Publications by authors named "Anthony M Griffin"

Background: Peritumoral edema on staging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with higher local recurrence in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). This may relate to the presence of satellite malignant cells that are difficult to distinguish from benign atypia, leading to over- or undertreatment. This study evaluated a novel targeted molecular approach to identify malignancy in STS peritumoral planes as a means to improve personalized care.

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Introduction: Approximately 40-50 % of sarcoma patients will develop lung metastasis, but only 10 % will develop bone metastasis. The survival benefit of surgery for solitary bone metastasis remains unclear.

Methods: From 1987 to 2019, 47 patients who underwent curative-intent treatment for localized bone or soft tissue sarcoma in the extremities or trunk wall developed solitary bone metastases as the first distant recurrence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare type of tumor that can occur in various body parts and is often linked to specific genetic fusions, with 10-30% of cases becoming metastatic.
  • A study involving DNA methylation analysis of 79 SFTs revealed distinct epigenetic changes linked to their primary sites, identifying key genes such as EGFR and TBX15 that showed differing levels of expression based on the tumor's location and genetic fusion type.
  • TBX15 emerged as a significant marker, with changes in its methylation and expression strongly correlating to the tumor's tissue of origin, suggesting it could help differentiate between new tumors and metastases without needing extensive genomic analysis.
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Background: Despite the goal of an acceptable functional result, the surgical treatment of soft-tissue sarcoma can portend a prolonged course of recovery. More comprehensive data on the expected course of recovery following extremity sarcoma surgery are needed to help to inform physicians and patients. The purpose of the present study was to describe the typical course of functional recovery following limb-salvage resection of a soft-tissue sarcoma and to identify factors associated with a delayed postoperative course of recovery.

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Aims: The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is the only mechanical connection between the axial skeleton and lower limbs. Following iliosacral resection, there is debate on whether reconstruction of the joint is necessary. There is a paucity of data comparing the outcomes of patients undergoing reconstruction and those who are not formally reconstructed.

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Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a tumor known for its classic monophasic spindle cell or biphasic morphology. However, it exhibits a wide range of histologic variations, leading to diagnostic challenges. Here, we present four cases of molecularly confirmed, biphasic SS originating in the feet and displaying myoepithelial differentiation.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined how different biopsy methods (open biopsy vs. core needle biopsy) affect surgical outcomes in sarcoma patients.
  • It found that core needle biopsy was the most frequently used method internationally, whereas open biopsy was more common in the U.S. and Canada.
  • Despite open biopsy taking longer and resulting in more tissue removed, both methods showed no significant difference in infection rates or cancer outcomes after one year.
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Aims: The preoperative grading of chondrosarcomas of bone that accurately predicts surgical management is difficult for surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists. There are often discrepancies in grade between the initial biopsy and the final histology. Recent advances in the use of imaging methods have shown promise in the ability to predict the final grade.

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  • Giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) poses a challenge for treatment due to a high rate of local recurrence, with a study of 354 patients revealing a 15% relapse rate, particularly after curettage compared to resection.
  • Factors such as age under 30 and tumour location in the distal radius were linked to higher relapse risks, while other factors like pathological fractures and tumour size showed no significant impact.
  • Despite a notable local recurrence rate, 90% of patients experiencing relapse after curettage successfully underwent repeat procedures, highlighting the importance of joint preservation for long-term functional outcomes.
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The recently described KMT2A-rearranged sarcomas are rare emerging entities where the KMT2A gene fuses with YAP1 and, less commonly, VIM, resulting in two distinct morphologies. Unlike the sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma-like features that characterize tumors with KMT2A::YAP1 fusions, VIM::KMT2A-rearranged sarcomas are more uniformly cellular and lack the extensively sclerotic background seen in the former. Most tumors behave aggressively with metastases on presentation.

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Diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumors' (D-TGCTs) intra- and extra-articular expansion about the knee often necessitates an anterior and posterior surgical approach to facilitate an extensive synovectomy. There is no consensus on whether two-sided synovectomies should be performed in one or two stages. This retrospective study included 191 D-TGCT patients from nine sarcoma centers worldwide to compare the postoperative short-term outcomes between both treatments.

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Introduction: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous tumour of indeterminate malignant potential. The mainstay treatment for DFSP is surgical resection. Given the reported high local recurrence rate, the ideal resection margin for DFSP is unclear.

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Article Synopsis
  • Myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) primarily affects younger patients and is sensitive to radiation, leading to significant tumor reduction before surgery.
  • A study analyzed 198 patients with localized, intermuscular MLS treated with pre-operative radiotherapy to see if the surgical margins impacted survival outcomes.
  • Results showed that the status of surgical margins did not affect rates of local recurrence or overall survival, indicating that marginal resection is a safe option for this type of cancer.
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Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally aggressive tumor with a low rate of metastatic disease. Previous series have shown a superiority of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) compared with wide local excision (WLE). Likewise, there is paucity of data examining the long-term follow-up of patients.

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Radiation-associated sarcoma of the pelvis and/or sacrum (RASB) is a rare but challenging disease process associated with a poor prognosis. We hypothesized that patients with RASB would have worse surgical and oncologic outcomes than patients diagnosed with primary pelvic or sacral bone sarcomas. This was a retrospective, multi-institution, comparative analysis.

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Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma represents a rare neoplasm characterized by monomorphic spindle cells with a fascicular architecture and variable skeletal muscle differentiation. Following incidental identification of a ZFP64::NCOA3 gene fusion in an unclassified spindle cell sarcoma resembling adult-type fibrosarcoma, we performed a retrospective archival review and identified four additional cases with a similar histology and identical gene fusion. All tumors arose in adult males (28-71 years).

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Background/aim: Dermat of ibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a soft-tissue sarcoma with a high risk of local recurrence, though typically never metastasizes. DFSP can transform into high-grade fibrosarcoma (DFSP-FS), which has a risk of metastasis. Currently, treatment for DFSP includes Moh's micrographic surgery (MMS); however, this is not recommended for DFSP-FS.

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Objectives: To determine if radiological response to pre-operative radiotherapy is related to oncologic outcome in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STSs).

Methods: 309 patients with extremity STS who underwent pre-operative radiation and wide resection were identified from a prospective database. Pre- and post-radiation MRI scans were retrospectively reviewed.

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Background: Unlike other soft tissue sarcomas, atypical lipomatous tumors (ALTs) are thought to have a low propensity for metastasis. Despite this, a standard of care for pulmonary metastasis (PM) surveillance has not been established. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of chest imaging for PM surveillance following ALT excision.

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Aims: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) are used for prognostication and monitoring in patients with carcinomas, but their utility is unclear in sarcomas. The objectives of this pilot study were to explore the prognostic significance of cfDNA and investigate whether tumour-specific alterations can be detected in the circulation of sarcoma patients.

Methods: Matched tumour and blood were collected from 64 sarcoma patients (n = 70 samples) prior to resection of the primary tumour (n = 57) or disease recurrence (n = 7).

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Background: Unlike other sarcoma subtypes, myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) has a propensity for extra-pulmonary metastases. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis has become an accepted practice for surveillance. However, recent literature suggests that this may be inadequate.

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Aims: Hip reconstruction after resection of a periacetabular chondrosarcoma is complex and associated with a high rate of complications. Previous reports have compared no reconstruction with historical techniques that are no longer used. The aim of this study was to compare the results of tantalum acetabular reconstruction to both historical techniques and no reconstruction.

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Aims: Local recurrence remains a challenging and common problem following curettage and joint-sparing surgery for giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB). We previously reported a 15% local recurrence rate at a median follow-up of 30 months in 20 patients with high-risk GCTB treated with neoadjuvant Denosumab. The aim of this study was to determine if this initial favourable outcome following the use of Denosumab was maintained with longer follow-up.

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Background: Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries are common in ice hockey players and are traditionally evaluated with conventional radiography, which has recognized limitations in the accurate characterization of the spectrum of soft tissue injuries and severity/grade of injury sustained.

Purpose: To evaluate the epidemiologic, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in professional ice hockey players who have sustained acute ACJ injuries.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

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