Karnofsky Performance Score Score Research Articles

Microsurgical Management of Pineal Region Tumors

BackgroundPineal tumours are rare and the pineal region is a challenging surgical location for neurosurgeons. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of microsurgical management in patients with pineal region tumours and explore probable factors associated with preoperative hydrocephalus, postoperative hydrocephalus remission, and prolonged length of hospital stay (LoS). MethodsA retrospective study of patients with pineal region tumours, who underwent microsurgical management at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University(Jiangsu, China) between 1 January 2010 and 31 October, 2022, was conducted. ResultsData from 36 patients were included in this study. The top five common symptoms included headache (58%), dizziness (44%), double vision (22%), vomiting (19%), and nausea (14%). Patients with a lower Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), younger age, and larger maximum tumour diameters were more vulnerable to preoperative hydrocephalus. Preoperative hydrocephalus also led to a prolonged postoperative LoS (P=0.021). Patients with a lower KPS score (P=0.020) or larger maximum tumour diameters (P=0.045) were more likely to achieve postoperative remission of hydrocephalus. Most postoperative complications led to increased hospital LoS. ConclusionMicrosurgical resection of pineal tumours yielded favourable long-term outcomes. Patients with a lower KPS score, younger age, and larger maximum tumour diameters were more vulnerable to preoperative hydrocephalus and prolonged LoS. Patients with a lower KPS score or larger tumour diameter were likely to achieve significant remission of hydrocephalus after tumour resection.

Safety of the strategy of minimizing intestinal resection during surgery for pelvic radiation- induced terminal small intestinal stenosis

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of strategies for minimizing small bowel resection during surgery for pelvic radiation-induced terminal small intestinal stenosis in preventing postoperative complications such as anastomotic leakage and short bowel syndrome. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. There are two subtypes of chronic radiation enteritis (CRE) with combined intestinal stenosis and intestinal obstruction: (1) Type I: terminal ileal lesions with a normal ileal segment of 2-20 cm between the ileal lesion and ileocecal junction; and (2) Type II: the lesion is located in the small bowel at a distance from the ileocecal region, usually accompanied by extensive damage to the bowel segments outside the lesion. The indications for minimal bowel resection are as follows: (1) diagnosis of Type I small bowel CRE; (2) absence of radiological evidence of rectosigmoid damage; and (3) absence of colonic obstruction. The contraindications are: (1) stenotic, penetrating lesions of the distal cecum; (2) emergency surgery; (3) recurrence of malignant tumor or history of radiotherapy for recurrent malignant tumor; (4) interval between radiotherapy and surgery <6 months; and (5) history of preoperative small bowel resection or abdominal chemotherapy. Case data of 40 patients with Type I CRE who met the above criteria and had undergone minimal bowel resection between April 2017 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed (minimal bowel resection group; including 13 patients from Jinling Hospital, 16 from the Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and 11 from the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University). Forty patients with Type I CRE who had undergone resection of intestinal stenosis lesions and the ileocecal region between October 2015 and March 2017 were included as historical controls (conventional resection group; all from Jinling Hospital). The specific strategy for minimal bowel resection was one-stage partial ileal resection+ileo anastomosis+protective small bowel stoma. In contrast, conventional resection comprised ileocecal resection+ileocecal-ascending colon anastomosis. Postoperative complications, intraoperative and postoperative recovery, and changes in postoperative quality of life were analyzed in both groups. The severity of postoperative complications was assessed by Clavien-Dindo and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). Karnofsky performance scores (KPS) were used to evaluate the quality of life of patients in the two groups preoperatively and postoperatively. The higher the KPS score, the better the quality of life. Results: Baseline patient characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the conventional resection group, the length of small bowel resected in the minimal bowel resection group (51 [20-200] cm vs. 91 [60-200] cm, Z=5.653, P<0.001), duration of postoperative total enteral nutrition [9 (3-18) days vs. 12 (4-50) days, Z=2.172, P=0.030], and duration of postoperative hospital stay [17 (9-24) days vs 29 (13-57) days, Z=6.424, P<0.001] were shorter; all of these differences are statistically significant. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the minimal bowel resection group than in the conventional resection group [20.0% (8/40) vs. 70.0% (28/40), χ2=19.967, P<0.001], These comprised short bowel syndrome [5.0% (2/40) vs. 25.0% (10/40), χ2=6.274, P=0.012], anastomotic leakage or fistula [2.5% (1/40) vs. 22.5% (9/40), χ2=7.314, P=0.014], and pleural effusion [7.5% (3/40) vs. 25.0% (10/40), χ2=4.500, P=0.034], all of which occurred less often in the minimal bowel resection than conventional resection group. The CCI index was also lower in the minimal bowel resection group than in the conventional resection group [CCI>40: 2.5% (1/40) vs. 12.5% (5/40), Z=18.451, P<0.001]. KPS scores were higher in the minimal bowel resection group 1 and 3 months postoperatively than they had been 1 day preoperatively (79.9±4.7 vs. 75.3±4.1, 86.2±4.8 vs. 75.3±4.1, both P<0.05). In the minimal bowel resection group, seven patients were satisfied with their current quality of life and refused to undergo stoma reduction at follow-up and one deferred stoma reduction because of rectal bleeding. The remaining 32 patients underwent stoma reduction 3 to 12 months after surgery, 26 of whom underwent ileo-cecal anastomosis. The remaining six underwent resection of the stoma and anastomosis of the ileum to the ascending colon. Conclusions: The strategy of minimal small bowel resection in patients with radiation-induced bowel injuries reduces the length of resected small bowel, decreases the risk and severity of postoperative complications, and is associated with a better prognosis and quality of life than conventional resection.

