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P C Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to P C Ferguson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Does the method of treatment affect the outcome in soft-tissue sarcomas of the adductor compartment?

We have investigated the significance of the method of treatment on the oncological and functional outcomes and on the complications in 184 patients with soft-tissue sarcomas of the adductor compartment managed at three international centres. The overall survival at five years was 65% and was related to the grade at diagnosis and the size of the tumour. There was no difference in overall survival between the three centres. There was, however, a significant difference in local control with a rate of 28% in Centre 1 compared with 10% in Centre 2 and 5% in Centre 3. The overall mean functional score using the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score in 70 patients was 77% but was significantly worse in patients with wound complications or high-grade tumours. The scores were not affected by the timing of radiotherapy or the use of muscle flaps. This large series of soft-tissue sarcomas of the adductor compartment has shown that factors influencing survival do not vary across the international boundaries studied, but that methods of treatment affect complications, local recurrence and function.

Adolescent↗

Intradermal injection of autologous dermal fibroblasts improves wound healing in irradiated skin.

BACKGROUND: Despite its well-recognized benefits in the management of several solid tumors, the use of radiotherapy prior to surgery is associated with a high incidence of significant surgical wound healing complications. Radiation-induced damage to dermal fibroblasts has been proposed as an important cause. We hypothesized that the introduction of normal, unirradiated fibroblasts into previously irradiated skin would enhance healing of the subsequent surgical wound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of wounds were examined in female Wistar rats: (1) unirradiated skin (n = 10), (2) irradiated skin injected with tissue culture medium alone (n = 17), (3) irradiated skin injected with autologous dermal fibroblasts (n = 17), and (4) irradiated skin injected with irradiated autologous dermal fibroblasts (n = 7). Wounds were evaluated biomechanically and histologically. RESULTS: The biomechanical values of breaking load, ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, and toughness were significantly greater in the irradiated wounds injected with fibroblasts than those injected with medium only. These cell-injected wounds did not perform as well biomechanically as those in unirradiated skin. Irradiating the cells prior to injection resulted in biomechanical results no better than those in medium-injected wounds. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that injection of normal, unirradiated fibroblasts significantly improves healing of the irradiated surgical wound. These cells are likely better able to respond to the proliferative, migratory, and synthetic demands of the wound healing environment, as injection of irradiated cells has an equivalent effect on healing as injection of medium alone.

Animals↗

Primary patellar tumors.

Eight cases of primary tumors of the patella were identified in a consecutive series of 587 patients treated surgically for benign or malignant bone tumors. Six cases were benign (5 giant cell tumors and 1 chondroblastoma), and there were 2 malignant tumors (osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma). Both patients with malignant lesions had Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. Benign pulmonary metastases developed in 2 of the patients with giant cell tumor and 1 patient now is deceased 72 months after surgery. Two patients were treated before referral to a tertiary care center; 1 with patellectomy before histologic diagnosis and 1 with curettage. Both resulted in extension of disease into the knee joint. Tumors of the patella require careful assessment before surgical management. Conservation of the bone can be achieved in benign lesions that have adequate residual bone remaining at the articular surface. Conservation of the extremity is possible in malignant tumors, but reconstruction of the extensor mechanism is difficult.

Adolescent↗

Foreign-body abscesses presenting as soft-tissue tumours: two case reports.

Foreign bodies in the extremities often present as bony extensions of soft-tissue masses. Wooden foreign bodies can be detected by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, but these studies are often nonspecific and cannot detect small bodies. As illustrated by two cases reported in this paper, these masses are difficult to distinguish from primary soft-tissue sarcomas when the history and imaging findings suggestive of a foreign-body reaction are absent.

Abscess↗