Wire-guided excision of non-palpable breast cancer: determinants and correlations between radiologic and histologic margins and residual disease in re-excisions.

In cases of wire-guided excision of non-palpable breast cancer (WGE), data concerning the determinants and correlations between radiologic and histologic margins and residual cancer in re-excisions are sparse. A total of 21 variables in 66 WGE followed by 49 re-excisions were prospectively analyzed. In multivariate analysis, only large mammographic lesions were clearly related to positive margins in specimen radiography (P<0.05). Multifocality (P<0.001), large pathologic size (P<0.05) and superficial excision (P<0.05) were related to positive histologic margins and multifocality (P=0.001) to residual disease in re-excisions. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values of specimen radiography for predicting histologic margins were 33%, 79% and 53%, and those for predicting residual disease 30%, 80% and 38%, respectively. The ability of histologic margins to predict residual disease was 91%, 58% and 38%, respectively. In WGE, large mammographic lesions carry a significant risk for radiologically incomplete excision, while pathologically large and multifocal tumors may be histologically incompletely excised, especially if the excision does not extend down to the pectoral fascia. The excision sites of multifocal tumors should be re-excised because of the considerable risk of residual disease. The radiologic and histologic margins of the specimen may be misleading.

Prognostic factors predicting survival in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma.

METHODS: Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas are rare tumours. The management of these tumours has been difficult because of low resectability and a high recurrence rate. A retrospective review of a prospectively compiled database of 32 consecutive patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas treated at Oulu University Hospital between 1977 and 1996 was performed. RESULTS: The resectability rate of primary tumours was 75%, and 44% of the patients underwent radical resection. The recurrence rate after radical resection was 57% and the resectability rate for recurrent tumours after radical primary operation, 50%. The actuarial overall 5-year survival rate was 31%, 10-year survival rate 19% and median survival 36 months. In univariate analysis the principal factors associated with prognosis were radical resection, recurrent disease, pre-operative loss of weight and histological tumour grade. Complete excision of the primary tumour was the only significant predictor of survival in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Complete resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma continues to be the most important prognostic factor. The inefficiency of adjuvant therapy, the high recurrence rate and the very low chance of curing the patient after recurrence make the prognosis of these patients poor.

Survival after operations for colorectal cancer in patients aged 75 years or over.

OBJECTIVE: To define factors that predict mortality and survival in patients with colorectal cancer who are aged 75 or over. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Finland. SUBJECTS: 231 patients aged 75 or over who were admitted to hospital with colorectal cancer during the 14-year period 1980-93. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity, mortality, recurrence, and survival. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality after any kind of operation was 8/211 (4%), and 8/175 (5%) of those who had their tumours resected. Morbidity was 35/175 (20%). Factors associated with mortality were weight loss, Dukes'stage, extent of resection, and type of operation. Overall 5-year survival was 28%, overall 10-year survival was 4%, and median survival was 33 months (range 0-150). Survival was most closely related to Duke's stage, extent of resection, and recurrent disease on univariate analysis, but multivariate analysis identified only mode of recurrence (p < 0.0001), recurrent disease (p < 0.004), and extent of resection (p < 0.009) as independent predictors of survival. The recurrence rate after radical resection was 49/141 (35%) and the median disease-free interval was 10 months (range 4-64). Mortality after resection for recurrent cancer was 3/17 (18%) and morbidity 5/17 (29%). CONCLUSION: Age alone is not a risk factor for postoperative mortality or a predictor of long-term survival. Low mortality and acceptable long-term survival can be achieved in patients aged 75 or over if those with extensive distant metastases, and those whose general condition is too poor to stand a major operation, are treated conservatively.

Adenoma of the papillae of Vater. Report of eleven cases.

Eleven patients with a preoperative diagnosis of adenoma of the papillae of Vater were followed up during the fifteen-year period from 1984 till 1998 in the Oulu University Hospital. Seven patients were treated primarily by transduodenal excision without any recurrences so far. One of these seven patients was found to have adenocarcinoma in a histological examination. Active surgery for adenoma of the papillae of Vater is recommended because of the precancerous nature of the lesion, and because malignancy cannot always be detected by endoscopic biopsies. Transduodenal excision could be recommend for patients at high operative risk, especially in cases with small adenomas and low-grade dysplasia, where histologically free resection margins can be achieved, but pancreaticoduodenectomy should still be performed on patients at low operative risk.

