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Cytoplasmic localization of the paired box gene, Pax-8, is found in pediatric thyroid cancer and may be associated with a greater risk of recurrence.

The paired box-8 protein (Pax-8) has been observed in the nucleus of normal adult thyroids, follicular adenomas, follicular thyroid cancers, and papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) but not undifferentiated thyroid cancers. To our knowledge, Pax-8 has not been studied in pediatric thyroid cancer. Because of the more favorable prognosis for PTC in children compared to young patients, we hypothesized that Pax-8 expression might be different in pediatric thyroid cancers. To test this, we stained 47 thyroid lesions from children and young patients for Pax-8. Pax-8 was located in the cytoplasm (cPAX) or nucleus (nPAX) in the majority of samples. There was no significant difference in nPAX between benign and malignant lesions. However, cPAX was more commonly seen in PTC than autoimmune diseases (p = 0.01) and the intensity of cPAX staining correlated with tumor size (p = 0.041), metastasis, age, completeness of resection, local invasion, and tumor size (MACIS) scores (p = 0.045), and the presence of invasion, metastasis, recurrence, or persistence (p = 0.012). Disease-free survival was significantly reduced for cancers with intense cPAX staining (p = 0.0003). These data show that cPAX is common in PTC, and although limited by small sample size, suggest an association with higher MACIS scores, an aggressive clinical course, and an increased risk of clinically evident recurrence for children and young patients.

Adolescent↗

Ventral foramen magnum meninigiomas.

OBJECT: Ventral foramen magnum meningiomas (VFMMs) are rare lesions that account for more than 3% of all meningiomas. These are among the most challenging of all meningiomas to treat. The authors comprehensively analyzed multiple features in a series of VFMMs. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 18 patients who harbored a meningioma in the ventral foramen magnum (mean follow-up period, 40 months) and underwent surgery via a transcondylar approach. Sixteen patients underwent surgery for the first time: 12 underwent gross-total (75%), two near-total (12.5%), and two subtotal (12.5%) tumor removal. The remaining two patients were treated for a recurrent tumor. After obtaining postoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores at follow up, statistically significant improvement was demonstrated compared with the preoperative scores. The extent of surgery and higher preoperative KPS scores were variables that showed statistically significant favorable influence on outcome. Ninth and 10th cranial nerve deficits were the most common complications contributing to a prolonged hospital stay. There were no perioperative deaths. Four patients died during the follow-up period. The first patient died of multiple myeloma. The second patient, in whom surgery was performed to treat a recurrent tumor, died 3 years after the surgery of new tumor recurrence at the age of 80 years. The remaining two patients died 1.5 and 5 months postsurgery of pulmonary embolus and endocarditis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ventral foramen magnum meningiomas can be radically resected in a majority of patients, with frequent but transient morbidity caused by lower cranial nerve deficits. Radical removal of a recurrent tumor provides a relatively long, stable postoperative course. In patients presenting with a low KPS score a poor prognosis is demonstrated, and early diagnosis and treatment are recommended to avoid it.

Adult↗

Expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 and of MIB-1 in patients with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland.

BACKGROUND: Patients with recurrent pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland are difficult to manage without considerable risk of facial nerve injury. The prognostic significance of progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptor (ER) reported in these adenomas was evaluated in patients with recurrent pleomorphic adenomas, comparing the results in a group of patients with primary adenomas without recurrences during 10 years of follow-up. METHODS: Paraffin embedded tumor samples from 52 patients with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland were collected and stained immunohistochemically. Expression of PR, ER, Ki-67 antigen, and insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGFR-1) was analyzed in resected samples of recurrent tumors and was compared with samples from a control group of patients with primary pleomorphic adenoma. RESULTS: A difference (P < 0.05) in the type of tumor was observed between the recurrent group (more cell-poor variants) and the control group. ER expression was low in both groups (19% and 17%, respectively), but immunoreactivity for ER was higher (48%) in normal parotid gland tissue. PR expression in the recurrent group (96%) was higher compared with PR expression in the control group (61%; P < 0.001). PR expression and IGFR-1 expression were correlated weakly (correlation coefficient = 0.660; P = 0.053) in the recurrent group. The expression of growth fraction (Ki-67 score) and IGFR-1 was similar in both groups but was more extensive compared with normal parotid gland tissue. CONCLUSIONS: PR seems to be a prognostic factor in recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland. The PR pathway can be considered a potential target for hormone treatment in patients with these recurrent adenomas.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with human acellular dermal matrix patch: our initial experience.

BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernia followed by an antireflux procedure is currently the gold standard therapy for gastroesophgeal reflux disease. However, it is recognized that recurrent hiatal herniation and wrap migration are major sources of operative failures in these patients. Some have described a reduction of such events with the placement of nonbiodegradable prosthetic patches over the primary cruroplasty. This prosthetic material may be associated with transesophageal and gastric erosions and a higher rate of postoperative dysphagia and chest pain when compared with simple suture cruroplasty alone. The aim of this study is to compare hiatal closure with a biodegradable patch (acellular dermal matrix) and simple suture curaplasty in patients undergoing laparoscopic antireflux surgery. METHODS: A total of 44 patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Twenty-two consecutive patients undergoing large hiatal hernia repair (>5 cm) and fundoplication with primary suture cruroplasty only (group 1) were compared with 22 consecutive patients undergoing the same procedure with suture cruroplasty reinforced with an onlay acellular dermal matrix patch (group 2). The 2 groups were compared with regards to demographics, size of the hiatal hernia, pre- and postoperative symptom scores, pH studies, operative times, and hiatal hernia recurrence. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were well matched by age, weight, height, and size of hiatal hernia. There were similar preoperative values in esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, and symptom scoring in both groups. Average operative time was 108 minutes in group 1 and 121 minutes in group 2. There were no major complications in either group. The median period of hospitalization was 1 day in both groups. Postoperative pH studies and symptoms score data were significantly improved in both groups. There was no significant difference in postoperative symptoms scores for dysphagia between the 2 groups. Two patients (one in each group) underwent esophageal dilatation for mild dysphagia postoperatively. In group 1, 2 patients (9%) had Nissen failure with hiatal hernia recurrences 6 months after surgery. There were no recurrences for the follow-up period in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Our early results suggest that hiatal hernia repair reinforced with an acellular dermal matrix patch may reduce the incidence of recurrent herniation and wrap migration. In addition, the increase in postoperative dysphagia, chest pain, and esophageal erosions associated with nondegradable mesh has not been observed in those with an acellular dermal matrix patch to this point in our follow up. However, future investigation of the material for this particular application as well as longer follow-up is necessary.

Adult↗

Mini-open medial reefing and arthroscopic lateral release for the treatment of recurrent patellar dislocation: a medium-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Although recurrent patellar dislocations are not uncommon, their pathophysiology and treatment are controversial. HYPOTHESIS: Stabilization of recurrent patellar dislocations can be successfully managed with a mini-open approach. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (23 knees) underwent a mini-open medial reefing and arthroscopic lateral release for the treatment of recurrent patellar dislocations with an average follow-up of 4.4 years (range, 1.4-14 years). The average age at the first dislocation was 15 years (range, 5-26 years), and the average age at surgery was 23 years (range, 12-65 years). RESULTS: There was 1 postoperative dislocation (4%) and 1 recurrent subluxation (4%). The average Kujala knee score was 88.2 +/- 13.5, with overall good scores in each category. The lowest scores involved squatting (5.7), abnormal painful kneecap movements (subluxations) (7.1), and jumping (7.9). Overall, there was a statistically significant improvement in the Tegner score from 3.7 +/- 1.8 before surgery to 6.9 +/- 2.0 after surgery (P < .001). Six knees (26%) were rated subjectively as excellent, 15 (65%) as good, 2 (9%) as fair, and 0 (0%) as poor. All 22 patients (100%) stated that the procedure was worthwhile. Radiographically, there was a statistically significant improvement in the congruence angle (normal, -8.0 degrees +/- 6.0 degrees) from 15.7 degrees +/- 12.6 degrees (range, 0.0 degrees to +44.0 degrees) before surgery to -11.5 degrees +/- 8.7 degrees (range, -20.0 degrees to +10.0 degrees) after surgery (P < .001) and in the lateral patellofemoral angle (normal, >0 degrees) from -0.2 degrees +/- 6.4 degrees (range, -10 degrees to +8 degrees) before surgery to 7.9 degrees +/- 2.6 degrees (range, 0.0 degrees to +11.0 degrees) after surgery (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our mini-open technique provides anatomical restoration with limited morbidity and cosmetically appealing results. Furthermore, our redislocation rates compare favorably with traditional, more extensile open approaches.

