Comparison of bone marrow trephine sample quality between a drill-powered system and a manual needle system.

CONTEXT: Bone marrow biopsy (BMB) is a common procedure in haematology used for the diagnosis and evaluation of response treatment. Because the procedure is difficult for haematologists to perform, patients often experience pain and stress. On Control, a system device, was introduced in the 2000s and uses a drill-powered needle to perform BMB. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the quality of BMB, based on the length of the trephine, the number of interosseous spaces and the interpretability of the examination, obtained from manual BMB vs. drill-powered BMB. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the patient's pain and anxiety, and the haematologist's perceived difficulty in performing BMB. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study conducted between June 2016 and June 2017 in the Henri Becquerel Cancer Centre in Rouen, France. RESULTS: A total of 439 patients were included in the study; the sex ratio (M:F) was 1.34 and 70.2% underwent a drill-powered BMB. A significant difference was observed concerning trephine length (14.30 ± 5.58 mm with the drill-powered system vs. 11.18 ± 4.43 mm with manual BMB, p < 0.0001) and the number of interosseous spaces (9.49 ± 5.35 vs. 7.93 ± 4.01, respectively, p = 0.01). The interpretability of the examination did not differ between the two procedures (p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: On Control, the drill-powered system for BMB, is widely distributed in North America and Europe, but this procedure is not yet generally applied. Although this procedure is costly, the ongoing development of this technique, because of its performance, is beneficial especially to obese patients.

Outcomes after intensive care unit admission in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients: A real-life study.

We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the prognostic factors impacting the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients undergoing first-line therapy and admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) compared to a control cohort who did not required ICU admission. Between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018, 828 patients were diagnosed with DLBCL at our institution, including 72 patients who were required ICU admission during disease course. Among them, forty-five patients undergoing homogeneous first-line therapy with /R-CHOP-like regimen and ICU-admitted were selected for the present analysis. Control "non-ICU" DLBCL patients were matched by age, IPI score and treatment received. The median age at ICU admission was 65 years, 97.8% of patients displayed advanced-stage disease (III/IV), and 84.4% had a high IPI score (3-5). The main reasons for ICU admission were acute respiratory failure (40.0%) and septic shock (33.3%). The ICU mortality rate was 33.3%. The 2-year PFS was lower in ICU survivors patients than in non-ICU patients: 31.7% (95% CI 18.5-54.1) vs 60.8% (95% CI 51.2-72.1, P = .00049). Admission to the ICU is an event that clearly impacts the outcomes of patients with DLBCL, until 2 years after the event. ICU prognosis seems mainly related to critical patient severity at admission rather than lymphoma-related prognostic factors (IPIs), suggesting that ICU admission criteria should not be based only on the lymphoma prognosis.

Radiotherapy boost in patients with hypoxic lesions identified by 18F-FMISO PET/CT in non-small-cell lung carcinoma: can we expect a better survival outcome without toxicity? [RTEP5 long-term follow-up].

PURPOSE: Chemoradiotherapy is the reference curative-intent treatment for nonresectable locally advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), with unsatisfactory survival, partially due to radiation resistance in hypoxic tissues. The objective was to update survival and toxicity at 3 years following radiotherapy boost to hypoxic tumours in NSCLC patients treated with curative-intent chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: This was an open-label, nonrandomized, multicentre, phase II clinical trial. 18F-Fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) PET/CT was used to determine the hypoxic profile of the patients. 18F-FMISO-positive patients and those without organ-at-risk constraints received a radiotherapy boost (70-84 Gy); the others received standard radiotherapy (66 Gy). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and safety were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were evaluated. OS and PFS rates at 3 years were 48.5% and 28.8%, respectively. The median OS in the 18F-FMISO-positive patients was 25.8 months and was not reached in the 18F-FMISO-negative patients (p = 0.01). A difference between the groups was also observed for PFS (12 months vs. 26.2 months, p = 0.048). In 18F-FMISO-positive patients, no difference was observed in OS in relation to dose, probably because of the small sample size (p = 0.30). However, the median OS seemed to be in favour of patients who received the radiotherapy boost (26.5 vs. 15.3 months, p = 0.71). In patients who received the radiotherapy boost, no significant late toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION: 18F-FMISO uptake in NSCLC patients is strongly associated with features indicating a poor prognosis. In 18F-FMISO-positive patients, the radiotherapy boost seemed to improve the OS by 11.2 months. A further clinical trial is needed to investigate the efficacy of a radiotherapy boost in patients with hypoxic tumours.

