Importance of circulating tumor cells in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer.

Presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study was conducted to determine if the presence of CTC prior to surgery and during follow‑up in patients with newly diagnosed non-metastatic CRC can identify patients at risk for disease recurrence. In a prospective single center study 183 patients with newly diagnosed non-disseminated CRC, scheduled for surgery, were enrolled and followed-up for a median of 5.

Circulating tumor cells before and during follow-up after breast cancer surgery.

The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) is an independent prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival for patients with metastatic and newly diagnosed breast cancer. The present study was undertaken to explore whether the presence of CTC before and during follow-up after surgery is associated with recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). In a prospective single center study, CTC were enumerated with the CellSearch system in 30 ml of peripheral blood of 403 stage I-III patients before undergoing surgery for breast cancer (A) and if available 1 week after surgery (B), after adjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy or before start of long-term hormonal therapy (C), one (D), two (E) and three (F) years after surgery.

[Recurrent neck abscess due to a branchial cleft remnant].

Background: Abscesses arising from a third or fourth branchial cleft remnant are uncommon clinical entities and are often not recognised in a timely manner.

Case Description: In a 33-year-old female patient with a recurrent abscess in the left side of her neck, the cause turned out to be a fistula in the third branchial cleft remnant. She was treated initially with antibiotics and prednisone without adequate results.

Circulating tumor cells, disease recurrence and survival in newly diagnosed breast cancer.

Introduction: The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) is an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival and breast cancer-related death (BRD) for patients with metastatic breast cancer beginning a new line of systemic therapy. The current study was undertaken to explore whether the presence of CTC at the time of diagnosis was associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and BRD.

Methods: In a prospective single center study, CTC were enumerated with the CellSearch system in 30 ml of peripheral blood of 602 patients before undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

The strengths and limitations of routine staging before treatment with abdominal CT in colorectal cancer.

Background: Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), either locally advanced, metastasized (mCRC) or both, is present in a relevant proportion of patients. The chances on curation of advanced CRC are continuously improving with modern multi-modality treatment options. For incurable CRC the focus lies on palliation of symptoms, which is not necessarily a resection of the primary tumor.

Preoperative staging with chest CT in patients with colorectal carcinoma: not as a routine procedure.

Background: Preoperative staging of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has the potential benefit of altering treatment options when metastases are present. The clinical value of chest computed tomography (CT) in staging remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: All patients who undergo colorectal surgery in our hospital are prospectively registered, including patient, treatment, and histopathological characteristics; outcome; and follow-up.

Anterior resection of rectal cancer without bowel preparation and diverting stoma.

Purpose: Since the introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) as the standard operation technique for rectal cancer, anastomotic leakage percentages of up to 18% have been reported. To prevent such leakage, the use of mechanical bowel preparation and also the construction of a diverting ileostoma or colostomy have been standard procedures for years. In our institute, however, all patients undergoing colorectal surgery are operated upon without these measures.

Local recurrence of rectal cancer after total mesorectal excision without preoperative radiotherapy.

Background: At this moment, it is still debatable whether all patients with mobile rectal cancer who undergo surgical removal of the tumor should be treated with preoperative radiotherapy, since it is likely that only certain patients will benefit from this strategy. In this study, patients with mobile rectal cancer were immediately operated upon and only those with positive nodes or with incomplete resection received adjuvant radiotherapy.

Aims Of The Study: To investigate the local recurrence rate after the use of a selective policy of adjuvant radiotherapy and to determine risk factors for local recurrence.

Synchronous tumours of the unilateral parotid gland: rare or undetected?

Introduction: Multiple tumours of the parotid gland with the same histological appearance may occur as synchronous unilateral tumours, but bilaterality has also been reported. Synchronous multiple unilateral parotid tumours with different histology remain rare.

Methods: Between January 1988 and May 2002, a total of 341 patients underwent parotidectomy in our department.