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Inhaled fluticasone propionate for chronic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) is a relatively new inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess efficacy and safety outcomes in studies that compared FP to placebo for treatment of chronic asthma. 2. To explore the presence of a dose-response effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Trial Register (1999), reference lists of articles, contacted trialists and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997-1999). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials in children and adults comparing FP to placebo in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One reviewer extracted data. Quantitative analyses where undertaken using Review Manager 4.0.3 with MetaView 3.1. MAIN RESULTS: 28 studies were selected for inclusion (5788 subjects). Methodological quality was high. In non-oral steroid treated asthmatics with mild-moderate disease FP produced improvements from baseline compared to placebo: FEV1 Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) 0.31 litres (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27 to 0.36 litres); morning PEF WMD 29 /min (95% CI 24 to 33 L/min); symptom scores Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) 0.59 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.71); reduction in rescue beta2 agonist use WMD 1.1 puffs/d (95% CI 0.9 to 1.4). Similar effects were seen for all doses up to 1000 mcg/d. A shallow dose response effect was apparent: eg change in morning PEF with FP 1000 mcg/d WMD 49 L/min (95% CI 41 to 58 L/min). High dose FP reduced the number of patients dependent on prednisolone: FP 1000-1500 mcg/d Peto Odds Ratio 0.07 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.10). FP at all doses led to a greater likelihood of sore throat, hoarseness and oral Candidiasis. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Doses of FP in the range 100-1000 mcg/d are effective. Although there appears to be a dose-response effect, in most patients with mild-moderate asthma improvements with low dose FP are only a little less than those with high doses. High dose FP appears to have worthwhile oral-corticosteroid reducing properties. FP use is accompanied by an increased likelihood of oropharyngeal side effects and this appears to be dose dependent.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Inhaled fluticasone versus placebo for chronic asthma in adults and children.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) is a relatively new inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess efficacy and safety outcomes in studies that compared FP to placebo for treatment of chronic asthma.2. To explore the presence of a dose-response effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Trial Register (January 2004), reference lists of articles, contacted trialists and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997-2004). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials in children and adults comparing FP to placebo in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers extracted data. Quantitative analyses where undertaken using RevMan Analyses 4.2.7. MAIN RESULTS: Sixty eight studies met the inclusion criteria (11, 104 participants). Methodological quality was high. In non-oral steroid treated asthmatics with mild and moderate disease FP resulted in improvements from baseline compared with placebo across all dose ranges (100 to 1000 mcg/d) in FEV1 (between 0.13 to 0.45 litres); morning PEF (between 27 and 47 L/min); symptom scores (based on a standardised scale, between 0.5 and 0.85); reduction in rescue beta-2 agonist use (between 1.2 and 2.2 puffs/d). High dose FP reduced the number of patients dependent on prednisolone: FP 1000-1500 mcg/d Peto Odds Ratio 0.07 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.10). FP at all doses led to a greater likelihood of sore throat, hoarseness and oral Candidiasis, but 21 patients would need to be treated for one extra to develop Candidiasis (FP 500 mcg/day), whilst only three or four patients need to be treated to avoid one extra patient being withdrawn due to lack of efficacy at all doses of FP. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Doses of FP in the range 100-1000 mcg/d are effective. In most patients with mild-moderate asthma improvements with low dose FP are only a little less than those associated with high doses when compared with placebo. High dose FP appears to have worthwhile oral-corticosteroid reducing properties. FP use is accompanied by an increased likelihood of oropharyngeal side effects.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Fluticasone versus placebo for chronic asthma in adults and children.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) is a relatively new inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess efficacy and safety outcomes in studies that compared FP to placebo for treatment of chronic asthma.2. To explore the presence of a dose-response effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register (January 2005), reference lists of articles, contacted trialists and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997-2004). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials in children and adults comparing FP to placebo in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers extracted data. Quantitative analyses were undertaken using RevMan 4.2 MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-five studies met the inclusion criteria (14,208 participants). Methodological quality was high. In non-oral steroid treated asthmatics with mild and moderate disease FP resulted in improvements from baseline compared with placebo across all dose ranges (100 to 1000 mcg/d) in FEV1 (between 0.13 to 0.45 litres); morning PEF (between 23 and 47 L/min); symptom scores (based on a standardised scale, between 0.5 and 0.85); reduction in rescue beta-2 agonist use (between 1.2 and 2.2 puffs/day). High dose FP increased the number of patients who could withdraw from prednisolone: FP 1000-1500 mcg/day Peto Odds Ratio 14.07 (95% CI 7.17 to 27.57). FP at all doses led to a greater likelihood of sore throat, hoarseness and oral Candidiasis. Twenty-one patients would need to be treated for one extra to develop Candidiasis (FP 500 mcg/day), whilst only three or four patients need to be treated to avoid one extra patient being withdrawn due to lack of efficacy at all doses of FP. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Doses of FP in the range 100-1000 mcg/day are effective. In most patients with mild-moderate asthma improvements with low dose FP are only a little less than those associated with high doses when compared with placebo. High dose FP appears to have worthwhile oral-corticosteroid reducing properties. FP use is accompanied by an increased likelihood of oropharyngeal side effects.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Inhaled fluticasone at different doses for chronic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) is a high potency inhaled corticosteroid used in the treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the efficacy and safety outcomes in studies that compared inhaled fluticasone at different nominal daily doses in the treatment of chronic asthma. 2. To test for the presence of a dose response effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Trial Register (1999) and reference lists of articles. We contacted trialists and pharmaceutical companies for additional studies and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997-1999). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials in children and adults comparing fluticasone at different nominal daily doses in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One reviewer extracted data. Quantitative analyses where undertaken using Review Manager 4.0.3 with Metaview 3.1. MAIN RESULTS: 20 studies (>6000 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was high. In non-oral steroid treated asthmatics with mild-moderate disease, a dose response effect was present for morning PEF; when comparing low doses (200 vs 100 mcg/d) Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) 6 L/min, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1, 10 L/min; medium-low dose (400-500 vs 100 mcg/d), WMD 8 L/min, 95%CI 1,15 L/min); and high vs low dose (800-1000 vs 50-100 mcg/d), WMD 22 L/min 95% CI 15,29 L/min). There was no dose response in symptoms or rescue beta2 agonist use. Hoarseness and oral Candidiasis was significantly higher with 800-1000 mcg/d than 50-100 mcg/d. In oral steroid dependent disease gain 2000 mcg/d had a greater effect than 1000-1500 mcg/d in likelihood of stopping prednisolone (Peto Odds Ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.3, 6.3) and reduced daily prednisolone dose (WMD 2.0 mg/d, 95% CI 0.1, 4.0 mg/d). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Effects of fluticasone are dose dependent but relatively small. Patients with mild to moderate disease achieve similar levels of asthma control on low doses of fluticasone (200 mcg/d or less) as they do on high doses (500 mcg/d or greater). In oral corticosteroid dependent asthmatics, reductions in prednisolone requirement may be gained with FP 2000 mcg/d.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Inhaled fluticasone at different doses for chronic asthma in adults and children.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) is a high-potency inhaled corticosteroid used in the treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the efficacy and safety outcomes of inhaled fluticasone at different nominal daily doses in the treatment of chronic asthma. 2. To test for the presence of a dose-response effect. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Trials Register (January 2005) and reference lists of articles. We contacted trialists and pharmaceutical companies for additional studies and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997 to 2004). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials in children and adults comparing fluticasone at different nominal daily doses in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One reviewer extracted data. These were checked and verified by a second reviewer. Quantitative analyses where undertaken using RevMan (Analyses 1.0.2). MAIN RESULTS: Forty-three studies (45 data sets with 8913 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was high. In asthmatics with mild to moderate disease who were not on oral steroids a dose-response effect was present with FP for change in morning peak expiratory flow (PEF). For low doses (100 versus 200 microg/day) the weighted mean difference (WMD) was 6.29 litres/min, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.28 to 10.29. Comparing medium (400 to 500 microg/day) to low dose (200 microg/day) FP the WMD was 6.46 litres/min (95% CI 3.02 to 9.89); this effect was more pronounced in one trial with more severely asthmatic children. For FP 100 versus 400 to 500 microg/day the WMD was 8 litres/min (95% CI 1 to 15) and at high versus low doses (800 to 1000 versus 50 to 100 microg/d) the WMD was 22 litres/min (95% CI 15 to 29). When high and medium doses were compared there was no significant difference in the change in morning PEF: at 400 to 500 versus 800 to 1000 microg/day the WMD was 0.16 litres/min (95% CI 6.95 to 6.63). There was no dose-response effect on symptoms or rescue beta-2 agonist use. The likelihood of hoarseness and oral candidiasis was significantly greater for the higher doses (800 to 1000 microg/day). People with oral steroid-dependent asthma treated with FP (2000 microg/day) were significantly more likely to reduce oral prednisolone than those on 1000 to 1500 microg/day (Peto odds Ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 6.3). The highest dose also allowed a significant reduction in daily oral prednisolone dose compared to 1000 to 1500 microg/day (WMD 2.0 mg/day, 95% CI 0.1 to 4.0 mg/day). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Effects of fluticasone are dose dependent but relatively small. At dose ratios of 1:2, there are significant differences in favour of the higher dose in morning peak flow across the low dose range. The clinical impact of these differences is open to interpretation. Patients with moderate disease achieve similar levels of asthma control on medium doses of fluticasone (400 to 500 microg/day) as they do on high doses (800 to 1000 microg/day). More work in severe asthma would help to confirm that doses of FP above 500 microg/day confer greater benefit in this subgroup than doses of around 200 microg/day. In oral corticosteroid-dependent asthmatics, reductions in prednisolone requirement may be gained with FP 2000 microg/day.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Surgical interventions for pharyngeal pouch.

