Annals of surgical oncology
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Multicenter Study
Pain palliation in patients with bone metastases using MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery: a multicenter study.
Noninvasive thermal ablation using magnetic resonance (MR)-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been shown to be clinically effective in uterine fibroids, and is being evaluated for ablation of breast, liver, and brain lesions. Recently MRgFUS has been evaluated for palliation of pain caused by bone metastases. We present the clinical results of a multicenter study using MRgFUS for palliation of bone metastases pain. ⋯ The results suggest that MRgFUS has the ability to provide an accurate, effective, and safe noninvasive palliative treatment for patients with bone metastases.
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Comparative Study
Matched-case comparison for the role of surgery in FIGO stage Ib1-IIa squamous cell carcinoma of cervix and suspicious para-aortic lymph node metastasis.
We sought to compare the efficacy and toxicity between surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiation and primary concurrent chemoradiation in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage Ib1-IIa squamous cell carcinoma of cervix and suspicious para-aortic lymph node metastasis by preoperative computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging. From January 2000 to December 2007, 48 patients treated with radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy followed by concurrent chemoradiation (group 1) were matched to 16 patients treated with primary concurrent chemoradiation (group 2) from medical records. Primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival, and secondary end points were late complications by concurrent chemoradiation and pattern of disease recurrence. ⋯ Surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiation and FIGO stage Ib1 were only statistically significant factors for improved PFS (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.231 and 0.244; 95% confidence interval, 0.072-0.821 and 0.086-0.697), although there was no prognostic factor for overall survival. Furthermore, there was no difference in grade 3 or 4 late complications between groups 1 and 2 (25.0% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.745). Surgery followed by concurrent chemoradiation may improve PFS and reduce distant metastasis without difference in late complications compared with primary concurrent chemoradiation in patients with FIGO stage Ib1-IIa squamous cell carcinoma of cervix and suspicious para-aortic lymph node metastasis.
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Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has emerged as a complementary treatment for superficial metastases. Fifty-two consecutive patients with different cancer histotypes, mainly melanoma and breast cancer, with disease unsuitable for conventional treatments underwent bleomycin-based ECT for cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases. Toxicity, local response, response duration, and the impact on quality of life were evaluated. ⋯ Through a nonvalidated eight-item questionnaire (assessing wound healing and bleeding, aesthetic impairment, daily activities, social relations, pain, treatment satisfaction, acceptance of retreatment), most patients reported a benefit in local disease-related complaints and in activity of daily living. In a palliative setting, ECT proved to be safe, effective in all tumors treated, and useful in preserving patients' quality of life. This benefit, although preliminary, deserves further assessment after a formal validation of the dedicated questionnaire.
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The aim of this study is to analyze our experience about the benefits and morbidity of primary vaginal reconstruction in pelvic exenteration. Over a 10-year period, 64 patients underwent a pelvic exenteration for gynecologic cancer, except for ovarian and fallopian cancer. Twenty-nine patients underwent pelvic exenteration with vaginal reconstruction [21 cases with transverse rectus-abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap and eight cases with Singapore fascio-cutaneous flap]. ⋯ Nevertheless, this complication was statistically associated (p = 0.0009) with low CRA (<5 cm). TRAM flap seems to be the preferable option for reconstructing the vagina after pelvic exenteration. The Singapore fascio-cutaneous flap carries a higher rate of complications, does not work as functional neovagina after pelvic exenteration, and does not seem to be a good choice in cases of low colorectal anastomosis.
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Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a fundamental outcome in surgical oncology and culturally valid tools are essential for this purpose. Our aim was to validate the Mexican-Spanish versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-STO22 disease-specific questionnaire module in Mexican patients with gastric cancer (GC). The translation procedure followed EORTC guidelines. ⋯ Multitrait scaling analysis demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity. Test-retest scores were consistent. We conclude that the Mexican-Spanish versions of EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-C22 questionnaires are reliable and valid for HRQL measurement in patients with GC and are therefore recommended for use in clinical trials of Mexican community.