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Biomedical subjects

M M Hudson

Publications and source records attributed to M M Hudson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Diagnosis of hidden central hypothyroidism in survivors of childhood cancer.

To determine how often central hypothyroidism remains undetected by routine out-patient tests of thyroid hormone, we studied 208 pediatric cancer survivors referred for evaluation because of signs of subtle hypothyroidism or hypopituitarism. Of the 208 (68 females and 140 males), 110 had brain tumors, 14 had other head/neck tumors, 11 had solid tumors remote from head and neck, and 73 had leukemia. Patients were evaluated 1-16 yr (mean, 6.1+/-4.1 yr) after tumor diagnosis. The nocturnal TSH surge and response to TRH were measured. Of 160 patients with free T4 in lowest third of normal, 34% had central hypothyroidism (blunted TSH surge or low/delayed TSH peak or delayed TSH decline after TRH); 9% had central hypothyroidism with mild TSH elevation (mixed hypothyroidism). Another 16% had mild primary hypothyroidism (TSH, 5-15 mU/L). Of 48 with free T4 in the upper two thirds of normal, 14% had central hypothyroidism; 17% had mild primary hypothyroidism. Incidence of central, mixed, and mild primary hypothyroidism 10 yr after tumor diagnosis was significantly related to total cranial radiation dose (P < 0.0001). Of 62 patients with central hypothyroidism, 34% had not developed GH deficiency. TSH surge identified 71%, and response to TRH identified 60% of those with central hypothyroidism. More than half of the slowly growing patients who have received cranial or craniospinal radiation for childhood cancer develop subtle hypothyroidism. In our study group, 92% of patients with central hypothyroidism and 27% with mixed hypothyroidism would have remained undiagnosed using baseline thyroid function tests alone. Both TSH surge and response to TRH must be evaluated to identify all of these patients.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of pediatric Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Today the majority of children and adolescents diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma will enjoy long-term disease-free survival. As a result, contemporary treatment strategies have focused on reducing therapy for patients with favorable disease presentations and reserved aggressive treatment modalities for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. The desire to avoid late treatment toxicity has prompted refinements in therapy designed to reduce growth impairment, second malignancy, and life-threatening organ dysfunction in long-term survivors. Treatment with radiation therapy alone is recommended only for older patients with localized disease who have achieved skeletal maturity, but requires surgical staging and places greater volumes of normal tissues at risk for late carcinogenesis. Treatment with chemotherapy alone avoids the long-term growth, organ dysfunction, and solid tumor induction associated with high-dose, extended-field radiation. However, these protocols prescribe higher cumulative doses of alkylating agent chemotherapy, which may increase the risk of treatment complications from myelosuppression, gonadal injury, and secondary leukemia. Combined modality therapy regimens have resulted in excellent treatment outcomes and reduced the incidence of treatment sequelae by utilizing lower doses and smaller volumes of radiation therapy and fewer cycles of less toxic chemotherapy in clinically staged children. Risk-adapted therapies using two to four cycles of multiagent chemotherapy and lower radiation doses and volumes have maintained excellent disease-free survival rates in clinically staged patients with localized favorable disease presentations. Novel approaches including compacted dose-intensive multiagent chemotherapy are currently under investigation with the objectives of improving outcome and reducing treatment sequelae in patients with advanced and unfavorable disease.

Adolescent↗

Breast masses in women treated for childhood cancer: incidence and screening guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The authors' aims were to define the frequency, characteristics, and methods of detection of breast masses in young women treated for childhood cancer and to develop screening guidelines for the growing population of long term survivors. METHODS: The authors reviewed medical records of all female patients treated for malignancy at a childhood cancer center over a 34-year period to identify those who developed a breast mass and to determine the cumulative incidence of breast cancer as a second primary cancer. RESULTS: A breast mass was identified in 66 patients who had been diagnosed with a malignancy at a median age of 13.8 years (range, 0.4-24.4 years). Masses were initially detected by breast self-detection in 32 and clinical examination in 28; the method of detection was unknown in 6 cases. Breast lesions were benign in 41 patients and malignant in 26; 1 patient had both a benign and a malignant lesion. Of the 26 malignant masses, 14 represented metastases of the primary malignancy and 12 were primary breast cancers as second primary cancers. The median interval to a primary breast cancer as a second primary cancer was 13.6 years (range, 9.2-24.4 years), and the median age at detection was 27.7 years (range, 12.5-43.1 years). The 25-year cumulative incidence of primary breast cancer as a second primary cancer in this cohort was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.4%-2.9%). This represented a 20-fold increase (95% CI, 10-36) over the expected incidence in age-matched and race-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Young women treated for childhood cancer have a significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared with age-matched controls. For this group of patients, the authors recommend patient education regarding this risk and the importance of properly conducted self-examination as the foundation of breast cancer screening. In addition, clinical and mammographic screening should be instituted at a younger age and performed more frequently than recommended for the general population of women.

