Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Management of Patients with Temporal Lobe Gangliogliomas

OBJECTIVE To review the clinical features and surgical treatment for patients with temporal lobe gangliogliomas. METHODS Patients with temporal lobe gangliogliomas who underwent resection of temporal lobe tumors, confirmed by surgical pathology, seen between September 1998 and November 2004 at the West China hospital, were selected. Medical records were reviewed for age at diagnosis, age at onset of seizures, delay between seizure onset and tumor diagnosis, types and frequencies of seizures, EEG results, extent of surgery, and pathologic diagnosis. The follow-up periods varied from 12 to 60 months (mean 30 months). RESULTS Eighteen patients were identified, including 14 males and 4 females. Age at operation ranged from 4 years to 34 years (mean 17.6 years). All patients underwent at least one surgical procedure. Fifteen tumors were classified as WHO Grade I lesions, and 3 as WHO Grade II lesions. None of patients experienced a tumor recurrence. Among the patients, 85% had complete and sustained seizure relief. CONCLUSION Complex partial seizures and auras were the common presenting symptom of these patients. The follow-up suggested good relief from the seizures after surgery and a low risk for tumor recurrence and malignant progression.     

Early post-operative MRI： correlation with progression-free survival and overall survival time in malignant gliomas

Forty-seven patients with Glioblastoma （42） and Anaplastic Astrocytoma （5） were studied with MR 24 hrs after surgery. In order to evaluate the role of early MR in defining the extent of surgical resection and its relation with the prognosis of malignant glioma patients, three categories of surgical resection were considered： gross total, sub-total and partial resection. The results were correlated with progression-free survival （PFS） and overall survival （ST）. As demonstrated by early-MR, gross total resection was performed in 17 patients, sub-total and partial resection in 19 and 11 patients, respectively. The PFS was 6 months in gross total resection, 6 and 3 months in sub-total and in partial resection, respectively. The median survival time was 16 months in total resection patients, 13 months and 7 months in sub-total resection and partial resection patients, respectively.     

Multiple MR Imaging Techniques in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Resectability in Pancreatic Carcinoma

Objective: To study the value of multiple MR imaging techniques in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma and the assessment of resectbility of the lesion. Methods: MR imaging was performed in 18 pa-tients with surgically and/or pathologically proven pancreatic carcinoma. GRE T1WI, TSE T2WI, GRE T1WI with fat suppression, delayed enhancement GRE T1WI, MRCP and 3D DCE MRA were used in MR scanning. Tumor involvement of the celiac trunk and its main branches, superior mesenteric artery,the portal, splenic and superior mesenteric veins were prospectively graded on a 0-4 scale based on cir-cumferential contiguity of tumor to vessel. Results: On GRE T1WI and TSE T2WI all the lesions showed slightly hypointense and hyperintense, respectively; On GRE T1WI with fat suppression, all the tumors obviously appeared hypointense; On delayed enhancement GRE T1WI, the lesions displayed irregularly circular enhancement in 14 patients and well-distributed enhancement in 4 patients. MRCP showed exten-sive bile and main pancreatic duct dilatation with typical “double-duct“ sign in 8 patients. On 3D DCE MRA, we thought it was unresectable with more than half circumferential involvement of tumor to vessel,so that the portal, splenic and superior mesenteric veins were involved with 56% (10/18), 39% (7/18)and 67% (12/18), respectively. The celiac trunk and its main branches and superior mesenteric arteries were involved with 22% (4/18) and 17% (3/18), respectively. The pancreatic lesions in 2 cases could be completely resected in the evaluation of MR imaging, which was fitted to the findings of operation by pan-creatoduodenectomy. The pancreatic lesions in other 2 cases were partly, resected because there was tumor extension to superior mesenteric vein and/or artery. The tumors in the remaining 14 patients were too large and involved peripancreatic vessels or there were stomach or liver metastases, so these patients were only treated by choledochojejunostomy and gastrojejunstomy. Conclusion: The “all-in-one“ MR approach including fast scanning sequences, fat suppression, MRCP and 3D DCE MRA provides the surgeon with diagnosis and assessment of resectability of tlm lesion prior to surgery of pancreatic carcinoma.     

