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Biomedical subjects

K Welvaart

Publications and source records attributed to K Welvaart.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Significance of local recurrence after mastectomy for breast cancer.

In a retrospective study 678 patients who underwent (modified) radical mastectomy between 1970 and 1986 were analysed. By comparing the groups of patients who experienced local recurrence, regional recurrence or distant metastasis during follow-up with patients who remained free of disease, we have tried to gain some insight into the significance of local recurrence. By looking at the prognostic factors and the disease-free period there is hardly any difference between the patients with either a local, regional or distant recurrence. Actuarial survival of patients with local recurrence is slightly better than the survival of patients with distant metastasis (P = 0.009). From our results and from the literature we conclude that an isolated local recurrence after mastectomy for breast cancer is, in most cases, a first manifestation of metastatic disease. Probably only a minority of the local recurrences is caused by tumour cells left behind in the operation field.

Adult

Multiple primary melanomas in a patient with familial-type DNS during clomiphene-induced pregnancy.

A 35-year old woman developed six primary cutaneous melanomas during her third pregnancy. She had received clomiphene treatment for nearly 2 years previously. She developed two more primary melanomas 15 and 21 months after giving birth. All melanomas were histologically associated with preexisting dysplastic naevi. The patient showed the characteristic phenotype of the dysplastic naevus syndrome; a cousin and an aunt were treated for malignant melanoma and the patient's brother had histologically confirmed dysplastic naevi. The course of her first two pregnancies was not complicated by the development of melanomas. We suggest that clomiphene may have played a role in the activation or progression of these 'precursor lesions' into malignant melanoma.

Adult

Operative bypass for incurable cancer of the head of the pancreas.

A series of 83 patients with incurable cancer of the pancreatic head were analysed. Obstructive jaundice required surgical intervention in all of them. Different biliary decompression operations, either single or with concomitant prophylactic gastro-enterostomy were constructed in different ways. From our study we conclude: a single bypass, using the gallbladder and anastomosed with the jejunum is preferred in those cases where life expectation is estimated to be less than 3 months. Delayed gastric emptying after gastro-enterostomy is a frequent complication. Double bypasses are recommended only in those cases where duration of life is estimated at more than 3 months.

Adult

[Sexual dysfunction in men following surgical treatment for rectosigmoid carcinoma].

In a retrospective study we performed an analysis of the sexual (dys)function in 26 men operated in the University Hospital Leiden, the Netherlands, for rectosigmoid carcinoma. Nine patients (mean age 59.8 years (45-67)) underwent abdomino-perineal resection and 17 (mean age 59.5 years (43-75)) underwent (low) anterior resection. All men were sexually active before surgery. Following abdomino-perineal resection only 2 patients are sexually active, five are unable to achieve an erection and seven have no orgasms. Three patients only achieve an incomplete erection. One patient has a retrograde ejaculation. Following anterior resection 12 of 17 patients are sexually active, four are unable to achieve an erection or orgasm. Four patients only achieve an incomplete erection. Five patients have a retrograde ejaculation. It is concluded that sexual disorders occur frequently after surgery for rectosigmoid carcinoma, and following abdomino-perineal resection in practically all cases, while the nature of the disorder varies greatly. It is very important to inform the patient before surgery.

Aged

The choice between surgical resection and radiation therapy for patients with cancer of the esophagus and cardia: a retrospective comparison between two treatments.

The choice of treatment for patients with cancer of the esophagus and cardia is controversial. Since overall survival is poor, the most important aim of treatment should be improvement of the main complaint: the inability to eat. In a retrospective analysis of 265 patients, referred to the University Hospital in Leiden, The Netherlands, comparisons were made between palliative effects of surgical resection (N = 92) and irradiation (N = 128). Several methods of comparing surgery with irradiation are possible: (1) all surgical patients vs. all irradiated patients; (2) only those surgical patients who survived the operation (N = 70) vs. all irradiated patients (N = 128); and (3) survivors after resection (N = 70) vs. only those irradiated patients treated with "curative" radiation (N = 62). Analysis of prognostic factors showed that in both surgical and irradiated patients, the only statistically significant factor was the (dis)ability to eat. Criteria to be considered to make individual recommendations for either treatment are presented.

Adult

Screening for skin cancer in The Netherlands.

In the summer of 1989 a screening campaign for skin cancer was organized along part of the beach in the western region of The Netherlands, using a mobile trailer. On 4 consecutive Saturdays, 3,069 individuals were examined. A total of 65 individuals with a suspected lesion were found and referred to their general practitioner. The compliance with referral was 80%. Histological reports, obtained from 46 suspected lesions, showed: 6 melanomas (all with a thickness less than 1 mm), 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 23 basal cell carcinomas, 5 dysplastic naevi and 10 benign skin lesions. The positive predictive value of the visual examination appeared to be 83%. The campaign attracted much publicity. The effects of this publicity were measured by a questionnaire sent to all general practitioners and dermatologists in the region. It appeared that during the campaign and in the ensuing 2 months there had been an increase in the number of diagnoses of benign skin lesions and a moderate increase in the diagnoses of malignant lesions.

