Significant differe nces in demographic, clinical, and pathological features in relation to smoking and alcohol consumption among 1,633 head and neck cancer patients

OBJECTIVE: As a lifestyle-related disease, social and cultural disparities may influence the features of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in different geographic regions. We describe demographic, clinical, and pathological aspects of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck according to the smoking and alcohol consumption habits of patients in a Brazilian cohort. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the smoking and alcohol consumption habits of 1,633 patients enrolled in five São Paulo hospitals that participated in the Brazilian Head and Neck Genome Project - Gencapo. RESULTS: The patients who smoked and drank were younger, and those who smoked were leaner than the other patients, regardless of alcohol consumption. The non-smokers/non-drinkers were typically elderly white females who had more differentiated oral cavity cancers and fewer first-degree relatives who smoked. The patients who drank presented significantly more frequent nodal metastasis, and those who smoked presented less-differentiated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck demonstrated demographic, clinical, and pathological features that were markedly different according to their smoking and drinking habits. A subset of elderly females who had oral cavity cancer and had never smoked or consumed alcohol was notable. Alcohol consumption seemed to be related to nodal metastasis, whereas smoking correlated with the degree of differentiation. .

Terminal ileum of patients who underwent colonoscopy: endoscopic, histologic and clinical aspects / Íleo terminal de pacientes submetidos a colonoscopia: aspectos endoscópicos, histológicos e clínicos

CONTEXT: For the diagnosis of the diseases which affect the terminal ileum, the colonoscopy allows macroscopic evaluation and the performing of biopsies. Studies with criteria for the endoscopic and histological characterization of this segment are scarce and there are still some doubts about the need of biopsies in patients with normal ileoscopy. OBJECTIVE: Study the terminal ileum of patients who underwent colonoscopy considering: endoscopic and histological correlation; agreement between results of the initial histological evaluation and slides review, and the chance of subjects with normal ileoscopy with abdominal pain and/or chronic diarrhea to show histological alterations. METHODS: In a prospective study, 111 patients who presented smooth mucosa without enanthema in the endoscopic exam of the terminal ileum were selected. Biopsies of the ileal mucosa of such patients were performed, being the slides routinely examined and reviewed afterwards. RESULTS: The correlation between patients with normal ileoscopy and ileum with preserved histological architecture was of 99.1 percent. The agreement between initial histological evaluation and slides review calculated by the Kappa test was 0.21. In patients with abdominal pain and/or chronic diarrhea, the chance of showing histological alterations was 2.5 times higher than the others. CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between endoscopic and histological findings was high. The agreement between the initial histologic evaluation and slides review was not satisfactory. The chance of subjects with normal ileoscopy with abdominal pain and/or chronic diarrhea, showing histological alterations was higher in relation to the asymptomatic ones or with other symptoms, although the clinical importance of this datum was not evaluated.

CONTEXTO: Para o diagnóstico de doenças que afetam o íleo terminal, a colonoscopia permite avaliação macroscópica e realização de biopsias. Estudos com critérios para caracterização endoscópica e histológica desse segmento são escassos e ainda persistem dúvidas quanto à necessidade de biopsias em pacientes com ileoscopia normal. OBJETIVO: Estudar o íleo terminal de pacientes submetidos a colonoscopia, considerando correlação endoscópica e histológica; concordância entre resultados da avaliação histológica inicial e revisão de lâminas e chance de indivíduos com ileoscopia normal, com dor abdominal e ou diarreia crônica apresentarem alterações histológicas. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, no qual foram selecionados 111 pacientes, que apresentaram ao exame endoscópico do íleo terminal mucosa lisa e sem enantema. Foram realizadas biopsias da mucosa ileal nesses indivíduos, sendo as lâminas examinadas rotineiramente e revisadas posteriormente. RESULTADOS: A correlação entre pacientes com ileoscopia normal e íleo com arquitetura histológica preservada foi de 99,1 por cento. A concordância entre avaliação histológica inicial e revisão de lâminas calculada pelo teste de Kappa, foi 0,21. Nos pacientes com ileoscopia normal, com dor abdominal e ou diarreia crônica, a chance de apresentarem alterações histológicas foi 2,5 vezes maior em relação aos demais. CONCLUSÃO: A correlação entre achados endoscópicos e histológicos foi elevada. A concordância entre avaliação histológica inicial e revisão de lâminas não foi satisfatória. A chance de indivíduos com ileoscopia normal, com dor abdominal e ou diarreia crônica, apresentarem alterações histológicas foi maior, porém a importância clínica desse dado não foi avaliada.