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Biomedical subjects

R A Patchell

Publications and source records attributed to R A Patchell.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Neurologic complications of anorexia nervosa.

The records of 100 patients with anorexia nervosa were reviewed. Neurologic complications were present in 47 patients. Neuromuscular abnormalities were most common and were present in 45% of patients. Generalized muscle weakness was detected in 43% of patients and peripheral neuropathies in 13%. Less common neurologic complications included headaches (6%), seizures (5%), syncope in the absence of orthostatic hypotension (4%), diplopia (4%), and movement disorders (2%). Neurologic problems due to chronic deficiency diseases were rare; only one patient had symptoms directly attributable to a vitamin B12 deficiency and none had evidence of Wernicke's encephalopathy. In most patients, the neurologic complications were reversed completely after correction of nutritional deficiencies and fluid and electrolyte imbalances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A template for rigid stereotaxic afterloading brachytherapy of the brain.

PURPOSE: This paper describes a system for the implantation of rigid stainless steel afterloading tubes into the brain using a stereotaxic head frame for both localization and treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The stereotaxic frame is attached to the skull throughout the treatment, and the afterloading tubes are both rigid and fixed to the frame. The source positions are therefore fixed relative to the skull throughout the irradiation. Design and construction of templates, afterloading tubes and clamps are discussed in detail. RESULTS: The rigidity of the resulting implant provides accurate and immobile positioning of the planned isodose distribution relative to the defined treatment volume and makes it possible to carefully and rapidly plan a source loading which will best cover the volume of interest. The source template is not in contact with the patient at any time. The afterloading tubes are held strictly parallel during treatment, allowing for rapid and versatile preplanning prior to surgical placement. Placement options are enhanced by using a set of rotating templates. CONCLUSION: This system has been used for over 60 procedures without any mechanical or safety problems and has provided a significant improvement in both the speed and confidence of localization and treatment planning. There are significant advantages of such a system for High Dose Rate Afterloading Brachytherapy.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed1992

Intracranial hemorrhage associated with primary and secondary tumors.

Intracranial hemorrhages are a recognized but relatively uncommon complication of brain tumors. Metastatic tumors are more often associated with hemorrhages than are primary tumors. The types of hemorrhages found include intraparenchymal, subarachnoid, subdural, and epidural. Treatment must be directed at both the hemorrhage and the underlying tumor.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Brain metastases.

Brain metastases are the most common intracranial tumors and affect 20% to 30% of patients with systemic cancer. Improvements in diagnostic imaging and recent advances in treatment have resulted in extension of survival and decreased morbidity due to neurologic causes. The overall prognosis, however, remains poor because of the presence of systemic cancer.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

A randomized trial of surgery in the treatment of single metastases to the brain.

To assess the efficacy of surgical resection of brain metastases from extracranial primary cancer, we randomly assigned patients with a single brain metastasis to either surgical removal of the brain tumor followed by radiotherapy (surgical group) or needle biopsy and radiotherapy (radiation group). Forty-eight patients (25 in the surgical group and 23 in the radiation group) formed the study group; 6 other patients (11 percent) were excluded from the study because on biopsy their lesions proved to be either second primary tumors or inflammatory or infectious processes. Recurrence at the site of the original metastasis was less frequent in the surgical group than in the radiation group (5 of 25 [20 percent] vs. 12 of 23 [52 percent]; P less than 0.02). The overall length of survival was significantly longer in the surgical group (median, 40 weeks vs. 15 weeks in the radiation group; P less than 0.01), and the patients treated with surgery remained functionally independent longer (median, 38 weeks vs. 8 weeks in the radiation group; P less than 0.005). We conclude that patients with cancer and a single metastasis to the brain who receive treatment with surgical resection plus radiotherapy live longer, have fewer recurrences of cancer in the brain, and have a better quality of life than similar patients treated with radiotherapy alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Neurologic complications of cervical cancer. A review of 2261 cases.

