Changes in quality of life after a diagnosis of cancer: a 2-year study comparing breast cancer and melanoma patients.

PURPOSE: Longitudinal studies addressing change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following a diagnosis of cancer have mainly focused on a single cancer type, and little is known about the differences in HRQoL over time according to the type of tumor. The current study aims to compare the change in HRQoL over 2 years following breast cancer or melanoma diagnosis and socio-demographic variables associated with HRQoL over time. METHODS: Patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 215) or melanoma (n = 78) completed surveys within 1 month of diagnosis and 6, 12, and 24 months later. Multilevel modeling analyses were used to compare the evolution over time of HRQoL dimensions, as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30, in both cancers. Longitudinal effect of socio-demographic variables on HRQoL was also assessed. RESULTS: Consistent with the literature, both cancer patients experienced decreased HRQoL scores following the diagnosis before improving over time. However, our analyses revealed that this rebound effect may occur at diverse times over the course of the illness according to the type of cancer. In addition, HRQoL over time was positively associated with age and negatively related to living with a partner regardless of the type of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that support in hospital units should be specific and depend on the cancer type.

Characteristics and clinical outcome of T1 breast cancer: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A subgroup of T1N0M0 breast cancer (BC) carries a high potential of relapse, and thus may require adjuvant systemic therapy (AST). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all patients with T1 BC, who underwent surgery from January 1999 to December 2009 at 13 French sites. AST was not standardized. RESULTS: Among 8100 women operated, 5423 had T1 tumors (708 T1a, 2208 T1b and 2508 T1c 11-15 mm). T1a differed significantly from T1b tumors with respect to several parameters (lower age, more frequent negative hormonal status and positive HER2 status, less frequent lymphovascular invasion), exhibiting a mix of favorable and poor prognosis factors. Overall survival was not different between T1a, b or c tumors but recurrence-free survival was significantly higher in T1b than in T1a tumors (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, tumor grade, hormone therapy and lymphovascular invasion were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Relatively poor outcome of patients with T1a tumors might be explained by a high frequency of risk factors in this subgroup (frequent negative hormone receptors and HER2 overexpression) and by a less frequent administration of AST (endocrine treatment and chemotherapy). Tumor size might not be the main determinant of prognosis in T1 BC.

[Quality of life after lipomodelling: retrospective study of 42 patients]. / Qualité de vie après lipomodelage: étude rétrospective à propos de 42 patientes.

OBJECTIVES: Study of the quality of life of 42 patients who underwent a lipofilling in our institution between 2009 and 2010. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Analysis of cosmetic outcomes, side effects, emotional life and preoperative information received by a cohort of 42 patients contacted by anonymous questionnaires. Comparisons between patients with a single prothesis, latissimus dorsi flap with prothesis, autologous latissimus dorsi flap and rectus abdominal flap. RESULTS: The response rate was 56% (42 patients). The average volume of fat injected was 80mL. The aspect of the reconstructed breast and the harmony between two breasts were better after lipofilling (P=0.0001, P=0.0005). The evolution of the aesthetic result is satisfying for 64.1% of the patients. In 29% of cases, patients noticed adhesions at the injection site. Apprehension to touch the reconstructed breast and to wear a swimsuit decreases after lipofilling (P=0.0345;P=0.0284). All patients declared to be satisfied with the presurgery information. Half of the patients declare that the final result corresponds to their wishes. DISCUSSION: The side effects of lipofilling were studied from an oncological point of view. Less publications describe the patients quality of life after lipofilling. This surgery improves the breast reconstruction results and helps patients in a social, affective and aesthetic way. Overall, lipofilling improves more consistency in patients reconstructed by single prothesis and improves more appearance in patients reconstructed by single flap. CONCLUSION: Lipofilling improves significantly patients' quality of life. A clinical research protocol (GRATSEC) is currently underway to extend its indications. The lipofilling should not replace a bad indication of breast reconstruction.

