[Treatment effects and cost-effectiveness of interdisciplinary multimodal pain treatment of patients with back pain : A controlled observational intervention study based on claims data and survey data of participants]. / Behandlungs- und Kosteneffekte der interdisziplinären multimodalen Schmerztherapie bei Patienten mit Rückenschmerz : Eine kontrollierte, nicht-randomisierte Interventionsstudie mit GKV-Daten und Teilnehmerbefragung.

BACKGROUND: Persons insured by AOK Nordost statutory health insurance (SHI) and on sick leave underwent a 20-day program of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMST) following an initial assessment (IA). We evaluated its effectiveness regarding sick leave, utilization/costs of SHI services, and patient-reported characteristics of pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants with >14 days of IMST in 2013-2015 and with data necessary for comparison (intervention group, IG) were matched 1:1 in 2 steps. From AOK Nordost data, we identified a comparison group (CG) having characteristics matching exactly and by propensity score. Starting on the IA (IG) or a comparable reference day (CG), we analyzed utilization/costs of services related to back pain for 365 days. Participants' characteristics of pain were surveyed on the IA day and within 183-365 days. RESULTS: The 86 IG patients had on average 44.33 (median 12) days of sick leave less than the CG after their initial sick leave starting at the IA (significant, p <0.05). Fewer IG patients had ≥1 hospitalization (OR 0.33; 95%CI 0.12-0.88), ≥1 prescription of physiotherapy (OR 0.35; 95%CI 0.24-0.82), and ≥1 specialist visit (OR 0.39; 95%CI 0.10-0.52) related to back pain. More IG patients had "lasting absence of treatment" (OR 4.06; 95%CI 1.09-15.1). Follow-up interviews were available for 56 IG patients, showing less pain intensity, impairment by pain, and pain severity (significant). Regarding the SHI perspective, cost savings per patient nearly covered the IA and IMST costs. DISCUSSION: For a selected comparable population treated by protocol, IA and IMST was associated with reduction or "lasting absence" of treatment, pain relief, and major savings on sickness benefits. Other than in previous studies we found coverage of IA and IMST costs without consideration of productivity loss.

Patient satisfaction during radiation therapy. Correlates and patient suggestions.

BACKGROUND: Assessing patient satisfaction might help to detect so far unknown patient needs and could contribute to quality assurance within the health care system. We evaluated patient satisfaction and its correlates in a consecutive sample of patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patient satisfaction was evaluated within a prospective study with two validated instruments (FPZ, ZUF-8) during the first week of radiation therapy in two university-based radiation oncology departments. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients could be analyzed. Most patients were irradiated for breast or urogenital cancer. Overall patient satisfaction was high (94.9-98.8%). The most important items for patient satisfaction included the following: "skills of physicians" followed by "physician contact with patients," "care," and "information" (Tab. 2). Neither center nor disease entity correlated with global patient satisfaction. Of the patients, 46% reported that they would have preferred additional information prior to the onset of radiotherapy. Patients who sought additional information reported a lower global patient satisfaction (p < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, the need for more information, male gender, and a higher level of education were significant predictors for lower global patient satisfaction (Tab. 6). CONCLUSION: During the first week of radiation therapy, patients rate patient-physician interaction and communication on treatment and disease as important factors for their satisfaction. Supplying additional information to subsets of patients prior to starting radiotherapy might help to further improve satisfaction.

Routine psychosocial distress screening in radiotherapy: implementation and evaluation of a computerised procedure.

BACKGROUND: To implement distress screening in routine radiotherapy practice and to compare computerised and paper-and-pencil screening in terms of acceptability and utility. METHODS: We used the Stress Index RadioOncology (SIRO) for screening. In phase 1, 177 patients answered both a computerised and a paper version, and in phase 2, 273 patients filled out either the computerised or the paper assessment. Physicians received immediate feedback of the psycho-oncological results. Patients, nurses/radiographers (n=27) and physicians (n=15) evaluated the screening procedure. RESULTS: The agreement between the computerised and the paper assessment was high (intra-class correlation=0.92). Patients' satisfaction did not differ between the two administration modes. Nurses/radiographers rated the computerised assessment less time consuming (3.7 vs 18.5%), although the objective data did not reveal a difference in time demand. Physicians valued the psycho-oncological results as interesting and informative (46.7%). Patients and staff agreed that the distress screening did not lead to an increase in the discussion of psychosocial issues in clinician-patient encounters. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a distress screening was feasible and highly accepted, regardless of the administration mode. Communication trainings should be offered in order to increase the discussion of psychosocial topics in clinician-patient encounters.

