarkers in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients: Focus on Peritoneal Staging for Guiding Precision Medicine and Management Decisions.

Molecular Peritoneal Staging for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Using Mutant KRAS Droplet-Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction: Results of a Prospective Clinical Trial

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with predilection for peritoneal dissemination. Accurate peritoneal staging is imperative for treatment recommendations, as one-third of patients develop peritoneal recurrence after resection. Because >90% of PDAC tumors harbor mutant KRAS (mKRAS), we sought to determine feasibility of mKRAS DNA detection in peritoneal lavage (PL) fluid using droplet-digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) via a prospective trial. Patients with nonmetastatic PDAC undergoing staging laparoscopy with PL were included. PL fluid was sent for cytologic examination, CA19-9/CEA levels, and mKRAS ddPCR assay. Clinically positive laparoscopy was defined as gross metastases or positive cytology. PL mKRAS status was compared with gross findings, cytology, and CA19-9/CEA levels. There were 136 patients enrolled; 70 of 136 (51%) patients received neoadjuvant therapy before PL, and 32 of 136 (24%) patients had clinically positive laparoscopy. Cytology was positive in 17 of 136 (13%) patients, and 22 of 136 (16%) patients had gross metastases. Of patients with gross metastases, only 8 of 22 (36%) had positive cytology; 97 of 136 (71%) patients had mKRAS in PL. PL mKRAS was present in 27 of 32 (84%) clinically positive laparoscopies, with higher mean copy number in clinically positive patients (643 vs 10, p= 0.02). Peritoneal mKRAS was positive in an additional 70 clinically negative patients. This prospective study establishes the feasibility of PL mKRAS detection. Clinically positive disease was identified in 1 in 4 staging laparoscopies. Although PL mKRAS was highly associated with clinically positive findings, many clinically negative laparoscopies had detectable PL mKRAS, suggesting that standard staging may be inadequate. Longer follow-up will elucidate utility of this promising molecular assay.

Status of Surgical Management of Borderline Ovarian Tumors in France: are Recommendations Being Followed? Multicentric French Study by the FRANCOGYN Group

BackgroundBorderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are tumors with a favorable prognosis but whose management by consensus is essential to limit the risk of invasive recurrence. This study aimed to conduct an inventory of surgical practices for BOT in France and to evaluate the conformity of the treatment according to the current French guidelines.MethodsThis retrospective, multicenter cohort study included nine referral centers of France between January 2001 and December 2018. It analyzed all patients with serous and mucinous BOT who had undergone surgery. A peritoneal staging in accordance with the recommendations was defined by performance of a peritoneal cytology, an omentectomy, and at least one peritoneal biopsy.ResultsThe study included 332 patients. A laparoscopy was performed in 79.5% of the cases. Treatment was conservative in 31.9% of the cases. The recurrence rate was significantly increased after conservative treatment (17.3% vs 3.1%; p < 0.001). Peritoneal cytology was performed for 95.5%, omentectomy for 83.1%, and at least one biopsy for 82.2% of the patients. The overall recurrence rate was 7.8%, and the recurrence was invasive in 1.2% of the cases. No link was found between the recurrence rate and the conformity of peritoneal staging. The overall rate of staging noncompliance was 22.9%.ConclusionThe current standards for BOT management seem to be well applied.

Brenner Borderline Ovarian Tumor: A Case Series and Literature Review.

Most frequent borderline ovarian tumors are serous and mucinous subtypes. Less frequent borderline diseases are endometrioid, clear-cell, and Brenner tumors (BBOT). Very little is known about the latter subtype, and most studies include very short series or case reports. The aim of this study is to determine the prognosis of a continuous series of BBOT and analyze data published in the literature on this rare entity. A retrospective review of patients with BBOT treated or referred to our institutions was conducted. A centralized histological review by a reference pathologist and data on the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients were required for inclusion. Overall, 17 patients were identified. Median age was 62 (range 42-85) years. Six patients underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and 11 bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy +/- hysterectomy and/or staging surgery. In total, 16 patients had unilateral tumor, and all patients had stage I disease. Stromal microinvasion was observed in three cases. Median follow-up was 60 months (range 7-118 months). One patient developed a recurrence in contralateral ovary after unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. One patient had previous history of urothelial tumor. Peritoneal staging surgery is not required because all patients reported had stage I disease. One recurrence occurred. When reviewing all the 82 cases reported in the literature (including ours), 9% had previous history or synchronous urothelial tumor, suggesting the need to carefully check for urological disease in patients with BBOT.

