Laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs. Where do we stand now? A single-centered experience

Introduction. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a rare type of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Resection with negative margins has been established as a mainstay treatment, but laparoscopic resections are still open to debate. Material and method. This retrospective study was conducted at a single institution, with data collected over 2 years (01.01.2017-01.01.2019). The variables examined were age, tumor location with regard to the gastric wall, the results of the intraoperative endoscopy, intraoperative and postoperative complications, the surgical technique, and histopathological reports. Results. We identified 12 relevant cases, of which 8 were females and 4 males. The average tumor diameter was 2.3 cm. The majority of the lesions were located on the anterior gastric wall (8 cases), on the small curvature (2 cases), and in the pyloric region (2 cases). Intraoperative endoscopy was performed successfully in 10 cases in order to identify the lesions and guide the resection. The average operative time was 120 minutes and the average hospital stay was 5 days. The gastric wall with the lesion was resected using an Ultrasonic device, a 2-cm oncological safety margin was preserved. Conclusion. Complete surgical resection independent from the tumor size represents the current optimal treatment. From a surgical point of view, these tumors must be considered malignant and the surgeon must respect principles of oncological surgery. Maintaining tumor integrity at dissection is critical for the patient’s long-term prognosis. Laparoscopic resection independent of the tumor size is feasible

Laparoscopic resection of gastric GISTs. Where do we stand now? A single-centered experience

Introduction. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a rare type of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Resection with negative margins has been established as a mainstay treatment, but laparoscopic resections are still open to debate. Material and method. This retrospective study was conducted at a single institution, with data collected over 2 years (01.01.2017-01.01.2019). The variables examined were age, tumor location with regard to the gastric wall, the results of the intraoperative endoscopy, intraoperative and postoperative complications, the surgical technique, and histopathological reports. Results. We identified 12 relevant cases, of which 8 were females and 4 males. The average tumor diameter was 2.3 cm. The majority of the lesions were located on the anterior gastric wall (8 cases), on the small curvature (2 cases), and in the pyloric region (2 cases). Intraoperative endoscopy was performed successfully in 10 cases in order to identify the lesions and guide the resection. The average operative time was 120 minutes and the average hospital stay was 5 days. The gastric wall with the lesion was resected using an Ultrasonic device, a 2-cm oncological safety margin was preserved. Conclusion. Complete surgical resection independent from the tumor size represents the current optimal treatment. From a surgical point of view, these tumors must be considered malignant and the surgeon must respect principles of oncological surgery. Maintaining tumor integrity at dissection is critical for the patient’s long-term prognosis. Laparoscopic resection independent of the tumor size is feasible

Unmodifiable variables related to thyroid cancer incidence

The incidence of thyroid cancer is significantly different between male and female patients. Thyroid cancer is also the only form of cancer where age can be considered a staging variable. Identifying biological prognostic factors such as age or sex is important as it helps select an optimal personalized therapy. The present analysis is an observational, prospective study that enrolled all patients with thyroid disease who were operated upon at a single center. The study aimed to determine the most frequent age at presentation, the predominance of one sex over the other, the incidence of malignant thyroid disease, and the relative risk for each sex to develop thyroid carcinoma. The incidence of thyroid carcinoma was higher for women than for men, with a higher relative risk in the female subgroup. Incidence was also highest in the 50-60-year-old group. Given that studies show better survival for women and for younger patients, even when presenting with advanced disease, compared with older, male patients, such prognostic indicators should be a factor in the treatment decision

Does sex of the patient play a role in survival for MSI colorectal cancer?

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a feature of colorectal tumors that develops as a result of inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair system. It is found in about 15% of all colorectal cancers and is an important prognostic molecular marker when assessing patients with colorectal cancer. It can influence prognosis and treatment decisions in both the advanced and early stages. Although in early stages this marker suggests a favorable prognosis and presents an important argument against adjuvant treatment in stage II disease, in metastatic stages it no longer associated with such an optimistic outcome. The present trial is a prospective, single-center study which included 122 colorectal cancer patients who were tested for MSI using immunohistochemistry. The trial included patients with stage II to IV colorectal cancer, treated in the Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. Follow-up data were collected during a 24-month period. The study attempted to determine whether differences exist in overall survival for MSI (microsatellite instability) vs. MSS (microsatellite stable) colorectal cancer and to ascertain whether sex of the patient influences prognosis in MSI patients, irrespective of stage or treatment. Results demonstrated no significant differences in survival for MSI vs MSS colorectal patients, and patients’ gender proved not to influence the outcome in MSI patients

Unmodifiable variables related to thyroid cancer incidence

The incidence of thyroid cancer is significantly different between male and female patients. Thyroid cancer is also the only form of cancer where age can be considered a staging variable. Identifying biological prognostic factors such as age or sex is important as it helps select an optimal personalized therapy. The present analysis is an observational, prospective study that enrolled all patients with thyroid disease who were operated upon at a single center. The study aimed to determine the most frequent age at presentation, the predominance of one sex over the other, the incidence of malignant thyroid disease, and the relative risk for each sex to develop thyroid carcinoma. The incidence of thyroid carcinoma was higher for women than for men, with a higher relative risk in the female subgroup. Incidence was also highest in the 50-60-year-old group. Given that studies show better survival for women and for younger patients, even when presenting with advanced disease, compared with older, male patients, such prognostic indicators should be a factor in the treatment decision

Does sex of the patient play a role in survival for MSI colorectal cancer?

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a feature of colorectal tumors that develops as a result of inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair system. It is found in about 15% of all colorectal cancers and is an important prognostic molecular marker when assessing patients with colorectal cancer. It can influence prognosis and treatment decisions in both the advanced and early stages. Although in early stages this marker suggests a favorable prognosis and presents an important argument against adjuvant treatment in stage II disease, in metastatic stages it no longer associated with such an optimistic outcome. The present trial is a prospective, single-center study which included 122 colorectal cancer patients who were tested for MSI using immunohistochemistry. The trial included patients with stage II to IV colorectal cancer, treated in the Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. Follow-up data were collected during a 24-month period. The study attempted to determine whether differences exist in overall survival for MSI (microsatellite instability) vs. MSS (microsatellite stable) colorectal cancer and to ascertain whether sex of the patient influences prognosis in MSI patients, irrespective of stage or treatment. Results demonstrated no significant differences in survival for MSI vs MSS colorectal patients, and patients’ gender proved not to influence the outcome in MSI patients