Laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for cancer is considered as a simple surgical approach, which is suitable for primary laparoscopic surgery. However, the success of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy is closely related to the anatomical characteristics of the sigmoid colon. The length, adhesion and morphology of the sigmoid colon vary greatly. The differences of the length, width, adhesion and morphology of the mesentery are large. The distribution of vessels is diversified. The high ligation or the low ligation is still controversial. The location of the sigmoid colon cancer is also not constant. These problems have great influence on the operation. Before operation, the tumor must be accurately located and the anatomical characteristics of the sigmoid colon must be fully evaluated. The operation can be carried out smoothly and the complications during and after the operation can be reduced.
Colectomy ; Colon, Sigmoid ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Sigmoid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Human cases of echinostomiasis have been sporadically diagnosed by extracting worms in the endoscopy in Korea and Japan. Most of these were caused by Echinostoma hortense infection. However, in the present study, we detected 2 live worms of Echinostoma cinetorchis in the ascending colon of a Korean man (68-year old) admitted to the Gyeongsang National University Hospital with complaint of intermittent right lower quadrant abdominal pain for 5 days. Under colonoscopy, 1 worm was found attached on the edematous and hyperemic mucosal surface of the proximal ascending colon and the other was detected on the mid-ascending colon. Both worms were removed from the mucosal surface with a grasping forceps, and morphologically identified as E. cinetorchis by the characteristic head crown with total 37 collar spines including 5 end-group ones on both sides, disappearance of testes, and eggs of 108x60 microm with abopercular wrinkles. The infection source of this case seems to be the raw frogs eaten 2 months ago. This is the first case of endoscopy-diagnosed E. cinetorchis infection in Korea.
Aged ; Animals ; Colon/*parasitology ; Colonoscopy ; Echinostoma/anatomy & histology/classification/*isolation & purification ; Echinostomiasis/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore regional anatomy of fasciae and spaces related to laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (LRC).

METHODSSeven cadavers and 49 patients undergoing LRC for cancer were observed. Computed tomography (CT) images of patients and healthy individuals were reviewed.

RESULTSBetween ascending mesocolon and prerenal fascia (PRF), there was a right retrocolic space (RRCS), which communicated in all directions. Anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, cranial, and caudal boundaries of the RRCS were ascending mesocolon, PRF, superior mesenteric vein, peritoneal reflexion at right paracolic sulcus, inferior margin of transverse part of duodenum, and inferior margin of the mesentery root, respectively. Between transverse mesocolon and pancreas and duodenum, there was a transverse retrocolic space (TRCS), which was bounded cranially by root of transverse mesocolon. On CT images of healthy individuals, PRF was noted as slender line of middle density, continuing to transverse fascia, and the retrocolic spaces were unidentifiable. For patients with right colon cancer, PRF and right retrocolic space might be easier to be identified.

CONCLUSIONSThe RRCS and the TRCS are natural surgical spaces. The PRF is natural surgical plane in LRC for cancer.

Adult ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colon ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop a virtual navigation mode to enlarge the field of view and decrease the deformation of the visual area.

METHODThe method was implemented in 3 steps. The entire colon was first divided into consecutive sections, and each section was split into two halves by a plane. The virtual camera was finally assigned onto each half of the sections for navigation.

RESULTSAdequate subsections were achieved with this method, which also offer an enlarged field of view for the benefit of focal inspection.

CONCLUSIONThe division navigation mode is suitable for the development of a virtual colonoscopy navigation and diagnosis system.

