Conversion motor paralysis disorder: overview and rehabilitation model.

It is important to consider a differential diagnosis between paralysis on an organic basis and paralysis and disability due to psychological mechanisms in people with physical impairment secondary to trauma, without evidence of organic etiology. We review the most dramatic type of conversion disorder (CD)-'Conversion Motor Paralysis'. Recent important medical literature concerning the accepted treatment and rehabilitation management will be reviewed and discussed. The inter-disciplinary in-patient team management approach in a rehabilitation setting offers the benefits of a comprehensive assessment and treatment. The diagnosis is temporary and conditional, since there may be a long delay until the appearance of organic findings. A complete medical assessment is essential in order to rule out any possibility of an organic etiology. In as many as 25% to 50% of patients diagnosed as conversion, an organic medical diagnosis was found.

Conversion motor paralysis disorder: analysis of 34 consecutive referrals.

STUDY DESIGN: We present our cumulative experience with patients sustaining the most dramatic type of Conversion Disorder (CD) - Conversion Motor Paralysis. SETTING: Rehabilitation departments, Reuth Medical Center, Tel-Aviv and Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. METHODS: During the period 1973-2000, 34 patients with neurological symptoms without any anatomical or physiological basis were admitted to both rehabilitation departments. This number consists of less than 1% of the total acute traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord disorders admitted annually to these centers. RESULTS: Twenty-five of the subjects were men (mean age of 30 years) and nine were women (mean age of 31.4 years). Neurological symptoms included: paraplegia (complete or incomplete) (18), hemiplegia or hemi paresis (11), tetraplegia (complete or incomplete) (three), monoplegia (one), triplegia (one). The final diagnosis on discharge was CD in 30 of the 34 cases, the remaining four being diagnosed as malingering. Functionally, nine patients had a complete recovery, 10 a partial recovery and 15 remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Disabled people who experienced traumatic events resulting in various disabilities are admitted usually to a rehabilitation center. However, some of them are later diagnosed as having Conversion Disorder or malingering. We believe that their participation in active regular and integrative rehabilitation process is beneficial to most of them. Most of these patients gain functional independence and return to the main stream of life.

Second primary cancer of the larynx in patients with lung cancer.

Synchronous or metachronous second primary malignancies of the lung are sometimes encountered in patients with laryngeal cancer while the occurrence of a laryngeal second primary following cancer of the lung is rare. A two-armed study was conducted. A prospective arm in which the larynges of 56 terminal lung cancer patients were examined, and a retrospective arm incorporating both a chart study of 126 terminal head and neck cancer patients (HNCP) and a computerized search of all hospital records of patients with laryngeal and lung cancers. No laryngeal malignancy was found in the lung cancer patients' group and no antedating pulmonary malignancy was recorded in the terminal HNCP. The computerized search of 1778 lung cancer patients and 213 laryngeal cancer patients also failed to demonstrate cases where the former preceded the latter. In conclusion. No second primary of the larynx was found in lung cancer patients. These results compare with reports of large databases where cancer of the larynx was found in a negligible percentage of lung cancer survivors and theories explaining this are discussed.

Pain experienced by patients with terminal head and neck carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Pain is one of the most feared consequences of cancer and is experienced by up to 80% of patients with head and neck carcinoma (HNC). Pain in terminal HNC patients is common and often defined as severe. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder in the treatment of a cohort of terminal HNC patients. METHODS: The authors prospectively evaluated 62 consecutive terminal HNC patients admitted to the Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer Hospice or the general hospital. Data pertaining to tumor origin, spread, treatment, and results were defined. Pain was assessed with the McGill Pain Questionnaire, using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS) and a body map. Pain was diagnosed according to cause and type. Treatment was selected according to the guidelines provided in the WHO analgesic ladder. RESULTS: Only 10 patients suffered from pain that was not locoregional. The results of the VAS score were available in the first reading in all patients with pain (n = 48), with a mean of 4.7 (standard deviation [SD] +/- 2.0). A mean second VAS score obtained 72 hours after the first was 1.9 (SD +/- 1.1). The difference between the two scores was statistically significant (P < 0.001). A third score was available for only 6 patients, with a mean of 1.6. Only 2 patients did not experience improvement of pain after 72 hours of treatment; both of these patients had bony involvement with tumor. Thirty-one patients (65%) were diagnosed with pain of nociceptive origin; these patients were categorized as having actual nociceptive pain (22), nociceptive nerve pain (6), or referred pain to the ear (3). Nonnociceptive pain of neuropathic origin was noted for only 6 patients (12.5%). Pain that could not be well defined but was responsive to opioid analgesic treatment was noted for 11 patients. A different form of non-cancer-related pain was noted for only one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were treated for pain according to the WHO analgesic ladder. They received adequate narcotic analgesics and supportive measures that allowed significant reduction of pain in nearly all cases, with acceptable side effects.

