Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma Long-Term Prognostic Factors.

Introduction: Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer in women in Ecuador. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the demographics and clinical and treatment variables of patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, referred to as differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), treated at a third-level hospital in Quito, Ecuador. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of patients with DTC, who underwent surgical treatment, from 1990 to 2019. Data included demographics, pathological information, clinical stage, type of surgery, and radioactive iodine (RAI) adjuvant therapy. Patients were monitored for up to 29 years (median follow-up time 6.9 years). Results: The corrected overall 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year survival rates (Kaplan-Meier) were 93%, 85%, 70%, and 63%, respectively. On univariate analysis, age, histological type, tumor grade, histological variants, capsular invasion, vascular invasion, tumor size, clinical stage, distant metastases at diagnosis, surgical margins, extrathyroidal invasion, radioactive iodine adjuvant treatment, and locoregional recurrence were found to be significant prognostic factors. In a multivariate analysis, the following independent variables: age over 55 years, extrathyroidal spread, metastasis at diagnosis, and stage II to IV raised the risk of death (hazard risk) (HR). Conclusions: Age over 55 years, extrathyroidal spread, metastasis at diagnosis, and advanced clinical stage were found to have a harmful prognosis and an increased risk of death in a series of Ecuadorian patients surgically treated for a DTC.

Radicality and safety of total mesopancreatic excision in pancreatoduodenectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic head cancer patients who undergo pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) often experience disease recurrence, frequently associated with a positive margin status (R1). Total mesopancreas excision (TMpE) has emerged as a potential approach to increase surgical radicality and minimize locoregional recurrence. However, its effectiveness and safety remain under evaluation. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize current evidence on TMpE outcomes. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases was conducted up to March 2024 to identify studies comparing TMpE with standard pancreatoduodenectomy (sPD). The risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) was pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: From 452 studies identified, 9 studies with a total of 738 patients were included, with 361 (49%) undergoing TMpE. TMpE significantly improved the R0 resection rate (RR 1.24; 95% CI 1.11-1.38; P < 0.05), reduced blood loss (MD -143.70 ml; 95% CI -247.92, -39.49; P < 0.05), and increased lymph node harvest (MD 7.27 nodes; 95% CI 4.81, 9.73; P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in hospital stay, postoperative complications, or mortality between TMpE and sPD. TMpE also significantly reduced overall recurrence (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.35-0.81; P < 0.05) and local recurrence (RR 0.39; 95% CI 0.24-0.63; P < 0.05). Additionally, the risk of pancreatic fistula was lower in the TMpE group (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.52-0.85; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Total mesopancreas excision significantly increases the R0 resection rate and reduces locoregional recurrence while maintaining an acceptable safety profile when compared with standard pancreatoduodenectomy. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted to determine the optimal surgical approach for total mesopancreatic resection.

Lobectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: experience of a Chilean tertiary center.

PURPOSE: Thyroid lobectomy (TL) is an appropriate treatment for up to 4 cm intrathyroidal differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). There is scarce data regarding TL outside first-world centers. Our aim is to report a cohort of patients with DTC treated with TL in Chile. METHODS: We included DTC patients treated with TL, followed for at least 6 months, characterized their clinicopathological features and classified their risk of recurrence and response to treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients followed for a median of 2.3 years (0.5-7.0). Seventy-three (89%) patients had papillary, 8 (9.8%) follicular and 1 (1.2%) high-grade DTC. The risk of recurrence was low in 56 (68.3%) and intermediate in 26 (31.7%). Eight (9.8%) patients required early completion thyroidectomy and radioiodine. At last follow-up, 52 (70.3%) had excellent, 19 (25.7%) had indeterminate, and 1 (1.4%) had structural incomplete response. CONCLUSION: In a developing country, TL is an adequate option for appropriately selected DTC patients.

Seventy years of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas in Argentina. The FRENAR database.

