Protocol design and current status of CLIVIT: a randomized controlled multicenter relevance trial comparing clips versus ligatures in thyroid surgery

BACKGROUND: Annually, more than 90000 surgical procedures of the thyroid gland are performed in Germany. Strategies aimed at reducing the duration of the surgical procedure are relevant to patients and the health care system especially in the context of reducing costs. However, new techniques for quick and safe hemostasis have to be tested in clinically relevance randomized controlled trials before a general recommendation can be given. The current standard for occlusion of blood vessels in thyroid surgery is ligatures. Vascular clips may be a safe alternative but have not been investigated in a large RCT. METHODS/DESIGN: CLIVIT (Clips versus Ligatures in Thyroid Surgery) is an investigator initiated, multicenter, patient-blinded, two-group parallel relevance randomized controlled trial designed by the Study Center of the German Surgical Society. Patients scheduled for elective resection of at least two third of the gland for benign thyroid disease are eligible for participation. After surgical exploration patients are randomized intraoperatively into either the conventional ligature group, or into the clip group. The primary objective is to test for a relevant reduction in operating time (at least 15 min) when using the clip technique. Since April 2004, 121 of the totally required 420 patients were randomized in five centers. DISCUSSION: As in all trials the different forms of bias have to be considered, and as in this case, a surgical trial, the role of surgical expertise plays a key role, and will be documented and analyzed separately. This is the first randomized controlled multicenter relevance trial to compare different vessel occlusion techniques in thyroid surgery with adequate power and other detailed information about the design as well as framework. If significant, the results might be generalized and may change the current surgical practice

Case report: The management of advanced oral cancer in a Jehovah's Witness using the Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel

We present the first case of a head and neck oncological procedure accomplished in a Jehovah's Witness using the Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon, Cincinnati, OH). Jehovah's Witnesses present a serious challenge to the head and neck cancer surgeon due to their refusal to accept transfusion of any blood products. However, our experience reinforces the view that surgical management of head and neck cancer is possible in these patients. We show the Harmonic Scalpel, an ultrasonic tissue dissector, to be a useful surgical tool in obviating the need for blood transfusion. Preoperative optimisation, intra-operative surgical and anaesthetic techniques are also fully discussed

A randomized two arm phase III study in patients post radical resection of liver metastases of colorectal cancer to investigate bevacizumab in combination with capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) vs CAPOX alone as adjuvant treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>About 50% of patients with colorectal cancer are destined to develop hepatic metastases. Radical resection is the most effective treatment for patients with colorectal liver metastases offering five year survival rates between 36-60%. Unfortunately only 20% of patients are resectable at time of presentation. Radiofrequency ablation is an alternative treatment option for irresectable colorectal liver metastases with reported 5 year survival rates of 18-30%. Most patients will develop local or distant recurrences after surgery, possibly due to the outgrowth of micrometastases present at the time of liver surgery. This study aims to achieve an improved disease free survival for patients after resection or resection combined with RFA of colorectal liver metastases by adding the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab to an adjuvant regimen of CAPOX.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>The Hepatica study is a two-arm, multicenter, randomized, comparative efficacy and safety study. Patients are assessed no more than 8 weeks before surgery with CEA measurement and CT scanning of the chest and abdomen. Patients will be randomized after resection or resection combined with RFA to receive CAPOX and Bevacizumab or CAPOX alone. Adjuvant treatment will be initiated between 4 and 8 weeks after metastasectomy or resection in combination with RFA. In both arms patients will be assessed for recurrence/new occurrence of colorectal cancer by chest CT, abdominal CT and CEA measurement. Patients will be assessed after surgery but before randomization, thereafter every three months after surgery in the first two years and every 6 months until 5 years after surgery. In case of a confirmed recurrence/appearance of new colorectal cancer, patients can be treated with surgery or any subsequent line of chemotherapy and will be followed for survival until the end of study follow up period as well. The primary endpoint is disease free survival. Secondary endpoints are overall survival, safety and quality of life.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The HEPATICA study is designed to demonstrate a disease free survival benefit by adding bevacizumab to an adjuvant regime of CAPOX in patients with colorectal liver metastases undergoing a radical resection or resection in combination with RFA.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00394992</p

