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C Plancher

Publications and source records attributed to C Plancher.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Proton beam therapy for iris melanomas.

AIMS: To describe the results in terms of local control, eye preservation and systemic evolution of iris melanomas treated by proton beam irradiation. METHODS: Retrospective review of the charts of patients with iris melanoma treated by proton beam therapy between April 1998 and September 2002. Ciliary body melanomas with iris involvement or tumours with extrascleral invasion were excluded. Treatment consisted of 60 Gy of proton beam irradiation delivered in four fractions to the tumour volume. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were treated, median follow-up of 33 months (8-72 months). 15 patients presented a lesion with documented growth. The median clinical diameter was 5 mm (2-8 mm), the median ultrasound diameter 4.8 mm (2-7.7 mm) The patients were 6% T1, 57.1% T2, and 14.3% T3 all N0M0. The iridocorneal angle was invaded by the tumour in 71.4% of patients. At the end of follow-up, all patients were alive with no proven metastatic disease except one patient with suspicious liver lesions. None of the patients showed tumour progression or ocular relapse. The tumour response at 2 years was a flat lesion for 6.3% of cases, partial regression in 75% and stable in 18.8%. None of the patients required secondary enucleation. The main complication was cataract (45% within 24 months of treatment). Raised intraocular pressure was observed in 15% of patients but no neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Proton beam therapy shows potential utility for selected cases of localised iris melanomas allowing excellent local tumour control and eye preservation. Further follow-up on larger series is needed to confirm these results.

Adolescent↗

Combined proton beam radiotherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy for large uveal melanomas: a randomized study of 151 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Exudation from the tumour scar and glaucoma can be major problems after proton beam irradiation of uveal melanoma and can sometimes lead to secondary enucleation. We conducted a randomized study to determine whether systematic transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) after proton beam radiotherapy could have a beneficial effect. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between February 1999 and April 2003, all the patients treated by proton beam radiotherapy for uveal melanomas >/=7 mm thick or >/=15 mm in diameter were included in this study after giving their informed consent. One half of the patients received proton beam radiotherapy alone (60 Gy in 4 fractions) and the other half received the same dose of proton beam radiotherapy followed by TTT at 1, 6 and 12 months. All the information concerning the initial tumour parameters, treatments and follow-up was recorded and a statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: We randomized 151 patients. The median follow-up was 38 months. The 2 groups of patients were similar in terms of age, gender and tumour characteristics. The patients treated with TTT showed a greater reduction of tumour thickness (p = 0.06), less retinal detachment at the latest follow-up (p = 0.14) and a lower secondary enucleation rate (p = 0.02). DISCUSSION: The present study is the first randomized analysis to demonstrate a significant decrease in the secondary enucleation rate in patients treated with TTT after proton beam radiotherapy. Further studies should be performed to determine whether TTT could be beneficial to smaller tumours and to define its optimal dose.

Adult↗

[Prognostic factors for malignant uveal melanoma. Retrospective study on 2,241 patients and recent contribution of monosomy-3 research].