Effectiveness and Safety of Weekly Adalimumab for Non-Infectious Chronic Anterior Uveitis in Children.

PURPOSE: Non-infectious chronic anterior uveitis (CAU) remains a therapeutic challenge. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness and safety of weekly dosing of adalimumab in children with non-infectious refractory CAU. Methods: Demographic and clinical data of children followed by non-infectious CAU treated with adalimumab were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 42 children with CAU, 27/42 (64.3%) were treated with adalimumab. Escalation to weekly dosing of adalimumab was necessary for 11/27 children (40.7%). After 3 and 6 months, 7/11 children (63.6%) met the composite endpoint of inflammation control improvement. Children requiring weekly adalimumab had initially more severe uveitis: anterior chamber cells (p = 0.02), aqueous flare (p = 0.02), and presence of macular edema (p = 0.007). No children had serious systemic side effects. CONCLUSION: Weekly adalimumab in children with refractory CAU appears to be an effective and safe treatment for inflammation control and corticosteroid sparing, and an alternative before biologic switching. Controlled studies are needed.

Reproducibility of Baseline Tumour Metabolic Volume Measurements in Diffuse Large B-Cell LymphomA: Is There a Superior Method?

The metabolic tumour volume (MTV) is an independent prognostic indicator in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, its measurement is not standardised and is subject to wide variations depending on the method used. This study aimed to compare the reproducibility of MTV measurement as well as the thresholds obtained for each method and their prognostic values. The baseline MTV was measured in 239 consecutive patients treated at Henri Becquerel Centre by two blinded evaluators. Eight methods were compared: 3 absolute (SUV (standardised uptake value) ≥ 2.5; SUV≥ liver SUVmax; SUV≥ PERCIST SUV), 1 percentage SUV threshold method (SUV ≥ 41% SUVmax) and 4 adaptive methods (Daisne, Nestle, Fitting, Black). The intraclass correlation coefficients were excellent, from 0.91 to 0.96, for the absolute SUV methods, Black and Nestle methods, and good for 41% SUVmax, Fitting and Daisne methods (0.82 to 0.88), with a significantly lower variability with absolute methods compared to 41% SUVmax (p < 0.04). Thresholds were found to be specific to each segmentation method and ranged from 295 to 552 cm3. There was a strong correlation between the MTV and patient prognosis regardless of the segmentation method used (p = 0.001 for PFS and OS). The largest inter-observer cut-off variability was observed in the 41% SUVmax method, which resulted in more inter-observer disagreements in the classification of patients between high and low MTV groups. MTV measurements based on absolute SUV criteria were found to be significantly more reproducible than those based on 41% SUVmax criteria. The threshold was specific for each of eight segmentation methods, but all predicted prognosis.

Prognostic value of baseline metabolic tumour volume in advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic value of initial total metabolic tumour volume (TMTV) in a population of patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). We retrospectively included 179 patients with stage IIb-III-IV Hodgkin's disease who received BEACOPP or ABVD as the first-line treatment. The initial TMTV was determined using a semi-automatic method for each patient. We analysed its prognostic value in terms of 5-year progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and positron emission tomography (PET) response after two courses of chemotherapy. Considering all the treatments and using a threshold of 217 cm3, TMTV was predictive of 5-year PFS and PET response after two courses of chemotherapy. In multivariable analysis involving TMTV, IPI score, and the first treatment received, TMTV remained a baseline prognostic factor for 5-year PFS. In the subgroup of patients treated with BEACOPP with a threshold of 331 cm3, TMTV was predictive of PET response, but not 5-year PFS (p = 0.087). The combined analysis of TMTV and PET response enabled the individualisation of a subgroup of patients (low TMTV and complete response on PET) with a very low risk of recurrence. Baseline TMTV appears to be a useful independent prognostic factor for predicting relapse in advanced-stage HL in ABVD subgroup, with a tendency of survival curves separation in BEACOPP subgroup.

