Emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma: a comparison of older and younger patients.

The outcomes after emergency surgery for complicated colorectal cancer of 54 patients >70 years of age (group 1) and 53 patients < or =70 years of age (group 2) treated between 1991 and 2002 were compared. Forty-two patients had obstructions in group 1 and 41 patients had obstructions in group 2. Twelve patients had perforations in each group. Significantly higher ASA grading and APACHE II scores were seen in group 1. The overall and major morbidity and mortality rates in groups 1 and 2 were 81.5% and 58.5% (P = 0.009), 42.6% and 24.6% (P = 0.04), and 27.8% and 1.9% (P = 0.000), respectively. It was concluded that the outcome in older patients who underwent emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma was poor compared with that of younger patients. Careful preoperative assessment of the patient's general condition and intensive treatment after surgery in those with a poor physical status are recommended.

Factores predictivos de malignidad en microcalcificaciones de mama sin lesiones asociadas / Predictive factors for malignancy in breast microcalcifications without associated lesions

Introducción. El cribado mamográfico de cáncer de mama permite la detección y el tratamiento temprano de los carcinomas no palpables. Las microcalcificaciones son un hallazgo mamográfico muy importante para la detección de muchos de estos procesos, pero también están presentes en enfermedad benigna de la mama. En este estudio se analizan los factores clínicos y radiológicos que tienen valor predictivo de malignidad. Material y métodos. Se han recogido retrospectivamente 133 casos de biopsias abiertas realizadas a pacientes con hallazgo mamográfico de microcalcificaciones sin lesión asociada. Las características clínicas y radiológicas se correlacionaron con los hallazgos histológicos. Resultados. El 28,6% de las lesiones analizadas fueron malignas, y entre ellas el 65,8% fueron carcinomas ductales in situ. Un 23,1% de los carcinomas infiltrantes presentaron adenopatías positivas. Ningún factor clínico tuvo valor predictivo de malignidad. En el estudio univariante, los factores radiológicos que presentaron significación estadística fueron: el tipo morfológico, según la clasificación de Le Gal, la irregularidad en el tamaño, la irregularidad en la densidad, el número de microcalcificaciones por grupo, el diámetro de la lesión y la presencia de más de un foco de microcalcificaciones. En el estudio multivariante, los factores con valor predictivo independiente fueron: la irregularidad en la densidad, la concentración ≥ 10 microcalcificaciones por grupo, la presencia de más de un foco de microcalcificaciones y el diámetro de la lesión ≥ 10mm. Conclusiones. Aunque ningún factor clínico fue relevante en la predicción de malignidad, las características radiológicas de las microcalcificaciones fueron determinantes en la indicación de una biopsia (AU)

Introduction. Screening mammography allows the early detection and treatment of nonpalpable carcinomas. Microcalcifications are highly important for the detection of many of these malignancies but are also present in benign breast disease. In the present study we analyzed the radiologic and clinical factors associated with malignancy. Material and methods. We retrospectively reviewed 133 patients who underwent open biopsy after a mammographic finding of microcalcifications without an associated lesion. Clinical and radiologic characteristics were correlated with histologic findings. Results. A total of 28.6% of the lesions analyzed were malignant. Of these, 65.8% were ductal carcinoma in situ. Among invasive carcinomas, 23.1% presented lymph node metastasis. No clinical criterion was significant for malignancy. On univariate analysis six radiologic criteria were significant: morphologic type (Le Gal's classification), irregularity of size, irregularity of density, number of microcalcifications per cluster, diameter of the lesion, and the presence of more than one cluster. On multivariate analysis the factors with independent predictive value were: irregularity of density, ≥ 10 microcalcifications per cluster, the presence of more than one cluster, and diameter of the cluster ≥ 10 mm. Conclusions: Although none of the clinical factors analyzed was predictive for malignancy, the radiological characteristics of microcalcifications were determining factors in the indication for biopsy (AU)

Obstructing colorectal carcinoma: outcome and risk factors for morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is widely thought to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the operative results of patients who had emergency operations for obstructing colorectal cancer. Clinical factors that might influence the outcome were also evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study including 83 patients who underwent emergency operations for completely obstructing colorectal cancers from 1991 to 2002. Demographic, clinical, and pathological variables were examined. Their influence on major morbidity and mortality was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The overall and major morbidity rate was 67.5 and 32.5%, respectively. Mortality was 10.8%. Univariate analysis showed that high ASA class and perioperative blood transfusion were significantly associated with major complication, whereas older age and high APACHE II were linked to mortality. Independent risk factors for major morbidity were perioperative blood transfusion and high ASA class. The only independent predictor of postoperative death was high APACHE II score. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal carcinoma carries a negative impact on outcome. Patients with risk factors should undergo safe and least risky procedures. Moreover, their presence might help in selecting patients for intensive treatment after surgery.

Presentation, treatment, and multivariate analysis of risk factors for obstructive and perforative colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: It is known that emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients with complicated colorectal cancer. Risk factors for morbidity and mortality were also evaluated. METHODS: From 1991 to 2002, the medical records of 107 consecutive patients undergoing emergency surgery for obstructing or perforating colorectal carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Information regarding patient and tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcome was recorded. Risk factors were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (78%) had complete obstruction and 24 (22%) had perforation. Overall and major complications occurred in 70% and 34%, respectively. The mortality rate was 15%. Independent risk factors for major morbidity were perioperative blood transfusion and high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, whereas those for mortality were older age and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. To achieve improvements in outcome, intensive treatment after surgery in patients with risk factors is recommended.

[Predictive factors for malignancy in breast microcalcifications without associated lesions]. / Factores predictivos de malignidad en microcalcificaciones de mama sin lesiones asociadas.

INTRODUCTION: Screening mammography allows the early detection and treatment of nonpalpable carcinomas. Microcalcifications are highly important for the detection of many of these malignancies but are also present in benign breast disease. In the present study we analyzed the radiologic and clinical factors associated with malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 133 patients who underwent open biopsy after a mammographic finding of microcalcifications without an associated lesion. Clinical and radiologic characteristics were correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS: A total of 28.6% of the lesions analyzed were malignant. Of these, 65.8% were ductal carcinoma in situ. Among invasive carcinomas, 23.1% presented lymph node metastasis. No clinical criterion was significant for malignancy. On univariate analysis six radiologic criteria were significant: morphologic type (Le Gal's classification), irregularity of size, irregularity of density, number of microcalcifications per cluster, diameter of the lesion, and the presence of more than one cluster. On multivariate analysis the factors with independent predictive value were: irregularity of density, > or = 10 microcalcifications per cluster, the presence of more than one cluster, and diameter of the cluster > or = 10 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Although none of the clinical factors analyzed was predictive for malignancy, the radiological characteristics of microcalcifications were determining factors in the indication for biopsy.