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Biomedical subjects

H Schraffordt Koops

Publications and source records attributed to H Schraffordt Koops.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Bilateral testicular germ cell tumours in patients with initial stage I disease: prevalence and prognosis--a single centre's 30 years' experience.

Development of second testicular tumours, i.e. bilateral testicular cancer, is influenced by systemic chemotherapy for the first tumour. The prevalence of bilateral testicular cancer was studied in patients with initial stage I disease, in which no systemic treatment was given after orchidectomy. All stage I testicular cancer patients entered a surveillance study with an intensive follow-up since 1982. We hypothesised that after 1982, bilateral testicular cancer was diagnosed at an earlier stage of disease. The prevalence of bilateral testicular cancer was 4.7% (8/170) in stage I patients treated between 1967 and 1981, and 2.9% (8/275) in stage I patients treated between 1982 and 1997 (P > 0.5 chi 2-test). In the period 1967-1981, 6 patients had stage I second tumours and 2 patients had stage III second tumours. The former 6 patients are alive with no evidence of disease and the 2 patients with metastatic tumours died of disease or treatment. In the period 1982-1977, all 8 patients had stage I second tumours and all are alive with no evidence of disease. The overall prevalence of bilateral testicular cancer in stage I patients was 3.6% and has slightly decreased over the past three decades. Intensive follow-up, improvement of radiodiagnostic computed tomography techniques, availability of serum tumour markers, and patient education have resulted in earlier diagnosis and lower stage of contralateral testicular tumours, contributing to improved prognosis.

Adult↗

L-[1-carbon-11]tyrosine imaging of metastatic testicular nonseminoma germ-cell tumors.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate whether PET with L-[1-11C]tyrosine C(TYR) can be used to visualize metastatic disease of nonseminoma testicular germ-cell tumors and to monitor the effect of systemic cisplatinum-based polychemotherapy in a noninvasive fashion to reduce the number of operations in patients with a residual retroperitoneal tumor mass. METHODS: Ten patients with retroperitoneal nonseminoma testicular germ-cell tumors metastases were studied with TYR PET before the start of cisplatinum-based polychemotherapy. A dose of 370 MBq of TYR was injected intravenously, and a 30-min TYR image was acquired 20 min after injection. The standardized uptake value of TYR was calculated in visualized lesions. RESULTS: PET showed increased focal uptake of TYR in the retroperitoneum of 2 patients (20%). In 2 patients with large and inhomogeneous lesions on CT, PET showed decreased TYR uptake at the site of the lesion (20%). In the other 6 patients, the metastatic tumor masses were not depicted (60%). Because of these disappointing results, no posttreatment scans were obtained. Standardized uptake values of the visualized lesions varied from 1.05 to 2.87 for the lesions with increased metabolism and from 0.29 to 0.34 for lesions with decreased metabolism. CONCLUSION: PET with TYR is not suited to visualize the apparently slowly proliferating nonseminoma testicular germ-cell tumors or determine the nature of a residual retroperitoneal mass after chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Cytogenetics of primary testicular nonseminoma, residual mature teratoma, and growing teratoma lesion in individual patients.

Residual mature teratoma (RMT) is often left behind when metastases of primary nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSs) are treated with chemotherapy. RMT is composed of fully differentiated somatic tissue. A growing teratoma (GTE) lesion may occur after (incomplete) resection of RMT. To shed light on tumor progression or the mechanism(s) of therapy related differentiation we investigated the chromosomal pattern of the primary NSs and RMTs in twelve patients, of the primary NS, RMT, and GTE lesion in one patient, and of the RMT and GTE lesion in two patients. Although several chromosomal differences are observed between the RMT and NSs and between the GTE and RMTs in the same patient, we obtained no evidence that specific chromosomal alteration(s) play a role in metastasis or differentiation.

Disease Progression↗

Residual pulmonary masses after chemotherapy for metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. Prediction of histology. ReHiT Study Group.

