The impact of age and sex on the incidence of glial tumors in New York state from 1976 to 1995.

OBJECT: In this study the authors describe secular trends in the incidence of three glial tumors--glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), astrocytoma not otherwise specified (ANOS), and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA)--in New York state from 1976 through 1995. They also describe the effect of age and sex on the relative risk (RR) for these tumors, specifically GBM. METHODS: Crude, age-, and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated for each tumor type from 1976 to 1995 by using data from the New York State Cancer Registry. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated by the direct standardization procedure, in which the 1970 United States Census Population Standard Million is used. The RR of GBM for the female population was calculated and plotted. Statistical comparisons were made using Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis with the coefficient of variation. CONCLUSIONS: The age-adjusted incidence of these three glial tumors increased during the study period. Increases in age-specific incidence of GBM were primarily limited to patients 60 years of age or older. The reasons for these increases cannot be fully explained with the data. Those in the female population had a lower risk of developing these tumors than those in the male. For GBM, the protective effect of sex was first evident at the approximate age of menarche, was greatest at the approximate age of menopause, and decreased in postmenopausal age strata. The overall protective effect of female sex and the described trend in RR for GBM in the female population suggests that sex hormones and/or genetic differences between males and females may play a role in the pathogenesis of this tumor.

Evolution of sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has rapidly evolved into the standard of care for clinically node-negative melanoma. Since adopting sentinel lymph node (SLN) technology in 1993, we have periodically reviewed our institution's results and made several modifications. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 1998, 182 patients with clinically node-negative primary cutaneous melanoma underwent SLNB. Charts were retrospectively reviewed and assessed for the technique for the identification of the SLN, the pathologic analysis, and the use of intraoperative frozen section. RESULTS: The accuracy of SLN identification improved from 91% to 100% with the combination of isosulfan blue dye and radiolabeled colloid over isosulfan blue dye alone. Routine versus selective lymphoscintigraphy identified 7 in-transit SLNs and increased detection of dual nodal basin drainage (15%-27%). Identification of micrometastases in the SLN increased from 14% to 24% after a modification of pathologic evaluation. The positive SLN was the only involved node in most patients (80%). Intraoperative frozen section had a sensitivity of 58% and was of benefit in only 13 of 124 patients (10%). CONCLUSIONS: Several modifications to the identification of the SLNs and the detection of metastatic melanoma have improved our outcome with SLNB. A careful, periodic review of results to identify areas for improvement at each institution is crucial to the success of SLNB for melanoma.