Treatments for pure ground-glass nodules (GGNs) include limited resection; however, surgery is not always possible in patients with limited pulmonary functional reserve. In such patients, cryoablation may be a suitable alternative to treat a pure GGN. Here, we report our initial experience with cryoablation of a pure GGN that remained after repeated surgical resection in a patient with multiple GGNs. A 5-mm-sized pure GGN in the left lower lobe was cryoablated successfully without recurrence at the 6-month follow-up.
Cryosurgery/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/radiography/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules/radiography/*surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The relationship between surgical margin and local recurrence (LR) in osteosarcoma patients with poor responses to chemotherapy is unclear. Moreover, the incidences of LR according to three different resection planes (bone, soft tissue, and perineurovascular) are not commonly known. METHODS: We evaluated the incidence of LR in three areas. To assess whether there is a role of surgical margin on LR in patients resistant to preoperative chemotherapy, we designed a case (35 patients with LR) and control (70 patients without LR) study. Controls were matched for age, location, initial tumor volume, and tumor volume change during preoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: LR occurred at the soft tissues in 18 cases (51.4%), at the perineurovascular tissues in 11 cases (31.4%), and at the bones in six cases (17.2%). The proportion of inadequate perineurovascular margin was higher in the case group than in the control group (p = 0.01). Within case-control group (105 patients), a correlation between each margin status and LR at corresponding area was found in the bone (p < 0.001) and perineurovascular area (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LR is most common in soft tissues. In patients showing similar unfavorable responses to chemotherapy, the losses of perineurovascular fat plane on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging may be a valuable finding in predicting LR.
Adolescent ; Bone Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*pathology ; Neoplasm, Residual/pathology ; Osteosarcoma/*pathology/radiography/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate salvage surgical approaches and efficacy for post-radiation local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSThirteen patients with post-radiation local recurrent NPC underwent salvage surgical treatment by routes as transpalatal approach, nasal medial swing approach, maxillary swing approach and infratemporal fossa approach. All cases were followed up for 2 to 5 years. Analysis was done on the indications and efficacy of these 4 different approaching routes.

RESULTSNo immediate operative complications occurred for all these 13 cases. Four patients with T1 and T2a operated via transpalatal approach and nasal medial swing approach survived more than 3 years. Five patients with T2b and T3 operated via maxillary swing approach. Among them, two patients died at second and 24th month after operation, one survived with tumor and died at 13rd month after operation, two were alive free of tumor for 2 and 4 years after operation. Four patients with T4 operated via infratemporal fossa approach. Among them, three died in 1 year, one was alive free of tumor for 2 years.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical approaches were decided by a comprehensive consideration of recurrent tumor site and invasive range to achieve the best operative site exposure with minimal traumatic damage.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Radiography ; Salvage Therapy

Malignant obstruction develops frequently in advanced gastric cancer. Although it is primarily the gastric outlet that is obstructed, there are occasional reports of colonic obstruction. Treating intestinal obstruction usually requires emergency surgery or stent insertion. There are several kinds of complications with stent insertion, such as bowel perforation, stent migration, bleeding, abdominal pain and reobstruction. Nevertheless, endoscopic stent insertion could be a better treatment than emergency surgery in cases of malignant bowel obstruction in cancer patients with poor performance status. We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with carcinomatosis in which a recurrent colonic stent was inserted at the same site because of cancer growth into the stent. The patient maintained a good condition for chemotherapy, thus improving their chances for survival.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prosthesis Implantation/*methods ; *Stents ; Stomach Neoplasms

A complete surgical resection is the only proven therapeutic modality that prolongs the survival in patients with leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Reconstruction of the IVC is not always necessary but is often required to facilitate venous drainage of the kidney for the tumors at the pararenal area of the IVC. Controversy exists in postoperative adjuvant therapy. Recently, we experienced four cases of pararenal leiomyosarcoma of the IVC, of which treatment consisted of a complete resection of the tumor, ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft interposition, and bilateral renal vein reconstructions in all patients. Postoperative radiation therapy was instituted in 3 of 4 patients. One patient who did not receive the postoperative radiation therapy was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. The kidneys were preserved in all patients and no deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or venous insufficiency of the lower extremity veins developed. Distant metastasis to the lung was noted in one patient at 18 months after surgery, who was not received the postoperative radiation therapy but chemotherapy. In conclusion, a complete resection of the tumor, IVC reconstruction, and bilateral renal vein reconstruction followed by adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended for the treatment of pararenal leiomyosarcoma of the IVC.
Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Human ; Leiomyosarcoma/radiography/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/radiography/radiotherapy/surgery ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms/radiography/radiotherapy/surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Neoplasms/radiography/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; *Vena Cava, Inferior

