Early ovarian cancer: Is there a role for systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy?

Baiocchi G, Raspagliesi F, Grosso G, Fontanelli R, Cobellis L, di Re E, di Re F. Early ovarian cancer: Is there a role for systematic pelvis and para-aortic lymphadenectomy? Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 103–108.
In order to focus on the incidence and the clinical significance of lymphatic spread in patients with cancer apparently confined to the ovaries, we present our 20 year experience in a large series of patients with early ovarian cancer who had systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. A retrospective study of 280 consecutive patients is presented. Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was performed in 205 cases (73.2%). Selective sampling and node biopsy were performed in 30 (10.7%) and 7 (2.5%), respectively. Node metastases were found in 32/242 patients (13.2%). The incidence of metastatic nodes was significantly higher in patients with serous adenocarcinomas and/or poorly-differentiated tumors. When few nodes were involved (1–3) lymphatic spread was most ipsilateral to the tumor. Even though the retrospective nature of the study has to be considered, univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in 5-year survival based on FIGO stage, histology, grade of differentiation, and node status. By contrast, using multivariate analysis, none of these risk factors was an independent variable for predicting long-term survival. However, node status closely approached the statistically significant level ( P = 0.06). Only prospective and randomized studies can clarify the role of lymphadenectomy in early ovarian cancer. However, while awaiting these results, this surgical procedure should be a part of a research protocol.     

上颌骨掀翻复位术在良性涉颅鼻腔鼻窦肿瘤中的应用

目的探讨涉颅良性鼻腔、鼻窦肿瘤的手术治疗方法。方法报道６例鼻腔、鼻窦良性肿瘤侵及颅底的病例，其中骨化纤维瘤３例，骨瘤１例，骨软骨瘤１例，骨巨细胞瘤（Ｉ～Ｉ级）１例，均采用１侧上颌骨掀翻复位术及颅面联合进路手术切除肿瘤，全部切除肿瘤４例，近次全切除２例。结果无手术并发症，术后随访２～３年，５例无异常，１例骨化纤维瘤术后２年复发。结论上颌骨掀翻术是一种较好的治疗涉颅良性鼻腔、鼻窦肿瘤的手术方法。     

Assessment of vascularity in breast carcinoma by computer-assisted video analysis (CAVA) and its association with axillary lymph node status

Case-control methodology was used to evaluate the significance of vascularity in small breast carcinomas with regard to the presence or absence of axillary lymph node metastases. Vascularity was assessed in 32 axillary node positive primary breast tumours (LN+ve) less than 2 cm in size and compared with 56 control axillary node negative primary tumours (LN–ve), which were matched for histological type and grade and tumour size. This study design employed computer-assisted video analysis (CAVA) to assess the total blood vessel perimeter (BVP), total blood vessel area (BVA), and total blood vessel density (BVD) throughout a tissue section that encompassed an entire cross section of the tumour and its immediate periphery. The BVA and BVD in these tumours were not significantly different between LN+ve and LN–ve groups. The LN–ve carcinomas had, on average, a significantly (P < 0.05) higher total BVP (3355 µm/mm²) than LN+ve tumours (2771 µm/mm²). 'Hot spot' areas were also independently assessed by two pathologists and the same areas measured by CAVA. A strong correlation (P < 0.001) between the two methods of assessment of BVD of the neovascular 'hot spots' was found; however, no association with axillary lymph node metastasis was found using either method of assessment. In conclusion, vascularity assessed by either blood vessel density or blood vessel size in primary invasive breast cancers less than 2 cm in diameter showed no association with axillary lymph node metastasis; in fact a negative association was found with total BVP of whole tumour sections and BVD in 'hot spots' using CAVA. Further, this study has established a computer-assisted method of quantifying vascularity in solid neoplasms and is a positive step towards a standardised approach to this diverse and methodologically variable area.     

Effect of hyperventilation on brain tissue oxygenation and cerebrovenous PO2 in rats

Previous studies have shown that cortical tissue oxygenation is impaired during hyperventilation. However, it is important to quantify the effect of hyperventilation on brain tissue PO(2) and cerebrovenous PO(2) simultaneously especially since cerebral venous oxygenation is often used to assess brain tissue oxygenation. The present study was designed to measure the sagittal sinus PO(2) (PvO(2)), brain tissue PO(2) in the thalamus (PtO(2)), and brain temperature (Bt) simultaneously during acute hyperventilation. Isoflurane-anesthetized rats were hyperventilated for 10 min during which time the arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO(2)) dropped from 40.3+4.9 mmHg to 23.5+2.8 mmHg. PtO(2) declined from 26.0+/-4.2 mmHg to 14.8+/-5.2 mmHg (P=0.004) while brain temperature decreased from 36.5+0.3 degrees C to 36.2+0.3 degrees C (P=0.02). However, PvO(2) and arterial blood pressure (BP) did not change during hyperventilation. The maintenance of PvO(2) when perfusion is thought to decline and PtO(2) decreases suggests that there may be a diffusion limitation, possibly due to selective perfusion. Therefore, cerebrovenous PO(2) may not give a good assessment of brain tissue oxygenation especially in conditions of acute hyperventilation, and deeper brain regions other than the cortex also show impaired tissue oxygenation following hyperventilation.     

Reciprocating tachycardia during central venous cannulation in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is important for the anesthesiologist because the sudden development of tachyarrhythmias may result in deleterious hemodynamic changes. We describe an episode of reciprocating tachycardia triggered by the insertion of the guide wire during central venous cannulation in a patient with this syndrome.     