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) are neuroendocrine tumors characterized by the excessive production of catecholamines. This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of PPGL cases in Argentina over recent decades. A multicenter retrospective cross-sectional analysis was carried out using a database comprising both pediatric and adult patients with confirmed PPGL diagnoses based on pathological reports. A cohort of 486 patients with PPGL was recruited. Women represent 58.4% of the patients, with a mean age of 38.3 years old at the time of diagnosis and 15.2% of the patients were under the age of 18. Hypertension, as well as classic signs and symptoms, were present in 80.9% of the patients. The adrenal incidentaloma, as a mode of presentation, increased in the last two decades rising from 3.9% (1953-2000) to 21.8% (2001-2022), p<0.001. Most tumors were located within the adrenal glands, accounting 83.0% of the cases, with bilateral occurrences noted in 20.0%. The median tumor size was 4.8cm. Local recurrence and metastases were observed in 10.9% and 12.2%. Out of 412 patients, 87.0% exhibited urinary excretion elevation of catecholamines and/or their metabolites. Furthermore, 148 patients, representing 30.4% of the study population, displayed a distinct genetic profile indicative of hereditary syndromes. The distribution of hereditary syndromes revealed that MEN2, VHL, and PGL4 constituted the most prevalent syndromes. This population-based study, spanning seven decades, offers valuable insights into the demographic and clinical characteristics of PPGL patients in Argentina.

Pelvic lymph node involvement and risk of recurrence in HPV-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma stage IA2-IB1 according to Silva's system in two Colombian cancer centers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pelvic lymph node involvement and risk of recurrence in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma stage IA2-IB1 undergoing hysterectomy and/or trachelectomy plus lymphadenectomy, according to Silva's classification system. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in two Colombian cancer centers. The cases were classified according to the Silva classification system. Clinical, surgical, and histopathological variables were evaluated. Recurrence risk was analyzed by patterns A, B, or C. A logistic regression model was performed for tumor recurrence. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS). A weighted kappa was performed to determine the degree of concordance between pathologists. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients were identified, 33% pattern A, 29% pattern B, and 38% pattern C. The median follow-up time was 42.5 months. No evidence of lymph node involvement was found in patients classified as A and B, while in the C pattern was observed in 15.8% (n = 6) of cases (P < 0.01). There were 7% of cases with recurrent disease, of which 71.5% corresponded to type C pattern. Patients with Silva pattern B and C had 1.22- and 4.46-fold increased risk of relapse, respectively, compared with pattern A. The 5-year DFS values by group were 100%, 96.1%, and 80.3% for patterns A, B, and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients with early-stage HPV-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma, the type C pattern presented more lymph node involvement and risk of recurrence compared to the A and B patterns. The concordance in diagnosis of different Silva's patterns by independents pathologists were good.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Ceará: Epidemiology and Treatment in a Reference Liver Transplant Center in Northeast Brazil.

Hepatocellular carcinoma remains a significant worldwide malignancy and an important cause of cancer-related death. The incidence is increasing globally. In Latin America, there is no consistent data on the epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, Brazil is considered a country with an intermediate incidence of this liver neoplasm. In the state of Ceará, situated in the northeast region of Brazil, there are no consistent clinical and epidemiologic data on the actual incidence and the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose of this article is to describe epidemiologic characteristics and treatment forms of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated in a Liver Transplant Center. A retrospective observational study was conducted using the database from the register of 299 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma between June 2004 and February 2022. Only patients born in Ceará were included. Therefore, most patients were eligible, based on the Milan Criteria, to undergo liver transplantation with a Model End Stage Liver Disease score of 12.48 ± 4.66 points, and the waiting list time was approximately 7 months with 8.7% hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplant. A total of 38.5 % of cases were outside the Milan criteria at the time of cancer diagnosis, and transarterial chemoembolization was the main treatment choice. In conclusion, the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Ceará mainly occurs in male patients with hepatitis C or alcoholism, with a mean age of 61.55 years and a previous diagnosis of liver disease. Liver transplantation was the best curative therapeutic form in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Ceará, where a significant number of patients were diagnosed with intermediate and advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, so public health policies are important for the screening and monitoring of liver disease.

Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of 2542 Patients with Spinal Schwannomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to systematically analyze the data on the clinical features, surgical treatment, and outcomes of spinal schwannomas. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search of bibliographic databases from January 1, 2001, to May 31, 2021, yielded 4489 studies. Twenty-six articles were included in our final qualitative systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of 2542 adult patients' data from 26 included studies showed that 53.5% were male, and the mean age ranged from 35.8 to 57.1 years. The most common tumor location was the cervical spine (34.2%), followed by the thoracic spine (26.2%) and the lumbar spine (18.5%). Symptom severity was the most common indicator for surgical treatment, with the most common symptoms being segmental back pain, sensory/motor deficits, and urinary dysfunction. Among all patients analyzed, 93.8% were treated with gross total resection, which was associated with better prognosis and less chance of recurrence than subtotal resection. The posterior approach was the most common (87.4% of patients). The average operative time was 4.53 hours (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.18-6.48); the average intraoperative blood loss was 451.88 mL (95% CI, 169.60-1203.95). The pooled follow-up duration was 40.6 months (95% CI, 31.04-53.07). The schwannoma recurrence rate was 5.3%. Complications were particularly low and included cerebrospinal fluid leakage, wound infection, and the sensory-motor deficits. Most of the patients experienced complete recovery or significant improvement of preoperative neurological deficits and pain symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that segmental back pain, sensory/motor deficits, and urinary dysfunction are the most common symptoms of spinal schwannomas. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice with overall good reported outcomes and particularly low complication rates. gross total resection offers the best prognosis with the slightest chance of tumor recurrence and minimal risk of complications.

Efficacy of micrographic surgery versus conventional excision in reducing recurrence for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The standard of care for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) involves excision by conventional surgery (CS) with a predefined safety margin of resection or micrographic surgery (MS) with microscopic margin control. Previous studies have reported the superiority of MS in reducing recurrences for high-risk BCC and SCC. This systematic review aimed to assess MS and CS recurrence rates by including randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted for related studies in PubMed, LILACS, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINHAL and Cochrane until May 2023. RCTs and cohorts involving patients with BCC or SCC submitted to MS and CS were included. Risk of bias assessment followed Cochrane-recommended tools for RCTs and cohorts, and certainty of evidence followed the GRADE approach. Pooled estimates were used to determine the relative risk (RR) and absolute risk difference (RD) using a random-effects model. Seventeen studies were included, two RCTs and fifteen cohorts. There were 82 recurrences in 3050 tumours submitted to MS, with an overall recurrence rate of 3.1% (95% CI 2.0%-4.7%). For CS, there were 209 recurrences in 3453 tumours, with a recurrence rate of 5.3% (95% CI 2.9%-9.3%). The combined estimate of RR was 0.48 (95% CI 0.36-0.63), without heterogeneity nor evidence of publication bias (p > 0.3). The RD resulted in 2.9% (95% CI 1.0%-4.9%; NNT = 35). Regarding subgroup analysis, the RR for BBC was 0.37 (95% CI 0.25-0.54), and RD was 3.7% (95% CI 0.8%-6.5%; NNT = 28). For SCC, RR was 0.57 (95% CI 0.29-1.13), and RD was 1.9% (95% CI 0.8%-4.7%; NNT = 53). Among primary tumours, RR was 0.39 (95% CI 0.28-0.54), and for recurrent tumours was 0.67 (95% CI 0.30-1.50). There is moderate evidence based on two RCTs, and low evidence based on 15 cohort studies that MS is superior to CS in reducing recurrences of BCCs and primary tumours. The development of protocols that maximize the cost-effectiveness of each method in different clinical scenarios is paramount.

