Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) are both used for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. We carried out a propensity score-matched ...analysis to compare locoregional control (LRC).
VATS lobectomy data from six hospitals were retrospectively accessed; SABR data were obtained from a single institution database. Patients were matched using propensity scores based on cTNM stage, age, gender, Charlson comorbidity score, lung function and performance score. Eighty-six VATS and 527 SABR patients were matched blinded to outcome (1:1 ratio, caliper distance 0.025). Locoregional failure was defined as recurrence in/adjacent to the planning target volume/surgical margins, ipsilateral hilum or mediastinum. Recurrences were either biopsy-confirmed or had to be PET-positive and reviewed by a tumor board.
The matched cohort consisted of 64 SABR and 64 VATS patients with the median follow-up of 30 and 16 months, respectively. Post-SABR LRC rates were superior at 1 and 3 years (96.8% and 93.3% versus 86.9% and 82.6%, respectively, P = 0.04). Distant recurrences and overall survival (OS) were not significantly different.
This retrospective analysis found a superior LRC after SABR compared with VATS lobectomy, but OS did not differ. Our findings support the need to compare both treatments in a randomized, controlled trial.
Background
An early observation after chest wall correction is direct inspection from the PE patient of their “new” thorax. Changes in self-perception may give raise to other psychological ...adaptations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early changes in the fields of self-esteem, body image and QoL.
Methods
Prospective observational longitudinal multicenter cohort study. Self-esteem, emotional limitations and general health were assessed using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) in patients under 18 and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-bref (WHOQOL-bref) was used for body image, psychological domain and overall QoL in patients over 16 years of age. Measurements were taken before surgery (T1) and 6 weeks (T2), and 6 months thereafter (T3).
Results
Scores on post-operative self-esteem were significantly higher compared with scores pre-operatively (
p
< 0.007). Also body image, psychological domain and emotional limitations showed significant improvement, respectively
p
< 0.001,
p
< 0.001, and
p
< 0.016. Significant improvement in the first three components was mainly achieved in the first 6 weeks post-operative. In emotional limitation, however, the largest change was between 6 weeks and 6 months. Overall quality of life in the WHOQOL-bref and general health domain in the CHQ showed no significant improvement in relation to the pre-operative scores.
Conclusion
Post-operative PE patients after Nuss procedure showed an improved body image, increased self-esteem and increased psychological resilience in the first 6 months, with the most marked change in the first 6 weeks. Also emotional limitations changed significantly over time. The changes were not large enough to influence general QoL or general health significantly.
Meralgia paresthetica is often idiopathic, but sometimes symptoms may be caused by traumatic injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) or compression of this nerve by a mass lesion. In ...this article the literature is reviewed on unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica, including different types of traumatic injury and compression of the LFCN by mass lesions. In addition, the experience from our center with the surgical treatment of unusual causes of meralgia paresthetica is presented. A PubMed search was performed on unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica. Specific attention was paid to factors that may have predisposed to LFCN injury and clues that may have pointed at a mass lesion. Moreover, our own database on all surgically treated cases of meralgia paresthetica between April 2014 and September 2022 was reviewed to identify unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica. A total of 66 articles was identified that reported results on unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica: 37 on traumatic injuries of the LFCN and 29 on compression of the LFCN by mass lesions. Most frequent cause of traumatic injury in the literature was iatrogenic, including different procedures around the anterior superior iliac spine, intra-abdominal procedures and positioning for surgery. In our own surgical database of 187 cases, there were 14 cases of traumatic LFCN injury and 4 cases in which symptoms were related to a mass lesion. It is important to consider traumatic causes or compression by a mass lesion in patients that present with meralgia paresthetica.
Purpose
To identify demographic, (bio)physical, behavioral, and psychological determinants of successful lifestyle change and program completion by performing a secondary analysis of the intervention ...arm of a randomized-controlled trial, investigating a preconception lifestyle intervention.
Methods
The 6-month lifestyle intervention consisted of dietary counseling, physical activity, and behavioral modification, and was aimed at 5–10% weight loss. We operationalized successful lifestyle change as successful weight loss (≥ 5% weight/BMI ≤ 29 kg/m
2
), weight loss in kilograms, a reduction in energy intake, and an increase in physical activity during the intervention program. We performed logistic and mixed-effect regression analyses to identify baseline factors that were associated with successful change or program completion.
