Features of Surgical Treatment of Malignant Tumors of the Heart and Ways to Improve Immediate Results

To date, the issues of surgical treatment of malignant cardiac tumors (MCT) remain relevant and are of particular interest to cardiac surgeons. Hospital mortality of this group of patients is extremely high (20–30%). Finding ways to reduce early postoperative mortality remains an extremely important task of oncocardiac surgery. The aim. To analyze the causes of early postoperative mortality based on the data of many years of experience in the surgical treatment of MCT and to propose methods for the prevention of early postoperative complications with the improvement of the immediate results of operations. Materials and methods. From 1970 to 01.01.2021, National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery has provided surgical treatment of 67 patients with malignant tumors of the heart which amounted to 7.1% of the total number of observed patients with cardiac tumors (949). Of the 67 patients with MCT, 57 (84.9%) were operated using artificial circulation, three operations (4.6%) were emergency. Hospital mortality was 19.4% (13 patients). Results. Microscopic examination of the removed tumors revealed the presence of necrosis zones, their mechanical damage leads to significant intoxication of the patient. To prevent tumor intoxication (cause of postoperative mortality) in the operative and postoperative periods, new methods of combating such a factor of hospital mortality were used, which helped to improve the results of treatment of MCT. Hospital mortality reduced from 33.3% (1970–2001) to 5.5% (last 10 years), as a result of use these measures. Conclusions. Destruction of the tumor during surgery with artificial circulation leads to the entry of a significant number of tumor cells and toxins into the bloodstream, causing tumor intoxication. Improvement of the immediate results of surgical treatment of MCT depends on their timely diagnosis, which allows for adequate surgery with radical removal of the tumor and the use of detoxification measures, significantly reducing surgical mortality.

Final analysis of overall survival (OS) and relapse-free-survival (RFS) in the intergroup S1404 phase III randomized trial comparing either high-dose interferon (HDI) or ipilimumab to pembrolizumab in patients with high-risk resected melanoma.

9501 Background: We assessed whether or not adjuvant pembrolizumab given over 1 year would improve OS and RFS in comparison to high dose ipilimumab (ipi10) or HDI - the two FDA-approved adjuvant treatments for high risk resected melanoma at the time of study design. Methods: Patients age 18 or greater with resected stages IIIA(N2), B, C and IV were eligible. Patients with CNS metastasis were excluded. At entry, patients must have had complete staging and adequate surgery to render them free of melanoma including completion lymph node dissection for those with sentinel node positive disease. Prior therapy with PD-1 blockade, ipilimumab or interferon was not allowed. Two treatment arms were assigned based on stratification by stage, PD-L1 status (positive vs. negative vs. unknown), and intended control arm (HDI vs. Ipi10). Patients enrolled between 10/2015 and 8/2017 were randomized 1:1 to either the control arm [(1) interferon alfa-2b 20 MU/m2 IV days 1-5, weeks 1-4, followed by 10 MU/m2/d SC days 1, 3, and 5, weeks 5-52 (n=190), or (2) ipilimumab 10 mg/kg IV q3w for 4 doses, then q12w for up to 3 years (n=465)], or the experimental arm [pembrolizumab 200 mg IV q3w for 52 weeks (n=648)]. The study had three primary comparisons: 1) RFS among all patients, 2) OS among all patients, 3) OS among patients with PD-L1+ baseline biopsies. Results: 1,426 patients were screened and 1,345 patients were randomized with 11%, 49%, 34%, and 6% AJCC7 stage IIIA(N2), IIIB, IIIC and IV, respectively. This final analysis was performed per-protocol 3.5 years from the date the last patient was randomized, with 512 RFS and 199 OS events. The pembrolizumab group had a statistically significant improvement in RFS compared to the control group (pooled HDI and ipi10) with HR 0.740 (99.618% CI, 0.571 to 0.958). There was no statistically signifcant improvement in OS in the 1,303 eligible randomized overall patient population with HR 0.837 (96.3% CI, 0.622 to 1.297), or among the 1,070 (82%) patients with PD-L1 positive baseline biopsies with HR 0.883 (97.8% CI, 0.604 to 1.291). Gr 3/4/5 event rates were as follows: HDI 69/9/0%, ipi10 43/5/0.5% and pembrolizumab 17/2/0.3%. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab improves RFS but not OS compared to HDI or ipi10 in the adjuvant treatment of patients with high-risk resected melanoma. Pembrolizumab is a better tolerated adjuvant treatment regimen than HDI or Ipi10. Support: NIH/NCI NCTN grants CA180888, CA180819, CA180820, CA180863; and in part by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Editorial Acknowledgement: With special thanks to Elad Sharon, MD, MPH, and Larissa Korde, MD, MPH. National Cancer Institute, Investigational Drug Branch, for their contributions to this trial, as well as Nageatte Ibrahim, MD, and Sama Ahsan, MD Merck. Clinical trial information: NCT02506153.