Uterine Endometrial Sarcoma with Carcinomatosis Treated with Iterative Surgery Associated with Systemic and Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Introduction: Endometrial sarcoma is a rare condition, affecting women in their 60s. If total hysterectomy associated with bilateral adnexectomy is the standard treatment and can control the disease when it is localized in the uterus, at the peritoneal localization stage its prognosis becomes more negative with reduced possibilities of resection and overall survival at 5 years, therefore, the same with rates close to 30%. We report two cases of endometrial sarcoma with peritoneal localizations managed with a multidisciplinary approach and in several steps or multimodal approach associating a cytoreduction preceded or associated with systemic chemotherapy and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. These two advanced tumours were cured with this approach and at the final step, no deposit tumor were present. The global survival is respectively of 28 months and 63 months. Conclusion: this approach seems to be efficient in front of the advanced stage of endometrial sarcoma and we think that it must be adopted for a great number of patients to improve the survival and quality of life.

Risk Factors, Morbidity, and Quality of Life Associated with Same-Day Discharge in Gynecologic Oncology

To determine the risk factors, morbidity, and quality of life associated with same-day surgery in gynecologic oncology. In this prospective study, patients with a good performance status and an indication for a simple procedure [diagnostic laparoscopy (peritoneal carcinomatosis index, biopsy, and Port-A-Cath), adnexectomy or fimbriectomy] and a complex procedure [total hysterectomy, omentectomy with peritoneal staging, pelvic lymphadenectomy (or sentinel lymph node (SLN)), and/or paraaortic lymphadenectomy by minimally invasive surgery] were included. Univariate logistic regression analysis, multivariate analysis, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used in the statistical analyses. There were 171 consecutive surgeries (55 complex and 116 simple procedures). The rate of readmissions on the same day and at 30 days postoperatively was, respectively, 8% versus 3% with simple procedures and 16% versus 11% with complex procedures. We modified our procedure to decrease complications by prescribing prophylactic low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) the next day at 8 am at home instead of the evening before discharge (fewer vaginal hematomas after hysterectomy: 2 hematomas/5 hysterectomies with LMWH on the same day versus 0/22 with LMWH on the next day, P = 0.03). The following factors were significantly associated with readmission: complex procedure (odds ratio [OR] 4.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66–10.85, P = 0.003), absence of an exsufflation drain (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.19–7.31, P = 0.019), and end of surgery after 2 pm (OR 5.82, 95% CI 2.13–15.94, P = 0.001). We modified our protocol to decrease complications (vaginal hematomas after hysterectomy) by prescribing prophylactic LMWH the next day at 8 am at home instead of the evening before discharge.

Staging laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology in patients with early stage gastric adenocarcinoma

BackgroundStaging laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology can detect occult metastatic disease prior to treatment of gastric cancer. The yield of peritoneal staging in patients with early stage disease is lacking. We assess the yield of peritoneal staging in early stage gastric cancer and its impact on survival.MethodsData were obtained from a prospective database of patients who underwent staging laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology for gastric cancer at our institution between July 1995 and July 2018. Clinical stage was determined by endoscopic ultrasound, and early stage was defined as cT1-2 and cN0. Rates of positive cytology and carcinomatosis at time of laparoscopy were obtained. Univariate analyses were used to compare groups, and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to assess survival outcomes.ResultsEight hundred sixty-seven patients underwent staging laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology; 56 were defined as early stage. Age was 61 ± 12 years, 66.4% were male, and 62.3% were white. Of the patients with early stage disease, 17.9% had either gross carcinomatosis (10.7%) and/or positive peritoneal cytology (10.9%). All cases of peritoneal disease were in patients with cT2 disease. There were no differences in age, gender, or race based on peritoneal disease (all p > 0.05). The presence of carcinomatosis or positive cytology significantly affected overall survival (p < 0.001), regardless of clinical T or N stage.ConclusionsPeritoneal staging identifies metastatic disease in a significant number of patients with early stage disease. Given its poor prognosis and alternate therapy options, independent staging laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology should be considered in patients with early stage gastric adenocarcinoma.