Risk factors analysis of clinical features with surgical resection rate and prognosis of petroclival meningioma with main body in posterior fossa

ObjectiveOur retrospective study aimed to investigate the relation of clinical features with surgical resection degree and prognosis of petroclival meningioma (PCM) whose main body in the posterior fossa and summarized the experience of surgery. We worked on improving the cure rate of PCM patients from both clinical data analysis and surgical experience. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 62 patients of the main body of PCM locating in the posterior fossa. Clinical data included basic information of patients, video of surgery, and post-operation follow-up. Clinical results were evaluated by Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS). The degree of surgical resection was evaluated by Simpson grade. Tumor resection degree and postoperative complications were performed by univariate and multivariate analyses. ResultsThe analyses showed gross total resection achieved in 50 cases (81.97%), and subtotal resection in 11 cases (18.03%). There were 38 cases (62%) without complications after operation. The preoperative KPS score of 19 cases were ≥ 80, and the postoperative KPS score of 51 cases were ≥80. The results showed that resection degree and quality of life were connected to Edema and adhesion of the brainstem, and postoperative complications were associated with age, tumor size and wrap of vessel. ConclusionsEdema and adhesion of the brainstem caused by tumor compression is an independent risk factor of surgical resection degree and quality of life in patients with PCM; Age, tumor size and wrap of vessel are independent risk factors of postoperative complications in patients with PCM.

The clinical and neurocognitive functional changes with awake brain mapping for gliomas invading eloquent areas: Institutional experience and the utility of The Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Awake craniotomy with intraoperative brain functional mapping effectively reduces the potential risk of neurological deficits in patients with glioma invading the eloquent areas. However, glioma patients frequently present with impaired neurocognitive function. The present study aimed to investigate the neurocognitive and functional outcomes of glioma patients after awake brain mapping and assess the experience of a tertiary neurosurgical center in China over eight years. This retrospective study included 80 patients who underwent awake brain mapping for gliomas invading the eloquent cortex between January 2013 and December 2021. Clinical and surgical factors, such as the extent of resection (EOR), perioperative Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), were evaluated. We also used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to assess the neurocognitive status changes. The most frequently observed location of glioma was the frontal lobe (33/80, 41.25%), whereas the tumor primarily invaded the language-related cortex (36/80, 45%). Most patients had supratotal resection (11/80, 13.75%) and total resection (45/80, 56.25%). The median PFS was 43.2 months, and the median OS was 48.9 months in our cohort. The transient (less than seven days) neurological deficit rate was 17.5%, whereas the rate of persistent deficit (lasting for three months) was 15%. At three months of follow-up, most patients (72/80, 90%) had KPS scores > 80. Meanwhile, compared to the preoperative baseline tests, the changes in MoCA scores presented significant improvements at discharge and three months follow-up tests. Awake brain mapping is a feasible and safe method for treating glioma invading the eloquent cortex, with the benefit of minimizing neurological deficits, increasing EOR, and extending survival time. The results of MoCA test indicated that brain mapping plays a critical role in preserving neurocognitive function during tumor resection.

