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The relative value of current approaches to the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer is discussed. A rational sequence of testing is recommended based on the clinical presentation of the patient and the local institutional expertise and facilities that are available.
AIM: To analyze the differences of clinical characteristics of colorectal neoplasm including polyps between the elderly and young Thai patients. METHODS: Colonoscopy database from December 2000 to October 2004 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 1822 eligible patients who underwent colonoscopy (with a mean age of 56.6 years). Patients were classified into two groups: the older age group (aged > or = 60 years; n = 989) and the younger age group (aged < 60 years; n = 833). Data were recorded on age, colonoscopic indications, tumor location, colonoscopic findings and their related histological findings. RESULTS: Colorectal malignancy related lesions were more often found in the older age group (21%) than in the younger age group (12%). Left-sided lesions were detected more commonly than right-sided in both age groups in approximately two-thirds of all cases. Hematochezia showed greater association with left-sided lesions in the elderly. No relationship was found between age and neoplasm staging and severity. CONCLUSION: The chance of detecting colorectal neoplasm by colonoscopy was higher in the elderly than in the young Thais. However, both groups had the lesions predominantly located in the left side.
Preoperative diagnosis and staging of primary gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms are challenges for both clinicians and radiologists. Barium studies are very sensitive in disclosing primary malignancies, even at an early stage. Radiologic signs depend on the evolutional stage of the disease and its appearance on gross pathology. A neoplasm may be manifested on barium studies by a wide spectrum of findings, including mucosal abnormalities, mass presence, ulcerative lesions, submucosal infiltration, and lumen stenosis. Advanced disease can be accurately diagnosed, whereas early cancer should be differentiated from other neoplastic or inflammatory disorders by meticulous analysis of radiologic findings. The extent of GI involvement and multiplicity of the lesions can be assessed on barium studies. In the staging of GI neoplasms, barium studies are of little value. Skeletal survey by conventional radiographs and chest plain films can reveal distant metastases in a short time and with low cost, although they are not that sensitive to the detection of early or subtle lesions. The exact role of conventional radiology in the imaging workup of GI malignancies depends on local expertise and availability of other diagnostic techniques and modalities.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In contrast to the situation in the upper gastrointestinal tract staging of colonic neoplasm by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has not gained importance because until yet preoperative staging is without any clinical consequences. This may change with the introduction of minimally invasive surgical procedures and endoscopic resection techniques as an alternative to conventional (open) surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed EUS with a miniprobe in 54 consecutive patients with colonic tumors who had been referred to our hospital for endoscopic resection or for laparoscopic resection of their lesions. Therefore patients with locally advanced tumors or systemic tumor spread were not included. After detection of the lesion during colonoscopy miniprobe EUS was performed with water-filling of the colonic lumen. The depth of invasion (T classification) and the local lymph node status (positive or negative) was ascertained. Lymph node-negative lesions staged as T1 underwent endoscopic resection whenever this was technically possible. In lymph node-negative T2-3 tumors laparoscopic resection was planned if they were localized at least 10 cm apart from the flexuras. All other lesions were resected by open surgery. The EUS findings were later compared with the final pathological results (pTN classification) of the resected specimen. RESULTS: In 50 patients (93%) a sufficient EUS evaluation of the colonic tumor was possible. In one patient with a tumor at the left flexura the lesion could not be completely visualized, and in three patients a sufficient water filling of the colon was impossible. The infiltration depth was correctly classified in 17 adenomas, 16 T1, 8 T2, 5 T3, and one T4-carcinoma (EUS accuracy for T staging: 94%). Two T2 and one T3 carcinoma were overstaged by EUS while no understaging was recorded. The lymph node status was correctly classified in 42/50 patients (84%), and a false-negative lymph node status was found in only 4/50 cases (8%). The overall accuracy of EUS was 80%. CONCLUSION: Miniprobe EUS is suitable and has a sufficient but not optimal accuracy for staging of colonic neoplasm. Its employment makes sense if minimally invasive resection techniques in patients with high-risk for open surgery are planned.
