Biomedical subjects

Andrew C Novick

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew C Novick.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Sporadic renal cell carcinoma in young adults: presentation, treatment, and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To present our institutional experience with young adult patients treated for sporadic renal cell cancer (RCC) during the past two decades. Sporadic RCC is rare in patients younger than 40 years old, accounting for only 3.4% of cases. METHODS: A retrospective review of 101 patients with sporadic RCC between the ages of 20 and 40 years was performed. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.7 +/- 5.5 years. Tumors were discovered incidentally in 40 patients (40%) and were symptomatic in 61 (60%). Sixteen patients (16%) had distant metastasis at diagnosis. For unilateral disease, 58 underwent radical nephrectomy and 31 nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). For bilateral RCC, 2 patients underwent bilateral radical nephrectomy, 3 underwent bilateral NSS, and 7 underwent NSS on one side and a staged contralateral radical nephrectomy. The mean postoperative follow-up was 48 +/- 44 months. RESULTS: The overall and cancer-specific 5-year survival rate was 61% and 67%, respectively. Tumor stage (P < 0.001) and grade (P < 0.001) had a significant impact on survival. Incidentally discovered tumors were less likely to develop metastases and had improved cancer-specific survival compared with symptomatic tumors (P = 0.001). The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate by pathologic stage was 88% for T1N0M0, 64% for T2N0M0, 61% for T3N0M0, and 0% for N+ and M+ (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that RCC does not behave more aggressively in young adults younger than 40 years old than in older adults. The major determinants of patient survival are tumor stage and grade at presentation. Outcome is similar in select patients whether undergoing NSS or radical nephrectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Prognostic importance of resection margin width after nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between the width of the resection margin and disease progression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). During NSS for RCC, it is standard practice to excise the tumor along with a surrounding margin of normal parenchyma (margin of resection) to ensure complete resection of the neoplasm. However, no agreement has been reached on how wide the margin of resection should be. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the histopathologic sections and medical records of 69 patients with localized RCC who had undergone NSS between 1976 and 1988 to determine whether the resection margin, tumor size, TNM stage, and Fuhrman nuclear grade were associated with disease progression (defined as local tumor recurrence or metastasis). The mean postoperative follow-up interval was 8.5 years. RESULTS: No association was found between the width of the resection margin and disease progression (P = 0.98, log-rank test). Both TNM stage and Fuhrman nuclear grade correlated with disease progression. Patients with T1-T2 tumors had lower progression (P <0.001, log-rank test), and increased Fuhrman nuclear grade correlated with more disease progression (P <0.001, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: The width of the resection margin after NSS for RCC does not correlate with long-term disease progression. A histologic tumor-free margin of resection, irrespective of the width of the margin is sufficient to achieve complete local excision of RCC.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

The effect of two different cyclosporine formulations on the long-term progression to chronic rejection in renal allograft recipients.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of the microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine (CsA) (Neoral-NEO) has been shown to provide improved absorption and less intrapatient variability than the previous formulation (Sandimmune-SIM) in kidney transplant recipients. It has been suggested that the use of the microemulsion formulation results in less acute rejection, and therefore permits better long-term transplant outcomes. Our aim was to determine whether the microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine has reduced the long-term (5 yr or more) rates of chronic rejection (allograft nephropathy) in a renal transplant population. METHODS: The study population included 792 (508 cadaveric and 284 living donor) transplants performed in 786 patients at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and its affiliate hospitals between July 1, 1987 and July 1, 1998. Patients who were less than 18-yr-old or had less than 12 months of graft function were excluded from the analysis. Over 90% of the cadaveric and 11% of the live donor recipients were given an induction antibody. A total of 591 patients were given the SIM formulation and 201 the NEO formulation of cyclosporine. Additional maintenance therapy included either azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. All patients were followed to graft loss, death, or return to dialysis. The NEO group was followed until December 2001. The diagnosis of acute rejection was biopsy confirmed in >92% of cases. Chronic rejection was identified by clinical and biopsy criteria. Demographic and clinical data was collected from medical records, interviews, and phone contact with patients and treating physicians. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 84 +/- 31 months for the SIM group, and 54 +/- 14 months for the NEO group. At 70 months there was no significant difference (p = 0.17) - actuarial patient survival between the SIM (90.7%) vs. the NEO (93%) treated patients. In addition, at 70 months there was no significant difference (p = 0.55) in death censored actuarial graft survival between the SIM (84.3%) and the NEO treated (85.7%) patients. The acute rejection-free rate was 10% higher for the NEO vs. the SIM patients (79 vs. 69%, p = 0.0004). Chronic rejection was diagnosed in 141 of 591 (24%) of the SIM patients and in 56 of 201 (28%) of the NEO patients (p = ns). At 5 yr the mean serum creatinine (mg/dL) was 2.07 +/- 1.69 for the SIM and 2.15 +/- 1.61 for the NEO patients (p = ns). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the microemulsion formulation of CsA has led to the improved delivery of the parent drug, and a decrease in the number of acute rejection episodes post-transplant. However, patient and graft survival, renal function, and progression to chronic allograft nephropathy at 5 yr were no different. The advantages of greater drug exposure from the microemulsion formulation may be counterbalanced by increased drug induced nephrotoxicity over time.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effect of diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb HemAssist) during high blood loss surgery on selected indices of organ function.

