Is there additional information from laparoscopic ultrasound in tumor staging?

Accurate preoperative staging of gastrointestinal malignancies is of major importance in the decision for adequate stage-related therapy. There is evidence that laparoscopy in combination with laparoscopic ultrasound is more accurate in the detection of intra-abdominal metastases than conventional preoperative imaging. Staging laparoscopy in combination with laparoscopic ultrasound is a minimally invasive technique that reveals intra-abdominal disseminated tumor spread and local tumor extent.

31Phosphorus-magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess histologic tumor response noninvasively after isolated limb perfusion for soft tissue tumors.

Background: In patients with unresectable soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities, isolated limb perfusion (ILP) has been reported to result in significant tumor regression enabling limb-sparing resection in the majority of patients. However, clinical tumor response as evaluated by imaging and histopathology (extent of tumor necrosis) often differ significantly. The current study was initiated to evaluate prospectively the role of 31phosphorus-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in the noninvasive assessment of histologic response in patients treated with ILP.

Cholangiocellular carcinoma associated with segmental Caroli's disease.

This case report describes the association of cholangiocarcinoma arising in a liver segment with Caroli's disease. We demonstrate the diagnostic difficulties in recognizing the pathogenetic background and outline the indication for surgical treatment.

Accuracy of endorectal ultrasound after preoperative radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Objectives: Factors limiting the accuracy of endorectal ultrasound in staging, locally advanced primary rectal cancer after preoperative neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) were evaluated.

Methods: Patients (n = 84) with initial locally advanced rectal cancer (uT3/uT4) undergoing R0 resection were investigated after preoperative treatment that combined radiotherapy up to 45 Gy with two cycles of chemotherapy (5-FU and leucovorin on d 1-5 and 22-28). At 4 to 6 weeks after completion of RCT and before tumor resection, preoperative endoluminal ultrasound was performed.

Preoperative hyperthermia combined with radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: a phase II clinical trial.

Objective: A prospective phase II study was performed to determine the feasibility and efficacy in terms of response rate, resectability, and morbidity in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received preoperative regional hyperthermia combined with radiochemotherapy (HRCT).

Summary Background Data: Recent studies suggest that preoperative radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer can induce downstaging, but after resection the incidence of local recurrences remains high. Hyperthermia (HT) may add tumoricidal effects and improve the efficacy of radiochemotherapy in a trimodal approach.