Adolescent↗

Timing and sequence of hyperthermia in fractionated radiotherapy of a murine fibrosarcoma.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of timing and sequence of hyperthermia on fractionated radiotherapy, since it has been shown that the heat increases the size of hypoxic cell fraction which could affect the effect of subsequent radiation doses. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Animal-tumors were early generation isotransplants of a spontaneous fibrosarcoma, FSa-II, in C3Hf/Sed mice. Tumor response was studied by tumor growth time and TCD50 (50% tumor control dose) assays. The tumor growth time is the time required for one-half of the treated tumors to reach 500 mm3 from the first treatment day. The TCD50 is a radiation dose to control one-half of the treated tumors for 120 days following treatments. One heat treatment at 43.5 degrees C for 45 min was given in a water bath in combination with fractionated doses independently (24 hr interval) or simultaneously (2 min interval). For the normal tissue study, the mouse foot was treated, and the acute foot reaction was scored daily and averaged. The late foot reaction was scored in animals used in the TCD50 assay that developed no recurrence for 120 days. The RD50(2.0) and RD50(5.0), or total radiation doses to induce an average score of 2.0 (complete epilation) and 5.0 (partial foot atrophy) in 50% of treated animals, were calculated. RESULTS: Thermal radiosensitization was most prominent when heat was combined simultaneously with the first or last radiation dose in both the tumor growth time and TCD50 assays. However, the thermal enhancement was greatest when heat was given either with the first or last radiation dose in the TCD50 assay; whereas it was greatest when heat was administered with the last radiation dose in the tumor growth time assay. Both acute and late skin reactions were significantly potentiated by heat administered 24 hr before the first radiation dose. CONCLUSION: A significant observation in this study was that, in both the tumor growth time and TCD50 assays, heat given independently or simultaneously did not result in any therapeutic gain compared to the radiation alone treatment.

Animals↗

Personality profiles and heart rate variability (vagal tone) in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to explore psychological factors and autonomic activity in children with recurrent abdominal pain and to compare them with those in a control group of healthy children. The Personality Inventory for Children was used for assessment of developmental, emotional and psychosocial factors in 25 children with recurrent abdominal pain (age, 7-15 y). Parasympathetic and sympathetic functions in these children and in 23 healthy control subjects (age, 7-13 y) were also investigated, non-invasively using a computerized polygraph. Vagal tone (parasympathetic function) was indexed by calculation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in beats/min. Skin conductance (sympathetic function) was recorded by the constant current method. On the Personality Inventory for Children, 16 patients had high scores on somatic concern. Several patients had scores in the clinical range for depression, withdrawal and anxiety, but the mean scores for these personality profile scales were well within the normal range of healthy children. Interestingly, there was a spike on the L (Lie)-scale for most of the patients and 15 patients had scores above or close to the clinical cut-off value. As compared with the scores in healthy children, vagal tone and sympathetic tone were normal. CONCLUSION: Many children with recurrent abdominal pain have scores in the clinical range for depression, withdrawal, anxiety and L-scale indicating coping problems, denial and a trend towards somatic concern that may contribute to the evolution of abdominal pain. Autonomic nerve activity was not disturbed in these children.

