The fate of a macroporous hydroxyapatite cranioplasty four years after implantation: macroscopical and microscopical findings in a case of recurrent atypical meningioma

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The fate of a macroporous hydroxyapatite cranioplasty four years after implantation: Macroscopical and microscopical findings in a case of recurrent atypical meningioma

Reconstruction of calvarial bone defects can be achieved using autologous bone or a wide range of prosthetic materials [1]. Macroporous hydroxyapatite (MH) has histologically proven its potential osteointegration in animal models [2], [3] and [4]. Recent radiological and clinical data in human subjects are in favour of good osteointegration of MH cranioplasty [5] and [6]. However, the MH implant has weak mechanic stability and is prone to fractures [7]. Furthermore, it is not known how fast and to which extent the implant is ossified in vivo. We report a case with limited ossification of a MH prosthesis four years after implantatio

EGF receptor expression in primary laryngeal cancer: correlation with clinico-pathological features and prognostic significance

Epidermal-growth-factor-receptor (EGFR) expression was evaluated in 103 primary laryngeal tumors and in 42 normal laryngeal tissue specimens. Significantly higher EGFR levels were found in cancer specimens than in normal mucosa (p = 0.0053). EGFR expression did not correlate with age, tumor localization, T classification, cervical-lymph-node involvement or type of surgery, whereas it was higher in poorly differentiated tumors (G3) than in well/moderately differentiated (G1-G2) tumors (p < 0.05). Follow-up data were available for 74 patients. When EGFR status and the most important clinico-pathological characteristics were submitted to univariate analysis, tumor localization, type of surgery and EGFR status were found to be significantly correlated with disease-free survival. The 24-month disease-free survival rate was 58% for EGFR+ cancer patients and 82% for EGFR- ones. With multivariate analysis, only EGFR status and tumor localization were identified as significant independent prognostic parameters. Data reported here suggest that high EGFR levels may identify a sub-set of laryngeal-cancer patients with a particularly unfavorable prognosis. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc