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Biomedical subjects

M Mercuri

Publications and source records attributed to M Mercuri.

208 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma of the extremities: excellent response of the primary tumor to preoperative treatment with methotrexate, cisplatin, adriamycin, and ifosfamide. Preliminary results.

A total of 48 patients with non-metastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities were treated with a new neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocol which, prior to surgery, included the use of high dose methotrexate, cisplatin, adriamycin and ifosfamide. Cisplatin was administered intra-arterially, whereas the other drugs were given intravenously. In all of the cases response to this chemotherapy protocol was very good, allowing for conservative treatment in 46 out of 48 patients. Histological evaluation of chemotherapy response showed good (> 90%) and total necrosis in 87 and 54% of the cases, respectively. Drug toxicity was acceptable. Results were significantly better than those previously obtained in our and in other institutes when only three drugs were used (methotrexate, cisplatin, and adriamycin) in the preoperative treatment scheme. Since it has been demonstrated that grade of histological response to preoperative chemotherapy, and prognosis are closely related in osteosarcoma of the extremities treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in addition to allowing for the use of conservative surgery in the majority of cases, this new protocol may also lead to a significant increase in the patient cure rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arthrodesis of the knee after tumor resection: a comparison between autografts and allografts.

Cases of arthrodesis of the knee performed after bone tumor resection using autografts (Group I) and allografts (Group II) were compared (follow-up was comparable). The two groups show differences in type of pathology, treatment and length of resection. Nonetheless, the percentage of complications and the final results were similar. Despite the fact that arthrodesis of the knee is used less and less for reconstruction, it is our belief that the use of autografts should be substituted by allografts whenever possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Calcific tendinitis of the gluteus maximus.

Four cases of calcific tendinitis of the gluteus maximus are presented. Knowledge of the precise anatomic location of the calcium deposit achieved with conventional radiography and computed tomography and the clinical history are characteristic of this disorder.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Indications for the treatment of pathologic fracture in tumors of bone.

Pathologic fractures in tumors and tumor-like lesions of bone are a rare occurrence. It is for this reason that excessive treatment of benign tumors, erroneous treatment of malignant ones, or abstention from any form of therapy in metastatic forms are often observed. The authors report the main indications for treatment in different types of neoplasms in an attempt to classify therapeutic behavior in relation to histotype and preoperative staging. Furthermore, the most common errors in treatment are defined, and the principal mechanisms of consolidation of pathologic fracture, and epidemiologic features of the different types of fracture are revealed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone and for osteosarcoma of the limbs: a comparison between the results obtained for 21 and 144 patients, respectively, treated during the same period with the same chemotherapy protocol.

Twenty-one patients affected with malignant fibrous histiocytoma localized in the limbs were treated by pre- and postoperative chemotherapy (neoadjuvant). Preoperatively methotrexate (i.v.), cisplatinum (i.a.), and adriamycin (i.v.) were administered. Postoperatively the same drugs (in patients who responded well) or with the addition of ifosfamide and VP 16 (in those who responded poorly) were administered. Twenty resections and 1 amputation followed. The response to chemotherapy was good in 7 patients, and poor in 14. At a mean follow-up of 6.3 years 15 patients were disease-free and 6 had relapses. These results appear to be comparable to those for 144 patients affected with osteosarcoma of the limbs treated at the same time with the same protocol. The percentage of good responses and pulmonary metastases was higher in cases of osteosarcoma. Pre- and postoperative chemotherapy increases the percentage of healing in malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The lower percentage of good responses and the different type of relapse as compared to osteosarcoma indicate that preoperatively chemotherapy different from that used for osteosarcoma should be conducted.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of intra-arterial versus intravenous cisplatinum in the neoadjuvant treatment of osteosarcoma of the limbs: the experience at the Rizzoli Institute.

