Treatment of patients with screen-detected colorectal cancer is less strenuous: a nationwide cohort study with long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVE

During the last two decades, organised colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has been widely implemented. It remains to be established if screen-detected CRC (SD-CRC) is associated with reduced long-term requirements for treatment as compared with patients with non-screen-detected CRC (NSD-CRC).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This nationwide cohort study evaluated differences in treatment and healthcare contacts from the date of diagnosis to two years after comparing patients with SD-CRC and NSD-CRC. Data were collected from national healthcare registers, including patients aged 50-75 years and diagnosed with CRC between January 1st 2014 and March 31st 2018. Analyses were stratified into UICC stages and adjusted for sex, 5-year age groups, type of cancer (colonic/rectal), and Charlson comorbidity index score to address healthy user bias.

RESULTS

In total, 12,040 patients were included, 4708 with SD-CRC and 7332 with NSD-CRC. In patients with SD-CRC, the duration of hospitalisation and rate of emergency surgery were reduced by 38 % (relative risk [RR] = 0.62) and 66 % (RR = 0.34), respectively. Moreover, this group was characterised by a 75 % reduction in oncological outpatient visits (RR = 0.35) and a reduced number of treatments with chemotherapy (RR = 0.57) and radiotherapy (RR = 0.50). There were no significant differences between the two populations in the rates of metastasectomy and the number of contacts with primary healthcare providers.

CONCLUSION

Compared to patients with NSD-CRC, patients with SD-CRC experience less hospitalisation and treatment within the first two years after diagnosis.

Factors affecting patient adherence to publicly funded colorectal cancer screening programmes: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer. Many countries in Europe have already implemented systematic screening programmes as per the recommendations by the European Union. The impact of screening is highly dependent on participation rates. The aim of the study was to identify barriers, facilitators and modifiers to participation in systematised, stool sample-based, publicly financed CRC screening programmes.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar and PsycINFO was undertaken. We included both qualitative and quantitative studies reporting on barriers and facilitators (excluding sociodemographic variables) to participation in stool sample-based CRC screening. Barriers and facilitators to participation were summarised and analysed.

RESULTS

The inclusion criteria were met in 21 studies. Reported barriers and facilitators were categorised into the following seven themes (examples): psychology (fear of cancer), religion (believing cancer is the will of God), logistics (not knowing how to conduct the test), health-related factors (mental health), knowledge and awareness (lack of knowledge about the test), role of the general practitioner (being supported in taking the test by the general practitioner), and environmental factors (knowing someone who has participated in a screening programme). Six studies reported that non-participation was not due to a negative attitude towards screening for CRC.

CONCLUSION

Many barriers to screening were found. It is important to work with peoples' fear of screening. Moreover, this review suggests that it might be possible to increase participation rates, if the population-wide awareness and knowledge of potential health benefits of CRC screening are increased and proper logistical support is provided.

A Contribution to an Exact Interpretation of Results Obtained by Repeated Quantitative Analyses of the Blood Plasma and Serum

Repeated quantitative analyses of the blood plasma yield valuable data allowing us to form a clearer idea of the metabolic processes involved in various body states of the mammalian organism. Quantitative analyses of the plasma have hitherto usually paid little attention to the influence of the total blood fluid amount as well as to the blood cell : plasma volume ratio which affects the absolute amount of the substance under study. The present paper describes 4 different levels of evaluating quantitative analyses of the blood plasma.

Procedure guideline for iodine-131 whole-body scintigraphy for differentiated thyroid cancer (version 2)

The version 2 of the procedure guideline for iodine-131 whole-body scintigraphy for differentiated thyroid cancer is an update of the procedure guideline published in 1999. The following statements are added or modified: The two alternatives of an endogenous TSH-stimulation by the withdrawal of the thyroidal hormone medication and of an exogenous TSH-stimulation by the injection of the recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) have an equal sensitivity for the diagnostic use of radioiodine and for the measurement of thyroglobulin. Image acquisition under rhTSH is obtained approximately 48 h after the radioiodine administration, while an interval of about 72 h is preferred under endogenous TSH-stimulation. If iodine-negative metastases are expected, the feasibility of scintigraphy using 99mTc sestamibi or preferably positron emission tomography using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose should be considered. The sensitivity of FDG-PET is increased by TSH-stimulation. Before planning the iodine-131 scintigraphy the patient has to avoid iodine-containing medication and the possibility of additives of iodine in vitamin- and electrolyte-supplementation has to be considered.

