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Biomedical subjects

R Stangl

Publications and source records attributed to R Stangl.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Factors influencing the natural history of colorectal liver metastases.

Palliative treatment of unresectable colorectal liver metastases is common and often justified with reference to historical data on the natural history of the disease. However, in view of the improved diagnostic accuracy of modern imaging techniques, these previously published series do not provide sufficient guidance to judge the prognostic efficacy of palliative treatment. In the late 1970s we started prospectively to collect data on consecutive patients with colorectal liver metastases according to a standard protocol. We now present data derived from this series on factors that may affect outcome in untreated patients. Between January, 1980, and December, 1990, 1099 consecutive patients were recorded, of whom 566 (51.5%) received no treatment for their hepatic tumour. Excluding 34 early deaths and 48 patients with a second malignant tumour, 484 patients provided the basis for analysis. All patients were followed up to July 1, 1993, or death. At the closing date of the study only 1 untreated patient was still alive. The impact of various factors on survival was analysed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Six independent determinants of survival were identified in the following order: percentage liver volume replaced by tumour (LVRT), grade of malignancy of the primary tumour, presence of extrahepatic disease, mesenteric lymph-node involvement, serum carcino-embryonic antigen, and age. The subsequent combination of the independently significant factors, separately for patients with up to or more than 25% LVRT, yielded a prognostic tree that displayed median survival times of various subgroups of 3.8 to 21.3 months. These findings provide a framework to estimate the survival expectancy of untreated patients, thereby allowing improved assessment of the prognostic significance of palliative therapeutic approaches.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

[Congenital duodenal stenosis in adulthood].

A high-grade duodenal stenosis in adults can, in rare cases, be congenital, and its cause is found in an intraduodenally sited membrane. The anamnesis reveals growth disorders with vomiting and meteorism and abdominal complaints. A perforation opening in this membrane is the reason for survival into adulthood. The X-ray appearance and deep duodenoscopy make the diagnosis easy. Volvulus in cases of malrotation, Ladd's ligaments, annular pancreas, and compression of the duodenum by mesenteric vessels must be considered in the differential diagnosis. When the intraduodenal membrane is resected it is most important to expose the papilla Vateri, since this not uncommonly ends in the area of the septum. If necessary, a duodenoduodenostomy is performed. If the windsock web abnormality is present the duodenum should be opened at the point of attachment of the diaphragm. The construction of a gastrojejunostomy should be avoided.

Adult↗

Brachial plexus lesions following median sternotomy in cardiac surgery.

The incidence of neurological deficits of the upper extremity was studied in a prospective trial on 201 consecutive patients who underwent median sternotomy at cardiac surgery. In 13 patients (6.5%), a brachial plexus paresis was diagnosed postoperatively. We were unable to demonstrate any statistically significant correlation between brachial plexus paresis and the side of arm placement, the side of cannulation of the jugular vein, the duration of operation, the bypass time, sex, or type of operation. All patients who suffered from neurological deficit were aged 50 years and more, however without any statistically significant correlation. In our opinion, brachial plexus lesions following median sternotomy in cardiac surgery depend on the extent of sternal spread and the height of placement of the retractor in dependence of the rigidity of the rib cage. By reason of the iatrogenic cause of brachial plexus lesions, it appears to us that these complications should be included in those of which the patient needs to be informed preoperatively.

Brachial Plexus↗

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: experiences in Erlangen].

From February 2, 1990 to June 15, 1991, a total of 160 patients were subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The procedure was successful in 150 patients, while in ten patients the procedure was converted to conventional cholecystectomy for the following reasons: suspected malignancy (2), cystic duct stone (1), dysfunction of equipment (2), adhesions (1), concomitant liver tumor (1), abscess in the hepatoduodenal ligament following endoscopic papillotomy (1), and chronic cholecystitis (2). Four patients developed substantial complications. Two patients developed biliary leakage requiring laparotomy and endoscopy placement of a nasobiliary tube in one case each. The other two patients developed intraabdominal bleeding that forced an emergency laparotomy in one case. With increasing experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we would only consider a preoperative suspicion of malignancy as an absolute contraindication.

Adolescent↗

[Regional chemotherapy of diffuse liver metastases of colorectal cancer].

From 1970 to 1987, a total of 112 patients underwent regional chemotherapy as primary treatment of colorectal liver metastases. 68 patients received 250-750 mg 5-FU 2-3 times per week via external devices, 40 patients with port catheters had 5-day courses of Mitomycin C (8 mg/m2/day 1) and 5-FU (600 mg/m2/day 1-5) at 4 week intervals, and four patients were treated with FUDR (0.2 mg/m2/day 1-14/28) using an Infusaid pump. Median and maximum survival were 13.2 and 58 months, respectively. The overall response rate in patients suitable to imaging criteria who underwent treatment for more than three months and was 83% (CR 14%, PR 40%, SD 29%). The influence of various factors on Kaplan/Meier survival was checked the Logrank test. Response to treatment was of superior importance (p = 0.0000016), but hepatomegaly, Karnofski index, the percentage of liver volume replaced by tumour, and various liver related biochemical tests were also highly significant prognostic determinants (p greater than 0.01). There was no difference between external and fully implantable devices. A subgroup of 68 patients without extrahepatic disease, treatment of more than three months was retrospectively compared to 121 untreated patients with a similar stage of disease. There was no obvious effect of regional chemotherapy on survival (p = 0.16). Although the untreated patients consist a historical control group only, this result indicates that regional chemotherapy must continuously be restricted to well prospective clinical trials.

