Purpose: In the latest staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCCC), solitary tumors with vascular invasion and multiple tumors are grouped together as T2. However, recent studies report that multifocal IHCCC has a worse prognosis than a single lesion. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for IHCCC and explore the prognostic significance of multiplicity after surgical resection. Materials and Methods: A total of 257 patients underwent surgery for IHCCC from 2010 to 2019 and the clinicopathological data were retrospectively reviewed. Risk factor analysis was performed to identify variables associated with survival after resection. Survival outcomes were compared between patients with solitary and multiple tumors. Results: In multivariable analysis, the presence of preoperative symptoms, tumor size, lymph node ratio, multiplicity, and tumor differentiation were identified as risk factors for survival. Among 82 patients with T2, overall survival was significantly longer in patients with solitary tumors (sT2) than in those with multiple tumors (mT2) (p=0.017). Survival was compared among patients with stage II-sT2, stage II-mT2, and stage III. The stage II-sT2 group showed prolonged survival when compared with stage II-mT2 or stage III. Survivals of stage II-mT2 and stage III patients were not statistically different. Conclusion Tumor multiplicity was an independent risk factor for overall survival of IHCCC after surgical resection. Patients with multiple tumors showed poorer survival than patients with a single tumor. The oncologic significance of multiplicity in IHCCC should be reappraised and reflected in the next staging system update.

Hepatocellular adenoma is a benign tumor of the liver occurring predominantly in young women taking oral contraceptives. The malignant transformation of hepatocellular adenoma into hepatocellular carcinoma has rarely been reported. Herein, we report the case of an elderly male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma that developed from hepatocellular adenoma. The patient’s high risk for surgery and conflicting biopsy and imaging results made it difficult to determine the treatment direction. Eventually, the mass was completely removed by laparoscopic left hemi-hepatectomy without complications.

Hepatocellular adenoma is a benign tumor of the liver occurring predominantly in young women taking oral contraceptives. The malignant transformation of hepatocellular adenoma into hepatocellular carcinoma has rarely been reported. Herein, we report the case of an elderly male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma that developed from hepatocellular adenoma. The patient’s high risk for surgery and conflicting biopsy and imaging results made it difficult to determine the treatment direction. Eventually, the mass was completely removed by laparoscopic left hemi-hepatectomy without complications.

Purpose: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is accepted as an effective and tolerable drug for treatment of HBV, similar to entecavir. However, there are some concerns about the nephrotoxicity of tenofovir. The aim of this study is to compare the renal-function change of liver recipients who received tenofovir or entecavir for HBV. Methods: Among 468 patients with HBV who underwent liver transplantation at Samsung Medical Center between January 2008 and December 2015, the patients treated with tenofovir (n = 39) or entecavir (n = 429) were reviewed retrospectively.Baseline characteristics and renal-function change after 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years were compared. Propensity-score matching was performed for 37 patients using tenofovir and 132 patients using entecavir. We also analyzed risk factors of renal dysfunction. Results: Age, preoperative creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR), and hepatic encephalopathy score showed statistical difference between the tenofovir and entecavir groups. The proportion of patients with ‘decreased renal function (e-GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 )’ was higher in the tenofovir group than in the entecavir group (33.3% vs. 12.4% at postoperative one year, p < 0.005). After propensity-score matching, there was no statistical difference in preoperative characteristics. Postoperative 1-, 2-, and 3-year e-GFR and creatinine showed no statistical difference in either group. On multivariate analysis, only preoperative high e-GFR showed a protective effect on renal-function change (odds ratio, 0.97; p < 0.001), and there was no aggravating factor. Conclusion Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate does not induce renal dysfunction in liver-transplanted patients with HBV more than does entecavir.