Quality of life (QoL) as predictive mediator variable for survival in patients with intracerebral neoplasma during radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis for patients with malignant astrocytoma or brain metastases is often fatal despite intensive therapy. Therefore we wished to elucidate whether the quality of life (QoL) is a determinant of overall survival (OAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2000 153 patients with brain tumours were screened; 39 patients (26%) refused to participate and further 47 patients were excluded (cerebral impairment 14%, amaurosis/ language problems 3%, Karnofsky performance score < 50% 7%, death 8%, non-compliance 7%). Thus, 57 patients were analysed (33 with primary brain tumours, 24 with brain metastases). With the FACT-G questionnaire cancer-specific aspects of health-related QoL were assessed. RESULTS: Patients with metastases showed a lower QoL in the physical sphere than patients with astrocytoma, but there were no significant differences in OAS. Median survival of patients with good QoL was 31.3 months versus 14.2 months in patients with bad QoL. Only the two variables 'living with a spouse' and FACT-G sum score had a statistically significant influence on survival (p = 0.033 and p = 0.003) modelled by the Cox-PH regression. Patients who did not live with a spouse had shorter survival times than the other patients. CONCLUSION: Health-related QoL can serve to identify a patient group with higher risks of death.

Coping of cancer patients during and after radiotherapy--a follow-up of 2 years.

AIM: We wanted to understand coping strategies specific to different phases up to two years after radiotherapy, to identify patients who are at higher risk of mood disturbances and to characterise the association between coping strategies and psychosocial adaptation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, 2,169 patients with different diagnoses were screened (27.8% refused to participate). Data of 276 patients from the beginning of radiotherapy (ti1) and 5 follow-up investigations (ti6/2 years) could be analysed. With the FKV (Freiburg Questionnaire Coping with Disease) cancer-specific coping aspects were assessed. The association between coping styles and psychosocial adaptation was evaluated using the Questionnaire on Stress in Cancer Patients (QSC) and the questionnaire on Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment (FACT-G). RESULTS: 'Active problem-orientated' coping and 'distractions' are the most important coping strategies. Only 'active problem-orientated' and 'depressive' coping showed a significant decrease. We observed higher means on the scales of the FKV in women. Marital status (single, married, divorced/widowed) had a significant influence on active problem-orientated coping and spirituality. Age, children, education, T/M status and curative/ palliative intention of treatment had no influence on coping styles. Breast cancer patients and lymphoma patients demonstrated the highest use of coping strategies after radiotherapy with a significant decrease of 'active problem-orientated coping'. Depressive coping and minimizing importance at ti1 were associated with high psychosocial distress and low quality of life (QoL) at ti6. CONCLUSION: The correlation of coping mechanisms at the beginning of radiotherapy with low QoL and high psychosocial stress at 2 years could help to identify patients at risk for low psychosocial adaptation. Psycho-oncologically trained teams of physicians would best correspond to this profile of needs and would contribute significantly to an ameliorated adaptation of patients to cancer which could lead to higher life satisfaction.

[Disease specific stress of tumor patients at the beginning of radiotherapy. Effects on psychosocial support requirement]. / Krankheitsspezifische Belastungen von Tumorpatienten zu Beginn einer Strahlentherapie. Auswirkungen auf den psychosozialen Betreuungsbedarf.

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy brings a tumor patient into a special life situation in which different variables play a role of often unknown importance. The goal of this study was to investigate disease specific stress of tumor patients at the beginning of radiotherapy with established psychodiagnostic questionnaires and to evaluate the effect on psychosocial support requirement in order to reduce stress and to improve quality of life and compliance during radiotherapeutical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 732 patients were screened, of whom 446 (60.9%) fulfilled the criteria for inclusion (refusals 21.0%, low karnorsky performance status 6.6%, management problems 3.4%, language barriers 3.0%, cognitive restrictions 2.6%, death 2.5%). Disease specific aspects of stress in the questionnaire (Fragebogen zur Belastung von Krebspatienten, FBK), life situation (LS) and self-defined care requirements (BB) (Figure 1) were self-rated by patients with different tumor types before radiotherapy. Medical and sociodemographic data were also documented. We investigated 446 patients (262 male, 184 female; median age 60.0 years) with different diagnoses (Table 1). RESULTS: Stress was observed mainly due to reduction of efficiency, anxiety and pain on the subscales (Figure 2). Women had a significant higher stress on subscales of pain (p = 0.016) and anxiety (p = 0.009) (Table 2), patients younger than 45 years in the subscale information (p = 0.002) and patients older than 45 and younger than 60 years in the subscale anxiety (p = 0.002) and the total score (p = 0.003) (Table 3). Patients with mamma carcinoma had the highest the stress (Table 4). The maximum percentages of patients under high stress were found for the subscales of efficiency (43%) and anxiety (40%). The support requirement was characterized by the need of more medical information and dialogue with the doctor. We saw a significant correlation of high stress and high care requirement (Tables 5 and 6). CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial support should be founded on psychosocial stress diagnostic and self-defined care requirement.