Supratotal Resection of Glioblastoma: Better Survival Outcome than Gross Total Resection

Supratotal resection (SupTR) of glioblastoma allows for a superior long-term disease control and increases overall survival. On the other hand, aggressive conventional approaches, including gross total resections (GTR), are limited by the impairment risk of adjacent eloquent areas, which may cause severe postoperative functional morbidity. This study aimed to analyze institutional cases with respect to the potential survival benefits of additional resection, including lobectomy, as a paradigm for SupTR in patients of glioblastoma. Between 2014 and 2018, 15 patients with glioblastoma underwent SupTR (GTR and additional lobectomy) at the authors' institution. The postoperative Karnofsky performance score (KPS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed for the patients. Patients with SupTR showed significantly prolonged PFS and OS. The median PFS and OS values for the entire study group were 33.5 months (95% confidence intervals (CI): 18.5-57.3 months) and 49.1 months (95% CI: 24.7-86.6 months), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the O6-DNA-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status was the only predictor for both superior PFS (p = 0.03, OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.0-49.8) and OS (p = 0.04, OR 6.5, 95% CI 1.1-40.2). There was no significant difference between the pre- and postoperative KPS scores. Our results suggest that SupTR with lobectomy allows for a superior PFS and OS without negatively affecting patient performance. However, due to the small number of patients, further studies that include more patients are needed.

The risk factors of biliary fistula after radical resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma in elderly patients and its influence on prognosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Nowadays, the incidence of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) is increasing yearly, and biliary fistula is a common complication. However, there are few reports on the factors affecting the occurrence of biliary fistula. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of biliary fistula after radical surgery for PHCC in elderly patients to provide a reference basis for improving the prognosis. From April 2016 to April 2021, we randomly included 250 elderly patients with pathologically diagnosed PHCC. Based on our established inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included 211 patients finally Bile drainage for 3 consecutive days after abdominal drainage or single bile drainage ≥100 mL/d was used as the diagnostic criteria for biliary fistula. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for biliary fistula after radical surgery for PHCC. Besides, the Prognostic Score (PS), the Karnofsky performance score (KPS), and the quality of life (QOL) score were used to assess the patients' postoperative recovery, and survival curves were drawn to reflect their 1-year survival rate, using overall survival. The statistical results showed a 36.5% incidence of biliary fistula. Our study showed that preoperative cholangitis, number of biliary anastomoses, etc. were independent risk factors for grade B and grade C biliary fistula. Besides, the presence of intraoperative hemorrhage (OR =0.223, P=0.006) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) on the first postoperative day (OR =1.011, P=0.013) were still independent risk factors for grade B biliary fistula, while C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR =1.026, P=0.011) and total bilirubin (TBil) (OR =0.003, P=1.066) on the first postoperative day and bile duct diameter (OR =0.299, P=0.020) were independent risk factors for grade C biliary fistula. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the three groups in terms of PS (P=0.000), KPS (P=0.001), and QOL scores (P=0.000). The incidence of postoperative biliary fistula remains high in elderly patients treated with radical surgery for PHCC and seriously affects their prognosis. Therefore, focusing on the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients, improving surgical precision and enhancing postoperative patient care to reduce the likelihood of postoperative biliary fistula, thereby prolonging patient life.

