Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine how frequently cancer patients would be missed if primary care clinics do not participate in the Japanese National Cancer Survey, and to describe the characteristics of those cancer patients who would be missed.
Methods : This research is a case series study. We collected cancer patients who were identified in Ryuocho-Kokuminkenkouhoken Clinic and Yuge medical clinic for 26 years and were registered in the Shiga Cancer survey. We then extracted the records of those cancer patients who would be potentially missed from the national cancer registry and investigated the background.
Results : The total number of cancer patients registered was 441. Of these, 28 (6.3%) patients who did not admit to the hospitals may be missed from the national cancer registry ; ten patients had their cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage and died at home without hospital admission. Two further cases had treatment for cancer (endoscopic resection) completed in the primary care clinic without hospital admission. Twelve patients only attend the hospital outpatient clinic for investigation and died at home without admission. And four patients received only CT scan examination and didn't attend the hospital outpatient clinic and died at home without admission.
Conclusion : Primary care clinics that deal with the cancer patients treated completely in the clinics or home terminal care should participate in the Japanese National Cancer survey.

Three patients with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic diabetic coma (HHNKDC) following open-heart surgery are presented. Because the symptoms of HHNKDC are not specific, it is difficult to recognize this unique complication in the early postoperative stage. The mortality rate of this complication is high. Thus, HHNKDC should be recognized as early as possible after open-heart surgery, since it is curable if diagnosed at an early stage.

We report the efficacy of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for acute deep vein thrombosis. Between January 2003 and August 2004, 20 patients were treated with CDT for occlusive femoral, ilio-femoral and vena caval thrombosis, for less than 2 weeks from onset. Average age was 56.4 years (range 30-78 years), 11 patients were male, and the duration of leg symptoms was 4.4 days (range 1-12 days). Routine temporary inferior vena caval filters were used, and a multi-lumen catheter was inserted from the popliteal vein. Urokinase was used via the catheter by the combination drip infusion method and pulse-spray method. All patients received heparin and stasis of venous flow was prevented with intermittent pneumatic compression. If thrombus remained, mechanical thrombolysis was necessary. Metallic stents were implanted for iliac vein compression syndrome and organized thrombus. Venographic severity score (VS score) and extremity circumference were used to evaluate the effects of treatment. The duration of the treatment was 5.0±0.28 days (range 2-9 days) and the total dosage of urokinase was 1, 025, 000±57, 000 units (range 360, 000-1, 680, 000 unit). One (5%) iliac vein compression syndrome and two (10%) organized thrombi were treated by implanted metallic stents. Giant thrombi was captured by temporary inferior vena caval filters in two patients, but there was no pulmonary embolism. Two patients had thrombophilia, one was antiphospholipid syndrome and one was protein S deficiency. There was an early recurrence in one patient and re-CDT was needed. The VS score deteriorated to 6.2±2.5 (post CDT) significantly (p<0.0001) from 26.2±6.3 (pre CDT). CDT for acute deep vein thrombosis was effective and its early outcome was acceptable.