[Elements of completeness and results of the first year of registration of the "Registre général des cancers de Lille et de sa région"]. / Éléments d'exhaustivité et résultats pour la première année d'enregistrement du Registre général des cancers de Lille et de sa région.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, following the first cancer plan of the national health authorities, a general cancer registry was established in northern France, in a territory designated as a "zone in proximity to the city of Lille" (ZPL). The aim of the present work was to evaluate the completeness of the registry's first year of incident cancer registration (2005) and to compare the observed cancer incidence in the "ZPL" with the estimated incidence in France. METHODS: Completeness was assessed using the average number of sources per case, the percentage of histological verification and a method of independent case ascertainment (mortality/incidence ratio). A direct standardization on the world population was used to calculate the ZPL/France ratios of standardized incidence rates. Analyses were conducted for 21 cancer sites. RESULTS: In 2005, 3635 cases of invasive cancer were recorded by the registry. The average number of sources per case was 2.7 and histological proof was available for 91.4% of cases. Mortality/incidence ratios showed satisfactory completeness of the data for men for most cancer sites. For women however, for cancer sites for which the number of cases was low, data will have to be confirmed during the subsequent years of observation. A lack of completeness was found for cutaneous melanoma. In men, an overincidence was identified for cancers of lip-mouth-pharynx, larynx, esophagus, lung, liver, bladder, kidney and colon-rectum. In women, an overincidence has been identified for cancers of lip-mouth-pharynx, liver, bladder, colon-rectum, corpus uteri and ovaries. CONCLUSION: The first year of incidence validated at the "Registre général des cancers de Lille et de sa région" shows a completeness of records with regards to studied criteria. The comparison with national data shows an overincidence of cancers related to tobacco and alcohol consumption in the geographical area covered by the registry. The incidence of lip-mouth-pharynx cancer in men is the highest of all French registries.

Cervical lymph nodes from an unknown primary tumor in 190 patients.

Over 10 years, 475 patients with isolated lateral neck masses were evaluated: 190 with lymph nodes from an unknown primary tumor (LNUP), 188 with neck lymphomas, 78 with benign tumors, 10 with sarcomas, and 9 with chemodectomas. This study focused on the patients with LNUP. Only 86 patients were treated with surgery (plus radiotherapy). Other patients were treated with radiotherapy (84) or chemotherapy (13) or had no treatment (7). For the overall population, failures in the neck occurred in 51% of the patients and distant metastases in 27%, while primary tumors appeared in 16%. Survival rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 27%, 19%, and 7%, respectively, for the overall population and 45%, 35%, and 19%, respectively, for the surgical group. The diagnosis and therapeutic approach had a direct effect on neck control; failure in the neck occurred in 7 of 47 patients (15%) when fine needle aspiration and radical neck dissection with radiotherapy were performed, in 5 of 12 patients (42%) when fine needle aspiration and modified neck dissection with radiotherapy were used, in 5 of 12 patients (42%) when adenectomy diagnosis and radiotherapy treatment were performed, and in 6 of 11 patients (54%) when diagnosis by incisional biopsy was performed prior to admission, despite subsequent radical neck dissection and radiotherapy treatment. In our opinion, panendoscopy and fine needle aspiration should be the first-line diagnostic approach. When cytologic diagnosis proves impossible, the second-line approach must consist of cervical exploration with frozen section examination and excisional biopsy, followed by immediate appropriate treatment. In cases of LNUP, radical neck dissection seems to be preferable.

Comparison of surgery and radiotherapy in T1 and T2 glottic carcinomas.