Clinical effect of minimally invasive technique of internal fixation device removal in patients with healed long tubular bone fractures.

To investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive technique applied to internal fixation removal in patients with healed long tubular bone fractures. The records of patients with internal fixation of long tubular bone fracture who underwent the removal of the internal fixation device after fracture healing in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from May 2020 to December 2021 were reviewed. According to the different operation methods of taking out the internal fixation device, patients were divided into minimally invasive group (n=40) and traditional group (n=45). The perioperative indexes, levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and complications were compared between the two groups. The drainage volume, bleeding volume, incision length and hospital stay in the minimally invasive group were significantly lower than those in the traditional group (P<0.05). The KPS score of minimally invasive group was significantly higher than that of traditional group at one week and one month after the operation, and the VAS score of minimally invasive group was significantly lower than that of traditional group at one day and one week after the operation (P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α and CRP in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). There was one case of infection in the minimally invasive group, one case of secondary fracture and two cases of infection in the traditional group(P>0.05). Minimally invasive surgery for the removal of the internal fixation device in patients with healed long tubular bone fractures with internal fixation is associated with significantly improved clinical effect, relieved symptoms, reduced inflammatory response, and improved functional recovery of patients.

What surgical approach for left-sided eloquent glioblastoma: biopsy, resection under general anesthesia or awake craniotomy?

Neurosurgeons use three main surgical approaches for left-sided glioblastoma (GB) in eloquent areas: biopsy, tumor resection under general anesthesia (GA), and awake craniotomy (AC) with brain mapping for maximal safe resection. We performed a retrospective study of functional and survival outcomes for left-sided eloquent GB, comparing these surgical approaches. We included 87 patients with primary left-sided eloquent GB from two centers, one performing AC and the other biopsy or resection under GA. We assessed Karnofsky performance score (KPS), language and motor deficits one month after surgery, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The 87 patients had a median PFS of 8.6 months [95% CI: 7.3-11.6] and a median OS of 20.2 months [17-3-24.4], with no significant differences between the three surgical approaches. One month after surgery, functional outcomes for language were similar for all approaches, but motor function was poorer in the biopsy group than in other patients. The proportion of patients with a KPS score > 80 was higher in the resection with AC group than in the other patients at this timepoint. We detected no real benefit of a resection with AC over resection under GA for left-sided eloquent GB in terms of survival or functional outcomes for language. However, given the poorer motor function of biopsy patients, resection with AC should be proposed, when possible, to patients ineligible for surgical resection under GA, to improve functional outcomes and patient autonomy.

Safety and Efficacy of Dose-Escalated Radiotherapy with a Simultaneous Integrated Boost for the Treatment of Spinal Metastases

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Dose-escalated radiotherapy (RT) using a spinal simultaneous integrated boost (SSIB) has been recently utilized for treatment of metastatic lesions not amenable to spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS). Prior reports have utilized small sample sizes with short follow-up times. Our goal was to characterize the long-term efficacy and safety of this technique in a large cohort of patients with long term follow-up. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> We reviewed 58 patients with 63 spinal metastatic sites that were treated with RT using a SSIB between 2012 and 2021. All patients received 30 Gy to the clinical tumor volume (CTV)and 40 Gy to the gross tumor volume, each delivered simultaneously in 10 fractions (GTV). Acute and late toxicities were noted for each patient. Local control (LC) was defined as having no progression on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the SSIB-treated site. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from initiation of SSIB to death or last follow up, and was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox analysis was performed to identify associations with OS and LC. <h3>Results</h3> In our cohort, the median Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) prior to RT was 80 (interquartile range [IQR], 80-90). Tumor histology was considered to be radioresistant in 81% of patients. Most patients had paraspinal involvement (65%) and epidural extension (82%). The median follow-up was 31 months with a median OS of 18 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 13-27 months). OS at 1, 2, and 3 years were 64%, 45%, and 24%, respectively. Actuarial LC was 98% (CI, 95-100%) and 95% (CI, 89-100%) at 1 and 2 years, respectively. The median GTV and CTV doses were 4123 cGy (range, 3400-4318 cGy) and 3641 cGy (range, 3302-4089 cGy), respectively. The mean cord dose was 2401 cGy (range 59-3168 cGy). The most commonly observed acute toxicities were fatigue (41%), pain (38%), esophagitis (8%), and nausea (8%). However, only one patient (2%) experienced Grade 3 or higher toxicity (pain). At last follow-up, no patients had developed myelopathy and all patients maintained ambulation. Following RT, pain improvement was achieved in 82% with a median pain score of 2 (IQR, 1-4) out of 10 from a pre-RT baseline of 4 (IQR, 3-6). Multivariable Cox analysis revealed that higher KPS score prior to RT (hazard ratio [HR], 0.40, 95%, CI, 0.20-0.84; <i>P</i>=0.016) was associated with longer OS, whereas increased size of PTV (HR 1.003, CI 1.001-1.005; <i>P</i>=0.017) was associated with shorter survival. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Our data show that the use of RT with SSIB provides favorable LC and OS with improved pain relief for selected patients that are not amenable for SSRS. Importantly, there were limited acute toxicities with no observed instances of radiation-induced myelopathy. Multi-institutional validation is warranted.

