[A case of local recurrence developing thirty-nine years after mastectomy for breast cancer].

Here we report a case of breast cancer that recurred after a 39-year latency period. A 73-year-old woman,who had undergone radical mastectomy for left breast cancer 39 years previously,consulted our hospital complaining of lymphedema in the left arm. A computed tomography(CT)scan showed a growth of soft tissue in the left chest wall.

Groove pancreatic carcinoma.

The groove area is localized between the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and the common bile duct. Differentiating of groove pancreatitis from pancreatic carcinoma is often difficult. Herein, we report a 54-year-old woman with groove pancreatic adenocarcinoma presenting epigastralgia, jaundice, and vomiting.

Homodyne readout on dc-removed coaxial holographic data storage.

Multiplexing characteristics of a dc-removed coaxial holographic storage system were evaluated for what is believed to be the first time. Our dc-removed coaxial system achieved 3.5 times higher raw data density than a conventional coaxial system that involved dc recording.

Optical noise reduction for dc-removed coaxial holographic data storage.

A method of reconstructing positive and negative images from Fourier holograms recorded without the dc components is demonstrated by use of a coaxial holographic storage system. Reconstructed images are obtained by adding a phase-modulated dc component of the signal beam on reading. Contrast reversal of the reconstructed images can be achieved by reversing the readout reference pattern.

Coaxial holographic data storage without recording the dc components.

A technique of recovering the data pages from Fourier holograms recorded without the dc components is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally by use of a coaxial holographic storage system. A reconstructed image is obtained by adding a phase-modulated dc component of the signal beam on reading. The bit error rate of the reconstructed image is comparable with that for the hologram recorded with the dc component as well.

Optical noise reduction by reconstructing positive and negative images from Fourier holograms in coaxial holographic storage systems.

A technique for reconstructing positive and negative images from an identical intensity-modulated hologram is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally by use of a coaxial holographic storage system. Negative images are obtained by adding a phase-modulated dc component of signal beam on reading. By comparing positive and negative images, the bit error rate (BER) is improved by two orders of magnitude.

Value of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 for predicting extrahepatic metastasis in patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma.

Background/aims: Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) are frequently elevated in patients with colorectal carcinoma. However, the predictive utility of these two markers has not been fully investigated in patients with liver metastasis.

Methodology: We retrospectively analyzed data obtained from 90 hepatectomy or non-hepatectomy patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in young adults.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is uncommon in adolescent and young adult Japanese. The aim of this study was to examine the clinicopathological analysis of Japanese young adults with HCC.

Methodology: We reviewed the cases of 11 patients with HCC who were between 13 and 40 years of age.

Safety and efficacy of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for the treatment of pancreatic disease.

Background/purpose: There are a few reports of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in the literature. We describe our experience with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and evaluate the safety and efficacy of the procedure in light of other reported findings.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed of all patients who underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy between April 1996 and December 2002 at Oita University Faculty of Medicine.

Microwave coagulation therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Surgical resection is not always feasible for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We used microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) as an alternative to resection and evaluated its efficacy.

Methodology: Twenty-four patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma underwent microwave coagulation therapy by laparotomy (n=18), laparoscopy (n=4), or thoracoscopy (n=2) because of advanced liver cirrhosis and/or intrahepatic metastases.

Factors influencing recurrence after surgical treatment for T2 gallbladder carcinoma.

Background/aims: The overall outcome of T2 gallbladder carcinoma has not been favorable, although there is a modest hope for long-term survival after radical resection. The aim of this study was to examine factors influencing postoperative disease-free survival of patients with T2 gallbladder carcinoma to clarify optimal treatment.

Methodology: Of 53 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who had undergone surgical resection from 1985 to 2000, 22 had T2 carcinoma histologically proved.

101 hepatectomies under continuous inflow occlusion following simple in-situ liver cooling in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Background/aims: Hepatic inflow occlusion involves the serious disadvantage of ischemic injury to the remnant liver, particularly in patients with injured parenchyma. Liver hypothermia is one of the solutions for this problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate simple in-situ liver cooling method of performing hepatic resection under continuous inflow occlusion in patients with chronic liver disease.

Clear cell carcinoma of the pancreas: an adenocarcinoma with unusual phenotype of duct cell origin.

