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Biomedical subjects

F Kolb

Publications and source records attributed to F Kolb.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Combined use of a radial fore arm free flap for extra-intracranial bypass and for antero-lateral skull base reconstruction--a new technique and review of literature.

This article describes a new surgical technique consisting of the combined use of a fascial radial fore arm free flap (RFFF) as vascular graft for extra-intracranial bypass and as dura mater plasty for reconstruction of the antero-lateral skull base. This new technique is illustrated by a case of a complex intracranial meningioma with extracranial extension necessitating resection of internal carotid artery. The technical issues of antero-lateral skull base reconstruction and extra-intracranial bypass are discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Adult↗

[Clinical and genetic study in 22 patients with basal cell nevus syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by developmental abnormalities and cancer predisposition. The PTCH 1 gene, the human homolog of the Drosophila segment polarity gene patched, has been shown to be involved in the development of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. PTCH 1 is mapped to chromosome 9q22.3. The aim of the present study was to report on clinical and genetic characteristics in patients followed for nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and to compare them to the data in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Screening for PTCH 1 mutations was done in 22 patients followed between 1981 and 2003 for clinical suspicion of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. Clinical and radiological data were reviewed retrospectively from records. Genetic analysis was performed using blood samples after patient informed consent was obtained. When possible, DNA was also analyzed from the parents of patients in whom PTCH 1 mutations were found. RESULTS: All patients had developed basal cell carcinomas: 45% palmar and plantar pitting, 62% jaw cysts and 66% calcification of falx cerebri. Medulloblastomas and meningiomas were the most common associated tumors. PTCH 1 mutations were identified in 13 patients: 6 familial cases, 3 sporadic cases and for 4 patients, it was not possible to conclude. Nine different new germ-line mutations were identified. DISCUSSION: Genetic analysis allows molecular confirmation of diagnosis in about half of all patients. Early diagnosis is essential for detection of clinical and radiological manifestations in young patients and for provision of advice concerning protection of the skin from the sunlight.

Adolescent↗

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma: report of seven cases including one with lung metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm, with a high rate of local recurrences. OBJECTIVE: A series of MAC was analyzed and compared to previously published cases. METHODS: Seven cases of MAC were identified in the register of the institution. Medical and pathological records were reviewed. RESULTS: The primary MAC were located on the face in all patients, and 85% were initially misdiagnosed. The mean follow-up duration was 108 months. The recurrence rate was high: 4 patients developed recurrences. In 3 patients, the course of the disease was severe: one of them developed pathologically proven lung metastasis. CONCLUSION: The present study and review of the literature confirm the clinically aggressive evolution of MAC and its rare ability to give rise to metastasis. Long-term clinical follow-ups with imaging investigations are mandatory.

Adult↗

[Reconstructive surgery in head and neck oncology: indication and technic].

Oncologic cervicofacial surgery and plastic surgery have had a common evolution over the last 50 years where progress erasing from one was beneficial to the other one. We review here the historical evolution of these specialties and present the state of the art of plastic surgery in the field of cervicofacial oncology.

Face↗

[Swallowing study with kinetic MRI using a single shot fast spin echo sequence in healthy volunteers and patients treated for head and neck cancer].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the single shot fast spin echo sequence (SSFSE) rapid MRI sequence for swallowing study, to describe the swallowing phases analyzable by kinetic MR Imaging and to show the advantages and the limits of the method in patients treated for head and neck cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A preliminary study was conducted in 8 healthy volunteers and 11 patients treated for a head and neck cancer between June 1999 and April 2001. Examinations were obtained on a 1.5 T machine using a multi-slice SSFSE sequence with an acquisition time of 1 second/slice. The different phases of swallowing were analyzed. Examinations were done with and without water ingestion. RESULTS: Kinetic MRI allows to clearly analyze the anatomy and the dynamic of the tongue, the soft palate, the hyoid bone, the larynx and the posterior pharyngeal wall. The hypopharyngeal and esophageal phases were suboptimally assessed. CONCLUSION: Kinetic MRI allows to clearly analyze the oral and early pharyngeal phases of swallowing, which can be correlated with normal and surgically reconstructed areas in spite of the low temporal resolution and the non-physiologic position. It is simple and rapid to perform and may be useful in treated patients with head and neck cancer.

Adult↗

[Significance of sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma. Analysis of 11 cases].