Cost comparison of axillary sentinel lymph node detection and axillary lymphadenectomy in early breast cancer. A national study based on a prospective multi-institutional series of 985 patients 'on behalf of the Group of Surgeons from the French Unicancer Federation'.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to assess the global cost of the sentinel lymph node detection [axillary sentinel lymph node detection (ASLND)] compared with standard axillary lymphadenectomy [axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)] for early breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multi-institutional, observational, cost comparative analysis. Cost calculations were realized with the micro-costing method from the diagnosis until 1 month after the last surgery. RESULTS: Eight hundred and thirty nine patients were included in the ASLND group and 146 in the ALND group. The cost generated for a patient with an ASLND, with one preoperative scintigraphy, a combined method for sentinel node detection, an intraoperative pathological analysis without lymphadenectomy, was lower than the cost generated for a patient with lymphadenectomy [€ 2947 (σ = 580) versus € 3331 (σ = 902); P = 0.0001]. CONCLUSION: ASLND, involving expensive techniques, was finally less expensive than ALND. The length of hospital stay was the cost driver of these procedures. The current observational study points the heterogeneous practices for this validated and largely diffused technique. Several technical choices have an impact on the cost of ASLND, as intraoperative analysis allowing to reduce rehospitalization rate for secondary lymphadenectomy or preoperative scintigraphy, suggesting possible savings on hospital resources.

[Oncologic, functional, and aesthetics results; evaluation of the quality of life after latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction. About a retrospective series of 450 patients]. / Résultats oncologiques, fonctionnels et esthétiques ; évaluation de la qualité de vie après reconstruction mammaire par lambeau de muscle grand dorsal. À propos d'une série rétrospective de 450 patientes.

Retrospective assesssment from 1998 to 2005 from women who have a breast reconstruction by autologus latissimus flap or by latissimus flap and silicone breast implant for differed breast reconstruction (DBR) or mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (MIBR). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Analysis of oncologic results on 450 patients. Analysis of aesthetic, functional results and of quality of life by an anonymous questionnaire in the non progressive patients (407): 263 appraisable answers (13 DBR, 127 MIBR). Middle age: 49.8 years. RESULTS ONCOLOGIC: Forty-three patients (9.5%) had a relapse of their disease, 33 patients died (7.2%). The relapse of the disease was done in the form of metastasis alone: 29 (67.4%), metastasis and local recurrence: three (7%), local recurrence only: four (9.3%), not specified: seven (16.3%). The average time between the breast reconstruction and the relapse was 18.25±15.4 months. AESTHETIC RESULTS: The overall assessment is of 7.68/10. There is no statistical difference between immediate reconstruction and delayed reconstruction. A total of 11.2% patients considered it to be bad (<5/10). The symmetry between the two breasts in time is of 6.6/10 and 19.9% patients considered it to be bad (<5/10). The scar ransom, considered to be most important, is mostly in the back (4.1/10) then on the controlateral breast and then the breast reconstruction. This ransom is not easily acceptable in 15 to 20% of the patients. FUNCTIONAL RESULTS: The discomfort and the pain prevail above all in the back (3.56 and 2.59/10). Weaker symptoms in the event of immediate reconstruction than delayed reconstruction. We noted that 77.2% had kinesitherapy after surgery and 18.9% continues to have kinesitherapy, long time after surgery, mainly for massages of the back. The handicap is considered to be overall low 2.5/10 but 10% of the patients keep a feeling of important handicap (>7.5/10). QUALITY OF LIFE RESULTS: Seventy-one of the patients are serene. The discomfort to wear a bathing suit or to look at bare-chested is low (2.59 and 2.44/10). However 8.9% are in a very discomfort to see themselves bare-chested and 17.6% to show themselves to their spouse, with an impact on their emotional and sexual life in 36.4% of the cases. There is no significant difference between MIBR and DBR but on the other hand according to the judgement of the woman of her aesthetic result. A total of 95.7% do not regret having made this breast reconstruction. CONCLUSION: This study makes it possible to concentrate on the group of non satisfied patient for better determining the causes and the improvements of the surgical techniques to bring but also the overall surgical management of the patient even if most of the patients were mainly satisfied with their breast reconstruction.

[Evaluation of an information network and nurse consultation for breast reconstruction]. / Évaluation d'un dispositif d'annonce et d'information adapté à la reconstruction mammaire en cancérologie.

