Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMN) on appendectomy specimens and correlations with pseudomyxoma peritonei development risk.

Low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is the primary source of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). PMP may develop after seemingly complete resection of primary tumor by appendectomy, which is unpredictable due to lack of reliable prognostic indicators. We retrospectively reviewed 154 surgically resected LAMNs to explore if any of the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics may be associated with increasing risk of PMP development.

Inspiring hope-A physician's responsibility, translating the science into clinical practice.

Giving hope to patients is our responsibility. It is the essence of a meaningful practice in medicine. Science now allows us to understand this complex and multidimensional human dynamic, and translate it into clinical practice.

Differing expression profiles of Notch/enterocyte and Wnt/secretory lineage signallings are associated with morphological diversity of appendiceal tumours.

Background: Tumours of appendix, including classic carcinoid tumour (CCT), goblet cell carcinoid (GCC), low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm, high-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm/mucinous carcinoma (MCA) and non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (NMA), show different and sometimes mixed morphological features. It was hypothesised that these tumours originate from common tumour stem cell(s) with potential of various cell lineage differentiation. In normal intestinal epithelium, absorptive lineage (enterocytes) differentiation is driven by Notch-Hes1 pathway, while secretory lineage is driven by Wnt-Math1 pathway and further separated by different downstream signallings into three sublineages (Gfi1-Klf4/Elf3 for goblet cells, Gfi1-Sox9 for Paneth cells and Ngn3-Pdx1/Beta2/Pax4 for enteroendocrine cells).

Outcomes of surgical treatment alone in patients with superficial soft tissue sarcoma regardless of size or grade.

Background And Objectives: Currently, standard treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is wide local excision and adjuvant radiation, but radiation may be unnecessary in superficial STS. The primary objective is to assess local recurrence rates in patients treated with surgical management alone for superficial STS.

Methods: A retrospective cancer registry review of patients treated with surgery alone for superficial STS at the Tom Baker Cancer Center (TBCC) was performed.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy + early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy versus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy alone: assessment of survival outcomes for colorectal and high-grade appendiceal peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have improved survival for colorectal and high-grade appendiceal carcinomatosis. We compared the overall and recurrence-free survival (OS and RFS) of patients treated with HIPEC with mitomycin c and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) with fluorouracil versus HIPEC alone using oxaliplatin and simultaneous IV infusion of fluorouracil.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with colorectal or high-grade appendiceal carcinomatosis were treated with CRS and HIPEC + EPIC or HIPEC alone.

Quality of life, functional outcomes, and wound complications in patients with soft tissue sarcomas treated with preoperative chemoradiation: a prospective study.

Background: Preoperative irradiation reduces local recurrence of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), but major wound complication rates approach 25-35 %. Using a novel neoadjuvant chemoradiation protocol, we prospectively documented functional outcomes and quality of life (QOL) and hypothesized a lower major wound complication rate.

Methods: Patients with STS deep to muscular fascia were treated with 3 days of doxorubicin (30 mg/day) and 10 days of irradiation (300 cGy/day) followed by limb-sparing surgery.

Preoperative computed tomography does not predict resectability in peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Obtaining a complete cytoreduction in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is one of the most significant prognostic variables for long-term survival. This study explored features on preoperative computed tomography (CT) to predict unresectability.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted of 15 patients with unresectable PC and 15 patients with completely resected PC matched by intraoperative peritoneal cancer index (PCI) and pathology type.

Evaluating population-based breast cancer surgical practice in real time with a web-based synoptic operative reporting system.

Background: A Web-based synoptic operative reporting system (WebSMR) incorporates implicit guidelines and real-time feedback of a surgeon's practice compared with provincial data. This study compares rates of total mastectomy (TM) between the overall provincial and WebSMR patients and examines decision-making factors in WebSMR patients.

Methods: Patients treated for invasive breast cancer (2007 to 2011) were identified from WebSMR and the Alberta Cancer Registry.

Cytoreduction and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: are we excluding patients who may benefit?

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are increasingly used to treat peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer. It is still relatively unknown which poor prognostic factors to avoid in order to optimize patient selection for CRS + HIPEC.

Methods: Between February 2003 and October 2011, 68 consecutive colorectal cancer patients who underwent CRS + HIPEC with a complete cytoreduction were identified from a prospective database.

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: an emerging treatment option for advanced goblet cell tumors of the appendix.

Background: The debate remains whether appendiceal goblet cell cancers behave as classical carcinoid or adenocarcinoma. Treatment options are unclear and reports of outcomes are scarce. Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC) is considered optimal treatment for peritoneal involvement of other epithelial appendiceal tumors.

Appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid and mucinous neoplasms are closely associated tumors: lessons from their coexistence in primary tumors and concurrence in peritoneal dissemination.

