BACKGROUND: The goal of this prospective study was to determine the frequency of micrometastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx in whom elective neck dissection was indicated (cN0). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 12 patients (10 males and 2 females) were enrolled in the study. The age ranged 42-73 years (median 62 years). Elective neck dissection was performed in all patients (8 ipsilateral, 4 bilateral) and a total of 256 lymph nodes were removed and sent for microscopic examination. RESULTS: The presence of tumor cells in cervical lymph nodes was found in 5/12 (42%) patients. Micrometastases of SCC were found in two patients and isolated tumor cells (ITC) in two other patients. In the remaining one patient with oropharyngeal SCC, a micrometastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was detected. Positive lymph nodes were localized in level II in three patients with SCC of larynx, hypopharynx and tongue base, respectively, in level I in one patient with SCC of oral tongue and in level III in one patient with PTC. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that SCC of head and neck has a high potential for creating micrometastases which frequency is higher compared to clinically detected macrometastases. Therefore, elective neck dissection or radiotherapy of the neck should be considered in patients with high risk of occult metastases or micrometastases. and P. Čelakovský, D. Kalfeřt, K. Smatanová, V. Chrobok, J. Laco
Úvod: Vysoká incidence kolorektálního karcinomu představuje v České republice aktuální a populačně závažný zdravotnický problém. Polovina všech nemocných je věku nad 70 let. Možnosti chirurgické i nechirurgické léčby v této skupině závisejí na faktorech, jen minimálně vyjádřitelných zavedenou onkologickou a anesteziologickou klasifikací (cTcNcM, ASA). Cílem práce je ukázat vliv věku na využití léčebných modalit do protokolu léčby a na její výsledky a na jiné možnosti hodnocení únosnosti k léčbě. Metody: Analýza údajů z databáze NOR z pětiletého období 2008–2012 zpracované Institutem biostatistiky a analýz MU. Výsledky: Ve všech sledovaných parametrech byl prokázán rozdíl mezi nemocnými pod a nad 70 let v neprospěch starších. Ve věku pod 70 let nebylo léčeno 11,2 % nemocných, ve věku na 70 let 25,2 %. Závěr: K rozhodování o způsobu vedení léčby včetně volby operace by mohla přispět klasifikace pomocí komplexního geriatrického vyšetření., Introduction: High incidence of colorectal cancer in the Czech Republic is an actual and demographically significant health issue. Half of all of the patients is older than 70 years. Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options in this group of patients depend on factors that are difficult to measure only by current oncological and anesthesiological classifications (cTcNcM, ASA). The objective of this paper is to measure the impact of age on the use of various treatment modalities within the protocol and their results, and also to suggest alternative options for therapy tolerance assessment. Methods: Analysis of data over a five-year period from the NOR database prepared by the Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University. Results: In all parameters a difference was demonstrated between patients below the age of 70 and those above the age of 70 years. Older patients were disadvantaged. Only 11.2% of patients younger than 70 years were not treated, whereas 25.2% over the age of 70 years were not treated. Conclusion: A complex geriatric examination could improve the indication process in various treatment modalities, including surgery., and J. Hoch, M. Blaha, D. Malúšková