We retrospectively studied 356 patients who received treatment for T1 and T2 glottic carcinomas. Two hundred and thirty patients were treated with surgery (200 by cordectomy, 15 by vertical partial laryngectomy, and 15 by subtotal laryngectomy). Radiotherapy was used to treat 126 patients. There were 206 T1 and 24 T2 lesions in the surgically treated group and 107 T1 and 19 T2 lesions in the radiotherapy group. Sixty-four patients received radiotherapy because it was the treatment of choice (scheduled radiotherapy) and 62 patients received radiotherapy because they had medical contraindications for surgery (default radiotherapy). Actuarial survival rates at 5 years were 84% for patients who underwent surgery and 78% for patients who underwent scheduled radiotherapy. In the surgically treated group, there were 10 local recurrences in 170 patients with tumors of the true vocal cord, eight recurrences in 36 patients with anterior commissure lesions, and 6 recurrences in 24 patients with tumors extending to the arytenoid. In the scheduled radiotherapy group, there were 7 local recurrences in 38 patients with true vocal cord tumors, 6 recurrences in 20 patients with anterior commissure tumors, and 5 recurrences in 6 patients with tumors extending to the arytenoid. We conclude that survival is similar in these patients whether they receive operative treatment or scheduled radiotherapy. However, in the radiotherapy group, local recurrences were more frequent in patients with tumors extending to the arytenoid. We advocate extended functional surgery for patients with T1 and T2 glottic lesions except for those with small tumors arising from the middle third of the vocal cord.

Hypothyroidism following combined treatment for hypopharyngeal and laryngeal carcinoma.

The development of hypothyroidism following combined treatment for pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer has received little attention in the literature. We prospectively studied 32 patients over 4 years to determine the incidence of such hypothyroidism and to examine the effect of hemithyroidectomy associated with a combined treatment modality. All patients were men with pharyngeal or laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas and no prior history of thyroid disease. Treatment consisted of radical surgery (30 of 32 patients), followed by postoperative radiotherapy (31 patients). The results of thyroid function tests (free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) were all normal preoperatively; tests were repeated every 3 months after treatment. Elevation of TSH values in two successive blood samples was required to make a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Of 12 patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy as part of total pharyngolaryngectomy and postoperative radiotherapy, 7 became hypothyroid a mean of 6 months after treatment. Twenty patients had similar combined treatment but without thyroid resection. Hypothyroidism developed a mean of 10 months after treatment in only four patients in this group (p less than 0.05). We conclude that hypothyroidism frequently develops following combined treatment for pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer even when thyroid resection has not been performed. Patients should be evaluated postoperatively and carefully monitored by means of serial thyroid function tests.

Composite resection with mandibulectomy in the treatment of posterolateral oral cavity and lateral oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma.

From 1972 to 1987, 403 patients underwent a composite resection consisting of segmental mandibulectomy and neck dissection for the treatment of bucco-pharynx squamous cell carcinoma (303 patients had postoperative radiotherapy [XRT], 29 patients had preoperative XRT, and 100 patients had tissue salvage performed after XRT). Of the 303 patients who received preoperative XRT, 32 were clinically staged T2, 149 were staged T3, and 122 were staged T4; 194 of the 303 patients were staged N0. In the 100 patients who experienced relapse and who required "salvage surgery," the restaging found 20 patients staged T2, 39 staged T3, and 41 staged T4; 73 of the 100 patients were staged N0. The patients' mean postoperative stay was 15 days for those who had prior surgery and 21 days for those who had salvage surgery. With a minimum follow-up of 5 years, locoregional recurrences and postoperative death occurred in 86 of 274 patients (31%) in whom surgery and postoperative XRT were performed; in 17 of 29 patients (59%) who had preoperative XRT performed; and in 61 of 100 patients (61%) who had salvage surgery performed. In addition, in terms of functional results, only 61% of patients (206) were able to maintain normal speech function, and only 23% (91) were able to maintain normal oral feeding. Of the 403 patients, the 5-year survival rates were 33% for the overall population, 42% for patients with postoperative XRT, 16% for patients in whom operation was performed after preoperative XRT, and 17% for patients who underwent salvage surgery.

[Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract. Global study of 2418 cases]. / Les cancers des voies aérodigestives supérieures. Etude globale de 2418 dossiers.

