Clinical and Therapeutic Implications of the 8th Edition TNM Classification of Adenocarcinomas of the Esophagogastric Junction.

The 8th edition of TNM cancer staging is based on data from large patient cohorts, data collected from the Worldwide Collaboration Cancer Esophageal (WECC) group, or the International Association for Gastric Cancer (IGCA), including treated patients surgically per primate or after neoadjuvant treatment. This edition redefines the esophago-gastric junction tumors and recommends different TNMs staging: Siewert type I and II should be classified according to TNM recommendations for esophageal adenocarcinoma, while for Siewert type III the TNM classification for gastric cancer should be considered. Anatomical characteristics feature type T (tumor invasion), type N (regional lymph node invasion) and type M (distant metastasis).

Review of Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leakage in Colorectal Surgery.

Anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery is a serious complication leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Multiple studies have found as risk factors for anastomotic leakage: male gender, obesity, preoperative steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, longer duration of operation, surgical experience and preoperative blood transfusion. The laparoscopic approach is not inferior to open surgery in terms of rate of anastomotic fistula.

Primary aortoenteric fistula: case report.

We report the case of an elderly woman, 81 years old, who was admitted in our department for hematemesis, hematochezia and lower abdominal pain. The abdominal ultrasound and the CT scan diagnosed a primary aortoenteric fistula between an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and the second part of the duodenum, which is a very rare localization regarding this condition. Surgical pathology,diagnosis and management are discussed.

B1 versus B2 Dukes stage rectal cancer: prospective evaluation of 87 patients in a single institution and quest for re-evaluation of the current protocol.

Background/aims: Current protocols indicate surgery as single modality of therapy for B1 stage rectal cancer and surgery with adjuvant therapy for B2 stage. The aim of our study was to analyze the five-year survival rate for patients with surgically treated B1 and B2 rectal cancer and to assess the impact of adjuvant therapy on overall survival.

Methodology: Our epidemiological clinical study was based on a prospective analysis of 87 cases of B1 (n=32) and B2 (n=55) rectal cancers operated between 2000 and 2003.

Large thigh liposarcoma--diagnostic and therapeutic features.

We are presenting the case of a 44-year old patient with large, well-differentiated liposarcoma of the right thigh. We are discussing the clinical findings, diagnosis and surgical treatment. The large dimensions (27/25 cm) and the origin of the tumor in popliteal fossa, migrating through the adductor canal (Hunter's canal) in the anterolateral muscular space of the right thigh, represent the particularity of this case.