Surgical oncology
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
A meta-analysis of chemotherapy regimen fluorouracil/leucovorin/oxaliplatin compared with fluorouracil/leucovorin in treating advanced colorectal cancer.
We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fluorouracil (FU)/Leucovorin (LV)/Oxaliplatin compared to FU/LV in treating advanced colorectal cancer. ⋯ FU/LV/Oxaliplatin offers better efficacy (RR and PFS) than FU/LV in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. The incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities, i.e. neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, neurological toxicity, is significantly higher in the FU/LV/Oxaliplatin than in the FU/LV group but these are manageable or reversible.
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Review
Options of restorative pancreaticoenteric anastomosis following pancreaticoduodenectomy: a review.
Pancreatic fistula (PF), haemorrhage and delayed gastric emptying are some of the common causes of morbidity and PF is the single most important cause of mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Authors, who claim to have reduced leak rates, recommend modifications of the standard technique of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) that are often complex and difficult to standardize for wider applications. ⋯ However, the only three randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) to date have failed to demonstrate the superiority of either technique. Here we discuss the various aspects of pancreaticoenteric anastomosis following pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPD) and the standard pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer: is it an alternative to the open approach?
This study aims to compare short term outcomes and oncological value of laparoscopy assisted (LADG) and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) in the treatment of early gastric cancer. ⋯ LADG is a safe technical alternative to ODG for early gastric cancer with a lower overall complication rate and enhanced postoperative recovery. Endorsing LADG as a better alternative to ODG requires data on long term survival, quality of life and cost effectiveness.
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Medical science is rapidly evolving and an incredible number of publications are being published. Are they all worth reading? Authors are deemed responsible for what they put down in writing; whether they are first or corresponding author, it really makes no difference. ⋯ Starting from an historical perspective, ethical issues in publishing are discussed and technical suggestions on how to get the final draft accepted for publication are outlined. Contributing towards medical science is a great pleasure to be experienced and shared.
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Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) represents 0.2% of all uterine malignancies. Based on the mitotic activity, a distinction is made between low and high-grade ESS. Although the overall five-year survival rate for low-grade ESS exceeds 80%, about 50% of the patients show tumor recurrence, mostly after a long latency period. Tumor invasion of the great vessels is extremely rare. We describe a patient with advanced low-grade ESS with tumor invasion of the infrarenal aorta and the inferior vena cava. The patient presented with a large tumor thrombus extending from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium. ⋯ Low-grade ESS is a rare angioinvasive tumor with a high recurrence rate. Resection of an inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, even with extension into the right heart cavities, can be performed safely. Extensive radical surgery is therefore justified in the treatment of advanced tumor manifestations of a low-grade ESS potentially improving recurrence free survival.