Value of sarcopenia assessed by computed tomography for the prediction of postoperative morbidity following oncological colorectal resection: A comparison with the malnutrition screening tool.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) can be used for accurate estimation of whole-body muscle mass and muscle density and for detection of sarcopenia. The goal of this study was to evaluate the additional value of CT measured sarcopenia and muscle attenuation alongside the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) for the prediction of post-operative morbidity after oncological colorectal resection, whilst correcting for known risk factors.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of 80 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in the Netherlands.

Familial retinoblastoma: fundus screening schedule impact and guideline proposal. A retrospective study.

Aims: To assess if systematic fundus screening according to an 'intensive' schedule alters ocular outcome and to propose fundus screening schedule guidelines for children related to a retinoblastoma patient.

Methods: For children with a positive family history of retinoblastoma, we perform fundus exams shortly after birth under general anaesthesia and then at regular intervals according to schedules based on the risk. Familial retinoblastoma cases seen at our institution from January 1995 to December 2004 were retrospectively classified as 'screened' or 'non-screened' (NS) and, among the 'screened' patients, as 'intensively screened' (IS) if screening matched our recommendations or 'non-intensively screened' (S).

From childhood to adulthood: long-term outcome of medulloblastoma patients. The Institut Curie experience (1980-2000).

Medulloblastoma patients treated at the Institute Curie between 1980 and 2000 were reviewed. Only patients whose primary treatment included craniospinal radiation were considered. Surviving patients were identified and evaluated by means of self-report questionnaires using the Health Utility Index (HUI).

Beta-catenin status in paediatric medulloblastomas: correlation of immunohistochemical expression with mutational status, genetic profiles, and clinical characteristics.

Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant paediatric brain tumour. The activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway occurs in 10-15% of medulloblastomas and has been recently described as a marker for favourable patient outcome. We report a series of 72 paediatric medulloblastomas evaluated for beta-catenin protein expression, CTNNB1 mutations, and comparative genomic hybridization.

Analysis of ototoxicity in young children receiving carboplatin in the context of conservative management of unilateral or bilateral retinoblastoma.

Background: Carboplatin plays an important role in the conservative management of retinoblastoma, but is associated with risk of ototoxicity in these young children whose sensory prognosis may be also compromised by their loss of vision. This retrospective study analyzed the impact of carboplatin on hearing in the context of conservative management of children with retinoblastoma.

Methods: Data for 175 children treated at the Institut Curie between 1994 and 2002 were analyzed.