UNLABELLED: To evaluate the installation of a nurse consultation and an interactive support DVD in breast reconstruction. To judge utility of these new tools of information for the patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The nurse consultation is carried out after the initial consultation of the surgeon; during this consultation, a DVD containing of the interviews is given taking again the information given as well as patients' evidence on their path of care. Evaluation of the information given by the surgeon and the nurse (eight items from surgical techniques to convalescence). Evaluation of the interest and comprehensibility. Quotation from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Evaluation by anonymous questionnaire on 110 women, between February and December 2007. Rate of participation: 72.7% (80/110); mean age: 51.5±9.2. Information given is considered to be useful (surgeon: quotation above 9.3/10 in function of the items, nurse: quotation above 9.4) and comprehensible (quotation above 8.7/quotation above 8.9). The information made by the nurse is more comprehensible than that done by the surgeon, for over all items. The nurse consultation is considered to be very useful (9.45). Seventy percent of the patients learned from extra informations, compared to the consultation of the surgeon. This consultation does not have a direct influence on the choice of the technique (5.45/10), the consultation of the surgeon remaining predominant. Fifty percent of the women still learned from new informations, by using the DVD. On the other hand, it has little influence on the choice of the technique (4.84/10). The nurse consultation and the DVD are well conceived because 80% of the women did not need more information. The predominant elements in the choice of the patients are the surgeon consultation, then the nurse consultation and then the DVD. The total index of satisfaction is very good 9.31/10 (surgeon: 9.24, nurse 9.56, DVD 9.11). CONCLUSION: The nurse consultation and the DVD are not replacement components of the surgeon consultation. They are complementary and have an important role in the acquisition of information and the psychological support of the patients. The surgeon initial consultation remains predominent in the decision of choice by the patients, it must remain the most complete possible.

Prognostic impact of syndecan-1 expression in invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

Carcinoma cells lack syndecan-1 expression when they are transiting from an epithelial to a less-differentiated mesenchymal phenotype (epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT). Furthermore, a shift of syndecan-1 expression from malignant epithelial cells to reactive stromal cells has also been observed during progression of many carcinomas. Finally, epithelial and/or stromal syndecan-1 expression is of prognostic value in many carcinomas. Because recent results are contradictory in breast carcinomas, we have re-evaluated the prognostic significance of syndecan-1 expression in a cohort of 80 patients with invasive ductal breast carcinomas. The tumours from 80 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal breast carcinomas were used to construct a tissue microarray, which was stained with syndecan-1 by immunohistochemistry. We correlated syndecan-1 expression with clinicopathologic parameters and relapse-free survival (RFS). Exclusive epithelial expression of syndecan-1 is observed in 61.25% of the patients, whereas exclusive stromal expression is observed in 30% of the patients. Only 8.75% of the patients had both stromal and epithelial expressions of syndecan-1. A significant correlation was found between the loss of syndecan-1 epithelial expression and the syndecan-1 stromal expression with high grade of malignancy (P=0.011). The loss of syndecan-1 epithelial expression is correlated with RFS (P=0.001). Using multivariate Cox analysis, loss of epithelial syndecan-1 expression was the only prognostic indicator (P<0.001). We concluded that the loss of syndecan-1 epithelial expression was of strong prognostic value in breast carcinomas.

[Uterine abnormalities in non menopausal women who received tamoxifen for breast cancer adjuvant therapy]. / Anomalies utérines chez la femme non ménopausée sous tamoxifène en traitement adjuvant du cancer du sein.

OBJECTIVE: To elaborate a strategy of endometrial follow-up for premenopausal women treated with Tamoxifen as adjuvant hormonal treatment of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 152 premenopausal patients treated with Tamoxifen in Nantes Comprehensive Cancer Center for a breast cancer from January 2003 to December 2005. Vaginal sonography was used in the follow-up of 70 of them. RESULTS: Endometrial hypertrophy was found in 26 patients. Sonohysterography and hysteroscopy allowed to find 11 polyps and three hyperplasias in the 19 women who were investigated. In our study, endometrial pathology was found in 20% of premenopausal women treated with Tamoxifen (polyps or hyperplasia). Uterine bleeding was found in half patient of this group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Vaginal sonography monitoring could be proposed to premenopausal women treated with Tamoxifen among whom endometrial pathology is usual.