Survival after surgery for gastric cancer in patients over 70 years of age.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The increase of the elderly population in western societies will result in a considerable increase of gastric cancer patients older than 70 years requiring surgery. However, higher postoperative morbidity and mortality rates after major surgery in the elderly are well recognized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of mortality and predictors of survival in elderly patients with gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed the data of the 165 patients evaluated for gastric cancer surgery in the Oulu University Hospital from January 1985 till December 1994 and made a computer analysis. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 12% both after all laparotomies and after all resections, and 6% after radical resections. Mortality after radical resection did not associate significantly with any clinical variable but morbidity was associated with the number of coexistent diseases. The median and cumulative 5-year survivals after radical resections were 40 months and 38%. Survival was closely related to diagnostic delay, preoperative loss of weight, two or more coexistent disease, location of tumor, and recurrence in univariate analysis, but multivariate analysis showed only preoperative weight loss and recurrent disease to be independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Age alone is not a risk factor for postoperative mortality or a predictor of survival among elderly patients with gastric cancer. Early detection of malignancy and careful preoperative evaluation of the patients referred for resection are needed to improve survival.

Clinicopathological features of primary gastric lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Surgery has been the mainstay of the treatment of primary gastric lymphoma, but the value of surgical treatment needs reevaluation. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with primary non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma of the stomach were examined retrospectively to evaluate prognostic factors and their impact on survival. All patients had undergone abdominal exploration for radical surgery between 1979 and 1992. The prognostic factors in view of survival after treatment were determined with both univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The resectability rate was 66% (21/32) and radical resections had been performed on 53% (17/32). The overall median survival was 65 months and the overall 5-year survival was 56%. The 5-year survival rates related to a modified Ann Arbor classification as follows: I 1E, 86%; I 2E, 100%; II 1E, 44%; II 2E, 37%; IIIE, 20%; and IVE, 0%. Univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that radical surgery, Ann Arbor stage, patient's age, and lymph node involvement were significant prognostic factors. According to Cox proportional regression analysis, only Ann Arbor stage, radical surgery, and age were significant independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: According to our experience, surgery is still needed for the treatment of primary gastric lymphomas, but the benefits of primary chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy using cytotoxic drugs must be determined in large prospective controlled trials.

Natural history of diverticular disease: when to operate?

PURPOSE: The natural history of patients admitted because of acute diverticulitis is largely unknown, and the selection of patients for surgical treatment varies notably. This study presents our experience concerning the outcome for 366 patients admitted during a 10-year period. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-six patients admitted to our hospital with acute diverticulitis from 1981 to 1990 were identified from a computer database, and their clinical data up to the end of 1996 were reviewed from the database and patient records. RESULTS: There were significantly more males than females in the age group less than 50 years old, and young males underwent surgical treatment during the first treatment period more frequently than the others. Young patients were operated on without mortality, and all their temporary colostomies were closed. Older patients died more often of diseases unrelated to the diverticular disease during the years after the first episode of acute diverticulitis. Recurrences of diverticular disease developed in 22 percent of patients, and they were significantly more common in patients less than 50 years old than in the older age groups. Males less than 50 years old more often developed complications of diverticular disease after two hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Males first admitted when less than 50 years of age undergo more primary operations and develop more recurrences of diverticular disease than do older people. Based on our data, however, we recommend surgery for all patients after two episodes of acute diverticulitis that resolves after conservative treatment with antibiotics.

Cosmetic results after wire-guided biopsy of benign breast lesions.

