Impact of head and neck cancer on partner's sociability.

INTRODUCTION: "Sociability" is defined as the range of experiences linking the subject to others. This is the first study to focus specifically on the impact of head and neck cancer on the sociability of patients' partners. METHOD: Data were collected via a dedicated questionnaire sent to patients' partners. The main endpoint was partner's self-assessment of the impact of the patient's disease on the partner's everyday life. The impact on sociability was analyzed with respect to: the circle of friends (friendship environment), unknown environment, known outside environment, necessary environment, and solitary activities. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy partners responded. Their everyday activities were impacted by the patient's disease in 71.5% of cases. The friendship environment was badly affected in 46.4% of cases. The unknown environment was affected in 44.0% of cases. Social practices related to the known outside environment were affected in 67.8% of cases, and the necessary environment in 26.0%; the number of solitary activities increased in 35.6% of cases. Social impact on patients' partners was thus considerable.

Influence of socioeconomic environment on survival in patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer: a population-based study.

The influence of social environment on survival in patients with cancer has been demonstrated in many studies, subjects living in the most deprived areas having a poorer prognosis. Geographic remoteness and limited access to specialized care centers are often associated with socioeconomic deprivation. The aim was to assess the influence of social environment and geographic remoteness on the relative survival of patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer between 1997 and 2004 in the department of Calvados in France. The study population, which was provided by the Calvados digestive cancer registry, included 629 patients. Relative survival was used to estimate the influence of social environment and geographic remoteness on patient survival. Five-year survival rates were 14.1%, 15.1%, 11.8%, 8.8%, and 11.4%, respectively, for patients living in the least to the most deprived areas (P= 0.39). The influence of social environment was significant after adjustment for clinical variables, patients living in the most deprived areas having the worst survival. These discrepancies cannot totally be explained by differences in access to care, cancer extension, or morphology at diagnosis. No association was observed between distance to the nearest cancer center and survival. Social environment appears to induce disparities among patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer, with a worse prognosis for patients living in the most deprived areas.

Intracranial aneurysms: clinical value of 3D digital subtraction angiography in the therapeutic decision and endovascular treatment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as a supplement to two-dimensional (2D) DSA in the endovascular treatment (EVT) of intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 22 ruptured aneurysms, neck visualization, aneurysm shape, and EVT feasibility were analyzed at 2D DSA (anteroposterior, lateral, and rotational views) and at maximum intensity projection (MIP) and surface shaded display (SSD) 3D DSA. The possibility of obtaining a working view for EVT at 3D DSA and the relevance of measurements in choosing the first coil also were assessed. RESULTS: Two-dimensional DSA images clearly depicted the aneurysm neck in four of 22 aneurysms; MIP images, in 10; and SSD images, in 21, but SSD led to overestimation of the neck size in one aneurysm. Aneurysm shape was precisely demonstrated in five of 22 aneurysms at 2D DSA, in eight at MIP, and in all cases at SSD. In two of 22 aneurysms, EVT seemed to be nonfeasible at 2D DSA; however, SSD demonstrated feasibility and EVT was successfully performed. In one aneurysm, only SSD demonstrated the extension of the neck to a parent vessel, which was proved at surgery. Working views for EVT were deduced from 3D DSA findings in 20 of 21 aneurysms. The choice of the first coil was correct in 19 of 21 aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional DSA is valuable for evaluating the potential for EVT, finding a working view, and performing accurate measurements.

3D angiography. Clinical interest. First applications in interventional neuroradiology.

3D angiography is a true technical revolution that allows improvement in the quality and safety of diagnostic and endovascular treatment procedures. 3D angiography images are obtained by reconstruction of a rotational angiography acquisition done on a C-arm (GE Medical Systems) spinning at 40 degrees per second. The carotid or vertebral selective injection of a total of 15 ml of non-ionic contrast media at 3 ml/sec over 5 seconds allows the selection of the "arterial phase". Four hundred sixty 3D angiographic studies were performed from December 1996 to September 1998 on 260 patients and have been analyzed in MIP (Maximum Intensity Projection) and SSD (Shaded Surface Display) views. The exploration of intracranial aneurysms is simplified and only requires, for each vascular axis, a biplane PA and Lateral run followed by a single rotational angiography run. The 3D angiography image is available on the workstation's screen (Advantage Workstation 3.1, GE Medical Systems) in less than 10 minutes after the acquisition of the rotational run. It therefore allows one to analyze, during the intervention, the aneurysm's angioarchitecture, in particular the neck, and select the best therapeutic technique. When endovascular treatment is the best indication, 3D angiography allows one to define the optimal angle of view and accurately select the microcoils dimensions. 3D angiography replaces the multiple oblique views that used to be required to analyze the complex aneurysms and therefore allows a reduction of the total contrast medium quantity, the patient X-ray dose and the length of the intervention time which is a safety factor. Also, in particular for complex cases, it brings additional elements complementing the results of standard 2D DSA and rotational angiograms. In the cervical vascular pathology, 3D angiography allows for a better assessment of the stenosis level and of dissection lesions. Our current research activities focus on the matching without stereotactic frame between 3D X-ray angiography and volumetric MR acquisition, which should allow us to improve the treatment of intracerebral arterio-venous malformations (AVMs).