Although clear cell carcinoma has been found in various organs, only six cases have been reported in the pancreas. Moreover, the histogenesis of clear cell carcinoma of the pancreas remains controversial. We report a case of clear cell carcinoma of the pancreas in a 61-year-old woman, with an unusual pheno- or genotype detected by histochemical, immunohistochemical, and K- ras oncogene analyses.

Correlation between tumor size and mode of spread in mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/aims: Mode of spread of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma of the mass-forming type (MF-ICC) has not been assessed according to tumor size.

Methodology: We retrospectively evaluated 17 cases of resected MF-ICCs. Tumor size was categorized as follows: < 45 mm (n=4), 45-79 mm (n=7), and > or = 80 mm (n=6).

Immunoactivative role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan catabolic enzyme. Recent studies have focused on the immunoregulatory role of IDO in mononuclear cells. The role of IDO in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and HCC patients was examined.

Inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase suppresses NK cell activity and accelerates tumor growth.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan catabolizing enzyme, is induced under various pathological conditions, including viral and bacterial infection, allograft rejection, cerebral ischemia, and tumor growth. We have previously reported that the expression of IDO mRNA was increased in some clinical cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in which the recurrence-free survival rate in these IDO-positive patients was significantly higher than that in patients without IDO mRNA induction in tumors. Additionally, IDO expressed in tumors was localized not to the tumor cells but instead to tumor-infiltrating cells by immunohistochemistry.

Laparoscopic resection for nonfunctioning small glucagon-producing tumor: report of a case and review of the literature.

Glucagonoma is a relatively rare type of pancreatic endocrine tumor, and is often well-developed and malignant at detection. We report a case of nonfunctioning small glucagon-producing tumor that was successfully resected by laparoscopic surgery. A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for further examination of a pancreatic tumor that had been detected incidentally.

CT and MR imaging findings of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: correlation with pathologic findings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate CT and MRI findings in xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) and to correlate the imaging findings with various pathologic parameters. The study included 13 patients with histopathologically confirmed XGC. The CT ( n=13) and MRI ( n=5) obtained in these patients were evaluated retrospectively.

Potent stimuli combined with lipopolysaccaride and IFNgamma may improve immunotherapy against HCC by increasing the maturation and subsequent immune response of the dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs)-based immunotherapy is a new strategy for cancer treatment and has been used in some clinical trials against cancer, including melanoma, and has shown promising results. However, the conventional protocol of DC immunotherapy may not be effective for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of impaired DC maturation in HCC patients. In order to induce sufficient maturation on HCC derived DCs, we tested various stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon (IFN)gamma and CD40-ligand.

A phase I study of autologous dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for patients with unresectable primary liver cancer.

Background/aims: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of immunotherapy based on autologous dendritic cells (DC) for patients with unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC).

Methods: A total of ten patients were enrolled and immunized with DCs. Autologous DCs were generated ex vivo in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

Oncolytic viral therapy for human pancreatic cancer cells by reovirus.

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and few effective therapies are available. The oncolytic effect of reovirus has been observed in cancer cells with an activated Ras signaling pathway, and pancreatic cancer may be a candidate target for reovirus because K-ras mutation is frequently found in pancreatic cancer.

Experimental Design: In this study, we examined the feasibility of using reovirus (serotype 3) as an antihuman pancreatic cancer agent.

Clinical significance of combined pancreas and portal vein resection in surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background/aims: Surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma for which the resectability and prognosis are still poor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of portal vein resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methodology: Between August 1983 and December 2000, 69 patients with pancreatic ductal cell carcinoma underwent resection in our department; 22 of the 69 had combined resection of the pancreas and portal vein.

Optimal management of the branch duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas.

Background: To determine the optimal management of the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) according to the morphologic type based on distinguishing between benign and malignant diseases.

Backgrounds: IPMNs are increasingly recognized clinicopathologic entity. Extended pancreatic resection with radical lymph node dissection has been recommended for treatment.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

The application of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Lap. C) for acute cholecystitis (AC) remains controversial from the viewpoint of its higher rate of morbidity, and conversion to open surgery, in spite of the worldwide acceptance of Lap. C as the gold standard for the treatment of patients with symptomatic gallbladder diseases.

Prolonged survival after repeat resection of pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

We report a patient in whom two pulmonary resections were performed for lung metastasis after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 56-year-old Japanese man with an 8-year history of chronic liver disease was admitted with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and a liver tumor that had been detected by ultrasonography. Computed tomography showed a 6-cm tumor in the medial segment of the liver, and partial resection of the medial segment was performed.