Epidemiological Profile of Patients with Colorectal Cancer from a Hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil / Perfil epidemiológico de pacientes com câncer colorretal de um Hospital no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Abstract Objective The present study describes the epidemiological profile of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) from the Hospital de Clínicas de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2016. Method Retrospective analysis of secondary data of 1,001 patients from the Hospital Cancer Registry. Results Most subjects were Caucasianmales, with a mean age of 63.68 years old. The majority of patients had incomplete elementary education and were married. In addition, 44.5% of the patients had a family history of cancer. Most subjects with a positive past or current history of alcohol intake or smoking were male. The diagnosis was mostly based on anatomopathological findings, with a predominance of adenocarcinomas and upper rectum and distal colon localization. Most lesions were in advanced stages, and the liver was the most common site for metastasis. The predominant treatment was surgery with neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy. After the first treatment, 49.0% of the patients reported complete remission. The survival rate was 78.8% in 10 months. Conclusion The present research analyzed the profile of CRC patients.

Resumo Objetivo Descrever o perfil de pacientes com câncer colorretal (CCR) no Hospital de Clínicas de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brasil, de 01 de janeiro de 2007 a 31 de dezembro de 2016. Método Análise retrospectiva de dados secundários de 1.001 pacientes obtidos através do Registro Hospitalar de Câncer. Resultados Evidenciou-se predomínio do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 63,68 anos, majoritariamente caucasianos. O grau escolar prevalente foi fundamental incompleto e o estado civil foi casado. Um total de 44,5% dos pacientes tinha histórico familiar de neoplasia. Em relação ao consumo de álcool/cigarro, dentre os que faziam ou já fizeram uso, a maioria era homem. O diagnóstico foi majoritariamente por meio anatomopatológico, com predomínio de adenocarcinoma e localização no reto superior e no cólon distal, ocorrendo mais comumente em estágios avançados, com a metástase hepática sendo a mais presente. O tratamento predominante foi cirurgia com adjuvância/neoadjuvância. Após o primeiro tratamento, 49,0% dos pacientes apresentaram remissão completa. A sobrevida foi de 78,8% em 10 meses. Conclusão A presente pesquisa possibilitou a análise do perfil dos pacientes com CCR.

Perfil de pacientes diagnosticados com câncer de vesícula biliar / Profile of patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer

Objetivo: Descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de pacientes diagnosticados com câncer de vesícula e identificar o estadiamento do tumor estabelecido no momento do diagnóstico, bem como o padrão histopatológico no momento da biópsia. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal e descritivo realizado em um serviço de referência em oncologia clínica, baseado em análise secundária de dados correspondentes aos prontuários de indivíduos com diagnóstico de câncer de vesícula biliar atendidos entre janeiro de 2007 e janeiro de 2017. Resultados: A distribuição por sexo foi de cinco mulheres (62,5%) e três homens (37,5%). A idade variou de 47 a 74 anos, com média de 61,1 anos e desvio padrão de ±9,03. Nenhum indivíduo era assintomático ao diagnóstico; seis (75%) apresentaram dor em hipocôndrio direito, dois (25%) perda de peso e dois outros (25%) massa palpável. Dos oito indivíduos, seis (75%) apresentavam estadiamento clínico (EC) IV ao diagnóstico. O perfil histopatológico apresentou 100% de adenocarcinoma, sendo uma amostra com áreas papilíferas, três moderadamente diferenciadas, três metastáticas e uma bem diferenciada. Conclusão: O perfil clínico-epidemiológico estabelecido foi maior prevalência de câncer de vesícula biliar em mulheres, com média de idade na sétima década. Predominou a cólica biliar como sintoma. O padrão de adenocarcinoma foi identificado em todos os indivíduos. Três quartos dos indivíduos apresentavam estágio avançado de doença. (AU)

Objective: to describe the clinical-epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, and to identify tumor staging established at the time of diagnosis, as well as the histopathological pattern at the biopsy. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study, carried out in a reference service of clinical oncology, based on secondary analysis of data corresponding to the medical records of patients diagnosed with Gallbladder cancer seen between January-2007 and January-2017. Results: Gender distribution was of five women (62.5%), and three men (37.5%). Patients' ages ranged from 47-74 years, mean age of 61.1 years and standard deviation of ±9.03). No patient was asymptomatic at diagnosis, six (75%) had right hypochondrium pain, two (25%) showed weight loss, and two others (25%), palpable mass. Of the eight patients, six (75%) had EC IV staging at diagnosis. The histopathological profile showed 100% of adenocarcinoma, with one sample having papilliferous areas, three being moderately differentiated, three metastatic, and one well differentiated. Conclusion: The clinical-epidemiological profile established in this study had a higher prevalence of gallbladder cancer in women, with a mean age of the individual around the 7th decade. The most frequent symptom was biliary colic. The adenocarcinoma pattern was identified in all individuals. Three-quarters of them had advanced disease. (AU)