INTRODUCTION: We conducted a retrospective study on the clinical factors influencing the local and general prognosis of patients treated for uveal melanoma with a preliminary analysis of the prognostic value of monosomy 3. PATIENTS: and method: The patients sent to Curie Institute for uveal melanoma have a complete initial clinical evaluation, conservative management by radiotherapy or enucleation, and local and general long-term follow-up. Over the last 5 years, the status of chromosome 3 has been assessed by FISH in the tumors of enucleated patients. Findings concerning the initial workup, treatment, and follow-up are recorded prospectively. We conducted a retrospective study with multivariate analysis of the clinical factors influencing local recurrence, ocular conservation metastasis, and survival and studied the effect of monosomy 3. RESULTS: A total of 2241 patients were registered with a median follow-up of 72 months. Of these patients, 92.8% had conservative management with iodine 125 brachytherapy or proton beam therapy and 7.2% of the patients had enucleation (n=160). Tumors from 120 patients were studied for the status of chromosome 3 by FISH. The overall survival rate was 76.3% and the metastatic rate was 19.5%. The clinical factors influencing survival were the size and location of the tumor, age of the patient, gender, and initial treatment. The factors influencing the metastatic risk were the same plus retinal detachment and local recurrence. Monosomy 3 was a significant risk factor for metastatic disease. DISCUSSION: This study found the usual risk factors with the difference that location on the equator seems to be of worse prognosis than ciliary body involvement for survival and metastasis. In addition, the initial retinal detachment appears to be a risk factor for local recurrence and metastasis. At present, the evaluation of chromosome 3 is available for enucleated tumors but it could probably be done on needle biopsy performed during conservative management as well. CONCLUSION: This study confirms previous results on the prognostic factors of uveal melanoma and on the value of monosomy 3. The increasingly precise identification of a group of high-risk patients should allow us to propose adjuvant therapy and to adapt follow-up.

Disease-Free Survival↗

125I plaque brachytherapy for anterior uveal melanomas.

PURPOSE: To describe the results of 125I plaque brachytherapy of uveal melanomas anterior to the equator in terms of local control and the associated complications while trying to identify their risk factors (patients' demographic data, ocular, and tumour characteristics). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a series of patients treated by 125I between 1990 and 2000 in a single institution. The main outcome measures are evaluation of local tumour control and complications associated with 125I plaque brachytherapy of these melanomas. RESULTS: During the study period, 136 patients were treated for an anterior tumour. The median follow-up was 62 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 88.3%, the 5-year metastasis rate was 4% and the local recurrence rate was 1.5%. The mean final visual acuity was 20/40. The ocular complications most frequently observed at 5 years were cataract (50.3%), maculopathy (18.3%), intraocular inflammation (19.3%), and glaucoma (10.6%). Optic neuropathy, retinal detachment, keratitis, and intravitreous haemorrhage were also described. Risk factors for worse survival were age greater than 65 years and initial tumour thickness greater than 4 mm. Risk factors for the development of cataract were age more than 65 years old, male gender, and tumour diameter of more than 10 mm. Risk factors for intraocular inflammation were tumour thickness of more than 4 mm and invasion of the ciliary body. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 125I plaque brachytherapy to treat melanomas situated anterior to the equator allows good local and systemic control with a low rate of macular and optic disc complications. The most frequent complication was cataract formation.

Adult↗

[Bilateral uveal melanomas. Five case reports].

PURPOSE: Uveal malignant melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults. The occurrence of bilateral uveal melanoma is an extremely rare event, but the observed frequency is nevertheless higher than what can be attributed to chance. Possible responsible factors may include a genetic predisposition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study investigated the charts of patients examined from July 1988 to July 2001. For each patient, the clinical characteristics of the tumor (diameter, thickness, location), treatments, and results were noted, as were the eye involved, the presence of ocular melanocytosis, cutaneous melanoma, and second primary cancers. The information was then subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 2 461 patients with unilateral primary uveal melanoma, five were identified as having bilateral uveal melanoma (0.2%). The expected number of cases would be less than one, hypothesizing an incidence of second melanoma identical to the incidence of a primary melanoma in the general population. The interval between the diagnosis of first and second primary uveal melanomas ranged from 0 to 6 years (median, 2 years). There was no clinical evidence of ocular melanocytosis in any of the five patients. The uveal melanoma was choroidal in three patients and affected the ciliary body or iris and choroid in two patients. DISCUSSION: The discrepancy between the estimated incidence (thought by Shammas to be one case every 18 years) and the observed incidence of bilateral primary uveal melanoma could be the result of many possible factors. An increased incidence of unilateral uveal melanoma could be a cause but in fact the incidence of uveal melanoma seems stable. Uveal melanoma may have been misdiagnosed in earlier years. The presence of a genetic predisposition to uveal melanoma is a possible explanation (suspected because of bilateral cases, familial cases and association with other primary malignancies). Ocular melanocytosis, which is described as more common in patients with bilateral uveal melanoma, was not seen in our series. CONCLUSION: Bilateral primary uveal melanoma occurs more frequently than expected. Unidentified germline mutations may be involved in pathogenesis. These cases serve as a reminder of the of the importance of careful examination of the second eye.

