A novel serum marker for biliary tract cancer: diagnostic and prognostic values of quantitative evaluation of serum mucin 5AC (MUC5AC).

Background And Aims: Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) is a glycoprotein found in different epithelial cancers, including biliary tract cancer (BTC). The aims of this study were to investigate the role of MUC5AC as serum marker for BTC and its prognostic value after operation with curative intent.

Patients And Method: From January 2007 to July 2012, a quantitative assessment of serum MUC5AC was performed with enzyme-linked immunoassay in a total of 88 subjects.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension: is liver resection always contraindicated?

Aim: To analyze the outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection in cirrhosis patients, related to presence of portal hypertension (PH) and extent of hepatectomy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 135 patients with HCC on a background of cirrhosis was submitted to curative liver resection.

Results: PH was present in 44 (32.

Prognostic significance of lymph node ratio after resection of peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Lymph node (LN) metastases are a major negative prognostic factor for peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCC). Prognostic significance of the extent of LN dissection, number of metastatic LN and the lymph node ratio (LNR) are still under debate.

Aims: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the prognostic value of the LN status, the total number of LNs evaluated and LNR in PCC.

Does intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have better prognosis compared to perihilar cholangiocarcinoma?

Background And Objectives: Cholangiocarcinoma can be classified as intrahepatic (ICC) or perihilar (PCC). The objectives of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes of patients with PCC and ICC, identify the main prognostic factors related to survival and compare the outcome and the prognostic factors of PCC and ICC.

Methods: Ninety-five out of 152 patients observed between January 1990 and December 2007 at Surgical Division of University of Verona Medical School underwent the resection of ICC (33 patients) or PCC (62 patients).

Is liver resection justified in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma? Results of an observational study in 464 patients.

Background And Objective: The role of liver resection in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (multinodular or with macroscopic vascular involvement) is still controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of surgical resection compared to other therapeutic modalities in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Four hundred sixty four patients with HCC observed from 1991 to 2007 were included in the study.

Superextended hepatectomy for resection of multiple giant hemangiomas: report of a case.

Most liver hemangiomas are small, asymptomatic, and require no treatment. Symptoms such as right upper quadrant abdominal pain and fullness are associated only with liver hemangiomas larger than 4 cm in diameter. Serious complications such as jaundice, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, and rupture are rare.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: prognostic factors after surgical resection.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver tumor. The resectability rate is low because at the time of diagnosis this disease is frequently beyond the limits of surgical therapy. Curative resection (R0) is the most effective treatment and the only therapy associated with prolonged disease-free survival.

A rare surgical case of multiple liver resections for recurrent liver metastases from pancreatic gastrinoma: liver and vena cava resection.

Pancreatic gastrinoma is a rare non-beta islet cell tumor. Approximately 60% of gastrinomas are malignant; despite the fact that they are usually slow growing, liver metastases have a major impact on prognosis. Most authors have advocated aggressive surgical management as being the only potentially curative therapy to improve survival as well as to provide outstanding relief from symptoms.

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver: case report and literature survey.

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma (UES) of the liver was first identified as an independent clinicopathologic type of sarcoma in 1978. It is an uncommon hepatic tumor, of mesenchymal origin, usually observed in children, and cases in adults are rare: to our best knowledge, reports of only 51 cases have been published in the past 50 years. We present a case of UES of the liver in a previously healthy 22 year-old woman, admitted to our hospital due to a palpable mass in the right upper abdomen.

Radiofrequency ablation versus surgical resection for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) demonstrated good results for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients; it is still not clear whether the overall survival and disease-free survival after RFA are comparable with surgical resection. The aims of this study are to compare the overall survival and disease-free survival in two groups of cirrhotic patients with HCC submitted to surgery or RFA.

Methods: Two hundred cirrhotic patients with HCCs smaller than 6 cm were included in this retrospective study: 109 underwent RFA and 91 underwent surgical resection at a single Division of Surgery of University of Verona.

Comparison of seven staging systems in cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in a cohort of patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation with complete response.

Background And Aims: Many staging systems for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been proposed but the best tool for staging of HCC remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to identify the best staging system evaluating the predictive ability for outcome for each of the seven different staging systems applied in a homogeneous group of patients who underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 112 patients with HCC and cirrhosis treated with percutaneous RFA from January, 1998 to April, 2005.

The Dagradi-Serio-Iacono operation central pancreatectomy.

Central pancreatectomy (CP) is a segmental pancreatic resection indicated to remove benign or low-grade malignant tumors of the isthmus and proximal part of the body of the pancreas. The main advantage of this operation compared with major resections is that it permits to spare normal pancreatic parenchyma; moreover, spleen and upper digestive and biliary tracts are saved. The description of the complete operation was reported for the first time by Dagradi and Serio in 1984 and subsequently spread worldwide by Iacono and Serio.

Radio frequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients: prognostic factors for survival.

Background: Radio frequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma has proved to be useful in local control of tumor. A few data on survival after treatment are available in literature. The aim of the study was to evaluate factors related to survival and to identify different classes of risk after radio frequency ablation.

Rapid progression of hepatocellular carcinoma after Radiofrequency Ablation.

Aim: To report the results of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients and to describe the treatment related complications (mainly the rapid intrahepatic neoplastic progression).

Methods: Eighty-seven consecutive cirrhotic patients with 104 HCC (mean diameter 3.9 cm, 1.