Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Does modified Blumgart pancreatojejunostomy compared with original Blumgart pancreatojejunostomy decrease the rate of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula? A single-center propensity score-matched analysis.
Rego FR, et al
Researchers conducted a single-center retrospective study comparing the original Blumgart pancreatojejunostomy technique (B-PJ) with a modified version (mB-PJ) in 292 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy — a complex operation to remove part of the pancreas — between 2011 and 2021. The study's primary focus was clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), a serious leakage complication and the leading cause of illness following this surgery, for which no universally accepted preventive technique currently exists. After applying propensity score matching to reduce selection bias, the rate of CR-POPF was 18.9% in the original Blumgart group versus 15.8% in the modified group, a difference that was not statistically significant, and no meaningful differences were found in any secondary outcomes including mortality, reoperation, or hospital stay. The study identified three independent risk factors for CR-POPF: preoperative cholangitis (bile duct infection), a soft pancreas texture, and a main pancreatic duct diameter of 3 mm or smaller. These findings indicate that the surgical modification does not offer superior protection against this complication, and that patient anatomy and preoperative condition are stronger determinants of risk than the choice of anastomotic technique. Surgeons should focus risk-stratification efforts on these identifiable patient-level factors rather than expecting technical modifications alone to reduce fistula rates.
Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery
Source →Modified posterior pelvic exenteration for ovarian cancer in 8 steps.
Lin S, et al
Researchers and gynecologic surgeons have developed and presented a modified posterior pelvic exenteration technique designed to standardize a complex cytoreductive surgery frequently required in advanced ovarian cancer when tumors extensively involve the rectum and obliterate the pouch of Douglas. The procedure is organized into eight clearly defined steps, encompassing retroperitoneal access, bladder peritoneum incision, space dissections, vaginal and ligamentous dissection, bowel mobilization, rectal transection, and colorectal anastomosis. Unlike traditional approaches, this modification deliberately avoids routine dissection of the lateral paravesical and Latzko's spaces and minimizes ureteric manipulation, thereby reducing anatomical disruption. These refinements are expected to decrease operative complexity, lower the risk of bleeding and ureteric ischemia, and shorten overall operative time without compromising oncologic radicality. The standardized eight-step framework may also reduce the learning curve for surgeons training in complex pelvic cytoreductive procedures, potentially improving outcomes for patients with advanced ovarian cancer worldwide.
Gynecologic oncology reports
Source →Early Identification of Gastrostomy Tube Placement in the Surgical Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer.
Matthews MR, et al
A new study published in Head & Neck investigated which patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are most likely to require a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) — a surgically placed feeding tube — during their primary hospitalization for cancer surgery. Researchers conducted a retrospective review of 145 patients who underwent HNC resection and reconstruction at a single academic institution between 2017 and 2022, analyzing clinical and demographic factors associated with G-tube placement. The analysis identified three independent predictors of reactive G-tube placement: female sex (hazard ratio 1.81), oropharyngeal tumor site (HR 2.42), and absence of prior systemic therapy (HR 0.22), while laryngeal tumors were associated with a notably lower risk. Leveraging these findings, the investigators built a nomogram — a simple visual calculation tool — designed to help surgeons counsel patients about their individual risk before an operation is performed. This work is clinically meaningful because a purely reactive approach to G-tube placement has been linked to prolonged hospitalizations, increased costs, and higher complication rates, making early risk identification a practical strategy to improve value-based care for HNC patients.
Head & neck
Source →The Diagnosis and Treatment of Laryngeal Schwannoma.
Wang S, et al
Researchers at China's Second Xiangya Hospital conducted a 26-year retrospective study examining 14 patients treated for laryngeal schwannoma, a rare benign tumor arising from the nerve sheath cells within the larynx. The cohort of 11 women and 3 men, with a mean age of 40.4 years, most commonly presented with a globus sensation (feeling of something lodged in the throat), hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath. Computed tomography imaging consistently revealed well-defined, oval-shaped lesions with mild heterogeneous enhancement, with the aryepiglottic fold being the most frequently affected anatomical site. Ten patients were successfully treated using minimally invasive transoral endoscopic surgery, while four required an external cervical approach, and all tumors were confirmed as schwannomas through histopathology and positive S-100 protein immunostaining. Complete surgical excision proved curative in all but one case across follow-up periods ranging from 3 to 172 months, with only one patient developing permanent hoarseness as a complication. These findings offer important clinical guidance for managing this uncommon condition, reinforcing that surgical approach selection should be individually tailored based on laryngoscopy and imaging results to optimize patient outcomes.
Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation
Source →3D volume growth rate may open new perspectives for the classification of aggressive pituitary adenomas.
Graillon T, et al
Researchers investigated whether three-dimensional volumetric growth rate (3DVGR), measured using gadolinium-enhanced MRI, could serve as a reliable tool for classifying the aggressiveness of pituitary adenomas (PAs), brain tumors for which no validated histological grading system currently exists. The retrospective study analyzed 76 growth rate measurements from 75 patients with either nonproliferative or proliferative PAs who had undergone surgery, finding that proliferative tumors grew significantly faster at a median of 60.2% per year compared to 21.2% per year for nonproliferative tumors. Using ROC analysis with an AUC of 0.992, three distinct risk categories were established: tumors growing below 50% per year had a median progression-free survival of 99 months, those in the 50–79% range had 39 months, and those growing at 80% or more per year had only 7 months. In multivariate analysis, a 3DVGR of at least 50% per year was the sole independent predictor of early tumor recurrence, outperforming traditional proliferative markers including Ki-67 status. The authors propose a four-tier classification of pituitary adenoma behavior based on growth rate thresholds, which could allow clinicians to more accurately identify patients at highest risk for rapid progression and individualize therapeutic decisions.
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
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