Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer Management: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Across the nation, patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) are managed with modalities including upfront surgery (US) and perioperative chemotherapy (PCT). Preoperative therapies have demonstrated survival benefits over US and thus long-term outcomes are expected to vary between the options. However, as these 2 modalities continue to be regularly employed, we sought to perform a decision analysis comparing the costs and quality-of-life associated with the treatment of patients with LAGC to identify the most cost-effective option.

Colon cancer epidemiology, race and socioeconomic status: Comparing trends in counties served by an urban hospital in Newark, NJ with overall NJ-state and nation-wide patterns.

Purpose: Disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) trends are linked with socioeconomic status (SES) and race. To better understand the colon cancer trends at our medical center, this study characterizes the racial and socioeconomic profile of the population served by our center to identify modifiable risk factors amenable to interventions.

Methods: Colon cancer data from our center as well as New Jersey (NJ) and United States (US) were obtained from National Cancer Database.

Economic evaluation of robotic and laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair.

Background: Robotic approach in paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair may improve outcomes over laparoscopic approach, though at additional cost. This study aimed to compare cost-effectiveness of robotic and laparoscopic PEH repair.

Methods: A decision tree was created analyzing cost-effectiveness of robotic and laparoscopic PEH repair.

The Mediating Effect of Operative Approach on Racial Disparities in Bariatric Surgery Complications.

Introduction: A laparoscopic approach to bariatric surgeries confers a favorable side-effect profile as compared to an open approach. However, literature regarding the independent association of race with access to and postoperative outcomes in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (GS) is scarce.

Materials And Methods: All RYGB and GS cases recorded in American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program data from 2012 to 2020 were subjected to propensity score matching to assess the independent association between Black self-identified race on access to a laparoscopic approach and postoperative complications.

Escape from oncogene-induced senescence is controlled by POU2F2 and memorized by chromatin scars.

Although oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is a potent tumor-suppressor mechanism, recent studies revealed that cells could escape from OIS with features of transformed cells. However, the mechanisms that promote OIS escape remain unclear, and evidence of post-senescent cells in human cancers is missing. Here, we unravel the regulatory mechanisms underlying OIS escape using dynamic multidimensional profiling.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of robotic cholecystectomy in the treatment of benign gallbladder disease.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the current standard of care treatment for benign gallbladder disease. Robotic cholecystectomy is another approach for performing cholecystectomy that offers a surgeon better dexterity and visualization. However, robotic cholecystectomy may increase cost without sufficient evidence to suggest an improvement in clinical outcomes.

Staging CT and Diagnostic Laparoscopy With Cytology Prior to the Treatment of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Series.

Introduction: Initial staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is performed with computed tomography (CT). Laparoscopy with peritoneal cytology at staging can uncover occult disease undetected by CT. This case series assessed clinical course following staging laparoscopy with cytology in patients with PDAC.

Neoadjuvant Treatment Versus Upfront Surgery in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer (PC) has an overall 5-year survival rate of 10%. The use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation is debated in resectable disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by pancreaticoduodenectomy (NACRT) versus upfront pancreaticoduodenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy (USR) in resectable PC.

Perineal reconstruction after radical pelvic surgery: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Radical resection of pelvic and low rectal malignancies leads to complex reconstructive challenges. Many pelvic reconstruction options have been described including primary closure, omental flaps, and various fasciocutaneous and myocutaneous flaps. Little consensus exists in the literature on which of the various options in the reconstructive armamentarium provides a superior outcome.

Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Systematic Review with Outcome Analysis and Report of a Rare Abdominal Wall Lesion.

Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive and rare malignant neoplasm with a poor prognosis. As its name suggests, this tumor exhibits extensive pleomorphism with features of skeletal muscle differentiation. Due to its rarity, its diagnosis is often a clinical and pathological challenge.

Endoscopic Versus Laparoscopic Drainage of Pancreatic Pseudocysts: a Cost-effectiveness Analysis.

Background: Both endoscopic and laparoscopic interventions have a high therapeutic success rate in the management of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts; however, neither has been established as the gold standard.

Methods: A decision tree analysis was performed to examine the costs and outcomes of intervening on pancreatic pseudocysts endoscopically versus laparoscopically. Within the model, a theoretical patient cohort was separated into two treatment arms: endoscopic drainage and laparoscopic drainage.