Abdominal Pain↗

Tumor angiogenesis as a predictor of recurrence and survival in patients with node-negative colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The authors' objective was to quantitatively assess angiogenesis or neovascularity within node-negative colon cancers and to determine if increased angiogenesis correlated with higher recurrence and lower survival rates. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Neovascularization promotes rapid tumor growth by facilitating nutrient and metabolite exchange. Recent work with breast and nonsmall cell lung cancers has shown that low angiogenic activity imparts a lower risk of recurrence and metastasis. Although adjuvant therapy is beneficial for patients with node-positive colon cancers, no such benefit has been demonstrated for patients with node-negative lesions. Nevertheless, up to 30% of this latter group will experience recurrence. We sought to identify a subset of patients with node-negative colon cancers at high risk for recurrence who might benefit from such therapy. METHODS: One hundred five node-negative colon cancers were immunostained for endothelial cell factor VIII-related antigen. Blood vessels within three microscopic fields at 100X magnification were counted, the mean calculated, and an angiogenesis score assigned. A subjective angiogenesis grade (1-4) was assigned after each slide was surveyed in its entirety. Score and grade were then assessed with respect to cancer recurrence and patient survival. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 71 years (range, 41-90 years) and mean tumor size, 5.6 cm (range, 2-12 cm). Mean follow-up was 6.5 years; mean angiogenesis score, 27.9 (range, 4-50); and mean grade, 2.0 (range, 1-4). Patients living 5 years had significantly lower angiogenesis scores than did nonsurvivors (22.8 vs. 43.2, p = 0.0004). Each 10-vessel increase in score imparted a 2.0-fold greater hazard of death and a 2.7-fold greater hazard of recurrence. The probability of surviving 5 years is estimated by: [formula: see text] and the probability of recurrence is estimated by: [formula: see text] CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenesis within colon cancer is an important predictor of tumor behavior and may identify patients at higher risk for recurrence and early death.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A phase II study of carboplatin and cisplatin in advanced or recurrent squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Between March 1990 and July 1992, 42 women with squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix were prospectively treated with carboplatin (260 mg/m2) on Day 1 and cisplatin (50 mg/m2) on Day 2 every 28 days. Patients had either stage IVb (FIGO) cancer (5 patients) or recurrent cancer (37 patients) and a Zubrod score < or = 2. Forty-one patients had received either radiation or surgery as primary therapy; 179 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered. The mean number of cycles administered to each patient was 4 (range, 2-8 cycles). Dose escalation was possible in 32 cycles (23.4%) and dose reduction was required in 10 cycles (7.3%). The dose-limiting toxic effect was myelosuppression, with grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in 39 cycles (22%) and neutropenia in 19 cycles (11%). Neurotoxic effects were observed in 3 patients. Forty-two patients were evaluable for response: 1 had a complete response and 11 had a partial response (response rate 28.6%, 95% confidence interval, 14.9-42.3%). For all patients and for responders, median progression-free interval was 4.4 and 9.5 months, respectively, and median length of survival was 8.9 and 9.5 months, respectively. This regimen was well tolerated and had significant activity in the treatment of cervical cancer. Comparison to other platinum-based regimens in a Phase III trial should be considered.

Adult↗

Clinicopathological features of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) arising in patients without chronic viral infection or alcohol abuse: a retrospective study of patients undergoing hepatic resection.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to clarify the etiology and clinicopathological features of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) arising in patients without chronic viral infection or alcohol abuse. METHODS: HCC patients who underwent resection were divided into three groups: a non-B non-C (NBNC) group (n = 13), who were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and anti-hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab), excluding a history of alcohol abuse; a B group (n = 25), who were seropositive for HBs Ag only; and a C group (n = 116), who were seropositive for HCV Ab only. We analyzed the features of tumor- and host-related factors and the outcome of the NBNC group. RESULTS: Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were less severe in the NBNC group than in the other groups. There were no significant differences in tumor-related factors, except for higher serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein in the NBNC group. Recurrence rates and disease-free survivals were comparable among the three groups. The NBNC group comprised a greater population with one or two recurrent hepatic lesions (P < 0.05), and indocyanine green retention rates and fibrosis scores were preserved after the initial hepatectomy. The NBNC group had higher resection rates for intrahepatic recurrences (75.0%) than the other groups (21.1% and 22.2% in groups B and C, respectively; P < 0.05 and P < 0.05). The survival rate after the initial hepatectomy or detection of the recurrent lesions was significantly better in the NBNC group (both 100% at 5 years) than those in groups B and C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NBNC patients maintained good liver function following the initial hepatectomy, and tended to have one or two recurrent lesions. These biological advantages provided NBNC patients more opportunities for repeat resection of intrahepatic recurrences, which may lead to a favorable outcome.

