The impact of ECG synchronization during acquisition of left­atrium computed tomography model on radiation dose and arrhythmia recurrence rate after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation - a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of ECG gating during computed tomography (CT) acquisition of left atrium (LA) model on radiation dose, image quality and ablation event-free survival rate after catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is not well defined. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were randomized for two types of LA CT (with vs without ECG gating) before CA. Pulmonary veins isolation was performed in all patients. Patients were followed for 12 months after CA. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in CA length (131.61±32.57 vs 119.84±33.18 min; p=0.108), CA fluoroscopy time (4.48±2.19 vs 3.89±1.83 min; p=0.251), CA fluoroscopy dose (3.99±2.79 vs 3.91 vs2.91 Gy*cm2; p=0.735), visual data quality (1.77±0.88 vs 2.0±0.63; p=0.102) and registration error (2.42±0.72 vs 2.43±0.46 mm; p=0.612). We found a significant difference in CT Dose index (89.55±5.99 vs 19.19±4.33 mGy; p<0.0001) and Dose Length product (1438.87±147.75 vs 328.21±73.83 mGy*cm; p<0.0001). Twelve months after CA, 25 of 31 patients in the gated group and 24 of 31 patients in the non-gated group were free of AF (80.65 vs 77.42 %; p=0.838). CONCLUSION: ECG gating of computed tomography of LA before AF ablation burdens patients with a four times higher radiation dose while improving neither the quality of CT model or fusion of CT with the electroanatomic map. As a result, it has no significant impact on arrhythmia recurrence rate after ablation (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 25).

Early diagnosis of osteoporosis using radiogrammetry and texture analysis from hand and wrist radiographs in Indian population.

We propose an automated low cost tool for early diagnosis of onset of osteoporosis using cortical radiogrammetry and cancellous texture analysis from hand and wrist radiographs. The trained classifier model gives a good performance accuracy in classifying between healthy and low bone mass subjects. INTRODUCTION: We propose a low cost automated diagnostic tool for early diagnosis of reduction in bone mass using cortical radiogrammetry and cancellous texture analysis of hand and wrist radiographs. Reduction in bone mass could lead to osteoporosis, a disease observed to be increasingly occurring at a younger age in recent times. Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), currently used in clinical practice, is expensive and available only in urban areas in India. Therefore, there is a need to develop a low cost diagnostic tool in order to facilitate large-scale screening of people for early diagnosis of osteoporosis at primary health centers. METHODS: Cortical radiogrammetry from third metacarpal bone shaft and cancellous texture analysis from distal radius are used to detect low bone mass. Cortical bone indices and cancellous features using Gray Level Run Length Matrices and Laws' masks are extracted. A neural network classifier is trained using these features to classify healthy subjects and subjects having low bone mass. RESULTS: In our pilot study, the proposed segmentation method shows 89.9 and 93.5% accuracy in detecting third metacarpal bone shaft and distal radius ROI, respectively. The trained classifier shows training accuracy of 94.3% and test accuracy of 88.5%. CONCLUSION: An automated diagnostic technique for early diagnosis of onset of osteoporosis is developed using cortical radiogrammetric measurements and cancellous texture analysis of hand and wrist radiographs. The work shows that a combination of cortical and cancellous features improves the diagnostic ability and is a promising low cost tool for early diagnosis of increased risk of osteoporosis.

Whole brain radiotherapy after stereotactic radiosurgery or surgical resection among patients with one to three brain metastases and favorable prognoses: a secondary analysis of EORTC 22952-26001.

