Estimated incidence of disruptions to event-free survival from non-metastatic cancers in New South Wales, Australia - a population-wide epidemiological study of linked cancer registry and treatment data.

Introduction: Population cancer registries record primary cancer incidence, mortality and survival for whole populations, but not more timely outcomes such as cancer recurrence, secondary cancers or other complications that disrupt event-free survival. Nonetheless, indirect evidence may be inferred from treatment data to provide indicators of recurrence and like events, which can facilitate earlier assessment of care outcomes. The present study aims to infer such evidence by applying algorithms to linked cancer registry and treatment data obtained from hospitals and universal health insurance claims applicable to the New South Wales (NSW) population of Australia.

The role of radiation therapy in the management of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma: A systematic review and clinical practice guidelines from the Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association.

While surgery is the mainstay of treatment for localised retroperitoneal sarcoma, the use of radiotherapy (RT) remains controversial. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the role of RT for retroperitoneal sarcoma. A systematic review using the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome model from 1990 to 2022 identified 66 studies (a mixture of preoperative and postoperative RT); one randomised controlled trial (RCT) with two publications, 18 registry studies, and 46 retrospective studies.

Comparison of three analgesic regimens in women undergoing cervical brachytherapy.

Purpose: Effective periprocedural analgesia is an important aspect of cervical brachytherapy delivery, with implications for patient comfort and attendance for subsequent fractions. We compared the efficacy and safety of three analgesic modalities: intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA), continuous epidural infusion (CEI) and programmed-intermittent epidural bolus with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PIEB-PCEA).

Methods And Materials: Ninety-seven brachytherapy episodes involving 36 patients between July 2016 and June 2019 in a single tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed.

Surgery at specialised sarcoma centres improves patient outcomes - A systematic review by the Australia and New Zealand sarcoma association clinical practice guidelines working party.

Background: Optimal management of sarcoma requires multidisciplinary team input throughout the process of diagnosis, treatment and follow up. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of surgery performed at specialised sarcoma centres on outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) model.

Chemoradiotherapy with concurrent durvalumab for the palliative treatment of oligometastatic oesophageal and gastrooesophageal carcinoma with dysphagia: a single arm phase II clinical trial (PALEO, sponsored by the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group).

Background: Oesophageal and gastrooesophageal junction (GOJ) carcinoma frequently present with dysphagia and de novo metastatic disease. There is scope to improve treatment paradigms to both address symptoms and improve survival. One method is integrating immune checkpoint inhibition with novel treatment combinations.

The benefit for radiotherapy at specialised sarcoma centres: A systematic review and clinical practice guidelines from the Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association.

Patients with sarcoma are best managed at specialised sarcoma centres as supported by published literature. Optimal management requires multidisciplinary team input to formulate the diagnosis and treatment sequencing taking into consideration multiple clinical and pathologic factors. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact on outcomes of radiotherapy at specialised sarcoma centres.

Long term outcomes of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma treated with radiotherapy: A multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare disease. Radiotherapy remains an important definitive modality. We assessed the long term outcomes of patients with early stage gastric MALT marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) treated with definitive radiotherapy at three institutions in New South Wales, Australia.

Population-level utilisation of neoadjuvant radiotherapy for the treatment of rectal cancer.

Purpose: International clinical guidelines recommend long- or short-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. This study aims to examine variation in the use of neoadjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer and identify patient and hospital factors that underpin this variation.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a retrospective, consecutive cohort study using statewide hospitalisation and radiotherapy data from New South Wales, Australia, 2013-2018.

Systemic treatments and outcomes in CIC-rearranged Sarcoma: A national multi-centre clinicopathological series and literature review.

Unlabelled: CIC-rearranged sarcoma is a recently established, ultra-rare, molecularly defined sarcoma subtype. We aimed to further characterise clinical features of CIC-rearranged sarcomas and explore clinical management including systemic treatments and outcomes.

Methods: A multi-centre retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed between 2014-2019.

Outcomes of patients with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to the axilla: a multicentre cohort study.

Background: Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to the axilla is uncommon, with limited data to guide management. We sought to assess the outcomes of patients with this condition after surgery and radiotherapy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients treated at two Australian hospitals from 1994 through 2016 was performed.

Treatment Algorithm for Surgical Site Infections Following Extensor Mechanism Repair.