Adult↗

Detection of central pelvic recurrent disease with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound in women treated for gynecological malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate color Doppler characteristics of small recurrent tumors detected within the central pelvis in follow-up patients treated for gynecological malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed on 340 patients who were being monitored following treatment for gynecological malignancies. A selected group of 27 patients, with small pelvic masses located in the central region of the pelvis, underwent a color Doppler examination. A subjective assessment of the vascularization (vascular score), the lowest resistance index (RI), the highest peak velocity (PSV) and the highest time averaged maximum velocity (TAMXV) of the vessels detected within the lesion were analyzed. RESULTS: In 16 patients the pelvic mass was found to be benign while in 11 patients a malignant recurrence was diagnosed. Gray-scale examination could not differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. The color score of tumor recurrences was significantly higher in comparison to that in benign lesions (color score 3 in 54% vs. 0%, P < 0.005). The malignant lesions showed significantly lower mean values of RI and significantly higher mean values of PSV and TAMXV when compared with benign lesions (0.39 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.81 +/- 0.22, P < 0.0001; 19.3 +/- 4.7 vs. 10.5 +/- 5.6 cm/s, P < 0.0001; 8.9 +/- 3.7 vs. 4.3 +/- 2.7 cm/s, P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler analysis added to transvaginal gray-scale ultrasonography seems to be a helpful tool in the diagnosis of recurrent tumors in the central region of the pelvis.

Adult↗

Gallbladder stone recurrence after medical treatment. Do gallstones recur true to type?

Medical treatments that dissolve or remove gallbladder stones but leave the gallbladder in situ have the disadvantage of gallstone recurrence. Little is known about the composition of recurrent stones or whether they recur true to type. In 21 patients with recurrent stones detected 5-74 months (mean +/- SEM, 26 +/- 4 months) after being rendered stone-free with dissolution therapy (N = 15) or percutaneous cholecystolithotomy (N = 6), we compared pretreatment and postrecurrence gallstone number, maximum gallstone attenuation scores measured by computed tomography (CT) and, in 13, the dissolvability of the recurrent stones with oral bile acids +/- extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Before treatment, five patients had solitary and 16 had multiple stones but on recurrence, the gallstones differed in number from the primary stones in 10 of the 21 patients. As a result of patient selection, before dissolution, the primary stones were all radiolucent with maximum CT scores of < 100 Hounsfield units (HU) (mean 45, range 10-84 HU). On recurrence, the stones were again CT-lucent in 13 of the 15 patients but were CT-dense in the remaining two (118 and 176 HU). Initially, all six patients treated by percutaneous cholecystolithotomy had radio-opaque stones, with a mean CT score of 459 (range 100-969) HU. However, on recurrence, only one had calcified stones (HU 140); the remaining five had CT-lucent stones (16-98 HU, P < 0.05). Of the 13 patients whose recurrent, plain x-ray-lucent and CT-lucent stones were treated with oral bile acids +/- lithotripsy, 12 (92%) showed evidence of gallstone dissolution. We conclude that gallbladder stones do not recur true to type in up to two thirds of patients. However, irrespective of original gallstone composition, recurrent stones are usually radio- and CT-lucent, presumed cholesterol-rich, and therefore potentially dissolvable with oral bile acids.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Depression, cigarette smoking, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcome.