BACKGROUND: The absence of a survival benefit for whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) among randomized trials has been attributed to a competing risk of death from extracranial disease. We re-analyzed EORTC 22952 to assess the impact of WBRT on survival for patients with controlled extracranial disease or favorable prognoses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We utilized Cox regression, landmark analysis, and the Kaplan-Meier method to evaluate the impact of WBRT on survival accounting for (i) extracranial progression as a time-dependent covariate in all patients and (ii) diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment (GPA) score in patients with primary non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). RESULTS: A total of 329 patients treated per-protocol were included for analysis with a median follow up of 26 months. One hundred and fifteen (35%) patients had no extracranial progression; 70 (21%) patients had progression <90 days, 65 (20%) between 90 and 180 days, and 79 (24%) patients >180 days from randomization. There was no difference in the model-based risk of death in the WBRT group before [hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI)=0.70 (0.45-1.11), P = 0.133), or after [HR (95% CI)=1.20 (0.89-1.61), P = 0.214] extracranial progression. Among 177 patients with NSCLC, 175 had data available for GPA calculation. There was no significant survival benefit to WBRT among NSCLC patients with favorable GPA scores [HR (95% CI)=1.10 (0.68-1.79)] or unfavorable GPA scores [HR (95% CI)=1.11 (0.71-1.76)]. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with limited extracranial disease and one to three brain metastases at enrollment, we found no significant survival benefit to WBRT among NSCLC patients with favorable GPA scores or patients with any histology and controlled extracranial disease status. This exploratory analysis of phase III data supports the practice of omitting WBRT for patients with limited brain metastases undergoing SRS and close surveillance. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER: NCT00002899.

[Computer-controlled high-precision radiation]. / Computergesteuerte Hochpräzisionsbestrahlung.

The irradiation of tumors in the brain is challenging due to the proximity of radiation sensitive critical structures and the tumors to be treated. In addition, irradiation above a certain level can cause irreversible damage to nerve tissue. The irradiation of benign and malignant brain tumors requires precise techniques to preserve critical structures while simultaneously administering a high radiation dose for maximum effectiveness. Therefore, stereotaxy, as a subspecialty of neurosurgery, has developed various irradiation techniques, e. g., intracerebral application of interstitial brachytherapy (SBT; stereotactic brachytherapy) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Due to the development of computer-controlled radiation techniques (e. g., Cyberknife) over the last 20 years, SRS has gained increasing importance.

Stereotactic brachytherapy using iodine 125 seeds for the treatment of primary and recurrent anaplastic glioma WHO° III.

The current study analyzed the outcome after stereotactic brachytherapy (SBT) using iodine-125 seeds in anaplastic astrocytoma, oligoastrocytoma or oligodendroglioma not suitable for resection. Out of 223 patients harbouring a malignant glioma treated according to a prospective protocol, 172 patients were selected who received SBT to treat a WHO grade III de-novo/residual tumor (n = 99) or a tumor recurrence after multimodal treatment (n = 73). We assessed progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), radiological and clinical outcome and determined prognostic factors using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. The median follow-up time was 38 months. Median OS and median PFS was 28.9 and 21.4 months in the de-novo group vs. 49.4 and 32.6 months in the recurrence group. Recurrent tumors had more frequently (p = 0.01) an oligodendroglial-component compared to de novo tumors. According to cohort-specific univariate analyses KPS at SBT had a significant (p = 0.008) impact on OS in the de-novo group. In the recurrence group, (Cox regression analysis) OS was significantly associated with histology subtype (oligoastro-/oligodendroglioma vs. astrocytoma, p = 0.043). Transient and permanent morbidity (~1 %) was low. For patients unable to undergo surgery due to eloquent tumour location or reduced general condition SBT is an effective treatment option, which does not foreclose additional therapeutic interventions.

[Postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH), prevalence, diagnosis and management]. / Krvácení po pankreatektomii (PPH), prevalence, diagnostika a resení.