BACKGROUND: After chemotherapy for a metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor, pulmonary masses may be seen on a computed tomography scan. These residual masses may contain one of three histologic elements: necrosis, mature teratoma, or cancer. Because surgical resection of masses containing only necrosis is unnecessary, the authors aimed to predict the histology of these residual masses. METHODS: Six study groups contributed patient data on a total of 215 patients undergoing thoracotomy after cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy for metastatic testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the probability of necrosis, mature teratoma, and cancer in relation to predictors known before thoracotomy. RESULTS: The pulmonary mass histology was necrosis in 116 patients (54%), mature teratoma in 70 (33%), and cancer in 29 (13%). Necrosis was found at thoracotomy in 89% of those patients with necrosis at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). Other predictors included the primary tumor histology, prechemotherapy tumor marker levels, change in mass size during chemotherapy, and the presence of a single, unilateral mass. Multivariate combination of predictors yielded reliable models (goodness-of-fit tests, P > 0.20), which discriminated necrosis well from other histologies, especially if RPLND histology was available (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis indicated subgroups of patients with a high probability of necrosis and a low risk of cancer for whom close follow-up of the residual pulmonary mass might be considered. In most patients, a RPLND should be performed before a thoracotomy is considered, because the probability of necrosis is generally higher at thoracotomy than at RPLND and the histology at RPLND is a strong predictor of the histology at thoracotomy.

Analysis of Variance↗

Importance of a new tumor marker TRA-1-60 in the follow-up of patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors.

BACKGROUND: TRA-1-60 is a new tumor marker for embryonal carcinoma-positive nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT). Upper normal reference value (RV) and serum half-life (t1/2) were determined. The value was determined in the follow-up of 154 patients with stage I NSTGCT. METHODS: TRA-1-60 was measured in normal controls (n = 100) to determine RV and in patients without recurrence for t1/2. In all patients, TRA-1-60 was determined at the time of orchidectomy. In 42 patients with recurrence, values were also evaluated 1 month before and at the time of computed tomography-confirmed recurrence. Predictive values and survival probability were examined and compared with values for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). RESULTS: RV was 230 U/ml and t1/2 9.5 days. Elevated TRA-1-60 at the time of orchidectomy was not associated with recurrence. One month before recurrence, 21 of 42 patients had elevated TRA-1-60 levels (50%); 10 were negative for both AFP and hCG. At the time of recurrence, 24 patients had elevated TRA-1-60 levels (57.1%): 9 were negative for AFP/hCG. Patients with TRA-1-60 levels of > 500 U/ml had a poorer recurrence-free survival probability (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: TRA-1-60 is useful in the follow-up of stage 1 NSTGCT. The combination of AFP, hCG, and TRA-1-60 may improve the early detection of recurrence.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy changes the incidence of bilateral testicular cancer.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of cisplatin-based chemotherapy has remarkably increased the survival of testicular cancer patients. With this success, the concern for a contralateral testicular tumor has increased. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the risk for contralateral testicular tumor development was influenced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: The incidence of a contralateral testicular tumor among 365 consecutive patients with a nonseminoma testicular tumor, diagnosed in the period 1980 and 1995, was established and related to previous therapy. RESULTS: Eleven of 365 men (3%) developed a contralateral testicular tumor. After a total of 2403 person-years at risk, 4 of 225 chemotherapy-treated patients (1.8%) developed a contralateral testicular tumor, and 7 of 140 patients (5%) treated with orchidectomy alone developed a contralateral tumor. In comparison to this surveillance subgroup, patients previously treated with chemotherapy have a relative risk of 0.30 to develop a second testicular tumor. CONCLUSIONS: In Dutch men with a nonseminoma testicular tumor, the incidence of a contralateral testicular tumor is 3%, which is 60-fold the expected incidence rate of testicular cancer. A three times lower incidence rate of a contralateral testicular tumor was found in the chemotherapy subgroup compared with those on surveillance. This supports the hypothesis that cisplatin-based chemotherapy may eradicate carcinoma in situ or early testicular cancer.

