Irinotecan and temozolomide chemotherapy in paediatric and adult populations with relapsed Ewing Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Irinotecan and temozolomide (IT) is a widely used regimen for relapsed Ewing sarcoma (ES), although studies are largely limited to paediatric populations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed paediatric (< 18 years) and adult patients (≥ 18 years) treated with salvage IT at two institutions. Haematologic toxicities were graded according to common terminology criteria of adverse events. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the Log Rank test. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were treated with IT from Jan, 2010 to Dec, 2018 (n = 16 paediatric; n = 37 adult). IT was given as second-line (n = 34; 64%) or ≥ third-line (n = 19; 36%). There was no difference in ≥ grade 3/4 haematologic toxicity between paediatrics and adults (31% vs. 35% respectively; p = 0.76). The frequency of diarrhoea of any grade was similar (38% in each group). Of 43 patients assessable for response, 12 (28%) had objective response (1 CR, 11 PR), 12 (28%) stable disease and 19 (44%) disease progression. Objective response rate did not differ between the two groups (36% in paediatrics vs. 25% in adults; p = 0.47). Median PFS was superior in paediatrics vs. adults (7.4 vs. 2.2 months, p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Irinotecan and temozolomide (IT) chemotherapy has activity for relapsed ES, with favourable toxicity and equally observed objective responses in the paediatric and adult populations. The observed superior PFS for the paediatric cohort requires further confirmation in future studies.

[Initial results of perineal MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsies under local anesthesia without standard perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis]. / Etablierung der perinealen MRT­/Ultraschallfusionsbiopsien in Lokalanästhesie ohne standardmäßige, perioperative Antibiotikaprophylaxe.

The perineal approach for prostate biopsy (PB) is a sterile alternative to conventional transrectal PB. Targeted local anesthesia allows perineal prostate biopsy (pPB) to be performed without general anesthesia. This paper presents the first results after establishing perineal MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsy (pFB) under local anesthesia without standard perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. For this purpose, 144 patients were included in the study after pFB at the Vivantes Klinikum am Urban. No peri-interventional antibiotic prophylaxis was applied. Peri- and postoperatively, the pain sensation, measured using an analogue pain scale from 0-10, and complications were recorded. The median patient age was 68 and the median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value 7.07 ng/ml. In all, 49% of the patients received primary PB. The overall detection rate for prostate cancer (PCa) was 71% and for PI-RADS 3, 4 and 5 was 44, 71 and 92%, respectively. The median pain sensation during biopsy was 2. Furthermore, 63% of patients with a transrectal prebiopsy considered this to be more painful and another 20% expressed similar pain levels. Only 1 patient developed a febrile urinary tract infection. The pFB of the prostate under local anesthesia without antibiotic, perioperative prophylaxis is a suitable alternative to the transrectal PB with regard to the detection rate of PCa, the side effect profile and the subjective pain perception of the patients during the intervention.

Primary anterior shoulder dislocation and rotator cuff tears.

In a prospective controlled study 167 patients with 167 primary traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations underwent early ultrasonograpic evaluation for rotator cuff tears. We found 53 (31.7%) full-thickness cuff tears in this group. Compared with a group of 93 healthy volunteers, we found with statistical significance more cuff tears in the patients aged < 60 years. Women ruptured the cuff more often than men. If the patient is not able to elevate the affected arm more than 90 degrees in the scapular plane 2 weeks after the dislocation, there should be a high suspicion of rotator cuff tear (76.7%). For early detection of relevant rotator cuff lesions, we recommend shoulder ultrasonographic examination and measurement of active elevation after each traumatic shoulder dislocation in the above mentioned age group.