BACKGROUND: The safety of the hemoglobin based oxygen carrier diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb) has been reported only in the low (50-200 mg/kg) dose range [Przybelski. R.J.; Daily, E.K.; Kisicki, J.C.; Mattia-Goldberg, C.; Bounds, M.J.; Colburn, W.A. Phase I study of the safety and pharmacologic effects of diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin solution. Crit. Care Med. 1996, 24 (12), 1993-2000, Bloomfield, E.; Rady, M.; Popovich, M.; Esfandiari, S.; Bedocs, N. The use of diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb 1996, 95, (3A), A220.]. We conducted a randomized prospective open-label trial of DCLHb and packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in high-blood loss surgical patients to show the effect of 750 ml DCLHb (approximately 1000 mg/kg) on selected indices of organ function. METHOD: After institutional approval, 24 patients scheduled to undergo elective orthopedic or abdominal surgery, were randomized to receive either PRBCs or 10% DCLHb within 12 hours after the start of surgery. Patients with renal insufficiency, abnormal liver function, severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and ASA physical status > or = IV were excluded. The anesthetic technique was left to the judgment of the anesthesiologist. Autologous predonation and intraoperative blood conservation techniques were utilized as appropriate. The indications for blood transfusion were individualized on disease state, stage of surgery, and plasma Hb concentration. Laboratory studies were obtained preoperatively and up to 28 days postoperatively. Patients were observed daily for development of jaundice, hematuria, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, cardiac, respiratory, and infectious complications. Organ effects were assessed with urinalysis, creatinine clearance, electrocardiogram (ECG), and a panel of blood and serum laboratory tests. RESULTS: The dose of DCLHb administered ranged from 680-1500 mg/kg (mean = 999 mg/kg). Estimated blood loss was 27 +/- 13 ml/kg and 31 +/- 15 ml/kg in the control and DCLHb groups, respectively. Fewer PRBCs (1.9 +/- 1.2 vs. 3.4 +/- 2.4 units. P = 0.06) were transfused to DCLHb patients on the operative day although this difference was no longer apparent later on. In the DCLHb group, 4/12 patients avoided any allogeneic PRBC transfusion vs. none in the control group (P = 0.09). Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure increased moderately after DCLHb for a period of 24-30 hours. There were no occurrences of cardiac ischemia. myocardial infarction, stroke, or pulmonary edema, by clinical or laboratory parameters up to the 28th postoperative day (POD). Seven of 12 (58%) DCLHb patients had yellow skin discoloration vs. none in the PRBC group (P < 0.01). Two of four non-urologic surgery patients developed asymptomatic postoperative hemoglobinuria after DCLHb. Creatinine clearance was unchanged postoperatively. Because of hemoglobin interference, bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and amylase could not be measured reliably on POD1; on POD2. amylase was transiently elevated to 3 times ULN along with mild elevations of bilirubin, transaminases and BUN. Mean total creatine phoshokinase (CPK) peaked at 8 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) in the DCLHb group, compared with less than twice ULN for controls. Three DCLHb patients had prolonged ileus. Two of these patients had postoperative hyperamylasemia, one of whom developed mild pancreatitis. DCLHb did not affect white blood cell count or coagulation tests. CONCLUSION: Administration of approximately 1000 mg/kg DCLHb was associated with transient arterial hypertension, gastrointestinal side effects, laboratory abnormalities, yellow skin discoloration, and hemoglobinuria. These observations point to opportunities for improvement in future synthetic hemoglobin design.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma.

Nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) provides effective curative therapy for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma. In patients with imperative indications, it represents an alternative to renal replacement therapy. For selected patients with systemic comorbidities that threaten global renal function, NSS preserves unaffected nephrons with excellent cancer-specific survival. Elective partial nephrectomy for patients with a small (< or = 4 cm), unifocal tumor and a normal contralateral kidney is associated with a low risk (0%-3%) of local recurrence and cancer-specific survival rates of 90%-100%. Comparisons between radical and partial nephrectomy demonstrate equivalent cancer control over five years. Minimally invasive techniques of NSS are feasible but await improved technologies and long-term outcome data before they become fully acceptable treatment options.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

