High-grade gliomas in children and adolescents: is there a role for reoperation?

OBJECTIVE: Tumors of the CNS are the main causes of childhood cancer and have an incidence that exceeds that of leukemia. In addition, they are the leading causes of cancer-related death in childhood. High-grade gliomas account for 11% of such neoplasms and are characterized by aggressive clinical behavior and high morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of studies focusing on the factors that can prolong survival in these patients or guide therapeutic interventions. The authors aimed to investigate the factors related to longer survival durations, with a focus on reoperation for gross-total resection (GTR). METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the authors analyzed 78 patients diagnosed with high-grade gliomas occurring across all CNS locations except diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Patients 0 to < 19 years of age were followed up at the Pediatric Oncology Institute. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed in the context of various prognostic factors, such as age, sex, histology, extent of tumor resection, reoperation for GTR, adjuvant treatment, and treatment initiation from 2010 onward. RESULTS: With a mean age at diagnosis of 8.7 years, 50% of the patients were female and approximately 39% underwent GTR at some point, which was already achieved in approximately 46% of them in the first surgery. The median OS was 17 months, and PFS was 10 months. In terms of median OS, the authors found no significant difference between those with reoperation for GTR and patients without GTR during treatment. Significant differences were observed in the OS in terms of the extent of resection in the first surgery, age, sex, Ki-67 expression, adjuvant treatment, and treatment initiation from 2010 onward. Furthermore, the PFS values significantly differed between those with GTR in the first surgery and Ki-67 expression ≥ 50%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the importance of GTR for these neoplasms, highlights the role of surgeons in its achievement in the first attempt, and questions the role of reoperation for this purpose. Finally, this study further supports the use of combined adjuvant treatment for the improvement of OS and PFS.

Teaching how to deliver bad news: a systematic review / La enseñanza de cómo dar malas noticias: una revisión sistemática / Ensino de comunicação de más notícias: revisão sistemática

Abstract "Bad news", defined as information with huge emotional valence and potential to change personal perspectives, is, by definition, a challenge for physicians. However, the subject is not always taught in medical schools. This systematic literature review compiles all articles regarding communication of bad news after researching in databases for "medical school" and "bad news" in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The criterion was to include articles that elucidated about teaching techniques. From all 313 papers, we included 27 and classified their strategies. Most results showed that mixed strategies are more common and that, in general, the subject is well-received and appreciated by students, who reported an improvement in communicative capability after the training. We conclude that all techniques are valid and medical schools should focus on integrating this training in their regular curriculum.

Resumen "Mala noticia", definida como una información que conlleva un gran peso emocional y tiene el potencial de cambiar las perspectivas personales; constituye un desafío para los médicos. Sin embargo, este tema no siempre es enseñado en las facultades de medicina. Esta revisión sistemática de la literatura compila todos los artículos encontrados sobre la comunicación de malas noticias luego de buscar "medical school" y "bad news", en inglés, portugués y español, en bases de datos. El criterio empleado fue incluir artículos que tratasen sobre técnicas de enseñanza. De los 313 artículos, incluimos 27 y clasificamos sus estrategias. La mayoría de los resultados mostró que las estrategias mixtas son las más comunes y que, en general, el tema es bien recibido y valorado por los estudiantes, quienes informan que obtienen una mejora en la capacidad comunicativa luego de la formación. Concluimos que todas estas técnicas son válidas y que las facultades de medicina deben enfocarse en integrar esta capacitación en su currículo regular.

Resumo "Má notícia", definida como informação que carrega grande peso emocional e potencial de mudar perspectivas pessoais, é, por definição, desafio para os médicos. Entretanto, nem sempre esse assunto é abordado em faculdades de medicina. Esta revisão sistemática contém todos os artigos encontrados sobre comunicação de más notícias em bases de dados por "medical school" e "bad news" em inglês, português e espanhol. O critério de inclusão abrangia artigos que elucidavam técnicas de ensino. De todos os 313 artigos, 27 foram incluídos, tendo suas estratégias classificadas. A maioria dos resultados mostrou que as estratégias mistas são mais comuns e que, em geral, o tema é bem aceito e valorizado pelos estudantes, que afirmam melhora na capacidade comunicativa depois do treinamento. Conclui-se que todas as técnicas são válidas e que as faculdades de medicina devem focar em integrar esse treinamento no currículo regular.