Risk Factors for Persistence or Recurrence of High-Grade Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate whether the colposcopic lesion size , age, kind of surgery, the status of the surgical margins and the expression of the p16 and Ki-67 immunomarkers are risk factors for persistence or recurrence of the lesion. METHODS: a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study of patients submitted to cold knife conization (CKC) or the loop electrosurgical excision procedure for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or 3. The colposcopic lesion size, age, surgical method, involvement of the surgical margins, and p16/Ki-67 immunomarker expression were analyzed in relation to lesion persistence and recurrence. RESULTS: seventy-one women were treated with cold knife conization and 200 were treated with loop electrosurgical excision. Of these, 95 had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2, 173 had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3, 183 had free surgical margins, 76 had compromised margins, and 12 showed damage by processing artifact or fragments. Among the 76 cases with positive margins, 55, 11, and 10 showed endocervical margin involvement, ectocervical margin involvement, and both endocervial and ectocervical margin involvement, respectively. Of the 264 followed-up patients, 38 had persistent or recurrent disease. A multiple logistic regression indicated that positive endocervical margins are the only independent risk factor for the persistence/recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. No significant association was identified between the colposcopic lesion size, age, surgery type, or p16/Ki-67 immunomarker expression and lesion persistence or recurrence.

[Oncological outcomes and prognostic factors in surgically treated patients with synovial sarcoma]. / Resultados oncológicos y factores pronósticos en pacientes con sarcoma sinovial tratados quirúrgicamente.

INTRODUCTION: Synovial sarcoma is an unusual tumor with an incidence of 1-3 cases per million. It is more frequent in teenagers and young adults under 30. It develops anywhere, but the extremities are the most frequent place of appearance (80% extremities, 20% other locations: 8% trunk, 7% retroperitoneal/abdominal, 5% head and neck). Oncological results are different depending on the study. Survival rate free of local recurrence, survival rate free of events and global survival rate vary upon published studies. The same happens with the disease's prognostic factors. METHODS: The objective was to analyze a group of 43 patients with diagnosis of synovial sarcoma of the extremities treated surgically and determine (1) global survival rate, (2) survival rate free of events, (3) local recurrence rate and (4) oncological risk factors. RESULTS: The global survival rate at 2 years was 90% (IC95%: 76 - 96%) and 67% (IC95%: 49-80%) at 5 years. The survival rate free of events at 2 years was 68% (IC95% 51-80%) and 48% (IC95% 32-52%) at 5 years. The recurrence rate at 2 years was 9% (IC95% 3-25%) and 25% (IC95% 13-46%) at 5 years. The histological grade and metastatic presence were bad prognostic factors. DISCUSSION: We can conclude that our oncological results are in line with those published in previous series and that there were two factors associated with poor prognosis.

Introducción: El sarcoma sinovial es un tumor raro (incidencia de 1-3 casos por millón). Es más frecuente en adolescentes y adultos menores de 30 años. Se desarrolla en cualquier parte del cuerpo, siendo, las extremidades el lugar más frecuente de aparición (80% extremidades y 20% otras localizaciones: 8% tronco, retroperitoneal/ abdominal 7%, cabeza y cuello 5%). Los resultados oncológicos de los pacientes con sarcoma sinovial son disímiles. La tasa de supervivencia libre de recurrencia local, la supervivencia libre de eventos y la supervivencia global varían entre las series publicadas. Lo mismo sucede con los factores pronósticos de la enfermedad. Métodos: El objetivo fue analizar un grupo de 43 pacientes con diagnóstico de sarcoma sinovial de las extremidades tratados quirúrgicamente, y determinar (1) tasa de supervivencia global, (2) tasa de supervivencia libre de eventos, (3) tasa de recurrencia local y (4) factores de riesgo oncológicos. Resultados: La supervivencia global a los 2 años fue 90% (IC95%: 76-96%), y 67% (IC95%: 49-80%) a los 5 años. La supervivencia libre de eventos a los 2 años fue 68% (IC95% 51-80%) y a los 5 años 48% (IC95% 32-52%). El riesgo de recurrencia local a 2 años fue 9% (IC95% 3-25%) y a los 5 años 25% (IC95% 13-46%). Los factores de mal pronóstico oncológico fueron el grado histológico y la presencia de metástasis. Discusión: Podemos concluir que nuestros resultados oncológicos se asemejan a las series publicadas y que en nuestra serie hubo dos factores de mal pronóstico.

