A 54-year-old man was admitted for further investigation of multiple nodules disclosed by a chest roentgenogram. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome was diagnosed because serum ACTH and serum cortisol levels were elevated with a loss of diurnal rhythm. Because several extensive examinations, including inferior petrosal sinus sampling, did not detest ACTH-producing tumors, the patient was also given a diagnosis of occult ectopic ACTH syndrome. The nodules disclosed on chest roentgenograms increased gradually in size and number, and some were cavitary. Bronchial secretion samples obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy contained numerous Nocardia asteroides bacteria. After treatment with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, the nodules gradually disappeared, leaving only scars. Although mitotane had been continuously administered to inhibit the synthesis of intrinsic corticosteroids, pulmonary nocardiosis relapsed in the patient following the termination of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim therapy.
We reported a case of a patient who developed a diffuse stenotic change in the large intracranial arteries and repeated episodes of cerebral infarction after irradiation therapy for medulloblastoma. A three-year-old girl underwent the subtotal removal of cerebellar medulloblastoma and the subsequent irradiation therapy in the whole brain and spine (30 Gy in the whole brain, 20 Gy in the local brain, and 25 Gy in the whole spine). Two years later, she again underwent surgery and irradiation therapy because a recurrence of medulloblastoma had manifested itself in the frontal lobe; (40 Gy in the whole brain, 20 Gy in the local brain, and 25 Gy in the whole spine). One and half years after the second irradiation, she started suffering from frequent and refractory cerebral ischemic attacks. Cerebral angiography revealed a diffuse narrowing, and multifocal stenoses in the bilateral anterior and middle cerebral arteries. Computerized tomography demonstrated multiple cerebral infarctions. Her neurological condition deteriorated because of recurring strokes and she died at ten years of age. Most of the reported cases of patients who developed stenotic arteriopathy were children in the first decade of their life, and who were irradiated for parasellar brain tumor of low malignancy. Stenotic arteriopathy after irradiation has rarely been recognized in patients with malignant brain tumor. However, life expectancy is increasing even for those with malignant brain tumor, and it may make stenotic arteriopathy after irradiation recognized more commonly in patients with malignant brain tumor. Careful irradiation and subsequent angiographical examination should be required even in patients with malignant brain tumor.
9641 Background: A phase II clinical study on stent therapy for unresectable malignant colorectal stenosis was conducted to ascertain clinical efficacy, safety and procedural feasibility. Methods: Inclusion criteria were as follows: unresectable stenosis of the rectum or sigmoid colon with large bowel obstruction; no apparent stenosis of the oral side of the gastrointestinal tract; no bleeding requiring a procedure; ECOG PS ≤3; and maintained major organ function. The treatment protocol was to place an uncovered metal stent through the anus in a stenotic portion under X-ray fluoroscopic guidance. The patient was followed for 4 weeks after therapy, and the degree of improvement in subjective symptoms lasting ≥2 weeks was assessed in significantly effective (SE), moderately effective (ME) or ineffective (IE). Rate of clinical efficacy was defined as the proportion of SE and ME cases. Adverse reactions were assessed by NCI-CTC (version 2.0). Procedural feasibility was assessed based on the rate of treatment protocol completion. Results: A total of 33 patients (13 men and 20 women, PS 1, 2, 3 in 17, 7, 9 patients) were enrolled and all satisfied the inclusion criteria. Mean patient age was 60 years (range, 34–84 years). Rate of treatment completion was 97.0% (32/33), and no procedural complications were encountered. Therapy was SE in 15 patients, ME in 12, IE in 4 and unassessable in 1, yielding a clinical efficacy rate of 81.8% (27/33). Among treatment completed cases, death (n=3), stent removal due to anal pain (n=1) and occlusion at another location (n=1) were noted during the observation period. Among clinically effective cases, recurrence was not seen. Adverse reactions included grade 2–3 diarrhea (n=12, 33.3%), pain (n=5, 15.2%), bleeding (n=1, 3.0%) and dysuria (n=1, 3.0%), but no grade 4 adverse reactions or treatment-related deaths were seen. Conclusions: Stent therapy for unresectable malignant colorectal stenosis is highly practical, safe and effective. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Abstract Introduction Tumors of the central nervous system are among the leading causes of cancer-related death in children. Population-based cancer survival reflects the overall effectiveness of a health care system in managing cancer. Inequity in access to care world-wide may result in survival disparities. Methods We considered children (0–14 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor during 2000–2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a rigorous, three-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We implemented a revised version of the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (third edition) to control for under-registration of non-malignant astrocytic tumors. We estimated net survival using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator. Results The study included 67,776 children. We estimated survival for 12 histology groups, each based on relevant ICD-O-3 codes. Age-standardized 5-year net survival for low-grade astrocytoma ranged between 84% and 100% world-wide during 2000–2014. In most countries, 5-year survival was 90% or more during 2000–2004, 2005–2009, and 2010–2014. Global variation in survival for medulloblastoma was much wider, with age-standardized 5-year net survival between 47% and 86% for children diagnosed during 2010–2014. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors in children, by histology. We devised an enhanced version of ICCC-3 to account for differences in cancer registration practices world-wide. Our findings may have public health implications, because low-grade glioma is 1 of the 6 index childhood cancers included by WHO in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
Introduction With the advent of effective systemic therapy, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is established as a highly effective locoregional treatment modality for carefully selected patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This randomized controlled trial was conducted to clarify whether selective TACE with drug-eluting beads loaded with epirubicin (DEB-TACE) or selective conventional TACE with epirubicin-ethiodized oil (cTACE) might be more effective for obtaining complete response (CR) in patients with HCC. Methods Between March 2016 and May 2019, Child-Pugh class A or B patients with unresectable HCC who were scheduled to receive selective TACE were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the DEB-TACE arm or the cTACE arm. The primary endpoint was the CR rate at 3 months, as evaluated according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) by an independent review committee, and the secondary endpoints were the CR rate at 1 month and incidences of adverse events. Results A total of 200 patients (DEB-TACE, 99 patients; cTACE, 101 patients) were enrolled in the study. The CR rates at 3 months and 1 month were significantly higher in the cTACE arm (75.2%, 84.2%) as compared with the DEB-TACE arm (27.6%, 35.7%). However, the frequencies of adverse events of any grade, including pyrexia (DEB-TACE vs. cTACE, 19.4% vs. 45.5%, p=0.0001), fatigue (5.1% vs. 15.8%, p=0.0194), malaise (11.1% vs. 25.7%, p=0.0103), appetite loss (12.1% vs. 28.7%, p=0.0048), abdominal pain (12.1% vs. 23.8%, p=0.0423), increased serum bilirubin (22.2% vs. 48.5%, p=0.0002), hypoalbuminemia (43.4% vs. 60.3%, p=0.0154), increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (35.7% vs. 81.2%, p<0.0001), and increased serum alanine aminotransferase (35.7% vs. 77.2%, p<0.0001), were also significantly higher in the cTACE arm than in the DEB-TACE arm. Conclusions Selective cTACE appeared to have higher CR rates for local tumor control as compared to selective DEB-TACE for HCC. However, the frequency of post-embolization syndrome was also significantly higher in the cTACE group than in the DEB-TACE group. Thus, to achieve CR, cTACE may be selected over DEB-TACE in patients who can be expected to tolerate post-embolization syndrome.
Survival is a key metric of the effectiveness of a health system in managing cancer. We set out to provide a comprehensive examination of worldwide variation and trends in survival from brain tumors in adults, by histology.We analyzed individual data for adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor (ICD-O-3 topography code C71) during 2000-2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a 3-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We estimated net survival for 11 histology groups, using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator.The study included 556,237 adults. In 2010-2014, the global range in age-standardized 5-year net survival for the most common sub-types was broad: in the range 20%-38% for diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma, from 4% to 17% for glioblastoma, and between 32% and 69% for oligodendroglioma. For patients with glioblastoma, the largest gains in survival occurred between 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. These improvements were more noticeable among adults diagnosed aged 40-70 years than among younger adults.To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors by histology in adults. We have highlighted remarkable gains in 5-year survival from glioblastoma since 2005, providing large-scale empirical evidence on the uptake of chemoradiation at population level. Worldwide, survival improvements have been extensive, but some countries still lag behind. Our findings may help clinicians involved in national and international tumor pathway boards to promote initiatives aimed at more extensive implementation of clinical guidelines.