The authors present the general results of a retrospective study on 2418 patients treated between 1976 and 1980. Primaries were located on buccopharynx in 51% of cases, pharyngolarynx in 45% and nasopharynx or nasal and paranasal cavities in 4%. Two out of 3 tumours were classified T3 T4 (UICC 1979) and 1 out of 2 patients presented with palpable cervical lymph nodes. Taking into account persistent diseases and recurrences, failure at primary sites occurred in 40% of patients, in the neck in 20%, distant metastases in 10%. Synchronous and/or metachronous cancers were observed in 1 out of 3 patients. Actuarial survival rates were 2/3 at 1 year, 1/3 at 3 years, 1/4 at 5 years and 1/7 at 8 years. Endolaryngeal tumours had the best prognosis while hypopharyngeal tumours had the worst prognosis.

[Hypopharyngeal cancer in the Northern region and Pas-de-Calais. Epidemiological factors]. / Cancers de l'hypopharynx dans la région Nord et Pas-de-Calais. Facteurs épidémiologiques.

Authors report results of two epidemiological studies concerning hypopharynx cancer. The first one is a part of the head and neck cancer registry of Northern France from 1984 to 1987. Hypopharynx tumors represent 18% of the 6019 registered tumors, 99% are squamous cell carcinoma; the annual european standardized incidence rate is 17.0 per 100,000 males and 0.5 per 100,000 females. The second one is a prospective study of 339 hypopharynx cancer patients: 1 out of 3 lives alone and 1 out 3 works at the moment of diagnosis. The average daily tobacco and alcohol consumption are 24 g and 128 g respectively, without any difference regarding professional exposures.

[Analysis of the factors influencing the internal reporting of nosocomial infections. A review of 108 notifications]. / Analyse des facteurs influençant la démarche de signalement interne d'infection nosocomiale. A propos de 108 signalements.

INTRODUCTION: Since July 26, 2001, the external reporting to the regional office of health and social affairs (Direction départementale des affaires sanitaires et sociales--Ddass) and the coordination centre (Comité de lutte contre les infections nosocomiales--Cclin) for the fight against nosocomial infections (NI) is mandatory. However, the modalities of internal reporting to the Clin are unknown. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of 108 cases of NI reported over 23 months in 4 medical-surgical departments (MSD) with 14 to 35 NI reported/MSD. The distribution of the bacteria responsible was compared with that of the local epidemiological state (chi2 test). A correlation analysis was performed between the number of NI reported in each MSD and the structural characteristics and activity index of these MSD (Spearmann's correlation test). RESULTS: The NI were predominantly infections related to a catheter (43), lower respiratory tract (25) and infection of the site of surgery (19). Ninety were documented biologically, among which 10 implied multi-resistant bacteria. Ninety-four NI were associated with the prescription of an antibiotic. Compared with the local epidemiological state, the NI reported generally implied multi-resistant bacteria (p=0.009). The other microbiological data had little implication. In each of the MSD, the number of cases reported was independent of: the global activity, the number of interventions, the mean duration of hospitalisation, the number of beds, the number of clinicians, the number of new patients managed and the chemotherapy outpatient activity. Conversely, there was a strong correlation between the global consumption of antibiotics (r=0.78), and the number of the Clin members in each MSD DMC (r=0.82). CONCLUSION: In each MSD, the internal reporting of NI relies on the discovery of multi-resistant bacteria, but above all on the implication of those involved in the fight against nosocomial infections.

[Carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract before age 40 (excluding children). Apropos of 100 cases]. / Les carcinomes des voies aérodigestives supérieures avant 40 ans (enfants exclus). A propos de 100 cas.

A series of 100 young adults with carcinoma of upper respiratory and digestive tracts; and examined successively, is reviewed. As in older adults, the oropharynx was the most frequent localization with, in contrast, fewer endolaryngeal tumors and more rhinopharyngeal cancers. Progression appeared to be more rapid in young adults and alcohol and smoking a more important factor than in the older age group. Overall prognosis in the older age group. Overall prognosis seemed somewhat better for these younger patients. Epidemiologic surveys would appear to be essential.

[Different modalities of the radiosurgical combination in the treatment of tumors of lateral buccopharyngeal junction]. / Les différentes modalités d'association radio-chirurgicale dans le traitement des tumerus de la jonction bucco-pharyngée latérale.

