Near-Infrared Spectroscopy with Supervised Machine Learning as a Screening Tool for Neutropenia.

The use of non-invasive tools in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI) to detect diseases has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is a technology that can be used to analyze biological samples in a non-invasive manner. This study evaluated the use of NIR spectroscopy in the fingertip to detect neutropenia in solid-tumor oncologic patients. A total of 75 patients were enrolled in the study. Fingertip NIR spectra and complete blood counts were collected from each patient. The NIR spectra were pre-processed using Savitzky-Golay smoothing and outlier detection. The pre-processed data were split into training/validation and test sets using the Kennard-Stone method. A toolbox of supervised machine learning classification algorithms was applied to the training/validation set using a stratified 5-fold cross-validation regimen. The algorithms included linear discriminant analysis (LDA), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and support vector machines (SVMs). The SVM model performed best in the validation step, with 85% sensitivity, 89% negative predictive value (NPV), and 64% accuracy. The SVM model showed 67% sensitivity, 82% NPV, and 57% accuracy on the test set. These results suggest that NIR spectroscopy in the fingertip, combined with machine learning methods, can be used to detect neutropenia in solid-tumor oncology patients in a non-invasive and timely manner. This approach could help reduce exposure to invasive tests and prevent neutropenic patients from inadvertently undergoing chemotherapy.

Padrão histopatológico e incidência de carcinomatose peritoneal ao diagnóstico em mulheres com câncer de ovário / Histopathological pattern and incidence of peritoneal carcinomatosis at diagnosis in women with ovarian cancer

Objetivo: Descrever o padrão histopatológico e identificar a incidência de carcinomatose peritoneal no momento do diagnóstico de mulheres diagnosticadas com neoplasia de ovário. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal e descritivo, baseado na análise secundária de dados correspondentes aos prontuários de mulheres adultas com diagnóstico de neoplasia de ovário de um serviço de referência em oncologia clínica. Foram analisados 40 prontuários entre janeiro de 2007 e janeiro de 2017. Resultados: Ao estadiamento segundo o sistema da International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, três mulheres (7,5%) apresentavam estadiamento clínico (EC) II, três (77,5%) estágio ECIII com carcinomatose peritoneal/invasão da pelve e seis (15%) estágio ECIV com metástases à distância, especialmente para pulmão e fígado. Em relação ao padrão histopatológico, 20 mulheres apresentaram adenocarcinoma seroso papilífero de alto grau (50%), 4 (10%) adenocarcinoma seroso papilífero de baixo grau, 3 (7,5%) adenocarcinoma endometrioide, 3 (7,5%) tumor de teca/granulosa, 3 (7,5%) carcinoma de células claras, 3 (7,5%) tumores não classificados, 2 (5%) disgerminoma e 2 (5%) com cistoadenocarcinoma mucinosos. Conclusão: É nítida a necessidade de mais estudos envolvendo essa patologia, de modo a favorecer o diagnóstico e a intervenção em estágios mais precoces e reduzir desfechos desfavoráveis. (AU)

Objective: To describe the histopathological pattern, and to identify the incidence of peritoneal carcinomatosis at the time of the diagnosis of women diagnosed with ovarian neoplasm. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study, based on the secondary analysis of data corresponding to the medical records of adult women diagnosed with ovarian neoplasm in a reference service of clinical oncology. A total of 40 medical records were analyzed between January 2007 and January 2017. Results: At the staging (FIGO system) of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, three women (7.5%) had clinical staging (EC) II staging, 31 (77.5%) were in the ECIII stage, with peritoneal carcinomatosis/pelvic invasion, six (15%) were in the ECIV stage, with metastases at a distance, especially to lung and liver. Regarding the histopathological pattern, twenty women had high-grade papillary serous adenocarcinoma (50%), 4 (10%) with low-grade papillary serous adenocarcinoma, 3 (7.5%) with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 3 (7.5%) with granulosa-theca tumor, 3 (7.5%) with clear cell carcinoma, 3 (7.5%) with unclassified tumors, 2 (5%) with dysgerminoma, two (5%) with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Conclusions: There is a clear need for further studies involving this pathology, in order to favor diagnosis and intervention at earlier stages and to reduce unfavorable outcomes. (AU)

Perfil de pacientes diagnosticados com câncer de vesícula biliar / Profile of patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer

Objetivo: Descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de pacientes diagnosticados com câncer de vesícula e identificar o estadiamento do tumor estabelecido no momento do diagnóstico, bem como o padrão histopatológico no momento da biópsia. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal e descritivo realizado em um serviço de referência em oncologia clínica, baseado em análise secundária de dados correspondentes aos prontuários de indivíduos com diagnóstico de câncer de vesícula biliar atendidos entre janeiro de 2007 e janeiro de 2017. Resultados: A distribuição por sexo foi de cinco mulheres (62,5%) e três homens (37,5%). A idade variou de 47 a 74 anos, com média de 61,1 anos e desvio padrão de ±9,03. Nenhum indivíduo era assintomático ao diagnóstico; seis (75%) apresentaram dor em hipocôndrio direito, dois (25%) perda de peso e dois outros (25%) massa palpável. Dos oito indivíduos, seis (75%) apresentavam estadiamento clínico (EC) IV ao diagnóstico. O perfil histopatológico apresentou 100% de adenocarcinoma, sendo uma amostra com áreas papilíferas, três moderadamente diferenciadas, três metastáticas e uma bem diferenciada. Conclusão: O perfil clínico-epidemiológico estabelecido foi maior prevalência de câncer de vesícula biliar em mulheres, com média de idade na sétima década. Predominou a cólica biliar como sintoma. O padrão de adenocarcinoma foi identificado em todos os indivíduos. Três quartos dos indivíduos apresentavam estágio avançado de doença. (AU)

Objective: to describe the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, and to identify tumor staging established at the time of diagnosis, as well as the histopathological pattern at the biopsy. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study, carried out in a reference service of clinical oncology, based on secondary analysis of data corresponding to the medical records of patients diagnosed with Gallbladder cancer seen between January-2007 and January-2017. Results: Gender distribution was of five women (62.5%), and three men (37.5%). Patients' ages ranged from 47-74 years, mean age of 61.1 years and standard deviation of ±9.03). No patient was asymptomatic at diagnosis, six (75%) had right hypochondrium pain, two (25%) showed weight loss, and two others (25%), palpable mass. Of the eight patients, six (75%) had EC IV staging at diagnosis. The histopathological profile showed 100% of adenocarcinoma, with one sample having papilliferous areas, three being moderately differentiated, three metastatic, and one well differentiated. Conclusion: The clinical-epidemiological profile established in this study had a higher prevalence of gallbladder cancer in women, with a mean age of the individual around the 7th decade. The most frequent symptom was biliary colic. The adenocarcinoma pattern was identified in all individuals. Three-quarters of them had advanced disease. (AU)