Incidência comparativa de câncer incidental de vesícula biliar em colecistectomias de urgência versus colecistectomias eletivas / Comparative incidence of incidental gallbladder cancer in emergency cholecystectomies versus in elective cholecystectomies

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar, comparativamente, a incidência de câncer incidental de vesícula biliar em colecistectomias de urgência versus colecistectomias eletivas realizadas em hospitais públicos de Teresina-PI. Métodos: estudo observacional descritivo, quantitativo, com delineamento transversal, cujo cenário foram dois hospitais públicos de Teresina-PI. Foram analisados 6.329 prontuários de pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia, entre janeiro de 2011 e dezembro de 2017. Os dados coletados foram divididos em dois grupos e confrontados estatisticamente através do teste Z para diferença entre proporções. Resultados: detectou-se câncer incidental da vesícula biliar em 6,53% das colecistectomias de urgência e em 0,38% das eletivas. Quanto ao sexo, observou-se que, na cirurgia de urgência, 69% eram mulheres e 31%, homens, enquanto no procedimento eletivo, 78% eram mulheres e 22%, homens. Quanto à idade, a maioria dos pacientes possuía mais de 60 anos e, entre estes, 69,3% submetidos à colecistectomias de urgência e 82,6%, à eletivas. O tipo histopatológico "adenocarcinoma" foi encontrado em 84,6% das cirurgias de urgência e 100% das eletivas. Conclusão: câncer incidental de vesícula biliar foi mais frequente em colecistectomias de urgência em comparação às eletivas. O perfil dos pacientes com essa doença maligna nos dois tipos de procedimento foi do sexo feminino, maiores de 60 anos de idade e com diagnóstico histopatológico de adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT Objective: to comparatively analyse the incidence of incidental gallbladder cancer in emergency cholecystectomies versus in elective cholecystectomies performed in public hospitals in Teresina city, Piaui state (PI). Methods: descriptive, quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study, whose scenarios were two public hospitals in Teresina-PI. We analysed 6,329 medical records of patients undergoing cholecystectomy between January 2011 and December 2017. The collected data were divided into two groups and statistically compared using Z-test for difference between proportions. Results: incidental gallbladder cancer was detected in 6.53% of emergency cholecystectomies and in 0.38% of elective ones. Regarding gender, it was observed that in emergency surgeries 69% of patients were women and 31% men, while in elective procedures 78% were women and 22% men. Regarding age, most patients were over 60 years old, and, among these, 69.3% underwent emergency cholecystectomies and 82.6% underwent elective cholecystectomies. The histopathological type "adenocarcinoma" was found in 84.6% of patients who underwent emergency surgeries and in 100% of patients who underwent elective surgeries. Conclusion: incidental gallbladder cancer was more frequent in urgent cholecystectomies compared to elective cholecystectomies. The profile of patients with this malignant disease in both types of procedure was female, older than 60 years, and with histopathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.

Aspectos clínicos y epidemiológicos en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón en un servicio de neumología / Clinical and epidemiological aspects in patients with lung cancer in a pneumology service

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 125 pacientes con cáncer de pulmón, ingresados y diagnosticados en el Servicio de Neumología del Hospital General Docente Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso de Santiago de Cuba, de enero de 2015 a octubre de 2016, con vistas a caracterizarles según variables clínicas y epidemiológicas de interés, además de factores de riesgo genéticos y no genéticos, independientemente de las características histológicas y el estadio clínico del proceso neoplásico. Entre los resultados preponderantes figuraron el sexo masculino y el grupo etario de 51-69 años -- aunque fue evidente el incremento del número de féminas y de pacientes en las edades más jóvenes de la vida --, igualmente la broncoscopia como método diagnóstico, la localización en el pulmón derecho, el adenocarcinoma como variedad histológica, el tabaquismo entre los factor de riesgo no genético y el parentesco de primer grado en los factores genéticos. La mayoría de los afectados presentaban menos de un año de evolución y un elevado porcentaje correspondía al estadio IV de la enfermedad.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 125 patients with lung cancer, admitted and diagnosed in the Pneumology Service of Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba was carried out from January, 2015 to October, 2016, aimed at characterizing them according to clinical and epidemiological variables of interest, besides genetic and non genetic risk factors, independently from the histological characteristics and the clinical stage of the neoplastic process. Among the predominant results there were the male sex and the age group 51-69, although the increment of the females and of patients in the youngest ages in the life was evident --, equally the bronchoscopy as diagnostic method, the localization in the right lung, the adenocarcinoma as histological variety, smoking habit among non genetic risk factors and the first degree relation in the genetic factors. Most of the affected patients presented a clinical course shorter than a year and a high percentage were in the stage IV of the disease.

