Outcome of surgery in patients with hematological malignancies: A 12-year retrospective analysis

Background: Surgical intervention in patients with malignant hematological disorders is a major undertaking due to the expected risks of bleeding, infection and poor wound healing. Methods and materials: A retrospective study of patients treated at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, Saudi Arabia between January 1991 and December 2002 was conducted. The results of patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma who underwent surgical procedures (study group) were compared with those of a control group composed of patients with the same spectrum of disorders treated over the same period of time and given the same treatment protocols but never required any surgery. Results: No single death occurred intraoperatively or in the immediate postoperative period due to surgical therapy per se. However, follow up of both groups of patients revealed a shorter long‐term survival and higher rates of relapse and severe invasive infections in the surgical group compared to the control group of patients. The mean survival for the study group was 1871 ± 307 days versus 3094 ± 279 days for the control group of patients (P = 0.0027). Thirty (75%) study patients suffered relapses of their malignant hematological disorders versus 23 (37.1%) control patients. Forty‐five relapses were encountered in the study group of patients (1.5 relapses per relapsed patient) versus 26 relapses in the control group (1.13 relapses per relapsed patient). Various infections occurred in 37 (92.5%) study patients and 32 (51.6%) control patients. Recurrent infections developed in 30 (75%) study patients and 22 (35.5%) control patients (P = 0.00008). Infections causing tissue invasion were encountered in 29 (72.5%) study patients and 22 (35.5%) control patients. Conclusion: Even major surgical procedures can be performed in patients with leukemia or lymphoma provided enough preparatory measures are made to minimize bleeding and infectious complications. Surgery may, however, be associated with long‐term complications such as a high incidence of relapse of the primary malignant hematological disorder and an increased rate of severe and invasive infections.     

腹腔镜对不明原因腹水诊断价值研究

目的探讨腹腔镜探查对不明原因腹水的诊断价值及总结手术操作经验。方法回顾性分析1999年9月至2006年10月,第二军医大学附属长海医院普外科在全麻下对72例不明原因腹水病人进行腹腔镜探查,并取可疑组织送病理检查的病例资料。结果腹腔镜手术探查阳性68例(阳性率94.5%),其中结核性腹膜炎44例(61.1%),转移性腺癌12例(占16.7%),腹膜间皮瘤5例(占7.0%),卵巢外腹膜浆液性乳头状癌4例(占5.5%),淋巴瘤、血吸虫病、结肠癌各1例,未明确诊断4例(阴性率为5.5%)。行腹腔镜探查术的病人均未出现并发症。结论腹腔镜腹水探查是一种安全有效的诊断方法,通过镜下观察及活检组织的病理检查基本可以确定产生腹水的病因。腹腔镜在不明原因腹水探查的应用,对操作有其特别要求。     

基质金属蛋白酶及其抑制物对葡萄胎恶变的预测价值研究

目的　探讨基质金属蛋白酶 (MMPs)及其抑制物TIMPs在葡萄胎恶变预测中的价值。方法　采用免疫组化SP法测定 39例葡萄胎 (其中 11例发生恶变 )和 17例正常相同孕周的绒毛组织中MMP 2、MMP 9、TIMP 1、TIMP 2的表达及分布。结果　正常绒毛组织、葡萄胎组织的滋养细胞胞浆中MMP 2、MMP 9、TIMP 1、TIMP 2均有表达。MMP 2、MMP 9在葡萄胎发生恶变组的表达明显强于正常绒毛组和葡萄胎未发生恶变组 ,而TIMP 1,TIMP 2在正常绒毛组和葡萄胎组之间表达无显著性差异。MMP 2 /TIMP 2、MMP 9/TIMP 1在葡萄胎恶变组织中的表达强于在正常绒毛组织的表达。结论　在葡萄胎清宫组织中进行MMP 2、MMP 9的检测 ,有望成为判断葡萄胎日后恶变的一项预测指标     

斯奇康联合丝裂霉素顺铂胸腔内注射治疗肺癌恶性胸水的疗效观察

目的　探讨斯奇康联合丝裂霉素、顺铂胸腔内注射治疗肺癌恶性胸水的有效性和安全性。方法　对我科1999年以来确诊为肺癌恶性胸水的 5 3例患者 ,随机分为斯奇康组 ( 2 7例 )和对照组 ( 2 6例 ) ,进行胸腔内注药 ,观察治疗的有效率、Karnofsky评分及不良反应。结果　斯奇康组与对照组治疗有效率分别为 88 8%和 5 3 9%,两组比较有显著性差异 (P <0 0 1) ;两组治疗后生存质量均有改善 ,但Karnofsky评分 70分以上治疗组为 66 7%,对照组为 3 0 8%,两组比较差异显著 (P <0 0 1) ;两组均出现不同程度的白细胞、血小板减少 ,但治疗组与对照组相比反应明显较轻 ,有显著性差异 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　斯奇康联合丝裂霉素、顺铂胸腔内注射治疗肺癌恶性胸水疗效较好 ,毒副反应较轻。     

