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Biomedical subjects

K Talle

Publications and source records attributed to K Talle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Computed tomography of pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma: the less poor technique. A study of 51 patients with histological correlation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose is to evaluate the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in the pulmonary staging of osteosarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients presenting with osteosarcoma and at initial CT considered metastatic to the chest had lung surgery. Two teams of two senior radiologists independently reviewed all CT examinations. Their results were compared to the histological studies. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen CT's were reviewed. The 2 teams found 247 and 268 nodules on the initial. and 143 and 146 nodules on the preoperative CT. Histological studies confirmed metastatic nodules in 29 patients. Two hundred four nodules were excised and studied. One hundred nine were metastases. The 22 patients without metastases had 53 negative nodules removed. In the 29 patients with metastases, 151 nodules were removed, and 42 were non-metastatic. The positive predictive value was 53% with regard to 'nodules', and 57% with regard to 'patients'. Only 4 out of 13 patients with one nodule at surgery were metastatic, but all patients with more than 7 nodules were metastatic. The 46 cases with several available CT's, showed that no change in the number of nodules was more frequent in benign lesions. Other criteria revealed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: CT positive predictive value is limited, but as surgery is the only way to cure metastatic patients, CT will still be used as the reference technique until a more specific approach can be found.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Incidence of radiation-induced insufficiency fractures of the female pelvis: evaluation with MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence, time of appearance, and evolution of radiation-induced insufficiency fractures of the female pelvis with MR imaging. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighteen women (nine premenopausal and nine postmenopausal) with advanced cervical carcinoma were studied prospectively with MR imaging. The examinations totaled 216 and were scheduled before radiation therapy, three times during radiation therapy, and eight times after radiation therapy. T1-weighted and short inversion time inversion recovery images were obtained. The images were evaluated by two radiologists in consensus. The criterion for fracture was edema, indicated by an area of high signal intensity on short inversion time inversion recovery images and corresponding low signal intensity on T1-weighted images. CT scans (n = 61) and bone scans (n = 58) were used to confirm each diagnosis of fracture. RESULTS: Sixteen (89%) of 18 patients (seven premenopausal and nine postmenopausal) showed findings compatible with insufficiency fractures. Thirteen patients had more than one lesion. The first fracture was detected between 3 and 12 months after the end of radiation therapy. During the study, the fractures associated with edema subsided without treatment in 41 (79%) of 52 lesions in 15 (94%) of 16 patients. Fractures were confirmed with additional imaging in all 16 patients (CT in 14 patients and bone scanning in nine patients). CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced insufficiency fractures were frequently seen in premenopausal and postmenopausal women within 12 months after radiation therapy. Multiple fractures developed within 24 months. Twenty-one percent of the lesions healed during the observation period of 30 months.

Adult↗

Treatment of advanced, high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma with ifosfamide and continuous-infusion etoposide.

A total of 33 patients (median age, 44 years) with high-grade, adult soft-tissue sarcoma were treated with etoposide given at 600 mg/m2 in a 72-h continuous infusion and ifosfamide given at 1500 mg/m2 per day for 3 days every 3 weeks. Dose escalation/reduction was protocolled depending on the level of hematological toxicity observed in the preceding course. Overall, 90% of patients had metastatic disease, and the most common histologies were malignant fibrous histiocytoma and leiomyosarcoma. A median of 5 (range, 1-9) courses were given. Of 30 patients who were evaluable for response, 12 (40%) obtained a partial remission, and the median time to progression was 8 (range, 4-13) months. Grade 3-4 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen after 89% and 8% of the courses, respectively; neutropenic fever was seen in half of the patients (15% of courses); and 32% of courses had to be postponed by 7 days or more due to myelosuppression. Dose reduction to below the standard had to be performed in 46% of courses, and dose escalation was achieved in only 13%. The reduced toxicity seen after the addition of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in five patients indicates that growth-factor support may enhance the dose intensity of the regimen. The results indicate significant activity for this regimen in adult soft-tissue sarcoma, which may in part be a result of the escalated dose and prolonged mode of administration of the phase-specific agent etoposide. As a result of this pilot series, a phase II study with ifosfamide, etoposide, and G-CSF in advanced adult soft-tissue sarcoma has been initiated by the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group.

Adult↗

[Treatment of chondrosarcoma. A retrospective study at the Norwegian Radium Hospital].

The authors present a retrospective analysis of 59 chondrosarcoma patients treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital during the period 1981 to 1993. 31 patients were admitted with untouched tumour, seven after fine needle cytology and 20 after open biopsy or partial excision. One patient had recurrent local disease. Only 20% of the tumours were of high grade malignancy. 51 patients were treated by surgery. Reconstructions were performed in 16 patients, using allografts or endoprostheses. Amputations were performed in six cases and wide excision in 12 cases. In these 18 patients local recurrence appeared in one case, and two developed lung metastases. Only one of the 18 patients operated by amputation or wide excision has since died from chondrosarcoma. Marginal excisions were performed in 26 cases. Nine of these patients developed a local recurrence, five developed metastases and three have died. Six patients had partial excisions. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to one patient only. Five of the six are alive. In one case, the quality of the margins could not be evaluated. A total of 45 of the 51 patients treated for the primary tumour by surgery are alive. The median observation time is four years. Treatment of nonmetastatic chondrosarcoma should be surgical. Chondrosarcoma patients show wider variations in age, localization of tumour and tumour growth rate than patients with other bone sarcomas. Although wide excisions provide the best local control of any grade of malignancy, the mutilation or risk involved may be so great that some patients may benefit from marginal or even partial excision.

Adult↗

[Diagnostic aspects of subacute osteomyelitis in children and adolescents. Clinical and radiographic resemblance to primary malignant tumors].