Colon ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; methods ; Colonoscopy ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

The proposed automatic section method achieves accurate automatic section on colon outer surface centerline and evert the colon, by calculating the centerline windowed average curvature. The method is validated on CT colon datasets, and experimental results show that the sectioned virtual eversion facilitates colon visualization and analysis.
Colon ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Colonography, Computed Tomographic ; methods ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Phantoms, Imaging ; User-Computer Interface

Objective: At present, surgeons do not know enough about the mesenteric morphology of the colonic splenic flexure, resulting in many problems in the complete mesenteric resection of cancer around the splenic flexure. In this study, the morphology of the mesentery during the mobilization of the colonic splenic flexure was continuously observed in vivo, and from the embryological point of view, the unique mesenteric morphology of the colonic splenic flexure was reconstructed in three dimensions to help surgeons further understand the mesangial structure of the region. Methods: A total of 9 patients with left colon cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical resection with splenic flexure mobilization by the same group of surgeons in Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled. The splenic flexure was mobilized using a "three-way approach" strategy based on a middle-lateral approach. During the process of splenic flexure mobilization, the morphology of the transverse mesocolon and descending mesocolon were observed and reconstructed from the embryological point of view. The lower margin of the pancreas was set as the axis, and 4 pictures for each patient (section 1-section 4) were taken during middle-lateral mobilization. Results: The median operation time of the splenic flexure mobilization procedure was 31 (12-55) minutes, and the median bleeding volume was 5 (2-30) ml. One patient suffered from lower splenic vessel injury during the operation and the bleeding was stopped successfully after hemostasis with an ultrasound scalpel. The transverse mesocolon root was observed in all 9 (100%) patients, locating under pancreas, whose inner side was more obvious and tough, and the structure gradually disappeared in the tail of the pancreatic body, replaced by smooth inter-transitional mesocolon and dorsal lobes of the descending colon. The mesenteric morphology of the splenic flexure was reconstructed by intraoperative observation. The transverse mesocolon was continuous with a fan-shaped descending mesocolon. During the embryonic stage, the medial part (section 1-section 2) of the transverse mesocolon and the descending mesocolon were pulled and folded by the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Then, the transverse mesocolon root was formed by compression of the pancreas on the folding area of the transverse mesocolon and the descending mesocolon. The lateral side of the transverse mesocolon root (section 3-section 4) was distant from the mechanical traction of the SMA, and the corresponding folding area was not compressed by the tail of the pancreas. The posterior mesangial lobe of the transverse mesocolon and the descending mesocolon were continuous with each other, forming a smooth lobe. This smooth lobe laid flat on the corresponding membrane bed composed of the tail of pancreas, Gerota's fascia and inferior pole of the spleen. Conclusions: From an embryological point of view, this study reconstructs the mesenteric morphology of the splenic flexure and proposes a transverse mesocolon root structure that can be observed consistently intraopertively. Cutting the transverse mesocolon root at the level of Gerota's fascia can ensure the complete resection of the mesentery of the transverse colon.
Colectomy/methods* ; Colon, Transverse/surgery* ; Colonic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Dissection ; Fascia/anatomy & histology* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Mesentery/surgery* ; Mesocolon/surgery* ; Pancreas/surgery* ; Photography ; Spleen/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomic characteristics of splenic flexure, surgical techniques, and oncologic outcomes in 52 patients with non-obstructive splenic flexure colon cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 52 patients with non-obstructive splenic flexure colon cancer from March 2004 to March 2011 in the Department of General Surgery at the Henan Province Tumor Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThere were 37 patients of regular type, 5 of mobile type, and 10 of adhesive type. All the patients received radical operation. Eighteen patients received pre-small intestine anastomosis, including 12 cases with regular type, 4 with mobile type, and 2 with adhesive type. The difference in pre-small intestine anastomosis among the three types was not statistically significant(P=0.062). In addition, 32 cases received retro-ileum anastomosis. There were no significant differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph node dissection and positive lymph node, and postoperation complication rate among the three types. Follow up was available in all the cases. Five-year survival rates of cases with regular type, mobile type and adhesive type were 62.5%, 59.2% and 58.7% respectively(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRadical resection can provide satisfactory survival for splenic flexure colon cancer patients. The anatomy of splenic flexure does not affect the type of anastomosis. Retro-ileum anastomosis is a simple and effective method for reconstruction after radical resection of the tumor.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Colon, Transverse ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; surgery ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of the diameters of superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and gastrocolic trunk (GCT) between patients with cecum-ascending colon cancer and normal individuals, and to assess the diagnostic value of the diameters of SMV and GCT in cecum-ascending colon cancer.