Excision of head and neck tumors combined with carotid artery resection without arterial blood vessel reconstruction

OBJECTIVE To summarize our clinical experience in treating 31 patients with neck masses undergoing carotid artery resection without arterial anastomosis （vascular reconstruction） in Tianjin Cancer Hospital during a period from 1979 to 2002. METHODS Preoperatively, patients were instructed to apply pressure to the carotid artery. Tumor excision combined with carotid artery resection （TECCAR） was conducted after an accurate testing of valid cerebral blood supply and compensation. RESULTS Among the study patients, 17 were male and 14 female, with the age ranging from 14 to 58 years. Of the 31 cases, 23 were carotid body tumors （8 malignant）, 2 vagal body tumors （1 malignant）, 4 carotid aneurysms, and 2 were metastatic tumors from the cervix involving carotid artery. Of the patients, a subtotal resection of the head and neck masses was conducted in 22 cases. Intraoperative death did not cerebrovascular complications occur, and postoperative CNS or （CVC） were not found. CONCLUSION TECCAR without arterial anastomosis is a safe and feasible procedure. In addition, this method of surgery has more advantages in comparison to an arterial anastomosis： i） Tumor resection was more complete, ii） Complications such as thrombus, infection, and lethal hemorrhage etc., were rare after surgery; iii） Postoperative radiotherapy, if needed, would be safe and acceptable; iv） It was a more simplified operational procedure.     

“Three-Grade Criteria” of Radical Resection for Primary Liver Cancer

OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to develop the “Three- Grade Criteria” for radical resection of primary liver cancer （PLC） and to evaluate its clinical significance. METHODS Criteria for radical resection of PLC were summed up to 3 grades based on criterion development. Grade Ⅰ： complete removal of all gross tumors with no residual tumor at the excision margin. Grade Ⅱ： on the basis of Grade Ⅰ, additional 4 requirements were added： （1） the tumor was not more than two in number; （2） no tumor thrombi in the main trunks or the primary branches of the portal vein, the common hepatic duct or its primary branches, the hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava; （3）no hilar lymph nodes metastases; （4）no extrahepatic metastases. Grade Ⅲ ： in addition to the above criteria, negative postoperative follow-up result including AFP dropping to a normal level （with positive AFP before surgery） within 2 months after operation, and no residual tumor upon diagnostic imaging.The clinical data from 354 patients with PLC who underwent hepatectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Based on the “Three-Grade Criteria” these patients were divided into 6 groups： Grade Ⅰ radical group, Grade Ⅰ palliative group, Grade Ⅱ radical group, Grade Ⅱ palliative group, Grade Ⅲ radical group, Grade Ⅲ palliative group. The survival rate of each group was calculated by the life-table method and the rates compared among the groups. RESULTS The survival rate of patients receiving radical treatment was better than those receiving palliative treatment （P〈0.01）. Survival improved as more criteria were applied. The 5-year survival rate of the patients in Grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ who underwent radical resection was 43.2%, 51.2% and 64.4%, respectively （P〈0.01）. CONCLUSION The “Three-Grade Criteria” may be applied for judging the curability of resection therapy for PLC. The stricter the criterion used, the better the survival would be. Adopting high-grade criteria to select cases and guide operations and strengthening postoperative follow-up would improve the results of hepatectomy for PLC.     

Treatment and Prognosis of Primary Adrenalcortical Adenocarcinoma-Report of 21 Cases

OBJECTIVE To analysize the treatment and prognosis of primary a-drenalcortical adenocarcinoma. METHODS Clinical data from 21 cases of patients with primary adreno-cortical adenocarcinoma were reviewed. There were 14 males and 7 females, ranging in age from 2 to 67 years (mean 45.6). The tumors were unilateral, and on the right side in 16 and on the left in 5. The sizes of the tumors ranged from 4 to 28 cm (mean 12 cm). There were 13 functional tumors with excess hormone production and 8 nonfunctional. Six cases showed evidence of adjacent tissue or lymph node invasion, and 3 cases had developed metastases. Radical curative resection was employed for 15 cases, 4 received a palliative operation and 2 only a biopsy. RESULTS All the cases were followed-up for 1 to 5 years. Overall 2 and 5-year survival rates were 52.4% (11/21) and 23.8% (5/21), respectively. CONCLUSION Adrenocortical adenocarcinoma appears to have a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and curative surgery were the most effective treatments.     

