ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Encephalitis is a life-threatening neurological condition with multiple causes in the setting of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). CD8 Encephalitis (CD8E) is a newly recognised condition which can present in an acute manner, with pertinent features including classical radiological findings with an intense brain parenchymal infiltration of CD8+ T cells. This review attempted to clarify the symptomatology, distribution and determinants of this condition, as well as to examine its vast unknowns. METHODS: A literature review was undertaken in July 2022, utilising the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Papers published between 2006-2022 were reviewed. Eighteen papers, totalling 57 patients, were found and analysed. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Chi-squared and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests as appropriate, with p < 0.05 deemed significant. RESULTS: In this review, 57 patients were identified, with a female (61%, 34/56) and Black African (70%, 40/57) preponderance. Females were more likely to present with headache (p = 0.006), and headache was more likely to be present in those who died (p = 0.02). There was no statistically significant association between baseline CD4 count (p = 0.079) and viral load (p = 0.72) with disease outcome. Overall, 77% (41/53) of patients had classical imaging findings, including bilateral gadolinium-enhancing punctate and perivascular white matter lesions. However, many patients (23/57) required a brain biopsy as part of their diagnostic workup. Corticosteroid treatment was commonly prescribed in patients (64%, 35/55) and had a mortality benefit, with an overall survival in this group of 71% (p = 0.0008). In those who died, median survival was 5.5 months. In rare instances, recurrence of the disease was noted, which responded poorly to treatment. DISCUSSION: CD8E represents a new and complex condition with few risk factors identified for its occurrence. The presenting symptoms are broad, but headache appears to be more common in females and more significantly associated with death. Though rare, CD8E is likely under-diagnosed, possibly due to overlapping features with other illnesses and lack of physician experience in its recognition and management. Corticosteroids demonstrate a clear mortality benefit, but more studies are required to determine their optimal dosing and duration, as well as the use of steroid-sparing agents. Further reviews should help to better determine the risk factors for the condition, as well as non-invasive biomarkers, to aid in diagnosis and help to predict poor prognosis and disease recurrence.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Treatment of early rectal cancer is evolving towards organ-preserving therapy which includes endoscopic resection and transanal approaches. We aimed to explore the role of local treatments such as endoscopic polypectomy (Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) or Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)) and transanal endoscopic microsurgery/ transanal minimal invasive surgery (TEM/TAMIS) in patients who had early rectal cancer. We considered these outcomes alongside conventional major surgery using total mesorectal excision (TME) for early stage disease. METHODS: All patients identified at MDT with early stage rectal cancer at our institution between 2010 and 2019 were included. Long-term outcomes in terms of local recurrence, survival and procedure-specific morbidity were analysed. RESULTS: In total, 536 patients with rectal cancer were identified, of which 112 were included based on their pre-operative identification at the MDT on the basis that they had node-negative early rectal cancer. Among these, 30 patients (27%) had the lesion excised by flexible endoscopic polypectomy techniques (EMR/ESD), 67 (60%) underwent TEM/TAMIS and 15 (13%) had major surgery. There were no differences in patient demographics between the three groups except for TEM/TAMIS patients being more likely to be referred from another hospital (p < 0.001) and they were less active (WHO performance status p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in overall survival rates and cancer-specific survival between the three treatment groups. The 5-year overall survival rate for endoscopic polypectomy, TEM/TAMIS or major resection was 96% versus 90% and 88%, respectively (p = 0.89). The 5- year cancer-specific survival rate was 96%, versus 96% and 100%, respectively (p = 0.74). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic polypectomy by EMR/ESD is an appropriate local treatment for early stage rectal cancer in selected patients. It is possible to achieve good oncological outcomes with a polypectomy similar to TEM/TAMIS and major surgery; however, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary enabling close surveillance and the use of adjuvant radiotherapy.