Distant metastases in terminal head and neck cancer patients.

With improved control of cancer above the clavicles, distant metastases (DM) are frequently more seen and are becoming a more common cause of morbidity and mortality. The present study defined the incidence of distant metastases in a cohort of terminal head and neck cancer patients (HNCP) and compared it to current reported data. The incidence of distant metastases in relation to the primary tumour was evaluated and their impact on survival was assessed. A retrospective survey of patient charts was made, based on the hospice database and original referring hospital charts. Data of 59 patients admitted to the hospice were evaluated. The incidence and location of locoregional and distant disease were studied and effects on survival analyzed. The overall survival from diagnosis to demise was 42.7 months. Thyroid cancer was seen in 20.3 per cent of cases and squamous cell cancer was seen in 59.3 per cent. Distant metastases were found in 83 per cent and 48.6 per cent of patients respectively. Laryngeal cancer patients had a 54.5 per cent incidence of distant metastases. Locoregional disease was seen in 47 per cent of cases and 35.7 per cent of them had distant metastases while a 64.3 per cent incidence of distant metastases was found in cases without locoregional disease. Mean survival was 47.3 months with distant metastases vs 36.5 months without metastases. The difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of distant metastases in squamous cell cancer in terminal HNCP was 48.6 per cent. This is the highest reported incidence of metastases in a clinical series. Patients without locoregional disease had almost a two-fold incidence of metastases. Survival was not affected by metastases in this series.

Home and inpatient hospice care of terminal head and neck cancer patients.

The objective is to evaluate and compare data on a cohort of terminal head and neck cancer (HNC) patients from both home and hospital-based hospice programs and to define the particular problems and needs of those patients. The setting was a tertiary academic referral centre in Tel Hashomer, Israel. We carried out a retrospective survey of patient charts based on hospice databases and death certificates of the hospital tumor registry. Charts of 102 HNC patients admitted to the hospice between 1988 and 1994 and 24 charts of HNC patients cared for by the home hospice program between 1990 and 1994 were studied. Pain, airway problems, and dysphagia were the common problems reported. A comparison of the two programs showed home hospice patients to be younger and with lower pain levels, less weight loss, and less oral candidiasis. There were fewer oral cavity tumor patients in the home hospice group. The incidence of distant metastases was in 50% range in both groups. Judging by chart entries relating to pain, airway care, and food intake, treatment protocols were effective in both programs in the alleviation of pain and other symptoms. Both programs appeared to provide adequate care for terminal HNC patients. The main difference in care between the two groups stemmed from the decisions of referring physicians and not from a predetermined level of care. The incidence of distant metastases was higher than that reported in earlier clinical series.

Care of the terminal head and neck cancer patient in the hospice setting.

The ratio of incidence to mortality is somewhat less than 3:1 for head and neck cancer, and the 5-year relative survival rate is 50%. Despite the high mortality rate, few reports have focused on patients with terminal head and neck cancer. A growing number of these patients end their lives in a hospice facility. A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 67 patients with terminal head and neck cancer who were admitted to the Tel Hashomer Hospice between 1988 and 1992. Patient data were reviewed and analyzed, and the particular characteristics of this population were defined. This study found that terminal head and neck cancer patients seem to receive better support in a hospice than in a general hospital or some family settings.