Digital computer analysis of dermatoscopical images of 260 melanocytic skin lesions; perimeter/area ratio for the differentiation between malignant melanomas and melanocytic nevi

BACKGROUND: Digital computer analysis of dermatoscopical images has been reported to facilitate the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions in recent years. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to perform digital computer analysis of a set of different melanocytic lesions and compare the objective results. METHODS: The set of 260 melanocytic lesions (150 excised difficult cases (46 melanomas, 47 atypical nevi, 57 common nevi and 110 unexcised common nevi) was automatically analysed by the digital dermatoscopical system microDERM. We searched for differences in asymmetry, size, compactness and colour distribution. Perimeter/area ratio was calculated. RESULTS: The perimeter/area ratio was detected as the most important criterion for differentiation between malignant and benign melanocytic lesions (sensitivity 91.3% and specificity 90.7% for malignant melanomas vs. all benign nevi; sensitivity 91.3% and specificity 80.8% for melanomas vs. clinically atypical nevi). Differences in size of the lesion, shape and asymmetry of colour were found and statistically verified. Using step-wise logistic regression the formula for calculation of probability of malignant nature of every analysed lesion was constructed. CONCLUSION: The perimeter/area ratio is a simple parameter for the differential diagnosis of melanocytic skin lesions.     

The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign,pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions

The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign, pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions The role of chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx has not been clearly defined. Whilst toxic chemotherapy regimes may confer a marginal improvement in survival, surgery and radiotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment. Somatostatin is a naturally occurring peptide, which exerts antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects via five membrane‐bound receptor subtypes. The expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) 1 and 2 was studied in benign, pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens. Epithelial expression of SSTR1 was detected in 4/6 (67%) Reinke's oedema, 5/6 (83%) pre‐malignant and 8/12 (67%) malignant specimens, with virtually no stromal or vascular expression. High levels of epithelial SSTR2 expression were noted in all Reinke's oedema specimens, compared with low‐to‐moderate levels in only 2/6 (33%) pre‐malignant and 3/12 (25%) malignant specimens (P < 0.01). This ‘loss’ of epithelial SSTR2 expression may provide a growth advantage in pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions. Vascular expression of SSTR2 was ubiquitous in all groups, with scant stromal expression. Overall, most (>80%) pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens expressed at least one of the two SSTR subtypes studied. Somatostatin analogues may have a therapeutic role in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.     

Malignant chiasmal glioma: a rare cause of rapid visual loss

The clinical, neuroradiological, and histological findings of an adult patient suffering from malignant optic glioma is reported. Rapid visual deterioration was misdiagnosed for several months until biopsy confirmed the tumor. The patient died despite radiation therapy nine months after first symptoms. Our presentation will focus on the problems of diagnosing and establishing therapeutic procedures in this rare malignant neoplasm.     

Fluidity state of lymphocyte plasma membrane in malignant hyperthermia susceptible pigs and humans

Recent studies suggest that abnormalities occur at the lipid level in malignant hyperthermia susceptible humans and pigs. To test this hypothesis, we first investigated the physical state of plasma membranes of lymphocytes isolated from normal and malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine. In halothane-challenged pigs, malignant hyperthermia susceptibility was also assessed by ryanodine binding assay on purified sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. The results clearly show that plasma membrane of lymphocytes from malignant hyperthermic pigs are significantly more fluid than controls. We then attempted to apply the same methodology to lymphocytes prepared from human patients previously diagnosed by the halothane and caffeine contracture test. In that case, there was no clear relationship between malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and the fluidity state of lymphocyte plasma membranes.     

Primary malignant melanoma of the rectum: Report of a case

We describe herein a rare case of primary malignant melanoma of the rectum in an 85-year-old woman. The patient presented with intermittent rectal bleeding, and a colonoscopy revealed an ulcerated polypoid mass in the rectum, located 5 cm from the anal verge. The lesion was histologically characterized by solid growths of small round cells with scanty cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli. Although no melanin pigment was found in the tumor cells, they were immunohistochemically positive for HMB-45, a monoclonal antibody highly specific for malignant melanoma. Thus, HMB-45 proved very useful to establish a diagnosis of amelanotic malignant melanoma of the rectum.