Objective: Cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in elderly patients. Of all types of abdominal cancer, colorectal cancer(CRC) is undoubtedly the most frequent. Median age at diagnosis is approximately 70 years o...Objective: Cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in elderly patients. Of all types of abdominal cancer, colorectal cancer(CRC) is undoubtedly the most frequent. Median age at diagnosis is approximately 70 years old worldwide. Due to the multiple comorbidities affecting elderly people, frailty evaluation is very important in order to avoid over- or undertreatment. This pilot study was designed to investigate the variables capable of predicting the long-term risk of mortality and living situation after surgery for CRC.Methods: Patients with 70 years old and older undergoing elective surgery for CRC were prospectively enrolled in the study. The patients were preoperatively screened using 11 internationally-validated-frailty-assessment tests. The endpoints of the study were long-term mortality and living situation. The data were analyzed using univariate Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis to verify the predictive value of score indices in order to identify possible risk factors.Results: Forty-six patients were studied. The median follow-up time after surgery was 4.6 years(range, 2.9-5.7 years) and no patients were lost to follow-up. The overall mortality rate was 39%. Four of the patients who survived(4/28, 14%) lost their functional autonomy. The preoperative impaired Timed Up and Go(TUG), Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status(ECOG PS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADLs), Vulnerable Elders Survey(VES-13) scoring systems were significantly associated with increased long term mortality risk.Conclusion: Simplified frailty-assessing tools should be routinely used in elderly cancer patients before treatment in order to stratify patient risk. The TUG, ECOG-PS, IADLs and VES-13 scoring systems are potentially able to predict long-term mortality and disability. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the preliminary data in order to improve management strategies for oncogeriatric surgical patients.展开更多
The recurrence rate after primary resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has been reported to be up to 80%.There is no consensus or guideline about the best treatment option for such recurrent HCC(rHCC).It is ther...The recurrence rate after primary resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has been reported to be up to 80%.There is no consensus or guideline about the best treatment option for such recurrent HCC(rHCC).It is therefore of paramount importance to select patients for suitable treatment due to the high risk of associated morbidity and mortality.In this paper,we review the literature on treatment for rHCC and propose a strategy based on the best evidence available.Even in rHCC,it is still possible to achieve cure and good survival rates through careful patient selection.Repeat hepatectomy is recognized as a feasible and safe procedure even in cirrhotic patients and should be considered as the best option with curative intent when the patient is fit enough.Greater adoption of minimally-invasive liver surgery could have the potential to increase the number of candidate patients with rHCC for repeat resection in the next few years.Liver transplantation offers longer disease-free survival compared to repeat resection,curing the underlying cirrhosis,but is not widely available due to organ shortage.When surgery is not feasible,locoregional treatments such as radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization have an important role for patients who cannot tolerate repeat hepatectomy and are not suitable for transplantation.For advanced cases,systemic therapy could be considered.展开更多
文摘Objective: Cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in elderly patients. Of all types of abdominal cancer, colorectal cancer(CRC) is undoubtedly the most frequent. Median age at diagnosis is approximately 70 years old worldwide. Due to the multiple comorbidities affecting elderly people, frailty evaluation is very important in order to avoid over- or undertreatment. This pilot study was designed to investigate the variables capable of predicting the long-term risk of mortality and living situation after surgery for CRC.Methods: Patients with 70 years old and older undergoing elective surgery for CRC were prospectively enrolled in the study. The patients were preoperatively screened using 11 internationally-validated-frailty-assessment tests. The endpoints of the study were long-term mortality and living situation. The data were analyzed using univariate Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis to verify the predictive value of score indices in order to identify possible risk factors.Results: Forty-six patients were studied. The median follow-up time after surgery was 4.6 years(range, 2.9-5.7 years) and no patients were lost to follow-up. The overall mortality rate was 39%. Four of the patients who survived(4/28, 14%) lost their functional autonomy. The preoperative impaired Timed Up and Go(TUG), Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status(ECOG PS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADLs), Vulnerable Elders Survey(VES-13) scoring systems were significantly associated with increased long term mortality risk.Conclusion: Simplified frailty-assessing tools should be routinely used in elderly cancer patients before treatment in order to stratify patient risk. The TUG, ECOG-PS, IADLs and VES-13 scoring systems are potentially able to predict long-term mortality and disability. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the preliminary data in order to improve management strategies for oncogeriatric surgical patients.
文摘The recurrence rate after primary resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has been reported to be up to 80%.There is no consensus or guideline about the best treatment option for such recurrent HCC(rHCC).It is therefore of paramount importance to select patients for suitable treatment due to the high risk of associated morbidity and mortality.In this paper,we review the literature on treatment for rHCC and propose a strategy based on the best evidence available.Even in rHCC,it is still possible to achieve cure and good survival rates through careful patient selection.Repeat hepatectomy is recognized as a feasible and safe procedure even in cirrhotic patients and should be considered as the best option with curative intent when the patient is fit enough.Greater adoption of minimally-invasive liver surgery could have the potential to increase the number of candidate patients with rHCC for repeat resection in the next few years.Liver transplantation offers longer disease-free survival compared to repeat resection,curing the underlying cirrhosis,but is not widely available due to organ shortage.When surgery is not feasible,locoregional treatments such as radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization have an important role for patients who cannot tolerate repeat hepatectomy and are not suitable for transplantation.For advanced cases,systemic therapy could be considered.