Results are presented of combined transmaxillary buccopharyngectomy-radiotherapy treatment of 290 tumors of lateral buccopharyngeal junction. Post-therapeutic course was uncomplicated but 8 postoperative deaths are reported. Secondary extension of tumor was noted in 109 patients and another cancer in 64. Actuarial survival at 3 years was 54%, at 5 years 39% and at 10 years 17%. Lingual and muscle extensions were the most difficult to control and first intention excision is therefore performed when bone invasion has occurred. In contrast, total dose radiotherapy should probably precede surgery for forms with lingual and/or muscle extension.

[Carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract in the female. Apropos of 132 cases]. / Les carcinomes des voies aérodigestives supérieures chez la femme. A propos de 132 cas.

A series of 132 female patients with carcinoma of upper respiratory and digestive tracts, and examined successively, is reviewed. The mean age of the group was sensibly higher than that of the group of male patients used as reference. Progressive stages of the disease were similar in the female and male groups. The must frequent localization was buccopharyngeal, naso-sinusal and nasopharyngeal lesions being observed more frequently than in men. Alcohol and smoking were perhaps less important factors in women. Overall prognosis was better in the female group. Detailed epidemiologic surveys involving. This population would appear to be essential.

[Mobile tongue cancer. Prognostic value of lymph node invasiveness. Apropos of 744 cases]. / Les cancers linguaux et pelvi-linguaux. Valeur pronostique de l'envahissement ganglionnaire. A propos de 744 cas.

Between 1974 and 1983, 744 carcinomas of the mobile tongue were treated at Centre Oscar Lambret. 54% of the tumours were T1 T2 and 66% N0 (84% for T1 T2 - 46% for T3 T4) (UICC, 1979). The 3 and 5 year survival rates were 47% and 35% for N0 patients versus 17% and 11% for patients with palpable cervical node. In 598 patients without a previous history of neoplasm, this cancer was isolated at first examination. The pronostic study was carried out only on this group. Palpable lymph node reduced the 5 year survival to one third by affecting the local and neck control and risk of distant metastases. 311 patients underwent at least an unilaterale neck dissection. The 5 years survival rate for N- group (68%) was double that of the N+ R- group (32%) which in turn was double that of the N+ R- group (14%). The presence of 3 or more positive nodes or one infra-omohyoid node divided the survival by 3 (22 and 20% respectively versus 68% for N- patients).

[Cervical adenopathies of unknown primary site. Apropos of 190 cases]. / Les adénopathies cervicales sans porte d'entrée. A propos de 190 cas.

From 1974 to 1983 a total of 190 patients with metastatic cervical adenopathy from an undetected epidermoid cancer were treated, this group representing 3% of total cervicofacial tumors seen. In half the cases the lymph node had evolved over more than 3 months and measured 6 cm or more. Prognosis was poor (27% survival at 3 years and 19% at 5 years). The presumed primary tumor was detected in 16% of cases and 27% of patients developed distant metastases, whereas the 86 patients treated by neck dissection and irradiation showed cervical evolution in only 23% of cases. The therapy proposed includes total radical neck dissection followed by pharyngeal and bilateral cervical irradiation, the value of chemotherapy remaining to be determined during controlled trials.

Interstitial brachytherapy and early tongue squamous cell carcinoma management.

The results of treatment of 341 previously untreated patients with early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the anterior two thirds of the tongue using iridium 192 implants (January 1974-December 1983) are presented. Furthermore, 265 patients underwent neck dissection, followed, in 102 cases, by radiotherapy. Incidence of local treatment complications was 19% (66 patients; however, only 3% (11 patients) needed more than a single medical treatment. Two months after completion of overall treatment, 326 patients (96%) were free of disease. Local failures occurred in 18% of cases; however, after successful salvage surgery this rate was reduced to 11%. Neck failures occurred in 18% of cases, but after successful salvage were reduced to 12%. Distant metastases were rare (1.5%), whereas metachronous cancers were frequent (102 patients). Survival rates were 61% (56% to 66%) at 3 years, 46% (41% to 51%) at 5 years, and 26% (23% to 34%) at 10 years. Deaths due to tongue cancer evolution (20%) equalled those due to metachronous cancers (18.5%) and intercurrent diseases (21%).

