Prediction and diagnosis of bone metastases in well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine cancer: a prospective comparison of whole body magnetic resonance imaging and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy

PURPOSE

Our purpose was to compare the sensitivity of whole body (WB) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) for the diagnosis of bone metastases (BMs) in patients with well-differentiated gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine cancer (WD-GEP-EC) and to determine predictive factors of BM.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

WB-MRI and SRS were prospectively performed in 79 patients with bronchial (11), thymic (five), gastric (two), duodeno-pancreatic (24), ileal (26), colic (one), or unknown primary (10) WD-GEP-EC.

RESULTS

A total of 36 patients (46%) had 333 BMs involving 119 skeletal segments. WB-MRI and SRS were equally sensitive for detecting patients with BM (86 vs. 81%; P = 0.56), with 33% of the patients diagnosed with only one procedure. WB-MRI detected more BMs than SRS (80 vs. 57%; P = 0.017). Compared with SRS, WB-MRI detected more spine BMs (96 vs. 45%; P < 0.001) and tended to detect more pelvic and lower limb BMs (P = 0.054 and P = 0.06, respectively). Compared with WB-MRI, SRS detected more skull BMs (100 vs. 0%; P < 0.001) and tended to detect more rib BMs (P = 0.08). Sternal and upper-limb BMs were equally detected with WB-MRI and SRS (P = 0.32 and P = 0.46, respectively). Bone staging with SRS and spine MRI rather than WB-MRI would have detected 92% of the patients with BMs and 83% of all BMs. The extent of liver involvement and bronchial-thymic primary tumors were independent predictive factors for BM.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend bone staging with SRS and spine MRI in all patients with bronchial-thymic or unknown primary WD-GEP-EC. In case of duodeno-pancreatic or ileal primary, bone imaging may be restricted to patients with liver metastases.

Histologic Results of Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy in Patients Treated for Stage IB2/II Cervical Cancer With Negative [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Scans in the Para-Aortic Area

Purpose

Histologic results of complete para-aortic lymphadenectomy were studied in patients treated for stage IB2/II cervical carcinoma who had no para-aortic uptake on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with integrated computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).

Patients and Methods

Patients were treated between 2004 and 2006 for stage IB2/II cervical cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis and FDG-PET/CT were initially performed. Patients with no para-aortic abnormalities were treated with external pelvic radiation therapy and concomitant chemotherapy followed by utero-vaginal brachytherapy. Para-aortic lymphadenectomy was then performed. FDG-PET/CT images were reviewed by two nuclear medicine specialists.

Results

Thirty-eight patients were studied. Three patients had histologically proven para-aortic involvement (metastatic nodes with capsular rupture in the para-aortic area), leading to a negative predictive value of 92% for para-aortic nodal involvement.

Conclusion

In this study, three of 38 patients with no para-aortic uptake on [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging had histologically proven para-aortic node involvement. PET/CT imaging without histologic examination of the para-aortic area used to determine radiation therapy fields in stage IB2/II cervical cancer would overlook 8% of patients with histologic para-aortic nodal involvement.

Combination of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin for the treatment of advanced ovarian granulosa cell tumors

The objective is to investigate the activity and toxicity of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) regimen in ovarian granulosa cell tumors (OGCTs). Twenty consecutive patients with initial metastatic (5 patients) or recurrent (15 patients) OGCT were treated; BEP regimen: B: 30 mg intravenously or intramurally on days 1, 8, and 15; E: 100 mg/m2/day on days 1–5; and P: 20 mg/m2/day on days 1–5. Median age: 42 years (range: 17–60); median follow-up: 45 months (range: 3–112). The overall response rate is 90% (nine clinical complete response [CR], nine clinical partial response) with a median duration of 24 months (range: 4–77). A second-look laparotomy performed in 11 patients showed a pathologic CR in 7 cases and microscopic disease in 1 case. Seven patients remain free of disease (at 4–84 months); 11 patients relapsed (median: 24 months, range: 13–58), 12 patients are still alive, and 9 patients are without disease (2 patients in second CR). At 4 years, overall survival and event-free survival are respectively 58% and 30%. Toxicity is evaluable for 19 patients (48 cycles). A grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 15% of cycles (in seven patients) with a febrile neutropenia in four patients. Five patients experienced a low bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. BEP regimen appears to be an active regimen for OGCT in first-line chemotherapy.