Guideline for in vivo- and in vitro procedures for thyroid diseases (version 2)

The version 2 of the guideline for diagnostic standards of thyroid disorders is an update of the guideline published in 1999 and describes standards of in vitro and in vivo procedures. The following statements are modified: In vitro procedures: When measurement of the TSH-receptor antibodies is indicated, the guideline recommends the use of a second generation assay (recombinant human TSH-receptor as antigen). The functional assay sensitivity for the measurement of thyroglobulin should reach a value ≤1 ng/ml. Moleculargenetic tests (RET proto-oncogen) are indicated in patients with a newly diagnosed medullary thyroid cancer and in the relatives of patients with hereditary medullary thyroid cancer. In vivo procedures: The sonographic examination should use a probe with a frequency of at least 7.5 MHz. Indications for the thyroid scintigraphy: nodule size ≥1 cm in diameter, autonomous goitre/nodule with clinical or subclinical hyperthyroidism, necessity of a differentiation between Graves’ disease and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, therapy control after a definitive treatment and – in individual cases – the follow-up of untreated autonomous nodules.

Guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases (version 3)

The version 3 of the guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases presents first of all a revision of the version 2. The chapter indication for radioiodine therapy, surgical treatment or antithyroid drugs bases on an interdisciplinary consensus. The manifold criteria for decision making consider the entity of thyroid disease (autonomy, Graves’ disease, goitre, goitre recurrence), the thyroid volume, suspicion of malignancy, cystic nodules, risk of surgery and co-morbidity, history of subtotal thyroidectomy, persistent or recurrent thyrotoxicosis caused by Graves’ disease including known risk factors for relapse, compression of the trachea caused by goitre, requirement of direct therapeutic effect as well as the patient’s preference. Because often some of these criteria are relevant, the guideline offers the necessary flexibility for individual decisions. Further topics are patients’ preparation, counseling, dosage concepts, procedural details, results, side effects and follow-up care. The prophylactic use of glucocorticoids during radioiodine therapy in patients without preexisting ophthalmopathy as well as dosage and duration of glucocorticoid medication in patients with preexisting ophthalmopathy need to be clarified in further studies. The pragmatic recommendations for the combined use of radioiodine and glucocorticoids remained unchanged in the 3rd version.

Procedure guideline for radioiodine test (version 2)

The version 2 of the procedure guideline for radioiodine test is an update of the guideline published in 1999. The following statements were added or modified: The procedure guideline discusses the pros and cons of a single measurement or of repeated measurements of the iodine-131 uptake and their optimal timing. Different formulas are described when one, two or three values of the radioiodine kinetic are available. The probe with a sodium iodide crystal, alternative or additionally the gamma-camera using the ROI-technique are instrumentations for the measurement of iodine-131 uptake. A possible source of error is an inappropriate measurement (sonography) of the target volume. The patients’ preparation includes the withdrawal of antithyroid drugs 2-3 days before radioiodine administration. The patient has to avoid iodine-containing medication and the possibility of additives of iodide in vitamin- or electrolyte-supplementation has to be considered.

Procedure guidelines for radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 2)

The procedure guidelines for radioiodine therapy (RIT) of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 2) are the counterpart to the procedure guidelines for 131I whole-body scintigraphy (version 2) and specify the interdisciplinary guidelines for thyroid cancer of the Deutsche Krebs-gesellschaft and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie concerning the nuclear medicine part. Compared with version 1 facultative options for RIT can be chosen in special cases: ablative RIT for papillary microcarcinoma ≤1 cm, ablative RIT for mixed forms of anaplastic and differentiated thyroid cancer, and RIT in patients with a measurable or increasing thyroglobulin concentration but without detectable metastases by imaging. The description of the pretherapeutic dosimetry now includes the isotopes 123I and 124I as well as a broader range of the activity of 131I. Activities of 2-5 GBq 131I are recommended for the first ablative RIT. If high accumulative activities of 131I are expected, men who have not yet finished their family planning should be advised to the option of sperm cryoconservation. An interdisciplinary consensus is necessary whether the new TNM-classification (UICC, 6th edition, 2002) will lead to modified recommendations for surgical or nuclear medicine therapy, especially for the surgical completeness and for the ablative RIT of pT1 papillary cancer.

Guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases (version 4)

Version 4 of the guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases includes an interdisciplinary consensus on decision making for antithyroid drugs, surgical treatment and radioiodine therapy. The quantitative description of a specific goiter volume for radioiodine therapy or operation was cancelled. For patients with nodular goiter with or without autonomy, manifold circumstances are in favor of surgery (suspicion on malignancy, large cystic nodules, mediastinal goiter, severe compression of the trachea) or in favor of radioiodine therapy (treatment of autonomy, age of patient, co-morbidity, history of prior subtotal thyroidectomy, profession like teacher, speaker or singer). For patients with Graves' disease, radioiodine therapy or surgery are recommended in the constellation of high risk of relapse (first-line therapy), persistence of hyperthyroidism or relapse of hyperthyroidism. After counseling, the patient gives informed consent to the preferred therapy. The period after radioiodine therapy of benign disorders until conception of at least four months was adapted to the European recommendation.

E, Leisner B, Reiners C, Schicha H, Dietlein M. Procedure guideline for thyroid scintigraphy (version 3)

The version 3 of the procedure guideline for thyroid scintigraphy is an update of the procedure guideline previously published in 2003. The interpretation of the scintigraphy requires the knowledge of the patients' history, the palpation of the neck, the laboratory parameters and of the sonography. The interpretation of the technetium-99m uptake requires the knowledge of the TSH-level. As a consequence of the improved alimentary iodine supply the 99mTc-uptake has decreased; 100 000 counts per scintigraphy should be acquired. For this, an imaging time of 10 minutes is generally needed using a high resolution collimator for thyroid imaging.

Procedure guideline for iodine-131 whole-body scintigraphy for differentiated thyroid cancer (version 3)

Version 3 of the procedure guideline for 131I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) is the counterpart to the procedure guideline for radioiodine therapy (version 3) and specify the interdisciplinary guideline for thyroid cancer of the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft concerning the nuclear medicine part. 131I WBS 3–6 months after 131I ablation remains a standard procedure in an endemic area for thyroid nodules and the high frequency of subtotal surgical procedures. Follow-up without 131I WBS is only justified if the following preconditions are fulfilled: low-risk group pT1–2, pN0 M0 with histopathologically confirmed pN0, 131I uptake <2%, 131I WBS during ablation without any suspicious lesion, stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg)-level 3–6 months after ablation <2 ng/mL, and absence of anti-thyroglobulin- antibodies with normal recovery-testing. If patients from the low-risk group show normal 131I WBS 3–6 months after ablation and stimulated Tg is of <2 ng/mL, there will be no need for additional routine 131I WBS. If patients from the high-risk group show normal 131I WBS and stimulated Tg-level of <2 ng/mL 3–6 months after ablation, the follow- up care should include repeated stimulated Tgmeasurements. If the Tg-level remains below 2 ng/mL, an additional 131I WBS will be not necessary. The recommended intervals for stimulated Tg-testing are adapted to the prior intervals for 131I WBS-testing in the high-risk group. Increased anti-thyroglobulin-antibodies or incomplete recovery-testing make an individual strategy of follow- up care necessary, which include 131I WBS.

Procedure guideline for radioiodine test (Version 3)

The version 3 of the procedure guideline for radioiodine test is an update of the guideline previously published in 2003. The procedure guideline discusses the pros and cons of a single measurement or of repeated measurements of the iodine-131 uptake and their optimal timing. Different formulas are described when one, two or three values of the radioiodine kinetic are available. The probe with a sodiumiodine crystal, alternatively or additionally the gammacamera using the ROI-technique are instrumentations for the measurement of iodine-131 uptake. A possible source of error is an inappropriate measurement (sonography) of the target volume. The patients' preparation includes the withdrawal of antithyroid drugs 2–3 days before radioiodine administration. The patient has to avoid iodine-containing medication and the possibility of additives of iodine in vitamin- and electrolyte-supplementation has to be considered.

