Assessment of management practices for colonic cancer in the Paris metropolitan area in 2002

[Anorectal malignant tumors in the hospital environment in Ouagadougou: epidemiological and diagnostic aspects]

Le but de notre étude était de décrire les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et diagnostiques des tumeurs malignes anorectales en milieu hospitalier à Ouagadougou. Il s'est agi d'une étude rétrospective et transversale qui a concerné les patients vus en endoscopie digestive basse au cours de la période allant du 29/09/1999 au 04/10/2008. À l'aide d'une fiche de collecte, nous avons recueilli, dans 4 structures sanitaires et 3 laboratoires d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques de la ville de Ouagadougou, les données à partir des comptes-rendus d'endoscopie digestive basse et des registres d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques. Durant la période de notre étude, 645 patients ont été examinés en anorectoscopie et 882 cas d'affections anorectales colligés. Les tumeurs malignes anorectales avec 61 cas (6,9%) occupaient la quatrième place après la maladie hémorroïdaire (45,6%), les anites (21,1%) et les fissures (13,9%). Elles regroupaient les cancers du rectum (4,2%) et les cancers de l'anus (2,7%). Vingt cancers anorectaux ont été histologiquement confirmés parmi lesquels l'adénocarcinome était le type histologique le plus retrouvé avec 17 cas. Les tumeurs malignes, quatrième affection anorectale la plus fréquente au cours de notre étude, constituent une préoccupation du fait de leur fréquence croissante, leur diagnostic souvent tardif et les difficultés liées à leur prise en charge surtout dans nos pays avec une population à faible revenu. La sensibilisation de la population et la prescription plus large de l'endoscopie digestive basse devraient permettre une meilleure prise en charge des patients.

Patterns of colorectal cancer care in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men worldwide. In this study, we used MEDLINE to conduct a systematic review of existing literature published in English between 2000 and 2010 on patterns of colorectal cancer care. Specifically, this review examined 66 studies conducted in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to assess patterns of initial care, post-diagnostic surveillance, and end-of-life care for colorectal cancer. The majority of studies in this review reported rates of initial care, and limited research examined either post-diagnostic surveillance or end-of-life care for colorectal cancer. Older colorectal cancer patients and individuals with comorbidities generally received less surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Patients with lower socioeconomic status were less likely to receive treatment, and variations in patterns of care were observed by patient demographic and clinical characteristics, geographical location, and hospital setting. However, there was wide variability in data collection and measures, health-care systems, patient populations, and population representativeness, making direct comparisons challenging. Future research and policy efforts should emphasize increased comparability of data systems, promote data standardization, and encourage collaboration between and within European cancer registries and administrative databases.

Colorectal carcinoma with potentially resectable metastases: factors associated with the failure of curative schedule

BACKGROUND

The management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and synchronous liver metastases (SLM) depends on the primitive tumor, resectability of the metastatic disseminations and the patient's comorbid condition(s). Considering all patients with potentially resectable primary CRC and SLM, curative resection (R0) will be possible in some patients, although in others surgery will never be performed. The purpose of our study was to identify factors of failure of the curative schedule in these patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the data of patients with CRC and SLM between January 2002 and March 2007. Two groups were defined: group R0 when complete metastatic and primary tumor resection was finally achieved after one and more surgical stages and group R2 when curative resection was not possible at the end of the schedule. Clinical, pathologic and outcome data were retrospectively analyzed as well as preoperative management of SLM (chemotherapy, radiofrequency, portal vein embolization).

RESULTS

Forty-five patients were included. Curative resection (group R0) was performed in 31 patients (69%) with 48% undergoing major hepatic resection. Mortality of hepatic resection was 0% although it was 9% for primitive tumor. Portal vein embolization was performed preoperatively in eight patients and radiofrequency ablation in 13. Median follow-up was 21 months. Overall survival was 86% at one year and 39% at three years. Survival in group 1 was 97 and 57% at one and three years respectively. Disease-free survival was 87 and 40% at one and three years. Tumor recurrence was noted in 61% of resected patients. At multivariate analysis, number of hepatic metastases superior than three and complicated initial presentation of primitive tumor were found to be significant and predictors of failure of hepatic resection.

CONCLUSION

Aggressive management with curative resection of SLM may enable long-term survival. More than three SLM and complicated initial presentation of primitive tumor are factors predictive of failure of the curative schedule.

Real time contrast enhanced ultrasonography in detection of liver metastases from gastrointestinal cancer

Background

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging technique which appeared on the market around the year 2000 and proposed for the detection of liver metastases in gastrointestinal cancer patients, a setting in which accurate staging plays a significant role in the choice of treatment.

Methods

A total of 109 patients with colorectal (n = 92) or gastric cancer prospectively underwent computed tomography (CT) scan and conventional US evaluation followed by real time CEUS. A diagnosis of metastases was made by CT or, for lesions not visibile at CT, the diagnosis was achieved by histopathology or by a malignant behavior during follow-up.

Results

Of 109 patients, 65 were found to have metastases at presentation. CEUS improved sensitivity in metastatic livers from 76.9% of patients (US) to 95.4% (p <0.01), while CT scan reached 90.8% (p = n.s. vs CEUS, p < 0.01 vs US). CEUS and CT were more sensitive than US also for detection of single lesions (87 with US, 122 with CEUS, 113 with CT). In 15 patients (13.8%), CEUS revealed more metastases than CT, while CT revealed more metastases than CEUS in 9 patients (8.2%) (p = n.s.).

Conclusion

CEUS is more sensitive than conventional US in the detection of liver metastases and could be usefully employed in the staging of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Findings at CEUS and CT appear to be complementary in achieving maximum sensitivity.

Lésions hépatiques en cancérologie générale

In order to improve management of oncologic patients, a standardized 5-step approach should be considered: detection, characterization, locoregional and systemic staging, and post treatment follow up. The use of imaging techniques will be adapted to the clinical question at hand during multi-disciplinary review of cases. The role of the radiologist is to review the indications for each imaging modality and incorporate the results in the clinical context.