Surgery for gallbladder cancer: The need to generate greater evidence

The outcomes for gallbladder cancer remain largely dismal to this day. Overall, the low incidence of gallbladder cancer around the world coupled with an even lower number of patients amenable to surgery at the time of presentation, has precluded the generation of evidence-based guidelines for the management of this cancer. However, while the incidence of the cancer may be decreasing in some parts of the world, in other countries such as India, Japan and Chile, gallbladder cancer continues to affect a sizeable population of patients. As such, there is a growing need to define what constitutes an adequate surgery for each stage of this cancer, based on sound evidence. This editorial provides a broad overview of the existing problems in the management of gallbladder cancer and appeals for multi-institutional studies aimed at answering some of the pertinent questions on the surgical management of gallbladder cancer.     

肝胰十二指肠切除术治疗胆囊癌疗效的系统评价

目的 系统评价肝胰十二指肠切除术治疗胆囊癌的疗效.方法 检索中国知网、万方数据、PubMed、Embase等数据库关于肝胰十二指肠切除治疗胆囊癌的随机对照试验(RCT)、非随机对照研究、非随机实验性研究、病例对照研究、队列研究、案例系列研究等,各数据库检索时间均由建库至2019年12月.由两位学者按照纳入与排除标准筛选...     

Racial disparities in rectal cancer treatment: a population-based analysis

HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that there are significant racial disparities in delivery of care to rectal cancer patients. We examined differential surgical and radiation treatment for these patients and determined whether blacks were less likely than whites to undergo sphincter-sparing procedures, which are associated with a higher quality of life than sphincter-ablating procedures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study.Patients and SETTING: The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database provided population-based data for rectal cancer patients who were diagnosed between 1988 and 1999, were older than 35 years, and had no prior colorectal or other pelvic cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Using logistic regression, we compared receipt and type of surgical therapy and radiation therapy, controlling for age, sex, year, geography, stage, and anatomic location. RESULTS: Among 52 864 patients, 3851 were black and 44 010 were white. Blacks were younger than whites and had more advanced disease (P<.001). Among patients who underwent operation, rates of sphincter-ablating procedure were 37% for whites and 43% for blacks (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.65). Moreover, 53% of whites and 56% of blacks received no radiation therapy for stage II to III disease (AOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.15-1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Blacks with rectal cancer were diagnosed at a younger age and more advanced disease stage than whites, implying a need for more aggressive screening. After adjusting for stage and other covariates, surgical and radiation treatment also differed along racial lines. Our data suggest that treatment disparities may contribute to differences in outcome among racial/ethnic groups with rectal cancer, and they highlight the need for improving access to state-of-the-art surgical care for minority patients with rectal cancer.     

Secondary gastric cancer malignancies following a breast cancer diagnosis: A population-based analysis

ObjectiveTo quantify the population-risk of developing gastric cancer (GC) following breast cancer (BC).MethodsGC incidence following a ductal or lobular BC were separately compared to incidence in the general United States population using SEER data.ResultsGC rates were similar to the general population for ductal BC. Women aged 35–75 with lobular BC had a significantly higher incidence of GC; women aged 40–44 had the highest risk.ConclusionThe risk of secondary GC is high among young women diagnosed with lobular BC. More studies investigating the etiology and prevalence of familial GC syndromes at the population-level are needed.     

A patient-centred approach toward surgical wait times for colon cancer: a population-based analysis

Background

Administrative wait times reflect the time from the decision to treat until surgery; however, this does not reflect the total time a patient actually waits for treatment. Several factors may prolong the wait for colon cancer surgery. We sought to analyze the time from the date of surgical consultation to the date of surgery and any events within this time frame that may extend wait times.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the cases of all adult patients in Ontario aged 18–80 years with diagnosed colon cancer who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy and underwent resection electively between Jan. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2009. Wait times were measured from the date of surgical consultation to the date of surgery. We chose a wait time of 28 days, reflecting local administrative targets, as a comparative benchmark. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify variables contributing to a waits longer than 28 days. Variables were analyzed in continuous linear and logistic regression models.

Results

We included 10 223 patients in our study. The median wait time from initial surgical consultation to resection was 31 (range 0–182) days. Age older than 65 years had a negative impact on wait time. Preoperative services, including computed tomography, cardiac consultation, echocardiography, multigated acquisition scan, magnetic resonance imaging, colonoscopy and cardiac catheterization also significantly increased wait times. Wait times were longer in rural hospitals.

