Sentinel lymph node biopsy for high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Analysis of recurrence-free survival.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is a malignant epithelial cell tumor. CSCC has a tendency to spread via lymphogenic pathway. Metastases are found in 2%-6% of cases. Prognosis of patients with CSCC is directly related to the morphology and localization of primary tumor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recurrence-free survival of patients with CSCC after tumor excision and SLNB as well as to analyze morphologic CSCC features related to patient recurrence-free survival. MATERIALS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective analysis of 51 patients with CSCC, who underwent surgical treatment between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2014, in the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, was done. The diagnosis of CSCC was verified on a histological examination, and all patients had no clinical evidence of nodal or distant metastases on a physical examination or imaging studies. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was performed for low- and high-risk CSCC patients. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were enrolled into the study (34 women and 17 men). Total of 68 lymph nodes were removed during sentinel lymph node biopsy. No micrometastases were identified. Until April 1, 2015, no relapse event was documented. The mean time after operation was 27.5 months. During the follow-up period, no distant metastases were identified. CONCLUSIONS: No patient who had no micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes developed local and distant CSCC metastases during the follow-up period. Our report supports the concept that SLNB can be applied for CSCC. It is obvious that larger prospective studies with longer follow-up period are needed to establish the efficacy of SLNB and define the optimal treatment of occult nodal metastasis for CSCC.

Surgical treatment of pressure ulcers: an 11-year experience at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological characteristics of pressure ulcers, methods of surgical treatment and its effectiveness in the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective data analysis of 139 patients with pressure ulcers treated in the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, from January 1996 to January 2007 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were surgically treated for pressure ulcers at the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, from January 1996 to January 2007. Eighty-one patients were treated repeatedly (from 1 to 7 admissions; M=1). Pressure ulcers were healed completely in 94 patients who underwent surgery during the treatment in the hospital; in 45 patients who underwent surgical treatment, pressure ulcers were partially healed, and on discharge from hospital, only small wounds were left. Pressure ulcers most commonly occur in tuber ischii area (69 cases). The mean age of patients was 42+/-13.65 years (M=31); pressure ulcers were for 8.9+/-8.5 months on average (M=31). At admission to Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, the mean size of pressure ulcers was 42.62+/-53.27 cm(2) (M=10). The results showed that the size of pressure ulcers depends on the duration of paraplegia (P<0.05). In 93 cases, pressure ulcers were treated using myocutaneous flaps; 17 of them were closed with V-Y advancement technique over the sacral area, 35 were closed with m. gluteus rotation flap, and in 41 cases, V-Y advancement technique using hamstring flaps was used. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with paraplegia, the first pressure ulcer occurs after 74.79+/-61.34 months from the onset of the disease. Pressure ulcers most commonly occur over tuber ischii area. The most effective surgical treatment of pressure ulcers is closure of the wound using myocutaneous flaps (use of the hamstrings); fasciocutaneous flaps were the most commonly used method in patients who underwent surgery for the second time.

The comparison of two methods of treatment evaluating complications and deficiency of functions of hands after deep partial skin thickness hand burns.

UNLABELLED: Hands actively participate in daily activities of a human; therefore, hands are the most vulnerable parts of the human body. People injure hands so often because namely hands are in the closest position to the dangerous equipment. According to the data of various authors, the injuries of hands and fingers make even 30-75% of all industrial traumas, and burns of hands account for about 6% of all traumas of hands. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of active surgical treatment method with conservative treatment method, applied for the treatment of deep dermal partial skin thickness burns of the hands, wrists, and forearms of distal third. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 49 patients with burned hands participated in the perspective study of random sample (totally 79 hands). All these patients were treated in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine, during the period of 2001-2005. The patients were assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Applying conservative method of treatment of deep partial skin thickness burns, the frequency of infectious complications was increased. In order to evaluate the state of scar, we applied the scale of Vancouver and analyzed the pigmentation of a scar, its height, flexibility, and color. After statistical analysis had been performed, we determined that more changes of skin were seen in the group, which received active surgical treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significantly fewer complications were in the group of active surgical treatment in the early (fewer infectious complications, smaller area of unnaturalized autograft) and in the late (scars were less rough, with less changes of pigmentation) postoperative periods.

