Osteonecrosis of the jaw and bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis

A potential side effect associated with bisphosphonates, a class of drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis, Paget's disease and metastatic bone disease, is osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The incidence of ONJ in the general population is unknown; this rare condition also may occur in patients not receiving bisphosphonates. Case reports have discussed ONJ development in patients with multiple myeloma or metastatic breast cancer receiving bisphosphonates as palliation for bone metastases. These patients are also receiving chemotherapeutic agents that might impair the immune system and affect angiogenesis. The incidence or prevalence of ONJ in patients taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis seems to be very rare. No causative relationship has been unequivocally demonstrated between ONJ and bisphosphonate therapy. A majority of ONJ occurs after tooth extraction. Furthermore, the underlying risk of developing ONJ may be increased in osteoporotic patients by comorbid diseases. Treatment for ONJ is generally conservative.     

Pattern of recurrence in paediatric malignant glioma: an institutional experience

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the pattern of recurrence in paediatric malignant gliomas. Material and methods: We reviewed the notes, diagnostic imaging and treatment charts of 30 consecutive paediatric patients (age less than 18 years at diagnosis, range 0.5–17 years) presenting with a malignant glioma presenting to the paediatric oncology unit at the Royal Marsden Hospital over a 10-year period. The imaging at the time of first relapse was compared with the initial diagnostic scans to define a relapse as local, marginal or distant. Results: Median follow-up was 13 months (range 1–99 months). Twenty-four of 30 patients (80%) showed evidence of progression with a median time to progression of 8.5 months (range 3–64 months). Thirteen out of 24 patients developed local or marginal recurrences while 11/24 patients recurred at distant sites as site of first relapse (46%). Conclusion: Our series suggests that the pattern of relapses in paediatric malignant gliomas could be different from that reported in adult studies as we observed a significant incidence of distant relapses. Larger prospective series need to be conducted to investigate the clinico-biological characteristics of the population at high risk for leptomeningeal dissemination.     

羟考酮控释片联合双膦酸盐治疗骨转移癌69例

背景：盐酸羟考酮控释片属于第3阶梯用药,是治疗中重度癌痛的主要方法之一。目的：观察盐酸羟考酮控释片联合双膦酸盐治疗骨转移癌性疼痛的疗效及不良反应。方法：对69例骨转移癌患者口服盐酸羟考酮控释片治疗,在用药过程中根据疼痛缓解程度调整剂量;同时静脉滴注唑来膦酸4 mg每4周1次,连续2次后评价疗效和不良反应。结果与结论：发现骨转移癌患者的骨痛完全缓解25例(36%),部分缓解37例(54%),轻度缓解7例(10%),总有效率为90% (62/69);不良反应有便秘、恶心呕吐、腹胀、厌食、嗜睡、头晕、发热、肌肉痛等。结果表明,盐酸羟考酮控释片联合双膦酸盐治疗骨转移癌性疼痛疗效确切,有效率高,不良反应轻,患者可以耐受。关键词：盐酸羟考酮控释片;双膦酸盐;骨转移癌;疼痛;药物控释系统及其载体材料doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.25.028     

Primary meningeal sarcoma with leiomyoblastic differentiation complicating pregnancy

Intracranial malignant tumors during pregnancy are rare. Primary meningeal sarcoma with leiomyoblastic differentiation during pregnancy has not been reported. We present the case of a 25-year-old woman in the third trimester of pregnancy with a large intracranial tumor destructing the parietal calvaria and invasion of soft tissues. Histological examination revealed primary meningeal sarcoma with leiomyoblastic differentiation. A gross macroscopical resection of the tumor with removal of the infiltrated parietal calvaria was performed after delivery of a healthy baby through caesarean section. A mass on the head rapidly enlarging during pregnancy should be considered for a malignancy of intracranial origin. Early radiological exams as well as tumor resection followed by staging and multimodality treatment should be urgently performed.     

Effect of papillary and chromophobe cell type on disease-free survival after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

Background The clinical staging of renal cortical tumors traditionally has not evaluated the potential effect of histological subtypes on survival. Evidence suggests that conventional clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and nonconventional clear cell RCC (chromophobe and papillary) have different metastatic potential. Using a large renal tumor database, we examined the effect of tumor histology on the pattern of metastasis and patient survival. Methods All patients with nonmetastatic renal cortical tumors undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy were identified from a renal tumor database between July 1989 and July 2002. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Analysis revealed 1057 patients: 794 with conventional clear cell RCC, 157 with papillary RCC, and 106 with chromophobe RCC. Metastasis occurred in 95 conventional clear cell RCC, 9 papillary RCC, and 6 chromophobe RCC. Metastasis occurred in 95 conventional clear cell RCC, 9 papillary RCC, and 6 chromophobe RCC with a median follow-up of 34.6, 43.0, and 33.2 months, respectively. Using log-rank analysis, chromophobe and papillary RCC were associated with an improved disease-free survival at 5 years (P=.009 and .015, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed tumor size, stage, and chromophobe histology as significant variables for disease progression. Conclusions Renal cortical tumors have distinct histological subtypes with varying degrees of metastatic potential. Conventional clear cell RCC, which comprises two thirds of renal cortical tumors presenting with localized disease, has a less favorable outcome when compared with papillary and chromophobe RCC. Controlling for size and stage, chromophobe, and not papillary, RCC was a significant variable for disease progression compared with conventional clear cell RCC. Knowledge of renal cortical tumor histological subtype is critical for projecting prognosis, tailoring follow-up strategies, and designing clinical trials. Presented at the 56th Annual Cancer Symposium, Society of Surgical Oncology, San Diego, CA, March 5–9, 2003.