Adolescent↗

Profound abnormality of the B/T lymphocyte ratio during chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) was utilized to phenotype lymphocyte compartments in children receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Sixteen patients (eight males and eight females) of diverse ages, risks of relapse, and within weeks 7-53 of maintenance/continuation chemotherapy treatment were arbitrarily selected for study. All 16 patients had profound B cell lymphopenia. In contrast, T cell numbers were often normal or marginally low, and accounted for up to 98% of the lymphocyte populations. No abnormality in T cell phenotypes could be demonstrated. Due to the highly skewed B/T lymphocyte ratios in these ALL patients, the absolute white blood cell counts and lymphocyte percentages were not predictive of the underlying B cell lymphopenia. Patients were also tested for serum immunoglobulin levels and most had abnormally low IgG and IgM. None of four patients immunized with the 1996-1997 influenza virus vaccine seroconverted to at least two vaccine antigens as compared to 10 of 10 healthy, age-matched controls. In total, these data highlight for the first time the profound abnormality of the B/T lymphocyte ratio in patients during treatment for ALL, and argue for consideration of B cell-targeted immunotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Hodgkin disease: use of Tl-201 to monitor mediastinal involvement after treatment.

PURPOSE: To compare thallium-201 scintigraphy with gallium-67 scintigraphy in the detection of residual or recurrent mediastinal Hodgkin disease after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed planar Ga-67 and Tl-201 scintigraphy in 39 patients aged 7-18 years (27 with mediastinal primary disease) after primary treatment. These scans and those in a control group of 14 patients with newly diagnosed known mediastinal Hodgkin disease were evaluated independently by two radiologists for abnormal mediastinal activity. Results were compared with chest computed tomographic (CT) findings and with the clinical criteria of disease status. Interobserver agreement and consensus agreement on gallium and thallium scan findings were evaluated with the kappa statistic, and the specificity of the two imaging methods was analyzed. RESULTS: All study patients were judged to be free of mediastinal disease with CT and the clinical criteria. Interobserver agreement on findings in the treated and control patients was stronger with gallium scintigraphy (kappa +/- SD = 0.956 +/- 0.044) than with thallium scintigraphy (kappa = 0.638 +/- 0.110). Specificity of ratings based on thallium (85% +/- 6) and gallium (90% +/- 5) scintigraphic findings of mediastinal disease did not differ significantly (P = .48). Specificity improved when the results of the two examinations were combined (97% +/- 2). CONCLUSION: Thallium scintigraphy can help to predict the absence of mediastinal Hodgkin disease after treatment.

Adolescent↗

Patient satisfaction after limb-sparing surgery and amputation for pediatric malignant bone tumors.

We surveyed 65 patients age 13 years or older who had been treated for malignant bone tumors and were in remission at least 1 year after limb-sparing surgery (LS) or amputation (AMP) to assess general satisfaction with the surgical outcome and its impact on various areas of functioning. Of 130 eligible patients, 65 responded (61 treated for osteosarcoma, 3 for Ewing's sarcoma, and 1 for mesenchymoma). The median current age of the cohort was 25.8 years (range, 14.2 to 47.5 years). The median time from surgery was 14.2 years (range, 4.0 to 30.4 years) for the AMP group, and 5.5 years (range, 2.0 to 13.8 years) for the LS patients. Questionnaire responses of patients treated with AMP compared to those who had LS surgery showed no significant differences in the impact of the surgical procedure on educational and occupational status, functional limitations, pain intensity and degree of pain interference, emotional distress, interpersonal/social interactions and self-image, rehabilitation experience, and overall satisfaction with the surgical procedure. Functional limitation was significantly related to pain interference, as well as emotional distress, self-image, and interpersonal difficulties for the entire cohort. Our findings highlight procedure-related advantages and difficulties that may potentially enhance decision making regarding the selection of the surgical procedure for individual patients with malignant bone tumors of an extremity.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Increased mortality after successful treatment for Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of treatment toxicity on long-term survival in pediatric Hodgkin's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied late events in 387 patients treated for pediatric Hodgkin's disease on four consecutive clinical trials at St Jude Children's Research Hospital from 1968 to 1990. Relative risks, actuarial risks, and absolute excess risks for cause-specific deaths were calculated. RESULTS: As of April 1997, 316 (82%) of patients were alive, with a median follow-up of 15.1 (range, 2.9 to 28.6) years. In this cohort, which represented 5,623 person-years of follow-up, 71 fatal events resulted from Hodgkin's disease (n=36), second malignancies (n=14), infections (n=7), accidents (n=7), cardiac disease (n=6), and asphyxiation (n=1). The 5-year estimated event-free survival (EFS) for the entire cohort was 79.6%+/-2.1 %, which declined to 63.1%+/-4.4% by 20 years. Cumulative incidences of cause-specific deaths at 25 years were 9.8%+/-1.6% for Hodgkin's disease, 8.1%+/-2.6% for second malignancy, 4.0%+/-1.8% for cardiac disease, 3.9%+/-1.5% for infection, and 2.1%+/-0.8% for accidents. Standardized incidence ratios showed excess risk for all second malignancies (12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8 to 17), acute myeloid leukemia (81; 95% CI, 16 to 237), solid tumors (11; 95% CI, 7 to 16), and breast cancer (33; 95% CI, 12 to 72). Standardized mortality ratios also showed excess mortality from cardiac disease (22; 95% CI, 8 to 48) and infection (18; 95% CI, 7 to 38). CONCLUSION: Compared with age- and sex-matched control populations, survivors of pediatric Hodgkin's disease who were treated before 1990 face an increased risk of early mortality related to second cancers, cardiac disease, and infection.

