Journal of surgical oncology
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Quality indicators (QI) have been developed to measure quality of colorectal cancer care in the Netherlands. The aim of this study is to evaluate if these QI consistently assess the quality of colorectal cancer care in a hospital (internal consistency) and if these QI correlate with each other (construct validity). ⋯ QI on colorectal cancer care do provide complementary information. Individual QI are not suitable as a surrogate measure for the quality of colorectal cancer care. More comprehensive measures are needed for true assessment of hospital performance.
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Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have improved survival compared to systemic chemotherapy. We evaluate the results of this treatment in our institution. ⋯ CRS + HIPEC with oxaliplatin for PC from colorectal cancer is an effective treatment with encouraging survival results.
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Results from the National Lung Screening Trial have confirmed that lung cancer mortality is reduced using low-dose CT screening. Opening a lung cancer screening program requires a multidisciplinary approach. While the fundamental aspects of a screening program are similar, such as scheduling, performing, and managing follow-up, there are aspects of a lung cancer screening program that are unique. This article will discuss factors important in establishing a state of the art lung cancer screening program.
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The Landmark National Lung Screening Trial established the potential for low dose CT screening (LDCT) to reduce lung cancer-specific mortality in high-risk patients as defined by smoking history and age. However, the prevalence of lung cancer in asymptomatic smokers selected based on the NLST criteria is low. Recent advances have facilitated biomarker discovery for early diagnosis of lung cancer through the analysis of surrogate tissues, including airway epithelium, sputum, exhaled breath, and blood. ⋯ The NLST ACRIN biomarker repository is a valuable resource of annotated biological specimens that were collected during the NLST trial, which has the potential to facilitate validation of candidate biomarkers for early diagnosis identified in discovery trials. It will be important to perform retrospective and prospective analysis of biomarkers to screen for lung cancer. The review below summarizes some of our understanding of biomarkers in screening.
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Efforts in lung cancer screening with chest X-ray (CXR) and sputum cytology in the 1970s and 1980s were negative. In the ensuing decade, the early lung cancer action project (ELCAP), and the Mayo screening study showed the promise of low-dose CT. These and other studies led to the National lung screening study (NLST), which showed definitively that low-dose spiral computed tomography had a measurable impact on mortality and could be justified as a tool for lung cancer screening. This review examines the results of past and recent studies of lung cancer screening.