Surgical resection strategy and the influence of radicality on outcomes in oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

The optimal surgical approach to tumours of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction remains controversial. The principal randomized trial comparing transhiatal (THO) and transthoracic (TTO) oesophagectomy showed no survival difference, but suggested that some subgroups of patients may benefit from the more extended lymphadenectomy typically conducted with TTO.

METHODS

This was a cohort study based on two prospectively created databases. Short- and long-term outcomes for patients undergoing THO and TTO were compared. The primary outcome measure was overall survival, with secondary outcomes including time to recurrence and patterns of disease relapse. A Cox proportional hazards model provided hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals (c.i.), with adjustments for age, tumour stage, tumour grade, response to chemotherapy and lymphovascular invasion.

RESULTS

Of 664 included patients (263 THO, 401 TTO), the distributions of age, sex and histological subtype were similar between the groups. In-hospital mortality (1·1 versus 3·2 per cent for THO and TTO respectively; P = 0·110) and in-hospital stay (14 versus 17 days respectively; P < 0·001) favoured THO. In the adjusted model, there was no difference in overall survival (HR 1·07, 95 per cent c.i. 0·84 to 1·36) or time to tumour recurrence (HR 0·99, 0·76 to 1·29) between the two operations. Local tumour recurrence patterns were similar (22·8 versus 24·4 per cent for THO and TTO respectively). No subgroup could be identified of patients who had benefited from more radical surgery on the basis of tumour location or stage.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference in survival or tumour recurrence for TTO and THO.

Distant metastasis in p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a critical analysis of patterns and outcomes

OBJECTIVE

With good loco-regional control, disease failure in p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) mainly results from distant metastasis (DM). Our objective was to characterize the patterns and clinical outcomes of DM in p16-positive OPSCC and compare these to patients with p16-negative disease.

METHODS

Primary OPSCC patients who developed DM after completing surgical or non-surgical treatment were identified and p16 status was evaluated. Patterns of DM and post-DM progression-free (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were assessed.

RESULTS

Forty-one of the 66 (62%) patients with DM were p16-positive. DM patterns were not statistically different by p16 status. However, p16-positive patients developed DM later in their course and had longer survival. All p16-negative patients either had progression or died within 24 months of DM detection whereas the 2-year post-DM PFS in the p16-positive group was 20% (95% CI: 8-32.5%, p=0.003). The 3-year post-DM disease-specific survival (DSS) estimate in the p16-positive patients was 16% (95% CI: 7-18%) while all p16-negative patients died within 34 months (p<0.001). p16-negativity, loco-regional disease, and no/palliative versus curative intent treatment were all associated with reduced post-DM DSS in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The DM pattern did not differ remarkably between p16-positive and negative OPSCC patients in our practice. In p16-positive OPSCC with pulmonary oligometastatic disease, curative intent treatment and optimized locoregional control for the index primary prolonged survival.

Evaluation of the physiological properties of ventilatory ratio in a computational cardiopulmonary model and its clinical application in an acute respiratory distress syndrome population

BACKGROUND

Owing to complexities of measuring dead space, ventilatory failure is difficult to quantify in critical care. A simple, novel index called ventilatory ratio (VR) can quantify ventilatory efficiency at the bedside. The study objectives were to evaluate physiological properties of VR and examine its clinical applicability in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients.

METHODS

A validated computational model of cardiopulmonary physiology [Nottingham Physiology Simulator (NPS)] was used to evaluate VR ex vivo in three virtual patients with varying degrees of gas exchange defects. Arterial P(CO₂) and mixed expired P(CO₂) were obtained from the simulator while either dead space or CO₂ production was altered in isolation. VR and deadspace fraction was calculated using these values. A retrospective analysis of a previously presented prospective ARDS database was then used to evaluate the clinical utility of VR. Basic characteristics of VR and its association with mortality were examined.

RESULTS

The NPS showed that VR behaved in an intuitive manner as would be predicted by its physiological properties. When CO₂ production was constant, there was strong positive correlation between dead space and VR (modified Pearson's r 0.98, P<0.01). The ARDS database had a mean VR of 1.47 (standard deviation 0.58). Non-survivors had a significantly higher VR compared with survivors [1.70 vs 1.34, mean difference 0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.56, P<0.01]. VR was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio 3.05, CI 1.35-6.91, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

VR is influenced by dead space and CO₂ production. In ARDS, high VR was associated with increased mortality.