Conclusion

Preoperative services significantly increased wait times between initial surgical consultation and surgery.     

Opportunistic prostate cancer screening: A population-based analysis

BackgroundProstate specific antigen (PSA) utilization in population-based prostate cancer (CaP) screening, has been a controversial area for decades. Current recommendation in our region is for an opportunistic approach to screening, with estimated low prevalence of such practice in the community. However, our clinical observations suggested that the extent is beyond what might be expected from an opportunistic screening practice. This study aims to estimate the current prevalence and the extent of opportunistic CaP screening, and investigate the contemporary patterns of PSA testing in a large population.MethodsFrom 2008 to 2017, all men in the Northern cancer network of New Zealand, who had a screening PSA test performed in a community laboratory were identified. The study variables were accessed from multiple prospectively maintained databases. These included: Age, Ethnicity, Region, Social deprivation, Medical therapy, CaP history, Gleason score, and PSA test information (results and date). Population estimations were obtained from customized an updated national census data.ResultsThe study cohort constituted 311,725 men, with 1,208,214 PSA tests performed, in the ten-year period. The mean age at first test was 55.2 years and each man received approximately 4 PSA tests. The prevalence of opportunistic CaP PSA screening in men aged 40 to 79 years, was 87% of the region population. In the 50 to 69-year age group, 65% of men in the region had been receiving regular 2-yearly, screening PSA tests. Men who had 3 or more PSA tests, were more likely to be diagnosed with CaP (Odds ratio [OR] 1.85, P < 0.001).ConclusionsPSA based CaP screening, is a highly prevalent practice in the NZ community. This raises concerns regarding the quality of the individual counseling process and the adequacy of resources allocated to accommodate for such practice.     

胆囊癌危险因素的单中心回顾性分析

目的:探讨胆囊癌相关的危险因素,为该疾病的防治提供理论依据。方法:采用病例对照研究方法,选取2009年1月—2017年12月就诊于中南大学湘雅医院诊断为胆囊癌的316例患者以及同期就诊的316例年龄组成、性别比例与前者相近的其他疾病患者,分析胆囊癌发病相关危险因素分析。结果:316例胆囊癌患者平均年龄(60.2±10.6)岁,50岁及以上患者占82.28%,男女比例为1:1.95,156例(49.4%)合并胆囊结石,其中胆囊充填型结石30例。单因素及多因素分析显示,胆囊结石是胆囊癌唯一的危险因素(OR=6.72,95%CI=4.52~10.02,P0.01)。在研究时间范围内胆囊癌合并胆囊结石患者例数呈先上升后下降趋势,每年占胆囊癌患者总例数比例基本一致;女性胆囊癌患者中合并胆囊结石比例较男性高(P0.01)。胆囊癌合并胆囊结石患者中未行根治性手术以及TNM分期为ⅢB、Ⅳ期的比例均较胆囊癌非胆囊结石患者高(均P0.05)。结石直径越大或充填型结石的发生胆囊癌的相对危险度增加(均P0.05)。结论:胆囊结石可能是胆囊癌的主要危险因素之一。随着胆囊结石直径的增大、数目的增多,患胆囊癌的风险也在增加。胆囊癌合并胆囊结石的患者分期相对较晚,对于发展为胆囊癌相对危险度较高的结石类型,建议及时行手术治疗。     

Surgery for diverticular disease results in a higher hernia rate compared to colorectal cancer: a population-based study from Ontario,Canada

Background

Incisional hernias are a well described complication of abdominal surgery. Previous studies identified malignancy and diverticular disease as risk factors. We compared incisional hernia rates between colon resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) and diverticular disease (DD).

Study design

We performed a retrospective, population-based, matched cohort study. Provincial databases were linked through the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. These databases include all patients registered under the universal Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Patients aged 18–105 undergoing open colon resection, without ostomy formation between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2009, were included. We excluded those with previous surgery, hernia, obstruction, and perforation. The primary outcomes were surgery for hernia repair, or diagnosis of hernia in clinic.