[Sentinel node detection applied to breast cancer: 2007 update]. / La détection du ganglion axillaire sentinelle appliquée au traitement du cancer du sein: le point en 2007.

The technique of detection and resection of the sentinel lymph node applied to early breast cancer management aims to spare the patient with a low risk of lymph node involvement an unnecessary axillary lymphadenectomy. This innovating technique lies on the double hypothesis of an accuracy to predict non sentinel lymph node status and to induce a lower morbidity when compared with axillary lymphadenectomy. This multidisciplinary technique depends on surgeons, nuclear physicians and pathologists. In practice sentinel lymph nodes are detected thanks to two types of tracers, the Blue and the colloids marked with technetium, harvested by the surgeon guided by the blue lymphatic channel and the use of a gamma probe detection, analyzed by the pathologist according to a particular procedure with the concept of serial slices, and possibly immuno histo chemistry. The objectives of this review are to specify the state of knowledge concerning the different steps: detection, surgical resection and the pathological analysis of the sentinels lymph nodes and to focus on validated and controversial indications, and on the main ongoing trials.

Evaluation of sentinel lymph node biopsy after previous breast surgery for breast cancer: GATA study.

AIM: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was recently recommended after prior breast tumour surgery and lymphadenectomy is not the gold standard anymore for nodal staging after a lesion's removal. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the good practices of use of SLN biopsy in this context. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2006 to 2012, 138 patients having undergone a surgical biopsy without prior diagnosis of an invasive carcinoma with a definitive histological analysis in favour of this diagnosis were included in a prospective observational multicentric study. Each patient had a nodal staging following SLN biopsy with subsequent systematic lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: The detection rate of SLN was 85.5%. The average number of SLNs found was 1.9. The relative detection failure risk rate was multiplied by 4 in the event of an interval of less than 36 days between the SLN biopsy and the previous breast surgery, and by 9 in the event of using a single-tracer detection method. The false negative rate was 6.25%. The prevalence of metastatic axillary node involvement was 11.6%. In 69% of cases only the SLN was metastatic. The post-operative seroma rate was 19.5%. CONCLUSION: Previous conservative breast tumour surgery does not affect the accuracy of the SLN biopsy. A sufficient interval of greater than 36 days between the two operations could allow to improve the SLN detection rate, although further studies are needed to validate this statement. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00293865.

Post-operative care and patient satisfaction after ambulatory surgery for breast cancer patients.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate patient information provided, the management of post-operative symptoms and post-operative care, and patient satisfaction with ambulatory breast surgery over a 1-year period. METHODS: From January to December 2000, all breast cancer patients undergoing conservative breast surgery were offered surgery as an outpatient procedure at the Ambulatory Surgery Unit. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty six patients underwent outpatient surgery. None were readmitted during the first night or the first week. Two hundred and nineteen patients completed a questionnaire. One hundred and sixty nine patients (group 1) underwent wide local excision (WLE) and 50 (group 2), WLE and axillary lymphadenectomy. Patients in group 2 experienced more pain at discharge from the hospital (p < or = 0.01) and during the first week after discharge (p < or = 0.00001) than patients in group 1. The mean overall satisfaction score was 8.97 on a scale of 1-10. Post-operative information provided by the surgeon before discharge from the hospital was rated 8.90 on a scale of 1-10 while information provided by the nurse was rated 9.33 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Ambulatory surgery for breast cancer patients is safe and popular with patients, however, post-operative pain presents problem.