Low-dose radiation is sufficient for the noninvolved extended-field treatment in favorable early-stage Hodgkin's disease: long-term results of a randomized trial of radiotherapy alone.

PURPOSE: To show that radiotherapy (RT) dose to the noninvolved extended field (EF) can be reduced without loss of efficacy in patients with early-stage Hodgkin's disease (HD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 1988 to 1994, pathologically staged patients with stage I or II disease who were without risk factors (large mediastinal mass, extranodal lesions, massive splenic disease, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or three or more involved areas) were recruited from various centers. All patients received 40 Gy total fractionated dose to the involved field areas but were randomly assigned to receive either 40 Gy (arm A) or 30 Gy (arm B) total fractionated dose for the clinically noninvolved EF. No chemotherapy was given. RT films were prospectively reviewed for protocol violations and recurrences retrospectively related to the applied RT. RESULTS: Of 382 recruited patients, 376 were eligible for randomized comparison, 190 in arm A and 186 in arm B. Complete remission was attained in 98% of patients in each arm. With a median follow-up of 86 months, 7-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were 78% (arm A) and 83% (arm B) (P =.093). The upper 95% confidence limit for the possible inferiority of arm B in RFS was 4%. Corresponding overall survival rates were 91% (arm A) and 96% (arm B) (P =.16). The most common causes of death (n = 27) were cardiorespiratory disease/pulmonary embolisms (seven), second malignancy (six), and HD (five). Protocol violation was associated with significantly poorer RFS. Nonirradiated nodes were involved in 42 of 52 reviewed relapses, infield areas in 18, marginal areas in 17, and extranodal sites in 16. CONCLUSION: EF-RT alone attains good survival rates in favorable early-stage HD. The 30-Gy dose is adequate for clinically noninvolved areas. Protocol violation worsens the subsequent prognosis. Relapse patterns suggest that systemic therapy can reduce the 20% long-term relapse rate.

Radiotherapy: Impact of Quality of Life and Need for Psychological Care: Results of a Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: In the framework of a prospective longitudinal study, the quality of life (QoL) and support requirements of patients from a university hospital department of radiotherapy were evaluated for the first time by means of established psychodiagnostic questionnaires. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At first, 732 patients were screened, of whom 446 (60.9%) fulfilled the criteria for inclusion; 39.1% did not (refusals 21.0%, low Karnofsky performance status 6.6%, management problems 3.4%, language barriers 3.0%, cognitive restrictions 2.6%, death 2.5%). Disease-specific aspects of QoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment - General, FACT-G) and moderating variables [Social Support Scale (SSS), Disease Coping (FKV), Self-Assessment Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-Defined Care Requirements (BB)] were self-rated by patients with different tumor types before radiotherapy (T1), after radiotherapy (T2), and 6 weeks after the end of radiotherapy (T3). We studied 265 patients (157 male, 108 female; median age 58.6 years) with complete data of three time points. RESULTS: In general, QoL of patients decreased significantly over all time points in all subscales. Social support was rated high and remained constant throughout the treatment. Apparent coping mechanisms were active problem-oriented coping, leisure activities, and self-support. The patients' depression proved to be an important and constant factor without significant changes. The support requirement is characterized by the need for more medical information and dialogue with a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Early specific support from personnel with radiotherapeutic skills, during the disease-coping process as well as during rehabilitation, should be a permanent component of an integrated radiooncological treatment schedule. Copyright 2000 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg

Randomized trial with early-stage Hodgkin's disease testing 30 Gy vs. 40 Gy extended field radiotherapy alone.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether or not a total dose (TD) of 30 Gy is sufficient for treatment of assumed subclinical Hodgkin's Disease compared to 40 Gy TD with early stage Hodgkin's Disease (ESHD). METHODS AND MATERIALS: In a prospective multicenter trial, 376 patients with laparotomy-proven ESHD stages PS IA to PS IIB without risk factors such as large mediastinum, massive splenic involvement, extranodal disease, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and/or three or more involved lymph node areas were randomly allocated either to receive (ARM A) 40 Gy TD extended field-radiotherapy (EF-RT) or (ARM B) 30 Gy TD EF-RT plus 10 Gy TD involved field-radiotherapy (IF-RT), both arms without any chemotherapy. Three hundred sixty-six of these patients were evaluable for early and long-term response, such as remission status, freedom from treatment failure (FFTF), and overall survival (OAS). For quality control, all planning and verification films as well as dose charts were prospectively reviewed by a panel of four experts, all heads of a radiotherapy department, where protocol violations (PV) were seen either with regard to errors in treatment technique, treatment volume, in TD and/or in dose/time-relationship. RESULTS: Treatment resulted in a complete remission (CR) of 98%; in a 5-year FFTF of 76%, and a 5-year OAS of 97%. There was no difference between the two arms in favor of 40 Gy EF compared to 30 Gy EF regarding FFTF and OAS, without any in field relapse throughout the EF volumes. Expectedly, 5-years FFTF was significantly influenced by the quality of radiotherapeutical procedures: 70% with protocol violations (PV) vs. 82% without PV. CONCLUSION: Subclinical involvement in ESHD without risk factors is sufficiently treated by a TD of 30 Gy without chemotherapy, leading to a 5-years FFTF of 82% and a 5-year OAS of 97% in a multicenter treatment setting, where quality assurance is mandatory.

[A comparative consideration of para-aortic fields within the framework of the German Hodgkin's Disease Study]. / Vergleichende Betrachtung von Paraaortalfeldern im Rahmen der Deutschen Hodgkin-Studie.

In 33 patients of the multicenter German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group the field borders of the paraaortic field were compared computer-assisted. It was seen that fields are chosen often too small or too large, though precise description of the fields is given in the protocol. In these patients the para-aortics were irradiated exclusively as extended field region. In addition to the above observation the clipping of the spleen pedicle provides the optimal help for correct positioning of this field. Overall a very low frequency of lymphatic clipping is observed, though clinical needs are obvious.

A skin MR-marker for radiation treatment planning.

After experiences with fluid filled tubes a gel fitted with an adhesive has been developed, to reproducibly markate treatment ports on the patient's skin. A gel is chosen, that hinders loss of the fluid and smoothly fits to the skin surface due to the adhesive. The clinical use of the gel hopefully will help with the use of NMR image information in radiotherapy treatment planning.

[Migration disorders of the brain--an evaluation of computed tomographic and magnetic resonance tomographic studies]. / Migrationsstörungen des Gehirns--eine Auswertung computertomographischer und kernspintomographischer Untersuchungen.

Twenty-eight patients with abnormalities of migration were examined with CT and MRI. Thirteen patients had heterotopia, ten patients had agyria/pachygyria, two with unilateral schizencephaly and three with hemimegalencephaly. MRI proved markedly superior because of its wider contrast range and its ability to obtain various imaging planes. The various conditions are described in detail.

[Intracranial calcification--how much more information can be obtained by MR than CT?]. / Intrakranielle Verkalkungen--welche Mehrinformation bietet das MR gegenüber dem CT?

Thirty-four patients known to have intracerebral calcification that had been demonstrated by CT, were also examined by MR to determine which modality would provide more information concerning the underlying pathology. There were seven patients with intra- or extracerebral intracranial calcification without any known cause, seven cavernous haemangiomas, six meningiomas, five oligodendrogliomas, one astrocytoma, one optic nerve glioma, one plexus papilloma, one pinealoma, one histologically unclassified tumour, one healed tuberculous meningitis, one old haematoma, one tuberous sclerosis and one case of basal ganglia calcification due to hypoxia. In 16 cases the two methods were of equal value, in four cases CT was more valuable than MR, but in 14 cases MR provided more information than CT. In cases of tumour calcification, MR was frequently more valuable than CT in demonstrating the tumour and its extent. It was also better in diagnosing vascular malformations and old bleedings. MR provided more information in tuberous sclerosis, but less in inflammatory lesions. MR was better than CT in excluding pathology in cases of isolated calcification.

[Detection of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis by nuclear magnetic resonance tomography in children]. / Kernspintomographischer Nachweis einer Osteomyelitis bzw. septischen Arthritis bei Kindern.

Suspected osteomyelitis or septic arthritis, respectively, is usually proven by means of clinical symptoms, laboratory data and microbiologic findings of blood cultures and joint fluids. In the early phase of the diseases conventional X-rays are not helpful. Imaging with isotopes is the most important procedure to describe localisation and extension of the inflammatory processes. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging as a newer method is capable to detect these inflammatory processes very early, precisely and without discomfort for the patient. In four children with osteomyelitis and in one infant with septic arthritis, respectively, we were able to confirm the clinical diagnosis in a very early phase of the disease. In the patient with septic arthritis nuclear magnetic resonance was the only imaging procedure successfully localising the inflammatory process. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging localises precisely inflammatory bone and joint diseases during the early stage of the disease.