The effect of intra-arterial versus intravenous infusion of cisplatinum on the histological response of osteosarcoma of the limbs was evaluated based on the results of three studies in which CDP was preoperatively associated with MTX and ADM (1st study), and with MTX, ADM, and IFO (2nd and 3rd studies). In the chemotherapeutic protocol that involved 3 drugs the percentage of "good histological responses to chemotherapy" (defined as tumor necrosis > 90%) was significantly higher in the 40 patients who were administered CDP by intra-arterial infusion as compared to that observed in the 39 patients treated with CDP by intravenous route (78% versus 46%: P .004). In the two sequential studies where 4 drugs were used, the percentage of good histological responses was essentially the same for patients treated with CDP administered intravenously, and for those treated with CDP administered intra-arterially (78% versus 84%). Regardless of the route of infusion used to administer cisplatinum the percentage of "good" histological responses was significantly higher in the 109 patients treated with the 4-drug protocol as compared to the 79 patients treated with the 3-drug protocol (82% vs 62%; P .04). This difference may essentially be attributed to the higher percentage of good responses observed in the 4-drug protocol in patients treated with CDP administered intravenously (78% vs 46% for patients treated i.v. with the 3-drug protocol; P .006). For the patients instead treated with CDP administered intra-arterially the percentage of good responses was essentially the same with the 4-drug protocol and with the 3-drug protocol (84% vs 78%; P ns). These data lead us to conclude that in the neoadjuvant treatment of osteosarcoma of the limbs a preoperative 4-drug protocol (MTX, CDP, ADM, IFO) is more effective than a 3-drug protocol (MTX, CDP, ADM), and that in a 4-drug preoperative chemotherapy protocol intra-arterial infusion of CDP does not offer particular advantages as compared to intravenous infusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pilonidal sinus: long term results of excision and closure technic. Review of the literature].

The Authors report their experience in the surgical management of pilonidal sinus with modified Leichtling technique. Long term results of various treatments proposed in the past are analyzed: it is not possible to identify a satisfactory procedure for the treatment of pilonidal sinus. Ideal treatment should avoid hospital admission and general anaesthesia, assure a short time of healing, a reduced number of complications, a low risk of recurrence and a minimal time off from work. Authors' variations to the original technique show good results for non recurrent pilonidal sinus and a lower number of failed primary healing. Recurrences are probably related to the patient anatomical status which may be modified only by flattening natal cleft or surgically changing follicles orientation of presacral skin, together with a meticulous hygiene and shaving of the presacral healing area as well as a dietary regimen for obese patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Neurinoma of the vagus nerve. Description of 2 cases and review of the literature].

The Authors report two rare cases of schwannoma of the cervical and thoracic portion of the vagus nerve. Schwannomas of the vagus nerve are particularly uncommon; patients suffering from these neurogenic tumors typically exhibit a paucity of symptoms and in the majority of cases they present with an asymptomatic mass noted on incidental chest X-ray. Chest pain and cough may occur with tumors arising next to and compressing the trachea or major bronchi. In the cases observed, schwannomas appeared like a mass whose size had increased during the last months without producing any clinical symptom. Clinical features of the mass, laboratory tests, ultrasound, CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging were useful only to define its extension and relationships with the adjacent structures. Needle aspiration of these lesions is not indicated because of the paucity of the material obtained for the exact diagnosis. Surgery, with preservation of the vagus nerve when possible, is the treatment of choice also for a correct diagnosis of nature and to prevent further growth and compression on adjacent structures. When the individual fibers of the vagus nerve are displayed over the surface of the tumor within a discrete capsule nerve preservation is possible. On the contrary, when it is technically difficult to preserve the nerve trunk microsurgical procedures allow to reanastomose the cut ends. Injury of homolateral recurrent nerve often is the complication of a radical removal. Recurrence of benign lesions is not usual; malignant tumors carry a poor prognosis with patients rarely surviving beyond 1 year.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurologic deficit after resection of the sacrum.

The authors describe neurologic deficit (sensory, motor, and sphincteral) resulting from sacrifice of the sacral nerve roots removed during resection of the sacrum. The anatomical and functional bases of sphincteral continence and the amount of neurologic deficit are discussed based on level of sacral resection. A large review of the literature on the subject is reported and discussed. The authors emphasize how the neurophysiological bases of sphincteral continence (rectum and bladder) and of sexual ability are still not well known, and how the literature reveals disagreement on the subject. A score system is proposed to evaluate neurologic deficit. The clinical model of neurologic deficit caused by resection of the sacrum may be extended to an evaluation of post-traumatic deficit.

Anal Canal↗