Adult↗

Residual masses after chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer: the clinical implications of the association between retroperitoneal and pulmonary histology. Re-analysis of Histology in Testicular Cancer (ReHiT) Study Group.

PURPOSE: We determined the need and sequence of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and thoracotomy in patients with nonseminomatous testicular cancer, and with residual retroperitoneal and pulmonary masses after chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 159 patients undergoing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and a thoracotomy following cisplatin based induction chemotherapy for metastatic testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. Several well-known predictors for residual histology (necrosis, mature teratoma and cancer) were evaluated. RESULTS: As expected, necrosis was found more often at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection if the primary tumor was negative for teratoma, the residual mass was small or the decrease in size was great. Contrary, neither residual mass size nor the decrease in size was predictive of the histological status of the residual lung lesion. Histological findings in the retroperitoneum and lung were strongly correlated, such that necrosis at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was associated with an 89% probability of necrosis in the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection should be performed before thoracotomy is considered, since the histological status at dissection is a strong predictor of that at thoracotomy.

Germinoma↗

Comparison of the chromosomal pattern of primary testicular nonseminomas and residual mature teratomas after chemotherapy.

About 70 to 75% of patients with nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSs) present with metastases. When these metastases are treated with chemotherapy, often residual mature teratoma (RMT) is left. RMT is composed of fully differentiated somatic tissue. Untreated metastases of NSs rarely consist exclusively of mature somatic tissue. Apparently, after chemotherapy treatment there is a shift towards higher degrees of differentiation. Investigating tumor progression and the mechanism(s) involved in therapy-related differentiation, we compared the cytogenetically abnormal karyotypes of a series of 70 NSs with those of 31 RMTs. In NSs and RMTs, the modal total chromosome number does not differ and is in the triploid range. Both the frequency and the average copy number of i(12p) are the same, and the pattern of chromosomal over- and underrepresentation and distribution of breakpoints do not differ significantly in these series. So, we found the chromosomal pattern of RMTs as abnormal as those of primary NSs. Based on cytogenetics, we found no indication that specific chromosomal alterations parallel metastasis and therapy-related differentiation of the metastases. The cytogenetic data suggest that both induction of differentiation of (selected) cells or selection of cells with capacity to differentiate are possible mechanisms for the therapy-related differentiation of RMTs.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

External and internal hemipelvectomy for sarcomas of the pelvic girdle: consequences of limb-salvage treatment.

The outcome of different limb-saving treatment modalities for pelvic girdle sarcoma is controversial. The oncological and functional results after 11 external and 10 internal hemipelvectomies and the consequences of limb-salvage treatment were studied in 21 consecutive patients with primary bone (19 patients) or soft tissue sarcoma (two patients) of the pelvic girdle. Following external hemipelvectomy, 10 patients (91%) died after a median follow-up of 1.6 years (range: 0.3-7.1). Isolated local recurrences occurred in three patients (27%), with concomitant distant failure in one (9%), while isolated distant failure occurred in six patients (55%). The rate of flap necrosis and wound infection following external hemipelvectomy were both 25%. Following internal hemipelvectomy, nine patients (90%) were alive without evidence of disease after a median follow-up of 6.6 years (range: 2.3-16.0). Concomitant local and distant failures were found in one patient (10%). Reconstruction-related complications necessitated revisional procedures in five of seven patients (72%), leading to external hemipelvectomy in one. Patients with a locally advanced pelvic girdle sarcoma who are unable to undergo an internal hemipelvectomy have a worse prognosis than patients who undergo an internal hemipelvectomy. An internal hemipelvectomy is not attended by an increased risk of local failure, but is by long-term local complications, requiring extensive surgical procedures.

