Endoscopic Transmural Therapy of Pancreatic Fistulas in an Interdisciplinary Setting-A Retrospective Data Analysis.

Pancreatic fistulas belong to the most feared complications after surgery on or near the pancreas, abdominal trauma, or severe pancreatitis. The majority occur in the setting of operative interventions and are called postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF). They can lead to various complications, including abscesses, delayed gastric emptying or hemorrhages with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality.

The Rate of Avoidable Pancreatic Resections at a High-Volume Center: An Internal Quality Control and Critical Review.

Background: The incidence of benign diseases among pancreatic resections for suspected malignancy still represents a relevant issue in the surgical practice. This study aims to identify the preoperative pitfalls that led to unnecessary surgeries at a single Austrian center over a twenty-year period.

Methods: Patients undergoing surgery for suspected pancreatic/periampullary malignancy between 2000 and 2019 at the Linz Elisabethinen Hospital were included.

Circulating tumor DNA for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Minimally invasive detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in peripheral blood or other body fluids of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising biomarker. This is urgently needed, as conventional imaging and plasma protein-derived biomarkers lack sensitivity and specificity in prognosis, early detection of relapse or treatment monitoring. This review summarizes the potential role of liquid biopsy in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring of gastrointestinal malignancies, including upper gastrointestinal, liver, bile duct, pancreatic and colorectal cancer.

Long-Term Quality of Life after Pancreatic Surgery for Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm.

Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) represent the most common precancerous cystic lesions of the pancreas. The aim of our study was to investigate if resection for non-invasive IPMNs alters quality of life (QoL) in a long-term follow-up.

Methods: Patients (n = 50) included in the analysis were diagnosed and resected from 2010 to 2016.

Total resection of a giant retroperitoneal and mediastinal ganglioneuroma-case report and systematic review of the literature.

Background: Ganglioneuromas (GNs) are extremely rare, slowly growing, benign tumors that can arise from Schwann cells, ganglion cells, and neuronal or fibrous tissues. Due to their origin from the sympathetic neural crest, they show neuroendocrine potential; however, most are reported to be hormonally inactive. Nevertheless, complete surgical removal is recommended for symptom control or for the prevention of potential malignant degeneration.

Clinical Outcome in Patients with Carcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction Treated with Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy or Perioperative Chemotherapy: A Two-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) is a rare but rising tumor entity in the Western world. Treatment is complex, as multimodality is key to optimal results. However, trials solely including AEG are rare, and the question if neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NRCT) or neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy (NACT) is superior remains unanswered.