Epilarynx: pharynx or larynx?

BACKGROUND: As a general rule, epilarynx is studied as a part of supraglottis. On the contrary, in France, due to its particular natural history, it is often studied separately. METHODS: To assess the value of this French classification, we compared from an epidemiologic point of view, in one study, 86 cases of epilarynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with 431 oropharynx, 339 hypopharynx, and 89 vestibule SCC. In another study, we compared, from a clinical point of view, 232 epilarynx SCC with 1351 oropharynx, 652 hypopharynx, and 372 vestibule SCC. RESULTS: Epilarynx patients appeared to be much heavier drinkers than larynx patients and similar to pharynx patients but tobacco consumption did not differ. The patterns of nodal involvement were similar for pharynx and epilarynx SCC. For stages I and II, patterns of failures were similar, but for stages III and IV, there were fewer locoregional failures in vestibule patients; distant metastases were equally frequent for these tumors. From the standpoint of multiple primaries, epilarynx SCC appeared to be more akin to pharynx than to larynx SCC with a much lower incidence of lung cancers. Finally, the outcome after treatment was different for vestibule, epilarynx, and pharynx SCC, with a 5-year survival of 43%, 27%, and 13%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the identification of epilarynx as a real entity that should be taken into account for stratification in clinical trials.

Management of early oral cavity cancer. Experience of Centre Oscar Lambret.

From 1974 to 1983, 579 patients presenting with early oral cancer (excluding lip tumours) were treated at Centre Oscar Lambret. Of these, 429 were treated locally by brachytherapy with local control achieved in 82% of the cases (90% after salvage surgery). Treatment-related complications occurred in 19% of the cases, requiring surgical management in 13 patients. In contrast, only 51% of the 35 patients treated by external radiotherapy and brachytherapy were controlled, resulting in a poor 5-year survival (14%). Results for the 24 patients treated surgically were similar to those of brachytherapy alone. Finally, for T1 T2 N0 patients, the advantages of an elective neck dissection are not clear and could be clarified by a randomised trial. Indeed, this retrospective study failed to find a significant difference in the incidence of death due to an uncontrolled neck evolution whatever the neck management.

Nodal failures in patients with NO N+ oral squamous cell carcinoma without capsular rupture.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of postoperative irradiation of the neck after lymph node dissection in terms of prevention of cervical node recurrence (NR) has not been demonstrated in patients with NO squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective analysis comprises 826 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, all clinically NO. The primary tumor was treated by resection or brachytherapy. All patients underwent cervical dissection adapted to the site of the tumor. Fourty seven N+ patients with capsular rupture were excluded; 160 patients were N+ without capsular rupture (N+ CR-), and 619 were N-. Postoperative cervical irradiation was performed in 67 of 160 N+ CR- patients and in 49 of 619 N- patients. RESULTS: NR developed in 78 patients, associated with local recurrence in 33 cases and isolated in 45 cases. Twenty-six of the 45 cases of isolated NR occurred in the 619 N- patients (4%), and 19 occurred in the 160 N+ CR- patients (12%, p = .001). The 26 NR observed in the N- patients occurred in nonirradiated patients. Among the 19 NR observed in the N+ CR- patients, the incidence of recurrence was not significantly different between irradiated patients (6 NR of 67.9%) and nonirradiated patients (13 NR of 93, 14%). NR rates also did not differ according to the number of lymph nodes invaded nor according to the level of the positive nodes; 14 of 45 isolated NR occurred in a nondissected suprahyoid region. Of 779 patients, 255 (33%) subsequently developed a metachronous cancer; 153 upper respiratory and digestive tract tumors, 37 lung tumors, 33 esophageal tumors, and 32 other tumors. Isolated cervical failure was responsible for 40 deaths. CONCLUSION: The low NR rate in NO N+ CR- patients means that postoperative irradiation can be confined to N+ CR+ patients and, as a precautionary measure, to patients with more than 3 N+ CR-. Keeping irradiation in reserve allows the treatment of metachronous cancers, which are particularly frequent in these patients, in whom the 5-year survival rate is 54% in N+ CR- and 69% in N-.