Results
Women with higher external eating behavior scores had higher odds of successful weight loss (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05–1.16). Women with the previous dietetic support lost 0.94 kg less during the intervention period (95% CI 0.01–1.87 kg). Women with higher self-efficacy reduced energy intake more than women with lower self-efficacy (
p
< 0.01). Women with an older partner had an increased energy intake (6 kcal/year older, 95% CI 3–13). A high stage of change towards physical activity was associated with a higher number of daily steps (
p
= 0.03). A high stage of change towards weight loss was associated with completion of the intervention (
p
= 0.04).
Conclusions
Determinants of lifestyle change and program completion were: higher external eating behavior, not having received previous dietetic support, high stage of change. This knowledge can be used to identify women likely to benefit from lifestyle interventions and develop new interventions for women requiring alternative support.
Trial registration
The LIFEstyle study was registered at the Dutch trial registry (NTR 1530;
http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=1530
).
IntroductionIn daily practice large heterogeneity in the treatment of children with complex appendicitis exists. Complex appendicitis can be divided into two subtypes; complex appendicitis with and ...without appendiceal mass and/or abscess. As complex appendicitis is associated with high morbidity and costs, identification of the optimal treatment strategy is essential. In this article, we present the study protocol for the CAPP (Complex Appendicitis in the Pediatric Population) study.Methods and analysisThis nation-wide, multi-centre, comparative, non-randomised prospective cohort study includes all children <18 years old with a preoperative suspicion of complex appendicitis, which is based on imaging confirmed acute appendicitis and predefined criteria regarding the severity of appendicitis. Eligible patients are recruited in more than 30 hospitals. Open appendectomy will be compared with laparoscopic appendectomy for children without appendiceal mass and/or abscess and initial non-operative treatment (ie, intravenous antibiotics with or without percutaneous drainage) to direct appendectomy for children with appendiceal mass and/or abscess. Based on historical data supplied by the participating hospitals and an inclusion period of 2 years and 9 months, a sample size of 1308 patients is aimed. Primary outcome is the proportion of patients experiencing any complication at 3 months follow-up. Reported complications will be assessed by an independent adjudication committee. Secondary outcomes include, but are not limited to, quality of life, and (in)direct costs. To adjust for baseline differences and selection bias, outcomes will be compared after propensity score analysis (inverse probability weighting and stratification).Ethics and disseminationThe Medical Ethics Review Committee of the Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, declared that the Medical Research involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) did not apply to this study. Therefore, no official approval was required by national law. Study results will be presented in peer-reviewed scientific journals and at (inter)national conferences.Trial registration numbersNCT04755179; NL9371.
Abstract Aim We studied the clinical outcomes of a trimodality protocol used for the treatment of superior sulcus tumours (SST) in a tertiary referral centre. Methods The details of all patients who ...underwent treatment for a SST between January 2003 and December 2009 were retrospectively analysed. Following pre-treatment staging, all patients underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin/etoposide, followed by surgery. Outcomes studied were treatment-related complications, pathological response rates, recurrence rates and survival. Results Fifty-four patients were treated by chemotherapy (cisplatin/etoposide) and concurrent radiotherapy (46–66 Gy) followed by surgical resection. Minimum follow-up was 23 months. No 30-day mortality was observed. A complete (R0) resection was performed in 44 out of 54 patients. None had an R2 resection. Two-year survival was 50% (95%CI: 36.7–63.3). Patients who achieved a pathological complete response ( n = 16) had a 2-year survival of 81% (95%CI: 62.1–100.0) versus a 37% 2-year survival (95%CI: 21.5–52.1) in patients with remaining vital tumour in their resection specimens ( n = 38; P = 0.003). Five patients developed a local recurrence, and 23 patients a distant metastasis, mainly to the brain ( n = 15). Two patients died from causes unrelated to cancer. Conclusions Trimodality treatment of SST in accordance to our protocol achieved results comparable to previous reports. Pathological response rates to induction were an important prognostic factor, and distant metastasis remains a major problem.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been the backbone of guideline-recommended treatment for Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, in selected operable patients with a ...resectable tumour, good results have been achieved with trimodality treatment (TT). The objective of this bi-institutional analysis of outcomes in patients treated for Stage IIIA NSCLC was to identify particular factors supporting the role of surgery after CRT.
METHODS
In a 2-centre retrospective cohort study, patients with Stage III NSCLC (seventh edition TNM) were identified and those patients with Stage IIIA who were treated with CRT or TT between January 2007 and December 2013 were selected. Patient characteristics as well as tumour parameters were evaluated in relation to outcome and whether or not these variables were predictive for the influence of treatment (TT or CRT) on outcome overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS). Estimation of treatment effect on PFS and OS was performed using propensity-weighted cox regression analysis based on inverse probability weighting.