Survival and reproductive function of 52 women treated with surgery and bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy for ovarian yolk sac tumor

BACKGROUND

Ovarian yolk sac tumor (YST) is a very rare malignancy arising in young women. Chemotherapy has dramatically improved the prognosis. Current treatment consists of surgery followed by bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy. However, given the rarity of this tumor, ovarian YST-specific survival and outcome after such treatment are not precisely known.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This report concerns prospectively recorded cases that were either treated at Institut Gustave Roussy (Villejuif, France) or referred there for advice about therapy. From 1990 to 2006, 52 patients underwent surgery followed by BEP chemotherapy. Data on patient characteristics, treatment, survival, and fertility outcome were analyzed to assess treatment efficacy and gonadal toxicity after achieving a complete remission.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients had stage I/II tumors while 17 patients presented with stage III/IV disease. With a median follow-up of 68 months, the overall 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 94% and 90%, respectively. Forty-one women underwent fertility-sparing surgery. Pregnancy was achieved in 12 of 16 (75%) women who attempted conception. Overall, 19 pregnancies have been recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

BEP chemotherapy following fertility-sparing surgery is a very effective treatment of ovarian YSTs. Most of the patients who attempt conception after complete remission will have children.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: treatment with maximal cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To report survival results in patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) treated with maximal cytoreductive surgery followed by immediate intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and to compare them with the median survival of 12-24 months obtained with the standard treatment based on systemic chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients underwent this new regional approach and a median follow-up of 55 months was achieved after this treatment. Complete cytoreductive surgery (residual disease < 2 mm) was performed in all but one patient. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy was performed with hyperthermia (4245 degrees C) and oxaliplatin in 22 patients. The last 12 patients additionally received irinotecan. Data were prospectively verified and retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

One patient died postoperatively (4%), and morbidity attained 54%. The median survival exceeded 100 months and the overall 5-year survival rate was 63%. This small series lacks the statistical power required to conduct a well-grounded study on prognostic factors, particularly as the completeness of the surgery is not analyzable here. However, the low-grade histological types had a better disease-free survival rate that was of borderline significance compared to their high-grade counterparts.

CONCLUSION

This new approach combining complete cytoreductive surgery considerably increases the survival of patients with MPM compared with the standard treatment based on systemic chemotherapy.

Results of a prospective dose-intensive regimen in 27 patients with small cell carcinoma of the ovary of the hypercalcemic type

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of first-line intensive combination therapy in small cell carcinoma of the ovary (SCCO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Debulking surgery; four to six cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin (P) 80 mg/m(2) day 1, adriamycin (A) 40 mg/m(2) day 1, vepeside (V) 75 mg/m(2)/day days 1-3, cyclophosphamide (EP) 300 mg/m(2)/day days 1-3, every 3 weeks and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with, in case of a complete remission, high-dose chemotherapy with carboplatin, vepeside, cyclophosphamide and stem-cell support.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients (median age 25 years); International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage: five I, four IIC, 17 IIIC-IV and one unknown. Twenty patients underwent complete surgery. Eight patients progressed under chemotherapy. Among 18 patients in complete response (CR), 10 received high-dose chemotherapy (CT) (three stem-cell collection failures, two protocol violations, two disease progression and one refusal). The main grade 3-4 toxic effects were hematologic. There were eight relapses among the 18 CR, four of which were pelvic alone. Among the 27 patients, 13 died and 10 patients are in CR1, three in CR2. The median follow-up is 37 months (8-166) and the median duration of the 18 CR is 30 months (5-111). Overall survival at 1 and 3 years is 58% [confidence interval (CI) 40% to 75%] and 49% (CI 30% to 67%).

CONCLUSIONS

Initial dose-intensive therapy achieves interesting overall survival in SCCO.

[Borderline serous tumor of the peritoneum: report of two cases]

We report two cases of peritoneal serous tumor of borderline malignancy, a rare tumor that resembles non invasive peritoneal implants of borderline serous tumor of ovarian origin with absent or minimal surface ovarian involvement. The differential diagnosis includes psammocarcinoma and low grade papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum.

Should pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy be different depending on histological subtype in epithelial ovarian cancer?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the different histological subtypes (serous versus non-serous) on the location of nodal metastases in patients undergoing pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomies during the initial management of epithelial ovarian tumors.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective analysis of data concerning patients fulfilling the following inclusion criteria: (1) an epithelial ovarian tumor; (2) a complete pelvic and bilateral para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the level of the left renal vein; (3) surgical procedures including lymphadenectomies performed before adjuvant chemotherapy; and (4) a description of the distribution of positive nodes removed between pelvic and para-aortic areas. Patients were classified into two groups according to the histological subtypes: serous (group 1) and non-serous (group 2) tumors.