Role of thermal ablation in the management of colorectal liver metastasis.

With a recent randomized prospective trial revealing that thermal ablative therapy as local tumor control improved overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM), thermal ablation continues to remain as an important treatment option in this patient population. Our aim of this article is to review the current role of the ablative therapy in the management of CRLM patients. Main indications for thermal ablation include (I) unresectable liver lesions; (II) in combination with hepatectomy; (III) in patients with significant medical comorbidities or poor performance status (PS); (IV) a small (<3 cm) solitary lesion, which would otherwise necessitate a major liver resection; and (V) patient preference. There are several approaches and modalities for ablative therapy, including open, percutaneous, and laparoscopic approaches, as well as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA). Each approach and ablation modality have its own pros and cons. Percutaneous and laparoscopic approaches are preferred due to minimally invasive nature, yet laparoscopic approach has more benefits from thorough intraoperative ultrasound (US) exam as well as complete peritoneal staging with laparoscopy. Similarly, whereas high local tumor failure rate has been a major concern with RFA, MWA or microwave thermosphere ablation (MTA) have demonstrated significantly improved local tumor control due to homogenous tissue heating, ability to reach higher tissue temperatures, and less susceptible to the "heat-sink" effect. Although liver resection is the standard of care for CRLM, there have been some retrospective studies demonstrating similar oncological outcome between ablative therapy and surgical resection in very selected populations with small (<3 cm) solitary CRLM. Lastly, ablative therapy and liver resection should not be mutually exclusive, especially in the management of bilobar liver metastases. Concomitant ablative therapy with hepatectomy may spare the patients from having two-stage hepatectomy with less morbidity. The role of the thermal ablation will continue to evolve in patients with resectable and ablatable lesions owing to newly emerging technology, in addition to new systemic treatment options, including immunotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

Prevalence of abnormalities in electrocardiogram conduction in dialysis patients: a comparative study

ABSTRACTBackground: The electrocardiogram (ECG) can aid in identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at high risk for cardiovascular diseases. Cohort studies describe ECG abnormalities in patients on hemodialysis (HD), but we did not find data comparing ECG abnormalities among patients with normal kidney function or peritoneal dialysis (PD) to those on hemodialysis. We hypothesized that ECG conduction abnormalities would be more common, and cardiac conduction interval times longer, among patients on hemodialysis vs. those on peritoneal dialysis and CKD 1 or 2.Methods: Retrospective review of adult inpatients’ charts, comparing those with billing codes for “Hemodialysis” vs. inpatients without those charges, and an outpatient peritoneal dialysis cohort. Patients with CKD 3 or 4 were excluded.Results: One hundred and sixty-seven charts were reviewed. ECG conduction intervals were consistently and statistically longer among hemodialysis patients (n=88) vs. peritoneal dialysis (n=22) and CKD stage 1 and 2 (n=57): PR (175±35 vs 160±44 vs 157±22 msec) (p=0.009), QRS (115±32 vs. 111±31 vs 91±18 msec) (p=0.001), QT (411±71 vs. 403±46 vs 374±55 msec) (p=0.006), QTc (487±49 vs. 464±38 vs 452±52 msec) (p=0.0001). The only significantly different conduction abnormality was prevalence of left bundle branch block: 13.6% among HD patients, 5% in PD, and 2% in CKD 1 and 2 (p=0.03). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that ECG conduction intervals are significantly longer as one progresses from CKD Stage 1 and 2, to PD, to HD. These and other data support the need for future research to utilize ECG conduction times to identify dialysis patients who could potentially benefit from proactive cardiac evaluations and risk reduction.

Results of Fertility-Sparing Surgery for Expansile and Infiltrative Mucinous Ovarian Cancers.