INTRODUCTION: Postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (PPH) is considered to be the most severe specific postoperative complication following pancreatic resections and its treatment is difficult and requires coordinated interdisciplinary collaboration. PPH causes 11-38% of all post-pancreatectomy deaths. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of PPH in a set of patients operated on within the last 10 years, and to analyze the diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and the outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing pancreatic resections between 2006 and 2015. Clinically relevant PPH (types B and C) were the subject of interest. The onset, location and severity of PPH were analysed. Other factors analysed included operation diagnosis of PPH, diagnostic methods along with signs of sentinel bleeding, treatment options undertaken including the number of transfusions. 30-day, 90-day and in-hospital mortality, as well as the length of hospital stay and readmission rate were calculated. A descriptive statistical method was used. RESULTS: A total of 449 patients were operated on. Pancreatoduodenectomy (DPE) or pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) was done in 76.4%, left sided pancreatectomy (LPE) in 19.8% and total pancreatectomy (TPE) in 3.8%. 190 of the patients (42.3%) were women and 259 (57.7%) men, with the mean age of 61.5±11.1 years. A total of 23 (5.1%) PPH cases were identified, 21 (4.7%) were clinically relevant. Eight patients (35%) developed early PPH with direct reoperation, late PPH was seen in 14 patients after DPE and in one after LPE. Sentinel bleeding was present in 53.3% of late PPH cases. CT/CTA was performed in four patients with subsequent DSA performed in three. DSA identified a gastroduodenal artery stump pseudoaneurysm in one patient, which was resolved using a stent. Surgical intervention for late PPH was required in 10 patients in total, six of whom needed direct surgery due to the rapid development of circulatory instability and 3 due to inconclusive radiological management. One patient needed surgical drainage of both an abscess and haematoma. In two patients the origin of bleeding was due to a gastric ulcer, which was proven and solved endoscopically and 2 patients required conservative treatment only. The specific mortality for PPH was 17.4%. In the group of patients that suffered with any PPH following DPE and PPDPE the mortality rate was 22.2%, and 28.6% for late PPH. If late PPH developed coincidentally with postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF), the mortality was 44%. In the early PPH group, an average of 10.1±2.5 transfusion units (TUs) were used with an average length of hospital stay 17.5±4.8 days and zero mortality in comparison to an average of 11.7±10 TUs and 29.9±14.6 days in hospital and 26.6% mortality in the late PPH group. CONCLUSION: PPH is a severe complication, which has a high mortality rate. It also often coincidentally develops with POPFs. Early clinical diagnosis with identification of its cause plays a key role in management. The use of interventional radiology in the treatment of PPH has begun to dominate other treatment modalities due to a very high success rate, and close collaboration with interventional radiologists is necessary in order to reduce the rate of surgical intervention required in PPH. KEY WORDS: haemorrhage - pancreas - resection - complications - mortality.

Endovascular treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion: time to treatment is crucial.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of multimodal endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO), including bridging therapy [intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with subsequent EVT], to compare particular EVT techniques and identify predictors of clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, multi-centre study comprised 72 acute ischaemic stroke patients (51 males; mean age 59.1 ± 13.3 years) with radiologically confirmed BAO. The following data were collected: baseline characteristics, risk factors, pre-event antithrombotic treatment, neurological deficit at time of treatment, localization of occlusion, time to therapy, recanalization rate, post-treatment imaging findings. Thirty- and 90-day outcomes were evaluated using the modified Rankin scale with a good clinical outcome defined as 0-3 points. RESULTS: Successful recanalization was achieved in 94.4% patients. Stepwise binary logistic regression analysis identified the presence of arterial hypertension (OR = 0.073 and OR = 0.067, respectively), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at the time of treatment (OR = 0,829 and OR = 0.864, respectively), and time to treatment (OR = 0.556 and OR = 0.502, respectively) as significant independent predictors of 30- and 90-day clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Data from this multicentre study showed that multimodal EVT was an effective recanalization method in acute BAO. Bridging therapy shortens the time to treatment, which was identified as the only modifiable outcome predictor.

[Comparison between femoropopliteal bypass and subintimal recanalization in the treatment of critical limb ischaemia]. / Srovnání chirurgického bypassu a subintimální rekanalizace v lécbe kritické koncetinové ischemie.