Viable Tumor Tissue Adherent to Needle Applicators after Local Ablation: A Risk Factor for Local Tumor Progression

Background. Local tumor progression (LTP) is a serious complication after local ablation of malignant liver tumors, negatively influencing patient survival. LTP may be the result of incomplete ablation of the treated tumor. In this study, we determined whether viable tumor cells attached to the needle applicator after ablation was associated with LTP and disease-free survival. Methods. In this prospective study, tissue was collected of 96 consecutive patients who underwent local liver ablations for 130 liver malignancies. Cells and tissue attached to the needle applicators were analyzed for viability using glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase staining and autofluorescence intensity levels of H&E stained sections. Patients were followed-up until disease progression. Results. Viable tumor cells were found on the needle applicators after local ablation in 26.7% of patients. The type of needle applicator used, an open approach, and the omission of track ablation were significantly correlated with viable tumor tissue adherent to the needle applicator. The presence of viable cells was an independent predictor of LTP. The attachment of viable cells to the needle applicators was associated with a shorter time to LTP. Conclusions. Viable tumor cells adherent to the needle applicators were found after ablation of 26.7% of patients. An independent risk factor for viable cells adherent to the needle applicators is the omission of track ablation. We recommend using only RFA devices that have track ablation functionality. Adherence of viable tumor cells to the needle applicator after local ablation was an independent risk factor for LT

RADIOIODINE-ASSOCIATED THYROID CANCERS

Numerous investigations document that exposure to low dose external therapeutic radiation leads to the development of benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms. There is considerable controversy, however, concerning whether radioactive iodine (I-131) causes thyroid cancer. The aim of this investigation was to examine our experience and that in the literature related to this problem. From 1982 to March 1993 seven of 373 patients (1.9%) with thyroid cancer who were treated by one surgeon had a history of treatment with radioactive iodine for Graves' disease and toxic nodular goiter. Sixty-five patients have previously been reported in the literature from 1957 to present. Our patients (five women, two men) ranged in age from 26 to 80 years (mean 57 years). The interval between the exposure to the internal radiation and development of cancer ranged from 3 to 29 years (mean 11.4 years), and the mean age at the time of I-131 treatment was 45 years (18-76 years). The therapeutic dose of I-131 was 5 to 100 mCi (mean 25.3 mCi) in our patients. Two of our patients received I twice. The age of patients reported in the literature at the time of I-131 treatment ranged from 7 to 74 years (mean 48 years). The mean therapeutic dose of I-131 was 20.6 mCi (1.25-180.0 mCi) and the latent period was documented for a mean 8.7 years (0.25-28.0 years) in these patients. Three of 29 patients in the literature received I-131 twice. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules was positive for cancer in six of our patients (86%). All patients were treated by total thyroidectomy, and three of them had a modified neck dissection. Six of our seven patients had invasive papillary thyroid carcinoma (stage III disease), and the seventh patient had extensive nodal metastasis and intrathyroidal invasion. Invasion into adjacent muscle and soft tissue were found in four patients, and two had tracheal invasion. Two patients had lymph node metastases. There were no postoperative complications. One patient (14%), however developed recurrent papillary and anaplastic thyroid cancer in his left neck and mediastinum 2 years after total thyroidectomy. He had extensive pulmonary metastases and malignant pleural effusions and died 23 days after a left modified radical neck dissection. In conclusion, radioactive iodine in doses to treat Graves' disease may increase the risk of developing thyroid cancer. These cancers are discovered at a later stage and appear to be aggressive

PERSISTENT OR RECURRENT HYPERPARATHYROIDISM IN PATIENTS WITH DOUBLE ADENOMAS

Background. Are double parathyroid adenomas a discrete clinical entity or are all hyperplastic parathyroid glands of varying size? This investigation was done to determine whether patients with persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism and double adenomas (DA) differ in clinical profile or in response to treatment from patients with hyperplasia