This article reviews the capabilities and limits of ultrasonography (US) in the staging of gastrointestinal neoplasms. US is a well-established tool in the investigation of abdominal diseases. Its role is very important in the first approach to liver, gallbladder, biliary, and pancreatic diseases, but its abilities for accurate staging may be limited by various factors, which will be discussed. In the evaluation of the stomach and intestine, US is rarely utilized, but it can occasionally demonstrate an unsuspected gastrointestinal mass that usually must be evaluated further with specific techniques (endoscopy and barium studies) to confirm the diagnosis and to perform an accurate staging (with endosonography and computed tomography).
We present an analysis comprising the initial 10 years experience with a screening program for colorectal neoplasia in the Tel Aviv area that involved 5,625 screenees. It demonstrated that selective screening, based on pre-established epidemiologic criteria and selective screening methodology, resulted in a colorectal neoplasia yield that related directly to the screenee's risk of neoplasia. We have no evidence that the program is life-saving or cost-effective. Medically, however, it yielded early-stage neoplasms that were mainly adenomas, and most cancers were early-stage and noninvasive. Among the screenees 1% had cancer, of which 2/3 were Duke's A or B; 10% had adenomas and 7.3% of these (0.7% of all screenees) had severe dysplasia. Removal of these adenomas has been shown to reduce large bowel cancer incidence. Presently we cannot generally recommend mass screening by the available screening tests, fecal occult blood and endoscopy. However, an outreach case-finding program, based on existing health services, is possible and medically rewarding especially in groups at high risk for neoplasia.
A rare brain tumor (spongioblastoma polare) occurring 7 years after treatment of neuroblastoma stage IV S is reported. The literature concerning the occurrence of a second cancer in children exposed to mutagenic therapy for their initial tumor is reviewed, and genetic and environmental factors are discussed. Diminishing aggressiveness of the treatment in childhood cancer with good prognosis should be considered. Continuous follow-up of children cured of cancer is warranted.
Results of treatment with intraperitoneal cisplatin chemotherapy via Tenckhoff catheter of 14 high-risk stage I ovarian cancer patients are presented. Seven patients had malignant ascites and in 6 a spillage of the tumor occurred before or during surgery. All patients achieved pathological complete remission after IP chemotherapy. During a median follow up of 38.5 months (range: 15-58) one recurrence was noted 16 months after treatment.
CT staging of bladder neoplasms is a highly accurate procedure with a proven accuracy rate of 81% and a potential accuracy rate probably above 90%. At this institution, CT staging has become a routine procedure for all patients with bladder neoplasms prior to surgery or radiotherapy as well as to follow the progress of therapy. Staging of bladder carcinoma is performed by cystoscopy with biopsy, intravenous urography, and CT of the gas-filled bladder. Of 21 patients with surgical confirmation, 17 were correctly staged solely from the CT image. Overstaging in the four errors resulted from confusion produced by normal contiguous extravesical structures and by tangential viewing of the normal bladder wall. Negative contrast allowed precise demonstration of the morphology of the intravesical portion of the tumor.
Patients with dysgenetic gonads carry a high risk for the development of gonadal neoplasia. The aim of the study is to evaluate indications and feasibility of laparoscopy and video-assisted prophylactic gonadectomy in children with Ullrich Turner syndrome (UTS) or 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GoDy). Between 1996 and December 2002 five girls with UTS and nine patients with 46,XY GoDy (female gender role) were explored by laparoscopy. Video-assisted salpingo-oophorectomy or gonadectomy was performed using a three-port technique. Prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy was exclusively performed in UTS patients with proven presence of translocated parts of the Y chromosome. In three patients with 46,XY GoDy laparoscopy was followed by surgical revision of the groin and open gonadectomy in four patients. In two cases with UTS the removed streak gonads contained small unilateral tumours stage pT1a, and in four cases of 46, XY GoDy histopathological investigation revealed bilateral neoplasms stage pT1b. We found the following tumour types: gonadoblastoma, dysgerminoma, testicular intraepithelial neoplasia, and mature teratoma. In conclusion, investigative laparoscopy gives a good image of the internal genital structures and allows the safe removal of the dysgenetic gonads during the same operation. The high rate of gonadal tumours underlines the indication for early gonadectomy in these patients.