RESULTS

Of patients treated between 1989 and 2005, 148 fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 73 had a serous tumor and 75 a non-serous tumor. Positive nodes were observed in 70 (47%) patients-47 (64%) in group 1 and 23 (31%) in group 2 (P < 0.05). But the distribution of involved nodes between pelvic and para-aortic areas in patients with positive nodes was not statistically different between the two groups. In both groups, the most common site for positive nodes in the para-aortic area was the left para-aortic group: 74% in group 1 and 61% in group 2 (NS).

CONCLUSIONS

This series suggests that the histological subtype has no impact on the distribution of positive nodes in pelvic and para-aortic areas in patients with epithelial ovarian tumors.

Endometrial disorders in patients with peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence rate of endometrial disease, particularly endometrial carcinoma, in patients with primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma (PSPC).

METHODS

Retrospective review of clinical and histological data from 32 women undergoing surgery (with hysterectomy) for stage III or IV PSPC.

RESULTS

Six patients underwent primary debulking surgery and 26 underwent interval debulking surgery after 3 or 4 courses of platinum-based chemotherapy. Six patients (18%) had endometrial disease (hyperplasia in four). Two patients had endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine body (stage IA grade 1 in one case, and stage IB grade 1 in the other) associated with the PSPC.

CONCLUSIONS

Endometrial carcinoma of the uterine body may be associated with PSPC (6% cases in the present series). This result suggests that systematic hysterectomy should be performed at the time of debulking surgery in PSPC, even in the absence of peritoneal spread within pelvic cavity.

Para-Aortic Involvement and Interest of Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy after Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients with Stage IB2 and II Cervical Carcinoma Radiologically Confined to the Pelvic Cavity

BACKGROUND

Pelvic radiation therapy with concomitant chemotherapy (PCRT) is the standard treatment of stage IB2/II cervical carcinoma. The impact of concomitant chemotherapy on positive para-aortic nodes (PA+), however, remains unknown. The aim of this study was twofold: to evaluate the rate of histological PA+ after PCRT and to determine the survival of patients with PA+.

METHODS

Patients fulfilling the following inclusion criteria were studied: (1) stage IB2/II cervical carcinoma, (2) histological subtype: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma or an adenosquamous tumor, (3) exclusion of patients with radiological PA+ (CT scan/MRI), (4) pelvic external radiation therapy of 45 Gy with concomitant chemotherapy (cisplatin 40 mg/m2/week) + utero-vaginal brachytherapy, and (5) completion surgery after the end of PCRT including at least a para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients (16 stage IB2, 57 stage II) treated between 1998 and 2004 fulfilled all the inclusion criteria. PA+ after PCRT were observed in 13 patients (18%) with a median of five (range, 2-22) positive nodes. Overall and disease-free survival at 24 months in patients with PA+ was 40% and 17%. Only two patients with PA+ are currently alive and in remission.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of PA+ remains high after PCRT in patients treated for stage IB2/II cervical carcinoma. Furthermore, the survival rate of patients with PA+ is very low. These important results suggest that detection of PA + at the time of completion surgery (after PCRT) is not beneficial for improving survival.

Sentinel lymph nodes of colorectal carcinoma: reappraisal of 123 cases

AIMS

Results concerning the usefulness of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in colorectal carcinoma have been discordant. The SLN technique may be used to guide surgical resection (lymph mapping), restrict the lymph node analysis solely to the SLN (accuracy) and upgrade tumor staging when micrometastases are specifically detected in the SLN.

METHODS

The blue dye injection technique was used. Serial sections of the SLNs were analyzed after hematoxylin-eosin (HES) staining.

RESULTS

The SLN technique was tested in 123 patients, successfully in 112/118 (feasibility 95%) (five intraoperative exclusions). On average, twenty lymph nodes (range: 5-74) and two SLNs (range: 1-5) were identified. Lymph mapping was used in 11% of patients to guide surgical resection; the SLN was negative in 14 of 36 N+ patients (39% false-negatives); HES staining enabled detection of micrometastases in 8 of 84 initially N0 patients (10% secondary upgrading to N+).

CONCLUSION

Limiting node analysis to the SLN cannot replace a complete pathology examination of all resected lymph nodes. Careful examination of serial sections of the SLN can however affect therapeutic decision making since staging may be upgraded in up to 10% of initially N0 patients.