Severe deep neck space infection caused by Eggerthia catenaformis

A 64-year-old woman was acutely referred to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital due to rapidly progressing neck swelling, fever and dysphagia. Clinical examination revealed submental swelling, trismus and laryngeal inflammation. A contrast-enhanced CT scan showed infection in the deep neck spaces with multiple abscesses. The patient underwent acute surgery and antimicrobial therapy was initiated and she was transferred to an intensive care unit. Three additional surgical procedures were needed before sufficient drainage was achieved. There was growth of different oral commensals from four separate pus aspirates, while Eggerthia catenaformis was cultured in all samples. Due to the extent of the infection, the patient stayed in the intensive care unit for 16 days, but recovered completely due to adequate surgery and antimicrobial therapy for 4 weeks. Here we present the third reported case of a severe deep neck space infection with multiple abscesses due to E. catenaformis.

Outcome of Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: A series of Consecutive cases

Background: Phyllodes tumor of the breast (PTB) is a rare tumor. PTB exist in benign (BPTB), borderline, and malignant (MPTB) subtypes. Local recurrence (LR) is the most common site of relapse. Treatment of early-stage PTB consists of local excision (LE), with free margins of resection (MR) or mastectomy (MM). Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive patients with early-stage PTB treated with breast surgery at our institution for 8 years, in order to describe the outcome and the clinical behavior of PTB. The primary end-points of our study were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were the description of the pathological features, the site of first recurrence (SFR), and prognostic factors. Results: We included a total of 16 patients. Four patients had BPTB, and 12 had MPTB. Median age was 50 years (21-81), and 62.5% was postmenopausal. Five patients (31.25%) were treated with LE and 11 (68.75%) with MM. Median tumor size was 3.6 cm (1.3-19), median mitosis/high-power field was 10 and 6.25% had positive-MR. With a median follow-up of 97 months, 5-year DFS probability was 65%. There were 5 recurrences (31.25% of all patients), all of them in the malignant subtype. 5-year OS probability was 66%. The most common SFR was LR (62.5%), followed by lung (18.75%) and bone (18.75%) metastases. In univariate analysis, T> 4.5 cm (p=0.004) and positive-MR (p=0.038) were associated with an increased risk of relapse and death. Conclusion: BPTB is associated with a good prognosis after adequate surgery. However, MPTB has a high risk of relapse and death after surgery, and this risk increases with larger tumors and positive-MR.

Spontaneous bladder diverticulum rupture due to a squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder: a case report

While bladder rupture is most of the time secondary to external injury such as trauma or iatrogenic events, spontaneous bladder rupture (SBR) is a rare condition which is mostly associated with bladder cancer, neurologic bladder or radiotherapy. We report a case of a 63-year-old patient with an invasive squamous cell bladder carcinoma who presented acute peritonitis caused by a SBR while being prepared for radical surgery. CT-scan helped to confirm diagnosis and emergency cystectomy was performed. SBR should be considered in differential diagnosis of peritonitis. On time diagnosis and adequate surgery could improve its prognosis.