肝尾叶肝癌28例的手术切除体会

Ofbjective:To analyze the operative technique and results of the resection for caudate lobe carcinoma of the liver. Methods:The liver was fully freed of the ligments,short hepatic veins were divided and sutured,and the tumor was then freed frum the inferior vena cava(IVC).The caudate lobe was resected alone or in combination with other segment. Results:28 patients underwent resection of caudate lobe tumor.The number of the short hepatic veins transected and tied was 2-5(mean 3).An intermittent Pringle‘s manoeuver was used in 26patients with a median occlusion time of 21.7(range10-32)min.The median blood loss was 574(range100-1300)ml.No major complications such as massive bleeding and diliary fistula occurred.Intraoperative total vascular occlusion was perfored on lnly 5 cases.All patients were discharged from the hospital.Outpatient periodic TAEplus chemotherapy was performed.Postoperative recurence and metastasis was found in 13 cases,with 5 deaths. Conclusion:The use of third porta hepatis dissection for resection of the caudate lobe tumor can reduce the risk of massive bleeding during the operation and can raise the rate of resection of caudate lobe tumor.     

A Study of the Number and Metastatic Status of Lymph Nodes Ressected During Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Surgery

OBJECTIVE To analyze the number and the metastatic status of lymph nodes resected during NSCLC surgery, and to determine the relationship of the lymph node status to the prognosis. METHODS Clinical data from 1,575 inpatient NSCLC cases were retrospectively reviewed, and the number and the different metastatic status of the LNs resected analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. RESULTS Stage NO patients with 7 to 12 LNs resected during surgery had a significant increase in survival （P=0.001, 0.021）,compared to patients with less than 6 LNs or more than 12 LNs. Stage N1 or N2 patients with more than 12 LNs resected had a significant increase in survival（P=0.000 ,0.003）,compared with cases who had less than 6 LNs or 7 to 12 LNs resected.The 5-year survival rate of Stage NO patients was superior to Stage N1 and N2 patients （P =0.000,0.000）,and the 5-year survival rates of Stage N0 and skip N2 patients were superior to the continue N2 patients. Patients with a single station of LNs metastasis had a significant increase in survival （P=0.000）,compared with those with multiple stations of LNs metastasis. Patients with 1 to 2 metastatic LNs had a significant increase in survival （P=0.000）,compared with patients having more than 2 metastatic LNs.The metastatic LN ratio（percentage of metastatic lymph nodes resected） was divided into four subgroups： 〈25%, 25%～50%, 51%～75%, 〉 75%.The 5-year survival rate gradually decreased with an increase in the metastatic ratio. CONCLUSION For patients with NSCLC the number of LNs resected during surgery should be 7 to 12; the range and number of LN metastasis and the metastatic LN ratio significantly affect the prognosis of patients with NSCLC.     

GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS OF THE ANORECTUM——A SPECIAL ENTITY： GISTs OF THE ANORECTUM

Objective： Until recently gastrointestinal stromal tumor （GIST） has been separated from other mesenchymal neoplasms and categorized as a special entity. Morphology of tumor cells and immunohistochemical findings with CD117 are crucial in the pathological diagnosis of GISTs. Newly developed drug imatinib mesylate （formerly called STI571） has been proved effective for GISTs. The distinction of GISTs and other mesenchymal tumors has great clinical significance, especially for lesions located in the anorectum. Methods： The authors searched the database of Peking University, School of Ontology for patients with anorectal neoplasms treated from January 1995 to June 2002. Information of 12 patients with anorectal mesenchymal tumors was collected. The patients were reevaluated and discussed according to current criteria of GISTs with clinical data and immunohistochemical findings. Results： Six patients （including 3 males） were finally diagnosed as anorectal GISTs. The median age of those patients was 59.5 years （27～69）. The symptoms were not specific. Three cases with original diagnosis of leiomyoma or leiomyosarcoma were actually GISTs. A total of six anorectal GISTs was found comprising about 1.06% of patients with anorectal neoplasmas in the same period. Besides CD117, CD34 and vimentin were also expressed in majority of these patients. Five of the six patients underwent surgical resection one of which received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before resection Conclusion： Anorectal GISTs should be considered as a special entity using current diagnostic criteria. Surgical resection remains the primary therapeutic strategy. Neoadjuvant imatinib mesylate may be helpful in sphincter-sparing operations and improvement of the quality of life for these patients.     