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive cutaneous neoplasm with a high propensity for nodal metastases. Regional lymph node involvement develops in 45 to 65 p. 100 of patients. We evaluated in Merkel cell carcinoma the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy which allows the identification of occult nodal metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma without clinical nodal involvement underwent pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy followed by sentinel lymphadenectomy with histologic analysis. Identification of microscopic nodal metastases led to complete lymph node dissection and adjuvant radiation therapy to the lymph node basin. RESULTS: The sentinel lymph node was successfully identified in 9 patients. Two patients demonstrated metastatic disease in their sentinel lymph nodes. At subsequent complete node dissection, one of two patients had an additional metastatic lymph node. None of the eleven patients experienced recurrent disease at a follow-up varying from 1 to 42 months. One patient with a negative sentinel lymph node experienced lymphoedema. COMMENTS: Our results are consistent with the 14 published studies which totalled 93 patients with Merkel cell carcinoma and identified 29 patients (30 p. 100) with nodal involvement. Metastatic disease was identified only after immunohistochemical analysis in 20 p. 100 of these patients (n=6). Lymph node involvement appears to be a bad prognostic factor with 29.6 p. 100 of disease recurrence, as opposed to 3 p. 100 in patients with an uninvolved sentinel lymph node. Although the prognostic significance of this technique seems interesting, there is no optimal therapeutic approach to sentinel lymph node involvement.

Adult↗

[Delayed cerebral radionecrosis following radiation therapy of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the head].

INTRODUCTION: Three cases of cerebral radionecrosis occurring after radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinomas of the scalp are reported. This rare and poorly documented complication of radiotherapy is discussed. CASE REPORTS: Three patients presenting with squamous cell carcinomas of the scalp were treated with surgery and radiotherapy for recurrent or incomplete resection of squamous cell carcinomas of the head. X-ray doses range were 50 to 60 Grays in 22 to 24 fractions. Cerebral radionecrotic lesions were diagnosed 6 months to 14 years after irradiation, and were inconstantly associated with clinical symptoms. The patients were treated with systemic steroids, which were of limited efficacy in one of our patients. DISCUSSION: Little is known of cerebral radionecrosis following radiotherapy. This may be related to their rare occurrence and/or to the difficulties in establishing diagnosis. The delay of occurrence after radiotherapy can vary between a few months and several years, and the lesions are directly correlated with the doses and the fractionning of the X-rays. Intracerebral localization of the tumour is the main differential diagnosis. Localized and cystic forms of cerebral radionecrosis can be treated by surgery. Treatment otherwise relies on systemic steroids.

Aged↗

Surgical management of posterior pharyngeal wall carcinomas: functional and oncologic results.