Background: Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) and appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) are considered as different appendiceal tumors. Coexistence of both tumors was occasionally noted. We further observed the concurrence in both primary tumors and their peritoneal dissemination, that is, peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) including pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).

HIPEC + EPIC versus HIPEC-alone: differences in major complications following cytoreduction surgery for peritoneal malignancy.

Introduction: Peritoneal metastases (PM) can be treated with cytoreduction surgery (CRS) with intraoperative heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) plus or minus early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC). HIPEC + EPIC may be associated with more complications than HIPEC alone.

Methods: A prospective database of consecutive patients undergoing CRS + HIPEC ± EPIC at the University of Calgary between February 2000 and May 2011 was reviewed.

Pan-Canadian REspiratory STandards INitiative for Electronic Health Records (PRESTINE): 2011 national forum proceedings.

In a novel knowledge translation initiative, the Government of Ontario's Asthma Plan of Action funded the development of an Asthma Care Map to enable adherence with the Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines developed under the auspices of the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS). Following its successful evaluation within the Primary Care Asthma Pilot Project, respiratory clinicians from the Asthma Research Unit, Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario) are leading an initiative to incorporate standardized Asthma Care Map data elements into electronic health records in primary care in Ontario. Acknowledging that the issue of data standards affects all respiratory conditions, and all provinces and territories, the Government of Ontario approached the CTS Respiratory Guidelines Committee.

Long-term follow-up in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: The objective of this study was to report a long-term survival analysis of a phase II protocol of cytoreductive surgery (CS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PCs).

Methods: Between 2000 and 2008, 101 consecutive patients were treated with CS, HIPEC and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy using a standardized protocol. Disease recurrence and mortality data were collected prospectively.

Neoadjuvant radiotherapy and reconstruction using autologous vein graft for the treatment of inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma.

Background And Objectives: Inferior vena cava (IVC) leiomyosarcomas are rare and are a relatively small subset of retroperitoneal sarcomas. The current approach is resection and ligation or reconstruction of the IVC. This study was undertaken to analyze the outcomes associated with the use of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and IVC reconstruction in the treatment of IVC leiomyosarcoma.

Dramatic innovations in modern surgical subspecialties.

Innovation is defined as the introduction of something new, whether an idea, method or device. In this article, we describe the most important and innovative concepts and techniques that have advanced patient care within modern surgical subspecialties. We performed a systematic literature review and consulted academic subspecialty experts to evaluate recent changes in practice.

Operative salvage for retroperitoneal nodal recurrence in colorectal cancer: a systematic review.

Background: Retroperitoneal nodal recurrence after curative resection of colorectal cancer is an uncommon and challenging problem. The evidence for salvage surgery is limited and remains controversial, particularly when major vascular structures are involved. Some reports have demonstrated a survival benefit after metachronous resection of retroperitoneal metastasis with and without concomitant aortic resection.

Systematic review on the efficacy of multimodal treatment of sarcomatosis with cytoreduction and intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Background: Peritoneal sarcomatosis carries a dismal prognosis with median survival of 12 months and no 5-year survivors. The treatment for sarcomatosis has mostly been chemotherapy and surgery for palliation. Recently, cytoreduction (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) has been tried as an alternative for improving regional control and survival, but the efficacy of this combined treatment is difficult to determine.

Synoptic surgical reporting for breast cancer surgery: an innovation in knowledge translation.

Background: Extensive literature identifies that the quality of surgery not only influences morbidity and mortality but also long-term survival and function. This mandates that we develop a system to capture this information on a real-time basis.

Methods: A synoptic surgical template for breast cancer was created; this was digitized and made available to all surgeons in Alberta.

Improvement in the accuracy of reporting key prognostic and anatomic findings during thyroidectomy by using a novel Web-based synoptic operative reporting system.

Background: Documentation of thyroidectomy is performed traditionally by surgeon-dictated operative reports (DORs). A Web-based system that generates a synoptic report (WebSMR) for thyroidectomy was developed. The purpose of this study was to assess the completeness of documentation in WebSMR compared with DOR.

Colorectal cancer screening among first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients: benefits and barriers.

Background: Individuals with a first-degree family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at increased risk of CRC. Study objectives were: (1) to estimate the proportion of first-degree relatives (FDR) of CRC patients being screened for CRC and (2) to identify predictors of screened behavior.

Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 640 stage I-III CRC patients from a population-based registry to identify FDR.

Phase II study of regional treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy is becoming an accepted treatment of carcinomatosis.

Methods: Between February 2000 and January 2008, there were 101 consecutive patients with carcinomatosis who were treated with cytoreductive surgery + hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Patient and tumor characteristics, surgical details, complications, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were recorded prospectively.