Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Robotic surgical management of gallbladder cancer: comparing outcomes and feasibility of hepatectomy with or without bile duct resection and reconstruction.
Vanterpool G, et al
Researchers from a single institution examined the safety and feasibility of robotic surgery for gallbladder cancer (GBC), comparing outcomes in patients who required removal and reconstruction of the common bile duct versus those who did not. The study analyzed 38 patients treated between 2016 and 2024, all of whom underwent robotic liver resection and lymph node removal, with 9 patients (23.7%) also needing bile duct resection followed by a bowel-to-bile-duct reconnection procedure called Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Patients requiring bile duct resection had more advanced disease, reflected in longer operative times (470 vs. 219 minutes), higher rates of lymphovascular invasion, and more frequent vascular resections, yet no conversions to open surgery occurred in either group. Crucially, the rate of complete tumor removal (R0 resection, 95%) and postoperative complication rates were similar between groups, suggesting that added complexity did not compromise surgical quality. These findings indicate that robotic surgery is a viable and safe minimally invasive option for gallbladder cancer, even in complex cases requiring biliary and vascular reconstruction, potentially offering patients faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery.
Updates in surgery
Source →Cancer Diagnoses in Patients With Cleft Lip and/or Palate: Increased Childhood Cancer Occurrence.
Wan R, et al
Researchers at a single academic medical center conducted a retrospective study examining cancer risk among 2,121 patients diagnosed with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) between 1970 and 2024. Overall, 144 patients (6.8%) received a confirmed cancer diagnosis during the study period, but the elevated risk was concentrated specifically in children under the age of 15, who showed a nearly fivefold higher cancer incidence compared to the general population (standardized incidence ratio 4.7). Pediatric cancers occurred predominantly in patients with syndromic forms of CL/P, and cancer prevalence was also higher among those with cleft palate only or combined cleft lip and palate compared to cleft lip alone. Importantly, adults with CL/P did not show an elevated cancer risk relative to the general population, indicating that the heightened vulnerability is largely restricted to childhood. These findings suggest that clinical care for children with CL/P should include vigilant screening for cancer, thorough assessment of syndromic features and family history, and referral for genetic counseling where appropriate.
The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Source →Educational Case: Meningioma.
Carter AM, et al
This educational case report published in Academic Pathology presents a structured clinical and pathological examination of meningioma, the most frequently occurring primary intracranial tumor in adults, arising from the arachnoid cells of the meninges. The case walks readers through the characteristic histopathological features, immunohistochemical profile, and morphological subtypes used to diagnose and grade meningiomas according to the World Health Organization classification system. Key diagnostic criteria are illustrated to help distinguish between WHO grade 1, 2, and 3 tumors, as tumor grade carries direct implications for surgical planning, likelihood of recurrence, and the need for adjuvant radiation therapy. The publication is designed as a teaching resource for pathology trainees and clinicians, reinforcing practical skills in recognizing both classic and atypical presentations of this tumor type. Accurate pathological grading of meningioma remains essential because higher-grade tumors are associated with significantly worse outcomes and require more aggressive management strategies.
Academic pathology
Source →Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia in Perimenopausal Women: Clinical Analysis, Case Series, and Literature Review.
Xiao L, et al
Researchers at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, retrospectively analyzed five cases of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) — a rare form of pregnancy-related cancer — in perimenopausal women treated between June 2013 and June 2023, including three cases of choriocarcinoma and two cases of invasive mole. GTN in perimenopausal women is exceptionally difficult to diagnose because its primary symptom, abnormal vaginal bleeding, closely resembles the irregular bleeding that is common and expected during perimenopause. The study found that combining serum β-hCG blood testing with pelvic imaging was essential for achieving early and accurate diagnosis in this challenging patient population. All five patients completed treatment and remained free of recurrence for up to two years of follow-up, indicating that a combined approach of total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy alongside chemotherapy is both safe and effective for women without fertility requirements. These findings offer clinicians a practical framework for distinguishing GTN from benign perimenopausal conditions and for optimizing treatment strategies in this rare but potentially life-threatening group of patients.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Source →Clinical Characteristics at the Diagnosis of New Primary Melanoma in Italy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Pennacchioli E, et al
A large Italian multicenter retrospective study investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the clinical presentation of melanoma at diagnosis, comparing four distinct time periods between March 2019 and February 2024 across referral centers within the SICO network. Researchers analyzed data from 4,938 patients with newly diagnosed primary cutaneous melanoma, focusing on key prognostic indicators including Breslow thickness, ulceration, disease stage, and sentinel lymph node status. The study found that melanomas diagnosed both during and after the pandemic were significantly thicker, more frequently ulcerated, and more often classified as stage II or III compared to the pre-pandemic baseline, with sentinel lymph node positivity rates also rising. Most alarmingly, these trends did not reverse in the years following the pandemic, persisting even into the second post-pandemic year and remaining consistent after adjusting for patient age and sex. These findings suggest that COVID-19-related healthcare disruptions have caused a lasting shift toward later-stage melanoma diagnosis in Italy, with consequences for patient prognosis that extend well beyond the pandemic itself. The authors call for urgent measures to restore timely dermatological access and reinforce early detection strategies to counteract this persistent diagnostic delay.
Journal of clinical medicine
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