Macroscopy predicts tumor progression in gastric cancer: A retrospective patho-historical analysis based on Napoleon Bonaparte's autopsy report.

Dawson, Heather; Novotny, Alexander; Becker, Karen; Reim, Daniel; Langer, Rupert; Gullo, Irene; Svrcek, Magali; Niess, Jan Hendrik; Tutuian, Radu; Truninger, Kaspar; Diamantis, Ioannis; Blank, Annika; Zlobec, Inti; Riddell, Robert H; Carneiro, Fatima; Fléjou, Jean-François; Genta, Robert M; Lugli, Alessandro (2016). Macroscopy predicts tumor progression in gastric cancer: A retrospective patho-historical analysis based on Napoleon Bonaparte's autopsy report. Digestive and liver disease, 48(11), pp. 1378-1385. Elsevier 10.1016/j.dld.2016.07.013

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BACKGROUND

The cause of Napoleon Bonaparte's death remains controversial. Originally suggested to be gastric cancer, whether this was truly neoplastic or a benign lesion has been recently debated.

AIMS

To interpret findings of original autopsy reports in light of the current knowledge of gastric cancer and to highlight the significance of accurate macroscopy in modern-day medicine.

METHODS

Using original autopsy documents, endoscopic images and data from current literature, Napoleon's gastric situation was reconstructed. In a multicenter collection of 2071 gastric cancer specimens, the relationship between tumor size and features of tumor progression was assessed.

RESULTS

Greater tumor size was associated with advanced pT, nodal metastases and Borrmann types 3-4 (p<0.001). The best cut-off for predicting pT3-4 tumors was 6.5cm (AUC 0.8; OR 1.397, 95% CI 1.35-1.446), and 6cm for lymph node metastases (AUC 0.775; OR 1.389, 95% CI 1.338-1.442). The 6cm cut-off of had a positive predictive value of 0.820 for nodal metastases and a negative predictive value of 0.880 for distant metastases.

CONCLUSION

This analysis combines Napoleon's autopsy with present-day knowledge to support gastric cancer as his terminal illness and emphasizes the role of macroscopy, which may provide valuable information on gastric cancer progression and aid patient management.

Item Type:

 Journal Article (Further Contribution)

Division/Institute:

 04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Gastroenterology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Pathology > Clinical Pathology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Pathology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Gastroenterologie / Mukosale Immunologie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Gastroenterologie / Mukosale Immunologie

UniBE Contributor:

 Dawson, Heather, Langer, Rupert, Niess, Jan Hendrik, Tutuian, Radu, Blank, Annika, Zlobec, Inti, Lugli, Alessandro

Subjects:

 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

 1590-8658

Publisher:

 Elsevier

Language:

 English

Submitter:

 Doris Haefelin

Date Deposited:

 22 Dec 2016 13:47

Last Modified:

 05 Dec 2022 15:00

Publisher DOI:

 10.1016/j.dld.2016.07.013

PubMed ID:

 27522550

Uncontrolled Keywords:

 Autopsy; Gastric cancer; Napoleon Bonaparte; Tumor size

BORIS DOI:

 10.7892/boris.92037

URI:

 https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/92037

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