FDG-PET/CT is a specific imaging modality for predicting axillary node metastasis, and allows for a selective approach to either AND or SNB. A selective SNB + ADD based on an FDG-PET/CT reduced both unnecessary SNBs and positive axillary basins, enhancing the identification rates of SN and the accuracy of SNB.

Introduction We report our experience with laparoscopic major liver resection in Korea based on a multicenter retrospective study. Materials and methods Data from 1,009 laparoscopic liver resections conducted from 2001 to 2011 were retrospectively collected. Twelve tertiary medical centers with specialized hepatic surgeons participated in this study. Results Among 1,009 laparoscopic liver resections, major liver resections were performed in 265 patients as treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic tumor, intrahepatic duct stone, and other conditions. The most frequently performed procedure was left hemihepatectomy (165 patients), followed by right hemihepatectomy (53 patients). Pure laparoscopic procedure was performed in 190 patients including 19 robotic liver resections. Hand-assisted laparoscopic liver resection was performed in three patients and laparoscopyassisted liver resection in 55 patients. Open conversion was performed in 17 patients (6.4 %). Mean operative time and estimated blood loss in laparoscopic major liver resection was 399.3 ± 169.8 min and 836.0 ± 1223.7 ml,

There was no superiority of extended cholecystectomy over simple cholecystectomy in the aspect of survival and recurrence especially in T1b gallbladder cancer. Furthermore, the effectiveness of regional lymphadenectomy for treatment purpose remains questionable. Therefore, simple cholecystectomy could be recommended as a surgical strategy of T1 gallbladder cancer.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox effector factor 1 (APEX1) has been known to play key roles in DNA repair, the regulation of diverse transcriptional activity, and cellular responses to redox activity. This study aimed to examine serum APEX1 (s-APEX1) expression as a possible screening biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and proximal and distal cholangiocarcinoma (CC). A total of 216 frozen serum samples were collected from 39 healthy control cases, 32 patients with ≥58 copies/mL of hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV DNA (+)), 40 ccRCC cases, 59 HCC cases, and 46 CC cases. The serum samples were examined for s-APEX1 concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The association of APEX1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics was also studied by immunohistochemical staining in 106 ccRCC, 131 HCC, and 32 intrahepatic CC cases. The median s-APEX1 concentrations of the HCC, CC, ccRCC, healthy control, and HBV DNA (+) groups were 0.294, 0.710, 0.474, 0.038, and 2.384 ng/mL, respectively (p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that increased cytoplasmic APEX1 expression led to a shorter disease-free survival period in HCC and CC cases. We suggest that the s-APEX1 level could be a potential diagnostic biomarker of ccRCC, HCC, and CC. Additionally, cytoplasmic APEX1 expression in cancer cells could be used to predict relapses in patients with HCC or CC.

These findings support the notion that CYP4A11 expression is a favorable prognostic factor of HCC and suggest potential predictive diagnostic and prognostic roles of CYP4A11 expression in HCC.