Dislocations after Hip Arthroplasty (Review)

One of hip arthroplasty complications is dislocation of the endoprosthesis head. In the vast majority of cases, the cause of dislocation is multifactorial. That is why only a thorough analysis of the patient’s peculiarities, surgery and rehabilitation will help to avoid the relapse. This review analyzed the risk factors of dislocation and treatment tactics. Risk factors associated with the patient include: old age, male gender, obesity, concomitant diseases, low level of preoperative physical activity, low compliance and a some others. The problem of the biomechanical ratio in the segment “spine – pelvis – lower limb” deserves special attention. Besides, there are risk factors associated with the surgeon: access option; type, fixation and position of endoprosthesis components, experience and surgical technique of a orthopedic surgeon. The strategy of dislocations rate reduction is based on a detailed study of dislocation causes and their elimination, and adequate surgery planning. The treatment of a patient with dislocation should take into account the multifactorial etiology of the condition.

Variations in surgical treatment of stage I gallbladder carcinoma impacts survival.

495 Background: Variations in surgical care for stage I gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) may be associated with inferior outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the variations in surgical treatment of GBC. Methods: All patients diagnosed with stage I GBC by AJCC 8 criteria from 2004-2013 were identified in the NCDB. Surgical treatment was categorized as cholecystectomy (C), cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection (C+LND), or radical cholecystectomy (RC). Independent predictors of improved overall survival (OS) and extent of surgery were identified by multinomial regression analyses. Results: Of 1756 patients with stage I GBC, 26% were T1a, 56% T1b, and 18.5% T1NOS. The majority were White non-Hispanic (61.8%) and female (68.5%), with 55.1% > 70 years of age. Two-thirds of T1a tumors were treated with more aggressive surgery (28% C+LND, 4.2% RC), which did not differ by age. However, only 44.4% of patients with T1b tumors had more aggressive surgery, which was significantly less likely in patients > 70 years, even after controlling for other factors (C+LND (OR:0.60; CI:0.44-0.81), RC (OR:0.52; CI:0.29-0.91)). Five-year OS was 54.34% for T1a and 43.05% for T1b (p = 0.02). After controlling for other factors, both C+LND (HR:0.46, CI:0.26-0.81) and RC (HR:0.31, CI:0.16-0.62) significantly improved 5-year OS for T1b tumors, whereas RC also improved 5-year OS for all patients > 70 years old (p = 0.04). Conclusions: A majority of patients with T1b GBC had less than adequate surgery by the current AJCC staging, which significantly decreased survival in all patients. This was especially evident in older patients who were also the least likely to receive more aggressive surgery.

Successfully completed pregnancy after conservative treatment of nonepithelial ovarian cancer

Introduction. Granulosa cell tumors are rare neoplasms of ovary with low malignancy potential and late recurrence. They originate from the granulose of the ovary stromal cells and have the ability to produce estrogens. The main treatment is surgical and implies hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, taking peritoneal biopsies, and cytological analysis of the peritoneal washing. When found in young women who have not given birth, a conservative approach can be considered. Fertility sparing surgery is safe only for early FIGO stages IA tumors ?? IC, where it is necessary to make unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and complete staging. Case outline. We present a case of young woman with granulosa cell tumor who was accidentally discovered, and after an adequate surgery and chemotherapy she gave a birth to a healthy child. Conclusion. Young women who have not given birth and who have been diagnosed with granulosa cell ovarian tumor can be treated conservatively after adequate disease staging and confirmation that the disease is at an early stage.

Granular Cellular Tumor: A Disease to know and to recognize

We report here a rare case of granular cell tumor (GCT) operated on with diagnosis of bile duct cancer. All clinical, biological, morphological, operative and histological characteristics are described in this observation. We have done a whipple resection and postoperative course was uneventful. The patient is alive and well at postoperative month. This is the rare disease which must be known by the surgical community to choose the adequate surgery.