BACKGROUND: A pharyngeal pouch is an out-pouching or pocket that develops from the posterior wall of the pharynx just above the entrance to the oesophagus (gullet). Pouches may give rise to difficulty in swallowing, sensation of a lump in the throat or of food sticking in the throat and may lead to troublesome regurgitation of food. Food may enter the pouch rather than passing down the oesophagus and this and regurgitation may result in weight loss, hoarseness of voice and/or recurrent chest infections. The management of patients with a pharyngeal pouch may be either conservative or surgical. The surgical management can be further divided into two broad categories: endoscopic and open procedures. In the first half of the twentieth century an open surgical approach to the pouch was most frequently used, and remains common in some parts of the world. In recent decades endoscopic procedures (where the approach is made through the mouth) have become popular. The superiority of one approach over another has yet to be clearly demonstrated. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of open and endoscopic surgical procedures for the management of a pharyngeal pouch. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2004, MEDLINE (1966 to 2004) and EMBASE (1974 to 2004). Reference lists of all identified trials and previous reviews were searched for additional trials. Further electronic searches for key authors identified were made. There were no language restrictions. The date of the last search was September 2004. SELECTION CRITERIA: We sought to identify all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing two or more interventions. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three reviewers assessed the eligibility of trials for inclusion in the review, based on pre-determined criteria. MAIN RESULTS: No trials were identified which fulfilled the criteria. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence from high quality randomised controlled trials to demonstrate the effectiveness of endoscopic compared with open procedures for pharyngeal pouch. There is no good evidence to establish whether one endoscopic procedure is superior to another.