Surgical treatment of rectal cancer: prospective cohort study about good oncologic results and low rates of abdominoperineal excision.

OBJECTIVES: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of rectal cancer surgery, in a unit adopting the principles of total mesorectal excision (TME) with a high restorative procedure rate and with a low rate of abdominoperineal excision (APE). METHODS: we enrolles patients with extraperitoneal rectal cancer undergoing TME or TME+APE. Patients with mid rectal tumors underwent TME, and patients with tumors of the lower rectum and no criteria for APE underwent TME and intersphincteric resection. Those in which the intersphincteric space was invaded and in those with a free distal margin less than 1cm or a tumor free radial margin were unattainable underwent APE or extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE). We assessed local recurrence rates, overall survival and involvement of the radial margin. RESULTS: sixty (89.6%) patients underwent TME and seven (10.4%) TME + APE, of which five underwent ELAPE. The local recurrence, in pacientes undergoing TME+LAR, was 3.3% and in patients undergoing APE, 14.3%. The local recurrence rate (p=0.286) or the distant recurrence rate (p=1.000) was similar between groups. There was no involvement of radial margins. Survival after 120 months was similar (p=0.239). CONCLUSION: rectal malignancies, including those located in the low rectum, may be surgically treated with a low rate of APE without compromising oncological principles and with a low local recurrence rates.

Oncological safety of nipple-sparing mastectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: the use of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) in local advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NQT) is increasing, despite few studies on the subject. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the safety of NSM after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: for this systematic review we searched MEDLINE; Cochrane; Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO); Embase and Scopus. A literature search of all original studies including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies and case-control studies comparing women undergoing NSM after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer was undertaken. Outcomes were locoregional recurrence (LRR), nipple recurrence and distant recurrence (DR). Data analysis was undertaken to explore the safety of NSM after NQT. The quality of the evidence was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. This study is registered on PROSPERO, number CRD42021276778. FINDINGS: a total of 437 articles were identified. Four articles were included with 1466 patients all of which had a high to serious risk of overall bias. Local recurrence in the NSM after the NQT group ranged from zero to 9.8%. Nippleareolar complex (NAC) recurrence ranged from zero to 2.1%. The distant recurrence rate ranged from 6.5% to 16%. Due to the lack of pattern among the control groups, it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis. INTERPRETATION: this review provides information for decision making in performing NSM after NQT. Despite the low rates of local recurrence and patients should be counseled about limited oncological information.

Effectiveness of adjuvant trastuzumab in women with HER-2+ breast cancer in the SUS. / Efetividade do Trastuzumabe adjuvante em mulheres com câncer de mama HER-2+ no SUS.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness in a real-world study of adjuvant trastuzumab in women with HER-2+ initial breast cancer in overall survival and recurrence-free survival. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with women who had HER-2+ breast cancer treated with trastuzumab from July 2012 to May 2017 and followed up until July 2021. The death rate was 2.62 per 100 persons/year, and the incidence rate of recurrence was 7.52 per 100 persons/year. The probability of survival at 8.7 years was 85.9%, while the probability of recurrence-free survival in the same period was 62.8%. The use of trastuzumab proved to be effective in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer in a public health service in southern Brazil. Prognostic factors associated with worse overall survival or relapse did not influence the natural history of the disease, except locally advanced disease at the beginning of treatment. The data presented may prove to be useful in helping to make decisions about whether to use trastuzumab in the treatment of initial or locally advanced breast cancer in the Brazilian SUS.

