PURPOSE: Laparoscopic surgery has become the mainstream surgical operation due to its stability and feasibility. Even for liver surgery, the laparoscopic approach has become an integral procedure. According to the recent international consensus meeting on laparoscopic liver surgery, laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy (LLS) might be a new standard of care for left lateral surgical lesions. This study was designed to compare open LLS to laparoscopic LLS. METHODS: In total, 82 patients who had undergone LLS at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital between 2008 and 2015 were enrolled in this study. Among them, 59 patients underwent open LLS and 23 underwent laparoscopic LLS. These two groups were compared according to general characteristics and operative outcomes. RESULTS: The data analysis results showed that laparoscopic liver resection is superior to open liver resection in terms of the amount of bleeding during the operation and the duration of hospital stay. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of operation time (p value=0.747). The amount of bleeding during the operation was 145.5±149.4 ml on average for the laparoscopic group and 320±243.8 ml on average for the open group (p value=0.005). The mean duration of hospital stay was 10.7±5.8 days for the laparoscopic surgery group and 12.2±5.1 days for the open surgery group (p value=0.003). CONCLUSION: This study showed that laparoscopic LLS is safe and feasible, because it involves less blood loss and a shorter hospital stay. For left lateral lesions, laparoscopic LLS might be the first option to be considered.
Consensus ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Standard of Care ; Statistics as Topic

Lymphangiomas are rare congenital benign tumors arising from the lymphatic system, and are mostly encountered in the neck and axillary regions of pediatric patients (95%). Lymphangioma of the pancreas is extremely rare accounting for less than 1% of these tumors. We report here on a case of pancreatic cystic lymphangioma. A 54-year-old woman presented with intermittent postprandial abdominal discomfort and radiating back pain. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed 8 x 6.5 cm hypodense cystic mass arising from the tail of the pancreas without septa or solid component. The initial impression was a pancreatic pseudocyst. The patient underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical study helped make the diagnosis of a pancreatic cystic lymphangioma. Herein, we report a case of pancreatic cystic lymphangioma mimicking pancreatic pseudocyst and review the relevant medical literature.
Accounting ; Back Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Lymphatic System ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst ; Splenectomy

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. The pathogenesis of NF1 is suggested to be an alteration of the NF-1 gene, which normally functions as a tumor suppressor. A mutation of NF-1 causes the development of viable tumors in various sites. On the other hand, the synchronous manifestation of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and neuroendocrine tumor (NET) in the background of NF1 is extremely rare. This paper reports three cases treated with surgical intervention along with the long-term follow-up results. Three patients showed synchronous ampullary NET and GIST in association with NF1 supported by postoperative histopathologic analysis. Surgical treatments, such as pancreatoduodenectomy and local excision were applied. No recurrence occurred during the postoperative follow-up period of 10, 9, and 2.7 years. Synchronous GIST and NET in the background of NF1 is extremely rare, but the possible coexistence of other tumors in NF1 patients is relatively higher than that in the general population. Furthermore, both NETs and GISTs occurring in NF1 patients tend to be smaller in size compared to that in the general population. Therefore, when NF1 patients present with vague abdominal discomfort, close attention must be paid to identifying the coexistence of other neoplasms.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hand ; Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Recurrence

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. The pathogenesis of NF1 is suggested to be an alteration of the NF-1 gene, which normally functions as a tumor suppressor. A mutation of NF-1 causes the development of viable tumors in various sites. On the other hand, the synchronous manifestation of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and neuroendocrine tumor (NET) in the background of NF1 is extremely rare. This paper reports three cases treated with surgical intervention along with the long-term follow-up results. Three patients showed synchronous ampullary NET and GIST in association with NF1 supported by postoperative histopathologic analysis. Surgical treatments, such as pancreatoduodenectomy and local excision were applied. No recurrence occurred during the postoperative follow-up period of 10, 9, and 2.7 years. Synchronous GIST and NET in the background of NF1 is extremely rare, but the possible coexistence of other tumors in NF1 patients is relatively higher than that in the general population. Furthermore, both NETs and GISTs occurring in NF1 patients tend to be smaller in size compared to that in the general population. Therefore, when NF1 patients present with vague abdominal discomfort, close attention must be paid to identifying the coexistence of other neoplasms.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Hand ; Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Recurrence

Lymphangioma of the spleen is a rare benign neoplasm with clinical manifestations ranging from insignificant incidental findings to large, symptomatic cystic masses requiring surgical intervention. We report a case of splenic cavernous lymphangioma mimicking splenic hemangioma. A 59-year-old woman presented with left upper quadrant pain and epigastric discomfort. Computed tomography showed a 9.5x8 cm high attenuated mass with relatively homogenous enhancement in the spleen. The initial impression was a splenic hemangioma. The patient underwent splenectomy. Gross pathologic examination revealed a 9.5x6.8x9 cm-sized fairly well circumscribed soft mass. Histologically, the tumor was composed of dilated lymphatic vessels, which contained homogenous eosinophilic material. The Final diagnosis was cavernous lymphangioma of the spleen. Herein, we report a case of splenic cavernous lymphangioma mimicking splenic hemangioma and also review the existing literature.
Caves ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Lymphangioma ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; Splenectomy

