The impact of electronic versus paper-based data capture on data collection logistics and on missing scores in thyroid cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the type of data capture on the time and help needed for collecting patient-reported outcomes as well as on the proportion of missing scores. METHODS: In a multinational prospective study, thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries completed a validated questionnaire measuring quality of life. Electronic data capture was compared to the paper-based approach using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 437 patients were included, of whom 13% used electronic data capture. The relation between data capture and time needed was modified by the emotional functioning of the patients. Those with clinical impairments in that respect needed more time to complete the questionnaire when they used electronic data capture compared to paper and pencil (ORadj 24.0; p = 0.006). This was not the case when patients had sub-threshold emotional problems (ORadj 1.9; p = 0.48). The odds of having the researcher reading the questions out (instead of the patient doing this themselves) (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) and of needing any help (ORadj 0.1; p = 0.01) were lower when electronic data capture was used. The proportion of missing scores was equivalent in both groups (ORadj 0.4, p = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of electronic data capture, such as real-time assessment and fewer data entry errors, may come at the price of more time required for data collection when the patients have mental health problems. As this is not uncommon in thyroid cancer, researchers need to choose the type of data capture wisely for their particular research question.

International Phase IV Field Study for the Reliability and Validity of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Thyroid Cancer Module EORTC QLQ-THY34.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to validate the new European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Thyroid Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-THY34). Methods: We enrolled 437 thyroid cancer patients from 17 countries. One group (n = 303), undergoing treatment or best supportive care, completed the questionnaires at three time points (before therapy [t1], 6 weeks later [t2], and 6 months after t2 [t3]). A second group (survivors ≥2 years after diagnosis, n = 134) completed it at a random baseline time point and a second time 1 week later. We determined internal consistency (using Cronbach's alpha), the scale structure (with confirmatory factor analysis), and discriminant validity (using known-group comparisons). Group 1 data were used to assess responsiveness and group 2 data to determine test-retest reliability using intra-class correlations (ICC). Results: All 34 items fulfilled the criteria to be kept in the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was >0.70 in 8 of the 9 multi-item scales. All standardized factor loadings exceeded 0.40, confirming the proposed scale structure. The ICC was >0.70 in all scales expressing good test-retest reliability. Differences in scale scores between patients with different histology were >5 points in all scales. In all but one of the pre-specified scales (Dry Mouth), changes over time were ≥|4| points between at least two time points. Conclusion: The EORTC QLQ-THY34 with its 9 multi-item and 8 single-item scales is a reliable and valid tool to measure quality of life in thyroid cancer patients and can be used in future trials and studies.

Not a neuroendocrine tumor: A case of hepatocellular carcinoma in ectopic liver tissue in the pancreas.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for most of the hepatic neoplasms and can also occur in ectopic liver tissue. We present a case of a 55-year-old male complaining of weight loss. The imaging studies reported a 2.9 cm nodule in the pancreatic body, with a neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis by cytology. A corpo-caudal pancreatectomy was performed. Pathology showed a well-differentiated HCC developed in ectopic liver tissue with free margins and no lymph node metastases. HCC presenting in ectopic liver tissue is rare. In this case, the preoperative study did not establish the diagnosis, warranting the need for suspicion of this neoplasm.

Predictive factors of non-sentinel lymph node disease in breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph node.

INTRODUCTION: Management of positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer remains a matter of debate. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and identify predictive factors of non-sentinel lymph node metastases. METHODS: Retrospective review of all cN0 breast cancer patients treated between January 2013 and December 2017, with positive SLNB that were submitted to ALND. RESULTS: Of the 328 patients included, the majority of tumors were cT1 or cT2, with lymphovascular invasion in 58.4% of cases. The mean isolated nodes in SLNB was 2.7, with a mean of 1.6 positive nodes, 60.7% with extracapsular extension. Regarding ALND, a mean of 13.9 nodes were isolated, with a mean of 2.1 positive nodes. There was no residual disease in the ALND in 50.9% of patients, with 18.9% having ≥4 positive nodes. In the multivariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular extension in SLN, largest SLN metastases size (>10 mm) and ratio of positive SNL (>50%) were independent predictors of non-sentinel lymph node metastases. These four factors were used to build a non-pondered score to predict the probability of a positive ALND after a positive SLNB. The AUC of the model was 0.69 and 81% of patients with score = 0 and 65.6% with score = 1 had no additional disease in ALND. CONCLUSION: The absence of non-sentinel lymph node metastases in the majority of patients with 1-2 positive SLN with low risk score questions the need of ALND in this population. The identified predictive factors may help select patients in which ALND can be omitted.

Predictive factors of non-sentinel lymph node disease in breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph node. / Factores predictivos de metástasis en ganglios no centinela en el cáncer de mama con ganglio centinela positivo.

INTRODUCTION: Management of positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer remains a matter of debate. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and identify predictive factors of non-sentinel lymph node metastases. METHODS: Retrospective review of all cN0 breast cancer patients treated between January 2013 and December 2017, with positive SLNB that were submitted to ALND. RESULTS: Of the 328 patients included, the majority of tumors were cT1 or cT2, with lymphovascular invasion in 58.4% of cases. The mean isolated nodes in SLNB was 2.7, with a mean of 1.6 positive nodes, 60.7% with extracapsular extension. Regarding ALND, a mean of 13.9 nodes were isolated, with a mean of 2.1 positive nodes. There was no residual disease in the ALND in 50.9% of patients, with 18.9% having ≥ four positive nodes. In the multivariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular extension in SLN, largest SLN metastases size (>10 mm) and ratio of positive SNL (> 50%) were independent predictors of non-sentinel lymph node metastases. These four factors were used to build a non-pondered score to predict the probability of a positive ALND after a positive SLNB. The AUC of the model was 0.69 and 81% of patients with score = 0 and 65.6% with score = 1 had no additional disease in ALND. CONCLUSION: The absence of non-sentinel lymph node metastases in the majority of patients with 1-2 positive SLN with low risk score questions the need of ALND in this population. The identified predictive factors may help select patients in which ALND can be omitted.

