Treatment of hepatic metastases from gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: role of liver transplantation.

The role of liver transplantation in malignancy has been discussed, but controversially, over the past two decades. This is particularly true for hepatic metastases from neuroendocrine tumors, which have a wide variety of primary tumor localizations, morphologic types, functional activities, and clinical presentations. Despite generally slow tumor progression, the prognosis is often unpredictable. Total hepatectomy and liver replacement has been offered primarily to patients with nonresectable metastases and symptomatic disease. The results from retrospective single and multicentric analyses show that most liver recipients experience significant palliation despite tumor recurrence, and in some patients long-term cure can be achieved. The existing data emphasize the importance of proper selection and timing for this approach.

An oblong revision cup for large acetabular defects: design rationale and two- to seven-year follow-up.

Loosening and migration of acetabular components often lead to extensive bony defects with an elongated, oval acetabular cavity. In these cases standard implants will not reestablish and maintain sufficient stability without leaving bone defects or using massive bone grafts or excess cement and additional metal rings or shells, disadvantages that are overcome by using an oblong revision cup without cement. The titanium shell is available in different sizes, is screwed to the autochthonous acetabular bone and houses an oblong polyethylene inlay, designed to reestablish the normal anatomic hip center. Of 109 consecutive revision cups, 102, implanted for American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) defects types I-IV, were followed up clinically and radiologically for 2 to 7 years (mean, 3.6 years). Primary stability was achieved in all cases. In 40% no bone grafting was necessary at all. The radiological follow-up revealed good remodeling of the surrounding bone and osseointegration of the implants. Zonal radiolucent lines, always smaller than 2 mm, were seen in 18 cases, only once completely and in only 5 cases partially progressing. Six cups migrated slightly (< or =2 mm), two moderately (3-5 mm), all without clinical symptoms, and two more than 5 mm. Migration and radiolucencies were mainly seen in patients with allografts and major defects, which indicates that bone ingrowth appears more unlikely in such cases. Few asymptomatic cases showed zonal sclerotic lines. There were two aseptic loosenings, one in a case with pelvic discontinuity, the other in a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis following two previous revisions. Survivorship analysis based on implant removal because of aseptic loosening as the endpoint shows a cumulative success rate of 98.1% at 8 years.