Aged↗

[Treatment of uveal melanoma with iodine 125 plaques or proton beam therapy: indications and comparison of local recurrence rates].

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study compared the rate of local recurrence after irradiation of uveal melanoma treated with iodine 125 plaques or proton beam therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Iodine 125 plaques were used to treat all uveal melanomas between the end of 1989 and 1991. Since 1991, we have used iodine plaques for small anterior tumors and proton beam for other tumors. We use a plaque with a larger diameter than the tumor diameter (2-4mm) with a dose of 90Gy at the apex. Proton beam therapy is used for all tumors at the equator or posterior to the equator not thicker than 12mm. The dose given is 60Gy cobalt equivalent in four fractions. For each patient, the initial size and location of the tumor were noted as well as the follow-up each year: the outcome for the eye (local recurrence, ocular conservation, and functional results), the occurrence of metastasis, and survival. A statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Between December 1989 and September 1998, 1272 patients were treated: 926 (72.8%) were treated with proton beam irradiation and 346 (27.8%) with iodine 125 plaques. The median follow-up was 5 years (60 months). For the patients treated with proton beam therapy, the mean age was 58 years, the tumor location was anterior to the equator for 3.8%, at the equator for 43.6%, and posterior to the equator for 52.6%. The mean tumor diameter was 13.4mm and the mean tumor thickness was 5.69mm. For the patients treated with iodine 125 plaques, the mean age was 61.5 years. The location of the tumor was anterior to the equator for 34.4%, at the equator for 46.5%, and posterior to the equator for 19.1%. The mean tumor diameter was 11.5mm and the mean tumor thickness was 5.12mm. The recurrence rate was 4% for the proton beam treatment and 3.75% for iodine plaques. There was no statistical difference. DISCUSSION: In the literature, the rate of local recurrence is usually higher with iodine 125 plaques than proton beam therapy. We discuss the risk factors for local recurrence after iodine 125 plaques: tumor diameter, lower dose to the tumor apex and lower dose rate, and posterior location of the tumor. We found a higher mortality rate in patients who presented local recurrence. CONCLUSION: When we use iodine 125 plaques for anterior tumors with the proper dose and dose rate to the apex of the tumor, we do not find more recurrence than with proton beam therapy.

Adolescent↗

[Results of proton beam irradiation for treatment of choroidal melanoma].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of proton beam irradiation of choroidal melanomas on a large series of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a series of patients treated with proton beam irradiation between 1991 and December 1998. The data were analyzed to evaluate the local tumor control as well as the general progression and metastatic rate of the patients. Statistical analysis served to isolate risk factors for relapse or metastasis. RESULTS: We treated 1062 patients during the study period, with a median follow-up of 38 months. Local control was obtained for 97.1% of the patients. Tumors anterior to the equator were at risk for relapse. The survival rate was 92% at 2 years and 78% at 5 years. 73.1% of the 1062 patients died from metastasis, 6.1% of living patients presented with metastatic disease. The risk factors for death were the initial diameter, the age of the patient, and large tumor volume at diagnosis. Metastasis were essentially hepatic (94.6%). Risk factors for metastasis were: a large tumor volume, a lesion anterior or straddling the equator and the age of the patient. Ocular complications may induce a visual loss of 0.1 and less in 47% of the patients, due to optic nerve head and macular ischemia. 6% of the patients required secondary enucleation due to local complications (neovascular glaucoma). CONCLUSION: Proton beam irradiation of choroidal melanoma allows good tumor control and eye retention. The survival prognosis is associated with the initial volume of the tumor. The functional results may be improved and new therapeutics are needed to treat metastatic disease.