Individualized CT image-guided free-hand catheter technique: A new and reliable method for minimally invasive evacuation of basal ganglia hematoma.

ObjectiveTo validate the clinical reliability of an individualized CT image-guided‘ free-hand catheter technique (CTGFC) for basal ganglia hematoma (BGH) evacuation.MethodsFrom January 2017 to December 2020, 58 cases of patients with BGH who underwent catheter evacuation were enrolled. The surgery was conducted using the CTGFC (n = 31) or stereotactic catheter technique (STC, n = 27). The authors evaluated the baseline characteristics, operation-related indicators, postoperative complications, hospitalization-related indicators, short-term and long-term functional outcomes, and mortality rate 1 year after surgery.ResultsAll patients underwent BGH evacuation under non-general anesthesia in the CTGFC group. The operative time (p < 0.01) and operation costs (p < 0.05) were significantly shorter in the CTGFC group than that in the STC group (p < 0.01). Comparable results were found in the catheter indwelling duration, residual hematoma volume, hematoma evacuation rate, incidence of postoperative complications, hospital ICU stay, and hospital costs between these two groups (p > 0.05). The duration of hospital stay was remarkably shorter in the CTGFC group than that in the STC group (p < 0.01). There were no differences in terms of the short-time functional outcomes score at discharge, including the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score, the activities of daily living (ADL) score, and the Karnofsky performance score (KPS). Moreover, comparable findings were also found in the 1-year postoperative GOS score, ADL score, KPS score, and mortality rate between these two groups.ConclusionThe simple CTGFC-assisted surgery was a safe and reliable option for BGH evacuation, especially in primary medical institutes and emergency situations with limited medical resources.

P66. Does functional outcome improve after surgery for metastatic spine tumors in patients with SINS 7-12 and SINS >12?

P66. Does functional outcome improve after surgery for metastatic spine tumors in patients with SINS 7-12 and SINS >12?