Procedure guidelines for radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 3)

The procedure guideline for radioiodine therapy (RIT) of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 3) is the counterpart to the procedure guideline for 131I whole-body scintigraphy (version 3) and specify the interdisciplinary guideline for thyroid cancer of the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft concerning the nuclear medicine part. Recommendation for ablative 131I therapy is given for all differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) >1 cm. Regarding DTC ≤1 cm 131I ablation may be helpful in an individual constellation. Preparation for 131I ablation requires low iodine diet for two weeks and TSHstimulation by withdrawal of thyroid hormone medication or by use of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH). The advantages of rhTSH (no symptoms of hypothyroidism, lower blood activity) and the advantages of endogenous TSHstimulation (necessary for 131I-therapy in patients with metastases, higher sensitivity of 131I whole-body scan) are discussed. In most centers standard activities are used for 131I ablation. If pretherapeutic dosimetry is planned, the diagnostic administration of 131I should not exceed 1–10 MBq, alternative tracers are 123I or 124I. The recommendations for contraception and family planning are harmonized with the recommendation of ATA and ETA. Regarding the best possible protection of salivary glands the evidence is insufficient to recommend a specific setting. To minimize the risk of dental caries due to xerostomia patients should use preventive strategies for dental hygiene.

Accidental mechanical asphyxia of children in Germany between 2000 and 2008

Accidents constitute one of the greatest risks to children, yet there are few medical reports that discuss the subject of accidental asphyxia. However, a systematic analysis of all documented cases in Germany over the years 2000-2008 has now been conducted, aiming at identifying patterns of accidental asphyxia, deducing findings, defining avoidance measures and recommending ways of increasing product safety and taking possible precautions. The analysis is based on a detailed retrospective analysis of all 91 relevant autopsy reports from 24 different German forensic institutes. A variety of demographic and morphological data was systematically collected and analysed. In 84 of the 91 cases, the sex of the victim was reported, resulting in a total of 57 boys (68 %) and 27 girls (32 %). The age spread ranged between 1 day and 14 years, with an average of 5.9 years. Most accidents occurred in the first year of life (20 %) or between the ages of 1 and 2 years (13 %). In 46 % of cases, the cause of death was strangulation, with the majority occurring in the home environment. In 31 % of all cases, the cause of death was positional asphyxia, the majority resulting from chest compression. In 23 % of cases, the cause of death was aspiration, mainly of foreign bodies. Today, accidental asphyxiation is a rare cause of death in children in Germany. Nevertheless, the majority of cases could have been avoided. Future incidence can be reduced by implementing two major precautions: increasing product safety and educating parents of potentially fatal risks. Specific recommendations relate to children's beds, toys and food.

[Another mechanism of décollement]

The cause of décollement is usually considered to be tangential brute blunt force impacting the body surface especially in case of hitting or running-over injury of the pedestrian's body by a car. The term rolling effect or rolling mechanism is used as well. The dissociation of tissue layers with other epiphenomenon occurs. The presented group of 152 décollement determined in 103 autopsy cases during the 4 years period comprises the observation of décollement of different etiology of the injuries (traffic accidents, falls from the high, compression of the torso); in the traffic accidents the occurrence in various participants of the traffic, not only in the case of the collision of the pedestrians with various traffic vehicles, but also in drivers of various traffic vehicles, and fellow-travelers as well. The topic, the localization, the content, the extent, and vital reaction and combination injuries were followed-up. According to the variability of the injury etiology, not restricted to the traditional conception of the décollement mechanism, it is obvious that the passed on rule by far is not covering the whole content of this concept. We didn't find any alternative interpretation of until now presented mechanism in the literature. The medical literature focuses mostly on the clinical aspect of this injury. In this paper, the biomechanics of the décollement origin also in case of the tissue compression by the pressure applied perpendicularly to the body surface, the dependences on physical properties of the actively or passively affecting object, the relevance of the ratio of the tissue structures compression in one direction and transversal dilation in other two directions according to the Poisson's constant, the question of tangential factor of the force in case of vertical falling on the horizontal plane, and biomechanical relations in case of body landing on an oblique surface are discussed. The mechanism of décollement is more complex as presented until now. The forensic interpretation of findings should reflex the above-mentioned facts.