»: Despite general agreement regarding techniques for extensor mechanism repair, there is very limited guidance in the literature for the management of surgical site infections (SSIs) that may occur after these procedures.

»: Early or mild superficial SSIs, such as cellulitis, can be managed on an outpatient basis while monitoring for improvement, with escalated intervention if the symptoms do not resolve within 1 week.

»: Deep SSIs should be managed more aggressively with surgical irrigation and debridement (I&D), including the knee joint, depending on the results of the aspiration, removal of all braided nonabsorbable suture (if necessary) with immediate or delayed exchange with monofilament suture, and the administration of parenteral antibiotics based on culture results and an infectious disease consult.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT-Guided Palliative Radiotherapy Provides Durable Responses to Over a Dozen Sites of Disease in Relapsed Myeloid Sarcoma.

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare entity, and FDG PET/CT is a useful tool for staging at diagnosis and response assessment. We present a case of a 72-year-old woman diagnosed with multifocal extramedullary MS, using FDG PET/CT to guide palliative radiotherapy to 13 sites of disease over 2 separate relapses with complete and durable local responses and minimal toxicity. This case represents the largest reported burden of disease in MS successfully treated with FDG PET/CT-guided radiotherapy.

Multimodality treatment of oligometastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma: A case series and literature review.

Background And Objectives: There is limited evidence to guide the management of patients with oligometastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We aimed to address this question by reporting the outcome of SCC patients who were treated with organ-directed therapies at two large cancer centers.

Methods: Patients with advanced anal SCC who were treated with surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy, or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with a curative intent from 2008 to 2017 were retrospectively identified from the institutional electronic patient records.

Using behaviour change and implementation science to address low referral rates in oncology.

Background: Patients undergoing surgery for bowel cancer now have a routine screening test to assess their genetic predisposition to this and other cancers (Lynch syndrome). A result indicating a high risk should trigger referral to a genetic clinic for diagnostic testing, information, and management. Appropriate management of Lynch syndrome lowers morbidity and mortality from cancer for patients and their family, but referral rates are low.

Impact of salvage treatment modalities in patients with positive FDG-PET/CT after R-CHOP chemotherapy for aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Introduction: To compare outcomes of different salvage treatment modalities in patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who remain FDG-PET positive after R-CHOP chemotherapy. Existing data on these patients with FDG-PET primary refractory disease are limited.

Methods: Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or grade 3 follicular lymphoma were retrospectively reviewed from the Prince of Wales Hospital databases.

Radiotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma: must the upper pelvic nodes and the inguinal nodes be treated?

Background: Loco-regional failure is the predominant cause of death in anal squamous cell carcinoma. We assessed patterns of loco-regional recurrence to determine the impact of radiotherapy (RT) volumes on patient outcome.

Methods: Retrospective clinical study, including patients treated curatively with RT or chemo-radiotherapy between 1994 and 2007.

Patterns of care of superficial soft tissue sarcomas: it is not always just a lump.

Aim: Superficial soft tissue sarcomas (S-STS) are generally considered low-risk tumors and have an excellent prognosis when treated with appropriate surgery and adjuvant therapy. However, they are often misdiagnosed then mistreated, leading to significant morbidity. This study aims to examine the patterns of care and outcomes of patients with S-STS, comparing those initially managed through sarcoma units versus elsewhere.

Treatment of breast cancer 2 (BRCA2)-mutant follicular dendritic cell sarcoma with a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor: a case report.

Background: Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma is a rare tumour with clinical behaviour covering a spectrum from indolent to aggressive disease. Treatment recommendations are currently based on case reports and small series describing combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy providing the best patient outcomes. Recent knowledge on molecular aberrations in this disease have not yet impacted on therapeutic decisions.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (modified Eilber protocol) versus adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

Background: Local control for extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS) requires surgery combined with radiotherapy, usually given pre-operatively or post-operatively. The modified Eilber protocol, a neoadjuvant chemoradiation regimen, has been reported with excellent local control rates. This retrospective single-centre study compared outcomes for patients treated with the modified Eilber protocol with those treated with standard adjuvant radiotherapy.

Diagnostic Knee Arthroscopy and Partial Meniscectomy.

Knee arthroscopy is the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedure in the United States. Indications have grown exponentially since the procedure was first popularized by Watanabe and Jackson. Treatment of meniscal tears is the most common reason for knee arthroscopy, with approximately 700,000 arthroscopic partial meniscectomies performed annually.