INTRODUCTION: Revascularization of occlusion of the femoropopliteal region in patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI) may be performed following the standard surgical approach using bypass with the saphenous vein graft (FP bypass). Unfortunately, up to 40% of these patients do not have a suitable saphenous vein. In these patients, revascularization may be performed surgically using bypass with prosthesis, allograft vein or by interventional radiological methods. An endovascular alternative is represented by subintimal recanalization (SIR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our prospective analysis evaluated mid-term results of revascularization using FP bypass or SIR in patients with occlusion of the femoropopliteal region and CLI. Our aim was to answer the question whether SIR can fully replace FP bypass in certain indications. From January 2010 to December 2012, 59 revascularizations of the CLI (Rutherford 5-6) with comparable SFA occlusion were performed. We monitored the immediate postoperative course, technical and clinical success and the process of healing of the defect. RESULTS: Healing of the defect was achieved in 78.6% of patients with FP bypass using the saphenous vein, in 62.5% of patients with FP bypass using prosthesis and in 64.9% of patients with SIR (P=0.578). When comparing the bypass group, which was subdivided into a group with revascularization using autologous vein and a group with revascularization using ePTFE prosthesis, with the SIR group, primary patency was evaluated. The results for vein 78.0% after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, for prosthesis 74.5%, 55%, 55% after 6, 12 and 24 months, and for the SIR group 78%, 60%, 51.3% and 50.7% after 6,12,24 and 36 months. When comparing the results of the groups, no statistically significant difference was found (P =0.625). CONCLUSION: As expected, the most successful method of choice is revascularization by FPB using the saphenous vein. SIR and FP bypass using prosthesis had similar results with respect to healing of the defects.

Endocrine and visual function after fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of perioptic tumors.

PURPOSE: To find out whether the use of stereotactic techniques for fractionated radiotherapy reduces toxicity to the endocrine and visual system in patients with benign perioptic tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1993 to 2009, 29 patients were treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. The most frequent tumor types were grade I meningioma (n = 11) and pituitary adenoma (n = 10, 7 nonfunctioning, 3 growth hormone-producing). Patients were immobilized with the GTC frame (Radionics, USA) and the planning target volume (PTV; median 24.7, 4.6-58.6 ml) was irradiated with a total dose of 52.2 Gy (range, 45.0-55.8 Gy) in 1.8-Gy fractions using a linear accelerator (6 MeV photons) equipped with a micro-multileaf collimator. Maximum doses to the optic system and pituitary gland were 53.4 Gy (range, 11.5-57.6 Gy) and 53.6 Gy (range, 12.0-57.9 Gy). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 45 months (range, 10-105 months). Local control was achieved in all but 1 patient (actuarial rate 92% at 5 years and 10 years). In 9 of 29 patients (31%), partial remission was observed (actuarial response rate 40% at 5 years and 10 years). In 4 of 26 patients (15%) with at least partial pituitary function, new hormonal deficits developed (actuarial rate 21% at 5 years and 10 years). This rate was significantly higher in patients treated for a larger PTV (< /> 25 ml: 0% vs. 42% at 5 years and 10 years, p = 0.028). Visual function improved in 4 of 15 patients (27%) who had prior impairment. None of the patients developed treatment-related optic neuropathy, but 2 patients experienced new disease-related visual deficits. CONCLUSION: Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for benign tumors of the perioptic and sellar region results in satisfactory response and local control rates and does not affect the visual system. The assumption that patients can be spared hypophyseal insufficiency only holds for small tumors.

Radiotherapy in pediatric pilocytic astrocytomas. A subgroup analysis within the prospective multicenter study HIT-LGG 1996 by the German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (GPOH).