BACKGROUND: The optimal primary treatment for posterior pharyngeal wall tumors remains controversial. METHODS: To assess the relevance of surgical treatment from a functional and oncologic point of view, we reviewed the cases of 77 patients surgically treated between 1984 and 1995. Among them 23 had been previously irradiated. Fifty-five patients underwent a conservative surgery (CS) sparing the larynx; 19 direct closures, 6 reconstructions of the posterior wall with a thoracic myocutaneous flap, 15 with a platysma flap, and 15 with a free forearm flap were performed. Twenty-two patients underwent radical surgery (RS). All previously untreated patients had postoperative radiotherapy. The functional assessment concerned the CS group. Oncologic results, especially local control and survival were studied for the whole group. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients who underwent CS, 53 (96%) had their canula and 49 (89%) their feeding tube removed. At 1 year, in the platysma and free forearm groups, 21 of the 24 assessable patients were back to exclusive oral intake. For patients treated by primary surgery followed by radiotherapy, the rate of local failure was 11% (18% for tumors greater than 4 cm), and the 5-year survival rate was 35%. For patients who had previous radiotherapy, the rates were, respectively, 52% and 16%. CONCLUSION: The satisfactory functional results, caused by the improvement of reconstructive procedures, allow conservative surgery even in the case of large tumors. Oncologic results, especially local control, suggest that primary surgery followed by radiotherapy is effective for the treatment of posterior wall cancer. The oncologic results of surgery in a previously irradiated area are poor, and CS is not recommended in these cases.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Subtotal laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy as first treatment procedure for supraglottic carcinoma: Institut Gustave-Roussy experience (146 cases, 1974-1997).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1974 and 1997, 297 patients underwent a subtotal laryngectomy at the Institut Gustave-Roussy; 146 of these patients underwent cricohyoidopexy (CHP) for a supraglottic primary as their first treatment. The majority of patients were men (137) aged from 33 to 78 years (median 54 years). The tumour stage at presentation was T1 in 2, T2 in 87, T3 in 53 (preepiglottic space involvement), and T4 (minimal thyroid cartilage invasion) in 4 patients. One hundred and twenty-five patients were N0 (86%) and 21 patients were Np (palpable); 98% had homolateral and 55% had bilateral neck dissections. RESULTS: One patient died postoperatively of a myocardial infarction and 68% patients had an uneventful course. Aspiration was the commonest complication (23 patients, 19%). The median time to removal of the tracheotomy cannula was 10 days and for the nasogastric tube 21 days during the past 10 years. Completion of subtotal laryngectomy into total laryngectomy was done in 21 cases (15%): eight times because of oncological events [five local failures, two second primary (hypopharynx), one positive margin] and 13 times because of aspiration (9%). There were six local failures (4%) and eight nodal failures (5%). The rates of distant metastases and second primaries were 6% and 16% respectively. Half of the local and nodal failures were subsequently sterilized. Findings at death were two local recurrences, four nodal recurrences, eight distant metastases, and 11 second primaries. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 92% and 88% respectively, with an overall laryngeal preservation rate of 86%. CONCLUSION: When supraglottic laryngectomy is not feasible for supraglottic cancer, subtotal laryngectomy with CHP is a safe and effective oncological procedure, with preservation of satisfactory laryngeal function.

Adult↗

[Free-flap reconstruction of locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas].

STUDY AIM: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the advantages of free-lap reconstruction in locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From October 1997 to October 2000, among 256 procedures for sarcomas, 25 were associated with free-lap reconstruction. There were 16 women and nine men (mean age: 45 years). The tumor was located on inferior limbs (n = 15), superior limbs (n = 3) and trunk (n = 7), had a mean size of 12, 10 and 12 cm respectively, and was multifocal (n = 6), or recurrent (n = 10). Ten patients received a neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumoral excision was associated with a complementary procedure in 10 patients. Reconstruction was performed with free-laps of the latissimus dorsi (n = 21) and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) (n = 4). Early postoperative radiotherapy was associated in 15 patients. RESULTS: Median duration of the procedure was 6.5 hours. There were no postoperative deaths. Two free-laps necrotized and another free-lap was constructed. Tumoral excision was Ro (n = 20), R1 (n = 4) and R2 (n = 1). With a median follow-up of 20 months, there were no local recurrences in patients Ro. Ten patients developed pulmonary metastases and five of them died. CONCLUSION: With free-lap reconstruction, tumoral excision was larger, amputation of the limb was avoided in 14 patients, and early postoperative radiotherapy was possible in 15 patients. Multidisciplinary management and collaboration of the oncologist and plastic surgeon are associated with a better prognosis of locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas.

Adult↗

Indium-111 octreotide scintigraphy of Merkel cell carcinomas and their metastases.

BACKGROUND: Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) may be of interest for staging Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). This study was undertaken to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of SRS and to determine its role compared to conventional investigations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1993 to December 2000, 20 patients (10 females and 10 males, aged from 38 to 88, mean 66 years) were included prospectively. At the time of SRS: 12 patients had been diagnosed as having stage I disease, 6 stage II and 4 stage III. Two patients had two SRS studies during the course of their disease. SRS was performed with Indium-111 pentetreotide (Octreoscan), a radiolabelled somatostatin analogue. Patients were treated according to the clinical stage. A regular follow-up was scheduled every three months. RESULTS: SRS depicted stage I and II MCC tumour sites with an overall sensitivity of 78% (95% confidence interval (CI): 40%-97%) and a specificity of 96% (81%-100%). The histopathological diagnosis was used as the gold standard. Sites visualised by SRS were compared to those detected with conventional modalities and to follow-up data for all stages: SRS visualised four out of five primary tumour sites, six out of eight lymph node sites, no skin metastases (14 sites in 2 patients), two out of three thoracic metastases and zero out of two hepatic metastases. SRS did not influence treatment decision-making in any of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although SRS seems highly specific in MCC and could be of help in difficult cases, it cannot be recommended for routine evaluation.

