Radiation-Induced Sarcoma: A Retrospective Population-Based Study Over 34 Years in a Single Institution

AIMS

About a half of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy as part of their oncological treatment. Because of the carcinogenic effect of ionising radiation, there is a rare, but definite, risk of developing secondary malignancies, including sarcomas. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the prevalence, patient and tumour characteristics, as well as prognosis and outcome, of patients with radiation-induced sarcomas (RIS) in a cohort of patients treated in the Sarcoma Centre at Aarhus University Hospital over a period of 34 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients who fulfilled the criteria for RIS and were treated for RIS in the period 1979-2013 were included. Patient data were retrieved from the Aarhus Sarcoma Registry and the National Danish Sarcoma Database, crosschecked with the National Register of Pathology and validated using the patients' medical records. The primary end point was the effect of surgery and treatment intent on overall survival. Overall survival is reported using the Kaplan-Meier estimates and compared using the Log-rank test. Descriptive statistics are presented for patients, tumours and treatment characteristics.

RESULTS

Of 2845 patients diagnosed with sarcoma between 1979 and 2013, 64 (2%) were diagnosed with RIS. The median interval from the original malignancy was 11 years. The most common histological type was undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (33%). Curative treatment was intended for 45 patients. Fifty patients underwent surgery, of whom 80% had microscopically radical resection (R0). The 5-year overall survival for the whole cohort was 32%. Patients who underwent surgery had a significantly better overall survival compared with patients who were not treated with surgery. In the univariate Cox proportional hazard analyses, no metastases at diagnosis, surgery and R0 resection were favourable prognostics factors of survival.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that RIS patients are unique in their epidemiology and tumour characteristics. They have a poor prognosis and need special research investigating new intensive treatment strategies to improve the outcome.

Solitary Fibrous Tumour: A Single Institution Retrospective Study and Further Validation of a Prognostic Risk Assessment System

AIMS

Solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal-derived neoplasm that can arise in any anatomical location in the body. SFT rarely metastasises, but aggressive behaviour is seen in a minority of cases, and relapses can occur several years after treatment. It would be a clinical advantage if high-risk patients could be identified before treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed a population-based cohort of SFT to describe treatment, outcome, prognostic factors and to further validate a previously published risk assessment tool (D-score) based on age, tumour size and mitotic index. Seventy-two patients diagnosed with SFT in the Central, North and Southern Denmark regions between 1979 and 2013 were included in the study.

RESULTS

For patients with localised disease at the time of diagnosis (n = 64) the 5 and 10 year overall survival was 86% (95% confidence interval 74-92) and 65% (95% confidence interval 50-78), respectively. Seventeen of 62 patients (27%) who were in remission after radical treatment developed recurrence with either local or distant disease. The 5 year recurrence-free survival was 83% (95% confidence interval 70-90) and the 10 year was 69% (95% confidence interval 53-81). The 5 year local recurrence-free survival was 96% (95% confidence interval 86-99) and the 10 year was 92% (95% confidence interval 76-96). The median time to both overall recurrence and local recurrence was 4.3 years. Metastatic or inoperable SFT had a poor prognosis with a median overall survival of 8.4 months (range 3.6-26.4) and a 5 year overall survival of 11% (95% confidence interval 2-30). A further validation of a risk assessment tool (D-score) confirmed that patients classified as high-risk had a significantly decreased overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 3.7 (95% confidence interval 1.1-12.3).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that our management and outcome were comparable with other published studies describing SFT and confirmed the value of the D-score as a risk assessment tool. Because of late recurrences, long-term (e.g. 10 years) follow-up for moderate- and high-risk patients is recommended.

Percutaneous needle fasciotomy for primary Dupuytren's contracture

This study evaluated the effect of percutaneous needle fasciotomy on primary Dupuytren's contracture in 149 patients (213 rays) admitted to our clinic in 2007. Ninety-two patients (130 rays) were followed up for 2 years to compare the change in total passive extension deficit and the passive extension deficit across the individual joint and to note side effects. No tendon rupture or damage to sensory nerves was observed and the rehabilitation period was short (mean, 0.6 days). We found a significant change (p < 0.001) in total passive extension deficit after 2 years, but the effect of the treatment was greater in Tubiana I and II stages and our best results were in correction of MCP joint contractures. Percutaneous needle fasciotomy is an alternative treatment for elderly patients with severe comorbidity or for those patients who do not want open surgery.

Alteration of the hip joint centre during acetabular reaming

Change of the hip joint centre location during preparation of the acetabular cavity for the acetabular component can affect the outcome of total hip arthroplasty. Deviations from the preoperative geometry can compromise an otherwise successful operation with regard to hip dislocations, leg length inequality and range of motion of the hip joint. Eighteen acetabula from pelvic specimens were measured before and after acetabular reaming to determine the change of hip centre location. Two different acetabular reamers were applied to the acetabular cavity: a chamfered reamer intended for minimal invasive hip surgery (MIS) and a conventional hemispherical reamer. An optical 3D scanning system created 3D models of the cavities prior to and after the reaming procedure. The two 3D models were merged into a single 3D model and displacements in all three dimensions were calculated The results showed no significant difference between MIS and conventional reaming with regard to transition vector length (p=0.9). The mean length of the transition vector was 3.6 mm (SD. 2.4 mm). Our findings suggest that the alteration of the hip centre location is not influenced by the changes made to the MIS reamers in comparison with conventional reamers. In comparison with previous studies the drift of the hip centre caused by the acetabular reaming is reduced due to new reaming techniques and prosthesis designs.