The authors reviewed the records of 2261 patients with histologically proven cervical cancer. Among the 1042 patients with carcinoma in situ, four neurologic complications occurred (0.4%), including three strokes and one seizure. None of the neurologic complications were related to cervical cancer. Among the 1219 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage I or greater disease, 99 neurologic complications occurred (8%). Metastatic neurologic complications were twice as common as nonmetastatic neurologic complications and included lumbosacral plexopathy (50 patients), peripheral nerve compressions (eight patients), spinal cord compressions (two patients), and brain metastases (six patients). Nonmetastatic neurologic complications were less frequent and included stroke (11 patients), encephalopathies (three patients), infectious complications (two patients), effects of therapy (six patients), and seizures (11 patients). In conclusion, neurologic complications are rare in cervical cancer and virtually nonexistent in Stage 0 disease. Metastatic neurologic complications were more common than nonmetastatic complications and lumbosacral plexopathy caused by retroperitoneal lymph node metastases was the most common neurologic complication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Neutron interstitial brachytherapy for malignant gliomas: a pilot study.

Fifty-six patients with malignant glioma were treated with implantation of the neutron-emitting element californium-252 (252Cf) within 2 weeks after surgical debulking of the tumor. Implantation was performed using computerized tomography-guided placement of afterloading catheters, and the 252 Cf sources were removed after approximately 300 neutron rads were delivered. Patients then received 6000 to 7000 conventional photon rads by external beam. The total photon-equivalent dose to the tumor ranged from 8100 to 9100 rads. The median survival time was 10 months, with 18-and 24-month survival rates of 28% and 19%, respectively. The results of reoperation or autopsy showed that patients had recurrence of the tumor but that radiation necrosis was restricted to the area of the original tumor. Serious complications occurred in five patients (9%) and consisted of wound infections in three, cerebral edema in one, and radiation necrosis beyond the original tumor margin in one. Previous studies using external-beam neutron radiation have shown that neutrons are capable of totally eradicating malignant gliomas; however, in most cases, unacceptable widespread radiation necrosis has resulted. Neutron implants are a logical way to increase the dose to the tumor and decrease the dose to normal brain. Interstitial neutron radiation can be given safely with 252Cf, and the survival results achieved by radiation alone using relatively low doses of interstitial neutron radiation from 252Cf implants plus conventional photon radiation were equal to the results attained with any currently available conventional therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in the transplant patient.

Approximately 2 per cent of organ transplant recipients develop primary CNS lymphomas. There is no pathognomonic clinical or radiographic presentation of the tumor, although multicentric involvement of deep white matter is common. Evidence has linked PCNSL to immunosuppression and to infection with the EBV. The most reasonable sequence of events leading to the development of this tumor appears first to be an infection with (or reactivation of) EBV following immunosuppression. The virus then produces B cell lymphoproliferation that is unchecked because of suppression of the normal immune mechanisms. At some point, the lymphoproliferation becomes neoplastic, and a lymphoma results. Reduction in immunosuppression and antiviral treatment may be of use in the treatment of PCNSL in transplant patients.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Neurologic complications of bone marrow transplantation.

Neurologic complications are extremely common after bone marrow transplantation and occur in well over half of all patients. Approximately 6 per cent of BMT recipients die as a direct result of neurologic problems. Metabolic encephalopathy, the most common clinical syndrome, is usually due to multiple organ failure. The second most common complication is CNS infection with fungi and viruses. Cerebrovascular disorders are the third most common neurologic problem, and most are related to underlying endocarditis (either infectious or nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis). Less common neurologic complications include side effects of drugs, recurrence of malignancy, and treatment-induced leukoencephalopathy. Neurologic involvement due to GVHD appears to be limited to rare neuromuscular syndromes. No evidence of CNS involvement from GVHD has been detected.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1986

Single brain metastases: surgery plus radiation or radiation alone.

