Coaxial biopsy during percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with presumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: retrospective review of biopsy results.

PURPOSE: This study retrospectively analysed the results of biopsies obtained during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with presumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, with a view to highlighting the importance of coaxial biopsy in determining the aetiology of vertebral fractures and planning subsequent treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2003 and March 2009, 98 patients (78 women; 20 men) with a clinical and imaging suspicion of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures underwent coaxial biopsy in conjunction with PVP of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Mean age at the time of the procedure was 72.6 years. A pathologist interpreted all the biopsy samples. RESULTS: In 83 patients, the biopsy results were consistent with the presumed osteoporotic aetiology. In two patients, a malignancy was identified. Biopsy samples from 13 patients were considered insufficient or unsuitable by the pathologist for evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the number of biopsy samples considered insufficient or unsuitable, coaxial biopsy during PVP is useful in verifying the presumed aetiology of vertebral compression fractures, which is often unclear on the basis of clinical and imaging examinations. It is therefore both convenient and advisable to perform a vertebral coaxial biopsy in all patients undergoing a PVP.

[Contribution of intraoperative radiotherapy in the control of local recurrences of rectal cancer]. / L'apporto della radioterapia intraoperatoria nel controllo della recidiva locale del cancro del retto.

Local recurrence (LR) is a major problem following curative resection of rectal cancer. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is considered an ideal boost technique for increasing the dose of radiation therapy within a restricted area without introducing a significant toxicity. The aim of this study is to present the results of a multimodality treatment containing external beam irradiation, chemotherapy, surgical resection, and IORT delivered by a movable linear accelerator (NOVAC7, Hitesys SpA, Italia), employed in a "traditional" operating room.

Pain management for the elderly.

Pain management for the elderly is based on the same principles as for all other age groups. There is no evidence that the elderly patient and the young patient perceive pain differently. Pain management should aim at achieving a specific diagnosis and a specific treatment with the appropriate choice of analgesic used in the optimal regimen and should give attention to all other factors contributing to the patient's suffering. Geriatric medicine uses an essentially multidisciplinary approach to treatment of medical problems, and this doctrine should apply to treatment of pain.