Predictores clínicos y funcionales del riesgo de cáncer pulmonar en el seguimiento de una cohorte de adultos fumadores / Risk factors for the development of lung cancer in a cohort of adult smokers

Background: Identifying risk factors for lung cancer in the population could improve the cost-effectiveness of early detection programs using thoracic computed tomography (CT). Aim: To examine the risk factors of lung cancer in a cohort of adult smokers. Patients and Methods: An annual clinical and respiratory functional assessment, chest computed tomography for three years and clinical follow up for five years was carried out in 270 patients aged 65 ± 9 years, 55% males, active or former smokers of 10 or more pack-years. Results: Thirty seven percent of patients were active smokers, consuming 37 ± 26 packs/year, 85% had comorbidities, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (66%), hypertension (48%), diabetes (22%) and dyslipidemia (42%). Thirteen percent of patients had family history of lung cancer. Twenty-one cases of lung cancer were detected in the five years follow up, especially squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. In the univariate analysis, the main risk factors for lung cancer identified were an age older than 60 years, history of COPD, family history of lung cancer, active smoking, tobacco consumption more than 30 pack/year and lung hyperinflation. In multivariate analysis, the three independent risk factors for lung cancer were a family history of lung cancer, active smoking and the number of packs per year of tobacco consumption. Conclusions: The identification of risk groups probably will improve the performance of programs for early detection of lung cancer.

Groove pancreatitis vs groove pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Report of two cases and review of the literature / Groove pancreatitis vs groove pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a rare form of segmental chronic pancreatitis affecting the groove area (anatomic space between the head of the pancreas, the duodenum and the common bile duct). Its clinical and radiological presentation may be similar to groove pancreatic adenocarcinoma (GPA). Nevertheless, treatment and prognosis are totally different. We report two cases of both GP and GPA and review the relevant aspects that may help to clarify the differential diagnosis between these two rare entities. The first patient is a 57-year-old man with a history of chronic alcohol consumption who presented with persistent abdominal pain. The CT-scan findings suggested GP. Due to the persistence of symptoms despite medical treatment, a pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Pathologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of GP. The second patient is a 72-year-old male who presented with cholestasis and weight loss. The tumor marker CA 19-9 was increased The CT-scan findings were consistent with duodenal dystrophy. In order to rule out malignancy a pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Pathologic evaluation revealed a pancreatic head adenocarcinoma (T3-N1-M0). GP is a rare entity that should be suspected in patients with a history of heavy alcohol consumption who complain of chronic abdominal pain and weight loss. Patients without a clear diagnosis even after a through imaging work-up, or those in whom symptoms are persistent in spite of medical therapy, should undergo surgical exploration.

Impact of the National Health Fund policy on hormone treatment for prostate cancer in Jamaica / Repercusión de un subsidio del Fondo Nacional de Salud en la hormonoterapia para el cáncer de próstata en Jamaica

