The Danish Sarcoma Database.

AIM: The aim of the database is to gather information about sarcomas treated in Denmark in order to continuously monitor and improve the quality of sarcoma treatment in a local, a national, and an international perspective. STUDY POPULATION: Patients in Denmark diagnosed with a sarcoma, both skeletal and ekstraskeletal, are to be registered since 2009. MAIN VARIABLES: The database contains information about appearance of symptoms; date of receiving referral to a sarcoma center; date of first visit; whether surgery has been performed elsewhere before referral, diagnosis, and treatment; tumor characteristics such as location, size, malignancy grade, and growth pattern; details on treatment (kind of surgery, amount of radiation therapy, type and duration of chemotherapy); complications of treatment; local recurrence and metastases; and comorbidity. In addition, several quality indicators are registered in order to measure the quality of care provided by the hospitals and make comparisons between hospitals and with international standards. DESCRIPTIVE DATA: Demographic patient-specific data such as age, sex, region of living, comorbidity, World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases - tenth edition codes and TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, and date of death (after yearly coupling to the Danish Civil Registration System). Data quality and completeness are currently secured. CONCLUSION: The Danish Sarcoma Database is population based and includes sarcomas occurring in Denmark since 2009. It is a valuable tool for monitoring sarcoma incidence and quality of treatment and its improvement, postoperative complications, and recurrence within 5 years follow-up. The database is also a valuable research tool to study the impact of technical and medical interventions on prognosis of sarcoma patients.

[Malignant tumours of the hand]. / Håndens maligne tumorer.

Malignant tumours of the hand are rare and are often misdiagnosed. A painful swelling of the hand or digits are often diagnosed with an infection, benign tumours such as ganglion cysts, or arthritis. Wounds that do not heal despite adequate treatment should be biopsied to rule out malignancy. A correct diagnosis without delay is important because the life expectancy, due to a metastasis on the hand or fingers is approximately six months.

[Shoulder arthroplasty]. / Skulderartroplastik.

Every year, almost 500 shoulder arthroplasties are performed in Denmark. About two-thirds are done due to fractures of the proximal humerus. Other common indications are rheumatoid arthritis and primary or secondary arthrosis. The prosthesis is fixed with or without bone cement. If the rotator cuff is lacking, an inverse total arthroplasty can be used, and in arthrosis/arthritis with good bone stock, a resurfacing prosthesis can be used. Good pain relief can be expected, but shoulder movement will usually be permanently inhibited.

[Elbow arthroplasty]. / Albueartroplastik.

Each year, about 80 elbow arthroplasties are performed in Denmark. Approximately two thirds are done due to rheumatoid arthritis, the others due to comminuted fractures of the elbow, especially in elderly patients. The prosthesis is fixed with or without bone cement, and there are two different types of elbow prostheses: linked, in which the humerus and ulna are connected by a sloppy hinge, and non-linked, in which stability is dependent on the soft tissues of the elbow. Good pain relief can be expected, but the range of motion will usually be permanently affected.

[Posttraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicle]. / Posttraumatisk osteolyse af distale klavikel.

Posttraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicle (ODC) is a very rare condition that occurs after acute injury or repetitive microtrauma of the shoulder and which is characterized by persistent shoulder pain, restricted shoulder motion, and progressive osteolytic changes at the outer end of the clavicle. A case of posttraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicleis presented and the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Bone bruise in the acutely injured knee.

We used MRI to study the lesions in a consecutive group of 64 patients with an acute trauma of the knee and normal plain radiography during the winter season. Bone bruise was present in 35 of the patients, and these were referred to subsequent MRI 4 and 12 months later. After 4 months bone bruise was still present in 69% of the patients and after 12 months in 12%. Soft tissue lesions, for example, lesion in the meniscus, ACL rupture, or MCL lesion was present in 94% of the patients with bone bruise. Interobserver agreement varied from good to excellent. Soft tissue lesions are found in almost all patients with bone bruise, and these generally resolve 4-12 months after the injury. In the patients with no bone bruise the number of ligament injuries was lower.