Adolescent↗

Sexual functioning in testosterone-supplemented patients treated for bilateral testicular cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of intramuscular injections with testosterone (Sustanon) on sex-hormone levels, sexual functioning and general well-being in patients treated with orchidectomy for bilateral testicular cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised seven men (median age 38 years, range 25-46) who had undergone orchidectomy for bilateral testicular cancer. Patients received intramuscular injections with testosterone every 3 weeks and blood samples for hormone analysis were collected from each patient at three times: one day after testosterone injection (t1), halfway between subsequent injections (t2) and just before injection (t3). Plasma hormone levels were then related to sexual function, as assessed by self-reported data on sexuality and general well-being, measurements of nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) and erectile function elicited by visual erotic stimulation (VES), determined at t1, t2 and t3. RESULTS: During the 3-week interval between injections, there was a sixfold decrease in plasma testosterone level (mean testosterone 35.8, SD 7.8, and 6.0, SD 2.5 nmol/L, at t1 and t3, respectively). At t1, five of the men had a plasma testosterone level above the upper normal limit (> 35 nmol/L) and at t2 and t3, testosterone levels were below the reference range (< 10 nmol/L) in three and six men, respectively. Oestradiol (E2) levels showed the same pattern: at t1 the mean (SD) E2 level was 0.17 (0.07) nmol/L and at t3 0.07 (0.01) nmol/L. In contrast to follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH) mirrored the decline in plasma testosterone after injection, with the lowest levels at t1 and the highest at t3. Other hormone levels remained unchanged. Three patients reported loss of libido, decreased arousal, erectile dysfunction, fatigue and mood depression. However, neither the arousal nor the erectile problems could be verified by VES. There was no relationship between plasma testosterone levels, the reported sexual dysfunctions and the results of NPTR and VES measurements. Although unrelated to a specific testosterone level, three patients reported increased irritability, excessive sweating, hot flushes and heat intolerance at the end of the injection interval. These adverse effects of declining plasma testosterone were related to loss of libido and other sexual problems. CONCLUSION: In most patients castrated for bilateral testicular cancer and receiving intramuscular injections with testosterone, plasma testosterone levels were outside the normal range. After injection, there was a rapid decline of plasma testosterone to levels below the lower normal limit. With the exception of oestradiol, sex-hormone levels were not correlated to testosterone levels. Sexual functioning was not affected by the fluctuations of plasma testosterone level. However, at the end of the injection interval, adverse psychological and physical effects had a significant impact on libido and arousal.

Adult↗

Complications of the post-chemotherapy resection of retroperitoneal residual tumour mass in patients with non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumours.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the resection of the retroperitoneal residual tumour mass (RRTM) for histological examination after chemotherapy in patients with disseminated non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumours (NSTGCTs), with particular attention to surgical morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1979 to 1995, 112 patients (mean age 28 years, range 16-53) with NSTGCT had residual disease after chemotherapy for which surgical evaluation was indicated; the histology of the residual tumour and the surgical complications were assessed. Possible associations between the occurrence of surgical complications and the age of the patient, size of the residual tumour, operative duration, previous laparotomy and pathological findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The median size of the residual tumour was 4 cm (range 0-18); histological examination revealed viable tumour in 9%, mature teratoma in 44% and necrosis/fibrosis in 44% of the patients. In three patients (2.8%) no residual tumour mass was found at laparotomy. There were 26 complications in 20 patients (18%); urinary tract infection was the most common, occurring in nine patients (8%). One patient died during the induction of anaesthesia. There were no significant relationships between the occurrence of complications and age, size of the residual tumour, operative duration, previous laparotomy or pathological findings. CONCLUSION: The resection of RRTM after polychemotherapy treatment for disseminated NSTGCT is a safe surgical procedure, with low treatment morbidity consisting mainly of urinary tract infection. Knowledge of the potential complications may help to prevent morbidity. However, the surgical evaluation of the ultimate effect of polychemotherapy remains the gold standard.

Adolescent↗

Effects of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and melphalan on pulmonary function assessments.