Impact of the 8th edition of the AJCC TNM classification on gastric cancer prognosis-study of a western cohort.

INTRODUCTION: The 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM classification for gastric cancer introduced changes, mainly in stage III, with the incorporation of the pN3 sub-classification in the final staging group. The goal was to compare the 7th and 8th editions to evaluate the discriminative capacity of the new edition. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of patients with gastric cancer treated with surgery in 2013 and 2014. RESULTS: We analysed 310 patients, with a median age of 66 years and out of which 55.5% were male. The most commonly performed surgery was subtotal gastrectomy (n = 158; 51%), with a median of 30 lymph nodes removed. With a median follow-up of 39.5 months, the 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) was 82% and 59%, respectively. In stage III (n = 115), there was stage migration in 40 cases (34.8%), with upstage in 11 cases and downstage in 29 cases. In this group, there was a statistically significant difference in OS between N3a and N3b patients (p = 0.002), as well as a statistically significant difference in OS between stages IIIA, IIIB and IIIC when the 8th edition was applied (p = 0.001), which was not verified with the 7th edition (p = 0.057). In multivariate analysis, both extracapsular extension and N classification from TNM were independent prognostic factors (p = 0.033 and p = 0.024, respectively). CONCLUSION: The 8th edition of the AJCC TNM classification allows for a better prognostic refinement, namely in the new stage III groups after the stratification of lymph node disease in N3a and N3b. Factors that evaluate the biological behaviour of the disease remain excluded from this edition, such as extracapsular extension, which had a prognostic impact in our series.

Tailgut cyst adenocarcinoma

Tailgut cysts (TGCs) are rare congenital entities arising from remnants of the embryological postanal primitive gut. Malignancy in TGCs is rare, with the majority being adenocarcinomas and carcinoid tumors. A search of the published literature yielded only 27 cases of adenocarcinoma developing in TGCs. We described the case of a 54-year-old female who presented with complaints of pelvic and perineal pain of several weeks. After the initial work-up, a mass in the right presacral location was diagnosed. She underwent radical resection of the tumor, using a posterior approach. The lesion was removed en bloc with the middle rectum, coccyx, and sacrum (S4­S5). The histopathologic examination revealed an adenocarcinoma arising in a TGC, and the patient received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Our case underlines that diagnosing a TGC is difficult as it is a rare congenital lesion. Clinical examination may be challenging as TGCs present with various symptoms, which can mimic other commonly proctologic disorders. Patients should be referred to a tertiary center with experience in pelvic surgery and must be managed by a multidisciplinary approach to maximize successful treatment. The recommended treatment is surgical excision given the malignant potential of TGCs and their risk of causing local complications.

Tailgut cyst adenocarcinoma.

Tailgut cysts (TGCs) are rare congenital entities arising from remnants of the embryological postanal primitive gut. Malignancy in TGCs is rare, with the majority being adenocarcinomas and carcinoid tumors. A search of the published literature yielded only 27 cases of adenocarcinoma developing in TGCs. We described the case of a 54-year-old female who presented with complaints of pelvic and perineal pain of several weeks. After the initial work-up, a mass in the right presacral location was diagnosed. She underwent radical resection of the tumor, using a posterior approach. The lesion was removed en bloc with the middle rectum, coccyx, and sacrum (S4-S5). The histopathologic examination revealed an adenocarcinoma arising in a TGC, and the patient received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Our case underlines that diagnosing a TGC is difficult as it is a rare congenital lesion. Clinical examination may be challenging as TGCs present with various symptoms, which can mimic other commonly proctologic disorders. Patients should be referred to a tertiary center with experience in pelvic surgery and must be managed by a multidisciplinary approach to maximize successful treatment. The recommended treatment is surgical excision given the malignant potential of TGCs and their risk of causing local complications.

[Deep Venous Thrombosis as the First Manifestation of Hibernoma - Clinical Case]. / Trombose Venosa Profunda como Primeira Manifestação de Hibernoma - Caso Clínico.

We present a 36 year-old female patient with a popliteo-femoral deep vein thrombosis whose further workup revealed a thigh tumor later diagnosed as hibernoma. Hibernoma is a very rare benign tumor stemming from vestigial remnants of fetal brown adipose cells, usually disclosed as a slow and painless growing, mass. It is impossible to distinguish it on clinical grounds from the more aggressive and ominous liposarcoma.

Mulher de 36 anos referenciada à consulta de Cirurgia Vascular por trombose venosa profunda poplíteo-femoral a quem, no seguimento do estudo, foi detetada uma neoplasia da coxa depois diagnosticada como sendo um hibernoma. O hibernoma é um tumor muito raro, benigno, com origem em tecido embrionário remanescente adiposo castanho, com um crescimento lento e indolor.¹ As suas características tornam-no impossível de diferenciar de outra entidade mais agressiva denominada lipossarcoma.².