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a efetividade em estudo de vida real do trastuzumabe adjuvante em mulheres com câncer de mama inicial HER-2 positivo na sobrevida global e livre de recidiva. Foi realizado um estudo de coorte retrospectiva em mulheres com câncer de mama inicial HER-2 positivo atendidas no SUS, desde a incorporação da medicação. Trata-se de uma coorte retrospectiva com mulheres com câncer de mama HER-2 positivo, que foram tratadas entre julho de 2012 e maio de 2017 com seguimento até julho de 2021. A taxa de incidência de óbito foi de 2,62 por 100 pessoa/ano e a de recidiva foi de 7,52 por 100 pessoa/ano. A probabilidade de sobrevida em 8,7 anos foi 85,9%, enquanto a probabilidade de sobrevida livre de doença no mesmo período foi 62,8%. O uso de trastuzumabe se mostrou efetivo no tratamento adjuvante do câncer de mama em um serviço público de saúde no Sul do Brasil. Fatores prognósticos associados com pior sobrevida ou recidiva não influenciaram na história natural da doença, exceto doença localmente avançada no início do tratamento. Os dados apresentados podem vir a ser úteis em auxiliar na tomada de decisão sobre a manutenção ou não do uso do trastuzumabe no tratamento do câncer de mama inicial ou localmente avançado no serviço público de saúde brasileiro.

Adequacy of surgical margins, re-excision, and evaluation of factors associated with recurrence: a retrospective study of 769 basal cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Achieving adequate surgical margins and preventing recurrence are important in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the adequacy of surgical margins and the re-excision rates in patients with primary BCC who underwent standard surgical treatment using our proposed algorithm and to define the risk factors in patients with recurrent BCC. METHODS: The medical records of patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with BCC were reviewed. An algorithm created based on previous literature was used to determine the distribution of optimal surgical margins adequacy and re-excision rates. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed between the cases with and without recurrence in age at diagnosis (p=0.004), tumor size (p=0.023), tumor location in the H zone of the face (p=0.005), and aggressive histopathological subtype (p=0.000). When the tumors were evaluated for adequacy of deep and lateral surgical margins and re-excision rates, higher rates of adequate excision (457 cases, 68.0%) and re-excision (43 cases, 33.9%) were noted for tumors in the H or M zone. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Inadequate follow-up of newly diagnosed patients in terms of recurrence and metastasis and the retrospective application of our proposed algorithm are the limitations of the present study. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that if BCC was detected at an early age and at an early stage, recurrence was lower. The H and M zones were the regions with the highest rates of optimal surgical outcomes.

Recurrence rate and survival implications of surgical margins in patients with acral melanoma. Is a wide margin necessary?

INTRODUCTION: Appropriate size of resection margins in acral melanoma is not clearly established. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether narrow-margin excision is appropriate for thick acral melanoma. METHODS: Three-hundred and six patients with acral melanoma were examined. Factors associated with recurrence and survival were analyzed according to surgical margin size (1 to 2 cm and > 2 cm). RESULTS: Out of 306 patients, 183 were women (59.8%). Median Breslow thickness was 6 mm; 224 cases (73.2%) were ulcerated, 154 patients (50.3%) had clinical stage III disease, while 137 were at stage II (44.8%) and 15 at stage IV (4.9%). All cases had negative margins, with a median of 31.5 mm. A Breslow thickness of 7 mm (p = 0.001) and clinical stage III (p = 0.031) were associated with recurrence; the factors associated with survival were Breslow index (p = 0.047), ulceration (p = 0.003), advanced clinical stage (p < 0.001), and use of adjuvant therapy (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: A resection margin of 1 to 2 cm did not affect tumor recurrence or survival in patients with acral melanoma.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La extensión apropiada de los márgenes de resección en el melanoma acral no está claramente establecida. OBJETIVO: Investigar si la escisión con margen estrecho es adecuada en el melanoma acral grueso. MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron 306 pacientes con melanoma acral. Conforme a la extensión del margen quirúrgico (de 1 a 2 cm y > 2 cm), se analizaron los factores asociados a la recurrencia y la supervivencia. RESULTADOS: De 306 pacientes, 183 fueron mujeres (59.8 %). La mediana del grosor de Breslow fue 6 mm; 224 casos (73.2 %) fueron de tipo ulcerados, 154 pacientes (50.3 %) tenían enfermedad en estadio clínico III, 137 en II (44.8 %) y 15 en IV (4.9 %). Todos los casos presentaron margen negativo, con una mediana de 31.5 mm. Un grosor de Breslow de 7 mm (p = 0.001) y la etapa clínica III (p = 0.031) se asociaron a recurrencia; los factores asociados a la supervivencia fueron el índice de Breslow (p = 0.047), la ulceración (p = 0.003), la etapa clínica avanzada (p < 0.001) y el uso de adyuvancia (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIÓN: Un margen de resección de 1 a 2 cm no afectó la recurrencia tumoral ni la supervivencia en los pacientes con melanoma acral.

