OBJECTIVE: We aimed to propose a set of quality indicators (QIs) based on the clinical guidelines for cervical cancer treatment published by The Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and to assess adherence to standard-of-care as an index of the quality of care for cervical cancer in Japan. METHODS: A panel of clinical experts devised the QIs using a modified Delphi method. Adherence to each QI was evaluated using data from a hospital-based cancer registry of patients diagnosed in 2013, and linked with insurance claims data, between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2014. All patients who received first-line treatment at the participating facility were included. The QI scores were communicated to participating hospitals, and additional data about the reasons for non-adherence were collected. RESULTS: In total, 297 hospitals participated, and the care provided to 15,163 cervical cancer patients was examined using 10 measurable QIs. The adherence rate ranged from 50.0% for ‘cystoscope or proctoscope for stage IVA’ to 98.8% for ‘chemotherapy using platinum for stage IVB’. Despite the variation in care, hospitals reported clinically valid reasons for more than half of the non-adherent cases. Clinically valid reasons accounted for 75%, 90.9%, 73.4%, 44.5%, and 88.1% of presented non-adherent cases respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed variations in pattern of care as well as an adherence to standards-of-care across Japan. Further assessment of the causes of variation and non-adherence can help identify areas where improvements are needed in patient care.
Guideline Adherence ; Humans ; Insurance ; Japan* ; Methods ; Patient Care ; Platinum ; Proctoscopes ; Qi ; Standard of Care ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: This study is to introduce our preliminary experience of the Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation and Rectoanal repair (DG-HAL & RAR) as a new treatment for symptomatic or prolapsed hemorrhoids. METHODS: A Doppler probe incorporated proctoscope was inserted under the lithotomy position and the location of the hemorrhoidal artery was identified. The identified artery was ligated as a 'figure of eight' method with an absorbable suture into the submucosa. Then the prolapsed hemorrhoidal pile was lifted at the rectal mucosa by continuous suture to 5 mm above the dentate line and tied. The procedure was repeated at the 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 o'clock positions. We evaluated post-operative hospital stay, degree of pain, time to return to work, and recurrence. RESULTS: The patient's mean age was 50.2+/-15 years old and the mean follow-up time was 415+/-75 days. The constitution of the type of internal hemorrhoids was as follows: Grade II: 13, Grade III: 16, and Grade IV: 5. The mean operation time was 35 minutes and post-operative hospital stay was 1.4 days. The mean time it took to return to work was 1.8 days. There were no severe pains requiring injection of analgesics or other severe complications. So far, 2 patients have had recurrence of symptoms. CONCLUSION: The DG-HAL & RAR is a safe and less painful procedure. The DG-HAL & RAR is an effective alternative for the treatment of symptomatic or prolapsed hemorrhoids.
Analgesics ; Arteries ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Ligation ; Mucous Membrane ; Proctoscopes ; Recurrence ; Return to Work ; Sutures

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) combined with conventional sequences of magnetic resonance imaging (T1 and T2-weighted imaging) for the diagnosis of rectal cancer.

METHODSDWI and conventional sequences were performed in 29 patients with endoscopically diagnosed rectal cancer and 15 patients without rectal cancer. Two doctors who were blind to the history of the patients interpreted the imaging findings. The sensitivity and specificity of conventional sequences with and without DWI were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

RESULTSThe areas under ROC were 0.915 and 0.930 for conventional sequences alone, and 0.990 and 0.994 for conventional sequences with DWI, respectively, indicating that although both of them were optimal methods for the diagnosis of rectal cancer, the accuracy of conventional sequences with DWI was significantly superior to that of conventional sequence alone (P < 0.05). The Kappa value was 0.850 for conventional sequences alone and 0.858 for DWI with conventional sequences.

CONCLUSIONDWI was necessary for the diagnosis of rectal cancer when performing conventional sequences.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Aged ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proctoscopes ; ROC Curve ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity