Extraperitoneal Fluid Collection due to Chronic Pancreatitis.

A 39-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the investigation of abdominal fluid collection. He was pointed out to have alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Laboratory data showed inflammation and slightly elevated serum direct bilirubin and amylase.

Metastatic neck disease beyond the limits of a neck dissection: attention to the 'para-hyoid' area in T1/2 oral tongue cancer.

Objective: We evaluated patients with small oral tongue cancer suffering from recurrence, which develops in the intervening area between the primary site and the neck. Lesions in the area around the cornu of the hyoid bone ('para-hyoid' area) often involve the hypoglossal nerve and the root of the lingual artery, resulting in treatment failure and death.

Methods: A 10-year retrospective chart review was conducted of 248 oral tongue cancer patients with small primary tumors (T1/2).

A new flap design for tongue reconstruction after total or subtotal glossectomy in thin patients.

Objective: For tongue reconstruction after total or subtotal glossectomy, a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap is often used to obtain sufficient flap volume. However, thin patients often have too little fat tissue to ensure adequate flap volume. For this reason we developed a new flap design to compensate for insufficient flap volume in thin patients.

Accelerated radiotherapy and larynx preservation in favorable-risk patients with T2 or worse hypopharyngeal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the advantage of accelerated fractionation radiotherapy for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer requiring total laryngectomy.

Methods: Seventy patients with previously untreated, technically resectable hypopharyngeal cancer who received larynx-preserving treatment with radiotherapy between April 1992 and June 2004 were analyzed. No patients had previous history of other malignancy or poor performance status that would possibly affect the outcomes.

Surgical management of carcinoma of the cervical esophagus.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics, reconstruction methods after resection, and prognosis of cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Seventy-four with squamous cell carcinomas of the cervical esophagus not previously treated who underwent cervical esophagectomy or total esophagectomy with or without laryngectomy were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The operative morbidity and in-hospital mortality rates were 34% (25 patients) and 4% (3 patients), respectively.

Genetic polymorphisms of alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases, and drinking, smoking and diet in Japanese men with oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The genetic polymorphisms of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2), alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B, previously called ADH2), and ADH1C (previously called ADH3) affect the metabolism of alcohol. The inactive ALDH2 encoded by ALDH2*1/*2 and the less-active ADH1B encoded by ADH1B*1/*1 increase the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in East Asian drinkers. This case-control study involved 96 Japanese men with oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (hypopharyngeal cancer in 43 patients and oral/oropharyngeal cancer in 53) and 642 cancer-free Japanese men.