Results

We identified 4660 cases of DD. These were matched 2:1 by age and gender to 8933 patients with CRC for a total of 13,593. At 5 years, incisional hernias occurred in 8.3% of patients in the CRC cohort, versus 13.1% of those undergoing surgery for DD. After adjusting for important confounders (comorbidity score, wound infection, age, diabetes, prednisone and chemotherapy), hernias were still more likely in patients with DD [HR 1.58, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.43–1.76, P < 0.001]. The only significant covariate was wound infection (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.43–1.87, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study found that incisional hernias occur more commonly in patients with DD than CRC.

     

Subtype-specific incidence of testicular cancer in Germany: a pooled analysis of nine population-based cancer registries

Comparisons of incidence estimates of testicular cancer subtypes beyond seminoma and non-seminoma are virtually missing in the epidemiologic literature. We analysed incidence data from population-based German cancer registries to provide subtype-specific incidences of testicular cancer. We pooled data from nine cancer registries from 1998 to 2003. We estimated incidence and mortality time trends of West and East Germany. Incidence and mortality were standardized by the European standard population. The annual percentage incidence change from 1961 through 1989 was 4.9% in East Germany and 3.0% from 1970 through 2004 in Saarland. Incidence increases were the most pronounced among adolescents and young men aged 15–49 years. In 1998–2003, the seminoma incidence rate was 5.1 per 100 000; among non-seminomas, the rates were the highest for malignant teratoma (1.6 per 100 000), followed by embryonal carcinoma (1.2 per 100 000). Testicular lymphomas were rare (0.1 per 100 000). The incidence of testicular cancer among children aged 0–14 years was nearly constant from 1987 through 2004. Majority of these cancers were yolk sac tumours (0.1 per 100 000). In East and West Germany, rates of embryonal carcinoma in the early periods were considerably lower than the rates of malignant teratoma. In the most recent periods, rates of embryonal carcinoma became quite similar to the rates of malignant teratoma. The mortality decline started in West Germany roughly 12 years earlier than in East Germany. The later start of the mortality decline in East Germany may be because of a later introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy compared to West Germany.     

原发性胆囊癌的影像学诊断分析

目的:探讨B超、CT等影像学检查在诊断原发性胆囊癌中的作用 。方法:对原发性胆囊癌63例的术中所见、病理检查及手术前影像学检查结果,进行回顾总结并作比较分析 。结果:术前诊断为胆囊癌37例,术前诊断率为58.7%(37/63),B超及CT术前确诊率分别为64.8%(35/54)和62.9%（22/35） 。结论:B超和CT是诊断原发性胆囊癌的主要辅助诊断方法,值得推广。     

胆囊癌45例诊治分析

为是提高胆囊癌早期诊治水平，现将我院胆囊癌45例回顾分析如下。     

Prognostic factors for survival in pancreatic cancer: a population-based study

BACKGROUND: We performed a population-based study of patients from the deep South of the United States (with >25% black residents) to evaluate the survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer. Our aims were to analyze prognostic factors influencing pancreatic cancer survival using the population-based Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry and to determine whether race/ethnicity is an independent determinant of outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Eligible participants included all persons diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from 1996 to 2000 and reported to the Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry. Survival time was calculated from time of diagnosis to death for pancreatic cancer deaths or to date of last contact or death from other causes for censored participants. Risk factors associated with survival were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier survival method and the log-rank test. Demographic, tumor, and treatment variables were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Of 2230 patients, the median age at diagnosis was 71 years and the male to female ratio was approximately 1:1. Seventy-three percent of patients were white, and 27% of patients were black. The distribution by stage was 12.5% localized disease, 29.6% regional, 35.3% distant, and 22.6% unstaged. The median survival time for all patients was .39+/-.01 years. Patients who underwent surgical treatment were less likely to die of pancreatic cancer (hazard ratio, .48; 95% confidence interval, .41-.56). Similarly, patients who underwent either chemotherapy or radiation therapy had improved survival rates (hazard ratio, .62; 95% confidence interval, .53-.73). Across all stages, black patients were significantly less likely to receive chemotherapy compared with white patients (26.7% vs 32.3%, P=.02), and were less likely to receive surgical intervention (14.02% vs 17.0%, P=.09). When examining patients who were offered their therapy of choice but refused, we found across all stages that a greater proportion of black patients refused therapies versus whites: 5.6% versus 2.9% (P=.02) for chemotherapy, 3.8% versus 1.6% (P=.04) for radiation, and 9.0% versus 3.3% (P=.001 for surgery). The Cox proportional hazard model showed no effect of race on overall survival time while controlling for stage at presentation, type of therapy received, age at diagnosis, and site of primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Survival in patients with pancreatic cancer remains dismal. Tumor characteristics and treatment factors are related directly to survival time in patients with pancreatic cancer. Black patients were less likely to receive therapy but also were more likely to refuse the indicated therapy. Factors leading to racial disparity in the treatment of pancreatic cancer warrant further investigation.     