Adult↗

Indicators of prognosis after hepatic resection for colorectal secondaries.

From 1960 to 1988, 266 patients underwent resection of colorectal secondaries to the liver with curative intent. All patients were followed until April 1, 1990, or death, with a median follow-up time of 52 months. Nine patients with minimal macroscopic residual disease and 38 patients with all gross tumor removed but positive margins showed a poor prognosis with a median survival time of 13.3 months, the longest being 42 months. Of the 219 patients having potentially curative resection, 12 patients died postoperatively (5.5%). Actuarial 5, 10 and 20-year survival for the remaining 207 patients was 39%, 28%, and 18%, respectively. At April 1, 1990, 77 patients were alive with no evidence of disease for up to 24 years, and 12 patients had died without recurrence. The following factors were associated with less favorable crude survival: presence and extent of mesenteric lymph node involvement (p = 0.0003), grade III/IV primary tumor (p = 0.035), synchronous diagnosis of metastases (p = 0.017), satellite metastases (p = 0.0003), limited resection margins (p = 0.019), and nonanatomic procedures (p = 0.013). With respect to disease-free survival, grading of the primary (p = 0.055) and the extent of clear margins (p = 0.019) failed to achieve statistical significance. Two other criteria are commonly recommended as absolute contraindications to hepatic resection: extrahepatic disease and the presence of four or more independent metastases. A radical excision of all detectable disease may rarely be possible in these circumstances. Nevertheless, within the curative settings, no significant predictive value regarding either overall or disease-free survival was found in this series. Three corresponding "high risk" patients are alive without disease at 5 to 11 years from hepatic resection. These patients with more advanced intrahepatic or concomitant limited extrahepatic disease require a particularly thorough diagnostic work up. As no superior therapeutic alternative is currently available, an aggressive surgical approach may occasionally be justified, and may, in a small portion, result in definite tumor control.

Adult↗

Hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma: impact of surgical resection on the natural history.

From 1960 to 1987, 1209 patients with colorectal liver metastases were recorded, and followed until 1 January 1990. In 242 cases the diagnosis was based on external imaging, whereas 967 patients had operative confirmation and staging of their liver disease. Three groups of patients were analysed: group 1 involved 921 cases, of whom 902 were deemed non-resectable whereas 19 could not be unequivocally classified. Only 21 patients lived for longer than 3 years, seven survived for 4 years, but there were no 5-year survivors. Group 2 comprised 62 highly selected patients who at laparotomy demonstrated resectable metastatic spread confined to the liver, but this was not treated mainly because of a formerly different therapeutic approach. These patients had a significantly longer median survival time (14.2 versus 6.9 months), but also failed to achieve 5-year survival. The 226 patients forming group 3 underwent hepatic resection with intent to cure. Nine of them had minimal macroscopic disease left, and 34 with all gross tumour removed had positive margins. Survival of patients with these 43 eventually non-radical resections followed an identical course as in group 2 (median survival 13.3 months, maximum 42 months). Of the 183 patients with potentially curative resection ten died after surgery (5.5 per cent). Actuarial 5 and 10-year survival rates in the remaining 173 patients were 40 and 27 per cent with 25 and seven patients alive at respective periods of time. Until 1 January 1990, 64 patients remained free from recurrent disease for up to 24 years. In three patients the tumour status at death was unclear. The other 106 patients developed definite cancer relapse. Nevertheless they demonstrated a prolongation of survival time by a median of 1 year when compared with the 43 non-radically resected patients or the 62 untreated patients with resectable liver-only metastases, and accomplished a maximum survival time of 8 years. Radical excision of colorectal secondaries to the liver therefore offers effective palliation, and in a small number the chance of a cure.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Pulmonary resection for metastatic colon and upper rectum cancer. Is it useful?

The predictive value of the route of venous drainage on prognosis was investigated in a consecutive series of 44 patients who underwent curative resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma. The primary tumor was located in the colon in 14 patients and in the upper third of the rectum in 11 patients, thus indicating blood drainage directed toward the portal vein (Group I). In 10 and 9 cases, respectively, the initial growth was in the middle and lower thirds of the rectum with the venous outflow at least partially directed into the vena cava (Group II). There was no obvious difference between the two groups regarding the initial site of cancer relapse. The liver was involved in 4 of 15 patients failing in Group I as opposed to 4 of 13 patients with hematogenous relapse in Group II. Median survival and tumor-free survival times were significantly longer in patients in Group I (58.4 and 50.2 months) than in patients in Group II (30.9 and 16.8 months), and, even more pronounced, in colon cancer patients (75.4 and 60.2 months) when compared with rectal cancer patients (31.0 and 17.9 months). In contrast, survival curves did not differ significantly if either the two groups with different routes of drainage (5-year survival 53 percent vs. 38 percent, 5-year tumor-free survival 43 percent vs. 37 percent), or tumors of the colon and rectum (5-year survival 67 percent vs. 38 percent, 5-year tumor-free survival 60 percent vs. 32 percent) were compared using the log-rank test. Similar trends were obtained for the subgroup of 34 patients without previous or simultaneous extrapulmonary recurrent disease at the time of lung resection. The primary tumor site does therefore not become a major criterion in selecting patients for surgical resection.