Adolescent↗

Secondary brain tumors in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of and potential risk factors for second malignant neoplasms of the brain following treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 1,612 consecutively enrolled protocol patients treated on sequential institutional protocols for newly diagnosed ALL at St Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH) between 1967 and 1988. The median follow-up duration is 15.9 years (range, 5.5 to 29.9 y). RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of brain tumors at 20 years is 1.39% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63% to 2.15%). Twenty-two brain tumors (10 high-grade gliomas, one low-grade glioma, and 11 meningiomas) were diagnosed among 21 patients after a median latency of 12.6 years (high-grade gliomas, 9.1 years; meningiomas, 19 years). Tumor type was linked to outcome, with patients who developed high-grade tumors doing poorly and those who developed low-grade tumors doing well. Risk factors for developing any secondary brain tumor included the presence of CNS leukemia at diagnosis, treatment on Total X therapy, and the use of cranial irradiation, which was dose-dependent. Age less than 6 years was associated with an increased risk of developing a high-grade glioma. CONCLUSION: This single-institution study, with a high rate of long-term data capture, demonstrated that brain tumors are a rare, late complication of therapy for ALL. We report many more low-grade tumors than others probably because of exhaustive long-term follow-up evaluation. The importance of limiting cranial radiation is underscored by the dose-dependent tumorigenic effect of radiation therapy seen in this study.

Adolescent↗

Ultrasonography for thyroid screening after head and neck irradiation in childhood cancer survivors.

We prospectively used ultrasonography to detect thyroid abnormalities in 96 long-term survivors of childhood cancer, who received head and neck radiation therapy at a median age of 8.9 years. The median time interval since irradiation was 10.8 years (range 5.6-22.8 years). Most survivors of leukemia received 24 Gy cranial irradiation for central nervous system prophylaxis; patients with solid tumors received between 20 and 66 Gy (median 37.5 Gy). The total evaluation included clinical history, physical examination, thyroid function tests, and thyroid ultrasonography; radionuclide scans were performed in patients whose abnormalities persisted on subsequent ultrasound exams. Clinical history and physical examination revealed thyroid abnormalities in 14 patients (15%), but ultrasound detected abnormalities in 42 patients (44%). These findings included inhomogeneity (n = 29), cysts (n = 15), and nodules (n = 22) and occurred in nearly half of patients treated with 15 Gy or more directly to the thyroid gland. Radionuclide scans confirmed the presence of thyroid nodules in 13 of 15 patients with ultrasonographic evidence of nodules. Six patients had thyroid neoplasia, including one case of papillary carcinoma. All patients with neoplasia had nodules demonstrated on ultrasonography. Our experience suggests that in childhood cancer survivors, ultrasonography is a sensitive, affordable, and noninvasive means of detecting subtle parenchymal abnormalities. We recommend thyroid ultrasonography for childhood cancer survivors who received head and neck irradiation. A baseline study should be obtained within 1 year of completion of therapy. The frequency of subsequent examinations should be based on the radiation dose and the patient's age at the time of irradiation.

Adolescent↗

Soft tissue sarcoma of the hand in children: clinical outcome and management.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the hand are rare in children and adolescents. From 1965 through 1995, 18 children with STS of the hand were treated at our institution. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) was diagnosed in 11 patients; alveolar histological results predominated (7 of 11 cases). Seven patients presented with metastatic disease and died 4 to 23 months (median, 9 months) from diagnosis; their surgical treatment comprised above-elbow amputation (n = 1), local excision (n = 1), and biopsy (n = 5). For the four patients who presented with localized RMS, surgery consisted of wide local excision (n = 1), local excision (n = 2), or ray amputation (n = 1). With an average follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 4 months to 18 years), 3 of the 11 patients diagnosed with RMS still survive (27%). The remaining seven patients presented with nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS); the most common histological variants were epithelioid and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (two cases each). Surgical treatment for these patients comprised ray amputation (n = 3), wide local excision (n = 3), excisional biopsy (n = 1), and regional lymph node dissection (n = 3). One patient received adjuvant multiagent chemotherapy; three patients received supplemental radiotherapy. Six of the seven (85%) patients are alive with no evidence of disease at an average follow-up of 4.7 years (range, 6 months to 12 years).

