THE ROLE OF COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL CANCER.

- Chronic inflammation has been linked with many cancers. It seems that easily available and usual blood inflammatory markers might serve as a prognostic factor for overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with various cancers. Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as hemoglobinemia, thrombocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein values, neutropenia and leukocytosis have been shown to affect overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), however, with controversial results. Complete blood count, NLR and PLR were determined in 71 patients with CRC (stages 3 and 4) after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and before surgery, treated at Hospital for Tumors in Zagreb. Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney U test, Student's t-test, univariate and multivariate analysis. The results of Mann-Whitney U test and Student's t-test showed that neutrophil count (p=0.024), NLR (p=0.003) and PLR (p=0.007) correlated significantly with overall survival. However, there was no significant correlation of age, leukocyte, lymphocyte and platelet counts and hemoglobin values with overall survival of patients. Furthermore, the same tests showed that leukocyte (p=0.04), neutrophil (p=0.0014) and platelet (p=0.006) counts, NLR (p=0.0006) and PLR (p=0.0015), as well as hemoglobin values (p=0.028) correlated significantly with disease-free survival. The results of univariate analysis showed that unlike PLR, NLR correlated with overall survival and disease-free survival (p=0.0002), although the correlation of PLR and disease-free survival almost reached significance (p=0.059). Furthermore, the results of univariate analysis showed significant correlation of advanced pathological TNM stage with overall survival. There was no correlation of patient age and gender, tumor stage and neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy with overall survival and disease-free survival. The results of multivariate analysis showed that NLR (cut-off value 3.27) and advanced pathological TNM stage significantly correlated with disease-free survival but not with overall survival. It seems that NLR might be an accurate marker for overall survival and disease-free survival in CRC patients after neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and before surgery.

Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum as a Rare Complication of Laparoscopic Surgery

Occurrence of bilateral pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema during gynecologic laparoscopic procedure is very rare. We report a case of a 23-year-old woman who developed bilateral pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Carbon dioxide extravasations outside the peritoneal cavity during laparoscopy may have fatal consequences. Careful monitoring, immediate diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial for patient safety.

An Evaluation of Total Internal Motions of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer during SABR Using Calypso® Extracranial Tracking, and Its Possible Clinical Impact on Motion Management.

(1) Background: the aims of this study were to determine the total extent of pancreatic cancer's internal motions, using Calypso® extracranial tracking, and to indicate possible clinical advantages of continuous intrafractional fiducial-based tumor motion tracking during SABR. (2) Methods: thirty-four patients were treated with SABR for LAPC using Calypso® for motion management. Planning MSCTs in FB and DBH, and 4D-CTs were performed. Using data from Calypso® and 4D-CTs, the movements of the lesions in the CC, AP and LR directions, as well as the volumes of the 4D-CT-based ITV and the volumes of the Calypso®-based ITV were compared. (3) Results: significantly larger medians of tumor excursions were found with Calypso® than with 4D-CT: CC: 29 mm (p < 0.001); AP: 14 mm (p < 0.001) and LR: 11 mm (p < 0.039). The median volume of the Calypso®-based ITV was significantly larger than that of the 4D-CT based ITV (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: beside known respiratory-induced internal motions, pancreatic cancer seems to have significant additional motions which should be considered during respiratory motion management. Only direct and continuous intrafractional fiducial-based motion tracking seems to provide complete coverage of the target lesion with the prescribed isodose, which could allow for safe tumor dose escalation.