[Procedure guidelines for radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 3)]

The procedure guideline for radioiodine therapy (RIT) of differentiated thyroid cancer (version 3) is the counterpart to the procedure guideline for (131)I whole-body scintigraphy (version 3) and specify the interdisciplinary guideline for thyroid cancer of the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft concerning the nuclear medicine part. Recommendation for ablative (131)I therapy is given for all differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) >1 cm. Regarding DTC < or =1 cm (131)I ablation may be helpful in an individual constellation. Preparation for (131)I ablation requires low iodine diet for two weeks and TSH-stimulation by withdrawal of thyroid hormone medication or by use of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH). The advantages of rhTSH (no symptoms of hypothyroidism, lower blood activity) and the advantages of endogenous TSH-stimulation (necessary for (131)I-therapy in patients with metastases, higher sensitivity of (131)I whole-body scan) are discussed. In most centers standard activities are used for (131)I ablation. If pretherapeutic dosimetry is planned, the diagnostic administration of (131)I should not exceed 1-10 MBq, alternative tracers are (123)I or (124)I. The recommendations for contraception and family planning are harmonized with the recommendation of ATA and ETA. Regarding the best possible protection of salivary glands the evidence is insufficient to recommend a specific setting. To minimize the risk of dental caries due to xerostomia patients should use preventive strategies for dental hygiene.

[Guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases (version 4)]

Version 4 of the guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases includes an interdisciplinary consensus on decision making for antithyroid drugs, surgical treatment and radioiodine therapy. The quantitative description of a specific goiter volume for radioiodine therapy or operation was cancelled. For patients with nodular goiter with or without autonomy, manifold circumstances are in favor of surgery (suspicion on malignancy, large cystic nodules, mediastinal goiter, severe compression of the trachea) or in favor of radioiodine therapy (treatment of autonomy, age of patient, co-morbidity, history of prior subtotal thyroidectomy, profession like teacher, speaker or singer). For patients with Graves' disease, radioiodine therapy or surgery are recommended in the constellation of high risk of relapse (first-line therapy), persistence of hyperthyroidism or relapse of hyperthyroidism. After counseling, the patient gives informed consent to the preferred therapy. The period after radioiodine therapy of benign disorders until conception of at least four months was adapted to the European recommendation.

[Procedure guideline for radioiodine test (Version 3)]

The version 3 of the procedure guideline for radioiodine test is an update of the guideline previously published in 2003. The procedure guideline discusses the pros and cons of a single measurement or of repeated measurements of the iodine-131 uptake and their optimal timing. Different formulas are described when one, two or three values of the radioiodine kinetic are available. The probe with a sodium-iodine crystal, alternatively or additionally the gamma-camera using the ROI-technique are instrumentations for the measurement of iodine-131 uptake. A possible source of error is an inappropriate measurement (sonography) of the target volume. The patients' preparation includes the withdrawal of antithyroid drugs 2-3 days before radioiodine administration. The patient has to avoid iodine-containing medication and the possibility of additives of iodine in vitamin- and electrolyte-supplementation has to be considered.

[Procedure guideline for iodine-131 whole-body scintigraphy for differentiated thyroid cancer (version 3)]

Version 3 of the procedure guideline for (131)I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) is the counterpart to the procedure guideline for radioiodine therapy (version 3) and specify the interdisciplinary guideline for thyroid cancer of the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft concerning the nuclear medicine part. (131)I WBS 3-6 months after (131)I ablation remains a standard procedure in an endemic area for thyroid nodules and the high frequency of subtotal surgical procedures. Follow-up without (131)I WBS is only justified if the following preconditions are fulfilled: low-risk group pT1-2, pN0 M0 with histopathologically confirmed pN0, (131)I uptake <2%, (131)I WBS during ablation without any suspicious lesion, stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg)-level 3-6 months after ablation <2 ng/mL, and absence of anti-thyroglobulin-antibodies with normal recovery-testing. If patients from the low-risk group show normal (131)I WBS 3-6 months after ablation and stimulated Tg is of <2 ng/mL, there will be no need for additional routine (131)I WBS. If patients from the high-risk group show normal (131)I WBS and stimulated Tg-level of <2 ng/mL 3-6 months after ablation, the follow-up care should include repeated stimulated Tg-measurements. If the Tg-level remains below 2 ng/mL, an additional (131)I WBS will be not necessary. The recommended intervals for stimulated Tg-testing are adapted to the prior intervals for (131)I WBS-testing in the high-risk group. Increased anti-thyroglobulin-antibodies or incomplete recovery-testing make an individual strategy of follow-up care necessary, which include (131)I WBS.