Biomedical subjects

M Cafferty

Publications and source records attributed to M Cafferty.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1991

Treatment of neoplastic spinal cord compression: results of a prospective study.

Currently, external radiation and steroid therapy are used in most patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression. Surgery is generally used to treat those who do not respond to radiation therapy. To determine the role of de novo surgery in patients with spinal metastases, a prospective study was undertaken. Over a 4 1/2-year period, the cases of 54 patients with radiologically documented spinal metastases were studied. The sites of tumor origin included soft tissue sarcoma (8 patients), kidney (6 patients), lung (5 patients), breast (5 patients), spine (6 patients), unknown primary site (6 patients), and others (18 patients). Sites of compression included the cervical spine segments in 15 patients, thoracic segments in 23, lumbar in 14, and sacral in 2. Before surgery, 24 patients (44%) were nonambulatory. Three surgical approaches were used: anterior vertebral body resection in 45 patients, laminectomy in 7, and lateral osteotomy in 2. After surgery, 37 patients received external radiation therapy. All patients improved (became ambulatory) after surgery, with 23 of 25 patients surviving at 2 years continuing to be ambulatory. The 30-day mortality rate was 6% (three patients); eight patients (15%) sustained various surgical complications. These results are superior to those reported after external radiation therapy and steroids alone, and they support the concept that de novo surgery be considered in selected patients with spinal metastases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Skeletal disease in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Most patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in the 1980s do not have evidence of bone disease when they are evaluated by conventional radiography. We sought to determine whether skeletal involvement can be appreciated when more sensitive techniques, such as bone densitometry and bone biopsy, are utilized. We investigated 52 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. They had mild hypercalcemia, 2.8 +/- 0.03 mmol/liter (11.1 +/- 0.1 mg/dl), low normal phosphorus, 0.9 +/- 0.03 mmol/liter (2.8 +/- 0.1 mg/dl), and no symptoms or specific radiological signs of skeletal involvement. The greatest reduction in bone mineral density was found at the site of predominantly cortical bone, the radius (0.54 +/- 0.1 g/cm; 79 +/- 2% of expected), whereas the site of predominantly cancellous bone, the lumbar spine (1.07 +/- 0.03 g/cm2), was normal (95 +/- 3% of expected). The site of mixed composition, the femoral neck (0.78 +/- 0.14 g/cm2), gave an intermediate value (89 +/- 2% of expected). Preferential involvement of cortical bone with apparent preservation of cancellous bone in primary hyperparathyroidism was confirmed by percutaneous bone biopsy. Over 80% of patients had a mean cortical width below the expected mean, whereas cancellous bone volume in over 80% of patients was above the expected mean. The results indicate that the majority of patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism have evidence by bone densitometry and bone biopsy for cortical bone disease. The results also indicate that the mild hyperparathyroid state may be protective of cancellous bone. The therapeutic implications of these observations await further longitudinal experience with this study population.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1989

Neuromuscular involvement in mild, asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.

PURPOSE: The classic neuromuscular abnormalities of primary hyperparathyroidism are based on observations from an earlier time when the disease presented commonly with signs and symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to test for neuromuscular abnormalities among patients currently seen with primary hyperparathyroidism, in whom the vast majority are asymptomatic. PATIENTS, METHODS, AND RESULTS: Forty-two patients (30 women, 12 men) were studied. Serum calcium level was 11.1 +/- 0.1 mg/dL (normal, 8.7 to 10.7 mg/dL); phosphorus level was 2.8 +/- 0.1 mg/dL (normal, 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL). Parathyroid hormone levels by radioimmunoassay for N-terminal and for mid-molecule regions were 32.6 +/- 2.4 pg/mL (normal, 8 to 24 pg/mL) and 831 +/- 127 pg/mL (normal, 50 to 330 pg/mL), respectively. Although generalized weakness and easy fatigability were common complaints, they were not seen on neurologic examination. No patient showed typical neuromuscular findings such as muscle weakness or atrophy, hyperreflexia, abnormal gait, tongue fasciculations, or objective changes in mental status. On the other hand, paresthesias and muscle cramps were reported by 22 patients (52%). Neurologic examination in 12 patients (29%) demonstrated findings consisting of either stocking-glove loss of pain sensation or loss of vibratory sensation with diminished reflexes. Creatine phosphokinase levels were normal in all patients. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies were performed in nine patients. None showed myopathy or signs of motor unit denervation. Isolated nerve abnormalities (n = 6) and nonspecific sensory neuropathy (n = 2) were observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the classic neuromuscular syndrome of primary hyperparathyroidism is rarely seen among a typical modern-day group of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The results suggest that the neurologic component of primary hyperparathyroidism should be included among those features of the disease that have changed along with other aspects of the clinical profile of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Aged↗