OBJECTIVE: To compare the proportion of patients choosing surgical versus medical castration to treat prostate cancer, before and after the National Health Fund (NHF) of Jamaica began to subsidize hormone therapy. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Jamaica. The pathology database at UHWI was searched to identify patients who had prostate biopsies between January 2000 and December 2007. These were combined with records of biopsies at external institutions. Medical records of all patients with positive prostate biopsies were reviewed to determine if they had received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients were classified as having had surgical castration (bilateral orchiectomy) or medical castration. Chi-square statistics were used to determine the difference in proportions between those choosing medical versus surgical castration before and after March 2005, when the NHF began offering subsidies for ADT drugs. RESULTS: Of the 1 529 prostate biopsies performed during the study period, 680 (44.0 percent) cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. Of these, 458 patients underwent ADT and had complete records available for analysis. The mean patient age was 72 years. During the entire study period, surgical castration was performed in 265 patients (58.0 percent) and medical castration in 193 (42.0 percent). A greater proportion of orchiectomies were performed before March 2005, rather than after (P < 0.001). Estrogens were the most common method of medical castration used before the NHF subsidy became available (62.0 percent); while luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues (38.0 percent) and antiandrogens (36.5 percent) were most often chosen afterwards. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical castration was more common than medical castration before March 2005. After the NHF began to subsidize the cost of drugs for hormone therapy, medical castration was chosen more often. Increased access to drugs for hormone therapy has changed treatment patterns in Jamaica.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la proporción de pacientes que eligen la castración quirúrgica frente a la castración farmacológica para tratar el cáncer de próstata, antes y después de la creación de un subsidio del Fondo Nacional de Salud (NHF, por sus siglas en inglés) de Jamaica destinado a cubrir los costos de la hormonoterapia. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un examen retrospectivo en el Hospital Universitario de las Indias Occidentales, Jamaica. Se efectuó una búsqueda en la base de datos de enfermedades de dicho hospital para identificar a los pacientes a quienes se les había practicado una biopsia de próstata entre enero del 2000 y diciembre del 2007. Los datos se combinaron con los registros de biopsias llevadas a cabo en instituciones externas. Se estudiaron las historias clínicas de todos los pacientes con resultados positivos en la biopsia de próstata para determinar si habían recibido tratamiento de supresión androgénica. Los pacientes se clasificaron en dos grupos, según se hubieran tratado mediante castración quirúrgica (orquiectomía bilateral) o farmacológica. Se usó la prueba de la ji al cuadrado para determinar la diferencia en las proporciones entre los pacientes que escogieron la castración quirúrgica y los que escogieron la opción farmacológica antes y después de marzo del 2005, la fecha en la que el NHF empezó a subsidiar los medicamentos de supresión androgénica. RESULTADOS: Entre las 1 529 biopsias de próstata realizadas durante el período de estudio, hubo 680 (44,0 por ciento) casos con diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata. De estos, 458 pacientes habían recibido tratamiento de supresión androgénica y se disponía de sus registros completos para el análisis. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 72 años. Durante el período de estudio, se les practicó castración quirúrgica a 265 pacientes (58,0 por ciento) y castración farmacológica a 193 (42,0 por ciento). La proporción de orquiectomías fue mayor antes de marzo del 2005 que después de esa fecha (P < 0,001). Los estrógenos fueron el método de castración farmacológica más común antes de la creación del subsidio del NHF (62,0 por ciento); a partir de ese momento se eligieron con mayor frecuencia los análogos de la hormona liberadora de la hormona luteinizante (38,0 por ciento) y los antiandrógenos (36,5 por ciento). CONCLUSIONES: La castración quirúrgica era más común que la castración farmacológica antes de marzo del 2005. Después de que el NHF empezó a subsidiar el costo de los medicamentos para el tratamiento hormonal, la opción escogida con más frecuencia fue la castración farmacológica. El mayor acceso a los medicamentos usados en la hormonoterapia ha cambiado los patrones de tratamiento del cáncer de próstata en Jamaica.

Seguimiento de mujeres con anormalidad citológica de cuello uterino, en Colombia / Following-up females having an abnormal Pap smear in Colombia

Objetivo Evaluar el acceso y la oportunidad al diagnóstico y al tratamiento que tienen las pacientes con lesiones cervicales de alto grado o cáncer de acuerdo con el reporte citológico, en Colombia entre junio 2005 a junio del 2006. Metodología Estudio retrospectivo mediante encuestas a una muestra de mujeres con anormalidad citológica residentes de cuatro departamentos de Colombia seleccionados por conveniencia en relación con diferentes tasas de mortalidad. Se realizó análisis descriptivo y se compararon las diferencias entre los departamentos. Resultados El 27 por ciento de las mujeres con lesiones de alto grado o invasoras no tuvieron acceso a alguno de los servicios diagnósticos o terapéuticos por razones de tipo administrativo de los servicios de salud, razones clínicas y culturales de las mujeres. Discusión Un elemento crítico que explica el bajo impacto en la mortalidad por cáncer de cuello uterino en la mayoría de los países de Latino América es la disociación entre actividades de tamización y las de tratamiento.

Objective Evaluating the opportunity and access to diagnosis and treatment for females having had an abnormal Pap smear (high-grade epithelial lesion and cervical cancer) in Colombia from June 2005 to June 2006. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective appraisal using a semi-closed survey of females having had an abnormal Pap smear with high squamous intraepithelial lesions or cervical cancer living in four Colombian departments. These areas were conveniently selected according to their different mortality rates. A descriptive analysis was made and the departments differences compared. Results It was found that 27 percent of females having high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or cervical cancer had no access to any of the diagnostic or therapeutic services. Health service administration problems and clinical and cultural ones affecting the females in the study could explain such results. Discussion Follow-up care after abnormal cytology was very poor and could explain the lack of cervical cancer screening impact in Colombia and in most Latin-American countries.

