Impact of unnecessary exploratory laparotomy on the treatment of patients with metastatic germ cell tumor

PURPOSE: Patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) may undergo unnecessary diagnostic or surgical procedures when this diagnosis is not considered. In a cohort of patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy for unsuspected metastatic GCT we determined the impact of this surgery on morbidity, therapeutic delay and cancer therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 2001, 40 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy for unsuspected metastatic GCT were later referred to our department for management. Patient records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean patient age at exploratory laparotomy was 34 years. All patients had a midline retroperitoneal mass and 14 had disease at other sites. At the time of evaluation at our institution abnormalities on physical examination and testicular sonogram were identified in 8 (20%) and 22 (55%) patients, respectively. Elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein and/or beta-human chorionic gonadotropin were identified in 26 patients (65%). Eight patients (22%) experienced complications from exploratory surgery. The median interval from laparotomy to chemotherapy was 29 days and in 48% of patients the delay in therapy was 30 days or greater. Of patients with a delay of 30 days or greater 60% required intensive chemotherapy (multiple regimens, or high dose or salvage chemotherapy) compared to 26% with a delay of less than 30 days (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Exploratory laparotomy contributes to therapeutic delay in a substantial number of patients and it complicates cancer therapy. At presentation evidence to suggest GCT was present in all patients, which highlights the importance of physician awareness in making a prompt diagnosis.     

Prediction of necrosis after chemotherapy of advanced germ cell tumors: results of a prospective multicenter trial of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic parameters of necrotic residual tumors after chemotherapy of advanced germ cell tumors to improve on the current indications for surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and January 2000, in 8 centers of the German Testicular Cancer Study Group, preoperative parameters were assessed to predict necrosis in the residual tumors of 261 patients with retroperitoneal residual tumor resection after first (92%) and second line (8%) chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of 232 evaluable patients 39 had pure seminoma and 5 had viable cancer (1 with seminoma) in the residual tumor. Of the remaining 193 patients with nonseminoma 35% had necrosis, 34% teratoma and 31% had viable carcinoma in the residual tumor. After multivariate analysis and exclusion of patients with seminoma, the 3 parameters independently predictive of necrosis were alpha-fetoprotein before chemotherapy less than 20 ng/ml, and tumor volume before and after chemotherapy. A mathematical model to predict necrosis yielded a test accuracy of 75%, a sensitivity to predict necrosis of 52% and a specificity of 87%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pure seminoma should not undergo residual tumor resection because 97% of patients who received adequate chemotherapy were found to have no residual seminoma. In cases of nonseminoma alpha-fetoprotein values before chemotherapy less than 20 ng/ml and a high percentage of shrinkage during chemotherapy reliably predicted only 19% of cases of necrosis. Therefore, this model is clinically irrelevant and patients with minimal residual disease should undergo surgery. New methods are necessary to improve the preoperative selection of patients after chemotherapy.     

Incidence of contralateral germ cell testicular tumors in South Europe: report of the experience at 2 Spanish university hospitals and review of the literature

PURPOSE: The crude and cumulative incidence of contralateral germ cell testicular tumors (GCTTs) is between 1% to 5% and 3% to 6% at 10 to 15 years in previously reported studies. To evaluate the real incidence of a second GCTT in a southern European population the medical records of 623 patients with GCTT successfully treated between 1976 and 1993 at 2 university hospitals were reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients had been treated with standard treatment strategies according to disease stage and diagnosis year. Contralateral biopsy at GCTT diagnosis was not performed in any patient. Only those with a survival of 1 year or greater were included. In addition to the imaging and biochemical (tumor markers) procedures used to diagnose disease relapse, physical examination of the contralateral testis and/or testicular ultrasound was done yearly. RESULTS: At a median followup of 8.6 years (range 2 to 19.7) 6 patients (1%) had a contralateral GCTT, which was synchronous in 1 and metachronous in 5. The cumulative risk of a contralateral GCTT was 1.2% (95% CI 0.1% to 2.3%) at 15 years and it did not depend on the treatment for the first GCTT. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of contralateral GCTT in our series was lower than expected compared with other published series. This finding mirrors the lower incidence of GCTT in the general population in our country than in other areas with a higher incidence of contralateral GCTT. Therefore, contralateral testicular biopsy at initial diagnosis is not mandatory in our experience.     

计算机辅助带锁髓内钉远端锁定瞄准系统的设计与实验研究

目的　测试计算机辅助带锁髓内钉远端锁定瞄准系统应用于下肢模型骨及尸体骨固定中的准确性及安全性。方法　采用 10根塑料模型胫骨 ,2 0根塑料模型股骨 (SynboneAG ,Malans,Switzerland) ,6具青年男性新鲜尸体的双下肢标本 ,随机平均分为两组 ,行胫骨、股骨带锁髓内钉内固定术 (Orthofix带锁髓内钉 ,每根针远端有 2孔 )。在远端锁钉时 ,实验组采用计算机辅助带锁髓内钉远端锁定瞄准系统 ;对照组采用Orthofix带锁髓内钉机械锁定瞄准器。两组以远端锁钉锁定的手术操作时间、在C型臂X线下暴露时间、锁定的成功率三项指标进行比较。结果　实验组锁钉锁定的手术时间、X线下暴露时间、锁定成功率分别为 (4 4 4± 2 99)min、(1 16± 0 38)min ,(10 0± 0 ) % ;对照组手术时间、X线下暴露时间、锁定成功率分别为 (10 4 2± 4 18)min ,(4 71± 3 86 )min ,(94 4 4±0 36 ) % ,两组手术与X线下暴露时间显著减少 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　计算机辅助带锁髓内钉远端瞄准系统设计合理、定位准确、操作简便、成功率高、缩短了手术时间 ,特别是在手术中对C型臂X线的依赖程度降低 ,在X线下暴露时间短 ,减少了医患人员的放射损伤。该系统能够通用于各种类型的髓内针 ,便于推广、普及。     

扩髓与非扩髓型股骨髓内针术后免疫因子释放水平的研究

目的通过检测部分免疫介质的释放水平,探讨在应用髓内针治疗股骨干骨折术后早期对机体免疫功能的影响.方法选择股骨干闭合骨折患者59例,男55例,女4例,平均年龄32.1岁,按伤情分为轻伤组(n=43)和中度伤组(n=16),采取闭合复位带锁髓内针固定治疗.轻伤组扩髓23例、非扩髓23例,中度伤组扩髓7例、非扩髓6例,分别于术前24 h和术后1、24、48 h通过ELISA法检测患者血中TNF、IL-6、IL-8、IL-10的水平,通过蛋白分析测定CRP的水平;同时选取22例健康志愿者作为正常对照组.结果轻、中度创伤患者术后各炎症指标均较术前有所上升;IL-6、IL-8、IL-10在术后1 h呈上升趋势,术后24 h达到高峰,术后48 h 三种因子水平均开始下降,但尚未恢复正常;TNF、CRP术后1 h仍较术前有所下降,但在术后24 h均出现明显上升,到术后48 h再次回落;轻伤与中度伤组不同时段的免疫指标均与对照组有明显差异(P《0.05).不同伤情患者扩髓后各免疫指标均高于非扩髓者,但除中度伤组中IL-10在术后24 h有差异显著性意义(P=0.047)外,其它指标差异均无显著性意义(P》0.05). 2例患者术后出现SIRS,观察发现与非SIRS患者相比各项免疫指标并无显著差别.结论对于轻、中度创伤患者,髓内针会造成机体免疫介质再次大量释放,但经机体免疫调节后不会产生严重的影响;不同方式髓内针固定对术后早期机体的免疫系统的影响没有显著的差异,但以IL-10为代表的免疫抑制因子很可能随着伤情的加重在应用髓内针,尤其是扩髓型髓内针时出现短期内大量释放,从而加重机体的免疫抑制.     

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis in breast cancer: clinical features, diagnosis, and therapeutic consideration

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCMs) are very rare, but can cause devastating complications from underlying breast cancer. We report the case of a woman with known metastatic breast cancer and progressive neurologic deterioration caused by an ISCM. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic considerations, and therapeutic options are discussed.     

Extraneural metastasis of the pineal germinoma via ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Extraneural metastasis of pineal germinoma is an infrequent event. We report a case of a 19‐year‐old boy who had pineal germinoma and was successfully treated with irradiation. He was diagnosed with abdominal metastasis of pineal germinoma via ventricuolperitoneal shunt 6 years afterwards. The disease was controlled with surgery and systemic chemotherapy.      

Testicular Seminoma 16 Years After Treatment for CNS Germinoma

Most patients with intracranial germinomas will be cured and become long-term survivors. Physicians caring for these patients should recognize that these patients may be at risk for disease-related and/or treatment-related late sequelae. We report the case of a 27-year-old man who developed testicular seminoma 16 years after treatment for intracranial germinoma. Like their testicular cancer counterparts, long-term survivors of intracranial germinomas may have a susceptibility to develop a subsequent germ cell tumor. These patients require lifelong medical follow-up and should be encouraged to perform testicular self-examination at the appropriate age.     

Spinal epidural metastasis from pineal germinoma

A 16-year-old boy first presented with a pineal tumour identified by neuroimaging but without positive serum or cerebrospinal fluid markers. The tumour disappeared after 50 Gy cranial irradiation. One year later he returned with spinal epidural metastasis from the pineal germinoma and required emergency surgery. Intraoperative findings showed that the spinal tumour had originated from cerebrospinal fluid dissemination and had passed through the spinal nerve sleeve. The pathologic diagnosis of the tumour was of a pure germinoma metastasis. An epidural tumour frequently requires emergency diagnosis and treatment. Attention should be paid to the possibility of this rare but serious clinical situation caused by a metastasis from a pineal germinoma.     

Rare sellar region tumors

We present three cases of rare intracranial midline tumor in the sellar region, often mimicking pituitary adenomas clinically. We describe their symptoms, radiological and pathomorphological features. The first case is a pituitary adenoma producing growth hormone with ganglion cell differentiation. In addition, a rare intracranial granular cell tumor of sellar region and germinoma of pituitary fossa are also presented. All tumors were resected and histologically analyzed. Their biological behaviour was favorable with a 10-year follow-up demonstrating no recurrent tumor mass.