OBJECTIVETo investigate the pattern of lymph node metastasis in patients with left-sided colon cancer in order to provide evidences for the choice of operation mode and the range of lymph node clearance.

METHODSClinical data of 556 cases with left-sided colon carcinoma undergoing surgical treatment in Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from January 2000 to October 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, cancer of splenic flexure and transverse colon close to splenic flexure (splenic flexure group) was found in 41 cases, descending colon cancer in 73 cases(descending colon goup) and sigmoid colon cancer in 442 cases (sigmoid colon group), respectively; T1 was found in 29 cases, T2 in 63 cases, T3 in 273 cases, T4 in 191 cases. All the patients underwent D3 radical operation or complete mesocolic excision(CME). Para-bowel lymph node was defined as the first station, mesenteric lymph node as the second station, and lymph node in root of mesentery and around upper and inferior mesenteric arteries as the third station. Metastasis was compared among these 3 stations with regard to different sites and tumor invasions.

RESULTSThe total lymph node metastasis rate was 49.6%(276/556). The lymph node metastasis rates of splenic flexure, descending colon and sigmoid colon groups were 53.7%(22/41), 52.1%(38/73) and 48.9%(216/442) respectively without significant difference (P>0.05). The lymph node metastasis rates of the first, second, and third stations were 47.3%(263/556), 16.9%(94/556) and 5.8%(32/556) respectively with significant difference (χ(2)=287.54, P=0.000). In the first, second and third station, the lymph node metastasis rate was 13.8%(4/29), 0 and 0 in T1; 25.4%(16/63), 4.8%(3/63) and 3.2%(2/63) in T2; 45.8%(125/273), 14.7%(40/273) and 4.8%(13/273) in T3; 61.8%(118/191), 26.7%(25/191) and 8.9%(17/191) in T4 respectively. In splenic flexure group, metastasis rates were similar between No.222 and No.232[14.6%(61/41) vs. 12.2%(5/41), χ(2)=0.11, P=1.000] and between No.223 and No.253 [7.3% (3/41) vs. 2.4% (1/41), χ(2)=1.05, P=0.616]. In descending colon group, metastasis rate of No.232 was higher as compared to No.222[15.1%(11/73) vs. 2.7% (2/73), χ(2)=6.84, P=0.017]; metastasis rate of No.253 was slightly higher as compared to No.223 without significant difference [4.1%(3/73) vs. 0, χ(2)=3.06, P=0.245]. Metastasis rates of No.222 and No.223 in splenic flexure group were significantly higher than those in descending colon and sigmoid colon groups (χ(2)=5.69, P=0.025; Fisher exact test, P=0.044); While such rates of No.232(No.242 for sigmoid colon group) and No.253 were not significantly different among 3 groups respectively (χ(2)=0.90, P=0.660; χ(2)=1.14, P=0.611).

CONCLUSIONSLeft-sided colon cancers in T1 should undergo D2 radical operation, while cancers in T2 to T4 should undergo D3 radical operation. The D3 radical operation for splenic flexure cancers and cancers of transverse colon close to splenic flexure should clear No.223 and No.253. The D3 radical operation for descending colon cancer should clear No.222 and No.253. The D3 radical operation for sigmoid colon should clear No.253.