Glomerulonephritis and malignancy: a population-based analysis

BACKGROUND: An association between glomerulonephritis and malignant tumors has previously both been found and discarded in clinical series, but to our knowledge never has been tested in a population-based setting. METHODS: The Danish Kidney Biopsy Registry includes all kidney biopsies performed from 1985. Using a unique personal identification number, each person in the registry to the National Population Registry and the Danish Cancer Registry were linked. Cancer occurrence after the biopsy was compared in patients with morphological, glomerular diseases with that of the general Danish population, taking into account sex, age, calendar period and time since biopsy, and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the observed-to-expected rates was calculated, assuming a Poisson distribution. Cancer occurrence was stratified to <1 year, 1 to 4, and >or=5 years after a biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 102 de novo cancers were found in 1958 patients. These cancers represent a two- to threefold excess of the expected number at <1 and 1 to 4, but not >or=5 years after a biopsy. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were observed six to eight times more than expected. Cancer excess was seen in glomerulonephritides with a known or suspected virus etiology. CONCLUSIONS: The excess cancer rate could be the result of underlying undiagnosed tumors whose antigens have initiated glomerulonephritis, or the immunosuppressive therapy that initiated or energized tumor cells. Based on the findings in our study, there is some support for an association to persistent viruses causing first the glomerulonephritides and then the malignancies, perhaps through a common pathogenesis. This calls for other studies to be done that are specifically designed to investigate this issue, with more data on patient characteristics and confounders.     

意外胆囊癌临床治疗预后多因素对照分析

目的 探讨意外胆囊(IGBC)治疗预后的危险因素及评价腹腔镜胆囊切除术(LC)对IGBC治疗预后的影响.方法 回顾性分析2001年1月至2008年12月期间55例IGBC腺癌患者的临床资料.按不同手术方式将其分成3组,即腹腔镜组(n=23)、转开腹组(n=6)和开腹组(n=26).运用生存分析及Cox回归模型比较组间生存率差异及了解IGBC预后的相关危险因素.结果 全组术后1、3、5年生存率分别为74.3%、47.7%、35.8%,中位生存期为36个月.各组生存率的差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).Cox回归分析结果显示,病理T分期是影响IGBC预后的独立危险因素(OR=2.75,P=0.00);随着肿瘤浸润深度的增加,患者的牛存预后明显变差.而手术方式、切口种植等因素与预后无关(P＞0.05).结论 IGBC预后与病理T分期有关,而LC对IGBC的治疗预后与开腹胆囊切除术相比无差异.     

A population-based analysis of pediatric breast cancer

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in demographics and outcomes of pediatric breast cancer in a United States population-based cohort.

The use of pelvic radiation in stage II rectal cancer: a population-based analysis

National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines recommend the use of pelvic radiation in T3N0 rectal cancer. We sought to determine the rate of compliance with NIH radiation guidelines for patients with T3N0 rectal cancer. We performed a retrospective cohort study of T3NO rectal cancer diagnosed between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2003, in Region 5 of the California Cancer Registry (R5 CCR). Three hundred twenty-nine patients with T3N0 rectal cancer were identified. The mean age of the study population was 68 years (range, 28 to 93 years). Only 54.1 per cent of patients with T3N0 cancer received pelvic radiation. There was no difference in gender (P = 0.13) or the number of nodes examined (P = 0.19) between patients who had treatment with pelvic radiation and those who did not. However, patients receiving radiation were significantly younger (mean 64 years with radiation therapy [XRT] vs. 72 years without XRT, P < 0.001) and significantly more likely to be treated with systemic chemotherapy (75% with XRT vs. 8.6% without XRT, P < 0.001). Significant numbers of patients with T3N0 rectal cancer are not receiving pelvic radiation in R5 CRR. NIH guidelines are not being translated into clinical practice. The reasons for this warrant continued investigation.