冷冻异体骨移植治疗骨肿瘤切除后骨缺损

Objective： To evaluate the functional outcome and complications of allograft replacement in management of bone tumors. Methods： Between March 1992 and September 2002, 164 patients underwent bone tumor resection and massive allograft reconstruction of bone defects. The length of the resected part ranged from 5-35 cm. The resections were classified as marginal or wide resections of the tumor on the basis of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society staging system. Fresh-frozen allografts were employed as osteoarticular grafts （n = 95）, hemi-condylar （n = 15）, massive （n = 23）, allograft-prosthesis composite （n = 12）, intercalary grafts （n = 15） or hemi-pelvic grafts （n = 4）. Most of the lesions were osteosarcoma and giant cell tumor of bone and located in proximal and distal femur, proximal tibia and humerus. Results： At a median follow-up of 47 months （range, 12 to 168 months） after the operation, 154 of the patients in the study were free of disease and 10 died of disease. Twenty-one （12.8%） patients had local recurrence and 38 （23.2%） nonunion. Late complications included 11 （6.7%） fractures of the allograft and 18 （11.0%） infections of the graft, instability of the joint in the form of subluxation was noted in 13 （7.9%） patients. Ten extremities were amputated due to local recurrence or severe infection. Conclusion： AIIografts can be used for reconstruction of bony defects after tumor resection. AIIograft has nearly similar shape, strength, osteo-inductivity and osteo-conductivity with host bone. AIIograft implantation is a high complication reconstruction method, and the dsk of recurrence increases when less surgical margin achieves.     

Residual or recurrent cerebellar low-grade glioma in children after tumor resection： is re-treatment needed？ A single center experience from 1983 to 2003

PURPOSE： The aim of this study was to report on children with cerebellar low-grade glioma （LGG）, who were found to have progressive or nonprogresssive residual tumors or tumor recurrence after tumor resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS： Medical records and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） studies of children （〈16years） with cerebellar LGG were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS： Of 289 patients with CNS tumors referred between 1983 and 2003, 28 （9.7%） （15 male, 13 female; median age at diagnosis： 71 months） had cerebellar LGG （pilocytic astrocytoma grade Ⅰ： n=21; fibrillary astrocytoma grade Ⅱ： n=5; mixed hamartoma/pilocytic astrocytoma： n=1; radiographic diagnosis： n=1）. Total resection was initially performed in 16 patients （57.1%）, near total resection in 4 （14.3%）, and partial resection in 6 patients （21.4%）. One patient underwent biopsy. At a median follow-up of 112 months, 25 patients （89.3%） were alive, 18of them being in complete remission. Three patients died, 2 due to symptoms related to brain stem compression/infdtration and 1 patient due to postoperative cerebral edema. Presently 5 patients have nonprogressive residual tumors and 2 patients developed nonprogressive recurrences 10 years and 20 months after initial total resection, respectively. None of them required second surgery and none received additional nonsurgical therapies. Only 1 additional patient had to undergo second surgery due to disease progression. CONCLUSIONS： A ＂wait and see＂ strategy is justified in patients with nonprogressive recurrent or residual cerebellar LGG after primary tumor resection. However,     

Clnical Study of the Treatment of Patients with a Metastatic Spinal Tumor by Percutaneous Vertebroplasty under the Guidance of DSA