Adolescent↗

Intraocular inflammation after proton beam irradiation for uveal melanoma.

AIM: To describe the inflammatory reaction that can occur following proton beam irradiation of uveal melanomas based on a large series of patients and to try to determine the risk factors for this reaction. METHODS: Data from a cohort of patients with uveal melanoma treated by proton beam irradiation between 1991 and 1994 were analysed. The presence of inflammation was recorded and evaluated. Kaplan-Meier estimates and statistical analysis of general and tumour related risk factors were performed. RESULTS: 28% of patients treated during this period presented with ocular inflammation (median follow up 62 months). Risks factors were essentially tumour related and were correlated with larger lesions (height > 5 mm, diameter > 12 mm, volume > 0.4 cm(3)). Multivariate analysis identified initial tumour height and irradiation of a large volume of the eye as the two most important risk factors. Ocular inflammation usually consisted of mild anterior uveitis, resolving rapidly after topical steroids and cycloplegics. The incidence of inflammation after proton beam irradiation of melanomas seems higher than previously reported and is related to larger lesions. Evidence of inflammation associated with uveal melanoma has been described and seems to be associated with tumour necrosis (spontaneous or after irradiation). The appearance of transient inflammation during the follow up of these patients may be related to the release of inflammatory cytokines during tumour necrosis. CONCLUSION: Inflammation following proton beam irradiation is not unusual. It is correlated with larger initial tumours and may be related to tumour necrosis.

Analysis of Variance↗

[Risk factors for the degeneration of the choroid naevi: a retrospective study of 135 cases].

INTRODUCTION: We have carried out a retrospective study of 135 patients followed at Curie Institute for choroidal naevus between March 1983 and June 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 54 patients presented naevi considered as benign and 81 patients presented suspicious choroidal naevi (with at least one of the following findings: visual symptoms; serious detachment of the retina; orange pigment; thickness greater than 2mm or a diameter greater than 7mm). These suspicious naevi were followed more carefully. The median follow-up was 49 months. The median diameter of the lesions was 6mm and the median thickness was 1.5mm. We studied the age of the patients, clinical symptoms, the presence or absence of orange pigment, drusen and serious detachment, and the angiographic and echographic findings. RESULTS: 3 patients died of unrelated cause; 7 patients were lost to follow-up; 30 patients presented documented growth; 4 of them belonged to the group considered as benign and 26 to the group considered as suspicious, with a significant difference between the groups. The lesions that grew were treated by proton beam or I125 patches. The risk factors for growth that were statistically significant were the presence of visual symptoms, pin points, orange pigment, serous detachment and thickness greater than 2mm. With drusen, the risk for growth was significantly less. DISCUSSION: These results are very similar to those published in the literature concerning risk factors for growth of choroidal nevi. The absence of metastatic spread in patients whose nevi have grown show that it is possible to monitor choroidal naevi if there is a doubt as to the malignant or benign nature of the lesion. CONCLUSION: It is important to determine if a choroidal naevus is suspicious or benign and to propose closer follow-up for suspicious lesions.

Adult↗

[Complications of hydroxyapatite orbital implants in children: a series of 105 cases].