Child↗

Complications of pelvic exenteration in children who have genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequently encountered soft tissue sarcoma in children younger than 15 years of age. METHODS: The authors reviewed the early and long-term morbidity rate and clinical outcome of pelvic exenteration for genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma (GU-RMS) in children. Of 43 patients with this diagnosis who were seen at St Jude Children's Research Hospital between 1963 and 1994, 17 underwent pelvic exenteration. These 13 boys and four girls ranged in age from 6 months to 15 years (median, 3.5 years). Their primary sites included prostate (n = 12), bladder (n = 4), and uterus (n = 1). All patients received multiagent chemotherapy and either preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy. Anterior exenteration was performed in 15 patients and total exenteration in two. The complications were classified as early or late (occurring within or after 30 days from the date of surgery) and as major or minor (depending on the risk of death or physical or functional disability). RESULTS: Thirteen of the 17 patients (76%) had 49 surgery-related complications. Wound infection (24%), fistula, abscess, and malnourishment (12% each) were the most common early major complications, with hydronephrosis (35%), bowel obstruction (24%), acute pyelonephritis, fistula, lymphedema, and ureter stenosis (12% each) making up the majority of late complications in this category. Relatively frequent minor complications included protracted paralytic ileus and hematuria (18%), cholelithiasis, chronic diarrhea and, peristoma skin irritation (12%). Disease-free survival was associated with the timing of surgery (P = .002). All but one of the 12 patients who underwent surgery within 6 months of diagnosis are alive, compared with only one of five whose surgery was performed after a longer interval. Pelvic exenteration for GU-RMS was associated with a high rate of serious complications in this series of patients treated over 31 years. CONCLUSION: With recent advances in surgical techniques, as well as improvements in preoperative and postoperative care, this procedure should continue to be applied in cases resistant to conventional therapy.

Adolescent↗

Hodgkin's disease.

Despite incomplete understanding of the etiology of Hodgkin's disease and its malignant cell of origin, the majority of children and adolescents diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease will be longterm survivors. Staging and treatment for pediatric Hodgkin's disease has evolved over the past 30 years in attempts to reduce late treatment sequelae. Today, most children are clinically staged and treated with multitreatment chemotherapy, either alone or in conjunction with low-dose, involved field radiation therapy. Initial results with "risk-adapted" combined modality regimens limiting chemotherapy cycles and radiation doses and volumes demonstrate maintenance of cure rates for early stage, favorable Hodgkin's disease. Challenges for the future include identification of prognostic factors in patients at risk for treatment failure who may benefit from intensification of therapy.

Adolescent↗

HIV antibody testing: Genito-Urinary Clinic or additional site same-day testing service.

It has been suggested that different groups of individuals, possibly those at greater risk, may choose to attend anonymous HIV services not attached to Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics. This paper reports the results of a comparative study of documented sociodemographic profile and risk category for individuals having HIV antibody tests at a Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic and at an additional site same-day HIV antibody testing service not attached to a Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic but within the same hospital. A retrospective case record analysis for 12 months from 1.10.93 to 30.9.94 was performed. During the 12-month study period 954 people had HIV testing at the additional site HIV antibody testing service and 803 had HIV antibody testing at the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic. Of those attending the additional site testing service 218 (22.9%) were homosexual/bisexual males as compared with 128 (15.9%) of the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic attendees (p < 0.01). A total of 22 (2.3%) of the individuals attending the additional site service gave a history of sexual contact in Africa as compared with 52 (65%) attending the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the gender or age of those having HIV antibody tests at the two locations (p = 0.82 and p = 0.39 respectively). Four hundred and seventeen (52%) of the tests performed at the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic were performed on those who had not already decided to have a test before attending the clinic. Of those individuals who had decided to have a test before attending, 2.5 times as many attended the Same-Day Service as attended the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic (954 additional site attenders compared with 384 Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic attenders). The results suggest that to optimize patient choice and benefit from a HIV antibody testing service this should be available at both Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics and at additional site testing services.

Adult↗

When is bacterial vaginosis not bacterial vaginosis?--a case of cervical carcinoma presenting as recurrent vaginal anaerobic infection.

Vaginal anaerobic infection is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women. We present a case of recurrent vaginal anaerobic infection and cervical carcinoma and discuss the association of the two conditions. More frequent cytology/colposcopy may be indicated in women who give a history of recurrent or persistent vaginal anaerobic infection.

Adult↗