Analysis of survival in patients with brain metastases treated surgically: Impact of age, gender, oncologic status, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, number and localization of lesions, and primary cancer site.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the survival of patients with brain metastases treated surgically according to the potentially involved factors. METHODS: 71 patients treated surgically were analyzed with the diagnosis of brain metastases during the period from January 2011 to November 2014, totaling 47 months of follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier curve method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS: We evaluated 71 patients with brain metastases treated surgically, 44 female and 27 male, mean age of 60.1 years. According to the Karnofsky scale, 44 patients were classified with Karnofsky greater than or equal to 70 and 27 patients with Karnofsky inferior to 70. Lung was the primary site most commonly found. Death occurred in twenty patients (28%), and lung tumors were responsible for the most deaths. Twelve patients had supra and infratentorial metastases, fifty-nine only had supratentorial lesions, and lesions were multiple in twenty-eight patients and single in forty-three. Thirty patients were also treated with chemotherapy, eighteen with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, while only three received just radiotherapy. Survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier curve showed no statistical significance regarding age, histological type, location, Karnofsky, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. There was statistical significance regarding gender. CONCLUSION: The factors analyzed did not change survival rates, except for gender. This fact may probably be explained due to the systemic and diffuse behavior of cancer.

Analysis of survival in patients with brain metastases treated surgically: Impact of age, gender, oncologic status, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, number and localization of lesions, and primary cancer site

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the survival of patients with brain metastases treated surgically according to the potentially involved factors. METHODS 71 patients treated surgically were analyzed with the diagnosis of brain metastases during the period from January 2011 to November 2014, totaling 47 months of follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier curve method was used for survival analysis. Results We evaluated 71 patients with brain metastases treated surgically, 44 female and 27 male, mean age of 60.1 years. According to the Karnofsky scale, 44 patients were classified with Karnofsky greater than or equal to 70 and 27 patients with Karnofsky inferior to 70. Lung was the primary site most commonly found. Death occurred in twenty patients (28%), and lung tumors were responsible for the most deaths. Twelve patients had supra and infratentorial metastases, fifty-nine only had supratentorial lesions, and lesions were multiple in twenty-eight patients and single in forty-three. Thirty patients were also treated with chemotherapy, eighteen with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, while only three received just radiotherapy. Survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier curve showed no statistical significance regarding age, histological type, location, Karnofsky, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. There was statistical significance regarding gender. CONCLUSION The factors analyzed did not change survival rates, except for gender. This fact may probably be explained due to the systemic and diffuse behavior of cancer.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Avaliar a sobrevivência de pacientes com metástases cerebrais tratados cirurgicamente de acordo com os fatores potencialmente envolvidos. Métodos 71 pacientes tratados cirurgicamente foram analisados com o diagnóstico de metástases cerebrais durante o período de janeiro de 2011 a novembro de 2014, totalizando 47 meses de seguimento. A curva de Kaplan-Meier foi utilizada para análise de sobrevivência. Resultados Avaliamos 71 pacientes com metástases cerebrais atendidas cirurgicamente, 44 do sexo feminino e 27 do sexo masculino, idade média de 60,1 anos. De acordo com a escala de Karnofsky, 44 pacientes foram classificados com Karnofsky maior ou igual a 70 e 27 pacientes com Karnofsky com menos de 70. O pulmão era o local mais comum. A morte ocorreu em 20 pacientes (28%) e os tumores pulmonares são responsáveis pela maioria das mortes. Doze pacientes apresentavam metástases supra e infratentoriais, 59 apresentavam apenas lesões supratentoriais, e as lesões eram múltiplas em 28 pacientes e isoladas em 43. Trinta pacientes também foram tratados com quimioterapia, 18 foram tratados com quimioterapia e radioterapia, enquanto que apenas três receberam apenas radioterapia. A análise de sobrevivência pela curva de Kaplan-Meier não mostrou significância estatística de acordo com a idade, tipo histológico, localização, Karnofsky, quimioterapia e radioterapia. Houve significância estatística em relação ao gênero. Conclusão Os fatores analisados não alteraram a sobrevivência, exceto o gênero. Este fato provavelmente pode ser explicado devido ao comportamento sistêmico e difuso do câncer.

Spinous process fractures after chiropractic massage in a previously healthy subject / Fratura de processo espinhoso após terapia quiroprática em um indivíduo previamente saudável

Increasing available alternative therapies to the treatment of back pain and sometimes difficult access to specialized medical evaluations allowed a widespread use of alternative therapies for the treatment of back pain. We describe a case with a consequence of massage therapy in a patient with initial symptoms of back pain resulting in spinous process fractures. She promptly searched medical attendance and cervical plain radiograph revealed avulsion of spinous processes of C6 and C7 in their outer third. Due to benign nature of lesion, without evidence of instability and spinal cord injury, the subject was managed conservatively, with application of a Philadelphia collar and analgesic medication. We reinforce the needof medical attention before beginning any therapeutic method in order to identify previous alterations and plan an adequate programming.

A disponibilidade de terapias alternativas para o tratamento da dor lombar e o difícil acesso a serviço médico especializado têm permitido um uso indiscriminado de terapias para o tratamento dessa dor. Descrevemos um caso de uma paciente submetida à terapia quiroprática por causa de dor cervical que evoluiu posteriormente com persistência da dor. A investigação radiológica evidenciou fratura com avulsão de processos espinhosos de C6 e C7. Por causa da natureza estável da lesão, o caso foi conduzido conservadoramente com colar Philadelphia, no entanto reforçamos a necessidade do correto diagnóstico da dor de coluna espinhal, especialmente se persistente e associada a sinais localizatórios.