BACKGROUND: There are surprisingly few reports about the cosmetic results of wire-guided biopsy of benign breast lesions as opposed to breast-conserving surgery and irradiation of early breast cancer (BCT). STUDY DESIGN: Twenty potential perioperative risk factors for adverse cosmetic results after wire-guided breast biopsy were prospectively evaluated in 101 patients undergoing the first single biopsy after suspicion of a malignant lesion that subsequently proved to be benign. The overall cosmetic result was evaluated by using 6 specific cosmetic indices individually scored 6 months after the breast biopsy. RESULTS: The overall cosmesis was excellent, good, fair, or poor in 48.5%, 26.7%, 12.9%, and 11.9% of cases, respectively. The corresponding figures according to appraisal by the patients were 22.8%, 58.4%, 17.8%, and 1.0%, respectively. Unsatisfactory (fair or poor) overall cosmetic results were related to excisions extending down to the fascia (p = 0.001) and postoperative complications (p = 0.018) in multivariate analysis. Notably, specimen volume had no significant impact on overall cosmesis, as opposed to cosmesis after BCT. CONCLUSIONS: Cosmetic outcomes after wire-guided biopsy of benign breast lesions were excellent or good in at least 75% of cases. Excisions extending down to the pectoralis fascia and complications were associated with poor aesthetic outcomes.

Mammographic and ultrasonographic findings in bilateral breast cancer: a comparative study.

To compare the results of mammographic and US examinations in unilateral and bilateral breast cancers in routine clinical work, the files of all patients with 825 preoperative mammograms and 525 preoperative US examinations operated on for primary breast cancer in the Oulu University Hospital from 1983 through 1993 were retrospectively reviewed. The only statistically significant difference noted in the mammographic findings was the false-negative rates in unilateral, bilateral and metachronous second breast cancers (6.8, 16.3 and 23.3 %, respectively). The differences were mainly due to the lower sensitivity of mammography in the detection of palpable bilateral breast cancers. The false-negative rate of US was also significantly higher in bilateral breast cancers (23 %) than in unilateral cancers (11 %), and significantly higher for nonpalpable than palpable cancers in both the bilateral and the unilateral groups. The mammographic failure rates and the difference between these two groups were most pronounced during the early study period, which underscores the importance of experience and dedicated imaging technique. The smaller tumour size at the time of diagnosis and probably the loss of the opposite breast for comparison have contributed to the higher false-negative rates in bilateral breast cancer.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients: an analysis of 69 patients.

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment of acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis continues to be a difficult therapeutic problem. With the development of more advanced radiological imaging techniques, percutaneous cholecystostomy (PCS) has been presented as an effective treatment alternative in critically ill patients. This paper reports our experiences of percutaneous cholecystostomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in a well defined high-risk patient group. METHODS: The data concerning 69 high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis treated by percutaneous cholecystostomy in Oulu University Hospital and Kokkola Central Hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: Ultrasound showed gallbladder stones in 71% (49/69) of the patients and 29% of them presented with acalculous cholecystitis. After PCS, pain diminished in 94% (61/65), fever in 90% (35/39), CRP values in 87% (53/61) and leucocyte count in 84% (46/55) of the patients. Before PCS, the CRP value was 132+/-106 mg/l and after PCS 79+/-73 mg/l (P = 0.001) and corresponding leucocyte counts were 14.7+/-5.0 and 9.3+/-3.2 (P = 0.001), respectively. The antegrade cholecystocholangiography was performed in 29 patients after PCS, and common bile duct stones were detected in 8 patients; these stones were treated by endoscopic papillotomy. Complications after PCS occurred in 17 patients (26%), but only two patients required emergency laparotomy. Mortality was 19% (13/69). Acute cholecystitis alone was the cause of death in only three patients. Mostly, fatal outcome was caused by the serious underlying diseases. CONCLUSION: According to our results, PCS should be the method of choice in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis.

Preoperative methylene blue staining of galactographically suspicious breast lesions.

Microdochectomy is the standard treatment of galactographically suspicious breast lesions. Precise preoperative marking of the suspicious duct and intraductal lesions facilitates selective minimal-volume microdochectomy. Methylene blue dye staining fulfills this criterion. A retrospective review of our experience of preoperative methylene blue staining in 30 patients with unilateral spontaneous nonlactiferous single duct nipple discharge operated on during 1986-1995 in the Oulu University Hospital for galactographically suspicious breast lesions. Galactography was successful in 29 out of 30 (93.3%) cases. Preoperative methylene blue staining was attempted in all cases on the day of surgery and it was successful in 22 (73.3%) cases making subsequent selective minimal-volume microdochectomy easy to perform. The failure of methylene blue staining led to quadrantectomy in 4 cases and smaller breast resections in the remaining 4 cases. Preoperative methylene blue dye staining crucially facilitates selective minimal-volume microdochectomy. An interval between primary galactography and later methylene blue staining leads to failures in approximately one quarter of the cases. A higher success rate would necessitate scheduling the microdochectomy on the same day as the primary galactography (and the subsequent methylene blue staining in suspicious cases).

Superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy with mitomycin C in hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Mitomycin C has been found clinically useful in the treatment of colorectal cancer when administered via the hepatic artery. In a prospective therapeutic trial, we studied the effect of superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy with mitomycin C in patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. METHODS: Forty-six patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer received intra-arterial chemotherapy with mitomycin C (SIAC) between 1981 and 1991. The results of a 5-year follow-up were compared with 46 control patients standardized by sex, age, and tumor distribution. RESULTS: The overall response rate to intra-arterial chemotherapy was 20%. The median survival time for responders was 26 months and that for nonresponders 12 months (P < 0.003). The median survival period after intra-arterial chemotherapy was 15 months, compared with 9 months in controls (P < 0.004). The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 6% for patients treated by SIAC and 5% for controls. Cessation of chemotherapy was necessary in 39 of the 46 patients: in 28 because of tumor progression, in 9 because of toxicity, in 1 because of catheterization difficulties, and in 1 because of patient refusal. CONCLUSIONS: Superselective intra-arterial mitomycin C therapy had a poor effect on hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer because of the low response and long-term survival rates.

Metachronous cecal and sigmoid volvulus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metachronous cecal and sigmoid volvulus is very rare. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case report. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Two different volvuli necessitated three operations. Cecal volvulus was treated by caecostomy and sigmoid volvulus by detorsion three years later. Sigmoid volvulus recurred after simple operative detorsion, but the patient recovered without complications after a mesocolosplasty. We recommend operative treatment when recurrent colonic volvulus is suspected, and resection is preferable in medically fit patients.

Determinants of positive histologic margins and residual tumor after lumpectomy for early breast cancer: a prospective study with special reference to touch preparation cytology.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Removal of the entire tumor by breast-conserving surgery is important, but the determinants of adequate excision have not been established. METHODS: A prospective study of 55 consecutive lumpectomies for early breast cancer was performed to study the correlation between touch preparation cytology and histologic margins and the determinants of positive histologic margins and residual disease after the initial excision. RESULTS: The correlation between touch preparation cytology and histologic margins was poor: sensitivity and specificity were 37.5% and 85.1%, respectively. The histologic margins were positive in 8 cases (14.5%) and were related to the presence of intraductal carcinoma and to the large pathologic size of the index tumor. Re-excision specimen of the tumor bed (34 of 55 cases) contained residual cancer in seven cases (20.6%). Multifocal and nonpalpable index tumors predicted residual cancer. Residual disease was found in 37.5% of the cases (3 of 8) with positive and in 15.4% of the cases (4 of 26) with negative histologic margins. CONCLUSIONS: Touch preparation cytology cannot be recommended as a method of assessing lumpectomy margins for early breast cancer. Histologic margins are misleading in predicting residual cancer in re-excision specimens. To minimize the risk of residual cancer, wide excision or mastectomy should be considered in the management of multifocal and nonpalpable tumors.

Randomized trial of endoscopic injection sclerosis with ethanolamine oleate and ethanol for bleeding peptic ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been done comparing ethanolamine oleate injection therapy with other sclerosing agents. Between September 1992 and August 1995, 78 consecutive patients presenting with a high-risk bleeding ulcer were randomized in a trial comparing endoscopic injection sclerotherapies with ethanolamine oleate and absolute ethanol. METHODS: The groups were well matched in terms of sex, age, clinical features, endoscopic findings, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage. We recorded in a prospective randomized trial the initial success of endoscopy, the rebleeding rate, permanent hemostasis, treatment failures, the need for surgery, mortality, and factors related to mortality. RESULTS: Initial hemostasis was achieved in 90% (38 of 42) of the ethanolamine oleate group and in 97% (35 of 36) of the ethanol group, and permanent hemostasis in 88% (37 of 42) and 92% (33 of 36), respectively. The rebleeding rate, 7% and 8%; the emergency surgery rate, 10% and 6%; the transfusion requirement, 4.8 +/- 3.3 units and 4.0 +/- 3.0 units; and the 30-day mortality, 12% and 3%, did not differ significantly between the ethanolamine oleate and ethanol groups. Mortality was significantly related to shock at admission, duodenal site of the ulcer, ulcer size greater than 2 cm, and blood transfusion of over 5 units. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic injection sclerotherapies using ethanolamine oleate or absolute ethanol are safe and equally effective for bleeding peptic ulcers.