PURPOSE: We evaluated clinical outcomes in the subset of patients who underwent radiotherapy (RT) due to progressive pilocytic astrocytoma within the Multicenter Treatment Study for Children and Adolescents with a Low Grade Glioma HIT-LGG 1996. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligibility criteria were fulfilled by 117 patients. Most tumors (65 %) were located in the supratentorial midline, followed by the posterior fossa (26.5 %) and the cerebral hemispheres (8.5 %). Median age at the start of RT was 9.2 years (range 0.7-17.4 years). In 75 cases, external fractionated radiotherapy (EFRT) was administered either as first-line nonsurgical treatment (n = 58) or after progression following primary chemotherapy (n = 17). The median normalized total dose was 54 Gy. Stereotactic brachytherapy (SBT) was used in 42 selected cases. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 8.4 years, 4 patients (3.4 %) died and 33 (27.4 %) experienced disease progression. The 10-year overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 97 and 70 %, respectively. No impact of the RT technique applied (EFRT versus SBT) on progression was observed. The 5-year PFS was 76 ± 5 % after EFRT and 65 ± 8 % after SBT. Disease progression after EFRT was not influenced by gender, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) status, tumor location (hemispheres versus supratentorial midline versus posterior fossa), age or prior chemotherapy. Normalized total EFRT doses of more than 50.4 Gy did not improve PFS rates. CONCLUSION: EFRT plays an integral role in the treatment of pediatric pilocytic astrocytoma and is characterized by excellent tumor control. A reduction of the normalized total dose from 54 to 50.4 Gy appears to be feasible without jeopardizing tumor control. SBT is an effective treatment alternative.

Comparison of semi-quantitative and visual assessment of early MRI signal evolution in acute ischaemic stroke.

Background: The evaluation of DWI/FLAIR mismatch in ischaemic stroke patients with unknown, time from onset can determine the treatment strategy. This approach is based on, visual assessment and may be subject to insufficient inter-rater agreement. Objective: To compare the inter-rater agreement of visual evaluation of FLAIR MRI and proposed region of interest (ROI) semiquantitative method in large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes. Methods: Five readers have analysed MRIs of 104 patients obtained within six hours of the onset of stroke symptoms resulting from LVO visually and semi-quantitatively. For the semiquantitative analysis, a ROI method was used to obtain relative signal intensity compared to the unaffected side. Cut-off values of 1.15 and 1.10 were tested. The analysis yielded FLAIR-positive (abnormal) and negative (normal) findings. Percentage agreement and Fleiss kappa coefficients were calculated. Results: The visual agreement of 5/5 readers and ≥ 4/5 readers occurred in 31% and 59% of cases respectively. Semi-quantitative evaluation using a cut-off value of 1.15 increased the agreements to 67% and 88% respectively. The agreement of visual evaluation was fair. The semi-quantitative method utilising the cut-off of 1.15 had moderate agreement although it increased the number of FLAIR-negative results compared to the visual evaluation. A low cut-off value of 1.10 didn't improve the agreement significantly. Conclusion: The inter-rater agreement of visual evaluation of FLAIR in patients with short-duration large vessel occlusion stroke was fair. The high cut-off value of semiquantitative evaluation increased the agreement although it changed the proportion of FLAIR positive and negative results.

Radiotherapy in elderly patients with inoperable esophageal cancer. Is there a benefit?

BACKGROUND: Radiation oncologists increasingly face elderly cancer patients impaired by comorbidities and reduced performance status. As less data are available for this particular group of patients, the aim of the study was to assess the prognosis of inoperable esophageal cancer patients ≥ 70 years undergoing definitive radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. PATIENTS AND TREATMENT PROTOCOL: Patients aged ≥ 70 with inoperable carcinoma of the esophagus undergoing definitive radio(chemo)therapy between 1995 and 2006 at the University of Cologne were included retrospectively. Maximal total dose of radiotherapy administered was 63 Gy (5 × 1.8 Gy/week). Chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 and days 29-33) and 5-fluorouracil (650-1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 and days 29-33). Efficacy was compared with a cohort of 152 patients < 70 years treated with the same protocol during the same time period. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients aged ≥ 70 with inoperable cancer of the esophagus undergoing definitive therapy were identified (stage I/II 23.5%, stage III 56.9%, stage IV 9.8%; squamous cell carcinoma 74.5%, adenocarcinoma 25.5%). While 15 patients (29.4%) received combined radiochemotherapy (RCT), 40 patients (70.6%) were treated with radiotherapy alone (RT). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.5 months; median overall survival (OS) was 13.9 months. Patients treated with RCT had a 2-year OS rate of 53.3% compared with 16.7% for RT patients (p = 0.039). The 2-year OS for clinically lymph node negative patients was 38.5% compared with 21.2% for lymph node positive patients (p = 0.072). Median OS was not significantly different between patients ≥ 70 years versus the patient cohort (n = 152) aged < 70 years (13.9 vs. 7.2 months, p = 0.072) but PFS showed a significant difference (4.9 vs. 9.5 months, p = 0.026) in favor of the > 70 years group. CONCLUSION: Prognosis in elderly patients with inoperable esophageal cancer undergoing definitive radiotherapy/radiochemotherapy is limited, although it is not inferior to patients < 70 years.