Prognostic impact of histological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage IIIC/IV ovarian cancer undergoing complete cytoreductive surgery at the time of interval debulking surgery

16032

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of histological response at the time of interval debulking surgery (IDS) in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for unresectable advanced-stage ovarian cancer (ASOC). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in our institution to select cases fulfilling 3 following inclusion criteria: 1. Patients with unresectable (evaluated in most of them with initial surgery + biopsies) ASOC. All patients had residual disease > 2 cm after such initial surgery; 2. At least 3 courses of platinum + paclitaxel NACT; 3. Patients undergoing after NACT an IDS with absence of macroscopic residual disease at the end of the debulking surgery. IDS was followed by post-operative chemotherapy. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the histological response (in the peritoneum & nodes) after NACT: group 1: no residual disease in peritoneum; group 2: persistent residual disease but with histological signs of chemoactivity (marked histological changes) and group 3: persistence of at least 1 site with no changes in the tumor (persistence of very active cells). Survival was compared between these 3 groups. Results: Fifty-eight patients treated between 1997 and 2004 fulfilled inclusion criteria (49 had stage IIIC and 9 stage IV disease). Respectively 47 & 11 patients received 3–4 or 5–6 courses of chemotherapy before IDS. Respectively 11, 11 and 36 patients were in groups 1, 2 & 3. The median time of follow-up was 41 months. Three-year overall survival in groups 1, 2 & 3 was respectively: 81%, 39% and 62% (no statistical difference). Three- year event-free survival in groups 1, 2 & 3 was respectively: 46%, 18% and 19% (p=.04 between group 1 versus 2+3). Conclusions: These results suggest that the degree of histological response have a limited impact on the survival of patients when complete debulking surgery is achieved at IDS. The degree of tumor cell viability after initial chemotherapy is not a reliable marker for modifying chemotherapy after debulking surgery in such patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Extinction of FOXL2 expression in aggressive ovarian granulosa cell tumors in children

OBJECTIVE

In the female gonad, FOXL2 is a key factor for proper differentiation of granulosa cells (GC) during folliculogenesis and its expression persists in the ovary after birth. The aim of this multicentric nationwide study was to determine whether FOXL2 expression varies during tumoral proliferation of GC cells in juvenile ovarian GC tumors (OGCT).

DESIGN

Nationwide retrospective study.

SETTING

University Hospital of Montpellier, Department of Hormonology.

PATIENT(S)

Between 1994 and 2004, 26 patients with juvenile OGCT were reported in the TGM95 database of the French Society for Childhood Cancer (SFCE) and from eight pediatric endocrinology centers. Immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-FOXL2 antibody.

INTERVENTION(S)

Immunohistochemistry studies of FOXL2 on OGCT slides.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Level of FOXL2 expression within the tumor, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification, and tumor recurrences.

RESULT(S)

FOXL2 expression was absent in the GC of 10 patients and was markedly reduced in the cells of 4 patients. Precocious pseudopuberty was more frequently the revealing symptom in the children with conserved FOXL2 expression. Patients with no or reduced expression of FOXL2 more frequently exhibited associated hemorrhagic ascites, higher mitotic activity in the tumor, and significantly more advanced oncologic staging. All patients requiring complementary treatment (n = 7; chemotherapy or complementary surgery) had reduced expression of FOXL2 in the tumor. All recurring OGCT exhibited a complete extinction of FOXL2 expression (n = 3).

CONCLUSION(S)

These results show that FOXL2 is not expressed or is underexpressed in juvenile OGCT with an aggressive pattern of progression, and it thus may be a prognostic factor for these tumors.

Benign lipoblastomalike tumor of the vulva: report of a case affecting a young patient

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal vulvar tumors are rare, and a benign lipoblastomalike tumor may be confused with malignancy.

CASE

A 15-year-old patient consulted for a right labium tumefaction measuring 15 cm. After excision, histologic examination revealed a well-circumscribed and lobulated tumor. The lobules were composed of slender spindle cells showing slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm with indistinct boundaries, uniform nuclei with finely granular chromatin and no nucleoli. Scattered Signet-ring-type lipoblasts were observed. The background was myxoid, with a "chickenwire" capillary vascular network mimicking a myxoid liposarcoma. No mitotic figures, necrosis or pleomorphism was noted.

CONCLUSION

This mesenchymal tumor had adipocytic differentiation and no patent sign of malignancy, akin to infantile lipoblastoma. Because of the benign behavior of this tumor, complete excision without radiation is recommended.