Adult↗

[Sufentanil in balanced anesthesia: need to predict concentrations for dose optimization].

During balanced anaesthesia sufentanil may be difficult to use, as the required doses change over time depending on the patient and the noxious stimuli. Patient adjustment may be improved by using pharmacokinetic simulations that predict the concentration achieved in the body. In the first case report, sufentanil was given manually as repeated boluses, then by infusion. As haemodynamic status remained unstable, a simulation of the sufentanil concentration time course was started during the case. It showed that instability had pharmacokinetic explanation and allowed to determine the adequate sufentanil concentrations (0.30-0.40 ng.mL-1 + N2O + isoflurane 0.8-1 vol% for abdominal surgery). However, adjusting the doses manually required numerous human actions. In the second case, sufentanil was given as a computer-controlled infusion. The adequate concentrations were determined (0.15-0.20 ng.mL-1 + N2O + isoflurane 0.4 vol% for peripheral surgery in an aged cardiac patient). They were maintained with a limited number of human actions and resulted in satisfactory haemodynamic stability.

Aged↗

Effects of pyramidal tract stimulation on forelimb flexor motoneurons during fictive locomotion in cats.

To investigate spinal mechanisms of control of locomotion by the pyramidal system, we made intracellular recording from forelimb flexor motoneurons, and analyzed excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked by stimulation of the medullary pyramid during forelimb fictive locomotion in immobilized, decerebrate cats. We observed that (1) pyramidal stimulation evoked disynaptic EPSPs, (2) which were much bigger in the locomotor state than in the resting state, and that (3) the pyramidal EPSPs were rhythmically modulated, so that the facilitation occurred in the flexor-active phase. Last-order neurons mediating pyramidal effects presumably receive rhythmic input from the spinal locomotor network.

Animals↗

Presensitization accelerates allograft arteriosclerosis.

Transplant arteriosclerosis is the major factor influencing allograft survival after the first year posttransplantation. The host's immunologic response is one of the principal effectors responsible for the constitution of this vascular wall lesion, but the effector pathway and the factors influencing the immune injury are not clear. In a rat abdominal aortic allograft model, we used a skin priming method to study the influence of sensitization on the occurrence of vascular wall lesions. Primed rats developed transplant arteriosclerosis lesions involving medial decellularization and intimal proliferation before the 21st day, whereas naive animals had the same lesions at 2 months posttransplantation. A significant difference between primed and naive rats was found for medial thickness (48.00 +/- 2.85 microm versus 79.34 +/- 2.55 microm, P<0.001) and smooth muscle cell content (160 +/- 28 cell/mm versus 466 +/- 19 cell/mm, P<0.001) at 21 days posttransplantation, and intimal hyperplasia was seen in primed animals at that time, whereas it was not observed in naive rats until the 60th day. The immune profile in naive and primed animals was different. The immune cells infiltrating the arterial wall in naive rats, were principally macrophages and CD8+ T-lymphocytes. No Ig or complement deposition was detected. IgG and complement activated fraction were present in the media of primed animals as early as the fifth day posttransplantation and CD4+ T lymphocytes were the dominant immune cell population. In conclusion, sensitization influences the immune mechanisms responsible for the development of transplant arteriosclerosis and alters the rate of its evolution.

Animals↗

[Melanoma of the penis: 6 cases].

BACKGROUND: Melanomas of the penis are rare tumors of poor prognosis. METHODS: Six cases of melanoma of the penis, followed between 1975 and 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. We collected the data on epidemiological, clinical and pathologic factors, treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age was 44 years. The time to diagnosis was 2 years. Two patients had general predisposing factors for melanoma, and 3 patients local predisposing factors. Two patients had partial penectomy and 4 patients had conservative excision. One patient had local recurrence, and another had metastatic course resulting in death. Five patients out of 6 were alive and disease free at time of the study, with a 24 month follow-up. DISCUSSION: The identified risk factors for the development of penile melanoma are melanosis and pre-existing nevus. Delayed diagnosis explains the usually bad prognosis. Classical surgical treatment used to be radical, but recently, conservative surgery has been proposed. For an early diagnosis, genital melanosis requires surgical excision, when technically feasible, and any atypical lesion of the penis should be submitted to a biopsy.

Adolescent↗