BACKGROUND: The relationships between psychological and behavioral variables and patient outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are not known definitively but have great potential importance, since this lifesaving procedure is used increasingly to treat a variety of malignancies. The objective of this study was to evaluate psychosocial predictors of long-term survival and disease recurrence after patients underwent allogeneic HSCT for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 114 adults were admitted for allogeneic HSCT to the Brigham and Women's Hospital between July, 1997 and January, 2002. The median follow-up was 882 days, and serial measures were taken for mood and substance use 6 months and 12 months posttransplantation. RESULTS: With a 93% participation rate by all potentially eligible patients and with < 3% of patients loss to follow-up, univariate predictors of long-term survival and recurrence were identified. Cox proportional hazards regression models for survival and recurrence were developed. Depressive symptoms, as measured by the most recent Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), increased the risk of death by 7% for each point increase in the BDI score (P = 0.006). Fourteen of 17 patients who developed recurrent disease were cigarette smokers with an average of 22.3 pack-years. For each pack-year of cigarette smoking, the risk of recurrence increased by 1.7% (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study assessed the role of psychosocial variables prospectively among a clinically homogeneous but representative cohort of patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT. Although additional confirmatory studies are pending, it appears that depressive symptoms posttransplantation and cigarette smoking prior to transplantation affect outcomes adversely and may represent opportunities to improve the morbidity and mortality associated with HSCT for patients with CML.

Adult↗

Six-year follow-up after Helicobacter pylori eradication in peptic ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND: The longterm outlook after Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in peptic ulcer disease is unclear. AIM: This study documents H. pylori recurrence, dyspeptic symptoms and anti-secretory therapy in peptic ulcer patients six years or more after H. pylori eradication. METHODS: Peptic ulcer patients with H. pylori eradication between 1990 and 1992 were included. Infection recurrence was diagnosed by 13-carbon urea breath test (UBT). Dyspeptic symptoms and anti-secretory therapy use were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients completed the study protocol. Mean follow-up after eradication was 6.1 years (range 4.8-8.3). Four patients had a positive UBT. H. pylori recurrence rate was 6.6% or 0.02% per patient per year. Forty-two patients (69%) had dyspeptic symptoms. Heartburn and belching were more common than pain (p<0.001). All four patients with H. pylori recurrence had symptoms compared with 38 of 57 H. pylori-negative patients (p>0.05). Ten of 61 patients (16.4%) were taking anti-secretory therapy and their dyspepsia scores were higher. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a low H. pylori recurrence rate, longterm dyspeptic symptoms were common in peptic ulcer patients after H. pylori eradication. The symptoms are mainly reflux in type and require anti-secretory therapy in only a minority of patients.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

Multicenter ProstaScint imaging findings in 2154 patients with prostate cancer. The ProstaScint Imaging Centers.

OBJECTIVES: To report the results of a retrospective study of 2290 ProstaScint scans of 2154 patients with prostate carcinoma done at 15 institutions. METHODS: The results were analyzed by logistic regression after stratification of the patients into four groups: group 1, newly diagnosed; group 2, after radical prostatectomy with a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level; group 3, after radiation therapy with a rising PSA level; and group 4, after hormonal therapy. RESULTS: The PSA level and ProstaScint scans positive in the prostate bed (P <0.001) and for pelvic metastases (P <0.001), but not for extrapelvic metastases, correlated significantly in group 1 patients. In group 2, the association for detecting fossa recurrence was weaker (P = 0.033) and was insignificant for pelvic and extrapelvic metastases. Patients in group 3 also exhibited a weak PSA-ProstaScint association for detecting fossa recurrence (P = 0.038), and was insignificant for pelvic and extrapelvic metastases. No significant PSA-ProstaScint correlation was found in patients in group 4 for fossa recurrence, pelvic or extrapelvic metastases. The distribution of positive ProstaScint results among the prostate/prostate bed, pelvic nodes, and extrapelvic nodes was nearly equal for all groups, except that a significantly greater percentage of extrapelvic metastases was found in the hormonal group (group 4). The ProstaScint results were independent of the Gleason score for 260 patients before and 285 patients after therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study underscore the complementary diagnostic value of ProstaScint to PSA level and Gleason score as an independent indicator of prostate cancer recurrence and metastases and in identifying extrapelvic metastases in both newly diagnosed and recurrent prostate cancer.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Comparison of histopathology in acute allograft rejection and recurrent hepatitis C infection after liver transplantation.