The spontaneous regression of metastatic lesions from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is extremely rare, but may be encountered following cytoreductive treatments. We report a case of a recurrent RCC with multiple metastatic lesions which spontaneously regressed after undergoing radiofrequency ablation of the renal tumor.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/radiography/*secondary ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/radiography/*secondary/*surgery ; *Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Lung Neoplasms/radiography/*secondary ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The follow-up strategy after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually depends on the experience of physician, resulting in frequent imaging studies, which leads to increased cost. Hence, we investigated the role of monitoring alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels after hepatectomy in patients with preoperative high AFP. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2004, 66 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy due to HCC with preoperative AFP level >400 ng/mL were reviewed. Changes in AFP level after the operation were investigated. The recurrence was suspected in case of two consecutive increase of AFP over cut-off value. Cut-off value was determined by ROC curve. All patients were divided into 2 groups: patients who met the definition (Group S) and those who didn't (Group D). RESULTS: AFP level of 20 ng/ml was proposed as the cut-off value for diagnosis of recurrence by ROC curve. Thirty two patients who didn't have the AFP level decreased below 20 ng/ml after the resection had HCC recurred, whereas 16 out of 34 patients who had AFP decreased had tumor recurrence. The AFP level of patients without recurrence was kept below 20 ng/ml during the follow-up. The AFP level of 44 out of 48 recurred patients increased over 20 ng/ml upon recurrence. By definition, group D were 5 patients. In 4 patients of group D, the AFP level didn't increase above 20 ng/ml upon recurrence. These patients had HCC and they recurred 1 year after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with preoperative AFP level >400 ng/ml, the AFP level tended to increase above 20 ng/ml at recurrence mostly within 1 year. Hence, we proposed that these patients could be monitored by only AFP until 1 year after surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality/radiography/*surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/mortality/radiography/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality/radiography/*surgery ; ROC Curve ; alpha-Fetoproteins/*analysis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of preoperative CT in predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatic resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative three-phase helical CT scans in 53 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists. In 27 patients (group I), HCC had recurred within six months, while 26 (group II) had remained disease free for at least two years. In each group, preoperative CT findings were evaluated in each group for the tumor size and number, the presence or absence of capsule, distinctness of tumor margin, perinodular extension, and the presence or absence of portal vein thrombosis. RESULTS: In group I, a tumor capsule of tumor was seen in five of 27 patients (19%), and in group II, in 16 of 26 (62%) (p = .001). The tumor margin was distinct in eight patients (30%) in group I and in 20 (77%) in group II (p = .001). Multiple tumors, perinodular extension, and portal vein thrombosis were more frequently seen in group I but the differences were not statistically significant (p > .05). Tumor size was similar in each group (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative CT findings that may help predict the early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection are an absence of capsule of tumors and an indistinct margin. Reference to these findings during preop-erative CT can guide clinicians in their choice of treatment.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*radiography/surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; *Hepatectomy ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/*radiography/surgery ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*radiography/surgery ; Preoperative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Radiosurgery has been rarely applied for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) and cumulative reports are lacking. The authors report a case of successful treatment of recurred JNA with gamma knife surgery (GKS). A 48-yr-old man was presented with right visual acuity deterioration and brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) disclosed a 3 cm-sized intraorbital mass in the right orbit. He underwent a right fronto-temporal craniotomy and the mass was subtotally removed to preserve visual function. Histological diagnosis confirmed JNA in typical nature. However, the vision gradually worsened to fail four years after operation. MRI then showed regrowth of the tumor occupying most of the right orbit. GKS was done for the re-curred lesion. A dose of 17 Gy was delivered to the 50% isodose line of tumor mar-gin. During the following four-year follow-up period, the mass disappeared almost completely without any complications. Usually JNA can be exclusively diagnosed by radiological study alone. So this report of successful treatment of JNA with GKS may provide an important clue for the novel indication of GKS.
Visual Acuity ; Treatment Outcome ; Radiosurgery/*methods ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnosis/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Brain/radiography ; Angiofibroma/diagnosis/*surgery ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVETo investigate the way of diagnosis and therapy of parosteal osteosarcoma.

METHODSA retrospective review was conducted of 48 patients treated at our department between June 1964 and December 2001. The average age of patients in this study was 29.2 years (13 - 47 years). Thirty-two of the patients were female; sixteen were male. The single most common site is the posterior aspect of the distal femur (in 36 patients), followed by the femur shaft (in 6 patients), the proximal tibia (in 2 patients), etc. Nine patients had been operated on before referral to our department.

RESULTSThe average follow-up period from the first operation was 5.2 (0.25 - 24) years. In 36 of the 39 patients in whom a limb-salvage procedure was performed, a segment of the tumor-bearing bone was excised along with the tumor, whereas in 3 patients only the subadjacent cortex was excised with the tumor. In the limb-sparing group, the reconstruction was achieved by means of attenuated tumor bone or allograft in 23 cases, by endoprosthetic replacement in 9 cases, and by allograft replacement in 4 cases. The local resections were wide in 35 cases, and marginal in 13 cases. After marginal surgery, local recurrence occurred in 5/13 patients, whereas it occurred in 3/35 patients treated with wide resection. Pulmonary metastases developed in 6 patients, four patients died, and 2 patients are alive with disease. There were 4 cases of fractures of bone grafts. Four patients developed an infection. Long-term survival rate is 85.8%. For tumors that invaded the medullary canal there was no statistical association with local recurrence or metastasis. There is statistical significance between surgical margin and local recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSWide surgical excision alone is adequate treatment for patients with conventional parosteal osteosarcoma. A tumor-free margin remains the critical factor determining overall prognosis. When a marginal excision was knowingly done to preserve a major neurovascular bundle, the risk of recurrence was less than when it was done to shell-out a presumptively benign lesion. Repeated recurrence probably increases the risk of dedifferentiation and thereby worsens the prognosis. Recurrent lesions with multiple soft-tissue satellite nodules or involvement of the neurovascular structures may however require amputation to provide sufficient local control when a wide margin cannot be achieved. An individualized resection will be performed in the future probably under the help of the advanced technique of image to distinguish the reactive zone from the normal tissue precisely.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Osteosarcoma, Juxtacortical ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Radiography