Is prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification with radiation therapy after THR associated with early loosening or carcinogenesis?

INTRODUCTION: Heterotopic ossification may develop after major hip surgeries, thus preventive strategies including radiation therapy and non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly employed. There are certain concerns regarding the effects of radiation therapy on implant loosening and carcinogenesis. Our study aims to evaluate whether radiation therapy results in implant loosening or radiation-induced tumours in the long term. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study including 97 high-risk patients for heterotopic ossification who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Patients were divided into 2 groups and received either a combination of radiation therapy and indomethacin (Group A), or indomethacin alone (Group B). Evaluated outcomes included implant loosening or development of radiation-induced tumours during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The follow-up period of the study was 10 years. Group A consisted of 50 patients, while Group B consisted of 47 patients. 3 patients died during the follow-up. There were 2 cases of implant loosening, 1 from each of the 2 groups at 9 and 10 years after surgery respectively; thus, no statistically significant difference regarding implant loosening was found (p < 0.05). During the follow-up period no cases of radiation-induced tumours were identified. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with those of other studies supporting the safety of radiation therapy as a preventive strategy for heterotopic ossification following major surgeries in high risk patients. Further studies with even longer follow-up may be required to definitely exclude the possibility of adverse outcomes linked with radiation therapy.

Solitary tibial osteolytic lesion.

We report an unusual case of solitary osteolytic tibial metastasis from a primary endometrial cancer in a 62-year-old woman. The primary cancer was treated with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy combined with postoperative external beam radiotherapy, while the tibial metastasis was treated with an above knee amputation. The rarity of the case lies on the fact that metastases distally to the elbow and knee are uncommon and endometrial cancer rarely gives distal bone metastases and particularly solitary to the extremities.

Combined radiotherapy and indomethacin for the prevention of heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: :Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a frequent complication following total hip arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined radiotherapy and indomethacin as compared to indomethacin alone for the prevention of HO after hip arthroplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 96 patients were prospectively enrolled to receive either a single dose of postoperative radiotherapy of 7.0 Gy and indomethacin for the first 15 postoperative days or indomethacin alone for the same period. A historical group of 50 patients that received indomethacin alone served as control. Primary endpoint was the radiographic evidence of HO at 6 months. Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of factors related to HO development, side effects from each treatment, and group differences in the clinical assessment with the Merle d'Aubigné Score. RESULTS: Four patients in the combined-therapy group developed HO compared to 13 patients in the indomethacin group (p < 0.05) and 13 patients in the historical group (p < 0.05). One patient each in the combined group and the historical group developed Brooker III HO (nonsignificant difference). Duration of surgery and congenital hip disease were associated with HO development in the indomethacin groups, while age and congenital hip disease showed such an association in the combined-therapy group. The side effects and mean Merle d'Aubigné Score did not differ significantly between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Combined radiotherapy and indomethacin was more efficacious in preventing HO after total hip arthroplasty compared to indomethacin alone and should be considered for future investigation.

Expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and topoisomerase IIalpha in leiomyosarcomas.

INTRODUCTION: The expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and topoisomerase II has been associated with clinical outcome of several cancers including sarcomas. We aimed to evaluate the expression of these markers in leiomyosarcomas (LMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin blocks of 19 primary, nonmetastatic LMS were analysed immunohistochemically for the expression of the above-mentioned markers with a cutoff level for positivity of 20% of cell staining. RESULTS: Expression of E-cadherin was negative in all LMS. Nuclear expression of beta-catenin was also negative in all cases, while positive cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression was observed in approximately half of the patients. The majority of LMS had expression of topoisomerase IIalpha, although only in 10 patients was this expression in more than 20% of tumour cells. From the analysed factors, tumour size was statistically significantly correlated with relapse-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Further evidence with larger series is required in order to determine the implication of these markers in LMS.

Cutaneous melanoma with tonsillar metastasis.

Metastases to the tonsillar fossa due to hematogenous dissemination is an extremely rare phenomenon associated with advanced-stage disease and poor prognosis. In the present report we describe a case of cutaneous melanoma with a metastasis to the tonsil approximately 4 years after the initial diagnosis of the primary disease treated with palliative radiation therapy.

Radical versus postoperative radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: a 10-year experience of an academic hospital.

This study is a presentation of our department's experience in the treatment of localized prostate cancer with either radical or postoperative radiotherapy (RT). Fifty-five patients with clinical localized prostate cancer were reviewed. Thirty-three patients (T1-T2AN0M0 stage) were treated with radical RT and 22 (T2B-T3N0M0 stage) with postoperative RT. All patients received hormonal therapy. Primary end points of the study were the incidence of clinical and biochemical recurrences and death in the whole group and according to treatment modality. Within a median follow-up of 18 months the overall incidence of clinical relapse was 16.9%, of biochemical relapse 12.7% and of death 10.9%. Both treatment options achieved similar outcomes despite the fact that the patients in the postoperative RT group were of higher stage. Radical RT group tended to have better overall and disease-free survival compared to postoperative RT group, but there was no statistically significant evidence. Long-term toxicity was negligible.

Prevention of heterotopic ossification in high-risk patients with total hip arthroplasty: the experience of a combined therapeutic protocol.

The combination of radiotherapy and indomethacin for the prevention of heterotopic ossification (HO) in high-risk patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to present the experience of our department with this combined therapeutic protocol. Fifty-four patients who underwent THA received a single dose of 7 Gy of postoperative radiotherapy and 75 mg of indomethacin for 15 days. Patients were analyzed for clinical and radiographical evidence of HO development at 1 year postoperatively. The overall radiographical incidence of HO was 20.4% (95% CI 10.6-33.5%), while only 1 patient with clinically significant HO was seen. Patients with secondary arthritis due to congenital hip disease had a statistically significantly higher incidence of HO compared with those with osteoarthrosis. The clinical assessment with the Merle d'Aubigné score showed that patients with radiographic documentation of HO had a lower mean score compared with those with no evidence of HO. No treatment-related side effects were seen. Combined radiotherapy and indomethacin was effective in preventing heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty. The evaluation of this efficacy compared with radiotherapy or NSAIDs alone should be the future target of larger randomized designs.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor, KDR/Flk-1, in soft tissue sarcomas.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, KDR/Flk-1, with tumor grade, microvessel density (MVD) and clinical outcome in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STSs). Tissue specimens of 28 patients with STSs were analyzed immunohistochemically using specific monoclonal antibodies. Tissue samples were obtained prior to any treatment. Half of the STSs exhibited strong expression of VEGF that was associated statistically significantly with high tumor grade. Strong expression of KDR/Flk-1 was detected in only 2 sarcomas. No association was demonstrated between VEGF and KDR/Flk-1 expression. MVD was significantly associated with tumor grade and was higher in sarcomas with strong VEGF expression. Limited data on clinical outcome precluded solid analyses for an association with disease progression. This study provides further evidence on the role of VEGF and MVD in tumor aggressiveness in STSs.

Desmoid tumours of the extremities and trunk: a review of the literature.

Desmoid tumours are rare neoplasms that display local aggressiveness but no propensity to metastasise. They are mainly localized in the abdominal wall, the bowel, and the mesentery or in extra-abdominal sites such as the trunk and the extremities. Surgical resection is the main treatment modality in extremities and trunk, with the optional combination of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. However, these tumours have a high propensity for recurrent growth.