PURPOSE: To describe the complications encountered using hydroxyapatite as an orbital implant in the pediatric population after enucleation, and try to define the risk factors for their occurrence. MATERIAL: and methods: Retrospective review of charts of children who underwent enucleation with placement of an hydroxyapatite implant between January 1991 and 1998. Complications and their type (conjunctival, extrusion, eyelids complications) have been specifically looked for. A statistical analysis trying to isolate the risks factors was performed. RESULTS: 105 implants have been used during this period with 26.7% of complications appearing during a median followup of 22 months. Extrusion of the implant was observed in 1.9% of the cases, a chronic conjunctival erosion in 15%, a conjunctival lesion without erosion in 4.75% and no eyelid lesion could be seen. Treatment (medical or surgical) achieved 75% good results. No risk factor could be found. CONCLUSION: Hydroxyapatite orbital implants were initially thought to have no or few complications. More recently, chronic erosions in particular were described. Little data exists on the pediatric population. Our series confirms that complications occur and that they are comparable to the adult population. Nevertheless the hydroxyapatite orbital implant seems better tolerated than other porous or non porous implants and warrants its use.

Adult↗

[Optic neuropathy after proton-beam therapy for malignant choroidal melanoma].

Proton-beam irradiation is a conservative therapy commonly used for the treatment of uveal malignant melanomas. Some adverse effects such as optic neuropathy can compromise the visual outcome. We were interested in determining the risk factors for radiation papillopathy. Since there is currently no effective therapy, this is an interesting way to improve prevention of optic neuropathy. Six hundred sixty-two eyes had more than 24 month follow-up after proton-beam irradiation for uveal melanoma. In five hundred twenty-two cases, the clinical examination of the optic nerve head by ophthalmoscopy was possible. One-hundred eleven optic discs were pathologic, whereas 411 remained disease-free. Retrospective study of these two groups allowed to quantify the risk factors for optic neuropathy. The irradiation of more than 2mm of optic nerve at 30 Grays-equivalents appeared to be the major risk factor for optic neuropathy. For a given irradiation dose, the observed pattern of clinical responses was heterogeneous. These results are discussed and compared to the previous published reports. Visual results and life prognosis are also discussed, considering the optic nerve head status. Proton-beam therapy can preserve the optic nerve when the tumor location allows to keep it away from the irradiation-field. Patients must be informed about the risk of optic neuropathy after proton-beam irradiation.

Choroid Neoplasms↗

Uterine sarcomas: the Curie Institut experience. Prognosis factors and adjuvant treatments.

PURPOSE: With a retrospective study at a single institution, we propose to analyze the prognosis factors and adjuvant treatment for uterine sarcomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1975 to 1995, 73 uterine sarcomas were treated at the Institut Curie, corresponding to 61 T1, 5 T2, and 8 T4 tumors. Thirteen patients had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. The mean age was 58 years. In 71% of patients, the presenting sign was bleeding. This series consisted of 44% leiomyosarcomas (LMS), 19% endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS), and 31% carcinosarcomas or mixed mesodermal sarcomas (MMS). For the grading classification, we used the classification of the Sarcoma Group of the French Federation of Cancer Centres for soft tissue sarcomas. Of the patients, 66% presented a high-grade tumor. RESULTS: The median overall survival was 42 months, with a 5-year survival of 45%. Histological grade, FIGO stage, histology types, and menopausal status were the four independent factors in multivariate analysis. Eighteen patients relapsed locally (25.7%), with 77% central pelvic sites. Patients with radiotherapy and ESS had better local control in multivariate analysis. Thirty-four patients developed metastases (48.6%), mainly pulmonary (58.8%). Eight patients presented with peritoneal disease. High grades and LMS had the worst survival without metastasis in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: This study validated our classification for sarcoma grading and confirmed the finding of worst prognosis for LMS and the importance of radiotherapy in local control.

Adult↗

Outcome of residual mediastinal masses of thoracic lymphomas in children: impact on management and radiological follow-up strategy.