Racial disparities in minimally invasive esophagectomy and gastrectomy for upper GI malignancies.

Background: Esophageal cancer and gastric cancer are two important causes of upper GI malignancies. Literature has shown that minimally invasive esophagectomies (MIE) and gastrectomies (MIG), have shorter length of stay and fewer complications. However, limited literature exists about the association between race and access to MIE and MIG.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma using the Brigham and Women's staging system: a cost analysis.

The objective is to determine the cost-effectiveness of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) according to the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) Tumor Staging system. A decision analysis was utilized to examine costs and outcomes associated with the use of SLNB in patients with high-risk head and neck CSCC. Decision tree outcome probabilities were obtained from published literature.

"Do-not-resuscitate (DNR)" status determines mortality in patients with COVID-19.

We investigatd the influence of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status on mortality of hospital inpatients who died of COVID-19. This is a retrospective, observational cohort study of all patients admitted to two New Jersey hospitals between March 15 and May 15, 2020, who had, or developed, COVID-19 (1270 patients). Of these, 640 patients died (570 [89.

Long-Term Recurrence of Retroperitoneal Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma After a Complete Surgical Resection: A Report of a Rare Phenomenon.

The objective of this report is to present a rare case of a recurrence after 20 years of retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma after surgical resection and to discuss the lessons learned from this rare phenomenon for patients management and understanding the behavior of these aggressive tumors.  A 75-year-old woman presented with recurrent retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma who had undergone a surgical resection 20 years earlier and had no evidence of disease on frequent follow-ups during that period. The histopathologic examination revealed different morphologic characteristics between the initial and recurrent presentations.

Impact of insurance status on overall survival after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC).

Objectives: The impact of insurance status on oncological outcome in patients undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is poorly understood.

Methods: Retrospective study on 31 patients having undergone 36 CRS-HIPEC at a single institution (safety-net hospital) between 2012 and 2018. Patients were categorized as insured or underinsured.

Pancreatic Carcinosarcoma Clinical Outcome Analysis of the National Cancer Institute Database.

Background: Pancreatic carcinosarcomas (PCS) are rare aggressive biphasic malignancies with a poor prognosis. We aimed to improve the understanding of PCS by analyzing variables that influence the mortality of PCS patients.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for cases of PCS from 1973 to 2016.

Preablation Diagnostic Whole-Body Scan vs Empiric Radioactive Iodine Ablation in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Cost-effectiveness Analysis.

Objective: To perform a comparative analysis of postthyroidectomy radioactive iodine ablation dosing with or without the implementation of a diagnostic whole-body scan in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Study Design: Decision analysis model.

Setting: Hospital or ambulatory center.

Correction to: Treatment of Rare and Aggressive Pancreatic Carcinosarcoma.

[This corrects the article on p. e00379 in vol. 7, PMID: 32607379.

Treatment of Rare and Aggressive Pancreatic Carcinosarcoma.

A 42-year-old African American woman presented with 4 days of worsening midepigastric pain that radiated to her back. Computed tomography confirmed a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and revealed a mass within the distal body and tail of the pancreas. After an endoscopic ultrasound with fine-needle aspiration yielding atypical cells suspicious for adenocarcinoma, the patient underwent an en bloc resection of the intra-abdominal mass with subtotal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, left colectomy, and left partial adrenalectomy.

Cost-effectiveness of palliative emergent surgery versus endoscopic stenting for acute malignant colonic obstruction.

Background: Endoscopic stenting has demonstrated value over emergent surgery as a palliative intervention for patients with acute large bowel obstruction due to advanced colorectal cancer. However, concerns regarding high reintervention rates and the risk of perforation have brought into question its cost-effectiveness.

Methods: A decision tree analysis was performed to analyze costs and survival in patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer who present with acute large bowel obstruction.

Malignant Granular Cell Tumor of the Bile Duct.

A 56-year-old man presented to the emergency department with painless jaundice and weight loss. Abdominal ultrasound detected dilation of the common bile duct and the intrahepatic bile ducts. Follow-up with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography exposed a stricture of the common hepatic duct, with cholangioscopy identifying an infiltrating tumor.