Chemoradiation therapy in pregnant patients treated for advanced-stage cervical carcinoma during the first trimester of pregnancy: report of two cases

Two patients treated using chemoradiation therapy (CRT) (with fetus in utero) for advanced-stage squamous cell cervical carcinoma diagnosed during the first trimester of pregnancy are reported. One patient with a stage IVA disease diagnosed at 12 weeks of gestation was treated by exclusive CRT with the fetus in utero. She recurred 20 months after the end of the treatment. The second patient had a stage IIB disease diagnosed at 12 weeks of gestation and was treated by CRT with the fetus in utero followed by completion surgery (radical hysterectomy and para-aortic lymphadenectomy) due to the presence of a suspicious residual disease. No residual disease was observed during the histologic analysis of hysterectomy and nodes specimens. This patient is alive and free of disease 24 months after surgery. Our observations could suggest that CRT in pregnant patients with fetus in utero is feasible without major short-term toxicity. Such management could be proposed in patients with a bulky cervical cancer diagnosed during the first trimester of the pregnancy. Management of the uterine evacuation depends on the local tumor spread.

Pulmonary and extrapulmonary poorly differentiated large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Poorly differentiated large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNEC) comprise a rare and still scarcely known subgroup of neuroendocrine tumors. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, clinical presentation, prognostic factors, and molecular pathways of patients with poorly differentiated LCNEC.

METHODS

Forty-one patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of poorly differentiated LCNEC according to the criteria of the most recent World Health Organization classification of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung entered the study. The clinicopathologic features of patients with poorly differentiated LCNEC were reviewed, prognostic parameters for their survival were studied, and the prognostic roles of the proteins involved in cell cycle regulation were investigated with tissue array analysis in a subset of patients with LCNEC.

RESULTS

Twenty-four men and 17 women with a median age of 63 years (age range, 26-81 years) who had LCNEC were studied. LCNEC developed after therapy for a first cancer in 14% of patients. Neither a personal or familial history of endocrine tumors nor a primary association that was compatible with an inherited syndrome was observed. The increase of at least 1 serum biologic marker was observed in 93% of patients. A primary tumor was identified in only 63% patients. Thirty-one patients had distant metastases, and 10 patients had only lymph node metastases at the time of the diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate was 24%. High mitotic count, low expression of neuroendocrine markers, and a Bcl-2/Bax ratio > 1 were unfavorable prognostic factors for survival (P < .01). All patients who had isolated peripheral lymph node LCNEC achieved a cure.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this study highlighted distinctive clinical features and prognostic indicators of poorly differentiated LCNEC. Peripheral isolated lymph node clinical presentation is proposed as a new clinical entity.

Mixed Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor Presenting as a Subcutaneous Tissue Mass

Extragonadal germ cell tumors most commonly arise in the midline of the retroperitoneum or the mediastinum. Primary tumors involving the skin are very rare. Only one case of malignant primary germ cell tumor located in the skin has been reported. We present the case of a 44-year-old white man with a primary subcutaneous mixed nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. This man had a long-lasting subcutaneous lump of the breast, which became painful. Surgery revealed 3 juxtaposed nodules. Microscopic examination showed a mixed germ cell tumor with a 90% immature teratoma component and a 10% embryonal carcinoma component. Testicular ultrasound and computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and brain were normal. Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin, beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin, alpha-fetoprotein, and lactate dehydrogenase were within normal ranges. A further surgical excision was performed. The patient is presently alive with no evidence of disease after a follow-up of 7 years. Review of the literature indicates that primary cutaneous extragonadal germ cell tumors usually occur as cutaneous or subcutaneous solitary nodules or as ulcerated lesions. They mainly consist of mature teratomas in children. Only 2 cases have been reported in adults.

Functional results and quality of life for patients with very low rectal cancer undergoing coloanal anastomosis or perineal colostomy with colonic muscular graft

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare functional results and quality of life (QoL) of two salvage techniques: coloanal anastomosis (CAA) or perineal reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection for very low rectal cancer.

METHODS

Between 1991 and 2001, 50 patients were operated for a very low rectal adenocarcinoma and analyzed after a follow-up greater than one year and because there was no relapse or no treatment, they were included in the analysis. Thirty-eight patients had a CAA, including: straight anastomosis (n=23), J pouch (n=10), coloplasty (n=2) and intersphincteric resection (n=3). Twelve patients underwent a PC.

RESULTS

Vaizey's incontinence score was equivalent for the two groups: CAA 12 (0-22) versus PC 11 (8-13). The only differences were more frequent fractioned stools for the CAA group and increased pad soiling for the PC group. Overall QoL scores (QLQ C-30) were equivalent for CAA and PC.

CONCLUSIONS

For very low rectal tumors, the choice of surgical technique must be based on oncologic rather than future functional or QoL criteria, because both approaches seem to provide similar results.