Adolescent

Villous tumors of the duodenum. Presentation of five cases.

Five cases of villous tumors of the duodenum are reported. These tumors have a predilection for the periampullary region and tend to present with jaundice or obstruction of the duodenal lumen. In four of these patients, malignant transformation was seen. Endoscopy and biopsy play a major rôle in attempting to obtain an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of malignant degeneration is frequently missed, even when multiple biopsies are taken. For this reason villous tumors should always be resected, and the strategy of treatment must depend on pre-, intra- and postoperative histological evaluation, location in the duodenum and intra-operative findings.

Adenocarcinoma

[The 'freckle bus' campaign; an unhealthy phenomenon or a sensible experiment?].

In the summer of 1989 a screening campaign for skin cancer was organized in four seaside resorts of The Netherlands using a mobile examination room. On 4 consecutive Saturdays 3069 individuals were examined. A total of 65 individuals with a suspected lesion were found. Histological reports were obtained on 46 suspected lesions and showed: 6 melanomas (all with a thickness less than 1 mm), 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 23 basal cell carcinomas, 5 dysplastic naevi and 10 benign skin lesions. The positive predictive value of the clinical examination appeared to be 83%. Much publicity was given to the campaign by the (inter)national media. The effects of this publicity were measured by a questionnaire sent to the general practitioners (856) and dermatologists (25) in the region, of whom 44% and 84%, respectively, responded. It appeared that during and after the campaign there had been an increase in the number of consultations for skin lesions, and an increase in the diagnoses of malignant lesions.

Adolescent

Is long-term follow-up justified after excision of a thin melanoma (less than or equal to 1.5 mm)? A retrospective analysis of 206 patients.

From 1964 to 1988, 231 patients underwent local excision as the single treatment of melanoma with a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5 mm. We investigated the prognostic value of several factors on cancer-specific survival and cancer-specific disease-free survival, from time of excision on, by performing life-table analysis on 206 evaluable patients. Recurrence developed in 11 patients; local recurrence occurred in four patients, hematogenic spread in three patients and lymph node metastases in another four patients. Six patients died as a result of the disease. Tumors with a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5 mm have an excellent prognosis regardless of the localization of the melanoma. At 15 years cancer-specific survival was 92.3% and cancer-specific disease-free survival was 86.9%. Recurrence was successfully treated with hope for cure in 4 patients. This figures does not justify aggressive follow-up for all patients.

Adolescent

Complications of stapled anastomoses in anterior resection for rectal carcinoma: colorectal anastomosis versus coloanal anastomosis.

Postoperative results of 48 patients who underwent anterior resection using the EEA-stapler were evaluated. In all but 2 cases the indication for surgery was colorectal carcinoma. In 24 patients an anastomosis was created above the 5 cm level (above the anal verge: colorectal anastomosis) and in 24 at the 0-5 cm level (coloanal anastomosis). There was no perioperative mortality. The only complication observed in the colorectal anastomosis group was one case of late anastomotic stenosis. In the coloanal anastomosis group there were 4 cases with early anastomosis leaks, 3 cases with late stenosis and 5 cases with various degrees of late fecal incontinence, ultimately resulting in a permanent diverting stoma in 5 (10.4%) patients. We conclude that for rectal tumors the EEA-stapled anterior resection provides excellent functional results in most cases. Stapled coloanal anastomoses more often demonstrate various (early and late) complications. Nevertheless in spite of chronic discomfort, many patients still prefer their complaints to a permanent stoma.

Adult

Assessment of resectability of carcinoma of the pancreatic head by ultrasonography and computed tomography. A retrospective analysis.

In order to establish the reliability of the assessment of tumour stage and hence of resectability of carcinoma of the pancreatic head by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) a retrospective analysis was performed on 41 patients. Both direct imaging techniques were very accurate in detecting non-resectable disease, 100 and 85% respectively, but were much less accurate in predicting resectable cancer, 18 and 15% respectively. False-resectable results were established in 58% of US examinations and 42% of CT examinations. As demonstrated in this study, predicting resectability of carcinoma of the pancreatic head with US and CT is an inadequate method of assessing tumour stage and should be complemented by other techniques to ensure a reliable result.

Aged

The effects of negative regional lymph-node dissection on survival and disease-free interval of patients with stage-I malignant melanoma.

A group of 46 patients, with stage-1 malignant melanoma of intermediate thickness and histologically proven negative regional lymph nodes, was retrospectively reviewed. The aim of our study was to determine whether the prognosis of these patients had been worsened by the regional lymph-node dissections. There was no influence on the survival or disease-free interval.

Adolescent