BACKGROUND: Following treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients with thoracic lymphomas may demonstrate benign residual mediastinal masses, composed of inflammatory, fibrous or necrotic tissue. Because of the potential risk of viable tumour cells within the mass, histological verification of the nature of these masses may be requested. OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of thoracic lymphomas in children in order to optimise the radiological follow-up strategy of residual mediastinal masses (RMM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 39 children [24 with Hodgkin's disease (HD), 10 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and 5 with anaplastic lymphoma (AL)]. The results of chest X-rays (CXR) and thoracic CT performed at the time of re-assessment were compared with the histology of the residual masses (n = 11) or the clinical course (n = 28). RESULTS: At the time of re-evaluation, 16/39 patients had residual mediastinal enlargement (RME) on CXR, and 18/39 patients had RMM on CT. Good concordance was observed between the two imaging modalities (K = 0.69). Two children with a RMM died from extra-mediastinal progression. Two children with NHL had active residual mediastinal lesions but neither had RMM. Sixteen cases of RMM were observed in the remaining 35 children and 9 of these masses were histologically verified as benign. A favourable course was observed in these 35 cases. CONCLUSIONS: RMM are frequent and generally benign. They are well shown on CXR and have a non-specific appearance on CT. Except when required by a treatment protocol, they could be submitted to further radiological follow-up before contemplating surgical verification.

Child↗

Treatment of liver metastases from uveal melanoma by combined surgery-chemotherapy.

AIMS: To investigate sporadic results demonstrating prolonged survival after surgical resection and/or intraarterial chemotherapy (IACH) for liver metastases from uveal melanoma. METHODS: From December 1992 to March 1997 every patient with liver metastases from uveal melanoma was enrolled in a prospective study including: (1) aggressive surgical approach removing as much liver disease as possible; (2) implantation of an intraaterial catheter; (3) intraarterial chemotherapy for 6 months. 75 patients were enrolled: 38 men, 37 women, mean age 51 years (range: 18-72), mean time from initial diagnosis of uveal melanoma to liver metastases 37 months (ranged: 1-168). RESULTS: Disseminated disease in both lobes was present in all but one patient. Macroscopically curative surgery was possible in 27.5%. Significant tumour reduction was performed in 49.3% and a simple biopsy was possible in 23.2%. Eight patients did not receive chemotherapy and died soon after. IACH included Fotemustine and/or DTIC-Platinum for 4-9 cycles. Overall median survival was 9 months; very similar to non-operated historical controls. In the 61 patients receiving complete treatment surgery plus chemotherapy, median survival improved to 10 months. When curative resection was possible, survival increased to 22 months (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive surgical resection, when possible, appears to be the best method of improving survival of liver metastases from uveal melanoma. New drug combinations are also required to improve survival.

Adult↗

Tangier disease. A case with sensorimotor distal polyneuropathy and lipid accumulation in striated muscle and vasa nervorum.

A 65-year-old man with Tangier disease (analphalipoproteinemia) had had a progressive sensorimotor distal neuropathy with sensory ataxia for 1 year. Muscle biopsy demonstrated excess lipid vacuoles on histochemical and electron-microscopic techniques. Sural nerve biopsy showed a marked loss of large fibers and an increase in small myelinated fibers, with presence of remyelinating fibers and clusters of regeneration; a few aspects of active demyelination and some onion-like formations were also present. Lipid accumulation chiefly affected the Schwann cells of unmyelinated fibers and, to a lesser degree, of myelinated fibers, endoneurial fibroblast, and vasa nervorum. Teased fibers showed prevalent aspects of de-/remyelination and, often in association, marked myelin wrinkling suggesting axonal atrophy. This Tangier patient differs from known cases for the presence of a distal symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy (not previously reported in Tangier disease) and because of the morphological findings of de-/remyelination coexisting with aspects of axonal atrophy and previous degeneration, and of lipid accumulation within striated muscle and vasa nervorum. This latter finding contrasts with the assumption that in Tangier disease vessel walls are not a site of lipid storage: probably the vasa nervorum are different, in this respect, from other vessels, because of the intense lipid metabolism of the nervous tissue. Thus we suggest that involvement of vasa nervorum in Tangier disease may be more important than previously suspected, possibly playing a role in the causation of neuropathy.

Aged↗