Sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous melanoma: analysis of 240 consecutive cases.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate practical rules for sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma and discuss the indications and outcomes of 240 patients.

Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized analysis was performed on 240 patients in a referral cancer center. The median patient age was 51 years, and the median Breslow thickness was 1.

Prognostic and predictive value of the thymidylate synthase expression in patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer.

Aims: To assess the value of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression as a predictive factor in the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer, as well as its independent prognostic value for survival.

Methods: We studied 114 high risk colorectal carcinoma patients (high risk stage II and stage III), distributed in two treatment groups: surgery alone (61 patients) or surgery followed by 5-FU-based chemotherapy (53 patients). TS protein expression in the tumour tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Predictive factors for distant metastasis from oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The presence of distant metastasis after the initial treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is not considered a common event and is associated with a poor outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with the diagnosis of distant metastasis in oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma patients. The medical charts of 2327 patients treated from 1954 to 1997 were reviewed.

Radiochemotherapy in the conservative treatment of anal canal carcinoma: retrospective analysis of results and radiation dose effectiveness.

Purpose: This retrospective analysis reports the results on patients with anal canal carcinoma treated by combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Between March 1993 and December 2001, 43 patients with anal canal carcinoma were treated with radiochemotherapy at the Hospital do Cancer A.C.

Surgical complications after thyroid surgery performed in a cancer hospital.

Objective: This study evaluates the incidence and risk factors of complications in patients submitted to thyroidectomy in a cancer hospital with residency training.

Study Design: A retrospective chart and complications review of 1020 patients (1990-2000) underwent to thyroidectomy.

Results: At our cancer hospital, 1020 patients underwent thyroidectomy.

The double-barreled wet ileostomy: an alternative method for simultaneous urinary and intestinal diversion without intestinal anastomosis after total colectomy and pelvic exenteration.

Background: Although the number of cases of locally advanced colorectal cancer related to familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) has decreased as a result of a better understanding of the disease, the condition still can offer therapeutic challenges.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a rectal tumor with prostate invasion associated with FAP, treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy and total extended proctocolectomy with cystoprostatectomy. The reconstruction was undertaken with a double-barreled ileostomy with ureteral reimplantation on the distal segment of the ileostomy.

Prognostic factors in locally advanced colon cancer treated by extended resection.

Unlabelled: The impact of clinical, pathologic, and surgical variables on the postoperative morbidity, mortality, and survival of patients undergoing extended resections of colon carcinoma were evaluated.

Methods: The medical records of 95 patients who underwent extended resections for colon carcinoma between 1953 and 1996 were reviewed. In all cases, in addition to colectomy, 1 or more organs and/or structures were resected en bloc due to a macroscopically based suspicion of tumor invasion.

Trends in incidence and prognosis for head and neck cancer in the United States: a site-specific analysis of the SEER database.

Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer, there has been little evidence of improvement in 5-year survival rates over the last few decades. To determine more accurate trends in site-specific outcomes as opposed to a more general overview of head and neck cancer patients, we analyzed the site-specific data collected in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-SEER Public-Use Database 1973-1999. Based on the selection criteria, 96,232 cases were evaluated for trend analysis in incidence, clinical stage, treatment and 5-year survival.

Auditory effects after organ preservation protocol for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hearing loss after concomitant radiochemotherapy in patients enrolled in a larynx preservation protocol.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Consecutive patients treated in a tertiary cancer center hospital between 2001 and 2002.

Pelvic exenteration and sphincter preservation in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: Pelvic sarcomas are rare and there are very few effective therapeutic alternatives. A complete resection is considered the main factor associated to a good prognosis, which justifies the employment of a pelvic exenteration (PE) in selected cases.

Methods: Between 1980 and 2000, 96 PE were performed, nine of which were for sarcomas.

Long-term quality-of-life evaluation after head and neck cancer treatment in a developing country.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term quality of life of patients treated for head and neck cancer at a single institution in a developing country.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a consecutive series of patients.

Setting: Tertiary cancer center hospital in Brazil.

Vascular reconstruction in limbs with malignant tumors.

Patients with tumors in limbs who undergo surgical treatment may present involvement of major vessels. Major arteries must be reconstructed for limb salvage. Major veins may be reconstructed to avoid the onset of venous hypertension.

Surgical treatment of paragangliomas of the carotid bifurcation: results of 36 patients.