Diverticulum↗

Respiratory function in active firefighters.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to environmental pollution during firefighting may results in the development of respiratory disorders in firefighters. METHODS: The health effects of firefighting on respiratory function was investigated in a group of 128 active firefighters by recording respiratory symptoms and measuring lung function. In addition, 88 control workers, not exposed to known pollutants were studied for the prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Significantly higher prevalences of dyspnea, nasal catarrh, sinusitis, and hoarseness were recorded in firefighters compared to control workers (P < 0.01). One subject developed asthma symptoms following two intense firefighting episodes. A high prevalence of acute symptoms experienced during and after fire extinguishing was also documented among these firefighters. Eye and throat irritation as well as headache were prominent. A logistic regression analysis of chronic respiratory symptoms demonstrated that odds ratios were significant for both duration of work exposure and for smoking. Lung function testing demonstrated a decrease in FEF75 in relation to predicted suggesting obstructive changes in the smaller airways. A regression analysis of ventilatory capacity tests indicated a positive relationship of forced vital capacity with length of employment, 1 s forced expiratory volume as well as FEF50 were related to smoking, and FEF75 was related to both smoking and length of employment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that firefighters are at risk for developing acute and chronic respiratory symptoms as well as obstructive airway changes.

Adult↗

Immediate hypersensitivity type of occupational laryngitis in a welder exposed to welding fumes of stainless steel.

