Loco-regional extensions of central nervous system germ cell tumors: a retrospective radiological analysis of 100 patients.

Purpose: The current staging system of central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCT) includes a binary classification in "localized" or "metastatic" disease based on the absence or presence of leptomeningeal dissemination. Loco-regional tumor dissemination has been barely described whereas its accurate definition might be useful in terms of prognosis and treatment, especially for radiation therapy planning. Our purpose was therefore to describe MR patterns and prevalence of loco-regional extensions of these tumors.

Visual complaints in intracranial germinomas.

Objective: Patients with brain tumors often report having visual complaints. This may be due to increased intracranial pressure, compression/invasion of the optic pathway or diplopia. We assessed the incidence and the etiology of visual symptoms in patients with intracranial germinoma tumors (ICGTs).

[Disseminated actinomycosis treated with clindamycin].

Actinomycosis is a rare bacterial disease caused by Actinomyces spp., an anaerobic bacteria from the oropharynx, digestive, and female genital tracts. Initial clinical presentation often mimics malignancy, which can lead to a delay in diagnosis.

Survival impact of centralization and clinical guidelines for soft tissue sarcoma (A prospective and exhaustive population-based cohort).

Purpose: The outcome of sarcoma has been suggested in retrospective and non-exhaustive studies to be better through management by a multidisciplinary team of experts and adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). The aim of this prospective and exhaustive population based study was to confirm the impact of adherence to CPGs on survival in patients with localized sarcoma.

Experimental Design: Between 2005 and 2007, all evaluable adult patients with a newly diagnosis of localized sarcoma located in Rhone Alpes region (n = 634), including 472 cases of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS), were enrolled.

Utility of post-therapy brain surveillance imaging in the detection of primary central nervous system lymphoma relapse.

Background: The optimal follow-up strategy for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients after first-line therapy is unclear. The goal of this study is to determine the utility of planned brain surveillance imaging in the detection of relapse in a retrospective cohort of PCNSL patients.

Methods: Patients were consecutive PCNSL cases treated in Leon Berard Cancer Centre, Lyon, France, from 1985 to 2011.

Percutaneous guided biopsy for diagnosing suspected primary malignant bone tumors in pediatric patients: a safe, accurate, and cost-saving procedure.

Background: Percutaneous biopsy is the reference diagnostic procedure for adult musculoskeletal tumors. Its place in pediatrics is controversial and open biopsy remains recommended.

Objective: To assess diagnostic performance and feasibility of percutaneous biopsy performed on children and young adults for suspected malignant bone tumors.

Accuracy of core needle biopsy for the diagnosis of osteosarcoma: A retrospective analysis of 73 patients.

Purpose: The goals of this retrospective study were to evaluate the accuracy of core needle biopsy (CNB) for the diagnosis of osteosarcoma and to identify criteria that may predict failed CNB.

Materials And Methods: From 2002 to 2012, 73patients with a total of 73osteosarcomas underwent CNB. Patients demographics and procedure details were recorded, including tumor size, tumor characteristics (hemorrhagic or not, lytic, sclerotic [>50% bone condensation], or mixed), the type of anesthesia, the number of tissue samples, the size of the biopsy needle and pathology report.

Diagnostic Accuracy of PET/CT-Guided Percutaneous Biopsies for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Patients.

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are one of the most frequent causes of death in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Early detection is crucial because complete surgical resection is the only curative treatment. It has been previously reported that an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) image with a T/L (Tumor/Liver) SUV max ratio > 1.

Thrombocytopenia due to hypersplenism in oncological disease: partial splenic embolization during palliative treatment.

Hypersplenism is excess activity of the spleen, resulting in peripheral pancytopenia that predominates in platelet cell lines. Pancytopenia can be limited by reducing the volume of the functional spleen. However, in patients in very poor general condition, a splenectomy may not be possible, due to the risks of surgery and postoperative infection.

[To answer rare cancer issues. Geographical analysis of EMS sarcoma cohort in the Rhône-Alpes region].

Rare cancer issues have not been much explored yet because of their low incidence. That is why epidemiological studies have difficulties in identifying indisputable etiological risk factors. An expert opinion, mainly concentrated in some establishments, is required for these cancers' management.

