Clinically occult metastases in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Detection with sentinel lymph node biopsy and whole body positron emission tomography

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and whole body positron emission tomography (PET), with emphasis on surgical treatment and prognosis, in the detection of clinically occult metastases in patients with clinically localized cutaneous melanoma. Patients and methods: The study population consisted of 1255 patients with clinical stage I–II cutaneous melanoma, operated at Turku University Hospital between 1983 and 2007. 334 patients underwent SLNB and they were compared to 921 retrospective patients. A subgroup of 30 symptom-free patients with high risk melanoma underwent prospectively whole body PET 6–24 months postoperatively. Results: Overall, the disease-specific survival rate was 84.4 % at five years. Sex, Breslow thickness, age and nodal status were independent prognostic factors for survival. SLNB revealed occult nodal metastases in 17 % of the patients. There was no significant difference in disease-specific overall survival between SLNB patients and controls, but the nodal disease-free time was significantly longer suggesting better local control after SLNB and subsequent completion lymph node dissection. The followup time was different between the study cohorts and initial surgery was performed during different time periods. SLNB detected micrometastases in seven of 155 patients (4.5 %) with thin T1 primary melanoma and in four of 25 patients (16 %) with head and neck melanoma. In six of 30 asymptomatic patients with high risk melanoma (20 %), whole body PET detected occult distant metastases. Conclusion: Both SLNB and whole body PET were reliable methods to detect clinically occult metastases in patients with cutaneous melanoma. This upstaging altered the treatment in each case.Siirretty Doriast

7th EEEIC International Workshop on Environment and Electrical Engineering : Wroclaw - Cottbus, 5 - 11. May 2008

The proposed solution meets the latest trends in world power engineering and has the lowest ecological costs amongst the accessible power engineering solutions. It is also in accordance with the Polish power engineering law, which takes into account the recommendations of the European Economic Commission, the Second Sulphur Protocol and the Framework Convention of the United Nations (concerning the changes of climate)

Impact cratering, bridging the gap between modeling and observations : February 7-9, 2003, Houston, Texas

The purpose of this workshop is to discuss how physical observations of craters, both on the Earth and on other solid bodies of the solar system, can be combined with the results from modeling of impact cratering for a better understanding of the impact cratering process. The main goals of the workshop are to reconcile physical observations with theoretical and experimental modeling of impact processes, and to point out areas that future studies should focus on to improve the observation/modeling connection.Sponsor: Lunar and Planetary Institute, National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationSponsor: Lunar and Planetary Institute, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Conveners: Robert Herrick. Lunar and Planetary Institute, Elisabetta Pierrazzo, Planetary Science Institute ; Scientific Organizing Committee: Bevan French, Natural History Museum, Kevin Housen, Boeing Corporation, William McKinnon, Washington University, Jay Melosh, University of Arizona, Michael Zolensky, NASA Johnson Space Center.Modeling Meteorite Impacts: What We Know and What We Would Like to Know / H.J. Melosh--Observations of the Terrestrial Impact Cratering Record / R. A. F. Grieve--What Do We Need to Know to Model Impact Processes? / K. A. Holsapple--Mechanisms of In Situ Rock Displacement During Hypervelocity Impact:Field and Microscopic Observations / J. G. Spray--Effects of Target Properties on the Cratering Process / K. R. Housen--Importance of Target Properties on Planetary Impact Craters, Both Simple and Complex / P. M. Schenk