BACKGROUND: Positron emission-computed tomography (PET) scans are obtained from the accumulation of a radiotracer in tissues with altered metabolism, such as malignant neoplasms. The authors present their experience with PET, performed in 50 selected patients with lung neoplasms in the 1998-2000 period. METHODS: The indications to PET corresponded to those most frequently reported in the literature, that is: diagnosis in solitary pulmonary nodule 8 patients; mediastinal lymph node staging, 16 patients; re-evaluation after neo-adjuvant therapy, 21 patients; increased markers blood levels in the follow-up of resected patients, 5 cases. Each indication is individually discussed and compared with the data of the literature, especially regarding the role of PET and its relationship with other noninvasive and invasive diagnostic tools. RESULTS: In 47 patients (94%) diagnostic yield was reached. A false positive (acute inflammatory lesion in solitary pulmonary nodule), a false negative (no demonstration of lymphangitic intrathoracic recurrence) and a non-diagnostic result (then pathologically proved non-neoplastic) were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Thus the authors consider PET extremely useful in the diagnosis and staging of lung neoplasms; the high cost of PET may be compensated for the reduced need for invasive diagnostic tools and, avoiding inappropriate surgical options, with favourable cost-effectiveness.Thus, PET may be indicated in most, if not in all, patients with lung neoplasms.
This study was aimed at comparing CT and MRI in the preoperative staging of sinonasal malignancies and at developing the most cost-effective diagnostic strategy to determinate resectability and choice of surgery and to assess surgical demolition extent. Forty-nine patients with sinonasal tumors were examined during a 10 years' period, with CT (20 patients), MRI (13 patients) and combined CT and MRI (16 patients); 42/49 patients underwent surgical resection (16 patients with craniofacial resection and 6 with orbital exenteration). Cost-effectiveness of the two techniques was assessed comparing five protocols using CT and MRI either alone or combined. In 40/98 orbits the tumor was in contact with a bone wall. MRI was more accurate than CT in assessing orbital invasion (100% sensitivity, 94% specificity, 86% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value, vs. 50%, 93%, 75% and 82%, respectively, for CT). MRI showed the tumor in contact with the skull base in 24/49 patients and CT in 23/49 patients, with no statistically significant difference between the two techniques. Dural infiltration, however, was better demonstrated with MRI in 3 patients with minimal bone erosion of the nasal vault. In 5 patients CT and MRI showed pterygopalatine fossa invasion (4 true positives and 1 false positive for both techniques). Since the final decision about orbital exenteration needs accurate surgical mapping, CT appears to yield all the pieces of information necessary for surgical planning. The most cost-effective protocol seems to be a CT examination for all patients. MRI is needed only for better prognostic assessment in the patients with minimal bone erosion of the floor of anterior cranial fossa. In fact, dural invasion, which is a markedly negative factor for survival, may be missed by CT.
The management of advanced stage ovarian carcinomas is presently based on initial surgical debulking, multiple drug chemotherapy including cisplatinum, second-look laparotomy. Such an aggressive approach has improved objective response rates and expected survival time, but no dramatic change has been demonstrated as for definitive cure percentages. Many Authors have attempted to turn an optimal objective response to chemotherapy (no residual or minimal residual disease at second-look) into a definitive cure with irradiation. Some reports show satisfactory results, but a high incidence of bowel obstructive complications has been demonstrated, probably due to multiple surgical manipulations before radiotherapy. A reliable diagnostic tool, that could help to avoid the second-look laparotomy (whose inherent role in improving survival is not assessed) should be therefore useful. The possible role of serum tumor markers determinations, for this purpose, is here discussed on the ground of a series of 20 patients affected by stage III ovarian carcinoma. Following this experience, a valuable role seems attributable to CA 125 in monitoring tumor response. Patients achieving values under 35 U/ml before second-look laparotomy showed tumor residuals in the range O-microscopic- less than 1 cm., that is, neoplastic localizations reliable for consolidation radiation therapy.