We reviewed the records of patients treated for single brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer for 1978 through 1982. Forty-three patients received surgical treatment, including 37 who had surgery plus postoperative whole-brain radiation therapy and 6 patients who had surgery after failing to respond to radiation therapy. The surgically treated patients were matched with 43 patients treated with radiation therapy alone. The combined therapy group had significantly longer survivals than those treated with radiation therapy alone (19 months versus 9 months). The rates of local recurrence and neurologically related deaths were significantly higher in the radiation therapy-alone group. Patients treated with combined therapy survived longer, and the increased survival was due to lower recurrence of brain metastases after surgery and fewer neurologically related deaths.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Neurologic complications of carcinoid.

We reviewed the records of all patients treated for carcinoid tumors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1974 through 1984. Of 219 patients, 90 developed metastatic complications, and of these, 36 developed neurologic complications. Metastases, the most common neurologic complication, included epidural spinal cord compression (14 patients), intracranial metastases (13 patients), leptomeningeal metastases (1 patient), and peripheral nerve lesions (5 patients). Nonmetastatic complications were hepatic encephalopathy (six patients), herpes zoster infection (two patients), cerebral infarction due to septic emboli (one patient), superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (one patient), and carcinoid myopathy (one patient). The carcinoid syndrome was seen in eight patients (4%). Response of neurologic metastases to conventional radiation therapy was usually favorable. We conclude that (1) the frequency and type of neurologic complications associated with carcinoid tumors are similar to those seen with other systemic cancers; (2) CNS metastases are relatively common in patients with metastatic carcinoid (29%); and (3) the carcinoid syndrome is less common than CNS metastasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis in bone marrow transplant patients.

We reviewed the findings in 2381 consecutive autopsies, a series containing 91 bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients, and found 45 cases of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE). The overall prevalence of NBTE was 1.9%. NBTE was present in seven BMT patients, for a prevalence of 7.7%. The rate of NBTE in BMT patients was significantly greater than the rate of NBTE in the general autopsy population (P less than 0.001). The frequency of NBTE was not increased in patients with the individual underlying diseases for which BMT was a possible treatment (the BMT candidate diseases [BMTCD]). When rates of NBTE were compared in patients with BMTCD, there was a significantly higher rate in patients who had received BMT than in those who had not (P less than 0.02). These findings indicate that NBTE occurs with greater frequency in BMT patients and that there may be features of the BMT regimen that predispose patients to develop NBTE. Although several factors related to BMT are discussed as potential contributors to the increased prevalence of NBTE, we were not able to demonstrate an association between NBTE and any single factor. Since NBTE is an important cause of arterial embolization, an awareness of the increased frequency of NBTE in BMT patients is important for clinicians who must interpret neurologic and other abnormalities in BMT recipients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Neurologic complications of bone marrow transplantation.

Among 78 patients who died after bone marrow transplantation, neurologic complications were present in 55 (70%) and were the cause of death in 5 (6%). Metabolic encephalopathy occurred in 29 patients (37%). CNS infections included aspergillosis (3), herpes simplex encephalitis (2), and Listeria monocytogenes meningitis (1). Six additional patients had neuropathologic changes possibly due to cytomegalovirus infection. Cerebrovascular complications occurred in five patients (two hemorrhages and three infarcts). All infarcts were associated with endocarditis. The rate of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than in the general autopsy population. CNS leukemia and therapy-induced injury were rare. There was no evidence of graft-versus-host disease involving the CNS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Neurologic complications of systemic cancer.

Patients with cancer commonly suffer neurologic disabilities. These neurologic disorders can be either metastatic to the brain, spinal cord, leptomeninges, or peripheral nerves or nonmetastatic including infections, vascular problems, metabolic abnormalities, side effects of therapy, or paraneoplastic syndromes. Careful diagnostic evaluation of patients with cancer and neurologic symptoms often indicates effective therapy.

Arachnoid↗