BACKGROUND: Although upper respiratory symptoms have been reported to occur in welders, occupational laryngitis of immediate hypersensitivity type due to welding fumes of stainless steel has not been previously reported. METHODS: Occupational laryngitis was diagnosed based on the specific challenge test combined with the patient's history of occupational exposure and laryngeal symptoms. RESULTS: During the past few years, a 50-year-old man had started to experience laryngeal symptoms while welding stainless steel. The welding challenge test with stainless steel caused significant changes in the laryngeal status 30 min after challenge: increased erythema, edema, and hoarseness of the voice. The referent inhalation challenge test by welding mild steel was negative. CONCLUSION: The welding of stainless steel should be included in the etiological factors of occupational laryngitis of immediate hypersensitivity type.

Humans↗

The Dubowitz syndrome.

The Dubowitz syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition of intrauterine growth retardation, postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, characteristic facial appearance, high-pitched hoarse voice, and borderline intelligence or mild mental retardation. Cleft palate may occur as well as hypospadias, cryptorchidism in affected males, and mild limb defects. The 13 cases reported in the European literature and eight personally examined patients are reviewed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Interstitial deletion of (17)(p11.2p11.2) in nine patients.

We describe a new and distinct syndrome involving an interstitial deletion of short arm of chromosome 17 in nine unrelated patients (six males; three females) ranging in age from 3 months to 65 years. In eight patients, a deletion of a portion of band 17p11.2 was associated with a striking similar phenotype including brachycephaly, midface hypoplasia, prognathism, hoarse voice, and speech delay with or without hearing loss, psychomotor and growth retardation, and behavior problems. The one patient with a complete deletion of band 17p11.2 was more severely affected with facial malformations, cleft palate, and major anomalies of cardiac, skeletal, and genitourinary systems; the patient died at age 6 months. Careful cytogenetic analysis including high-resolution techniques will be important for the further identification of patients with this previously unrecognized deletion syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Farber disease: pathologic diagnosis in sibs with phenotypic variability.

We describe new pathologic findings in two sibs with Farber lipogranulomatosis. The first child, a 3-month-old boy, presented with only hepatosplenomegaly and had a fulminant clinical course suggestive of malignant histiocytosis. The second child, a 5 1/2-month-old girl, had the typical clinical presentation of Farber disease, with hoarseness and painful swollen joints. At autopsy, storage material was demonstrated in the second child at laryngeal and periarticular subcutaneous sites. Visceral involvement was prominent in both sibs, although not typical of the disease, and included a newly described nephropathy with elevated urine ceramide levels. Liver and spleen contained massive histiocytic infiltrates in association with elevated ceramide levels. Lymph nodes also contained histiocytic infiltrates but without the sinusoidal involvement typical of proliferative histiocytic disorders. These two cases demonstrate new pathologic anomalies in Farber disease, indicating that biochemical analyses of biopsy specimens may be necessary to establish the diagnosis of Farber disease when atypical clinical and morphologic anomalies are present.

Amidohydrolases↗

Fragile X syndrome: growth, development, and intellectual function.

We collected data on growth, psychomotor development, speech and language development, and intellectual function on a cohort of 100 males with the fragile X chromosome and 95 carrier females. The data include information on prenatal growth (33 males), growth during the preadult years (32 males), psychomotor development during the first 2 years (25 males), speech and language development (15 males and 5 females), and intellectual function (93 males, 33 females, and 10 obligate carriers who were cytogenetically normal). Birth measurements appeared normal when plotted on the Usher/McLean curves of newborn infants (mean head circumference - OFC - at 40th centile, length at 60th centile and weight at 55th centile). Following birth, OFC rose above the 50th percentile and continued above average throughout the preadult years, whereas average length was above average for the first 5 years only and weight did not deviate from the normal mean. Psychomotor development lagged behind the norm from birth with affected males requiring nearly twice as long as expected to sit alone, walk unassisted, and say first words clearly. All males and females studied had significant language delay; all except one male had abnormalities of articulation. All on whom a clear voice sample was obtained had low voice pitch, and 80% had a hoarse or harsh quality of voice. Five males had word repetitions or perseverative speech during the preadult years. The mean IQ of the 93 males studied was 33 and regression analysis demonstrated a decrease in intellectual performance with age. Four fifths of the female carriers who expressed the fra(X) had intellectual performance in the mentally retarded range and showed similar decrease in performance with age. Obligate female carriers who did not express the fra(X) site had normal IQs (IQ 102 +/- 13.3).