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical effect in patients with metastatic spinal tumors treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty （PVP） under the guidance of digital subtraction angiography （DSA）. METHODS A total of 110 cases with a metastatic spinal tumor were di- vided into 55 cases in the treatment group （group A ） and 55 cases in the control group （group B ）. The general clinical data were statistically analyzed before treatment with the parameters showing no differences. Group A was treated by PVP and chemotherapy as well. Group B was treated by the regular chemotherapy and regular radiation therapy. The same chemotherapy program was used for the same type of disease. All cases were provided with a follow-up survey for 12 months. During the follow-up survey, changes in the quality of life, in evaluation of bone pain and in vertebral column stability as well as adverse reactions were observed. RESULTS The statistics showed a significant difference between the 2 groups, specifically changes in the quality of life and evaluation of bone pain （P〈0.05, t1=2.74, t2=9.02）. During the follow-up survey, 5 cases in group A died of other organ complilcations, the death rate being 9.1% （5 out of 55）, but all survived more than 3 months following PVP. The vertebral columns of the survivors were kept stable, with no pathological fractures occurring in the vertebral bodies filled with bone cement, there were no obvious adverse reactions, and no paraplegia occurred. Thirteen cases died in group B with a death rate of 23.6% （13 out of 55）. Pathological compression fractures in the vertebral bodies occurred in 30 cases, and 12 cases of complicated paraplegia were noted. The incident rate of paraplegia was 21.8% （12 out of 55）. CONCLUSION PVP is a simple operation causing only small wounds and few complications. It can effectively alleviate pain of metastatic spinal tumors in patients, improve quality of life and reduce the incidence rate of paraplegia.     

Clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcome of gastric cancer in patients younger than 36 years of age

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to determine the clinicopathologic features of young patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to improve the clinical management of this disease. METHODS From 1981 to 2000, among 1,830 gastric cancer patients were admitted in our hospital for surgical treatment, 66 of them were 〈 36 years of age. The clinicopathologic data of these young patients were collected and reviewed. RESULTS The male ： female ratio was 1.2 ： 1. Most tumors were located in the lower third of the stomach （63.1%）. The overall 5-year survival rate of 66 cases was 28.7%. The 5-year survival rates in the patients with early stages and with advanced stages of gastric carcinoma were 77.8% （7/9） and 21.1% （12/57）, respectively. Unfavorable prognostic factors associated with poor 5-year survival included the degree of the invasion in the gastric wall （P 〈 0.05）, and curability of resection （non-curative vs. curative; P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION Gastric cancer in young adults tends to be more advanced presentation when diagnosed. However, young patients with early gastric cancer can tolerate radical treatments well. It is important to promptly make a precise diagnosis for gastric carcinoma in young patients and to treat it in early stage.     

Surgical Treatment and Prognosis of Synchronous Double Primary Lung Cancer： a Report of 31 Cases

OBJECTIVE The concept of double primary lung cancer （DPLC） has been generally accepted. Recently, an increasing incidence of synchronous DPLC has been reported, while the diagnostic standard and treatment strategies remain to be improved. This study was conducted to investigate effective surgical treatment and prognosis of synchronous DPLC. METHODS From January 1983 to April 2004, 31 patients with synchronous DPLC were operated in our department. Clinical data, such as surgical pattern, postoperative complications, and survival status, of all these patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS The 31 patients with synchronous DPLC accounted for 0.67% of all the 4,649 patients operated for primary lung cancer in our department during the same period. Both tumors of the synchronous DPLC were resected with Iobectomy or pneumonectomy in 12 patients, while among the other 19 patients at least 1 tumor was treated with partial pulmonary resection. The postoperative morbidity was 29%（9/31）, including 1 case of respiratory insufficiency, 3 cases of atelectasis, 2 cases of atrial fibrillation, 1 case of haemoptysis, 1 case of pleural effusion, and 1 case of wound fat necrosis. No deaths occurred during the operations or within 30 days postoperatively. The postoperative 1 -, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 52%, 29%, and 20%, respectively. CONCLUSION The incidence of synchronous DPLC is low. An aggressive and reasonable surgical approach can achieve a satisfactory outcome in patients with synchronous DPLC. The postoperative morbidity is low. Some patients might achieve long-term survival.     

Study of the Value of Combined Multiorgan Resection in Surgical Treatment of Carcinoma of the Gastric Cardia