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BACKGROUND: The detection of cervical lymph node metastases plays an important role in staging of patients affected by esophageal cancer to perform the best therapeutic approach. METHODS: We report our experience concerning the ultrasound evaluation of the cervical area in 174 patients with esophageal cancer. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the neck can be done with a 7.5- or 10 MHz transducer in all cases, with selective scanning of the lymph node chains of the internal jugular veins and supraclavicular regions. The short-to-long axis ratio (S/L) was a useful way to detect lymph node metastasis. Histopathologic diagnoses were obtained by sonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. RESULTS: At ultrasound examination, we found 18 (10.3%) patients with metastatic cervical nodes. Of these, 17 (94.4%) had metastatic cervical lymph nodes confirmed by cytology from fine-needle biopsy. Lymph node exceeding 5 mm in long axis and with an S/L over 0.5 showed a higher incidence of metastasis than those with an S/L under 0.5. Our experience shows a high incidence of lymph node metastases in patients with esophageal cancer localized to the thoracic supracarinal tract and in patients with cervical and lower esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION: In the ultrasound evaluation of nodes, the most useful parameters are size of nodes, heterogeneity of internal echoes, morphology of the margins, and the deformation caused by compressive instrumental manipulation. These criteria, indicated by the Japanese Society for Esophageal Diseases, yield a high sensitivity and diagnostic specificity when the ultrasonographic studies are performed.
Fifty-six patients with bladder carcinoma were studied with MR imaging for the assessment of the local stage, using the inversion recovery pulse sequence with fat suppression (STIR) with air in the bladder. With this technique images of the inner and the outer parts of the bladder wall were obtained, showing high contrast between the latter and the tumor (tumor/muscle contrast 89.9%). Four tumor stages were recognized: superficial neoplasms (Tis, Ta, and T1), partial wall infiltrating neoplasms (T2); total wall infiltrating neoplasms (T3a, T3b), and neoplasms involving other pelvic organs (T4). MR imaging was compared with histopathologic diagnosis obtained at transurethral resection or cystectomy. True-positive diagnosis was obtained in 80.4%; false-positive in 14.3% of cases; false-negative in 5.3%. Despite the relatively high incidence of overstaged neoplasms, STIR technique combined with air in the bladder allowed a good accuracy in local staging.
Based on the evaluation of 362 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, the distribution of the tumours in relation to their modified Broders' grade, histological cell type as proposed by Wentz and Reagan, and the clinical stage of disease was evaluated. The morphological characteristics of the 3 cell types-large cell non-keratinizing, keratinizing, and small cell cancers-were described. The 5 year survival in relation to Broders' grade, cell type, extent and DNA values of the malignant cells were evaluated and compared. Broders' grading system was not useful in predicting the biological behaviour of cervical squamous cancer. The histological cell type and extent of the tumour were important factors in prognosis. The 5 year survival for large cell cancer was 51·8%, keratinizing cancer 34·7% and small cell cancer 10·0%. The 5 year survival was 63·3% for stage I neoplasms, 52·9% for stage II neoplasms, 30·7% for stage III neoplasms and 15·0% for stage IV neoplasms. When the DNA values of neoplastic cells were considered in relation to cell type and extent of disease, the biological behaviour of cervical squamous cell cancers was determined more accurately. The 5 year survival of women with cervical cancer in which the DNA values of the neoplastic cells exceeded 155 was more favourable than those with DNA values of less than 155. This difference in 5 year survival was evident for comparable cell type and clinical stage of disease.