[Lobular invasive breast cancer prognostic factors: About 940 patients]. / Facteurs pronostiques des carcinomes lobulaires infiltrants du sein : à propos de 940 cas.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic factors of T1 and T2 infiltrating lobular breast cancers, and to investigate predictive factors of axillary lymph node involvement. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicentric study, conducted from 1999 to 2008, among 13 french centers. All data concerning patients with breast cancer who underwent a primary surgical treatment including a sentinel lymph node procedure have been collected (tumors was stage T1 or T2). Patients underwent partial or radical mastectomy. Axillary lymph node dissection was done systematically (at the time of sentinel procedure evaluation), or in case of sentinel lymph node involvement. Among all the 8100 patients, 940 cases of lobular infiltrating tumors were extracted. Univariate analysis was done to identify significant prognosis factors, and then a Cox regression was applied. Analysis interested factors that improved disease free survival, overall survival and factors that influenced the chemotherapy indication. Different factors that may be related with lymph node involvement have been tested with univariate than multivariate analysis, to highlight predictive factors of axillary involvement. RESULTS: Median age was 60 years (27-89). Most of patients had tumours with a size superior to 10mm (n=676, 72%), with a minority of high SBR grade (n=38, 4%), and a majority of positive hormonal status (n = 880, 93, 6%). The median duration of follow-up was 59 months (1-131). Factors significantly associated with decreased disease free survival was histological grade 3 (hazard ratio [HR]: 3,85, IC 1,21-12,21), tumour size superior to 2cm (HR: 2,85, IC: 1,43-5,68) and macrometastatic lymph node status (HR: 3,11, IC: 1,47-6,58). Concerning overall survival, multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant impact of age less than 50 years (HR: 5,2, IC: 1,39-19,49), histological grade 3 (HR: 5,03, IC: 1,19-21,25), tumour size superior to 2cm (HR: 2,53, IC: 1,13-5,69). Analysis concerning macrometastatic lymph node status nearly reached significance (HR: 2,43, IC: 0,99-5,93). There was no detectable effect of chemotherapy regarding disease free survival (odds ratio [OR] 0,8, IC: 0,35-1,80) and overall survival (OR: 0,72, IC: 0,28-1,82). Disease free survival was similar between no axillary invasion (pN0) and isolated tumor cells (pNi+), or micrometastatic lymph nodes (pNmic). There were no difference neither between one or more than one macromatastatic lymph node. But disease free survival was statistically worse for pN1 compared to other lymph node status (pN0, pNi+ or pNmic). Factors associated with lymph node involvement after logistic regression was: age from 51 to 65 years (OR: 2,1, IC 1,45-3,04), age inferior to 50 years (OR 3,2, IC: 2,05-5,03), Tumour size superior to 2cm (OR 4,4, IC: 3,2-6,14), SBR grading 2 (OR 1,9, IC: 1,30-2,90) and SBR grade 3 (OR 3,5, IC: 1,61-7,75). CONCLUSION: The analysis of this series of 940 T1 and T2 lobular invasive breast carcinomas offers several information: factors associated with axillary lymph node involvement are age under 65 years, tumor size greater than 20mm, and a SBR grade 2 or 3. The same factors were significantly associated with the OS and DFS. The macrometastatic lymph node involvement has a significant impact on DFS and OS, which is not true for isolated cells and micrometastases, which seem to have the same prognosis as pN0.

Learning curve for the detection of axillary sentinel lymph node in breast cancer.

AIM: Sentinel axillary lymph node (SALN) detection is a new technique. Surgeons must progress up a learning curve in order to guarantee quality and safety equivalent to axillary lymphadenectomy. To ensure accurate staging of patients this learning curve must include SALN detection and an axillary lymphadenectomy. The aim of our work was to validate the principles and evaluate the consequences of learning curve for SALN detection from a prospective series of 200 consecutive patients. METHOD: Prospective assessment was made of the detection and false negative rates, post operative morbidity as abcess and seroma, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: We evaluated the performance from the first to the hundredth case for each surgeon. Detection rate improved to 85% after patient number 10. False negative rate was less than 6%. Post operative axillary morbidity included 11% of seromas and 2% of abcess. Mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary validation of the learning period contributes to an accurate and safe SALN.

[Primary angioplasty associated with systemic coronary stenting in acute myocardial infarction. Results at the end of the hospitalization period and at 24 months]. / Angioplastie primaire associée à la mise en place systématique d'une endoprothèse en phase aiguë d'infarctus du myocarde. Résultats en fin de période hospitalière et à 24 mois.