LINAC-radiosurgery for nonsecreting pituitary adenomas. Long-term results.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stereotactic linear accelerator-based radiosurgery (LINAC-RS) is increasingly used for microsurgically inaccessible or recurrent pituitary adenomas. This single-center study evaluates the long-term follow-up after LINAC-RS of nonsecreting pituitary adenomas (NSA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and August 2008, 65 patients with NSA were treated. Patient treatment and follow-up were conducted according to a prospective protocol. Indications for LINAC-RS were (1) tumor recurrence or (2) residual tumor. Three patients were treated primarily. For analysis of prognostic factors, patients were grouped according to epidemiological or treatment-associated characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients with a follow-up ≥ 12 months (median 83 months, range 15-186 months, longest follow-up of published radiosurgery series) were evaluated with regard to their clinical, radiological, and endocrinological course. The median tumor volume was 3.5 ml (± 4.3 ml, range 0.3-17.3 ml) treated with a median surface and maximum dose of 13.0 Gy and 29.7 Gy, respectively. Local tumor control was achieved in 98%. One patient died of unrelated cause after 36 months and 1 patient developed a radiation-induced seizure disorder. Visual complications did not occur. In 37 of 41 patients (90.2%), pituitary function remained stable. Maximum dose to the pituitary ≤ 16 Gy and female gender were positive prognostic factors for the preservation of pituitary function. CONCLUSION: LINAC-RS is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment for recurrent NSA or microsurgically inaccessible residual tumor. LINAC-RS yielded a high rate of local long-term tumor control with a small number of radiation-induced side effects.

Prognostic factors in definitive radiochemotherapy of advanced inoperable esophageal cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and prognostic factors of definitive radiochemotherapy (RCT) for inoperable esophageal cancer. Between 1995 and 2005 all patients with inoperable esophageal cancer that underwent concurrent RCT were included in this retrospective study. Conventional computed tomography-based treatment planning as well as 3D-conformal radiotherapy (RT) was used. Maximum radiotherapy dose was 63 Gy. Chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) d1-5 and 29-33) and 5-FU (650-1000 mg/m(2) d1-5 and 29-33). Patients not suitable for RCT received radiotherapy alone. Toxicity was measured according to common toxicity criteria (CTC). Two hundred three consecutive patients with inoperable esophageal cancer that received definitive therapy were identified in this time period (160 with squamous cell carcinoma and 43 with adenocarcinoma). The 2-year overall survival probability was 21.2% whereas the progression-free survival at 2 years was 13.8% for all patients. In the univariate analysis, type of histology, T-stage, N-stage, application of chemotherapy, and the radiation dose were significantly correlated with overall/progression-free survival. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed an independent prognostic impact for N-stage, radiation dose, and concurrent chemotherapy. Definitive RCT is an important palliative treatment option for patients with inoperable esophageal cancer. N-stage, radiation dose, and concurrent chemotherapy are important prognostic factors for survival.

Hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Limited data are available regarding the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the results of HAI of oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with such metastases. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 22 CRC patients treated with HAI of combination of oxaliplatin and 5-FU and LV was performed. RESULTS: Partial response (PR) was observed in 4 (18%) patients and stable disease (SD) in 7, with an overall disease control rate of 50%. The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7 and 11 months, respectively. Two patients treated with first-line treatment underwent subsequent liver resection. In 2 patients, HAI of oxaliplatin, 5-FU and LV was combined with systemic administration of bevacizumab. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate reasonable efficacy of HAI with oxaliplatin, 5-FU and LV in patients with liver metastases from CRC.