X-ray angiography in stereotactic conditions: techniques and interest for interventional neuroradiology.

This paper reports work in progress on X-ray angiography acquired under stereotactic conditions. The objective is to be able to match multimodality images (typically MRI and X-ray) without a stereotactic frame but with stereotactic precision. We have identified potential problems and have studied them in detail. We conclude that, although the overall application is feasible, much work remains to be done on the estimation of the X-ray system conic projection and on automatic matching based on vascular structures.

[Ambulatory management of idiopathic scoliosis using the Lyon orthopedic treatment. 70 cases reviewed]. / Prise en charge ambulatoire des scolioses idiopathiques par le traitement orthopédique lyonnais. 70 dossiers revus.

This work tries to clarify the place which is due to the modified Lyons orthopaedic treatment of scolioses. Actually, nowadays, because of progress in surgery, some people abandon all orthopaedic treatment which caught severe progressive scolioses at the end of the growth period. The study covers 70 patients from a minimum distance of 3 years after the end of orthopaedic treatment. The treatment, in comparison with the classical Lyons treatment has two principle modifications: sequence protocol plaster then corset, purely external, not necessitizing hospitalisation or a stay in a specialised centre; and the use of resine which lightens the plaster. The results are given in angular loss as regards to the end of treatment, according to 3 factors; chronological form of the scoliosis, localization of the scoliosis, degree of the initial curvature. It emerges that in spite of the absence of hospitalisation at the beginning of the treatment, the results are comparable to those in literature (8, 19). We obtained 39 stabilizations of progression, 8 moderate aggravations without ulterior surgery, that is 67% good results. Our study confirms the high failure rate of orthopedic treatment of initial scolioses of 50 degrees and more (50%); compared to initial scolioses of 49 degrees to 20 degrees (29%); of dorsal scolioses (42%) compared to lumbar scolioses (18%); of child scolioses (40%) compared to adolescent scolioses (17%). It leads us to keep the Lyons treatment for progressive scolioses of 25 degrees to 40 degrees, from the start of puberty, or as preparation for surgical treatment.

[Legg-Perthes-Calve disease. Clinical and radiological study of 37 children (43 hips) reviewed following cicatrization of the lesions]. / Maladie de Legg-Perthes-Calve. Etude clinique et radiologique de 37 enfants soit 43 hanches revus à cicatrisation des lésions.

Results of treatment of 43 hips with primary osteochondritis lesions (Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease) are reviewed at the healing stage (mean follow up 3 1/2 years). Orthopedic treatment was applied to 27 hips and 19 good or very good results were obtained, 5 results being rated as fair and 3 as poor. Operation on 16 hips produced 8 good and very good results, 2 fair and 6 poor. The influence of various factors are studied in relation to results obtained, and the importance emphasized of the onset of epiphyseal exentration and the early performance of surgery.

[Erosion of polyethylene cupulae. Radiological study of 123 Charnley total prostheses]. / Usure des cupules en polyéthylène. Etude radiologique sur 123 prothèses totales de Charnley.

The authors have measured the distance between the centre of the femoral component and that of the acetabular component using a ten times magnification radiograph. This technique allows greater precision in the radiological assessment. 123 total hip prostheses were measured after an average follow-up of 131 months. The mean annual wear was 1.1 mm. There was a regular progression throughout the period. These results were comparable with those obtained by other authors. The wear appears to be only half as significant as in prostheses with a 32 mm femoral component (Muller type). The wear was maximal in young male patients. Patients who were overweight did not have any increased incidence of wear.