Background Although most pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are solid, approximately 10% are cystic. Some studies have suggested that cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are associated with a more ...favorable prognosis. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who underwent operative resection between 1999 and 2014 at a single academic medical center was performed. Based on cross-sectional imaging performed before operation, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors were classified according to the size of the cystic component relative to the total tumor size: purely cystic (100%), mostly cystic (≥50%), mostly solid (<50%), and purely solid (0%). Clinicopathologic characteristics and recurrence-free survival were assessed between groups. Results In the study, 214 patients met inclusion criteria: 8 with purely cystic tumors, 7 with mostly cystic tumors, 15 with mostly solid tumors, and 184 with purely solid tumors. The groups differed in terms of tumor size (1.5 ± 0.5, 3.0 ± 1.7, 3.7 ± 2.6, and 4.0 ± 3.5 cm), lymph node positivity (0%, 0%, 26.7%, and 34.2%), intermediate or high grade (0%, 16.7%, 20.0%, and 31.0%), synchronous liver metastases (0%, 14.3%, 20.0%, and 26.6%) and need for pancreaticoduodenectomy (0%, 0%, 6.7%, and 25.0%), respectively. No cases of purely cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors were associated with synchronous liver or lymph node metastasis, intermediate/high grade, recurrence, or death due to disease. Among patients presenting without metastatic disease, 10-year recurrence-free survival was 100% in patients with purely and mostly cystic tumors versus 53.0% in patients with purely and mostly solid tumors; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors demonstrate a spectrum of biologic behavior with an increasing cystic component being associated with more favorable clinicopathologic features and prognosis. Purely cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors may represent 1 subset that can be safely observed without immediate resection.
To determine if patient aspirin exposure and timing affect bleeding risk after renal allograft biopsy.
Review of 6,700 renal allograft biopsies (in 2,362 unique patients) was performed. Median ...patient age was 53.0 years interquartile range 43.0, 62.0; 56.2% of patients were male. Of biopsies, 4,706 (70.2%) were performed in patients with no aspirin exposure within 10 days of biopsy; 664 (9.9%), were performed within 8-10 days of aspirin exposure; 855 (12.8%), within 4-7 days; and 475 (7.1%), within 0-3 days. Follow-up to 3 months after the procedure was completed in all patients. Biopsies were categorized as protocol or indication; 19.7% were indication biopsies. Bleeding complications were graded based on SIR criteria. Logistic regression models examined the association between aspirin use and bleeding events.
Rate 95% confidence interval of major bleeding complications was 0.24% 0.14, 0.39, and rate of any bleeding complication was 0.66% 0.46, 0.90. Bleeding events were significantly associated with patients undergoing indication biopsies compared with protocol biopsies (odds ratio OR 2.27, P = .012). Patient factors associated with major bleeding complications in multivariate models included estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR 0.61, P = .016) and platelet count (OR 0.64, P = .033). Aspirin use was not significantly associated with increased risk of bleeding complication except for use of 325 mg of aspirin within 3 days of biopsy (any complication OR 3.87 1.12, 13.4, P = .032; major complication OR 6.30 1.27, 31.3, P = .024).
Renal allograft biopsy bleeding complications are very rare, particularly for protocol biopsies. Use of 325 mg of aspirin within 3 days of renal allograft biopsy was associated with increased bleeding complications.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) acutely decrease left ventricular wall stress. Thus, early postoperative levels of N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) should decrease. This ...study investigated postoperative changes in NT-proBNP levels, the parameters related to changes, and the possible association with complications by performing a retrospective analysis of changes in daily NT-proBNP (pg/ml) levels from admission to discharge both before and after LVAD implantation in a tertiary referral center. For 72 patients implanted with HeartMate II LVADs, baseline NT-proBNP levels were elevated at 3,943 ng/ml (interquartile range 1,956 to 12,964). Preoperative stabilization led to marked decreases in NT-proBNP. Levels peaked 3 days after surgery and subsequently decreased. Patients with complicated postoperative courses had higher early postoperative elevations. By discharge, NT-proBNP decreased markedly but was still 2.83 (1.60 to 5.76) times the age-based upper limit of normal. The 26% reduction in NT-proBNP between admission and discharge was due mostly to the preoperative reductions and not those induced by the LVAD itself. The decrease was not associated with decreases in LV volume. In conclusion, preoperative treatment reduces NT-proBNP values. The magnitude of early postoperative changes is related to the clinical course. Levels at discharge remain markedly elevated and similar to values after preoperative stabilization despite presumptive acute LV unloading.
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