Prospective Evaluation of Sarcopenia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy or Radiochemotherapy.

Highlights: Sarcopenia is frequent in patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) or radiochemotherapy (RTCT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Sarcopenia is associated with poor disease-free survival and overall survival outcomes. Sarcopenia is not associated with a higher rate of treatment-related toxicity. Background: Sarcopenia occurs frequently with the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We aimed to assess the impact of sarcopenia on survival among HNSCC patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) or radiochemotherapy (RTCT). Methods: Patients treated between 2014 and 2018 by RT or RTCT with curative intent were prospectively included (NCT02900963). Optimal nutritional support follow-up, including weekly consultation with a dietician and an oncologist and daily weight monitoring, was performed. Sarcopenia was determined by measuring the skeletal muscles at the L3 vertebra on the planning CT scan for radiotherapy. For each treatment group (RT or RTCT), we assessed the prognostic value of sarcopenia for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) and its impact on treatment-related toxicity. Results: Two hundred forty-three HNSCC patients were included: 116 were treated by RT and 127 were treated by RTCT. Before radiotherapy, eight (3.3%) patients were considered malnourished according to albumin, whereas 88 (36.7%) patients were sarcopenic. Overall, sarcopenia was associated with OS and DFS in a multivariate analysis (HR 1.9 [1.1-3.25] and 1.7 [1.06-2.71], respectively). It was similar for patients treated with RT (HR 2.49 [1.26-4.9] for DFS and 2.24 [1.03-4.86] for OS), whereas for patients treated with RTCT sarcopenia was significantly associated with OS and DFS in univariate analysis only. Sarcopenia was not related to higher treatment-related toxicity. Conclusions: Pretherapeutic sarcopenia remains frequent and predicts OS and DFS for non-frail patients treated with curative intent and adequate nutritional support.

Socioenvironmental criteria and postoperative complications in ambulatory surgery in a French university hospital: a prospective cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory surgery lowers hospitalisation costs, shortens the time to return to work but requires caution regarding socioenvironmental risk factors for complications and rehospitalisation. METHODS: This was a single-centre prospective cross-sectional observational study conducted in a university hospital centrein January 2017. The primary objective was to assess the rate of conversion from ambulatory surgery to conventional hospitalisation or emergency department visit within 30 days following discharge from ambulatory unit. Secondary objectives were to describe the socioenvironmental characteristics of outpatients and to identify risk factors for severe postoperative complications. RESULTS: 598 outpatients were included. The most represented surgical specialties were ophthalmology (23.5%), gynaecology (19%) and orthopaedics (17.7%). Patients' mean age was 50.8 years (SD, 19.8) and the male/female sex ratio was 0.68. There were 22 (3.68%, 95% CI 2.32% to 5.52%) severe complications, including 11 (1.84%, 95% CI 0.92% to 3.27%) conversions to conventional hospitalisation and 11 (1.84%) conversions to emergency department visit, 3 of which led to readmission. Regarding socioenvironmental characteristics, 116 outpatients (19.7%) lived alone but were not isolated and 15 (2.6%) lived alone and were socially isolated. Following ambulatory surgery, 9 outpatients (1.6%) returned home on foot, 20 (3.4%) by public transportation and 8 (1.4%) drove home; 133 outpatients (13.7%) were alone the first night following surgery. Severe complication rates were not significantly different according to socioenvironmental subgroups. CONCLUSION: In our study, the prevalence of severe complications was low, conforming to the literature. The study was underpowered to estimate the effect of socioenvironmental variables.