Quality of life in long-term survivors of testicular cancer: a population-based case-control study

PURPOSE

To evaluate quality of life and social problems in long-term survivors of testicular cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 1998, 71 testicular cancer survivors (cases) identified from the Calvados General Tumor Registry were enrolled onto a case-control study. One hundred nineteen healthy control subjects (controls), matched by age and location of residence, were selected at random from electoral rolls. Three self-administered questionnaires were used: two health-related quality-of-life questionnaires (Short Form-36 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 core questionnaires) and one life situation questionnaire. Specific questions concerning sexuality were also added.

RESULTS

With a mean follow-up of 11 years, health-related quality-of-life scores did not differ significantly between cases and controls, nor did general symptom scores. Psychosocial problems were reported equally by cases and controls. Cases reported more modification of sexual life (P =.04) with decreased sexual enjoyment (P <.01), decreased desire (P =.02), and infertility (P <.01). Cases did not report more divorce than controls; they reported fewer changes in relationships with friends (P =.03). Although a similar proportion of cases and controls were at work, cases expressed less ambitious professional plans (P =.002). Cases had greater difficulty in borrowing from banks (P <.001).

CONCLUSION

French long-term survivors of testicular cancer do not express more impairment of health-related quality of life or familial or professional life in comparison with healthy men. They did have more sexual life problems and found difficulty in borrowing from banks. This information should be used by practitioners to help their patients cope with their disease and return to normal life.

[Primitive renal neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). Apropos of a case]

Renal primary neuroectodermal tumours (PNET) are exceptional and belong to the vast group of peripheral malignant primary neuroectodermal tumours (MPNT), the best known forms of which are Ewing's sarcoma of bone and Askin's thoracopulmonary tumour. In the light of a case, the authors discuss the clinical features, course, treatment and pathological characteristics, particularly the value of immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics, which demonstrate a specific chromosomal abnormality, the t (11;22) (q24;q12) translocation.

[Carcinoma of Bellini's collecting tubules. Apropos of a case]

Carcinoma of the papillary ducts of Bellini is a rare malignant tumour of the kidney, with a generally unfavourable prognosis because of late diagnosis, often at the state of metastases. The diagnosis is based on pathological examination of the nephrectomy specimen with immunohistochemical study. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy needs to be evaluated.

[Distal vascular access for chronic hemodialysis in patients over 65 years of age. Surgical results]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the results of vascular accesses for chronic haemodialysis in elderly patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

56 consecutive vascular accesses for haemodialysis were performed from November 1993 to December 1995 in patients over the age of 65 years. The policy adopted was to prefer distal accesses: only forearm accesses, primary arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or radio-M venous bioprosthesis shunt (AVS) were performed. Surgical or interventional radiological reoperation rates and abandonment rates were evaluated.

RESULTS

13 AVF (mean age: 74.5 years) and 43 AVS (mean age: 73.8 years) were analysed. The mean number of reoperations was significantly higher in the shunt group. 1 out of 13 AVF was abandoned versus 9 out of 43 AVS (no significant difference).

DISCUSSION

AVS gave poor results in terms of reoperation rate, inducing a high cost and impairment of the quality of life of these patients. Their survival in this population was comparable to that of AVF. Several teams prefer to perform first-line humero-cephalic or humero-basilic arteriovenous fistulas whenever a simple fistula in the forearm cannot be performed. They appear to give better results, but their use in the elderly is poorly evaluated. Peritoneal dialysis may be preferable to haemodialysis in the elderly. As vascular accesses are increasingly performed in elderly subjects with a reduced life expectancy, protection of the proximal venous capital does not appear to be a sufficient argument to justify the use of AVS in this population.

CONCLUSION

This study encouraged us to abandon the use of prostheses in the forearm in favour of direct accesses in the arms.

Flutamide versus orchidectomy in the treatment of metastatic prostate carcinoma

PURPOSE

To compare in a randomized clinical trial the therapeutic efficacy of the nonsteroidal antiandrogen flutamide 250 mg tid to testicular androgen suppression by orchidectomy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1989 and 1991, 104 patients aged 74 +/- 8 years with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer, an ECOG performance status 0-2 and no prior hormone manipulation or chemotherapy, were randomized to receive flutamide 250 mg tid (54 patients) or orchidectomy (50 patients). Patients were evaluated at entry and at months 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24. The primary endpoint was duration of progression-free survival, progression being defined as an increase in PSA> 50% over the nadir value at 2 consecutive months or a single PSA rise > 50% over the nadir value with another objective parameter. At progression, the treatment was left to the discretion of the attending urologist.

RESULTS

16 patients (10 flutamide, 6 orchidectomy) are not evaluable. 86 had a minimum follow-up of 36 months, 36/42 and 41/44 have progressed in the orchidectomy and flutamide group with a time of failure of 419 and 496 days (p = 0.32); median time to progression was almost identical in both groups (370 vs. 396 days p = 0.9); overall survival at 69 months irrespective of treatment at relapse was identical in both groups. Side effects were dominated by gynecomastia, hot flushes in both groups, breast tenderness and diarrhea in the flutamide group. Overall, 4 (10%) of the patients in the flutamide group withdrew from therapy because of side effects. The impact of flutamide on sexual potency was not assessed because of the advanced age of the patients. Serum testosterone rose by 50% over baseline level at month 3 to plateau at 25% over baseline level at month 12.