Adult↗

[Surgical interventions in liver metastases].

Surgical treatment of hepatic metastases is predominantly aimed at "curative" resection. This can be achieved in about 20% of colorectal secondaries, and is associated with a 30-40% 5-year survival. One to three metastases in the absence of extrahepatic disease are regarded a clear indication to resection. Among patients with non-colorectal malignancies, occasional long term survival was reported in leiomyosarcoma, breast cancer, and renal cancer metastases, respectively. Endocrine tumors such as carcinoid, gastrinoma, or pheochromocytoma, are different because of their remarkable symptoms along with a protracted natural history. Quality of life may be considerably improved here by even non-radical debulking. The vast majority of patients, however, ist not suitable to undergo hepatic resection. Palliative therapeutic options involve hepatic artery ligation or embolization, cryo-surgery and percutaneous laser coagulation, and various types of regional chemotherapy. These methods may enable a temporary relief of symptoms, but no significant impact on survival time, and no true long term benefit has been proven. Prospective randomized trials against combined treatment as well as untreated patients are required for a more meaningful judgement and improved effectiveness.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗

[Resection of lung metastases of colorectal cancer. Indications and indication limits].

From 1970 through 1986, a total of 62 patients underwent thoracotomy for colorectal metastases to the lungs. Four had exploration only, whereas in 13 a nonradical, and in 45 a "curative" resection was performed. There was one postoperative death. Cumulative 5-year survival following radical resection was 44%. Conversely, all other patients succumbed within 3 years. Extrapulmonary disease has not yet been associated with 5-year survival and may usually contraindicate resection. The impacts of multiple metastases exceeding 3 nodules or bilateral pulmonary involvement on prognosis can not been determined from our series, since the procedure in respective patients was not radical in the majority of cases. In turn, localisation and venous drainage of the primary tumor did not significantly influence long term survival.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Primary carcinoid tumor of the orbit. A clinicopathologic study with histochemical and electron microscopic observations.

A patient with a primary carcinoid tumor of the orbit is described. No other tumor had been found during the 15-year interval since the onset of unilateral proptosis. Symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome were absent, and the urinary levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were normal. Histologically, the bulky, noninfiltrating tumor compressed but did not invade the optic nerve. The argyrophilic cells were arranged in solid lobules and formed abundant, rosettelike structures. Pleomorphic neurosecretory granules were demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy.

Aged↗

[Thyroid carcinoma metastases in choroid membrane of a 9 year old girl].

Report on a case of a total serous retinal detachment which manifested itself by inflammation and rise in tension. It was associated with an undefinable tumour of the posterior portion of the eye which had become visible after puncture of the subretinal fluid. Fluorescein angiography revealed a pattern similar to Hippel-Lindau's disease, although the clinical course was unusual. Histologic examination of a lump detected on the neck proved to be a metastatic thyroid carcinoma. This diagnosis could be confirmed after enucleation. The literature shows that ocular involvement in metastatic thyroid carcinoma seems to be extremely rare.

Child↗

[Localization and separation of various amino acid arylamidases in the uterus and blastocyst of the rabbit].

Distribution patterns of amino acid arylamidases have been studied in rabbit uterus and implantation stage blastocysts using a simultaneous coupling technique. A series of beta-naphthylamides (NAs) of various amino acids were used as substrates. Tests were performed at pH 6.5 and 7.5 using both Fast Blue B and Fast Garnet GBC as diazonium salts. Despite limited substrate specificity known in arylamidases, this procedure proved to be sufficient to give some evidence for the presence in uterus and blastocyst of at least three different arylamidases. NAs of aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Trp) are hydrolyzed predominantly by an enzyme showing maximum activity in uterine epithelium and in walls of blood vessels. An amino dicarbonic acid (alpha-Glu, alpha-Asp) NAs splitting arylamidase, possibly related to "aminopeptidase A", seems to be localized more specifically in myometrium and trophoblast. When NAs of basic (Arg, Lys) or certain other (Gly, Ala) amino acids were used, a strong reaction was obtained in myometrium, uterine epithelium, blood vessels and trophoblast as well. The observed patterns of distribution did not give evidence for the existence of an enzyme splitting exclusively Arg-betaNa and Lys-betaNA ("aminopeptidase B") although the activation by Cl- ions did. The problem of identification of different amino acid arylamidases by histochemical means will be discussed. For better localization, a section freeze substitution technique was found as efficient as the use of methoxy substrates. For the study of uterine secretion, either the section freeze substitution or the membrane method may be used.

Aminopeptidases↗