CT and MRI findings with contrast enhancement of small pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the late phase.

A 60-year-old female was found to have high serum amylase concentrations at a medical check-up. Dynamic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass in the body of the pancreas, which was enhanced in the late phase of the scans by administration of a contrast medium. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed a stenosis of the main pancreatic duct at the body, and brushing cytology from the region revealed adenocarcinoma.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with DSM for primary hepatic malignant carcinoid.

A 66-year-old male with multiple liver tumors was diagnosed as having malignant carcinoid. The case exhibited carcinoid syndrome with wheezing and high urine 5-Hydroxy-Indole Acetic Acid and serum serotonin concentrations. A search for the primary lesion failed to detect tumors except those in the liver, leading to the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoid.

[Chemotherapy for elderly patients with colorectal cancer].

The number of elderly patients with colorectal cancer is increasing in Japan. Until recently, chemotherapy was not adapted for older patients. Today, older patients have opportunity to receive new regimen with newly developed agents and improvement of supportive therapy.

[Cancer board--new medical system in cancer clinic].

To proceed with more patient-oriented cancer medicine, the development of a new medical system is necessary in Japan. In Ariake Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, a new medical system has been developed, which is composed of a common outpatient clinic and a conference system. The core conference system is called "Cancer Board".

Immunohistochemical evaluation for hormone receptors in breast cancer: a practically useful evaluation system and handling protocol.

This article reviews the current status of hormone receptor evaluation in and out of Japan, and introduces the proposed working protocol of the task force for Adequate immunohistochemical evaluation in routine practice for breast cancer by the Japanese Breast Cancer Society. Understanding the principles and the developmental process of immunohistochemistry helps us to utilize a scoring system adequately. Methodologies of hormone receptor examination and immunohistochemical procedures are briefly introduced.

Laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preserving gastrectomy with quality controlled lymph node dissection in gastric cancer operation.

Background: Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) with extensive lymph node dissection is useful for treatment of early gastric cancer with preservation of function. This technique could be improved by using laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy.

Study Design: Between September 2000 and September 2004, 109 patients with T1 gastric cancer underwent surgical treatment; 72 underwent laparoscopy-assisted PPG (LAPPG) and 37 underwent conventional PPG (CPPG).

Usefulness of LigaSure for liver resection: analysis by randomized clinical trial.

Background: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the novel LigaSure Vessel Sealing System (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) when used for liver resection.

Methods: Sixty patients (n = 30 in each group) with liver pathology from a single center were randomized to undergo liver resection with either the LigaSure system or with conventional clamping methods. Patients were stratified according to tumor size (<5 or >5 cm), type of hepatectomy (minor or major), and liver damage (normal or injured).

[Adjuvant chemotherapy based on evidence-based medicine for breast cancer patients].

Adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients has been derived from the results of various clinical studies and metaanalysis. Currently, an anthracycline-containing regimen is a standard chemotherapy for node-negative breast cancer patients with any risk of recurrence. Node-positive breast cancer patients employ AC followed by taxane.

[BCT, breast conserving treatment--cosmetism and radicality].

In performing BCT with radicality and cosmetism, the attitudes of breast oncologists in Japan and western countries are different at present. In Japan, our problem is to get surgical margin negative almost sacrificing the cosmetism. On the contrary, in western countries, they evaluate RT irrespective of margin status.

Classification of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast-conserving therapy: new primary cancer allows a good prognosis.

Purpose: To classify and assess ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences (IBTR) after breast-conserving therapy.

Methods: Between 1986 and 2001, 2,137 patients who had breast cancer underwent breast-conserving surgery with or without radiotherapy at the Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research. Of these patients, 83 (3.