Donor Site Morbidity of Patients Receiving Vertical Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap for Perineal, Vaginal or Inguinal Reconstruction.

Background: Management of donor site closure after harvesting a vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap is discussed heterogeneously in the literature. We aim to analyze the postoperative complications of the donor site depending on the closure technique.

Methods: During a 12-year period (2003-2015), 192 patients in our department received transpelvic VRAM flap reconstruction.

Influence of Body Mass Index on Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Rectal Cancer-A Single Centre Experience.

Background: Excess bodyweight is known to influence the risk of colorectal cancer; however, little evidence exists for the influence of the body mass index (BMI) on the long-term outcome of patients with rectal cancer.

Methods: We assessed the impact of the BMI on the risk of local recurrence, distant metastasis and overall-survival in 612 patients between 2003 and 2010 after rectal cancer diagnosis and treatment at the University Hospital Erlangen. A Cox-regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio and multivariate risk of mortality and distant-metastasis.

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is a prognostic marker in colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: Serological tumor markers are routinely used to monitor tumor onset and progression. In colorectal carcinoma (CRC), the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is roughly elevated in 50% of patients at initial diagnosis. Soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) is elevated in different cancers.

Molecular mechanisms of lymphatic metastasis in solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Tumor cell dissemination from the primary tumor site to distant organs is one of the characteristic properties of malignant tumors and represents a crucial step in the progression of disease. Although the pattern of spread may vary in different types of carcinomas, dissemination via the lymphatic system represents a common event in metastasis. The extent of lymph node metastasis is one of the major determinants for the prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas and guides the therapeutically management.