Validity and comprehensibility of the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation form in Children.

The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form is a knee-specific measure developed for adults. Its usefulness in children is not established. This study describes how children interpret IKDC items, identifies sources of response errors, and provides suggestions for modification. Cognitive interviews were conducted in 30 children with a primary knee injury, purposefully sampled based on age and gender. Most children could not recall their injury date or symptoms 4 weeks after injury. All reported problems interpreting directions; half noted item timeframes were unclear and did not realize all questions pertained to their injured knee. Seventy percent read only the first half of a question, missing subtle differences between items. Children had difficulty comprehending the following concepts: strenuous/moderate activity, pivoting, locking, giving way, significant pain/swelling, and knee catching. Examples to describe activity levels either did not apply (e.g. housework) or were ranked differently by children. Younger children had difficulty using five-point responses. The two most difficult items were assessment of current and prior function. Children found the IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation Form difficult to comprehend and to answer. Modifications to directions, item formatting, and definitions are needed to ensure comprehensibility and validity.

[Hybrid procedures in the treatment of type IV and V thoracoabdominal aneurysms]. / Hybridní výkony v lébe torakoabdominálních výdutí typu IV, V.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience with hybrid endovascular and open surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2008 8 patients with thoracoabdominal aneurysm (6 Crawford type IV and 2 type V) from the total of 257 aortic aneurysms with elective endovascular repair were treated using hybrid procedure. A retrograde revascularisation of visceral and renal arteries through the open access and endovascular exclusion of aneurysms using a stent-graft were done. RESULTS: A primar technical success of the hybrid procedure was in all cases. There was no severe ischaemia of visceral organs, kidneys (no need of haemodialysis) or spinal cord (paraplegia). One patient died on an acute pancreatitis 14 postperative day. Further follow up (in range 16-52 months) showed henceforth a successful exclusion of all the aneurysms without evidence of endoleak and patency of all bypasses with a good function of revascularised organs. CONCLUSION: Owing to minimal haemodynamic load and technical simplicity with a short time of organ ischaemia hybrid procedure represents an acceptable possibility of type IV and V thoracoabdominal aneurysms repair.

[Iatrogenic bile ducts injuries]. / Iatrogenní poranení zlucových cest.

AIM: To evaluate therapeutic options and outcomes of repair of iatrogenic bile duct injuries during cholecystectomy, which were solved in our institution over the past five years. The incidence of this injury is stated in the range of 0-0.4% for open cholecystectomy and 0-0.7% for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Authors present a group of ten patients who were operated on for iatrogenic bile duct injury incurred during cholecystectomy in 2005-2009. All patiens were refered from other hospitals. Three men and seven women aged 20-71 years. The bile duct injury occured twice during open procedure and during laparoscopic procedure in eight. Incomplete lesion was idenified in one case, complete lesions with tissue loss were found in nine patients. Right hepatic artery injuries were found in four patients with tissue loss injury. Nine patients required reconstruction of the biliary tract using hepaticojejunoanastomosis with Roux-Y loop. RESULTS: The bile leak occurred in two patients after reconstruction. In one patient was required early percutaneous transhepatic drainage. The early death occurred in a patient with a complicated course, where our reconstruction of the biliary tract was already in the field of advanced biliary peritonitis as a third operation during 7 days. All other patients are monitored postoperatively at regular intervals in our clinic. They carried out clinical examinations and monitoring of liver enzymes. In the long interval from reconstruction (6-12 months) anastomotic stenosis occurred in three patients. Postoperative radiological intervention in the form of dilation of anastomosis and prolonged transient transanastomotic drainage was necessary (the duration of drainage was 6-7 months). CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic bile duct injury is a serious condition threatening the patient's life from the progressive failure of liver function on the basis of secondary biliary cirrhosis. Due to the nature of lesions arising from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (loss tissue injuries, thermal damage to surrounding structures, the hepatic artery injuries) reconstructions are extremely difficult. For most patients reconstructive operations are the last possible surgical procedures in this area, except for liver transplantation. Hilar reconstructions have a higher probability of stenosis of the anastomosis. If they occur, there are repeated cholangitis, which pass into the secondary sclerosing cholangitis and cause secondary biliary cirrhosis, with all the consequences of disease (portal hypertension, bleeding esophageal varices). For these reasons, it is necessary for careful long-term postoperative monitoring of liver function and good interdisciplinary cooperation, especially with the intervention radiologist in management postoperatively evolving stenosis of anastomoses. It is necessary for the early identification and indication of radiological interventions in order to prevent damage to the liver parenchyma.

