Indeterminate pulmonary nodules are not associated with worse overall survival in Ewing Sarcoma

AimLung metastases are a negative prognostic factor in Ewing sarcoma, however, the incidence and significance of sub-centimetre pulmonary nodules at diagnosis is unclear. The aims of this study were to (1): determine the incidence of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs) in patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma (2); establish the impact of IPNs on overall and metastasis-free survival and (3) identify patient, oncological and radiological factors that correlate with poorer prognosis in patients that present with IPNs on their staging chest CT.Materials & methodsBetween 2008 and 2016, 173 patients with a first presentation of Ewing sarcoma of bone were retrospectively identified from an institutional database. Staging and follow-up chest CTs for all patients with IPN were reviewed by a senior radiologist. Clinical and radiologic course were examined to determine overall- and metastasis-free survival for IPN patients and to identify demographic, oncological or nodule-specific features that predict which IPN represent true lung metastases.ResultsFollowing radiologic re-review, IPN were found in 8.7% of patients. Overall survival for IPN patients was comparable to those with a normal staging chest CT (2-year overall survival of 73.3% [95% CI 43.6–89] and 89.4% [95% CI 81.6–94], respectively; p = 0.34) and was significantly better than for patients with clear metastases (46.0% [95% CI 31.9–59]; p < 0.0001). Similarly, there was no difference in metastasis-free survival between ‘No Metastases’ and ‘IPN’ patients (p = 0.16). Lung metastases developed in 40% of IPN patients at a median 9.6 months. Reduction of nodule size on neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with worse overall survival in IPN patients (p = 0.0084).ConclusionIPN are not uncommon in patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. In this study, we were unable to detect a difference in overall- or metastasis-free survival between patients with IPN at diagnosis and patients with normal staging chest CTs.     

Uncalcified Synovial Chondromatosis in the Pisotriquetral Joint

Synovial chondromatosis is a rare lesion in the wrist, but some cases in the distal radioulnar joint have been reported and previous case reports emphasize joint calcifications, shown on preoperative plain radiographs. We report an extremely uncommon case of synovial chondromatosis in the pisotriquetral joint, in which radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging did not demonstrate apparent calcified bodies. In our case, for the accurate diagnosis and treatment, surgical exploration of the joint and synovectomy with removal of loose bodies was performed.     

Kaposi sarcoma following postmastectomy lymphedema

Classical Kaposi sarcoma (KS) usually appears on lower extremities accompanied or preceded by local lymphedema. However, the development in areas of chronic lymphedema of the arms following mastectomy, mimicking a Stewart–Treves syndrome, has rarely been described. We report an 81‐year‐old woman who developed multiple, erythematous to purple tumors, located on areas of post mastectomy lymphedema. Histopathological examination evidenced several dermal nodules formed by spindle‐shaped cells that delimitated slit‐like vascular spaces with some red cell extravasation. Immunohistochemically, the human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV‐8) latent nuclear antigen‐1 was detected in the nuclei of most tumoral cells confirming the diagnosis of KS. Lymphedema could promote the development of certain tumors by altering immunocompetence. Although angiosarcoma (AS) is the most frequent neoplasia arising in the setting of chronic lymphedema, other tumors such as benign lymphangiomatous papules (BLAP) or KS can also develop in lymphedematous limbs. It is important to establish the difference between AS and KS because their prognosis and treatment are very different. Identification by immunohistochemistry of HHV‐8 is useful for the distinction between KS and AS or BLAP.     

关节滑液检测在关节假体周围感染诊断中的研究进展

关节假体周围感染(periprosthetic joint infection,PJI)是人工关节置换术后可能发生的一种严重并发症,其导致的严重后果,无论对于医生还是患者来说,都很难接受。目前,由于多种不确定因素的存在,PJI诊断的准确性较低。传统的血清学检查、影像学检查有一定的价值,但是易受全身情况的影响,导致特异性不高。为了正确诊断关节假体周围感染,不同学科的研究人员采用各种不同的方法进行了大量的诊断研究,并取得了丰富的成果。近年来,关节滑液炎性标志物检测、分子生物学方法等被研究证实具有较高的敏感性和特异性。因此,关节滑液CRP、-防御素、白细胞酯酶、PCR技术等被广泛研究,期望能从中找到诊断关节假体周围感染的特异性指标,提高临床诊断的准确性。     

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Versus Metastasectomy in Patients With Pulmonary Metastases From Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The lung is the preferred site of metastasis from soft tissue sarcoma (STS). This systematic review aims to evaluate the outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and metastasectomy (MTS) for the treatment of lung metastases from STS. A systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA protocol. PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Ovid and Web of Knowledge databases were searched for English-language articles to December 2018 using a predefined strategy. Retrieved studies were independently screened and rated for relevance. Data were extracted by two researchers. In total, there were 1306 patients with STS: 1104 underwent MTS and 202 had SBRT. The mean age ranged from 40 to 55.8 years in the MTS group and from 47.9 to 64 years in the SBRT group. The cumulative death rate was 72% (95% confidence interval 59–85%) in the MTS group and 56% (38–74%) in the SBRT group. The cumulative mean overall survival time was 46.7 months (36.4–57.0%) in the MTS group and 47.6 months (33.7–61.5%) in the SBRT group. The cumulative rate of patients alive with disease was 5% (2–9%) in the MTS group and 15% (6–36%) in the SBRT group. Finally, the cumulative rate of patients alive without disease in the two groups was 19% (9–29%) and 20% (10–50%), respectively. Our study showed that local treatment of pulmonary metastases from STS with SBRT, compared with surgery, was associated with a lower cumulative overall death rate and similar overall survival time and survival rates without disease. By contrast, SBRT was associated with a higher survival rate with disease than MTS. Large randomised trials are necessary to confirm these findings and to establish whether SBRT may be a reliable option for early stage disease.     

膝痹宁对膝骨关节炎模型大鼠滑膜纤维化的影响

目的观察膝痹宁对膝骨关节炎(KOA)模型大鼠滑膜纤维化的影响。方法大鼠分为空白组、KOA组、膝痹宁组;KOA组、膝痹宁组造模。分别在膝痹宁灌胃治疗的第1、14、28、42、56天测量各组大鼠的膝关节横径;第56天处死大鼠提取滑膜组织,解剖学观察滑膜组织形态;天狼星红染色评估滑膜组织胶原沉积情况;WB和PCR检测纤维化标记物生长转化因子-β(TGF-β)、Ⅰ型胶原α1链(COL1α1)、金属蛋白酶抑制剂1(TIMP1)的蛋白和基因表达。结果膝痹宁用药14天,28天时,膝关节横径变化并不显著,但膝痹宁用药42天,56天时,膝关节横径则较KOA模型明显减小,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);用药56天后对大鼠进行膝关节解剖学观察,KOA大鼠滑膜组织较正常大鼠有一定程度的增厚、充血、欠规则;而上述表现在膝痹宁大鼠有所减轻;天狼星红染色显示膝痹宁用药大鼠滑膜组织胶原沉积较少;纤维化标记指标物TGF-β、COL1α1、TIMP1的基因和蛋白表达在膝痹宁组均较KOA组降低,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论膝痹宁对能有效减轻KOA滑膜纤维化,以“温经活血”立法的中药复方对组织纤维化具有良性干预效应。