Spectral reflectance pattern in soybean for assessing yellow mosaic disease

Remote sensing technique is useful for monitoring large crop area at a single time point, which is otherwise not possible by visual observation alone. Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) is a serious constraint in soybean production in India. However, hardly any basic information is available for monitoring YMD by remote sensing. Present study examines spectral reflectance of soybean leaves due to Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) infection in order to identify YMD sensitive spectral ratio or reflectance. Spectral reflectance measurement indicated significant (p < 0.001) change in reflectance in the infected soybean canopy as compared to the healthy one. In the infected canopy, reflectance increased in visible region and decreased in near infra-red region of spectrum. Reflectance sensitivity analysis indicated wavelength ~642, ~686 and ~750 nm were sensitive to YMD infection. Whereas, in yellow leaves induced due to nitrogen deficiency, the sensitive wavelength was ~589 nm. Due to viral infection, a shift occurred in red and infra-red slope (called red edge) on the left in comparison to healthy one. Red edge shift was a good indicator to discriminate yellow mosaic as chlorophyll gets degraded due to MYMIV infection. Correlation of reflectance at 688 nm (R688) and spectral reflectance ratio at 750 and 445 nm (R750/R445) with the weighted mosaic index indicated that detection of yellow mosaic is possible based on these sensitive bands. Our study for the first time identifies the yellow mosaic sensitive band as R688 and R750/R445, which could be utilized to scan satellite data for monitoring YMD affected soybean cropping regions.

Pre-operative ultrasound for breast tumour measurements: is there potential for mismanagement?

The pre-operative size of breast tumour is the most important factor in determining feasibility of breast conserving surgery in operable breast cancer. Currently there is no consensus on the most accurate modality to measure tumour size. A prospective study of consecutive and unselected symptomatic patients with invasive breast cancer who had primary surgery between January 2006 and December 2007 was conducted. Patients with multi-focal and multi-centric tumours were excluded. The aim of this study was to find the correlation between histological size of invasive breast cancer and pre-operative tumour size as measured by ultrasound. Over this two year period, data for 192 patients was analysed for this study. The mean tumour diameter on ultrasound and histology was 19.5mm and 29 mm respectively. The difference between the means in the two modalities was found to be statistically significant (P<0.001).Ultrasound underestimates the true size of breast tumours as determined histologically. Inaccurate tumour size measurements may result in re-operations to achieve adequate margins.

Incidental Parathyroid Disease during Thyroid Surgery: Should We Remove Them?

Aim. Despite an incidence of parathyroid "incidentalomas" of 0.2%-4.5%, only approximately 135 cases have been reported in the literature. We present eight patients in whom an incidental abnormal parathyroid gland was found during routine thyroid surgery. We have reviewed the literature and postulate whether these glands could represent further evidence of a preclinical stage of primary hyperparathyroidism. Methods. A retrospective analysis of all 236 thyroid operations performed by a single surgeon was performed to identify patients in whom abnormal parathyroid tissue was removed at surgery. Results. 8/236 patients (3.39%) had a single macroscopically abnormal parathyroid gland removed and sent for analysis. Seven patients were found to have histological evidence of a parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia. None of the patients had abnormal serum calcium detected preoperatively. Postoperatively, four patients had normal calcium, three had temporary hypocalcaemia and one refused followup. No patients had recurrent laryngeal nerve impairment. Conclusions. Despite the risk of removing a histologically normal gland, we believe that when parathyroid "incidentalomas" are found during surgery they should be excised and sent for histological analysis. We have found this to be a safe procedure with minimal morbidity to the patient. As the natural history of primary hyperparathyroidism is better understood, these glands found in normocalcaemic patients may in fact represent the early or preclinical phase of the disease. By removing them at the original operation, the patient is saved redo neck surgery with its high complication rate as or when clinically apparent primary hyperparthryoidism develops in the future.

Prenatal depression leading to postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a mood disorder occurring up to 3 months after delivery. Incidence is one to two women every 1,000 live births. If not detected and appropriately treated in time, it may have detrimental effects on both the mother and her baby. We report a case of puerperal psychosis in a patient with a history of depression. We have also reviewed the relevant literature discussing prediction, management and differential diagnosis of postpartum psychosis. We emphasise the importance of early detection and provision of care to all women at risk of mental illness by multidisciplinary team, including GPs, obstetricians, midwives and perinatal mental health professionals.