The impact of a community intervention to improve cervical cancer screening uptake in the Amazon region of Brazil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: In the northern region of Brazil, cervical cancer is the most important cause of cancer-related deaths among women. There is considerable likelihood, however, that official incidence and mortality figures are greatly underestimated. The aim of this study was to estimate the repercussions from improvement in cervical cancer screening programs on the incidence of pre-invasive and invasive cervical lesions in a municipality in this region. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a quasi-experimental study that assessed process dimensions relevant to the program objectives. The study comprised a sample of 2,226 women seen at primary healthcare units in Cruzeiro do Sul, a small city in the Brazilian Amazon region, from April 2003 to July 2004. METHODS: Women were recruited through local radio advertisements and by oral communication from the investigators. The women answered a structured questionnaire and underwent pelvic examination, which included Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and naked-eye inspection of the cervix after applying diluted acetic acid. Women with positive Pap smears or abnormal gynecological examination were referred for colposcopy and possible biopsy, diathermic large loop excision of the transformation zone or conization. RESULTS: The results obtained were compared with historical official data retrieved from the Brazilian Ministry of Healths database. Intervention resulted in a 40 percent increase in positive Pap smears and detection of cancer was nine times higher than had been observed in routine screening. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of pre-invasive and invasive cervical lesions in the intervention group was remarkably higher than among women seen during routine screening.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Na Região Norte do Brasil, o câncer do colo do útero é a mais importante causa de morte, por câncer, entre as mulheres. É muito provável, entretanto, que os dados oficiais referentes à incidência e à mortalidade estejam grosseiramente subestimados. O objetivo foi estimar as repercussões que a melhora dos programas de rastreamento possam exercer sobre a incidência de lesões pré-invasoras e invasoras do colo do útero em uma municipalidade da região Amazônica brasileira. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Este estudo "quasi-experimental" avaliou dimensões processuais relevantes para os objetivos do programa de rastreamento. Foi incluída uma amostra de 2.226 mulheres, atendidas em unidades básicas de saúde de Cruzeiro do Sul, uma pequena cidade da Amazônia Brasileira, entre abril de 2003 e julho de 2004. MÉTODOS: As mulheres foram recrutadas através de anúncio pelo rádio e por comunicação oral desempe-nhada pelos próprios pesquisadores. Após assinarem o Termo de Consentimento Informado, responderam a um questionário estruturado e foram submetidas a exame pélvico, o que incluiu coleta e colpocitologia oncológica (CO) e inspeção da cérvice após aplicação de ácido acético diluído. Mulheres com CO positiva ou exame ginecológico anormal foram encaminhadas para colposcopia e eventual biópsia, excisão diatérmica da zona de transformação ou conização. RESULTADOS: Os resultados obtidos foram comparados a dados históricos oficiais referentes à cidade de Cruzeiro do Sul, recuperados do banco de dados do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Em comparação aos dados históricos, a intervenção resultou em um aumento de 40 por cento na freqüência de CO positiva, e a detecção de câncer foi nove vezes superior àquela dos dados oficiais. CONCLUSÕES: A detecção de lesões cervicais pré-invasoras e invasoras no grupo que sofreu intervenção foi marcadamente superior à das mulheres atendidas pelo programa oficial de rastreamento.

Estudio endoscópico en familiares de primer grado de pacientes operados por cáncer colorrectal / Screening colonoscopy among first degree relatives of patients with colorectal carcinoma

Background: First degree relatives of patients with colorectal carcinoma are at a higher risk of having the disease than the general population. Therefore, they should be subjected to screening colonoscopy. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of colonoscopy among first degree relatives of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Material and methods: A free colonoscopy was offered to first degree relatives of patients operated on for colorectal cancer between 1998 and 2000. As inclusion criteria, subjects had to be asymptomatic, older than 40 years or less than 10 years younger than the index case. Each subject was contacted twice, inviting him/her to have a colonoscopy performed. Results: Two hundred forty three relatives were contacted for the study and in 76, a colonoscopy was performed. Among the latter, a neoplasm was found in 13 (17 percent): One adenocarcinoma and 12 adenomas. Three of these lesions were located in the right colon. The main reason given by the 176 subjects that did not agree to have a colonoscopy was lack of interest. Conclusions: Screening colonoscopy is effective to detect adenoma and adenocarcinomaamong first degree relatives of patients with colorectal carcinoma, however only 31 percent of all potential relatives agreed to undergo a colonoscopy.