Whole-brain irradiation with concomitant daily fixed-dose temozolomide for brain metastases treatment: a randomised phase II trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This randomised phase II study evaluated the use of Temozolomide (TMZ) concomitant with 30 Gray (Gy) of Whole-brain irradiation (WBI) for 2 weeks without adjuvant TMZ vs. WBI alone in patients with Brain metastases (BM) from solid tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients were randomised into the following groups: 28 patients received WBI (30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks) concomitant with once-daily 200 mg TMZ on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and 300 mg TMZ on Tuesdays and Thursdays (TMZ plus WBI arm). Twenty-seven patients received the same schedule of WBI alone (control arm). RESULTS: The objective response (OR) was 78.6% for the TMZ plus WBI arm, (95% confidence interval [CI], 63.4-93.8%) and 48.1% (29.3-66.9%) for the control arm (p=0.019). Median Progression-free survival (PFS) of BM was 11.8 months (CI, 4.7-8.9 months) and 5.6 months (4.9-6.2 months) for the TMZ plus WBI and control arms, respectively, (Hazard ratio [HR], 0.24; CI, 0.09-0.65; p=0.005). Overall survival (OS) of 8.0 Months for the TMZ plus WBI arm and 8.1 months for the control arm, were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: A daily fixed dose of TMZ during WBI without adjuvant TMZ was well tolerated and significantly improved local control of BM compared with WBI alone. These findings require confirmation in a phase III trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01015534).

Multicentric epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of bone. Report of a case with radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumor of uncertain biologic behavior. Most cases come out as a single lesion of the soft tissue but also may appear in the lung, liver, and other locations. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of bone is an extremely rare tumor and more prevalent in the second and third decades of life; its behavior is uncertain, it most commonly is unifocal, and it affects preferentially lower extremities. In this work, we present the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of a 19-year-old man with a multicentric EHE of bone that involved 3 vertebrae and developed lung metastasis.

Laser resection of liposarcoma of the hypopharynx

Liposarcomas represent between 15 and 18% of all sarcomas with the most common site being the extremities and retroperitoneum. Liposarcomas of the head and neck are rare, with an estimated incidence representing 3 to 5.6% of all liposarcomas. Liposarcomas most commonly present in the soft tissues of the neck. Primary liposarcoma of the hypopharynx (piriform sinus) is extremely rare. The symptoms presented are principally dysphagia, dyspnea, dysphonia, airway obstruction and sensation of a foreign body. Treatment of choice is surgery, and the literature describes the performance of lateral pharyngotomy, simple excision and even total laryngectomy. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient who was diagnosed 7 years prior with liposarcoma of the piriform sinus. The patient underwent surgery using a cervical approach. The tumor recurred 4 years postoperatively and the patient was again surgically intervened using the same approach. He presented to our Institute with 3 months evolution of dysphonia. Nasofibrolaryngoscopy and imaging studies were performed. Surgical treatment was decided upon with CO2 laser using suspension microlaryngoscopy, obtaining excellent results. Some of the advantages of this approach are low morbidity because of the avoidance of performing a tracheostomy, rapid return to oral feeding without necessity of a feeding tube, and reduction in hospitalization days. Disadvantage includes difficulty in evaluating margins (AU)

Laser resection of liposarcoma of the hypopharynx.

Liposarcomas represent between 15 and 18% of all sarcomas with the most common site being the extremities and retroperitoneum. Liposarcomas of the head and neck are rare, with an estimated incidence representing 3 to 5.6% of all liposarcomas. Liposarcomas most commonly present in the soft tissues of the neck. Primary liposarcoma of the hypopharynx (piriform sinus) is extremely rare. The symptoms presented are principally dysphagia, dyspnea, dysphonia, airway obstruction and sensation of a foreign body. Treatment of choice is surgery, and the literature describes the performance of lateral pharyngotomy, simple excision and even total laryngectomy. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient who was diagnosed 7 years prior with liposarcoma of the piriform sinus. The patient underwent surgery using a cervical approach. The tumor recurred 4 years postoperatively and the patient was again surgically intervened using the same approach. He presented to our Institute with 3 months evolution of dysphonia. Nasofibrolaryngoscopy and imaging studies were performed. Surgical treatment was decided upon with CO2 laser using suspension microlaryngoscopy, obtaining excellent results. Some of the advantages of this approach are low morbidity because of the avoidance of performing a tracheostomy, rapid return to oral feeding without necessity of a feeding tube, and reduction in hospitalization days. Disadvantage includes difficulty in evaluating margins.

Importance of the preoperative evaluation of multifocal and multicentric breast cancer with magnetic resonance imaging in women with dense parenchyma.

BACKGROUND: The presence and detection of multifocal and multicentric disease significantly increases the risk of recurrence and changes the best therapeutic approach in patients with breast cancer. Mammography has low sensitivity to detect multiple malignant foci in patients with dense breast parenchyma. We prospectively evaluated Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as part of preoperative assessment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Women with clinical and radiological suspicion of breast cancer and dense breast parenchyma (> 75% dense tissue) were included. All patients underwent mammography, ultrasonogram and MRI prior to surgery. Surgical specimens were used for the detection of multifocal and multicentric disease. Patients who required neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were evaluated. Histological diagnosis was confirmed in 14 patients, multifocal and multicentric disease was found in five and two patients, respectively. Sensitivity and accuracy to detect multiple malignant foci were 42 and 64%, respectively, for mammography plus ultrasound and 100 and 92% for MRI (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MRI is more sensible and has a better accuracy than mammography plus ultrasound to detect both multicentric and multifocal breast cancer in women with dense breast parenchyma. MRI can improve preoperative assessment of breast cancer in this group of patients.