Background/Aim: Intensive trimodal therapy is needed for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The prediction of recurrence is especially required for patients with pathological residual tumors in the resected primary sites and/or lymph nodes [non-pathological complete response (pCR)] who have a high possibility of recurrence after trimodal therapy. We aimed to determine the risk factors for cancer recurrence in ESCC patients diagnosed with non-pCR after trimodal therapy. Patients and Methods: We evaluated the risk factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, based on data from 105 ESCC patients diagnosed with non-pCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy. Results: Univariate analysis revealed that RFS was significantly associated with postoperative complications, pathological T, N, M stage after therapy (ypT, ypN, ypM), tumor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and pathological response of the primary tumor. Subsequent multivariate analysis revealed postoperative complications ypN, tumor differentiation, and LVI as independent variables for RFS. The RFSs significantly differed between patients with and without these risk factors. Conclusion: Severe postoperative complications, ypN 2/3, poor tumor differentiation, and LVI were significantly associated with poor RFS. These factors may be used as prognostic factors in patients with non-pCR after trimodal therapy.

HighlightsAmputation neuroma (AN) arising from a remnant cystic duct after cholecystectomy is rare.It is difficult to distinguish AN and malignant tumor because radiological findings of ANs mimic findings of malignancy.Intraoperative diagnosis is necessary to select an appropriate surgical procedure.

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Background/Aim: Surgical stress significantly decreases serum diamine oxidase (DAO), a marker of intestinal mucosal maturation and integrity. This study aimed to determine the effects of postoperative enteral and total parenteral nutrition (EN and TPN, respectively) in patients with esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: This prospective randomized trial compared serum DAO activities, nutritional states, trace elements and complications between patients who underwent esophagectomy and received EN or TPN for seven days thereafter. Results: Fifty-one patients were randomized to receive EN or TPN. The rates of change in serum DAO activity from the day before surgery were 0.79, 0.89 and 0.91 on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3 and 7, respectively, in the EN group, and 0.64, 0.76 and 1.06, respectively, in the TPN group, with no significant differences. Furthermore, the rates of changes in indicators of nutritional status, namely total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, trace element concentrations and infectious and non-infectious complications did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion: EN and/or TPN can be administered for early nutritional management until resumption of oral intake after esophagectomy according to the postoperative status of individual patients with esophageal cancer.

Background/Aim: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery is a standard treatment for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. This study aimed to identify patients who might be eligible for postoperative adjuvant therapy. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the surgical outcomes of 84 patients who received NAC followed by esophagectomy to treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and revealed prognostic factors associated with locally advanced ESCC. Results: Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed the pretreatment level of squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen [SCC-A; hazard ratio (HR)=1.50, p=0.01], ypT ≥3 (HR=2.51; p=0.04), ypN ≥1 (HR=5.87; p=0.01), ypM1 (HR=2.38; p=0.049), and lymphovascular invasion (HR=3.12, p=0.049) as significant independent covariates for recurrence-free survival (RFS). The 5-year RFS rates for patients with 0-1, 2-3, or 4-5 of these indicators of poor prognosis were 97.1%, 51.2%, and 6.7% (p≤0.001 for all). Recurrence rates among these groups also significantly differed at 2. 9%, 50.0%, and 93.3% (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Pretreatment SCC-A, ypT, ypN, ypM, and lymphovascular invasion were significantly associated with RFS in patients with ESCC who received NAC followed by surgery. The status of these prognostic factors in ESCC might indicate a need for postoperative adjuvant therapy after NAC followed by surgery.