Influence of health-insurance on treatment outcome of childhood cancer in Western Kenya.

Background: Few governments in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) have responded favourably to the international plea for Universal Health Coverage. Childhood cancer survival in LMIC is often below 20%. Limited health-insurance coverage may contribute to this poor survival.

Translation and Validation of 'Foot Health Status Questionnaire' in Dutch.

The aim of our study was to develop a Dutch version of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ-NL) and evaluate its measurement properties according to the COSMIN definition (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments). After translation of the FSHQ, a group of 119 randomly selected patient who visited the outpatient clinic for conditions affecting the foot and ankle were asked to participate, of which103 patients were included in the analysis. The FHSQ-NL, a validated Dutch FAOS and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and function were used in this study as outcomes measures.

High incidence of (osteo)chondral lesions in ankle fractures.

Purpose: To determine the incidence and location of osteochondral lesions (OCLs) following ankle fractures as well as to determine the association between fracture type and the presence of OCLs. Up to 50% of patients with ankle fractures that receive surgical treatment show suboptimal functional results with residual complaints at a long-term follow-up. This might be due to the presence of intra-articular osteochondral lesions (OCL).

Influence of health insurance status on childhood cancer treatment outcomes in Kenya.

Background: Survival of childhood cancer in high-income countries is approximately 80%, whereas in low-income countries, it is less than 10%. Limited access to health insurance in low-income settings may contribute to poor survival rates. This study evaluates the influence of health insurance status on childhood cancer treatment in a Kenyan academic hospital.

Influence of health insurance status on paediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment in Kenya.

Objective: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is the most common childhood malignancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Survival rates for NHL are higher than 80% in high-income countries.This study explores treatment outcomes of children with NHL in Kenya, a sub-Saharan low-income country, and the association between health insurance status at diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Fifth Metatarsal Osteotomies for Treatment of Bunionette Deformity: A Meta-Analysis of Angle Correction and Clinical Condition.

We assessed which type of osteotomy would be most suited for correcting an increased fourth to fifth intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and metatarsophalangeal angle (MPA) and would have the best results regarding the clinical condition and satisfaction. The study design was a systematic review and meta-analysis. The main outcome measures were the IMA, MPA, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Lesser Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal scale and satisfaction scores.

Functional outcome of non-surgical and surgical management for de novo degenerative lumbar scoliosis: a mean follow-up of 10 years.

Background: No studies have evaluated the long-term results of non-surgical and surgical management in de novo degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DNDLS). This study reports on the long-term functional outcome of patients being treated for DNDLS by non-surgical and surgical management.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of a single center database of DNDLS patients that underwent surgical or usual non-surgical management between 1996 and 2007.

Wilms Tumor Treatment Outcomes: Perspectives From a Low-Income Setting.

Purpose: Wilms tumor is the commonest renal malignancy in childhood. Survival in high-income countries is approximately 90%, whereas in low-income countries, it is less than 50%. This study assessed treatment outcomes of patients with Wilms tumor at a Kenyan academic hospital.

Factors influencing time to diagnosis and treatment among pediatric oncology patients in Kenya.

Early diagnosis and start of treatment are fundamental goals in cancer care. This study determines the time lag and the factors that influence the time to diagnosis and start of treatment. Study participants were parents of childhood cancer patients diagnosed between August 2013 and July 2014 in a hospital in Kenya.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision: a Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG) randomized phase III trial.

Background: The discussion on the role of adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer patients treated according to current guidelines is still ongoing. A multicentre, randomized phase III trial, PROCTOR-SCRIPT, was conducted to compare adjuvant chemotherapy with observation for rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision (TME).

Patients And Methods: The PROCTOR-SCRIPT trial recruited patients from 52 hospitals.

Feasibility of reirradiation in the treatment of locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Background: Many patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer receive radiotherapy for the treatment of the primary tumour. It is unclear whether reirradiation is safe and effective when a local recurrence develops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and oncological outcome of reirradiation in patients with locally recurrent rectal carcinoma.

Conditional survival for long-term colorectal cancer survivors in the Netherlands: who do best?

Aim: With the increase in the number of long-term colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, there is a growing need for subgroup-specific analysis of conditional survival.

Methods: All 137,030 stage I-III CRC patients diagnosed in the Netherlands between 1989 and 2008 aged 15-89 years were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. We determined conditional 5-year relative survival rates, according to age, subsite and tumour stage for each additional year survived up to 15 years after diagnosis as well as trends in absolute risks for and distribution of causes of death during follow-up.

Higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in colon and rectal cancer survivors compared with the normative population: a population-based study.

Background: To compare colorectal cancer survivors with a normative population regarding erectile dysfunction, ejaculation problems, dyspareunia, dry vagina, sexual functioning (SF) and enjoyment (SE). In addition, the sociodemographic, clinical and psychological correlates of (dys)function in survivors are examined.

Patients And Methods: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-CR38 sexuality subscales were completed by survivors (n=1371; response rate 82%), of which 1359 received surgical treatment and were included in the analysis.

Focus on extralevator perineal dissection in supine position for low rectal cancer has led to better quality of surgery and oncologic outcome.