Nonpalpable breast lesions: pathologic correlation of ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in routine clinical use, we evaluated retrospectively all of the 781 nonpalpable breast lesions operated on in the Oulu University Hospital during the period 1986 to 1993. There were 86 patients with 90 nonpalpable breast lesions, of which samples were taken by ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Open wire-guided surgical biopsy was obtained in all cases for a histologic diagnosis. Two false-negative results and one insufficient cytologic sample occurred in the 26 malignancies and one false-positive result and two insufficient cytologic samples were found in the 73 benign breast lesions, giving sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall diagnostic accuracy values of 84%, 93%, 94%, 95%, and 90%, respectively. The calculations include the insufficient samples. We conclude that ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a method comparable to mammographic and stereotactic fine-needle aspiration biopsy methods.

A multicentre comparison of once-daily subcutaneous dalteparin (low molecular weight heparin) and continuous intravenous heparin in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of the low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) dalteparin with unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the acute treatment of DVT patients who had not previously received UFH. DESIGN: An open randomized multicentre trial with blinded analysis of venograms. SETTING: Seven hospitals in Sweden, Finland and the USA. SUBJECTS: A total of 330 patients, of 20 years or older, with suspected DVT, verified using venography. INTERVENTIONS: Fixed-dose dalteparin (200 IU kg-1) given as a once-daily subcutaneous injection, or aPTT adjusted i.v. UFH infusion for 6 to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in Marder score in patients with confirmed DVT and two evaluable venograms; PE, bleeding events and follow-up. RESULTS: Marder scores improved in 51% (95% CI 42-60%) of 92 patients treated with dalteparin and in 62% (95% CI 53-70%) of 98 patients treated with UFH (P = 0.152). One dalteparin-treated patient had a PE confirmed by V/Q scan; another had progressive thrombosis with swelling in the affected limb. Bleeding complications occurred in six patients in each group. One patient treated with dalteparin and five treated with UFH died during the 6-month follow-up period as a result of underlying malignancy or heart disease. The 6-month recurrence rate was low with both treatments (dalteparin, 3/97; UFH, 2/103). CONCLUSIONS: Fixed-dose subcutaneous dalteparin given once daily from the start of treatment is of equivalent efficacy and safety to conventional UFH therapy in the routine management of DVT.

Gastric outlet obstruction caused by peptic ulcer disease analysis of 99 patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study assessed the changes in the pattern of operation rates and operations performed for gastric outlet obstruction due to peptic ulcer disease in a well-defined population in northern Finland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data from 99 patients recorded during 1977-1994 were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall operation rate was low with a slight variation ranging annually from 1.1 to 3.0 per 10(5) inhabitants. The male-female ratio was 54/45 with no significant changes during the study period. Duodenal ulcer caused annually more gastric outlet obstructions than gastric ulcer, except in the year 1994. Old women were frequently operated on for obstructing ulcer (p < 0.034). The overall mortality after operations performed for obstruction was 5%, and the mean age of the fatalities (68 +/- 9) was significantly higher than that of those who survived (54 +/- 15) (p < 0.042). The high rate of restenosis, 43% (5/12), occurring after proximal gastric vagotomy with pyloroduodenal dilatation, does not justify this procedure for gastric outlet obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The good results obtained after antrectomy with selective vagotomy encourage us to use it as the main procedure for gastric outlet obstruction. It is concluded that the incidence of operations performed for obstructing peptic ulcer has not decreased during last 18 years.