Adolescent↗

A new X-linked dysplasia gigantism syndrome: follow up in the first family and report on a second Austrian family.

We report on a new X-linked recessive syndrome in 2 unrelated families, consisting of pre- and postnatal growth excess, typical facial phenotype allowing diagnosis at birth, and usually normal physical and intellectual development. The minor anomalies seen at birth include a "coarse" face with wide nasal bridge, short nose with upturned nasal tip, wide open mouth, thick lips, midline depression of the lower lip, enlarged tongue, highly arched palate, large maxilla and jaw, and a short broad neck. Voice is hoarse and affected individuals have a plump, stocky body with pectus excavatum, thoracic scoliosis, hepatosplenomegaly, umbilical and/or inguinal hernias, broad short hands and feet, and in some cases preauricular dimples, abnormal ears, postaxial hexadactyly, hypoplastic index finger nails, and abnormal dermatoglyphics. Early postnatal death is frequent and pathogenetically unexplained. During infancy and childhood the leading manifestations are the overgrowth (greater than 97th centile), striking facial appearance, hypodontia and/or malposition of teeth, genua valga, hypoplastic calf muscles, and clumsiness. Adolescent and adult patients have well proportioned "gigantism" of athletic build (192-210 cm), large "coarse" face, and a deep voice. General intellectual and motor development are either normal or mildly delayed. Results of routine laboratory tests are normal, as are growth hormone and IGF I levels and chromosomes. Pathogenesis remains unknown. Heterozygotes may show some of the characteristic facial changes.

Adolescent↗

G syndrome: an unusual family.

The G syndrome is a multiple congenital anomaly (MCA) syndrome of hypertelorism, hypospadias, stridor, and swallowing difficulties. Cleft lip and palate, cardiac defects, cranial asymmetry, and bowel obstruction are occasional manifestations. Family data suggest autosomal dominant inheritance. Males appear to have more serious manifestations, whereas most females with the G syndrome have a benign course and are ascertained through affected male relatives. In the family reported here, the proposita was first seen at age 7 weeks because of swallowing difficulties, stridor, and unusual facial appearance, reminiscent of the G syndrome. Evaluation of the family showed striking facial changes in her father and all four of his sibs. These five individuals had megalencephaly, hypertelorism, and a broad prominent nasal root and bridge, reminiscent of the facial appearance in the BBB syndrome. There was no evidence for dysphagia, respiratory abnormality, or hoarse voice in any other relative. These individuals with the G syndrome display two unusual manifestations. There are no males with hypospadias; the proposita has the most severe laryngotracheoesophageal symptoms. Although hypospadias is not an invariable manifestation of the G syndrome and although six females with severe dysphagia or respiratory abnormalities have been reported previously, the manifestations in this family underline the variability of this condition and provide further support that the G syndrome can be expressed with equal severity in both males and females. Although phenotypic overlap between the BBB and G syndromes has long been recognized, many still consider them to be distinct nosologic entities. The occurrence of both BBB and G syndrome in different members of the same family has been observed previously.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

A new autosomal recessive disorder resembling Weaver syndrome.

Most reported cases of Weaver syndrome are sporadic, and the mode of inheritance is still unclear. We describe two (male and female) sibs born to consanguineous Bedouin parents with manifestations resembling Weaver syndrome. Both sibs had accelerated growth of prenatal onset, hypotonia, psychomotor retardation, excess loose skin, peculiar craniofacial and acral anomalies, dental dysplasia and/or serrated gums, joint laxity, and hoarse low-pitched cry. One of them had an accelerated harmonic skeletal maturation. Differentiating features from Weaver syndrome are discussed, and autosomal recessive inheritance is suggested.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Endovascular repair of a giant carotid pseudoaneurysm with the use of Viabahn stent graft.

A 72-year-old woman presented with a large pulsatile anterior right neck mass with compressive symptoms of dysphagia and hoarseness. This was due to a large (6 cm by 4 cm) postcarotid endarterectomy pseudoaneurysm of the right common carotid artery. Successful endovascular exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm was performed with a Viabahn stent graft with significant decrease in the size on follow-up. Other endovascular options such as coil embolization and thrombin injection are also discussed. It is important to exclude infection as the cause of postendarterectomy pseudoaneurysm before considering endovascular repair over surgical repair.