Background: After abdominoperineal excision (APE), the presence of tumor cells in the circumferential resection margin (R1) and iatrogenic tumor perforations are still frequent and result in an increased rate of local recurrences. In this study, a standardized supine APE with an increased focus on the perineal dissection (sPPD) is compared to the customary supine APE.

Methods: From 2000 to 2010, a total of 246 patients underwent APE for rectal cancer (sPPD and customary supine APE).

T3+ and T4 rectal cancer patients seem to benefit from the addition of oxaliplatin to the neoadjuvant chemoradiation regimen.

Background: To achieve T-downstaging and better resectability in locally advanced rectal cancer, neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) has become the current standard of treatment. A variety of schemes have been used. This study investigates which scheme had the best effect on these parameters.

Impact of preoperative radiotherapy on general and disease-specific health status of rectal cancer survivors: a population-based study.

Purpose: To date, few studies have evaluated the impact of preoperative radiotherapy (pRT) on long-term health status of rectal cancer survivors. Using a population-based sample, we assessed the impact of pRT on general and disease-specific health status of rectal cancer survivors up to 10 years post diagnosis. The health status of older (≥75 years old at diagnosis) pRT survivors was also compared with that of younger survivors.

Improvements in population-based survival of patients presenting with metastatic rectal cancer in the south of the Netherlands, 1992-2008.

We analysed population-based treatment and survival data of patients who presented with metastatic rectal cancer. All patients diagnosed with primary synchronous metastatic rectal cancer between 1992 and 2008 in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry area were included. Date of diagnosis was divided into three periods (1992-1999, 2000-2004, 2005-2008) according to the availability of chemotherapy type.

Three-dimensional analysis of recurrence patterns in rectal cancer: the cranial border in hypofractionated preoperative radiotherapy can be lowered.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether and where the radiotherapy (RT) clinical target volume (CTV) could be reduced in short-course preoperative treatment of rectal cancer patients.

Methods And Materials: Patients treated in the Dutch total mesorectal excision trial, with a local recurrence were analyzed. For 94 (25 who underwent radiation therapy 69 who did not) of 114 patients with a local recurrence, the location of the recurrence was placed in a three-dimensionalthree (3D) model.

Trends in colorectal cancer in the south of the Netherlands 1975-2007: rectal cancer survival levels with colon cancer survival.

Objective: In the Netherlands over 11 200 patients are yearly diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC), of who about 4 700 are expected to die of the disease ultimately. Investigating long-term trends is useful for clinicians and policy makers to evaluate the impact of changes in practice and will help predict future developments.

Patients: The 26 826 cases of primary CRC (C18.

Was there shortening of the interval between diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer in southern Netherlands between 2005 and 2008?

Background: The Dutch Cancer Society proposed that the interval between diagnosis and start of treatment should be less than 15 working days. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the interval from diagnosis to treatment for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) shortened between 2005 and 2008 in hospitals in southern Netherlands.

Methods: Patients with CRC diagnosed in six hospitals in southern Netherlands during January to December in 2005 (n = 445) and January to July in 2008 (n = 353) were included.

Results of European pooled analysis of IORT-containing multimodality treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer: adjuvant chemotherapy prevents local recurrence rather than distant metastases.

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the pooled results of multimodality treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in four major treatment centers with particular expertise in intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT).

Patients And Methods: A total of 605 patients with LARC who underwent multimodality treatment up to 2005 were studied. The basic treatment principle was preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy, intended radical surgery, IORT and elective adjuvant chemotherapy (aCT).

Radicality of resection and survival after multimodality treatment is influenced by subsite of locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Purpose: To analyze results of multimodality treatment in relation to subsite of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC).

Method And Materials: A total of 170 patients with LRRC who underwent treatment between 1994 and 2008 were studied. The basic principle of multimodality treatment was preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy, intended radical surgery, and intraoperative radiotherapy.

Patterns of local recurrence in locally advanced rectal cancer after intra-operative radiotherapy containing multimodality treatment.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the patterns of local recurrence (LR) after intra-operative radiotherapy (IORT) containing multimodality treatment of locally advanced rectal carcinoma (LARC).

Methods And Materials: Two hundred and ninety patients with LARC who underwent multimodality treatment between 1994 and 2006 were studied. For patients who developed LR, the subsite was classified into presacral, postero-lateral, lateral, anterior, anastomotic or perineal.

Preoperative radiochemotherapy is successful also in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have intrinsically high apoptotic tumours.

Background: Not all patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) respond equally to neo-adjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT). Patients with highly apoptotic less advanced rectal cancers do not benefit from short-term radiotherapy. This study investigates whether this is also the case in the setting of RCT for LARC.

Radical resection after IORT-containing multimodality treatment is the most important determinant for outcome in patients treated for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Background: The optimal treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) is still a matter of debate. This study assessed the outcome of LRRC patients treated with multimodality treatment, consisting of neoadjuvant radio (chemo-) therapy, extended resection, and intraoperative radiotherapy.

Methods: One hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients with LRRC who underwent treatment between 1994 and 2006 were studied.