Background Low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is associated with postoperative complications, prolonged hospital stay, and short overall survival (OS) in surgical oncology. We aimed to investigate this association in patients undergoing total laryngectomy (TL). Methods A retrospective study was performed of patients undergoing TL. SMM was measured using CT or MRI scans at the level of the third cervical vertebra (C3). Results In all, 235 patients were included. Low SMM was observed in 109 patients (46.4%). Patients with low SMM had more pharyngocutaneous fistulas (PCFs) than patients with normal SMM (34.9% vs 20.6%; P = .02) and prolonged hospital stay (median, 17 vs 14 days; P < .001). In multivariate analysis, low SMM (hazards ratio, 1.849; 95% confidence interval, 1.202‐2.843) and high N stage were significant prognosticators of decreased OS. Conclusion Low SMM is associated with PCF and prolonged hospital stay in patients undergoing TL. Low SMM is an independent prognostic factor for shorter OS.

The results of the anal fistula plug and advancement flap procedures are disappointing in the multicenter setting. There were no significant differences in recurrence, functional outcome, and quality of life between the plug and the advancement flap. Because the plug is simple to apply and minimally invasive, it can be considered as an initial treatment option for high transsphincteric fistulas.

Purpose:To investigate the relationship between the histologic characteristics of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods:The institutional ethics committee approved this study and waived informed consent. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, local failure after chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy correlates with pretreatment ADC. However, the histopathologic basis of this correlation remains unclear. In this study, 16 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled (median age, 60 years; range, 49-78 years). Before undergoing total laryngectomy, patients underwent 1.5-T diffusion-weighted MR imaging. After resection, whole-mount hematoxylineosin-stained sections were registered to the MR images. Cellular density; nuclear, cytoplasmic, and stromal area; and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio within the tumor were calculated by using image-based segmentation on four consecutive slices. Mean ADC of the corresponding tumor region was calculated. Spearman correlations between ADC and histologic characteristics were calculated. Results:ADC was significantly and inversely correlated with cell density (n = 16, r = 20.57, P = .02), nuclear area (n = 12, r = 20.64, P = .03), and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio (n = 12, r = 20.77, P  .01). ADC was significantly and positively correlated with percentage area of stroma (n = 12, r = 0.69, P = .01). Additionally, the percentage area of stroma was strongly interdependent with the percentage area of nuclei (n = 12, r = 20.97, P  .01). Conclusion:ADC was significantly correlated with cellularity, stromal component, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. The positive correlation of ADC and stromal component suggests that the poor prognostic value of high pretreatment ADC might partly be attributed to the tumor-stroma component, a known predictor of local failure.q RSNA, 2014

Background: Robotic systems were introduced in the late 1990s with the objective to overcome the technical limitations of endoscopic surgery. In this prospective cohort study the potential safety, feasibility, pitfalls and challenges of robotic systems in gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery are assessed and our vision on future perspectives is presented. Methods:Between August 2000 and December 2004, 208 procedures were performed with support of the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci™ robotic system. We started with cholecystectomies (40) and Nissen fundoplications (41) to gain experience with robot-assisted surgery. In the following years more complex procedures were carried out, i.e. colorectal procedures (7), type III/IV paraesophageal hernia repair (32), redo Nissen fundoplications (9), Heller myotomies (24), esophageal resections (22), rectopexies (16) and aortobifemoral bypasses (3). Results:The median robotic set-up time was 13 min, and 7 min in the last 50 procedures. The median operating time for the total of procedures was 120 min (45–420) and the median blood loss was 30 ml (0–800). Fourteen procedures were converted to open surgery (6.7%). Equipment-related problems, such as start-up failures and positioning difficulties of the robotic arms, were encountered in 11 cases (5.3%). Postoperative complications were seen in 11 patients (11/176, 6.3%) after robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures. Pulmonary complications occurred in 11 patients, cardiac in 3, anastomic leakage in 3, chylous leakage in 3 and vocal cord paralysis in 3 after thoracoscopic esophagolymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer. One patient died 12 days after esophageal resection (0.5%). Conclusion:During the implementation of this robotic system, we experienced an obvious learning curve, particularly with regard to the positioning of the robot cart and communication between the surgeon and operating team. After 4 years, we have experienced that the merits of the current generation of this technology probably is preserved to complex endoscopic procedures with delicate dissection and suturing. In the nearby future we will focus on the treatment of motility disorders and malignancies of the esophagus and stomach. The position of the robot in the endoscopic operating room will have to be clarified by the outcome of prospective research. Furthermore, priorities have to be acclaimed on technical sophistication and cost reduction of these systems.

DWI showed consistent high accuracy and high NPV. However, available literature is sparse and varying ADC thresholds were reported. Compared to current imaging techniques, DWI showed the most potential in lymph node staging and detection of recurrences.