Territorial inequalities in management and conformity to clinical guidelines for sarcoma patients: an exhaustive population-based cohort analysis in the Rhône-Alpes region.

Background: Sarcomas are rare cancers with great variability in clinical and histopathological presentation. The main objective of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is to standardize diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: From March 2005 to February 2007, all patients diagnosed with localized sarcoma in the Rhône-Alpes region were included in a cohort-based study, to evaluate the compliance of sarcoma management with French guidelines in routine practice and to identify predictive factors for compliance with CGPs.

Pazopanib for the treatment of soft-tissue sarcoma.

Pazopanib is a multikinase inhibitor which potently inhibits the activity of major receptor tyrosine kinases, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-a, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-a, and c-Kit. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 in the United States for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, pazopanib has been tested in advanced or metastatic soft-tissue sarcoma. Unlike other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a statistically significant efficacy in phase II but also in randomized phase III studies has been shown.

Percutaneous cytologic diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumors of pancreas in children.

Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas, formerly known as Frantz tumors, are rare exocrine tumors that electively affect young women in their second and third decades of life, and are rarely observed in children. Histologic confirmation is nevertheless desirable before proceeding with treatment of pancreatic lesions, as appropriate treatment can range from conservative to ablative surgery. Here, we report 3 cases of solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas and we postulate that percutaneous cytologic sample analysis (instead of biopsy) may be sufficient to reach an accurate diagnosis and eliminate differential diagnosis.

Parosteal osteosarcoma mimicking osteochondroma: A radio-histologic approach on two cases.

Background: Parosteal osteosarcoma is a well-differentiated variant of osteosarcoma that affects the surface of the bone. The imaging pattern is very typical. We report two cases mimicking an osteochondroma, radiologically and histologically and propose an explanation.

Multidisciplinarity and medical decision, impact for patients with cancer: sociological assessment of two tumour committees' organization.

Purpose: Medical practices in oncology are expected to be multidisciplinary, yet few articles studied how this may be concretely applied. In the present study, we evaluated the organization of two multidisciplinary committees, one for breast cancer and one for sarcoma, in a French Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Methods: Both tumours were specifically chosen so as to emphasise substantial differences in relation with incidence, histological subtypes, management strategy, and scientific evidence.

Clinicians' adherence versus non adherence to practice guidelines in the management of patients with sarcoma: a cost-effectiveness assessment in two European regions.

Background: Although the management of sarcoma is improving, non adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) remains high, mainly because of the low incidence of the disease and the variety of histological subtypes. Since little is known about the health economics of sarcoma, we undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis (within the CONnective TIssue CAncer NETwork, CONTICANET) comparing costs and outcomes when clinicians adhered to CPGs and when they did not.

Methods: Patients studied had a histological diagnosis of sarcoma, were older than 15 years, and had been treated in the Rhône-Alpes region of France (in 2005/2006) or in the Veneto region of Italy (in 2007).

Deep sedation in pediatric imaging: efficacy and safety of intravenous chlorpromazine.

Background: The quality of MRI and CT depends largely on immobility of the patient during the procedure, which is often difficult to achieve without sedation in children below the age of 6 years.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous chlorpromazine sedation for repeated imaging in young children treated for cancer.

Materials And Methods: From July 2003 to January 2007, information on children younger than 6 years of age having MRI or CT was prospectively collected.

Additional Benefit of F-18 FDG PET/CT in the staging and follow-up of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma.

Purpose: The therapeutic management of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is strongly dependent on initial staging. This study aimed to evaluate F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) as an adjunct to conventional imaging (CI) in the staging and follow-up of pediatric RMS.

Materials And Methods: A total of 13 consecutive children and adolescents (12 males, 1 female; mean age, 9.

Use of F-18 FDG PET/CT in non-Hodgkin lymphoma with central nervous system involvement.

Central nervous system (CNS) is a rare site of involvement by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Therapeutic approach for primary and secondary CNS NHL is different and remains challenging. Therefore imaging data are essential at staging to discriminate these 2 clinical entities and during follow-up to assess therapy response.