A phase III trial of topotecan and whole brain radiation therapy for patients with CNS-metastases due to lung cancer.

Brain metastases represent an important cause of morbidity in patients with lung cancer and are associated with a mean survival of less than 6 months. Thus, new regimens improving the outcome of these patients are urgently needed. On the basis of promising data raised in a phase I/II trial, we initiated an open, randomised, prospective, multicentric phase III trial, comparing whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT; 20 x 2 Gy) alone with WBRT+topotecan (RCT; 0.4 mg m(-2) day(-1) x 20). A total of 320 patients with CNS-metastases due to SCLC or NSCLC were projected. The primary end point was overall survival, whereas second end points were local response and progression-free survival. However, until the cutoff date of study completion (i.e., a study duration of 34 months), only a total of 96 (RCT:47, WBRT:49) patients had been recruited, and so an analysis was performed at that time point. Although the numbers of grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicities (besides alopecia 115 (RCT/WBRT: 55 out of 60) were evenly distributed, the 25 haematological events occurred mainly in the combined treatment arm (24 out of 1). Local response, evaluated 2 weeks after treatment, was assessable in 44 (RCT/WBRT: 23 out of 21) patients, showing CR in eight (3 out of 5), PR in 17 (11 out of 6), SD in 14 (8 out of 6) and PD in five (1 out of 4) patients (all differences n.s.). Neither OAS (RCT/WBRT: median (days)): 87 out of 95, range 3-752/4-433; HR 1.32; 95% CI (0.83; 2.10)) nor PFS (median (days)): 71 out of 66, range, 3-399/4-228; HR 1.28, 95% CI (0.73; 2.43) differed significantly. On the basis of these results and the slow recruitment, a continuation of the study did not seem reasonable. The available data show no significant advantage for concurrent radiochemotherapy for patients with lung cancer; however, the recruited number of patients is too low to exhibit a small advantage of combined treatment.

Histological type of esophageal cancer might affect response to neo-adjuvant radiochemotherapy and subsequent prognosis.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates response and prognosis after neo-adjuvant chemoradiation (CTx/RTx) in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma, according to histological type. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with uT3 carcinoma of the esophagus treated with curative-intention esophagectomy from 1997 until 2006 were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients receiving preoperative CTx/RTx (5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, 36 Gy) were compared with those with primary surgery for pT3 tumors. Therapy response after CTx/RTx was evaluated using 'Cologne Regression Grade' (minor response: >or=10% vital residual tumor cells (VRTCs), major response: <10% VRTC or pathologic complete response). Prognosis was evaluated for adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). RESULTS: Of 297 patients, 52% were SCC and 48% AC. In all, 192 patients underwent CTx/RTx, 100 (65%) SCC and 92 (64%) AC (nonsignificant). In SCC group 51% and in AC group 29% achieved major response (P < 0.01). Patients with major response had a 2-year survival rate (2y-SR) of 78% versus those with minor response or without CTx/RTx, with a 2y-SR of 45% (P = 0.001). Examining patients with major response exclusively, the prognosis of AC (2y-SR 85%) is better than that of SCC (2y-SR 54%) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study concludes that in esophageal tumors, response to and prognosis after neo-adjuvant CTx/RTx vary according to histology.