INNV-09. SURGICAL STRATEGIES FOR OLDER PATIENTS WITH GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract OBJECTIVE Though image-guided surgery with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (IoMRI) is associated with higher extent of resection, we aimed to determine the clinical outcome of its use, compared to other less time-consuming intraoperative ultrasound (IoUS), in this patient population. METHODS Clinical data of 221 consecutive patients aged 70 years or older, who underwent surgical resection for GBM with intraoperative ultrasonography (IoUS) alone or combination of IoMRI + IoUS at Yale New Haven Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were retrospectively reviewed. Variables were analyzed, and comparative analyses were performed, including predictors of overall survival. RESULTS The addition of IoMRI was not superior to IoUS alone in terms of overall survival (OS) (HR=0.85, 95% CI 0.49-1.47; P= 0.56) or Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) at 6 weeks postoperatively (OR=0.51, 95% CI 0.22-1.15; P= 0.102). On the contrary, the length of surgery (LOSx) was significantly longer (P&amp;lt; 0.0001) in the IoMRI group. Postoperative complications were significantly less in the IoUS-only group (OR=0.17, 95% CI 0.3-0.46; P=0.002) and in patients who had a preoperative KPS score of 70 or higher (OR=0.092, 95% CI 0.018-0.47; P=0.004). Patients with relatively lower preoperative KPS scores (&amp;lt; 70) showed significant clinical improvement at 6 weeks postoperatively (P=0.0002). Patients with postoperative complications were more likely to have lower KPS scores at 6 weeks postoperatively (OR=0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.89; P= 0.031), while increased extent of resection was associated with improved KPS scores at 6 weeks postoperatively (OR=2.171, 95% CI 1.22-3.87; P= 0.009). CONCLUSION Aggressive management with surgical resection should be considered in older patients with GBM, even those with relatively poor KPS scores. The use of IoMRI in this patient population does not appear to yield any survival benefit over IoUS but instead significantly prolongs the length of surgery, increasing the risk for potential postoperative complications.

Results from a Phase 1 Study to Evaluate a Memory-Enriched CD19-Specific CAR T Cell Platform in Adult Patients with CD19+ B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL)

Results from a Phase 1 Study to Evaluate a Memory-Enriched CD19-Specific CAR T Cell Platform in Adult Patients with CD19+ B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL)

Surgical strategies for older patients with glioblastoma

ObjectiveWhile adjuvant treatment regimens have been modified for older patients with glioblastoma (GBM), surgical strategies have not been tailored.MethodsClinical data of 48 consecutive patients aged 70 years or older, who underwent surgical resection for GBM with intraoperative ultrasonography (IoUS) alone or combination with intraoperative MRI (IoMRI) at Yale New Haven Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Variables were analyzed, and comparative analyses were performed.ResultsThe addition of IoMRI was not superior to IoUS alone in terms of overall survival (OS) (P = 0.306), Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) at postoperative 6 weeks (P = 0.704) or extent of resection (P = 0.263). Length of surgery (LOSx), however, was significantly longer (P = 0.0002) in the IoMRI group. LOSx (P = 0.015) and hospital stay (P = 0.025) were predictors of postoperative complications. Increased EOR (GTR or NTR) (P = 0.030), postoperative adjuvant treatment (P < 0.0001) and postoperative complications (P = 0.006) were predictive for OS. Patients with relatively lower preoperative KPS scores (<70) showed significant improvement at postoperative 6 weeks (P<0.0001). Patients with complications (P = 0.038) were more likely to have lower KPS at postoperative 6 weeks.ConclusionsAggressive management with surgical resection should be considered in older patients with GBM, even those with relatively poor KPS. The use of ioMRI in this population does not appear to confer any measurable benefit over ioUS in experienced hands, but prolongs the length of surgery significantly, which is a preventable prognostic factor for impeding care.

PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION OF THE BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION OF THE EORTC QLQ-C30 IN MALAYSIAN COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS

This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Bahasa Malaysia (BM) version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire core (QLQ-C30) (version 3.0) in Malaysian patients with colorectal cancer. A cross sectional study design was used to obtain data from patients receiving treatment at two teaching hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Self-administered method was used. Statistical analysis included reliability, convergent and discriminant validity and known-groups comparisons. Statistical significance was based on p value ≤ 0.05. The internal consistency Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) was acceptable (&gt; 0.70) in all scales but cognitive (α = 0.56) and pain in patients with stoma bag (α = 0.35). Test-retest coefficients were high (r = 0.93 to 1.00). All items showed adequate convergent validity (r &gt; 0.40) except for questionnaire item 5 “needs help in eating/dressing/washing”. Similarly, criteria for discriminant validity were achieved in all but item 10 “need rest”. Patients with high Karnofsky Performance Scores (KPS) scores reported significantly less dyspnoea (p = 0.021) and appetite loss (p = 0.047) compared to patients with low KPS scores. There was no significant difference between patients with and without stomas. The psychometric properties of the BM version of the QLQ-C30 were comparable to previous studies in other settings. Therefore, the questionnaire could be used to measure quality of life in Malaysian patients with colorectal cancer.

