Conjunctival melanoma: survival analysis in twenty-two Mexican patients / Melanoma conjuntival: análise de sobrevivência em vinte e dois pacientes mexicanos

Purpose: To describe the cases of conjunctival melanoma (CM) and report the disease-free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS). Methods: The charts of 22 patients who were admitted to two hospitals between 1985 and 2006 were reviewed for pertinent data, including demographics, site of involvement in the conjunctiva and sub-sites, surgical treatment, and adjuvant treatment. Results: There were 10 (45.45%) males and 12 (54.55%) females. Mean age was 52.3 years. In this group, 15 patients (68.1%) involved the bulbar conjunctiva, and 7 (31.9%) involved the palpebral conjunctiva. Of the 22 patients, 72.72% had a history of conjunctival melanosis. The average tumor size was 20.4 mm. Eight (36.36%) patients underwent orbital exenteration, 2 (9.06%) had enucleation, 5 (22.72%) had wide excision of the lesion followed by radiotherapy, 2 (9.06%) had orbital exenteration with neck dissection, and the remaining 5 patients (22.72%) were considered adequately treated only with wide excision. Eight (36.36%) patients received adjuvant treatment. Disease-free survival at 5 years was 51% and the overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 50% and 37%, respectively. Conclusion: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare entity. Tumor behavior is aggressive, and the optimal treatment is surgery with adjuvant therapy. .

Objetivo: Descrever o intervalo livre de doença (DFI) e sobrevida global (OS) de pacientes com melanoma conjuntival (CM). Método: Prontuários de 22 pacientes que foram internados em dois hospitais entre 1985 e 2006 foram revisados para dados pertinentes, incluindo dados demográficos, local de envolvimento na conjuntiva e outros locais de acometimento, tratamento cirúrgico e tratamento adjuvante. Resultados: Dez (45,45%) homens e 12 (54,55%) mulheres foram selecionados. A média de idade foi de 52,3 anos. Em 15 pacientes (68,1%) CM envolveu a conjuntiva bulbar, e em 7 (31,9%) envolveu a conjuntiva palpebral. Dos 22 pacientes, 72,72% tinham história de melanose conjuntival. O tamanho médio do tumor foi de 20,4 mm. Oito (36,36%) pacientes foram submetidos à exenteração orbital, 2 (9,06% ) à enucleação, 5 (22,72%) à ampla excisão da lesão seguida de radioterapia, 2 (9,06%) à exenteração orbital com esvaziamento cervical e os restantes 5 pacientes (22,72%) foram considerados adequadamente tratados apenas com excisão ampla. Oito (36,36%) pacientes receberam tratamento adjuvante. Sobrevida livre de doença em 5 anos foi de 51% e sobrevida global em 5 e 10 anos foi de 50% e 37%, respectivamente. Conclusão: Melanoma conjuntival é uma entidade rara. Comportamento do tumor é agressivo, e o melhor tratamento é a cirurgia com terapia adjuvante. .

Demografía del cáncer laríngeo en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología / Demographic data of laryngeal cancer at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City

Objetivo: Describir los datos demográficos de los pacientes atendidos con diagnóstico de cáncer laríngeo en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología. Material y métodos: Se revisaron los expedientes de 500 pacientes atendidos entre 1986 y 2002. Resultados: Se encontraron 452 hombres (90.4 %) y 48 mujeres (9.6 %), en una relación hombre:mujer de 10.6:1. La media de edad fue de 62.37 años; predominaron los pacientes con edad entre 56 y 70 años. El tabaquismo y el alcoholismo estuvieron presentes en la mayoría. El síntoma cardinal de inicio fue disfonía en 458 (91.6 %). La media de evolución de la sintomatología fue de 11.6 meses. La localización del tumor más común fue la glotis (61.6 %). En 142 pacientes (28.4 %) se encontraron tumores tempranos (T1-T2) y en 354 (70.8 %), tumores tardíos (T3-T4). Clínicamente 165 pacientes (33.0 %) tuvieron adenopatías palpables desde el inicio (33.0 %) y 13 (2.6 %), metástasis al momento del diagnóstico. La histología en 483 (96.6 %) fue epidermoide; 325 recibieron tratamiento. Las recurrencias fueron locales en 146 (44.9 %), regionales en nueve (2.8 %) y a distancia en uno (0.3 %). En 169 pacientes (52 %) se logró un adecuado control del tumor primario. La media de supervivencia de los 325 pacientes fue 38 meses. Conclusiones: El cáncer laríngeo es una entidad potencialmente curable. Ante disfonía mayor de un mes de evolución se debe hacer diagnóstico diferencial de cáncer. El pronóstico en la supervivencia de los pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer laríngeo está determinado por el estadio clínico inicial.