Recurrence in Cervical High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion: The Role of the Excised Endocervical Canal Length-Analysis of 2,427 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the excised canal length on relapse rates of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) treated by loop electrosurgical excision procedure and to find a cut-off point, above which lower recurrence rates could be observed, with low probability of compromising future obstetric outcome, and the relationship with other individual factors related to HSIL recurrence. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2,427 women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia CIN2+ who underwent cervical conization using the high-frequency loop electrosurgical excision procedure surgery technique, to analyze the role of endocervical canal length associated with individual factors in the recurrent disease after CIN2+ treatment and determine a cut-off point for the excised canal length needed to decrease the risk of disease relapse. RESULTS: In 2,427 cases, the relapse rate of HSIL treated was 12%. Compromised margins of conization, HIV+, and endocervical canal length were related directly to relapses ( p < .001). The cut-off point, by receiver operating characteristic curve, to calculate the endocervical canal length related to relapses was 1.25 cm of canal excised. Canal length of less than 1.25 cm increased the recurrence rate 2.5 times. Compromised margins and HIV+ increased recurrence rates by more than 5 times. CONCLUSION: Cervical HSIL recurrence was directly related to the endocervical canal length: excised canal length of 1.25 cm or more decreases recurrence rate; HIV and compromised margins increase the chance of recurrence by more than 5 times.

[Epidemiology and Outcomes of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Insights from a Decade of Head and Neck Surgery at Sótero del Río Hospital, Santiago, Chile]. / Sarcomas de partes blandas: Análisis de la experiencia de diez años del equipo de cirugía de cabeza y cuello en el Hospital Sótero del Río.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. They are associated with genetic and environmental risk factors. Their clinical manifestations are nonspecific, requiring a high level of suspicion. The first-line treatment is surgical. Positive margins are the only independent predictor of local recurrence and worse survival rates. Strict follow-up is recommended due to its high recurrence rate. AIM: Analyze the casuistry of STS treated with curative intent by the head and neck surgery team at the Sótero del Río Hospital (HSR) at Santiago, Chile between 2013 and 2023. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study of patients with STS managed by the HSR head and neck surgery team. Clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and oncological results are analyzed. RESULTS: 26 patients were included, 84.6% female, with an average age of 61.7 years. Only 30.8% presented identifiable risk factors. The most common histology was undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (26.9%), and the predominant location was extremities (46.2%). 77.8% of head and neck sarcomas and 58.8% of trunk and extremity sarcomas occurred in advanced stages. Disease-free survival was 66.6%; 68.2% in patients with negative surgical margins, and 60.0% in positive margins at five years. CONCLUSIONS: STS is an infrequent pathology. This study corresponds to the first retrospective research on STS in Chile. We require establishing a specialized multidisciplinary team to optimize the management and follow-up of STS patients.