Nation-wide Brain Tumor Registry-based Study of Intracranial Meningioma in Japan: Analysis of Surgery-related Risks.

Although surgical resection is the most preferred treatment for intracranial meningiomas, a detailed analysis of the surgery-related risks based on large population data has not been conducted to date. In this study, we analyzed the nation-wide brain tumor registry to assess the surgical risk factors for intracranial meningiomas to provide information for an optimal treatment strategy. Data of 4081 meningioma patients who underwent initial resection between 2001 and 2008 were extracted from the Brain Tumor Registry of Japan (BTRJ) database and reviewed for postoperative mortality, aggravation of Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), and complications. The total in-hospital mortality rate was 0.59%. Male sex and tumor size ≥30 mm were independent risk factors for mortality. Among 4081 cases, 4.4% of patients had KPS that were lowered by 20 or more points at the time of discharge after surgery. Age ≥65 years, higher WHO grading, tumor location at the skull base, tumor size ≥30 mm, and non-gross total resections were associated with lowering of KPS scores by 20 or more points. The overall incidence of surgical complications was 19.3%. The rate of occurrence of new postoperative seizure in patients with supratentorial meningioma was 10.9%. All complications except for vascular complications occurred with significantly lower frequencies in asymptomatic patients than in symptomatic patients. Our results provide useful information regarding the surgical risks when surgical intervention is being considered for intracranial meningiomas. Surgery is an important option for asymptomatic meningiomas as the mortality rate and complication rate in the current study were sufficiently low.

Effects of family integrated care on refractory cancer-related pain receiving intrathecal morphine pump therapy: a cohort study.

Family integrated care (FIC), originating from the neonatal intensive care unit, has proved to be an effective therapy for the care of several diseases in adults. However, it is still unclear whether it is successful in the treatment of refractory cancer-related pain using an intrathecal morphine pump (IMP). A prospective study was performed to enroll patients with refractory cancer-related pain treated by IMP. Medical records, including demographic data, types of cancer, doses of opioids before the implantation, were gathered at baseline. Besides, numerical pain rating scales (NRS) were measured to assess the severity of pain. Karnofsky performance scores (KPS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores and selfrating depression scale (SDS) scores were used to assess the physical and psychological status of patients. Follow-up lasted for at least 12 months. The changes in NRS, KPS, SAS, and SDS scores were recorded, as well as adverse events and survival rates. Totally, 33 patients were enrolled and divided into traditional care groups and FIC groups. The results showed that the implantation of IMP relieved the pain in both groups. Moreover, patients in the FIC group had significantly more relief of pain than those in the traditional group (P=0.04). Similarly, KPS raised more, and scores of SAS and SDS decreased more in the FIC group. Besides, fewer adverse events occurred in the FIC group, but the survival rate showed no significant difference between the two groups. FIC enhances the effects of IMP on the relief of refractory cancer-related pain and improves the physical and psychological status of patients.

Quality of Life following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients Age >60 Years with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.

This study of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) age ≥60 years analyzed the association between patients' performance indices-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), and European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) risk score-before undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and quality of life (QoL), quantified using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant Scale (FACT-BMT), in the first year after allo-HSCT. Over a period of 7 years, 48 evaluable patients underwent reduced-intensity conditioning allo-HSCT. The median patient age was 65 years (range, 60 to 74 years), with 2-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) of 65.8% and 52.3%, respectively. A significant improvement across all QoL scores was observed over the 12 months post-HSCT. An HCT-CI of 0 was associated with improved general QoL (FACT-G) score at 6 months compared with patients with an HCT-CI of 1 to 2 (P= .032). At 12 months post-HSCT, a pretransplantation HCT-CI ≥3 was correlated with lower QoL scores across the domains (symptom-related QoL [FACT-TOI], P= .036; FACT-G, P= .05; BMT-related QoL [FACT-BMT], P= .036). A pretransplantation KPS score of 100 versus 80 to 90 was predictive of improved QoL at 6 months post-HSCT (FACT-TOI, P=.009; FACT-G, P= .001; FACT-BMT, P= .002) but not at 1 year post-HSCT. We demonstrate that KPS and HCT-CI can predict QoL in the early post-transplantation period, with a favorable overall survival in a selected cohort of AML patients age ≥60 years.

