Preoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

Background: The existing randomized evidence has failed to conclusively demonstrate the benefit or otherwise of preoperative radiotherapy in treating patients with potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess whether there is benefit from adding radiotherapy prior to surgery and whether or not any pre-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from preoperative radiotherapy

Search Strategy: MEDLINE and CancerLit searches were supplemented by information from trial registers and by hand searching relevant meeting proceedings and by discussion with relevant trialists, organisations and industry. The search strategy was run again in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library on 30th April 2001, two years after original publication.

Cost of diagnostic and therapeutic management of colorectal cancer according to stage at diagnosis in the Calvados Département, France.

Screening for colorectal cancer is a high priority of public health in France, as in other Western countries. In spite of its effectiveness, shown by randomized studies, no national program of colorectal screening using fecal occult blood test has yet implemented, due mainly to the low sensitivity of the screening test and to the weak participation of the target population. Economic studies can make a useful contribution to helping the decision makers of public health.

Estimation of the familial relative risk of cancer by site from a French population based family study on colorectal cancer (CCREF study).

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of death from cancer in France. A family history of CRC increases an individual's risk of developing CRC. Family history has been suggested to have a greater impact on proximal than distal tumours.

Familial relative risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based study.

This study aimed to assess the familial relative risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) and its variation according to age and gender. A population-based family study was carried out in France, from 1993 to 1998, including 761 families. Familial CRC risks were estimated from a cohort analysis of the relatives.

Incidence of digestive cancers and occupational exposure to asbestos.

While the role of exposure to asbestos in the development of several cancers such as mesotheliomas and bronchopulmonary cancers is now well established, the possible relationship between digestive cancers, other than peritoneal mesotheliomas, and occupational exposure to asbestos is still controversial. The great majority of the studies are based on mortality data. The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between digestive cancer incidence and occupational exposure to asbestos in a population of subjects for whom precise occupational exposure data and precise incidence data were available.

[Influence of social and occupational class and area of residence on management and survival in patients with digestive tract cancer: a population study in the Calvados area (France)].

Several studies have shown socio-economic differences in cancer survival, low socio-economic level being associated with poor prognosis of cancer. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of social environment on care procedures for treatment in cancer and to determine to what extent well-established socio-economic differences in cancer prognosis can be explained by such an influence. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients having had a digestive cancer in the department of Calvados (France) between 1978 and 1990 collected by the local digestive cancer registry (1534 males and 1060 females).

[Late intestinal fistula following implantation of parietal abdominal prostheses].

Study Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to describe an unusual complication of the nonabsorbable meshes used for repair of incisional hernia or inguinal hernia.

Patients And Methods: This study included eight observations of intestinal fistulas that occurred between 1 and 13 years after using Mersilène (Dacron) mesh for repair of an incisional hernia (7 cases) and an inguinal hernia (1 case). There were 6 men and 2 women (mean age: 58 years, range: 35-85 years) with an external intestinal fistula (n = 6) or an internal intestinal fistula (n = 2).

Localized squamous-cell cancer of the esophagus: retrospective analysis of three treatment schedules.

Background And Purpose: A retrospective study comparing chemotherapy and radiation, esophagectomy alone versus preoperative radiochemotherapy and surgery in localized squamous-cell esophageal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Between 1989 and 1995, 139 patients (40 stage I, 77 stage IIA and 22 stage IIB according to the UICC 78 TNM classification) were treated in two different institutions. They were divided into three groups according to the treatment proposed: E group (treatment by esophagectomy; n = 30), RCT+E group (treatment by preoperative radiochemotherapy and esophagectomy; n = 46), RCT group (treatment by radiochemotherapy; n = 63).

Prospective randomised study of split-course radiotherapy versus cisplatin plus split-course radiotherapy in inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.

Between 1983 and 1989, 211 patients with inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus were randomised in a study comparing split-course irradiation (two courses of 20 Gy in five fractions of 4 Gy, separated by a rest of 2 weeks) (arm A) and the same split-course irradiation in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) (3-4 days before each of the two courses of radiotherapy, repeated every 3-4 weeks, for a total of six cycles) (arm B). The Cox's regression model with retrospective stratification was used to compare the two arms to correct for the imbalance at randomisation of the T classification. The median overall survival was 7.

[Zenker's diverticulum: diverticulopexy versus diverticulectomy].

Study Aim: The aim of this retrospective, nonrandomized study was to compare the results of diverticulectomy and diverticulopexy in the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. Over the 10-year period between 1988 and 1998, surgery for Zenker's diverticulum was performed in 40 patients.

Patients And Method: The study group consisted of 23 men and 17 women with a mean age of 72 years.

Preoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

Background: The existing randomized evidence has failed to conclusively demonstrate the benefit or otherwise of preoperative radiotherapy in treating patients with potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess whether there is benefit from adding radiotherapy prior to surgery and whether or not any pre-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from preoperative radiotherapy

Search Strategy: Medline and CancerLit searches were supplemented by information from trial registers and by hand searching relevant meeting proceedings and by discussion with relevant trialists, organisations and industry. The search strategy was run again in Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library on 2nd May 2000, one year after original publication.

Preoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma. Oeosphageal Cancer Collaborative Group.

Background: The existing randomized evidence has failed to conclusively demonstrate the benefit or otherwise of preoperative radiotherapy in treating patients with potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess whether there is benefit from adding radiotherapy prior to surgery and whether or not any pre-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from preoperative radiotherapy

Search Strategy: Medline and CancerLit searches were supplemented by information from trial registers and by hand searching relevant meeting proceedings and by discussion with relevant trialists, organisations and industry.

Selection Criteria: Trials were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis provided they randomized patients with potentially resectable carcinoma of the esophagus (of any histological type) to receive radiotherapy or no radiotherapy prior to surgery.

Tobacco type and risk of squamous cell cancer of the oesophagus in males: a French multicentre case-control study.

Background: The association between tobacco smoking and oesophageal cancer is well established. However, some major questions remain unanswered such as the importance of kind of tobacco and smoke inhalation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of each kind of tobacco on the risk of squamous cell cancer of the oesophagus in men and to test whether the effect of kind of tobacco is similar whatever the sub-site of cancer.

[Results and indications of lateral ileostomy functionally terminated in colorectal surgery].

Unlabelled: Loop ileostomy (LI) ensures fecal diversion to protect an anastomosis or anatomic colorectal or ano-perineal damage. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate loop ileostomy morbidity in emergency and planned colorectal surgery.

Patients And Methods: From 1991 to 1996, 145 loop ileostomies were performed in 139 patients, 77 men and 62 women with a mean age of 48.

Recent time trends in cancer of the oesophagus and gastric cardia in the region of Calvados in France, 1978-1995: a population based study.

The incidence of oesophageal cancer differs from country to country, and even between areas of the same country. Many studies in recent years have shown an upward trend of a particular histologic type: adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. It is difficult to precisely locate adenocarcinomas situated at the junction between the oesophagus and the gastric cardia.

Liver adenomatosis: reappraisal, diagnosis, and surgical management: eight new cases and review of the literature.

Objective: Liver adenomatosis (LA) is a rare disease originally defined by Flejou et al in 1985 from a series of 13 cases. In 1998, 38 cases were available for analysis, including eight personal cases. The aim of this study was to review and reappraise the characteristics of this rare liver disease and to discuss diagnosis and therapeutic options.

Colorectal cancer after a negative Haemoccult II test and programme sensitivity after a first round of screening: the experience of the Department of Calvados (France).

Colorectal cancers emerging after a negative Haemoccult II are described in the context of a first round of mass screening in the Department of Calvados (France), from April 1991 to the end of December 1994. People with a cancer occurring after a negative test until 31 December 1995 were identified by a local cancer registry. Incidence was calculated and the programme sensitivity was estimated.

[Indications and results of mucosal proctectomy with colo-anal anastomosis in villous disease of the rectum].

The objective of this study was to define the indication for proctectomy and colo-anal anastomosis in large rectal villous adenomas. The study population consisted of 20 patients (12 men and 8 women; mean age 63.6) who underwent rectal excision and colo-anal anastomosis from 1990 to 1997.

[Recent epidemiologic trends in cancer of the esophagus].

In developed countries there is a decreasing incidence of oesophageal cancers in males. In France, a strong difference is still observed between northern and southern areas, incidence being twice in the former. Incidence is slightly increasing in females.

[Rectal resection for cancer in Lower-Normandy. Loco-regional recurrences and survival. Results of a regional survey (1988-1993)].

Objectives And Methods: A retrospective regional study was set up to identify the determinants of loco-regional recurrences and those of survival after rectal resection for cancer. The studied population was constituted of 505 patients with resection for carcinoma of the rectum in Lower-Normandy from 1988 to 1993.

Results: The actuarial rate of loco-regional recurrence was 17.

[Prognostic factors in operable epidermoid esophageal cancers].

Objective: The aims of the study were to determine the prognostic factors on overall survival in patients with resectable squamous cell esophageal carcinoma.

Population: Two hundred and ninety three patients with stage I and II tumor were included in a phase III clinical trial that compared surgery alone to preoperative chemoirradiation. Eighteen parameters issued from clinical, biological radiological and pathological characteristics were included in univariate and multivariate analysis.

[Superficial cancer of the stomach in the area of Calvados from 1978 to 1990. Epidemiology and prognostic factors].

Aims Of The Study: The 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer is less than 20% in cancer registries. The prognosis of early gastric cancer is much better but this diagnosis is rare in Europe. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognosis and trends in the incidence of early gastric cancer in the area of Calvados (France) during a 13-year period.