CONCLUSION

Although affected by the lack of a clear statistical power due to the small number of patients in each arm, this study shows that in spite of a constant elevation of serum testosterone (25% over baseline) flutamide 250 mg tid may be a reasonable alternative to castration in highly selected patients with well to moderately differentiated low volume metastatic prostate cancer and wishing to avoid the side effects of androgen deprivation, provided they are closely monitored and ready to switch to standard androgen deprivation in the presence of untolerable side effects or suboptimal treatment efficacy as assessed by the inability to achieve a low PSA nadir.

[Pelvic lymphoceles after kidney transplantation. Intraperitoneal marsupialization by celioscopy]

OBJECTIVES

The appropriate treatment for symptomatic pelvic lymphoceles occurring after renal transplantation is still debated. External drainage exposes to risk of recurrence, infection or graft sclerosis and laparotomy has been required for intraperitoneal marsupialization in patients at risk. We report our experience with two cases treated by laparoscopic intraperitoneal marsupialization.

PATIENTS

From November 1986 to September 1992, 170 renal transplantations were performed at our University Hospital. Lymphoceles developed in 12 cases and percutaneous puncture and irrigation was performed in all, successfully in 10. Relapse occurred in 2 patients--one 50-year-old woman with chronic glomerulonephritis and one 41-year-old man on peritoneal dialysis for polycystic renal disease--recipients of cadaver kidneys.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

The laparoscopy was conducted under general anaesthesia. Four trocars were inserted, a 10 mm via the umbilicus for the optical system and three 5 mm trocars via the right and left flank and the left iliac fossa. A long puncture needle was used to drain the lymphocele and a localized collection and a large peritoneal window was created. The abdominal cavity was abundantly washed before withdrawing.

RESULTS

Operation time was 35 minutes and conversion to laparotomy was not required. The only complication was a haematoma at one insertion site. Patients were discharged on day 2 and on day 1 with an unchanged immunosuppressor regimen. At 10 months follow-up, the patients were symptom-free and echography was normal.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of lymphoceles can be successfully performed by laparoscopy. The choice between conservative treatment and laparoscopic surgery remains to be determined.

Luteinizing hormone regulation by sex steroids in men with germinal and Leydig cell tumours

OBJECTIVE

We examined the gonadotrophin secretion in patients with increased plasma concentrations of testosterone and oestradiol due to hCG-producing tumours.

DESIGN

Comparison of plasma gonadotrophin concentrations before and after stimulation by GnRH, in eight men with hCG-producing tumours resulting in increased testosterone and oestradiol plasma levels, and in 29 men with Leydig cell tumours resulting in increased oestradiol and normal to low testosterone plasma levels.

PATIENTS

Eight men with hCG-producing tumours (six with testicular tumours, two with extratesticular tumours), 29 men with Leydig cell tumours and 15 normal men. The six men with germinal cell tumours of the testis were studied before and after unilateral orchidectomy.

MEASUREMENTS

Plasma concentrations of hCG, testosterone and oestradiol were measured before and after intramuscular injection of hCG. LH and FSH were measured before and after intravenous injection of 100 micrograms GnRH.

RESULTS

Plasma LH and FSH concentrations were low in patients with germ cell tumours, who exhibited increased plasma testosterone and oestradiol concentrations, and were normal in patients with Leydig cell tumours, in whom oestradiol only was increased. Plasma LH and FSH were normalized in the five patients with successful (e.g. normal hCG, testosterone and oestradiol) unilateral orchidectomy. Basal plasma testosterone concentrations correlated positively (P < 0.01) with plasma oestradiol concentrations in patients with germ cell tumours and negatively (P < 0.01) in patients with Leydig cell tumours.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with hCG-secreting germ cell tumours complete suppression of plasma LH and FSH with increased plasma concentrations of both testosterone and oestradiol are often discovered. No such gonadotrophin suppression is found in patients with Leydig cell tumours, but the negative correlation observed between plasma testosterone and oestradiol in these patients suggests a weak negative feedback effect of oestradiol on LH secretion, which cannot be demonstrated by basal LH measurements in plasma.

[Radiation enteritis after pelvic irradiation of cancer of the rectum. Prevention by omentoplasty and pelvic partitioning with polyglactin 910 mesh]

To prevent radiation enteritis during post-operative irradiation of the pelvis for rectal carcinoma, the greater omentum, fed by the left gastro-epiploic pedicle, is pulled down into the pelvis which is separated from the abdomen by an absorbable polyglactin 910 mesh. The mesh, under tension, is attached superiorly to the lips of the posterior peritoneal section and anteriorly to the upper border of the pubis. This procedure has been used in seven patients, four of whom have been irradiated post-operatively without any gastrointestinal complication.