PURPOSE: This study compared the patency of the splenic vessels between laparoscopic and open spleen and splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a database of 137 patients who underwent laparoscopic (n = 91) or open (n = 46) spleen and splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy at a single institute from 2001 through 2015. Splenic vessel patency was assessed by abdominal computed tomography and classified into three grades according to the degree of stenosis. RESULTS: The splenic artery patency rate was similar in both groups (97.8 vs. 95.7%, P = 0.779). Also, the splenic vein patency rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups (74.7% vs. 82.6%, P = 0.521). Postoperative wound complication was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (19.8% vs. 28.3%, P = 0.006), and hospital stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (7 days vs. 9 days, P = 0.001) than in the open group. Median follow-up periods were 22 months (3.7–96.2 months) and 31.7 months (4–104 months) in the laparoscopic and open groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy showed good splenic vessel patency as well as open distal pancreatectomy. For this reason, splenic vessel patency is not an obstacle in performing laparoscopic splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Pancreatectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Spleen ; Splenic Artery ; Splenic Vein ; Vascular Patency ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: It is believed that blood from the superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein mixes incompletely in the portal vein and maintains a streamline flow influencing its anatomic distribution. Although several experimental studies have demonstrated the existence of streamlining, clinical studies have shown conflicting results. We investigated whether streamlining of portal vein affects the lobar distribution of colorectal liver metastases and estimated its impact on survival. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases were retrospectively collected. The chi-square test was used for analyzing the distribution of metastasis. Cox analysis was used to identify risk factors of survival. Fisher exact test was used for subgroup analysis comparing hepatic recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were included. The right-to-left ratio of liver metastases were 2.20:1 in right-sided colon cancer and 1.39:1 in left-sided cancer (P = 0.017). Cox analyses showed that margin < 5 mm (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.648–4.884; hazard ratio [HR], 2.837), age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.004; 95% CI, 1.269–3.641; HR, 2.149), N2 status (P < 0.001, 95% CI, 1.598–4.215; HR, 2.595), tumor size ≥ 45 mm (P = 0.014; 95% CI, 1.159–3.758; HR, 2.087) and other metastasis (P = 0.012; 95% CI, 1.250–5.927; HR, 2.722) were risk factors of survival. However, in 70 patients who underwent right hemihepatectomy for solitary metastasis, left-sided colorectal cancer was a risk factor (P = 0.019; 95% CI, 1.293–17.956; HR, 4.818), and was associated with higher recurrence than right-sided cancer (43.1% and 15.8%, respectively, P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: This study showed significant difference in lobar distribution of liver metastases between right colon cancer and left colorecral cancer. Furthermore, survival of left-sided colorectal cancer was poorer than that of right-sided cancer in patients who underwent right hemihepatectomy for solitary metastasis. These findings can be helpful for clinicians planning treatment strategy.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver* ; Mesenteric Veins ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Portal Vein* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Splenic Vein

Plasmacytoma in patients with multiple myeloma usually develops in the advanced stage of the disease. We report herein an atypical case of extramedullary relapse of multiple myeloma that presented as mechanical obstruction of the small bowel in a patient who had achieved complete remission after chemotherapy. A 75-year-old man was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 25 months previously and treated with a bortezomib-containing chemotherapy regimen. He presented for evaluation of abdominal pain. A circumferential mass resulting in mechanical ileus was observed by abdominal computed tomography. Biopsy after surgical resection confirmed the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. The patient was subsequently treated with thalidomide-containing chemotherapy, but he died of disease progression after 6 months. We suggest careful observation of unusual relapses of multiple myeloma in patients who have achieved complete remission after antimyeloma therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Ileus ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasmacytoma ; Recurrence*

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) is a rare complication of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), in which there is abnormal communications between the biliary tract and the bronchial trees. Surgery should only be considered for BBF when non-invasive interventions have failed. In this report, we describe the surgical management for BBF when complicated by an abscess that was encountered after RFA in a 52-year-old woman with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). She had previously undergone central bisectionectomy of HCC 7 years ago, and had been treated with a sixth transarterial chemoembolization and first RFA for recurrent HCC after the operation. After the liver abscess and BBF occurred in the posterior section of the liver, she received posterior sectionectomy and hepaticojejunostomy, drainage of the lung abscess, diaphragmatic resection and repair because it was impossible to drain the abscess radiologically. Symptomatic improvements were being achieved through operative treatments where pleural effusion and pneumonic consolidation was obliterated on a 2-months follow-up image.
Abscess ; Biliary Tract ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheter Ablation ; Drainage ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Lung Abscess ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion

The spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs is not a well established phenomenon. However, we encountered the 3 cases of spontaneous regression of severe radiculopathic herniated cervical discs that were treated using a non-surgical method. Each of the patients were treated with a combination of manipulation, dry needling and analgesics. In each case, the symptoms improved within 12 months of treatment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted at that time revealed marked regression of the herniated disc in all cases. These cases provide additional examples of spontaneous regression of herniated cervical discs documented by MRI following non-surgical treatment.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A right-sided aortic arch and Kommerell's diverticulum, remnants of the left dorsal aortic arch in the circulation of the embryo, are uncommon congenital defects of the aorta. They may be asymptomatic in most cases, but symptoms are manifested by compressing mediastinal structures or are related to congenital heart anomalies. If aneurismal dilatation of the diverticulum presents with rupture, it is lethal. We report a case of esophageal compression by a right-sided aortic arch and Kommerell's diverticulum that mimicked an esophageal submucosal tumor in a patient who complained of symptoms during the past ten years of food retention in the upper thorax when a bolus of food was ingested.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dilatation ; Diverticulum ; Embryonic Structures ; Heart ; Humans ; Retention (Psychology) ; Rupture ; Thorax