Background: Paragangliomas of the carotid bifurcation are rare and usually benign neoplasms arising from the carotid body chemoreceptors. The aim of this retrospective study was to report long-term results of carotid bifurcation paragangliomas treated in a single institution over a period of 20 years. The following variables are described: age, sex, localization, diagnostic workup, operative procedure, complications, proportion and characteristics of malignant tumors, and cure rates.

Pleurodesis in patients with malignant pleural effusions: talc slurry or bleomycin? Results of a prospective randomized trial.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost of bedside pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusions using talc slurry (TS) or bleomycin (BL) in a prospective randomized trial, and to determine prognosticators for procedure failure. From June 1997 to June 1999 a series of 71 patients entered this trial. They underwent 37 procedures with TS (4 g) and 34 with BL (60 units) via tube thoracostomy.

Pectoralis major and other myofascial/myocutaneous flaps in head and neck cancer reconstruction: experience with 437 cases at a single institution.

Background: Pectoralis major and other myofascial/myocutaneous flaps have been recognized as important reconstructive methods in head and neck cancer surgery. Even with the worldwide use of free flaps, they are still the mainstay reconstructive procedures in many centers.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with head and neck cancer who underwent an immediate reconstruction with pectoralis major or other myofascial/myocutaneous flaps at a tertiary cancer center from 1982 to 1998.

Totally implantable femoral vein catheters in cancer patients.

Introduction: Totally implantable devices are increasingly being utilized for chemotherapy treatment of oncological patients. When it is impossible to implant the reservoir on the anterior wall of the thorax, or when there is an obstruction of the superior vena cava system, alternative access routes must be sought. Of these, the femoral vein is the most utilized.

Postoperative complications of thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: This study evaluates the incidence and risk factors of complications in patients submitted to thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma in a cancer hospital with residency training.

Study Design: A retrospective chart and complications review of 316 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Results: Of the 316 patients, the main postoperative complications were transient hypocalcemia in 87 (27.

Frequency of extra-colonic tumors in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial colorectal cancer (FCC) Brazilian families: An analysis by a Brazilian Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Institutional Registry.

Unlabelled: The two main forms of hereditary colorectal cancer are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Some families do not meet all the diagnostic criteria for HNPCC or FAP and are classified as familial colorectal cancer (FCC). Little information is available on the spectrum of tumors related to HNPCC and FCC in South America.

Cyclin D1 gene polymorphism as a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive system in non-alcoholics.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) is associated with environmental factors, especially tobacco and alcohol consumption. Genetic factors, including cyclin D1 (CCND1) polymorphism have been suggested to play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression of UADT cancer. To investigate the relationship between CCND1 polymorphism on susceptibility for UADT cancers, 147 cancer and 135 non-cancer subjects were included in this study.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 3 genotype as a risk factor for upper aerodigestive tract cancers.

Objective: To assess alcohol dehydrogenase 3 (ADH3) polymorphism at position Ile349Val as indicator of risk factor for upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer to verify its association with UADT cancer in nonalcoholic or nonsmoking individuals.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Primary care or referral center.

Predictive factors and distribution of lymph node metastasis in lip cancer patients and their implications on the treatment of the neck.

The frequency of neck metastasis in lip cancer patients is low, however if present, it decreases survival rates, which reinforce the neck treatment as an important step in the management of these patients. This study evaluates the predictive factors, the distribution of lymph node metastasis and their implications on the neck treatment. A retrospective analysis of lip cancer patients treated in our institution from 1969 to 1999 was performed.

Postoperative complications after en bloc salvage surgery for head and neck cancer.

Objective: To analyze the frequency of and risk factors for postoperative complications after en bloc salvage surgery for head and neck cancer.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Patients were evaluated from February 7, 1990, to November 17, 1999, in a tertiary cancer center hospital.

Vascular reconstruction in limbs associated with resection of tumors.

Patients with tumors in limbs who undergo surgical treatment may present involvement of major vessels. The artery must be reconstructed for limb salvage and the vein may be reconstructed to avoid the onset of venous hypertension. The objective of this study was to analyze the results from surgical treatment of tumors associated with vascular reconstruction in limbs.

Long-term survival rates in young patients with thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Thyroid carcinoma in patients younger than 18 years is rare. It is associated with a greater risk of metastases. However, the prognosis for these patients is better when compared with that of adults.

APACHE II, POSSUM, and ASA scores and the risk of perioperative complications in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: The indications for surgical treatment of patients with head and neck cancer can be limited by the risk of perioperative complications. Prediction of outcome is important in disease stratification and the subsequent decision-making process.

Objective: To assess the value of the APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score, POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity), and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification in the prediction of complications in patients with oral or oropharyngeal cancer.