Colon, Sigmoid ; pathology ; Colon, Transverse ; pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To investigate the application value of intrathoracic double-flap tech-nique (Kamikawa anastomosis) in combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 10 patients with esophagogastric junction cancer who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between July 2022 and April 2023 were collec-ted. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged 62(range, 53-71)years. All the 10 patients underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer. Reconstruction was performed with an intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up and survival. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Results:(1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. All the 10 patients underwent surgery successfully. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss were (347±41)minutes and (91±41)mL. The time to postoperative fluid diet intake, time to removal of postoperative abdominal drainage tube, time to removal of postoperative chest drainage tube, duration of postoperative hospital stay were (4.3±1.1)days, (5.0±1.6)days, (10.5±3.9)days, (13.3±3.8)days. Six patients had postoperative complications, including 1 case of Clavien-Dindo grade ⅢB, 3 cases of Clavien Dindo grade Ⅱ, 2 cases of Clavien Dindo grade Ⅰ. An upper gastrointestinal contrast at postoperative day 7 showed no anastomotic leak or anastomotic stricture in the 10 patients. (2) Postoperative pathological examination. Results of postoperative pathological examination in the 10 patients showed negative surgical margin. The number of lymph node dissected was 22±6. There were 3 patients with 5 positive lymph nodes. The tumor diameter and distance from center of tumor to squamocolumnar mucosal junction were (3.3±0.5)cm and (1.9±1.4)cm. One patient had tumor differentiation degree as high and moderate differentiation, 5 cases as moderate differentiation, 3 cases as moderate and low differentiation, 1 case as low differentiation. There were 5 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and 5 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. (3) Follow-up and survival. All the 10 patients were followed up for 7(range, 3?12)months, achieving disease-free survival. The visick quality of life grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ were observed in 7, 3, 0, 0 patients. Postoperative gastroscopy was completed in 7 patients, in which mild anastomotic strictures were noted in 2 patients, but no treatment was required. There was no reflux esophagitis.Conclusion:Intrathoracic Kamikawa anastomosis in combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer is safe and feasible, with satisfactory short-term efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the application value of transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection for ultra-low rectal cancer.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 9 ultra-low rectal cancer patients undergoing transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from December 2017 to August 2020 were collected. There were 8 males and 1 female, aged from 39 to 62 years, with a median age of 58 years. Observation indicators: (1) surgical and postoperative situations; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examination and telephone interview to detect postoperative tumor local recurrence and distant metastasis, survival of patients, ileostomy closure, anus function at 3 months after ileostomy closure, male urinary and sexual function and female sexual function at 6 months after rectal surgery. The follow-up was up to February 2021. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Results:(1)Surgical and postoperative situations: all 9 patients underwent surgery successfully, without conversion to open surgery. Seven of the 9 patients underwent transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection and the rest of 2 patients with tumor close to the dentate line underwent transanal endoscopic modified partial intersphincteric resection. The operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss of 9 patients were (267±48)minutes and 50 mL(range, 30?60 mL), respectively. Five of the 9 patients underwent transanal specimen extraction, and 4 patients underwent specimen extraction by an abdominal incision. All 9 patients underwent transanal hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis and protective ileostomy, and two pelvic drainage tubes were indwelled. Transanal drainage tube was placed after anastomosis in 3 of 9 patients. Three cases had intraoperative adverse events and there were no intraoperative adverse event reported in the remaining 6 cases. The time to postoperative initial stoma exhausting and time to postoperative first semi-liquid food intake of 9 patients were 3 days(range, 2?4 days) and 5 days(range, 4?7 days), respectively. One case had Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅰ complication and 2 cases had Clavien-Dindo grade Ⅱ complication during postoperative 30 days and the rest of 6 cases had no postoperative complication. No anastomotic stricture, hemorrhage or urinary retention occurred in 9 patients. The duration of postoperative hospital stay and cost of hospitalization of 9 patients were 11 days(range, 9?23 days) and (6.8±1.3)×10 4 yuan, respectively. (2) Postoperative pathological examination: the diameter of tumor, the distance of distal resection margin, the number of lymph node dissected and the number of positive lymph node of 9 patients were (3.2±1.4)cm, 0.6 cm(range, 0.5?1.5 cm), 17±7 and 0(range, 0?7), respectively. The tumor histopathological type was adenocarcinoma with negative tumor nodule and nerve infiltration in all 9 patients. Only 1 case of 9 patients was found vascular tumor thrombus. The surgical specimens of all 9 patients showed negative for distal and circumferential margins and complete mesorectum. Results of postoperative pathological TNM staging showed that of 6 cases with preoperative T1-T2 staging tumors, 3 cases were classified as pT2N0M0 stage, and 3 cases were classified as pT2N1M0 stage, pT2N2M0 stage or pT3N1M0 stage, respectively. Three cases with preoperative T3 staging tumors were classified as ypT0N0M0 stage, ypT2N0M0 stage or ypT3N0M0 stage, respectively. (3) Follow-up: all 9 patients were followed up for 6 to 13 months, with a median follow-up time of 9 months. No local recurrence, distant metastasis or tumor-related death was found during follow-up. Of the 9 patients, only 1 case did not receive stoma closure and undergo anus function assessment, and the rest of 8 cases underwent stoma closure. Results of postoperative anus function assessment showed 5 cases of accessibility, 2 cases of mild impairment and 1 case of severe impairment. Results of urogenital function assessment showed 6 cases of the 8 male patients of mild impairment, 1 case of moderate impairment and 1 case of severe impairment in micturition function, respectively, and 3 cases of accessibility, 2 cases of mild impairment and 3 cases of moderate impairment in sexual function, respectively. The female patient underwent accessibility of sexual function and the six-item version of the female sexual function index was 25. Conclusion:Transanal endoscopic partial intersphincteric resection can be used for the treatment of ultra-low rectal cancer.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) with side-to-side tubular gastroesophagostomy.Methods The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 4 patients with AEG who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between November 2017 and June 2018 were collected.All the patients underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for AEG using side-to-side tubular gastroesophagostomy and received 6 cycles of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with SOX regimen.Observation indicators:(1) surgical and postoperative recovery situations;(2) postoperative pathological examination;(3) follow-up and survival situations.The follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative adjuvant therapy situations and survival of patients up to Semptember 2018.Results (1) Surgical and postoperative recovery situations:4 patients successfully underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for AEG using side-to-side tubular gastroesophagostomy,without conversion to thoracotomy,open surgery or perioperative death.Operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss,time for postoperative fluid diet intake and postoperative drainage-tube removal time of case 1,2,3,4 were respectively 420 minutes,400 minutes,320 minutes,300 minutes and 100 mL,100 mL,150 mL,100 mL and 9 days,8 days,8 days,8 days and 11 days,10 days,10 days,10 days.Case 1 with mild pneumonia and hiccup and case 2 with mild pneumonia were improved by symptomatic treatment,case 3 and 4 didn't have complication.All the patients had postoperative patent anastomosis.Duration of postoperative hospital stay of case 1,2,3,4 were respectively 12 days,11 days,11 days,11 days.(2) Postoperative pathological examination:all the 4 patients had negative surgical margin.Number of lymph node dissected,number of positive lymph node,tumor diameter,Siewert type,depth of tumor infiltration,tumor histopathologic stage of case 1,2,3,4 were respectively 32,31,17,23 and 0,4,2,6 and 3.5 cm,5.0 cm,5.0 cm,4.0 cm and type Ⅱ,Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅰ and subserosa,entire wall of the esophagogastric junction,subserosa,entire wall of the esophagogastric junction and Ⅱ A staging,Ⅲ B staging,Ⅱ B staging,Ⅲ A staging.Degree of tumor differentiation and pathological type were moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in the 4 patients.(3) Follow-up and survival situations:4 patients were followed up for 3-10 months,with a median time of 5 months.During the follow-up,4 patients underwent chemotherapy and achieved disease-free survival.Conclusion Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for AEG using side-to-side tubular gastroesophagostomy is safe and feasible.