OBJECTIVE:To determine the value of resection of combined visceral organs in surgical treatment of gastric cardiac carcinoma. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 217 random patients with car- cinoma of the gastric cardia who underwent a gastric cardiac resection.The patients had been treated as fol ows:186 with partial gastrectomy,31 with total gastrectomy,97 with a combined-visceral resection,of which 82 under- went a splenectomy plus partial pancreatectomy,10 with splenectomy alone and 5 with partial hepatectomy and diaphragmatectomy. RESULTS:The total patients were divided into 3 groups:128 with a gas- trectomy alone,10 with gastrectomy and splenectomy,and 82 with gastrec- tomy and splenectomy plus pancreatectomy.The operating times for these 3 groups were respectively 3.0 h,3.1 h and 3.8 h.The hospitalization times were respectively 23.8 d,31.2 d and 25.9 d.No differences in post-operative complications were found between these 3 groups.There were 92 patients who underwent a gastrectomy combined with a splenectomy and(or)the pancreatectomy,in which 92 No.10 lymph nodes were eliminated,with an average of one in each patient.Among the 125 patients not receiving a sple- nectomy but with elimination of lymph nodes,82 underwent a gastrectomy combined with partial pancreatectomy,of which 107 lymph nodes were elimi- nated for the No.11 group,with an average of 1.3 in each patient.There was a statisticaly significant difference between the 2 groups.The overal survival rates were similar in the 3 groups showing no statistical differences, but was higher in the Stage III patients with a combined resection of multi- organs.For patients in the Stage IV without resection of multi-organs,the survival rate was higher,but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION:It is difficult to determine precisely the involvement of para-tumorous organs with the eye during an operation.Combining a sple- nectomy with a pancreatectomy does not increase the post-operative compli- cations following surgical treatment for carcinoma of the gastric cardia.The combination of a splenectomy and partial pancreatectomy results in a higher survival rate and has an important significance for eliminating the lymph nodes of group 10 and 11,especially for patients in Stage III.In the applica- tion of a resection combining multi-organs,the doctor should make every effort to decrease the trauma and the complications based on the condition that the cancerous tissue is totally resected.     

Surgical treatment of skull base chondrosarcomas

Skull base chondrosarcomas are rare tumors and individual experience with their management is limited. We present a series of such tumors treated at our institution. Particular attention was paid to their extension pattern, choice of surgical approach, and outcome. Twenty-five patients were operated consecutively over a period of 19 years. Their clinical presentation, radiological features,surgical treatment, early and late treatment outcome, as well as survival rate were analyzed. The most frequent initial symptom was abducent palsy. The typical bone destruction of the petrous apex was found in 83%. Chondrosarcomas extended in 92% to the posterior cranial fossa. Total number of surgeries was 39. The operative approach was tailored to each case. The retrosigmoid approach was used in 30.8%, the pterional in 23%, and the transethmoid in 15.4%. Total tumor removal was achieved in 19 of the surgeries. New neurological deficits immediately after surgery appeared in 33.3%.     

Application of blocking unilateral main pulmonary artery in pulmonary lobectomy of lung cancer

OBJECTIVE To explore the application of blocking the unilateral main pulmonary artery （MPA） in pulmonary lobectomy （PL） for patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅲlung cancer, and to retrospectively analyze the methods of surgery for blocking the unilateral main pulmonary artery, perioperative indications, intraoperative concerns and postoperative cardio-pulmonary complications. METHODS During a period from January 2006 to January 2008, intra-pericardial, or extra-pericardial separation and blockade of the left or right MPA followed by completion of various PLs were conducted for 30 lung cancer patients in stage-Ⅱto Ⅲwith ill- defined anatomic structure of the pulmonary hilum and difficult pulmonary angiodiastasis. RESULTS In the 30 patients, 5 were diagnosed as stage-Ⅱb, 11 stage-Ⅲa, and 14 stage-Ⅲb. During the surgery, giant tumors at the superior pulmonary lobe, with a diameter of over 10 cm, were seen in 13 cases, in which tumor invasion in the extra-pericardiac pulmonary artery was found in 5 cases. Hilar lymphadenectasis with severe tumor adhesion to pulmonary blood vessel could be seen in 20 cases and partial tumorous invasion in the pericardium in 7. In most of the cases, adhesions existed around the tumor, aorta, superior vena, and azygous vein. Invasion of the laryngeal and vagus nerves on the left side was found in 3 cases. Of the 30 patients, simple PL was conducted in 12, and sleeve lobectomy combined with a pulmonary arterioplasty in 18 cases. With a blockade of unilateral MPA, no intraoperative hemorrhea of pulmonary blood vessels occurred during surgery, when there was a clear surgical field of vision. Both PL and lymphadenectomy were smoothly completed in the 30 patients. The healthy pulmonary lobes with normal function were kept and total pneumonectomy was avoided. The time of blocking the pulmonary artery ranged from 10 to 30 min, and intraoperative blood loss was from 200 to 300 ml. Postoperative complicated acute pulmonary edema occurred in 5 patients and tachycardia in 7 cases. Nevertheless, all patients recovered and left the hospital after treatment. No severe cardiopulmonary complications were found in all patients of the group. CONCLUSION Blocking the unilateral MPA is effective to decrease the risk of intraoperative hemorrhea in the PL. It can shorten the time of surgery, improve the excision rate of lung cancer, and cut down on the rate of total pneumonectomy.     