Aged↗

Radiation-related cranial nerve palsy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cranial nerve palsy is a rare complication after patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) receive radiotherapy using a technique that delivers 180-200 centigrays (cGy) per day. Cranial neuropathy is of particular clinical interest in terms of making a differential diagnosis, because it is also a common presenting manifestation in patients with NPC. Cranial neuropathy may lead to distressing signs and symptoms in these patients, and their treatment has not been addressed in previous reports. This article presents the authors' experience with radiotherapy-related cranial nerve palsy in patients with NPC. METHODS: Nineteen patients were diagnosed with radiation-related neuropathy. Patients with recurrent tumors or with a suspicion of persistent or recurrent tumors were excluded. Most patients were treated using 180 cGy or 200 cGy per fraction per day. The total dose was 7000-13,000 cGy to the nasopharynx and 5000-9000 cGy to the neck. Unilateral vocal cord paralysis alone and hearing loss were not included in the analysis. RESULTS: There were 15 male patients and 4 female patients. The latency before palsy occurred was 12-240 months. Single nerve palsy developed in four patients, including two patients with hypoglossal palsy and two patients with recurrent laryngeal palsy. Two patients had three nerve palsies each. The other 13 patients presented with 2 nerve palsies each. Vagus and hypoglossal palsy appeared to be a frequent combination and occurred in 11 patients. Overall, there were 17 patients with hypoglossal palsy (7 bilateral, 8 left-sided, and 2 right-sided), 11 patients with vagus palsy (2 bilateral, 7 left-sided, and 2 right-sided), 6 patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (5 bilateral), and 2 patients with accessory palsies (all bilateral). Marked neck fibrosis was present in 12 patients. Patients who had vocal cord paralysis suffered from easy choking and hoarseness. Severe respiratory difficulty occurred in two patients who had bilateral vocal cord palsy. Surgical procedures included laryngoplasty, tracheostomy, and gastrostomy. Quality of life improved considerably after patients underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy-related cranial nerve palsy may occur in patients with NPC after they receive conventional radiotherapy. Hypoglossal nerve palsy was found the most frequently in this series, followed by vagus nerve palsy and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Neck fibrosis and the course of the three nerves through the neck may be important risk factors for the development of palsy. The diagnosis must be made only after the possibilities of tumor-induced palsy and idiopathic palsy are excluded. Surgery is helpful in improving the quality of life in many patients.

Adult↗

Lung carcinoma symptoms--an independent predictor of survival and an important mediator of African-American disparity in survival.

BACKGROUND: The extent of disease in patients with lung carcinoma is reflected morphologically by stage and pathophysiologically by sign/symptoms. This study evaluates the associations between symptoms and stage, the independent impact of symptoms on survival, predictors of symptoms, and the extent to which symptoms mediate survival disparities. METHODS: Data from 1154 patients with lung carcinoma were collected from the authors' tumor registry and by abstraction of medical records. Associations were evaluated by logistic and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Symptomatic diagnoses were associated with advanced disease stage (odds ratio [OR], 4.53; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 3.17-6.48). Hoarseness, hemoptysis, dyspnea, noncardiac chest pain, extrathoracic pain, neurologic symptoms, weight loss, and weakness/fatigue (adverse symptoms) were associated independently with relatively higher/advanced stage and/or reduced survival. Adverse symptoms (> or = 1 vs. 0) predicted reduced survival independently of stage and other prognosticators (hazard ratio [HR], 1.84; 95%CI, 1.52-2.21). Independent predictors of adverse symptoms included gender (OR(male vs. female), 1.50; 95%CI, 1.11-2.01), race/ethnicity (OR(black vs. white), 1.62; 95%CI, 1.18-2.21), and marital status (OR(spouseless vs. not), 1.79; 95%CI 1.31-2.45). The hazard ratios (HR; black vs white), univariate, adjusted for stage, and adjusted for stage and adverse symptoms, was 1.206 (95%CI, 1.05-1.38), 1.165 (95%CI, 1.01-1.34), and 1.075 (95%CI, 0.94-1.26), respectively. Adverse symptoms explained 43% of race/ethnic survival disparity beyond stage. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms were associated with disease stage, yet both were important, independent predictors of survival; and symptoms explained an important amount of race/ethnic disparity in the survival of patients with lung carcinoma. Symptomatology needs to be incorporated into cancer clinical trials and into outcomes and disparities research.

Black or African American↗