Microsurgical treatment of large and giant parasagittal meningioma invading the superior sagittal sinus

Objective To investigate the method and effect of microsurgical removal of large and giant parasagittal meningioma invading the superior sagittal sinus. Methods The clinical data of 154 cases with large and giant parasagittal meningioma invading the superior sagittal sinus admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, Peking University Third Hospital from May 2009 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The diameter of the tumors ranged from 4 cm to 8 cm, with an average of 5.5±1.2 cm. Microsurgical resection was carried out along the midline and longitudinal fissure with a horse-shoe shaped skin incision turning to the temporal side. The degree of resection was evaluated by Simpson grading system. The results of clinical follow-up were evaluated by Karnofsky performance score (KPS), and the tumor recurrence was evaluated by imaging follow-up. Results Among the 154 cases, Simpson grade Ⅰ resection was achieved in 112 (72.7%) and grade Ⅱ resection in 42 cases (27.3%). All of them were proved to be meningiomas (World Health Organization grade Ⅰ). The operation time ranged from 30 minutes to 210 minutes (median: 60 minutes), and the length of stay ranged from 5 days to 10 days with an average of 7.2±1.1 days. There was no infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, death or permanent aggravation of neurological dysfunction. The patients were followed up for 3 months to 123 months, with an average of 63.5±0.7 months. The KPS score ranged from 80 points to 100 points, with an average of 93.6±0.3 points. Tumor recurrence occurred in 14 patients (9.1%), including 7 in Simpson Ⅰ resection group and 7 in Simpson Ⅱ resection group. There was significant difference in recurrence rate between the 2 groups (χ2=4.01, P<0.05). Conclusion Simpson grade Ⅰ microsurgical resection can be pursued for large and giant parasagittal meningioma invading the superior sagittal sinus which helps minimize the recurrence rate. Key words: Meningioma; Microsurgery; Treatment outcome; Sagittal sinus; Large and giant

Bronchial arterial embolization may reduce the risk of severe bleeding in central airway obstruction due to renal cell carcinomas during bronchoscopic procedures.

Background:Hemorrhage is a life-threatening complication during bronchoscopic intervention in patients with central airway obstruction (CAO) due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Whether pre-bronchoscopic bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) can reduce the risk of severe bleeding in CAO patients due to metastatic RCC remains unclear.Methods:A total of 31 CAO patients due to metastatic RCC were included retrospectively and divided into a BAE group (receiving pre-bronchoscopic BAE) and non-BAE group in this study. Based on computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopic findings, tumor debulking was used to reconstruct the airway during interventional bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe bleeding during bronchoscopic procedures. Bleeding-related complications, Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and dyspnea score were also analyzed over a 1-month observation period.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics, including patients’ features, tumor morphology under CT scannings, tumor site, and obstruction degree under bronchoscopic examination. Procedure-related bleeding occurred in all 31 patients. Pre-bronchoscopic BAE significantly reduced the incidence of moderate and major bleeding when compared with that in the non-BAE group. The incidence of poor visualization and hypoxia was also reduced significantly in the BAE group. There was no significant difference in KPS and dyspnea score between the BAE and non-BAE groups at 1 month follow up.Conclusion:Pre-bronchoscopic BAE might be a feasible option to reduce the risk of severe bleeding for CAO patients due to metastatic RCC during bronchoscopic intervention. Interventional bronchoscopy was a safe and effective procedure for CAO due to metastatic RCC. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.