We report a case of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and review the relevant literatures. This 56-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with a history of rapidly progressing cognitive dysfunction, visual disturbance, gait disturbance, weakness, involuntary movement of lower extremities, and the symptoms of delirium. On mental status examination, he showed psychomotor retardation, speech disturbance, perseveration, disorientation, impairement of short-term and long-term memory, and inability of abstract thinking. He had a rapid downhill course, along with shakiness of trunk, rigidity of the limbs, myoclonus, confusion, and finally, inability to speak or move on the bedside. On electroencephalogram(EEG), continuous multifocal slow delta activities were found in all leads, especially in the right frontal areas. Brain biopsy showed, spongiosis with neuronal loss and gliosis noted at the cerebral cortex. These findings were compatible with Creutzfeldt-jacob disease.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Delirium ; Dementia ; Dyskinesias ; Extremities ; Gait ; Gliosis ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Memory, Long-Term ; Middle Aged ; Myoclonus ; Neurons ; Thinking

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection compared with open liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Between July 2005 and December 2009, 26 consecutive patients with HCC underwent a pure laparoscopic liver resection, and data from this group (laparoscopic liver resection group, L-group) were compared with a retrospective control group of 29 patients who underwent open liver resection for HCC (open liver resection group, O-group) during the same period. The two groups were matched in terms of demographic data, tumor size, degree of liver cirrhosis, American Society of Anesthesiology score, type of resection, and tumor location. RESULTS: Median operation time and the amount of intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusion in the L-group were 147.5 minutes and 0.35 units, respectively. The L-group revealed a shorter operation time (147.5 vs. 220.0 minutes, P = 0.031) than the O-group. No difference in perioperative morbidity or mortality rates was observed (3.8, 0 vs. 24.1%, 0%; P = 0.054, non-specific, respectively); the L-group was associated with a shorter hospital stay than the O-group (11.08 vs. 16.07 days, P = 0.034). After a mean follow-up of 23.9 months (range, 0.7 to 59.4 months), the 1-year disease-free survival rate was 84.6% in the L-group and 82.8% in the O-group (P = 0.673). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic liver resection for HCC is feasible and safe in selected patients and can produce good surgical results with a shorter postoperative hospital stay and similar outcomes in terms of perioperative morbidity, mortality, and disease-free survival than open resection.
Anesthesiology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Disease-Free Survival ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Even with recent advances of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, the prognosis of gallbladder cancers remains poor. The clinical outcome has not improved much over the past couple of decades. This study analyzed our surgical results to evaluate the prognostic factors associated with survival after surgery in patients with gallbladder malignancies. METHODS: Retrospective review of 69 patients with gallbladder carcinomas operated on at our surgical department over a period of 9 years from May 1995 to April 2004. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 45.9%, 3-year survival rate 52.8% and 1-year survival rate 72.4%. The 5-year survival rates according to the AJCC stage were 0 100%, Ia 100%, Ib 71.0%, IIa 41.7%, IIb 23.8%, III 50.0%, and IV 11.0% for each. The 5-year survival rates according to the depth of invasion were Tis 100%, T1a 100%, T1b 66.6%, T2 57.1%, T3 36.8%, and T4 22.7%. A univariate analysis of clinicopathologic factors showed that the T stage, N stage, M stage, radical surgery, tumor location, surgical procedure and histological grade were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis of these eight important factors demonstrated that lymph node metastases and the degree of radical surgery were independent variables associated with prognosis. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that lymph node metastases and degree of radical surgery were associated with patient prognosis. Therefore, long-term survival may be achieved by an early diagnosis with curative radical tumor resection.
Early Diagnosis ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Hamartoma of the spleen is a rare benign lesion and the pathogenesis of this is not completely understood. It is usually incidentally discovered during an operation or autopsy. Since the first report in 1861 by Rokitansky, less than 150 cases of splenic hamartoma have been documented in the literature to date. The majority of the patients with this tumor are asymptomatic. However, a few of these lesions are associated with clinical features such as hypersplenism, cirrhosis of the liver and spontaneous splenic rupture. Because there are no specific symptoms, tumor markers or radiologic results, it is usually difficult to make a diagnosis before surgery and the specimen pathology. We report here on three cases of splenic hamartoma (a 33-year-old man associated with thrombocytopenia, a 29-year-old woman with a 6-month history of left upper quadrant abdominal pain and a 43-year-old man with synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma) and we review the relevant literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hamartoma ; Humans ; Hypersplenism ; Liver ; Spleen ; Splenic Rupture ; Thrombocytopenia ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: Surgery remains the only curative option for patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EHBD Ca). But, long-term survival is typically not good because of the advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis and frequent disease recurrence after surgical resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that influence survival and recurrence after surgical resection of EHBD Ca. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 113 patients who had received surgical resection for EHBD Ca between 2004 and 2009 was done. We investigated histopathological features, and survival and recurrence rates, and evaluated prognostic factors affecting survival and disease recurrence after surgical resection. RESULTS: Overall survival rates for 1, 3 and 5 years were 73.2%, 42.8%, and 36.0% respectively. In univariate analysis, prognostic factors influencing survival were histologic differentiation, T stage, lymph node (LN) metastasis, TNM stage, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and resection margin state. Among them, LN metastasis, PNI and resection margin state were found to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival in multivariate analysis. Recurrence occurred in 44 patients (48.9%) and disease-free survival rates were 50.6% at 1 year and 38.3% at 3 year. Univariate analysis revealed that histologic differentiation, T stage, LN metastasis, TNM stage, PNI and LVI were significantly associated with recurrence. In multivariate analysis, only LN metastasis was found to be a significant independent predictor of recurrence. CONCLUSION: LN metastasis, PNI and positive resection margin were significant prognostic factors affecting survival. LN metastasis was found to be a significant independent predictor of recurrence in surgical resection of EHBD Ca.
Bile ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate