A lymph node ratio of 10% is predictive of survival in stage III colon cancer: a French regional study.

Lymph node ratio (LNR) (positive lymph nodes/sampled lymph nodes) is predictive of survival in colon cancer. The aim of the present study was to validate the LNR as a prognostic factor and to determine the optimum LNR cutoff for distinguishing between "good prognosis" and "poor prognosis" colon cancer patients. From January 2003 to December 2007, patients with TNM stage III colon cancer operated on with at least of 3 years of follow-up and not lost to follow-up were included in this retrospective study.

Is it still worthwhile to treat bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma with radioactive iodine?

From 1964 to 1989, bone metastases were found in 28 of 600 patients operated on for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Bone metastasis was the presenting symptom in 15 (54%) patients, was detected from the initial symptom in 4 (14.5%) patients, and occurred subsequently in 9 (32%) patients, with an average lag time of 4.

[Mortality in the surgical unit of a general hospital. Study of 27 postoperative deaths among patients operated on during 1990-1492].

This study takes in account all post operative deaths during the year 1990 in one surgical Professorial unit of Lille academic hospital (France). During this year, 1492 consecutive patients underwent surgery. The mean age of deceased patients was 63.

[Cancer of the upper cervico-thoracic esophagus].

Between 1984 and 1990, 90 operations were performed for carcinoma of cervical and cervicothoracic esophagus. All tumors were squamous cell carcinoma. Of these patients, 78 underwent esophagectomy, and 12 had had a gastric by pass.