上颌窦息肉及囊肿处理方法的探讨

目的 :探讨鼻内镜下上颌窦内息肉、囊肿手术切除方法。方法 :将上颌窦内有息肉和囊肿的 96例患者随机分为两组 :治疗组 5 0例 ,对照组 4 6例。治疗组应用Rudolf 4 .5mm上颌窦开窗器 ,经下鼻道钻孔 ,套管内窥及息肉和囊肿 ,电动吸引切割器切除。对照组经扩大的自然开口 ,用上颌窦息肉钳清除窦口可见到的息肉和囊肿。结果 :术后随访 6个月 ,治疗组治愈 4 1例 ,好转 8例 ,无效 1例 ,总有效率为 98.0 0 % ,治愈率为 82 .0 0 % ;对照组治愈 2 8例 ,好转 11例 ,无效 7例 ,总有效率为 84 .78% ,治愈率为 6 0 .87% ,两组比较 ,差异均有统计学意义 (P <0 .0 1和P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :鼻内镜下经下鼻道钻孔上颌窦息肉、囊肿电动吸引切割术是一种简单、疗效肯定的手术方法 ,可以提高慢性鼻窦炎的治愈率。     

48例鼻腔鼻窦肉瘤的临床分析

目的：探讨鼻腔鼻窦肉瘤的临床表现、诊断、治疗及预后，以提高对鼻腔鼻窦肉瘤的诊疗水平。方法：回顾性分析48例鼻腔鼻窦肉瘤患者的临床资料。结果：鼻腔鼻窦纤维肉瘤4例，恶性纤维性组织细胞瘤3例，脂肪肉瘤4例，平滑肌肉瘤5例，横纹肌肉瘤5例，骨肉瘤2例，软骨肉瘤3例，恶性黑色素瘤4例，非霍奇金淋巴瘤4例，浆细胞肉瘤1例，恶性神经鞘膜瘤5例，嗅神经母细胞瘤5例，血管肉瘤3例，综合治疗后随访，1，3，5年生存率分别为62．5％，46．7％，35．7％。结论：鼻腔鼻窦肉瘤不易明确诊断，结合免疫组织化学有助于诊断，对肿瘤易复发及全身转移者，综合治疗可提高生存率。     

额窦引流系统的CT解剖特征及价值

目的探讨额窭引流系统的CT解剖特征及价值。方法对17例正常成人颅骨标本行螺旋CT横断位扫描．将原始图像传输到工作站，分别行冠状面和矢状面重建。结果螺旋CT三维成像技术能清楚显示钩突的附着部位和类型，其中在34侧钩突中，纸样板12侧（35．3％），鼻丘气房4侧（11．8％），中鼻甲9侧（26．5％），前颅底6侧（17．6％）．分叉3侧（8．8％）；在额隐窝气房28侧中，终末气房15侧（53．6％），鼻丘气房7侧（25．o％），前筛气房6侧（21．4％）：额窭内气房共30侧，有额气房10侧（33．3％），眶上气房12侧（40．o％），额窦中隔气房即M气房8侧（26．7％）。结论了解额窦引流系统的CT解剖特征，可以为慢性额窦炎术前提供有用的信息。     

The prognostic role of the sentinel lymph node in clinically node-negative patients with cutaneous melanoma: experience of the Genoa group

AIM: To define the benefit of intraoperative frozen section examination of the sentinel lymph node (sN), and to assess its prognostic value in clinically node-negative melanoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1993 and December 2001, 214 patients with Stage I-II cutaneous melanoma underwent sN biopsy; complete follow-up data are available in 169 of 175 patients who underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, lymphatic mapping with Patent Blue-V and radio-guided surgery (RGS). RESULTS: In an initial subset, the sN was identified in 35 out of 39 patients; in the principal group of 169 patients, the sN was detected in all patients. The benefit of frozen section examination, that is the proportion of all patients having intraoperative histologic examination who tested positive, was 17.2% (29/169); notably, in patients with pT(1-2) vs pT(3-4) melanoma the corresponding values were 2.3 and 33.3%, respectively, (P=0.000). Cox regression analysis for overall survival indicated that sN-positive patients had a two-fold increased risk of death; the most significant predictors of relapse-free survival were sN status (P=0.004), age (P=0.015), and T stage grouping (P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: The sN is a reliable predictor of regional lymph node status in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Frozen section examination can be useful in avoiding a 'two-stage' operative procedure in patients with tumour-positive sN, but its greatest benefit seems to be restricted to patients with pT(3)-pT(4) primary melanoma.     

Prognostic factors in maxillary sinus and nasal cavity carcinoma

AIMS: The aim of the present study is to define prognostic factors, particularly the impact of treatment on paranasal sinus and nasal cavity malignancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with maxillary antrum and nasal fossae malignancies. A maxillectomy classification as performed to treat malignancies in our institution is described. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was done using the Cox's model. RESULTS: One hundred and nine patients were evaluated. Squamous cell carcinoma was found in 62 cases and in 95 patients the epicentre of the tumour was located in the maxillary antrum. Ten patients were treated with surgery only, 39 patients with surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy, 37 cases received only radiotherapy, and 18 received radiotherapy followed by surgery; in five cases a combination of chemo-radiotherapy was used. Multivariate analysis identified T classification, orbit invasion, N classification, site of origin of tumour in nasal fossae, and no surgical resection as independent prognostic factors (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: T4 tumours with orbit invasion present bad prognosis as compared to other T4 tumours. Surgical resection should be included in the treatment strategy. Because of the high frequency of lymph-node metastasis, neck treatment should be considered in T4 tumours.