A series of 149 consecutive patients admitted for myocardial infarction (excluding cardiogenic shock), dilated and systematically stented in the acute phase before the 12th hour and followed up for a period from 30 days to 2 years, was studied. The criteria of follow-up were: number of asymptomatic patients, deaths, reinfarction, residual ischaemia, cardiac failure, angioplasty or bypass surgery. On admission, 40.9% of the infarcts were anterior, 44.3% inferior and 14.8% lateral. One hundred and eighty-three stents with a diameter of over 3 mm were inserted. The angioplasty success rate was 98.6%. During the hospital period, 90.6% of patients were asymptomatic. 4.7% had recurrent infarction, 4% had cardiac failure, 0.7% had residual ischaemia, and there were 0.7% of cardiac deaths. The survival rate was 97.2% at 2 years: 69.8% of patients were totally asymptomatic: the cumulative major cardiac event rate (death, reinfarction, angioplasties or bypass graft) was 25.9% and the reoperation rate on the culprit vessel was 20.1%. These results show the short and long-term value of angioplasty associated with coronary stenting over other techniques in the acute phase of infarction based on the criteria studied. The long-term results of larger randomised studies using glycoprotein inhibitors (Gp IIb IIIa) associated with angioplasty and stenting are expected for validating the use of these products.

[Value of the combined Lastac laser-angioplasty technic in symptomatic superficial femoral occlusion]. / Intérêt de la technique combinée Lastac laser-angioplastie dans les occlusions fémorales superficielles symptomatiques.

The results of peripheral transluminal angioplasty are satisfactory in stenotic arteries but those observed in the recanalisation of occluded peripheral arteries are not so good. There would therefore seem to be a good therapeutic opportunity for laser between angioplasty and surgery for patients with symptomatic arterial occlusion. The authors report their experience with the Lastac laser in 12 patients with symptomatic superficial femoral arterial occlusion. This is a no-contact laser. All patients had surgical indications in case of failure to recanalise by laser, despite collateral circulation by the profunda artery which was inadequate on effort leading to claudication and a limited walking perimeter. After 1 initial failure, 11 successful procedures were performed. There were no perforations due to the Argon laser beam but 2 were observed with the guide wire which was rapidly sealed by the balloon catheter. A surgical haematoma at the percutaneous puncture point resulted in 1 reocclusion during the patient's hospital period so that the 11 technical successes became 10 clinical successes. At medium-term follow-up, one asymptomatic occlusion had occurred and one restenosis was successfully redilated. The advantages of a continuous Argon "Lastac" laser compared with a contact laser are its capacity for auto-control, its coaxial fibre placement and the absence of direct contact with the lesion. The coaxial fibre arrangement plays an important role in preventing vascular perforation. These factors enable it to be used with more safety in patients with arterial occlusion.

[Anteroposterior rectopexy for disorders of rectal stasis: clinical and radiologic results. Value of digital subtraction rectography. Apropos of 30 cases]. / Rectopexie antéro-postérieure pour troubles de la statique rectale: résultats cliniques et radiologiques. Intérêt de la rectographie dynamique numérisée. A propos de trente cas.

We report the results of 30 antero-posterior rectopexies (APR) for rectal kinetic disorders with descending perineum syndrome. All patients were investigated by digital subtraction defecography and ano-rectal manometry. The associated surgical procedures were: sphincterotomy (n = 13) for outlet obstruction demonstrated by anal manometry or balloon expulsion test: hypertonic sphincter (n = 7), narrow fibrous sphincter (n = 6); 10 cases of prolapsectomy with extended anterior mucosectomy to reduce anterior rectal prolapse; 2 sigmoidectomy for dolichosigmoid. Best results (mean follow-up: 12 months, 3-26) were observed for ano-rectal or pelvic pain and rectal bleeding, which were cured in more than 80% of cases. Faecal incontinence (n = 5) was cured in all cases. Although normalisation of bowel movements and easier defecation were observed in 78% of cases, improvement in the dyschezic syndrome was differently perceived by the patients. Postoperative investigation demonstrated the probable cause of surgical failures (23%): impairment of rectal sensitivity (n = 2), anismus (n = 3), motor constipation (n = 4), with dolichosigmoid (n = 3). Severe perineal deficiency was also noted in 4 cases. Solitary ulcer (n = 6), anterior proctitis (n = 8), were cured within 2 months. Postoperative defecography showed correction of rectal intussusception without impairment of anterior rectal motility during defecation. These results confirm the efficacy of ARP for treatment of rectal intussusception or anterior rectocele. This functional rectopexy avoids the rectal "sling effect" of standard rectopexy which usually increases rectal dysfunction. Nevertheless, ARP alone seems to be insufficient when the associated functional or organic disorders implicated in rectal dysfunction are not also corrected, essentially outlet obstruction and dolichosigmoid.