High doses of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) seem to be effective in the treatment of solid tumors in the extremities. By applying current intensive care technology, systemic administration of high doses of TNF levels might be feasible for the treatment of cancer in other localizations. To establish the early and late effects of high systemic TNF levels on the lungs, we determined lung function parameters in 12 patients before and after hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) with TNF and melphalan. Because of leakage during perfusion, mean maximum systemic TNF levels of 60.0 ng/ml (range, 0.3-356 ng/ml) were obtained. Significant alterations in the vital capacity (VC), the capillary blood volume (Vc), the diffusing capacity of the alveolocapillary membrane (Dm), and the transfer capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide per unit alveolar volume (KCO) were observed 1 week after HILP. Eight weeks after HILP, they returned to pretreatment value. Alterations in lung functions were not related to the maximum systemic TNF level. In conclusion, disturbances in pulmonary functions are observed in patients after HILP with TNF and melphalan. These disturbances, which are probably partly caused by high systemic TNF levels, are reversible and would not preclude administration of systemic TNF in high doses.

Adult↗

Sexual functioning after multimodality treatment for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor.

PURPOSE: We determined sexual functioning after chemotherapy for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor, and evaluated the impact of resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 155 consecutive patients treated with chemotherapy for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor (between 1980 and 1994) was questioned about their sexual functioning. The patients were divided in 2 subgroups: patients treated with or without resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor. Volume and location (divided into left para-aortal or right paracaval/interaortacaval) of the resected tumor were related to absence of ejaculation as well as decreased semen amount. In addition, libido, arousal, erection and orgasm were related to ejaculatory dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (27.7%) was treated with chemotherapy only and 112 (72.3%) had additional resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor mass. Overall, 22.4% reported loss of libido, 14.1% decreased arousal, 16% erectile dysfunction, 23.1% decreased orgasmic intensity, 17.4% decreased semen amount and 18.7% complete absence of antegrade ejaculation. With exception of absence of ejaculation, sexual dysfunctions were reported in similar frequencies in both treatment subgroups. In the resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal tumor subgroup, 25.9% of the patients had complete absence of ejaculation. The other sexual dysfunctions were related neither to decreased semen amount nor to complete absence of ejaculation. The mean volume of resected tumor was higher (95 cm.3) in patients with absence of ejaculation than in those without (40 cm.3), and patients with right paracaval/interaortacaval tumor (20 of 58, 34.5%) reported more often absence of ejaculation than those with left para-aortal tumor (9 of 54, 16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor, post-chemotherapy sexual morbidity cannot be neglected. Except for loss of antegrade ejaculation, sexual dysfunctions are not related to resection of post-chemotherapy residual retroperitoneal mass. A high volume of tumor and a right paracaval/interaortacaval location predispose to loss of antegrade ejaculation.

Adult↗

Renal function in cancer patients treated with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha and melphalan.

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (r-TNF alpha) and melphalan has been shown to result in a sepsis-like syndrome due to leakage of r-TNF alpha from the perfusion system to the systemic circulation. We have studied renal function parameters in 11 cancer patients, who underwent 12 perfusions. Three patients, perfused with melphalan only, served as controls. All patients treated with r-TNF alpha developed a sepsis syndrome and needed volume replacement and inotropes to remain normotensive; controls had an uneventful postoperative course. Creatinine clearance decreased transiently on the day of perfusion in both groups (mean preperfusion clearance 118 ml/min, mean post-perfusion clearance 68 ml/min, p < 0.02, n = 15). Follow-up measurements of renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate in 9 r-TNF alpha-treated patients did not suggest permanent damage. One patient became hypotensive and developed transient multiple organ dysfunction with renal failure needing hemofiltration. In r-TNF alpha-treated patients, but not in controls, a transient increase in clearance of beta2-microglobulin (0.05 vs. 8 ml/min, p < 0.001) and urinary excretion of phosphate (12 vs. 48 mmol/l, p < 0.05) was seen, compatible with proximal tubular dysfunction. These data suggest that HILP with melphalan decreases glomerular function, whether or not r-TNF alpha is added to the perfusion circuit. Extension of the treatment regimen with r-TNF alpha may result in additional proximal tubular dysfunction. If hypotension can be avoided, this deterioration in renal function seems to be transient, with full recovery within weeks.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗

Thoracotomy for postchemotherapy resection of pulmonary residual tumor mass in patients with nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors: aggressive surgical resection is justified.