Importance of sentinel lymphatic node biopsy in detection of early micrometastases in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common malignant skin cancer with a tendency to spread through the lymphogenic pathway. Metastases are found in 2-6% of cases. The aim of this study was to determine CSCC micrometastases when non-invasive examination methods do not detect them. METHOD: A total of 88 patients were included in the study with clinically diagnosed, histologically confirmed CSCC and no distant or regional lymph node metastases detected during instrumental tests. The patients were grouped into low- and high-risk CSCC groups. They underwent one-stage surgery - radical tumour excision and sentinel lymph node/nodes biopsy (SLNB). Significance level of 0.05 was chosen for testing statistical hypotheses. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-three sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were detected and excised in 88 patients. Micrometastases were found in five SLNs of three patients with high-risk CSCC. The rate of micrometastases was 3.4%; however, in the high-risk group it was 6.5%. The mean diameter of CSCC with micrometastases in SLN was 5.6 ± 3.5 cm, and that without micrometastases was 1.5 ± 1.1 cm (p = 0.003). The depth of CSCC according to Breslow in the patients with detected micrometastases in SLN was 3.5 ± 1.2 mm, and that without detected micrometastases was 2.2 ± 1.4 mm (p = 0.047). Patients with micrometastases in sentinel lymphatic nodes underwent radical lymphadenectomy. There was neither recurrence of CSCC metastases in regional lymph nodes nor distant metastases during the research period detected. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CSCC the rate of micrometastases directly correlates with the depth and diameter of the tumour. In patients with high-risk CSCC the rate of micrometastases is 6.5%.

Epidemiology of paediatric burns in Lithuania: focus on a vulnerable population exposed to the risk of scalds at home without hot tap water supply.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of paediatric burns in Lithuania, identify the trends of burn occurrence, the vulnerable population and aetiology. METHODS: This study was based on all inclusive national information obtained from the National Health Insurance database for the period of 2001-2010. Information on the burns aetiology was collected in the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Heath Sciences Kauno Klinikos. FINDINGS: 7146 children in the age group of 0-14 were hospitalized in Lithuania and constituted 44% of all admissions due to burns. The incidence among boys was 149.8 and among girls 99.9 per 100,000. The highest risk of burns was observed from 11 to 15 months of age. Scalding in 0-1 years age group composed 96% of all burns in this age group. CONCLUSION: Children younger than 2 years of age are a vulnerable population of burns in Lithuania. Scalding was main cause of their burns. The aetiological subgroups of scalding were scalding with hot drinks/food and scalding with hot water meant for household. The major part of scalding with hot drinks was due to scalding with parents' drinks. Scalding with hot water meant for household is associated with the lack of hot water supply.

Measurement of melanoma thickness--comparison of two methods: ultrasound versus morphology.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the association between non-invasive ultrasound examination and morphologic test results in the measurement of cutaneous melanoma thickness influencing surgical treatment strategy. METHODS: Our prospective clinical study has been conducted in the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital (KUMH) since January 2004 until October 2008. A total of 100 patients with a clear clinical diagnosis of stage I-II cutaneous melanoma were enrolled in this study. Melanoma depth was measured using a linear 14-MHz frequency ultrasound sensor (Toshiba Xario XG). Surgically removed fragments of skin-subcutaneous tissue were fixated using 10% formalin solution in the operating theatre, and sent to KUMH Clinic of Pathological Anatomy. The most informative sections were analysed for tumour thickness, according to Breslow, as well as tumour type, vascular and lymphatic invasion and dissemination. A comparative data analysis of melanoma thickness measured by ultrasound (T) preoperatively and histologically estimated cutaneous melanoma (CM) thickness according to Breslow (pT) using the Bland-Altman method was performed. RESULTS: Higher mean difference of melanoma thickness (60 µm) between T and pT measurements was found when tumour thickness matched pT1 and pT2 categories. In cases of CM depth exceeding 2mm, mean difference of measurements between CM thickness determined by ultrasound and histological examination was lower (30 µm). Data regression analysis showed that correlation between T and pT measurements was lower when CM was thinner (1-2 mm) (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r: 0.283). In cases of thicker melanoma (>2 mm), strong and statistically significant (p<0.0001) correlation (r: 0.869) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Correlation between melanoma thickness measured using a linear 14-MHz frequency ultrasound sensor and histologically estimated melanoma thickness according to Breslow was lower if melanoma was thinner (1-2 mm). However, in cases of thicker melanoma (>2 mm), very strong correlation between measurements was observed.

[Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma patients: methods, indications, and clinical significance]. / Sarginio limfamazgio biopsijos metodai, indikacijos ir tyrimo reiksme odos melanomos atvejais.

The incidence of melanoma in Lithuania has doubled over the last decade. Sentinel lymph node biopsy, currently becoming a standard method in the US and Europe, is a minimal invasive and highly sensitive surgical procedure. It can be used for the detection of melanoma micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes in cases when non-invasive methods fail to reveal them. Both disease-free survival and disease-specific survival were significantly better for patients with a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy. A. Breslow thickness, W. H. Clark level, and ulceration of the melanoma were strong predictors, but not as strong as the histological status of the sentinel lymph node. The procedure for sentinel lymph node biopsy is nowadays standardized, including preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy combined with intraoperative gamma probe guidance and blue-dye injection. The aim of this article is to present an update of the sentinel lymph node biopsy method and the prognostic significance of this procedure on the basis of more than 400 sentinel lymph node biopsy's carried out at the Department of Dermatology of the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg since 1997 and the results of recently published studies in the literature.