RESULTS
From a database of 725 Stage III NSCLC patients, 257 Stage IIIA NSCLC patients, treated with curative intent, were analysed; 186 (72%) with cIIIA-N2 and 71 (28%) with cT3N1/cT4N0 disease. One hundred and ninety-six (76.3%) patients were treated by CRT alone (high-dose radiation with daily low-dose cisplatin) and 61 (23.7%) by TT. The unweighted data showed that TT resulted in better PFS and OS. After weighting for factors predictive of treatment assignment, patients with a large gross tumour volume (>120 cc) had better PFS when treated with TT, and patients with an adenocarcinoma treated with TT had better OS, regardless of tumour volume.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC and large tumour volume, as well as patients with adenocarcinoma, who were selected for TT, had favourable outcome compared to patients receiving CRT. This information can be used to assist multidisciplinary team decision-making and for stratifying patients in studies comparing TT and definitive CRT.
Approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with Stage III disease 1.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
A minimally invasive lobectomy (MIL) is the standard treatment for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in medically operable patients. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy ...(SABR) is recommended for inoperable patients and has been proposed as a potential alternative for operable patients as well. Here, we present the results of a feasibility study in preparation for a nationwide retrospective cohort study, comparing outcomes between both treatment modalities.
METHODS
In this retrospective cohort study, data from patients with clinical stage I NSCLC treated with MIL or SABR in 2014–2015 were retrieved from databases from 12 Dutch hospitals. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) were compared between MIL and SABR.
RESULTS
A total of 597 patients with clinical stage I NSCLC treated with MIL (n = 356) or SABR (n = 241) were included. In total, 106 (30%) patients had died in the MIL group and 142 (59%) in the SABR group. After MIL and SABR, unadjusted 5-year PFS was 63% and 30%, OS was 72% and 38% and LCSS was 81% and 76%, respectively. Propensity score-weighted analyses did not show significant differences between MIL and SABR in OS hazard ratios (HR) 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43–1.29), PFS HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.42–1.32) or LCSS HR 0.81 (95% CI 0.42–1.59).
CONCLUSIONS
Unadjusted analyses revealed superior OS and PFS for MIL and similar LCSS, but this feasibility study was not sufficiently powered to demonstrate significant differences using propensity score methodology. Therefore, this study is currently being extended to include more than half of Dutch hospitals in order to enlarge the population to ≥1880 patients, not only to determine the best treatment for patients with stage I NSCLC overall, but also to assess the preferred treatment for patient groups with specific characteristics.
Lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide in the last few decades 1, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the predominant type of lung cancer 2.
Abstract Aim Investigate the prognostic impact and clinical relevance of the sentinel node (SN)-procedure in colon carcinoma. Patients and methods Between May 2002 and January 2004, the SN-procedure ...was performed in 55 patients that underwent elective resection for clinically non-advanced colon carcinoma. A control group of 110 patients was identified from a cohort between January 2000 and April 2002. All lymph nodes were analysed by conventional haematoxylin–eosin staining. All negative SNs underwent in-depth analysis using immunohistochemical-staining and automated microscopy with the Ariol-system. Patients with positive lymph nodes were offered adjuvant chemotherapy. All patients were routinely monitored at 6-month intervals and follow-up was more than 5 years. Results The SN was successfully identified in 98% of the patients, with 94% sensitivity. In-depth analysis with immunohistochemistry and automated microscopy (Ariol-system) upstaged 3 and 4 patients respectively. When only node-negative patients were analysed, overall 5-year-survival was significantly better in the SN group (91% vs. 76%, p = 0.04). Cancer-specific-mortality was even 0% (vs. 8%, p = 0.08). Disease-free-survival was significantly improved to 96% (vs. 77%, p < 0.01). Conclusions This study describes the prognostic impact of the SN-procedure in colon carcinoma after 5-year-follow-up. Only one patient had recurrent disease after a negative SN procedure (disease-free-survival 96%). These results indicate that the SN-procedure is of prognostic relevance and might be useful to select patients for adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients that are lymph node negative after an SN-procedure have an excellent prognosis and do not need adjuvant treatment.
Vertebral involvement is no longer a contraindication for resection in superior sulcus tumors. We describe the reconstruction of thoracic vertebras 2 to 4 using a free vascularized fibular graft ...combined with dorsal and ventral stabilization using rods, screws, and hooks after resection of a superior sulcus tumor that invaded the thoracic spine. No complications have occurred after 7 years of follow-up, and the reconstruction has been durable and stable.