[Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in Germany. Situational analysis of treatment reality based on retrospective data].

Background: Guideline-based, risk-adjusted therapy with anticoagulants reduce thromboembolic stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Method: This study analyzed use of oral anticoagulation in German AF-patients. Access to anonymized patient records was made via IMS Health Disease Analyzer database (sample size: 113,619 patients with ICD-10 Code I48.

Evaluation of psychosocial distress in patients treated in a community-based oncology group practice in Germany.

Background: Systematic evaluation of psychosocial distress in oncology outpatients is an important issue. We assessed feasibility and benefit of standardized routine screening using the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL) in all patients of our community-based hematooncology group practice.

Patients And Methods: One thousand four hundred forty-six patients were screened between July 2008 and September 2008.

Bendamustine/mitoxantrone/rituximab: a short remission induction chemoimmunotherapy for elderly patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We have evaluated all outpatients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were treated with bendamustine/mitoxantrone/rituximab (BMR) between May 1999 and December 2008. Treatment consisted of bendamustine 90 mg/m2 on day 1 + 2, Mitoxantrone 6 mg/m2 on day 1, and Rituximab 375 mg/m2 on day 8, 15, 22 + 29. Thirty-nine patients (19 males, 20 females) received BMR with a median age of 69 years (46–81).

CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy in oncology outpatients: sensitivity, specificity, complications.

Background: Inpatient CT-guided core needle biopsies are an integral diagnostic method to obtain a histology from lesions of unknown dignity in oncology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility, sensitivity, specificity, and complication rate of diagnostic CT-guided percutaneous core needle biopsies in oncology outpatients.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of all oncology outpatients who received CT-guided core needle biopsies between August 2001 and March 2005.

Improved survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer in routine care: results of a retrospective study in a community-based oncology group practice 1995-2005.

Background: Little is known about the treatment reality in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) outside clinical trials. We undertook this analysis to evaluate the actual treatment reality for unselected patients with MBC in routine care.

Patients And Methods: All patients with MBC, who were treated in our community-based group practice between 1995 and 2005, were analyzed retrospectively concerning prognostic factors, treatment, and survival.