Cognitive and adaptive outcome in low-grade pediatric cerebellar astrocytomas： evidence of diminished cognitive and adaptive functioning in National Collaborative Research Studies （CCG 9891/POG 9130）.

PURPOSE： Clinicians often assume that children with posterior fossa tumors are at minimal risk for cognitive or adaptive deficits ff they do not undergo cranial irradiation. However, small case series have called that assumption into question, and have also suggested that nonirradiated cerebellar tumors can cause location-specific cognitive and adaptive impairment. This study （1） assessed whether resected but not irradiated pediatric cerebellar tumors are associated with cognitive and adaptive functioning deficits, and （2） examined the effect of tumor location and medical complications on cognitive and adaptive functioning. PATIENTS AND METHODS： The sample was composed of 103 children aged 3 to 18 years with low-grade cerebellar astroeytomas, who underwent only surgical treatment as part of Children＇s Cancer Group protocol 9891 or Pediatric Oncology Group protocol 9130. The sample was divided into three groups based on primary tumor location： vermis, left hemisphere, or right hemisphere. Data were collected prospectively on intelligence, academic achievement, adaptive skills, behavioral functioning, and pre-, peri-, and postsurgical medical complications. RESULTS： The sample as a whole displayed an elevated risk for cognitive and adaptive impairment that was not associated consistently with medical complications. Within this group of children with cerebellar tumors, tumor location had little effect on cognitive, adaptive, or medical outcome. CONCLUSION： We did not replicate previous findings of location-specific effects on cognitive or adaptive outcome. However, the elevated risk of deficits in this population runs contrary to clinical lore, and suggests that clinicians should attend to the functional outcomes of children who undergo only surgical treatment for cerebellar tumors.     

Predictive factors for the local recurrence and distant metastasis of phyllodes tumors of the breast：a retrospective analysis of 192 cases at a single center

The local recurrence rate of phyllodes tumors of the breast varies widely among different subtypes, and distant metastasis is associated with poor survival. This study aimed to identify factors that are predictive of local recurrence-free survival （LRFS）, distant metastasis-free survival （DMFS）, and overall survival （OS） in patients with phyllodes tumors of the breast. Clinical data of all patients with a phyllodes tumor of the breast （n = 192） treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between March 1997 and December 2012 were reviewed. The Pearson X2 test was used to investigate the relationship between clinical features of patients and histotypes of tumors. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors that are predictive of LRFS, DMFS, and OS. In total, 31 （16.1%） patients developed local recurrence, and 12 （6.3%） developed distant metastasis. For the patients who developed local recurrence, the median age at the diagnosis of primary tumor was 33 years （range, 17-56 years）, and the median size of primary tumor was 6.0 cm （range, 0.8-18 cm）. For patients who developed distant metastasis, the median age at the diagnosis of primary tumor was 46 years （range, 24-68 years）, and the median size of primary tumor was 5.0 cm （range, 0.8-18 cm）. In univariate analysis, age, size, hemorrhage, and margin status were found to be predictive factors for LRFS （P = 0.009, 0.024, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively）, whereas histotype, epithelial hyperplasia, margin status, and local recurrence were predictors of DMFS （P = 0.001, 0.007, 0.007, and 〈 0.001, respectively）. In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for LRFS included age [hazard ratio （HR） = 3.045, P = 0.005], tumor size （HR = 2.668, P = 0.013）, histotype （HR = 1.715, P= 0.017）, and margin status （HR = 4.530, P〈 0.001）. Histotype （DMFS： HR = 4.409, P= 0.002; OS： HR = 4.194, P= 0.003） and margin status （DMFS： HR = 2.581, P= 0.013;