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to describe the demographic data of patients with laryngeal cancer treated at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Mexico City. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical files from 1986 to 2002, revealing 500 patients. RESULTS: Included were 452 men (90.4%) and 48 women (9.6%) (M:F ratio--10.6:1). Average age of patients was 62.37 years. The highest incidence of patients was among those aged 56 to 70 years. Smoking and alcoholism were present in most patients from this series. The cardinal symptom of presentation was dysphonia in 458 patients (91.6%). The mean evolution time of symptomatology was 11.6 months. The most common localization of the tumor was the glottis (61.6%). One hundred forty two patients (28.4%) presented early-stage tumors (T1-T2) and 354 patients (70.8%) presented with late-stage tumors (T3-T4). Clinically, 165 patients (33.0%) presented adenopathies and 13 patients (2.6%) had metastases at the time of diagnosis; 483 patients (96.6%) presented with invasive epidermoid cancer. Of these, 325 patients received treatment. One hundred forty six patients (44.9%) presented local recurrence, in nine patients (2.8%) there was regional recurrence, and one patient (0.3%) recurred with a distant tumor. Adequate control of the primary tumor was achieved with the established treatment in 169 patients (52%). verage survival time of the 325 treated patients was 38 months. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer of the larynx is a potentially curable entity. In any patient with major dysphonia of >1 month evolution, a differential diagnosis of cancer must be made. The survival prognosis for patients with cancer of the larynx is determined by the initial clinical stage.

Cáncer de laringe en pacientes menores de 40 años / Laryngeal cancer in patients younger than 40 years

Objetivo: describir los datos demográficos de pacientes < 40 años de edad con diagnóstico de cáncer de laringe, y los resultados obtenidos después del tratamiento. Material y métodos: se revisaron los expedientes en forma retrolectiva, de una base de datos de 500 pacientes con cáncer de laringe atendidos entre 1989 y 2004; se incluyeron los pacientes < 40 años de edad al momento del diagnóstico, en quienes se corroboró el diagnóstico de carcinoma epidermoide. Resultados: fueron encontrados 15 pacientes (4.4 % de esta serie): nueve hombres (60 %) y seis mujeres (40 %), con una relación de 1.5:1, respectivamente. El promedio de edad para el grupo fue de 35 años. El tiempo promedio de evolución a la fecha del diagnóstico fue de 14.4 meses. El tabaquismo estuvo presente en 60 % y el alcoholismo en 40 %; la disfonía fue el síntoma cardinal en 87 %. La localización más frecuente fue la glotis (73 %). Los tumores bien diferenciados representaron 53 %. El tratamiento inicial fue cirugía en cuatro (27 %) pacientes y radioterapia en cinco (33 %), con un promedio de 63.44 Gy; un paciente (7 %) fue tratado con quimiorradioterapia concomitante con gemcitabine, cuatro (27 %) con quimioterapia neoadyuvante seguida de radioterapia, y un paciente no recibió tratamiento. El tiempo promedio de recurrencia después del primer tratamiento fue de 19.57 meses; cuatro pacientes fueron catalogados con persistencia. El tiempo promedio de supervivencia fue de 32 meses. La preservación de órgano al final fue de 28.5 %. Conclusiones: el cáncer epidermoide de laringe fue una patología rara en los pacientes < 40 años revisados. La relación de acuerdo con el sexo fue similar, con ligero predominio del masculino. Los factores de riesgo clásicos estuvieron presentes en 60 %. El pronóstico de los pacientes en esta serie estuvo determinado por el estadio clínico inicial.

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to report demographic data of laryngeal cancer patients <40 years old and treatment results. METHODS: In a retrolective study we reviewed the clinical records of 500 patients with laryngeal cancer in the period from 1989 to 2004 and included those patients<40 years of age. RESULTS: We found 15 patients, representing 4.4% of the series. Nine (60%) were men and six (40%) were women, with a 1.5:1 ratio. Average group age was 35 years (range 21-40 and median of 37 months). Average time of evolution at the time of diagnosis was 14.4 months (range 0-36 and median of 12 months); 60% of the patients were smokers and 40% admitted to drinking alcohol; dysphonia was the main symptom found in 87% of the patients. The most frequent location was the glottis in 11 (73%) patients. Well-differentiated tumors represented 53% of the cases. Initial treatment was surgery in four (27%) patients; radiotherapy in five (33%) patients receiving an average of 63.44 Gy; concomitant chemoradiotherapy in one patient (7%) using gemcitabine; four (27%) patients were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy; and one patient did not receive treatment. The average time in which the patients relapsed after the first treatment was 19.57 months (range 2-63) and four were classified as persistent. Survival time was 32 months (range 2-106 and median 27 months). Finally, organ preservation rate was obtained in 28.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is rare in patients<40 years old in our study. Gender relation seems to be equal, although a slight predominance of men does still exist. Classical risk factors were present in 60% of the cases. Prognosis for these patients was determined by the initial clinical stage.