Cancer
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In cases of surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), postoperative intrahepatic recurrence is the main obstacle to long-term survival of patients. The association between perioperative transfusion and recurrence-free survival was studied in 126 patients with HCC who underwent hepatic resection between 1985 and 1990 and in whom complete follow-up information was available until 1992. ⋯ The association between erythrocyte transfusion and the recurrence-free survival was recognized only in patients with im-negative HCC.
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The Mayo Lung Project (MLP) reported lung cancer incidence and mortality in a population offered chest radiographs and sputum cytologic screening examinations every 4 months and a population offered only the Mayo Clinic advice to undergo annual examination. No mortality benefit attributable to screening was observed after 6 years of observation and at least 1 year of follow-up. ⋯ A trial of the magnitude, duration, and contamination of the MLP would have a less than 20% probability of showing significant benefit from screening; however, long-term annual screening might result in a modest decrease in lung cancer mortality, ranging from 0% to 13%. A greater benefit would accrue from improved detection and treatment.
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Twenty-six patients with desmoid tumors of the extremities (n = 20) or trunk (n = 6) have been treated since 1977. Nine of these were referred with primary tumors and 17 with recurrent tumors. ⋯ Desmoid tumor of the trunk or extremities treated with surgical resection, supplemented selectively by adjuvant radiation, can be controlled locally in the majority (96%) of patients.
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Patients presenting with an enlarged cervical lymph node containing squamous cell carcinoma are a difficult problem for head and neck surgeons. In most cases, the primary site lies in the head and neck region. The advent of fine-needle aspiration cytologic study means that this group of patients can be accurately identified in the clinic and investigated accordingly. ⋯ Patients presenting with a lymph node metastasis in the head and neck region from an unknown primary have a prognosis identical to that of other patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma with neck node metastases. The prognosis for patients in whom the primary site is never discovered or in whom the primary site is not head and neck, however, is disastrous. If the primary tumor proves to be in the head and neck region, treatment is worthwhile since almost a third of patients are cured of their disease. When the primary carcinoma is not in the head and neck region, treatment must be considered palliative.