METHODSPreoperative imaging data of 60 patients with primary cecum-ascending colon cancer confirmed by postoperative pathology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from June 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The diameters of SMV and GCT were measured on preoperative CT images. SMV was measured at about 2 cm below the junction of SMV and splenic vein. GCT was measured at 1 cm near the proximal junction of right colon vein, right gastroepiploic vein and anterior pancreaticoduodenal vein. Another 60 people receiving pelvic CT examination without organ illness were collected as control. The diameter differences of SMV and GCT between cancer group and control group were compared. The diagnostic value of the diameters of SMV and GCT in cecum-ascending colon cancer was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTSAmong 60 cases of cecum-ascending colon cancer, 36 were males and 24 were females with median age of 48 years (range 28-84); 13 were cecum cancer, 47 were ascending colon cancer; 11 had no lymph node and liver metastasis, 40 had lymph node metastasis, 9 had liver metastasis (all with lymph node metastasis). Compared to control group, the diameters of SMV and GCT in cancer group were significantly longer [SMV:(11.2±1.3) mm vs. (9.5±1.7) mm, t=6.04, P<0.001; GCT:(5.5±0.9) mm vs. (3.5±1.0) mm, t=11.51, P<0.001]. However, there were no statistically significant differences in diameters of SMV and GCT among hepatic metastasis, lymph node metastasis and no metastasis cancer groups (all P>0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of SMV diameter was 0.777, and the optimal cut-off point was 10.5 mm in the diagnosis of cecum-ascending colon cancer, with the sensitivity and specificity of 95.0%(57/60) and 46.7%(28/60) respectively. The area under the curve of GCT diameter was 0.923, and the optimal cut-off point was 4.5 mm in the diagnosis of cecum-ascending colon cancer, with sensitivity and specificity of 88.3%(53/60) and 85.0%(51/60) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe dilation of the SMV and GCT may be used as warning factors for cecum-ascending colon cancer, especially the diameter of GCT.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cecum ; Colon, Ascending ; pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins ; anatomy & histology ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4 L, split method of PEG 4 L and PEG 2 L plus sodium phosphate (NaP) in the aspect of bowel preparation quality, safety, patients' compliance and preference. METHODS: Total 249 subjects were prospectively enrolled and received bowel preparation for colonoscopy from August to October in 2010; PEG 4 L (93 subjects), split method of 4 L PEG (74 subjects) and PEG 2 L plus NaP 90 mL group (82 subjects). To investigate the completion, preference for bowel preparation and safety, a questionnaire survey was conducted before colonoscopy. RESULTS: There were no significant intergroup differences in the aspect of completion of preparation, cecal intubation time and success rate. Satisfaction and preference were higher in PEG 2 L plus NaP 90 mL and split method of 4 L PEG compared with PEG 4 L. In the aspect of the bowel preparation quality PEG 4 L showed significantly higher quality in the morning colonoscopy (p<0.001). However, in the afternoon colonoscopy PEG 2 L plus NaP 90 mL showed better result than PEG 4 L (p=0.009). Hyperphosphatemia was most frequently observed in PEG 2 L plus NaP 90 mL, but no severe adverse events occurred (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PEG 4 L showed better result than split method of 4 L PEG or PEG 2 L plus NaP 90 mL in the aspect of bowel preparation quality and safety.
Adult ; Aged ; Cathartics/adverse effects/*pharmacology ; Colon/anatomy & histology/*drug effects ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Phosphates/adverse effects/*pharmacology ; Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects/*pharmacology ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires ; Time Factors