Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is infrequently found among all thyroid nodules in previously iodine deficient regions. Measurement of serum calcitonin is an important tool for early identification of MTC among the large number of thyroid nodules. With the use of modern laboratory assays and sex-specific reference intervals, clinical diagnostic specificity has considerably improved. ⋯ Selpercatinib is approved in the EU for treatment in the second and later lines of treatment. They have demonstrated a favorable safety profile and high objective response rates also in previously treated MTC patients. The use of selective RET inhibitors in the first line setting is currently the subject of clinical trials.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Nov 2021
[Contrast media use in kidney disease - clinical practice recommendations].
Contrast media use in patients with renal disease regularly ensures discussions in everyday clinical practice. Both X-ray and MRI contrast media are predominantly eliminated by the kidneys and therefore closely linked to kidney function. Risk stratification prior to contrast media use in patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction should be based on eGFR-determination. ⋯ Therefore, no further specific procedures preventing contrast-associated kidney injury are recommended. Timing of contrast media injection and dialysis sessions in patients with end stage renal disease is necessary only after MRI contrast media use. Independently, acute kidney injury requires a patient individual decision.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Nov 2021
Case Reports[Thoracolumbar back pain as the leading symptom of a marked COVID-19 pneumonia].
A 49-year-old male patient visited the surgical outpatient clinic with new onset low back pain. The pain was increasing for nine days and he did not have any signs of a respiratory infection, in particular neither fever nor cough. ⋯ Low back pain can be a symptom of COVID-19. In our case report, it was the only complain that led to the outpatient consultation. Even though back pain is a very common symptom in everyday practice, one should keep unusual causes in mind.
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Gastric and esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma are leading causes of cancer mortality and morbidity worldwide. In this short update article, we outline novel key developments in this field. Molecular defined subtypes can guide treatment decisions and create a roadmap for development of future agents in distinct subgroups of gastric cancer. ⋯ First line treatment should include trastuzmab in case of Her2 positivity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are very effective in microsatellite instable tumors even in late treatment lines. In perspective, checkpoint inhibitors hold promise to become part of the standard treatment in the near future and novel Her2 targeted treatment approaches currently under development show promising results.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Nov 2021
[Multimodal, interdisciplinary therapeutic concepts for liver metastasized colorectal cancer].
About half of all patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) develop metastases mainly in the liver during the course of their disease. Metastatic disease is associated with a low 5-year overall survival rate of only 5-7 %, particularly when there is no possibility of local treatment. However, if there is an opportunity to resect the metastases, especially isolated liver metastases, the chance of long-term survival is approximately 15-27 % after both primary resection or secondary resection after neoadjuvant pretreatment. ⋯ Of note, for the vast majority of patients, metastatic resection does not mean cure, but a significant prolongation of overall survival with a good quality of life. Chemotherapy-free intervals after metastasis resection maintain quality of life and can help to reduce toxicity. In this review, we would like to present the "toolbox" for the multidisciplinary treatment of metastatic CRC and give recommendations how the individual modalities should be optimally used, considering tumor-specific characteristics and patient preferences.