No series had been reported focusing on the results of fertility-sparing surgery in stage I mucinous ovarian cancers according to histotype (infiltrative vs. expansile). Investigating such outcomes was the aim of the present study. The present study was a retrospective analysis of patients treated conservatively with preservation of the uterus and contralateral ovary from 1976 to 2016. The pathology of the tumors was reviewed by two expert pathologists according to the 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) classification criteria. Oncologic and fertility results were analyzed. Twenty-one patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, twelve with expansile and nine with infiltrative cancer. All patients had a unilateral tumor and underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in one-step (n = 6) or two-step (n = 15) surgeries. All but one had complete peritoneal staging surgery based on cytology, omentectomy, and random peritoneal biopsies. Ten had nodal staging surgery. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages were IA (n = 9), IC1 (n = 6), and IC2 (n = 6); the nuclear grades were grade 1 (n = 9), grade 2 (n = 5), and grade 3 (n = 1). Two patients recurred (one expansile and one infiltrative type) 19 and 160 months after surgery, respectively. One stage IA, nuclear grade 2 expansile tumor recurred on the spared ovary; the patient remains alive. The other stage IA infiltrative tumor recurred as peritoneal spread; the patient is alive with disease. Six patients became pregnant; four with expansile tumors and two with infiltrative tumors. The type of mucinous cancer has no impact on the oncologic outcome in this series of patients treated conservatively. Fertility-sparing surgery should be considered for early-stage infiltrative-type tumors. According to the most recently updated World Health Organization classification guidelines, mucinous cancers should be classified as either expansile or infiltrative. The infiltrative type has a poorer prognosis, but there are no data about the safety of fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) in this context. A collection of 21 cases reviewed by two expert pathologists this study is the first devoted to the conservative treatment of mucinous tumors according to both subtypes. The key result was that the type of mucinous cancer has no impact on the oncologic outcome; thus, FSS may be considered in both subtypes.

Risk of peritoneal metastases in patients who had negative peritoneal staging and received therapy for localized gastric adenocarcinoma.

Positive peritoneal cytology (+PCyt) or gross carcinomatosis (GPC) carries a poor prognosis. Laparoscopic staging to detect +PCyt/GPC is recommended for all ≥T1b gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). The natural history of patients with GAC who have baseline -PCyt and then undergo multimodality therapy is not well documented, particularly for the risk of subsequent GPC. We identified 238 GAC patients with baseline -PCyt who were followed for the development of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Standard statistical methods were employed. Of 238 patients, 192 had attempted surgery after preoperative therapy. Of these, 13 patients (6.8%) had GPC and one had liver metastases, thus surgery was aborted. We followed 164 patients who had an R0 resection. The median follow-up duration was 3.4 (range, 0.6-18) years. The rate of PC was 13.4%, (22/164 patients) and the median time to PC was 15.6 months. Female gender was associated with PC on multivariate analysis. The 5-year OS rate for patients without subsequent PC was 75%. Conclusion Even with baseline -Cyt, ∼25% of patients develop PC following multimodality therapy. Patients who do not develop PC have an excellent OS rate. Further research is warranted to detect PC at baseline by the use of biomarkers.

Novel Imaging Technologies in Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery: A Systematic Review

Novel imaging technologies continued to be introduced into the operative setting. In particular, novel image-enhanced laparoscopic techniques are being explored for use in gynecologic operations. This systematic review describes these technologies in four relevant areas of gynecologic surgery. The PubMed database was searched for human, English-language studies, and the reference lists of retrieved articles were reviewed. An analysis of pooled data from 34 studies that met inclusion criteria was performed. The results suggest that image-enhanced technology may be useful in several common gynecologic procedures. Auto- and drug-enhanced fluorescence laparoscopy allow for increased detection of nonpigmented endometriotic lesions. Using these technologies for peritoneal staging of ovarian malignancy is of uncertain benefit. Drug-enhanced fluorescence laparoscopy for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in patients with uterine or cervical malignancy is feasible, showing a high rate of SLN detection, but a low sensitivity of identifying metastases. Finally, their use in intra-operative visualization of the ureter is promising. The majority of available data was from feasibility studies with limited sample sizes. Nevertheless, the results described in this systematic review support the expectation that these upcoming image-enhanced laparoscopy techniques will play a more important role in the future care of gynecologic patients.