Disappearing liver metastases from colorectal cancer: impact of modern imaging modalities.

Background: Chemotherapy is often used before a resection for colorectal liver metastases. After chemotherapy, metastases may disappear on cross-sectional imaging but residual metastatic disease may still exist. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the impact of new advancements in imaging technology such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with liver-specific contrast (Gd-EOB-DTPA) and contrast-enhanced intra-operative ultrasound (CE-IOUS) on disappearing liver metastases (DLM).

Tumour growth after portal vein embolization with pre-procedural chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases.

Background: For resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases, pre-operative portal vein embolization (PVE) is used to increase the size of the future liver remnant (FLR) prior to advanced liver resection when indicated. PVE is speculated to cause tumour progression, but only a limited number of studies have analysed tumour growth after PVE in the context of pre-procedural chemotherapy, which was the aim of this retrospective study.

Methods: Patients treated with stabilizing chemotherapy and PVE before liver resection for CRC metastases were included.

Immediate oral feeding in patients with mild acute pancreatitis is safe and may accelerate recovery--a randomized clinical study.

Background & Aims: In acute pancreatitis, traditional treatment has been initial fasting on purpose to avoid activation of proteolytic enzymes and pancreatic enzyme secretion. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of immediate oral feeding as compared to traditional fasting in patients with mild acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Sixty patients were randomized to the two treatment groups, fasting or immediate oral feeding.

Early nasogastric feeding in predicted severe acute pancreatitis: A clinical, randomized study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of early, nasogastric enteral nutrition (EN) with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Summary Background Data: In SAP, the magnitude of the inflammatory response as well as increased intestinal permeability correlates with outcome. Enteral feeding has been suggested superior to parenteral feeding due to a proposed beneficial effect on the gut barrier.