[Proctectomy and colo-anal anastomosis after high-dose irradiation of cancers of the lower third of the rectum. Functional and oncological results]. / Proctectomie et anastomose colo-anale après irradiation à hautes doses des cancers du tiers inférieur du rectum. Résultats fonctionnels et carcinologiques.

This prospective study was designed to evaluate morbidity and functional and oncological outcomes in patients with carcinoma of the distal third of the rectum treated by high-dose radiation therapy followed by conservative surgery. Twenty-two patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal third of the rectum treated after June 1990 were included in the study. Mean distances separating the tumor from the upper edge of the levator ani muscle and from the anal verge were 17 mm and 47 mm, respectively. None of the tumors were fixed; preoperative stage, established by endoscopic ultrasound, was T2 in 12 patients and T3 in 10. Patients received induction radiation therapy in two series delivered three weeks apart (40 Gy on the pelvis, then 20 Gy on the tumor only) followed by surgical resection (proctectomy with colo-anal anastomosis in 17 cases and amputation in five). After radiation, two tumors were negative for malignant cells, 12 were Astler-Coller B1, two were B2, and six were C2. Mean safety margin after colo-anal anastomosis was 16.8 mm; all the resection margins were negative. Mortality and morbidity were not increased by the high-dose radiation protocol. Conservation of the sphincter was possible in 80% of patients. All the patients were continent. Functional outcome was rated good in 77% of cases, fair in 9% and poor in 4%. During the mean follow-up of 24 months, there were three disease-related deaths, including one due to a strictly regional recurrence; metastatic dissemination to the lungs occurred in two patients and the remaining 17 patients (80%) were disease-free. These data suggest that high-dose radiation therapy followed by conservative surgery ensures satisfactory functional outcomes in patients with carcinomas of the distal rectum. Evaluation of oncological outcomes will require a longer follow-up.

[Role of outpatient surgery in breast surgery. Prospective feasibility study]. / Place de la chirurgie ambulatoire en chirurgie sénologique. Etude prospective de faisabilité.

STUDY AIM: The objective of this prospective study was to assess the feasibility of outpatient breast surgery, the reasons for inpatient procedures (IPP), the reasons for conversion and the conversion rate, and the postoperative morbidity after outpatient procedures (OPP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 1999, among 625 patients eligible for OPP (diagnostic surgery or conservative curative surgery), OPP was performed in 418 patients (67%) and IPP was performed in 207 patients (33%). The reasons for IPP rather than OPP were environmental (64%) rather than medical (16%). RESULTS: The conversion rate to conventional surgery was 12.4% and the definitive OPP rate was 58.6%. The reasons for conversion were more often medical (50%) and environmental (21%) than surgical (23%). The morbidity, except for axillary seroma, was similar for OPP and IPP. The axillary seroma rate after axillary lymph node dissection was higher with OPP (27.4 vs 16.1%). CONCLUSION: OPP is a good alternative to IPP in breast surgery, especially for diagnostic purposes. OPP is also feasible for partial mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection, but patients must be clearly informed about the risks of axillary morbidity. The patients' quality of life and satisfaction index should also be evaluated.

[Surgical management of non-palpable breast lesions in ambulatory care]. / La prise en charge chirurgicale des lésions mammaires non palpables en ambulatoire.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess if surgery for non-palpable breast lesions could be compatible with a walk-in case hospitalization setting. METHOD: We retrospectively compared 75 patients with a traditional hospital stay to 68 patients with a walking case hospitalization. Overall 143 patients were treated during 1997. Studied parameters were: the quality of the surgical results, the duration of the hospital stay and the post operatives complications. Statistical analysis was realized using the chi 2 test. RESULTS: There was no difference between the studied populations according to the quality of surgical results either the post operatives complications. CONCLUSION: Surgery for non palpable breast lesions can be performed during a one day surgery. The reduction of the duration of the hospital stay decrease the cost of health care system. We should follow the evaluation of the walking case hospitalization for the breast cancer surgery especially when an axillary lymphadenectomy have to be performed.