Efficacy of postoperative chemoradiotherapy after radical resection of squamous cell carcinoma of upper thoracic esophagus / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective To compare the prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinona of the upper thoracic esophagus after radical resection with and without postoperative chemoradiotherapy (POCRT).Methods From January 2007 to December 2011,168 patients with upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma who were treated in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively included in this study.According to the different treatment method,they were divided into simple surgery group (86 cases) and POCRT group (82 cases) respectively.Based on SPSS statistical software,the group data composition,prognostic analysis and multivariate prognostic analysis were performed by x2 test,Log-rank method and Cox regression model,respectively.Results The 1,3,5 year-survival rate,recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate were 83.9％,52.4％,43.5％,26.5％,40.8％,43.4％ and 5.3％,11.4％,16.9％,respectively.The result of multivariate analysis showed that gender,T stage,N stage and treatment method were independent prognostic factors of overall survival (P =0.020,0.008,0.005,0.000);N staging and treatment method were the independent prognostic factors of local/regional recurrence (P =0.001,0.003);differentiation and T staging were the independent prognostic factors of distant metastasis (P =0.045,0.020).The intrathoracic regional recurrence rate of operation only group and POCRT group patients were 44.2％ (38/86) and 29.3％ (24/82) respectively,where the difference was statistically significant (x2 =7.110,P ＜ 0.05).The rate of metastasis were 19.8％ (17/86) and 13.4％ (11/82) respectively without significant difference (P ＞0.05).Conclusions The recurrence rate of patients with upper thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical resection was still high.Postoperative chemoradiotherapy can improve the overall survival rate and reduce the recurrence rate,but whether it can reduce the patient's distant metastasis rate needs further study.

Balloon Kyphoplasty through Extrapedicular Approach in the Treatment of Middle Thoracic Osteoporotic Compression Fracture : T5-T8 Level

OBJECTIVE: Kyphoplasty performed in the middle thoracic spine presents technical challenges that differ from those in the lower thoracic or lumbar region due to small pedicle size and angular severity for thoracic kyphosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach for the treatment of intractable osteoporotic compression fractures in the middle thoracic spine. METHODS: The patients who were performed with one level balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach due to painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T5-T8 from June 2003 to July 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed including involved vertebrae level, vertebral height, injected cement volume, clinical outcome and complications. RESULTS: Eighteen female patients (age ranged from 60 to 77 years old) were included in this study. The average amount of the implanted cement was 4.2+/-1.5 cc. The mean cobb angle and compression rate were improved from 12.1+/-6.5 degrees to 8.5+/-7.2 degrees and from 30% to 15%, respectively. The mean pain score (visual analogue scale) prior to kyphoplasty was 7.9 and it decreased to 3.0 after the procedure. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc (2 cases) and paravertebral soft tissues (1 case) were seen but there were no major complications such as pneumothorax, segmental artery injury, pulmonary embolism, or epidural leakage. CONCLUSION: Balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach is considered as a safe and effective in treating the middle thoracic regions with low complication rate.

Vertebroplasty for the Treatment of Compression Fractures in the Upper and Middle Thoracic Spine / 대한통증학회지

BACKGROUND: Vertebroplasty that is performed in the upper and middle thoracic spine presents technical challenges that are different from those in the lower thoracic or lumbar region due to the small pedicle size and angular severity for thoracic kyphosis. We report the results of percutaneous vertebroplasty and review its effectiveness in treating intractable osteoporotic compression fractures in the upper and middle thoracic spine. METHODS: Patients who underwent vertebroplasty due to painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T3-T8 were retrospectively analyzed. The compression rate, volume of injected cement, clinical outcome (VAS score) and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-three vertebral bodies from 41 patients (32 females and 9 males, age from 64 to 78 years old) underwent vertebroplasty. The mean compression rate improved from 35% to 17%. Bipedicular injections of bone cement were performed at 3 levels of 2 patients, and unipedicular injections were performed in 40 levels of 39 patients. The mean VAS score prior to surgery was 7.7, which improved to 2.4 within 48 hours after surgery, and the mean VAS score after 6 months was 1.5, which was significantly lower. All patients recovered uneventfully, and the neurological examination revealed no deficits. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc (9 levels) and paravertebral soft tissues (10 levels) developed. However, there were no significant complications related to the procedure such as a pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSIONS: Transpedicular vertebroplasty is a safe and effective treatment for the upper and middle thoracic regions, and has a low complication rate.

Congenital Dermal Sinus at Thoracic Region Associated

Congenital dermal sinus (CDS) is a rare entity widely known to occur as a result of the of the failure of the neuroectoderm to separate from the cutaneous ectoderm during the process of neurulation at the third to fifth week of gestation. The lesion can occur at any level of the craniospinal axis, but are located predominantly at the lumbosacral and occipital region. CDS of thoracic region and cervical region are rare. The patient with CDS presents with meningitis and/or mass effect from the associated inclusion tumor. They are usually dermoid or epidermoid cyst. Teratoma is rarely associated with CDS. We report our experience of CDS an 11-month old boy associated with an intramedullary dermoid tumor at the thoracic region, and together we report a review of the literature.