A case of multiorgan resection for locally advanced stomach cancer

Abstract

Extensive surgical resection may be required with the involvement of adjacent organs in advanced stage localised stomach cancers. Our purpose was to present a case where vascular reconstruction was performed during multiple organ resection in a patient with advanced stage localised stomach cancer. Laparotomy was performed under emergency conditions on the patient who was brought to the hospital with upper gastrointestinal system haemorrhage; he was diagnosed with advanced stage localised stomach cancer. Total gastrectomy, D II aort dissection, pancreaticoduodenectomy, transverse colectomy and end-to-end anastomosis were performed on the patient. Moreover, the superior mesenteric vein was removed and reimplantation was performed with the portal vein. Recurrence or metastasis was not observed in the post-operative follow-up of the patient. Adjacent organ resections may be necessary for a curative treatment in advanced stage localised stomach cancer. Moreover, partial resection and reconstruction may be needed for extensive vascular invasion.

Keywords: Stomach cancer, resection, vascular repair

Introduction

In recent years, the incidence of gastric cancer and mortality related to this pathology has decreased. Nevertheless, with the increase of malignant proximal gastric lesions throughout the world, it continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths (1). The goal of surgical treatment in gastric cancer is curative resection. In locally advanced gastric cancer, extensive surgical resection of invaded adjacent organs may be required, despite the possibility of perioperative complications (2). In some patients, infiltration of vascular structures may be encountered. In such cases, extended resection is completed with vascular reconstruction. Our goal is to present a case with advanced stage gastric cancer, who required vascular reconstruction during multiple organ resection.

Case Presentation

A 51 year old male patient referred to our clinic with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from the emergency department was found to have a 3x5 cm malignant lesion in the gastric antrum with blood stained appearance. The patient’s general condition was moderate, he was conscious, with a blood pressure of 90/60 mmHg and pulse rate of 120 per minute. Melena was detected in the rectal examination. The hemoglobin value was 6 mg/dL, and hematocrit was 19. The patient was given fluid-electrolyte replacement as well as 3 units of blood transfusion. The patient had continuous hematemesis and hemodynamic deterioration, therefore an emergent laparotomy was performed. In abdominal exploration, a T4 tumoral mass was detected in the gastric antrum, that has invaded beyond the serosa, invaded the pancreatic head and caused complete obstruction of the colon. Total gastrectomy, D II dissection, pancreaticoduodenectomy, transverse colectomy and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. A tumor infiltration was found at the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) where it is connected to the portal vein, and approximately 1.5 cm segment was resected. Then, without using grafts, an end -to-side reimplantation was performed directly to the portal vein with 6/0 polypropylene suture. In the postoperative period, the patient was started on low-molecular- weight-heparin, and patency of the SMV and portal vein were verified by serial Doppler ultrasound evaluations. The patient was hemodynamically stable, he developed an intra-abdominal abscess on the 6th postoperative day which was successfully treated by percutaneous drainage and was discharged on the 15th postoperative day. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed a poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma. Lymph node metastases were detected in 20 out of 24 lymph nodes. The patient underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with Cisplatin + Fluorouracil. During the 13 months postoperative follow-up, local recurrence or distant metastasis was not detected.

Discussion

In T4 gastric cancers, invasion of adjacent organs are observed at a rate of 3-27.5% (3, 4). In such cases, resection of multiple organs may be necessary to achieve a curative gastrectomy. As part of multiple organ resections, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and transverse colectomy is often performed. In some patients with liver metastases metastasectomy is being applied. The lymph node dissection can be done as either D II, or D III dissection (2). However, pancreatoduodenectomy is usually not needed. Although rare, patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy together with gastrectomy have been reported in the literature (5-7).

There are three routes of pancreatic invasion in gastric cancer. Pancreatic head invasion might occur with lymphatic spread throughout the hepatoduodenal ligament and pancreaticoduodenectomy might be necessary. However, this surgery has a high mortality. Pancreatic body and tail could be infiltrated in lesions located in the middle section of the stomach, by spread through lymphatics around the celiac and mesenteric vessels. In this type of patients, curative resection can be provided with distal pancreatectomy. In addition to these, direct extension of the tumor can also be seen (2). In our patient, due to direct extension of the tumor, complete obstruction of the transverse colon was found together with invasion of the pancreatic head. The patient who underwent emergent surgery only had gastroscopy and routine blood tests in the pre-operative period, imaging methods like ultrasonography or computed tomography could not be performed. Therefore, the spread of the tumor could not be detected in the preoperative period. Total gastrectomy, D II dissection, pancreaticoduodenectomy, transverse colectomy and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Carboni et al. (2) reported graft reconstruction of the main hepatic artery due to tumor infiltration in a patient with locally advanced gastric cancer. Similarly, we detected infiltration of the SMV during resection, and performed an end -to-side re-implantation to the portal vein.

Conclusion

Lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis and curative resection are considered as three independent factors for long-term survival in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer with spread to adjacent organs. In order to achieve curative resection, resection of involved adjacent organs may be required. In addition, vascular infiltration could be detected with extended resection. In this case, vascular resection and reconstruction may be needed for radical resection.

Acknowledgement: We thank Dr. Ahmet Tekin for his contributions in the preparation of this manuscript.

Externally peer-reviewed.

Study concept and design - F.A.; Acquisition of data - E.G.; Analysis and interpretation of data - H.Y; Preparation of the manuscript - T.K.

No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

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