During a six-year period, 17 patients younger than 20 years of age, with a final diagnosis of subacute osteomyelitis, were admitted to the Norwegian Radium Hospital because of an initial suspicion of primary malignant bone tumour. The most common localizations were the metaphyses of long bones (eight patients) and the clavicle (four patients). Pain was the dominating symptom. Common radiological findings were localized osteolysis and/or sclerosis, cortical bone destruction, periosteal reaction and an adjacent, often palpable soft tissue mass. Clinical signs of infection were generally absent, and a positive bacterial culture was obtained from the biopsy material in only one patient. Following extensive investigations, a malignant bone tumour (especially Ewing's sarcoma) remained a differential diagnosis, and open biopsy was indicated in all cases. The patient material illustrates the difficulty in distinguishing between subacute osteomyelitis and malignant bone tumours, and it is stressed that diagnostic investigations for this type of patients should be performed in an oncological centre with experience of bone tumours.

Adolescent↗

Early liver metastases in patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

In 13 patients who had been thyroidectomized for medullary carcinoma (MCT), basal and pentagastrin-stimulated immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) concentrations were measured in a peripheral vein and concomitantly in hepatic veins as well as in the superior and inferior caval veins. The basal concentrations of iCT in serum from the antecubital vein ranged from normal values (less than 0.50 micrograms/1) to grossly elevated (greater than 100 micrograms/1). Intravenous pentagastrin injections (0.5 micrograms/kg) stimulated transiently calcitonin secretion in all patients and peak concentrations occurred in peripheral venous blood and in the inferior caval vein after 3 to 5 minutes. In all patients peak iCT values in the hepatic vein occurred at 1 to 2 minutes and were much higher than in samples taken from other veins. Only three patients showed metastases to liver as judged by conventional clinical and laboratory examinations. Two patients with nonthyroid, malignant disease did not show an increase in serum iCT concentration of hepatic veins. The authors conclude that MCT may spread early to the liver. The presence of liver metastases is an important prognostic factor in patient evaluation and can be demonstrated by measuring iCT in hepatic veins before and during pentagastrin stimulation.

Adult↗

Prognostic factors in liposarcoma.

In a series of 99 liposarcomas, the prognostic impact of the various diagnostic and therapeutic factors was analyzed. The analysis indicated that the tumor size, histologic subtype, and x-ray density are important prognostic factors. The prognosis is also influenced by operability and treatment modalities employed. Treatment strategy should be radical, irrespective of the actual prognostic factors.

Age Factors↗

Comparison of computed tomography, lymphography, and phlebography in 200 consecutive patients with regard to retroperitoneal metastases from testicular tumor.

Two hundred patients with testicular tumor were examined by computed tomography (CT), lymphography, and phlebography of the inferior vena cava and left renal and testicular veins. Metastases were demonstrated in 71. CT was positive in 66, lymphography in 60, phlebography in 53, and a combination of lymphography and phlebography in 65. CT was particularly helpful in studying the upper retroperitoneal space and defining the extent of tumor. Lymphography was preferable for demonstrating metastases in non-enlarged, contrast-filled nodes. Phlebography was never the only positive examination and is not recommended as a routine procedure, though it may be helpful in planning surgery. The authors suggest that CT be performed first, followed by lymphography in negative or equivocal cases.

Adolescent↗

The role of CT in demonstrating perivesical tumor growth in the preoperative staging of carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Carcinoma of the urinary bladder was staged both clinically and by CT in 32 patients before they underwent total cystectomy. Eleven of the patients had perivesical growth demonstrated at histopathological examination of the cystectomy specimen. This was diagnosed by CT in all 11 of these patients before cystectomy, but it was discovered by clinical staging in only four patients prior to cystectomy. Seven patients without histopathologically proved perivesical growth were considered to have perivesical spread as demonstrated by CT findings. Three of these patients had perivesical fibrosis that was misinterpreted as perivesical tumor growth, and in all seven patients the perivesical changes were adjacent to the area of present or previous changes in the bladder wall. CT is a valuable addition to clinical staging because it demonstrates perivesical tumor growth.

Carcinoma↗

Collateral veins in left renal vein stenosis demonstrated via CT.

Twelve patients with left renal vein stenosis from tumor compression were studied with CT. All had distended collateral veins in the perirenal space which either formed a radiating or a cobweb pattern or appeared as marked longitudinal veins. Inferior phrenic vein branches were seen in seven patients and were considerably enlarged in two. Other major veins possibly taking part in collateral circulation could not be recognized due to obliteration of fat planes. The renal fascia was thickened in eleven patients, probably due to edema. A close study of the perirenal space with CT may give valuable information about collateral development.

Adolescent↗

Effect of irradiation on the feto-placental tissues.

Seven pregnant patients with genital carcinoma were treated with high voltage irradiation in combination with operation. Five patients aborted spontaneously after a dose of 30 to 34 Gy. Two were operated within 2 weeks after completed irradiation. Angiography, microscopy and hormone analyses indicate that damage of the fetal central nervous system and not placental insufficiency is responsible for the intrauterine fetal death.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

Combination chemotherapy of germ cell tumors of the testis with vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, actinomycin D and medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Forty-three patients with disseminated germ cell cancer were treated with a combination of vincristine, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, actinomycin-D, and medroxyprogesterone acetate. All the 43 patients were considered evaluable for response. Thirty-one patients (72%) achieved a complete or partial remission and 14 (32.5%) achieved a complete remission. The patients who attained an objective response obtained a significant prolongation of life compared with the nonresponders (median survival 55 vs. 23 weeks). Responses were seen in all histologic categories and most frequently in patients with metastases confined to the lungs. The major side effects were leukopenia and stomatitis. There were no deaths related to toxicity of the chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