Clinical value of routine serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen in follow-up of patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the contribution to recurrence detection and survival of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-ag) analysis in the follow-up of early-stage cervical cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Follow-up data were evaluated in patients with early-stage squamous cell cervical cancer treated by radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without radiotherapy. Routine serum SCC-ag determination was performed at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Recurrent disease occurred in 35 (16%) of 225 patients and was preceded or accompanied by serum SCC-ag elevation 26 times (sensitivity, 74%). In five (14%) of these 35 patients, elevated serum SCC-ag was the first measured clinical indicator. Desite salvage therapy, all five patients died of disease. In the other 31 patients (21 with serum SCC-ag elevation), either symptoms and/or positive signs led to recurrence detection. Median survival time after recurrence was worse (9 months; range, 2 to 112+) for patients with an elevated serum SCC-ag value at recurrence in comparison with patients with normal serum SCC-ag values (20 months; range, 4 to 96; P <.01). In 23 of the 190 patients without recurrences, serum SCC-ag values became falsely elevated. In 16 of these 23 patients, the repeat sample after 6 weeks showed a normal SCC-ag, and in seven patients benign (especially skin) disorders were found. CONCLUSION: Serum SCC-ag analysis results in earlier recurrence detection in a small proportion (14%) of patients but did not contribute to better survival. As long as treatment possibilities for recurrent cervical cancer patients are not improved, serum SCC-ag analysis should not be carried out in routine follow-up.

Osteosarcoma of the sternum.

Primary malignant sternal tumours are very rare. The most common malignant sternal tumour is a chondrosarcoma. Until now, controversies in the management of malignant sternal tumours were mainly caused by limited clinical experience. However, treatment of malignant sternal tumours should not differ from that of chest wall malignancies. In this paper a 74-year-old man with a kyphoscoliosis and an osteosarcoma of the sternum is described who received combined treatment modalities, consisting of surgical resection and reconstruction with a myocutaneous flap, followed by external beam radiotherapy. This treatment strategy is discussed.

Pelvic girdle chondrosarcoma and inferior vena cava thrombosis.

Pelvic girdle chondrosarcomas in children and adolescents are extremely rare. These high grade malignant chondrosarcomas with a locally aggressive growth pattern have a high tendency for thrombus formations in the afferent tumour vessels, associated with an increased risk of inferior vena cava thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and metastatic spread to the lungs. This tumour location is generally non-resectable for cure and, since adjuvant chemotherapy is ineffective, patients die from the tumour thrombus formation causing tumour emboli and metastatic disease to the lungs. Effective local tumour control can be achieved with high-dose hyperfractionated radiation therapy.