PubMed2002

Enhancement characteristics of papillary renal neoplasms revealed on triphasic helical CT of the kidneys.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether renal tumor enhancement or heterogeneity on triphasic helical CT scans is predictive of the papillary cell subtype or nuclear grade of renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the CT scans of 90 consecutive patients with renal masses who had undergone triphasic renal helical CT before a complete or partial nephrectomy (12 with papillary renal cell carcinomas, 66 with nonpapillary renal cell carcinomas, and 12 with benign lesions). Three radiologists who were unaware of the patients' diagnoses retrospectively and independently measured the attenuation of each patient's tumor, abdominal aorta, and normal renal parenchyma on the scans obtained during all three phases. Ratios of tumor-to-aorta enhancement and tumor-to-normal renal parenchyma enhancement were calculated for both of the phases performed after contrast material had been administered. Tumor heterogeneity was calculated as the difference between the highest and lowest attenuation values divided by the value of the enhancement of the aorta. Values were correlated with cell type and nuclear grade found at surgical pathology. RESULTS: Low tumor-to-aorta enhancement and low tumor-to-normal renal parenchyma enhancement ratios on the vascular phase scans significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with papillary renal cell type carcinoma. Homogeneity and tumor-to-parenchyma enhancement ratios on the parenchymal phase scans also significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with papillary renal cell type carcinoma. Heterogeneity and tumor enhancement ratios did not correlate with the nuclear grade of the carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Papillary renal cell carcinomas are typically hypovascular and homogeneous. A high tumor-to-parenchyma enhancement ratio (> or = 25%) essentially excludes the possibility of a tumor being papillary renal cell carcinoma. A low tumor-to-aorta enhancement ratio or tumor-to-normal renal parenchyma enhancement ratio is more likely to indicate papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

The effect of dopamine on renal function in solitary partial nephrectomy surgery.

PURPOSE: Dopamine continues to be used for preventing and treating acute renal failure. We determined the effects of dopamine on postoperative renal function in patients with a solitary kidney undergoing partial nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized controlled study at a tertiary care referral center involving 24 patients with a solitary kidney undergoing partial nephrectomy secondary to malignancy. Patients were randomized to receive dopamine (11) [corrected] or no dopamine (13) [corrected]. Intraoperatively those assigned to the dopamine group received a 3 microg./kg. per minute dopamine infusion. Patients in each group received an adequate amount of fluid to maintain good urine production, systemic blood pressure and central venous pressure. Serum electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, serum and urine osmolality, and urine output were measured at baseline, intraoperatively and through postoperative day 4. Preoperatively and postoperatively renal blood flow and the glomerular filtration rate were measured. RESULTS: In the 2 groups blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased postoperatively. Although the degree of this increase showed a trend to be lower in the dopamine group, the difference did not reach statistical significance. There was no difference in renal blood flow or the glomerular filtration rate in the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administering dopamine to patients with a solitary kidney undergoing partial nephrectomy provided no renoprotective effect.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed2002

Renal cell carcinoma invading the urinary collecting system: implications for staging.

PURPOSE: Current TNM staging of renal cell carcinoma is based on the tumor propensity for local extension (T), nodal involvement (N) and metastatic spread (M). Locally advanced renal cell carcinoma may involve the perirenal fat, adrenal glands, renal vein, vena cava and/or urinary collecting system. The existing TNM classification does not reflect the ability of renal cell carcinoma to invade the urothelium. We evaluated the incidence and characteristics as well as overall and cancer specific survival of renal cell carcinoma invading the urinary collecting system. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed pathological findings in 504 kidneys from 475 patients with renal cell carcinoma who presented to our institution in a 3-year period. Urothelial involvement required evidence of gross or histological invasion of the renal calices, infundibulum, pelvis or ureter. Demographic and survival data were obtained from medical records and an institutional cancer registry for tumors invading the urothelium. Stage specific survival data were then compared with tumors not involving the urinary collecting system. RESULTS: Definitive urothelial involvement by the primary tumor was interpretable in 426 of 504 kidneys. Invasion of the collecting system was identified in 61 of 426 cases (14%). Mean diameter of the invading lesions was 10.2 cm. (range 3 to 26). The majority of cases showed clear cell and sarcomatoid histology. Invasion by a papillary lesion was rare. Involvement of the collecting system was most common at the renal poles. Of 61 lesions invading the collecting system 48 (79%) were stage pT3 or greater, while only 13 (21%) were pathologically localized stage pT2 or less. Vascular invasion was identified in 38 renal cell carcinoma cases (62%) with urothelial involvement. A total of 16 cases (26%) were associated with vena caval thrombus. Invading tumors were high Fuhrman grade III or IV in 43 cases (70%). Overall disease specific survival was poor with a median of 19 months. In patients with localized stage pT1 or pT2N0M0 disease and urothelial invasion median disease specific survival was 46 months. CONCLUSIONS: Renal cell carcinoma lesions involving the renal collecting system are characteristically large, high grade and high stage. Clear cell carcinoma most commonly invades, while invasion by papillary tumors is rare. Overall the prognosis for high stage lesions with urothelial involvement is poor and does not appear significantly different from the reported disease specific survival of patients with high stage lesions without urothelial invasion. Localized tumors 4 cm. or less, which are amenable to elective nephron sparing surgery, rarely invade the urothelium. However, when a low stage pT2 or less renal lesion involves the urinary space, survival appears worse than equivalently staged renal cell carcinoma without invasion. Including urothelial invasion into current TNM staging systems for renal cell carcinoma is unlikely to provide significant additional prognostic or therapeutic information.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