The value of T1-weighted images in the differentiation between MS, white matter lesions, and subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (SAE).

The aim of the study was to define reliable criteria for the differentiation of MR imaging between patients with MS and with "vascular" white matter lesions/SAE. We examined 35 patients with proven MS according to the Poser criteria and 35 patients with other white matter lesions and/or SAE. The result is that with MR a differentiation can be achieved provided that T1-weighted spin-echo sequences are included and the different pattern of distribution is considered. MS plaques are predominantly located in the subependymal region, vascular white matter lesions are mainly located in the water-shed of the superficial middle cerebral branches and the deep perforating long medullary vessels in the centrum semiovale. Infratentorial lesions are more often seen in MS. Confluence at the lateral ventricles is frequently accompanied by confluent abnormalities around the third ventricle, Sylvian aqueduct, and fourth ventricle, which is uncommon in SAE. In MS many lesions visible on T2-weighted images have a cellular or intracellular composition that renders them visible also on T1-weighted ones as regions with low signal intensity and more or less distinct boundary. "Vascular" white matter lesions and SAE mainly represent demyelination and can therefore be seen on T2-weighted images, but corresponding low signal intensity lesions on T1-weighted images are uncommon. In some exceptions there are such lesions with low signal representing lacunar infarcts or widened Virchow-Robin-spaces.

[Differential diagnosis of focal kidney diseases using nuclear magnetic resonance tomography]. / Differentialdiagnose fokaler Nierenerkrankungen mit der Kernspintomographie.

The value of T1 and T2-weighted spin echo sequences for making a specific diagnosis of focal renal disease was evaluated in 105 MR examinations. Typically, hypernephromas are characterised by a reduced or only slightly increased T1 or T2 signal, whereas previous bleeding and long-standing abscesses result in increased signal strength, particularly with T2-weighted sequences. In this way, hypernephromas can be characterised; this is not always possible with CT. Angiomyolipomas also have characteristic signals. MR has no advantages in the diagnosis of recent bleeding, acute focal inflammatory lesions, metastases, carcinoma of the renal pelvis or atypical cysts.

[Magnetic resonance studies of sex, age and disease relations of iron deposits in the brain]. / MR-Untersuchungen zur Geschlechts-, Alters- und Krankheitsabhängigkeit der Eisenablagerungen im Gehirn.

Using a 1.5 Tesla super-conducting magnet T2 weighted images of the brain not seldom exhibit a reduced signal intensity in the region of the basal ganglia as an expression of increased iron deposits in these regions. We examined 180 patients (a control group, and groups of patients with vascular, inflammatory or tumorous disease of the brain) in order to answer the question whether the T2-relaxation times of the basal ganglia show a correlation to age, sex and the disease of the patient. We measured a significant decrease of the T2-relaxation times in women compared to men in the region of the basal ganglia. We observed increased T2-relaxation times in the region of basal ganglia with aging in the control group. We were able to show disease-specific alterations in the iron distributions in the region of the basal ganglia in patients with vascular and inflammatory disorders of the brain.

[Follow-up of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy of advanced bladder cancer using magnetic resonance tomography. Initial results]. / Verlaufskontrolle bei der kombinierten Strahlen- und Chemotherapie fortgeschrittener Harnblasenkarzinome mittels Kernspintomographie. Erste Ergebnisse.

A combination of cis-platinum and radiotherapy was applied in five patients with advanced bladder carcinomas. The patients were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging prior to and following therapy. Corresponding to cell-kinetic considerations regarding tissues with slow cell turnover, a maximum therapy effect is shown about nine months after the end of local therapy. Smaller control intervals are recommended in case of bladder carcinomas with lymph node metastases. Due to the possibility of multiple slice imaging, the nuclear magnetic resonance technique is particularly suited for the monitoring of bladder carcinomas. Sagittal and coronary slices show a better image of tumoral extension at the roof and floor of the bladder than axial computed tomography. Lymph node metastases are represented relatively late by both methods.

[Unusual size and growth rate of a hypernephroma]. / Ungewöhnliche Grösse und Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit eines Hypernephroms.

No reports have so far been published on hypernephroma sizes of more than 20 cm. We report on a histologically confirmed hypernephroma of an unusual size of almost 40 cm as identified both by CT and sonography that had developed within a period of three years.