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Biomedical subjects

R M Heiberger

Publications and source records attributed to R M Heiberger.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

A novel method of assessing completeness of tumor registration.

A random sampling method of measuring the completeness of registration of cancer patients was tested at a university referral hospital. The target population consisted of all inpatients and nonprivate outpatients with in situ or invasive malignancies. The medical records of a random sample of all hospital records active in the last five years were reviewed to determine their reportability and inclusion in the tumor registry (Method A). Traditional casefinding assessment methods were also employed by conducting a complete review of four commonly used hospital sources for a short time period (Method B). The primary purpose of the study was methodologic; namely, to test the feasibility of Method A and to characterize it relative to the more traditional Method B. The estimated missed case rates using Methods A and B (3% and 5%, respectively) are not directly comparable because not all outpatient information is recorded in the medical record. It is concluded that as a means of completeness assessment, Method A can be feasible, cost effective, and useful in other institutions provided certain conditions are met: (1) an appropriate random sample of the target population can be obtained; (2) all relevant information is available in a unit medical record; (3) the reviewer is fully aware of the reportability criteria.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1983

Optimal resection margin for cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma has traditionally been treated by "wide" local excision with a 5-cm margin of normal skin about the tumor. The rationale of wide excision for melanoma has never been clearly defined, but the procedure is known to be effective in preventing local recurrence. We studied 105 patients who had 109 primary melanomas in 1977 and related margin width of the definitive excision to the presence of satellites, to the subsequent development of local recurrence and in-transit metastases, and to survival. Survival was not dependent on margin width, and there were no incidences of local recurrence. Satellitosis and in-transit cutaneous metastasis indicate that a melanoma is capable of local recurrence; these phenomena occurred only in tumors whose thickness (Breslow) was greater than 2.0 mm. These data provide a rationale for wide excision of "thick" melanomas and support more modest local therapy for thin cutaneous melanoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Relationship between patients' early recognition of melanoma and depth of invasion.

The correlation between time to diagnosis and thickness of lesion in patients with superficial spreading melanoma was explored. Charts of 245 patients diagnosed since 1976 were reviewed for data on lesion duration and time since elevation (as perceived by patients); and the degree of elevation (if any); thickness, and diameter of lesion (as measured histologically). No correlation emerged between time to diagnosis and the biologic state of disease as reflected by thickness. The majority of melanomas in this series were not recognized by patients in an early, pre-elevation, low-risk phase. Whether an emphasis on identification of melanoma in this phase will lead to an increase in the percent of patients presenting with biologically early, curable disease remains to be tested.

Back↗
PubMed1982

Effect of audiovisual cancer programs on patients and families.

Four new audiovisual programs about cancer and cancer treatment were evaluated. A total of 240 cancer patients, their families, and their friends were asked to complete self-report questionnaires before and after watching a program to determine the effects of the program on their knowledge of cancer, anxiety levels, and perceived ability to communicate with the staff. Education and race were the only demographic or medical variables that contributed to knowledge scores. Patients' anxiety levels were significantly lower than those of families. Neither anxiety nor knowledge was a function of time from diagnosis. This study demonstrates that audiovisual programs can effectively increase patients' understanding of their disease, decrease anxiety, and facilitate communication with staff.

Anxiety↗