In patients with disseminated nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSTGCT), a retroperitoneal residual tumor mass (RRTM) and/or a pulmonary residual tumor mass (PRTM) are often present after successful treatment with cisplatin-based polychemotherapy. Results and complications of postchemotherapy resection of PRTM were studied and survival was calculated. In the period 1979 to 1996, 31 patients with a median age of 28 years (range, 17 to 44 years) underwent 32 thoracotomies for the resection of a PRTM. A solitary lesion was encountered nine times (28.1%) and multiple lesions were encountered 23 times (71.9%). The median size was 15 mm (range, 2 to 60 mm). There were only three major postoperative complications (9.6%): prolonged ventilation, pneumothorax, and pneumonia. In 16 patients (51.6%), the resected PRTM showed mature teratoma, while in four patients (12.9%) it showed viable cancer. In 11 patients only necrosis and/or fibrosis were found (35.5%). Resection of an RRTM had been performed prior to thoracotomy in 20 patients. There was dissimilarity between the histologic features of the resected RRTM and PRTM in 10 of the 20 patients (50%). During a median follow-up of 80 months (range, 2.5 to 203 months), five patients died from metastatic disease (16.1%). The 5-year survival rate was 86.8% and the 10-year survival rate was 82.2%. Owing to the dissimilarity between the histologic features of the postchemotherapy resected RRTM and PRTM in 50% of the patients, all sites of pulmonary residual disease must be resected in patients with disseminated NSTGCT, irrespective of the histologic features of previously resected retroperitoneal residual disease. This approach offers minimal morbidity and a high 10-year survival rate.

Adolescent↗

PET with L-[1-carbon-11]-tyrosine to visualize tumors and measure protein synthesis rates.

UNLABELLED: We studied the potential of PET with L-[1-11C]-tyrosine (TYR) to visualize tumors outside the central nervous system and to quantify their protein synthesis rates (PSRs). METHODS: Twenty-two patients suspected of having a malignant tumor underwent a PET study with TYR before biopsy. The PSR in nanomoles per milliliter tumor tissue per minute as well as the PSR in contralateral normal tissue, standardized uptake values (SUVs) and tumor-to-nontumor-ratios (T/N ratios) were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen of the 16 malignancies (94%) were correctly visualized as a hot spot. A chondrosarcoma of the sacrum was not visualized. Of the six patients with benign lesions, cold spots were correctly identified in four (67%). A benign schwannoma and an intramuscular hemangioma of the forearm were visualized as hot spots. PSR in tumor tissue was higher than in the corresponding contralateral normal tissues. PSR and SUV in malignant tumors were higher than in benign tumors. CONCLUSION: TYR appears to be a good tracer for imaging malignancies. The PSR, which was higher in malignant tumors than in normal tissue and the studied benign lesions, could be quantified and correlated with the SUV.

Adult↗

First clinical experience with a noninvasively extendable endoprosthesis: a limb-saving procedure in children suffering from a malignant bone tumor.

A modular endoprosthetic system that can be extended noninvasively has been applied for the first time in a growing child who underwent a tumor resection in his leg. The main goal of the study was to test the extendable mechanism that noninvasively corrects leg length differences caused by growth disturbances of the affected leg. The use of this endoprosthetic system resulted in good restoration of function. Six extensions were performed resulting in 19.5 mm of prosthetic growth. Unfortunately, an ingrown toenail caused infection of the endoprosthesis, and the infection necessitated extirpation of the prosthesis 15 months postoperatively. Two months later the patient died of acute leukemia. Analysis of the endoprosthesis revealed some manufacturing shortcomings, none of which impaired the function of the endoprosthesis.

Adolescent↗