Recurrent hepatitis C infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is frequent and may occur as early as a few weeks postoperatively. Early histopathological features of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be modified by immunosuppressive therapy and can be difficult to differentiate from acute allograft rejection (AAR). Thus, we retrospectively compared histopathological features of liver biopsy specimens from two carefully selected patient groups: one with unequivocal recurrent hepatitis C, the other with unequivocal AAR. Index biopsy specimens obtained at the time of the appearance of liver test abnormalities after OLT and all serial liver biopsy specimens (2 to 13 per patient) were assessed under code and scored semiquantitatively for 44 histopathological variables. The index biopsy specimens from patients with recurrent HCV infection and AAR index biopsies (AAR-Ib) differed significantly (P < .05) for 11 features (10 features were statistically associated with AAR and 1 with early recurrence of HCV infection). Statistically significant features associated with AAR included bile duct injury with overlapping nuclei, lymphocytic infiltrates and necrosis, endothelialitis, portal inflammatory infiltrates containing eosinophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, hepatocyte mitoses, and zone 3 canalicular cholestasis. In contrast, the only statistically significant feature associated with early recurrent HCV was sinusoidal dilatation. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that the presence of eosinophils in the portal inflammatory infiltrate, bile duct necrosis, and bile duct lymphocytic infiltrates were independently associated with AAR. However, serial biopsy specimens from patients with recurrent HCV infection showed statistically significant progression in scores for portal inflammation, portal lymphoid aggregates, and lobular inflammation. We conclude that (1) multiple histopathological features are associated with AAR; (2) early recurrent HCV infection is characterized by elevated alanine aminotransferase levels, positive HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and absence of diagnostic histopathological features; and (3) serial biopsies are needed to demonstrate progression of histopathological features of recurrent hepatitis C.

Acute Disease↗

The importance of complete excision in the prevention of local recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Mastectomy probably represents over-treatment for the majority of women with screen detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and breast-conserving surgery is now widely advocated. In this study, biopsy cavity shavings were used to ensure complete excision in 129 women undergoing breast-conserving surgery for screen detected DCIS. A margin was considered clear if DCIS was > 1 mm from any margin of excision and shavings were clear. Patients with involved margins (DCIS at resection margin) underwent re-excision, irrespective of shaving status. After re-excision, 101 women (78%) had clear margins and 28 (22%) close margins (DCIS < or = 1 mm from resection margin). Cavity shavings were histologically clear of DCIS in all cases. Ipsilateral DCIS recurrence occurred in 12 (9.3%) patients. Two recurrences also contained invasive carcinoma. The median time to diagnosis was 14 months and all recurrences occurred at the site of the previous biopsy. Seven recurrences were detected at the first annual mammogram, four at the second and one at the third. Ipsilateral recurrence was related to margin status; only 2 out of 101 (2%) patients with clear margins recurred, compared with 10 out of 28 (36%) patients with close margins. Local recurrence and close margin status both correlated with a high modified Van Nuys prognostic index score. Our results indicate that local relapse represents residual DCIS rather than true recurrence in the majority of cases. Cavity shavings have proved ineffective in ensuring complete excision. We now ensure a minimum 10 mm margin of excision around all screen-detected DCIS lesions.

Adult↗

The use of cell salvage during radical retropubic prostatectomy: does it influence cancer recurrence?

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is a difference in the biochemical recurrence rate in patients who had radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) with or without cell salvage transfusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 769 consecutive patients undergoing RRP between 1992 and 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients having adjuvant hormonal treatment, postoperative external beam radiotherapy, or a follow-up of < 1 year were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 408 patients were categorized into three groups: 87 who received cell-salvaged blood using a commercial cell saver; 264 receiving only autologous transfusion; and 57 with no transfusion. Disease recurrence was defined as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of> 0.2 ng/mL. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess and compare the risk of cancer recurrence in the three groups. Covariates used in the multivariate analyses included Gleason score, preoperative PSA level, seminal vesicle involvement and surgical margins. RESULTS: The mean (range) follow-up was 40.2 (12-104) months; there were no significant differences among the groups in initial PSA level and Gleason score. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the initial PSA, Gleason score, seminal vesicle involvement and surgical margins, but not transfusion group, were independent predictors of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Cell salvage during RRP does not influence the recurrence of prostate cancer. Cell salvage is a safe method of transfusion during RRP.

Analysis of Variance↗