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Archives of Disease in Childhood Oct 2016Leukaemia is the most common cancer of childhood, accounting for a third of cases. In order to assist clinicians in its early detection, we systematically reviewed all... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Leukaemia is the most common cancer of childhood, accounting for a third of cases. In order to assist clinicians in its early detection, we systematically reviewed all existing data on its clinical presentation and estimated the frequency of signs and symptoms presenting at or prior to diagnosis.
DESIGN
We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for all studies describing presenting features of leukaemia in children (0-18 years) without date or language restriction, and, when appropriate, meta-analysed data from the included studies.
RESULTS
We screened 12 303 abstracts for eligibility and included 33 studies (n=3084) in the analysis. All were cohort studies without control groups. 95 presenting signs and symptoms were identified and ranked according to frequency. Five features were present in >50% of children: hepatomegaly (64%), splenomegaly (61%), pallor (54%), fever (53%) and bruising (52%). An additional eight features were present in a third to a half of children: recurrent infections (49%), fatigue (46%), limb pain (43%), hepatosplenomegaly (42%), bruising/petechiae (42%), lymphadenopathy (41%), bleeding tendency (38%) and rash (35%). 6% of children were asymptomatic on diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Over 50% of children with leukaemia have palpable livers, palpable spleens, pallor, fever or bruising on diagnosis. Abdominal symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain and abdominal distension are common. Musculoskeletal symptoms such as limp and joint pain also feature prominently. Children with unexplained illness require a thorough history and focused clinical examination, which should include abdominal palpation, palpation for lymphadenopathy and careful scrutiny of the skin. Occurrence of multiple symptoms and signs should alert clinicians to possible leukaemia.
Topics: Abdominal Pain; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Contusions; Early Detection of Cancer; Exanthema; Fever; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hemorrhage; Hepatomegaly; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Leukemia; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Recurrence; Skin Diseases; Splenomegaly
PubMed: 27647842
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311251 -
Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA Dec 2022The optimal approach for peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion in adult hospitalised patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA) is unknown. The present... (Review)
Review
Review article: Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion in adult patients with difficult intravenous access: A systematic review of assessment instruments, clinical practice guidelines and escalation pathways.
The optimal approach for peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion in adult hospitalised patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA) is unknown. The present study aimed to critically appraise the quality of (i) assessment instruments and (ii) clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) or escalation pathways for identifying and managing patients with DIVA. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBSCO MEDLINE, EMBASE (OVID) and EBSCO CINAHL databases were searched on 22 March 2021. Studies describing a DIVA assessment measure, CPG or escalation pathway for PIVC insertion in adults (≥18 years of age) were included. Data were extracted using a standardised data extraction form including study design, type of resource and reported clinical outcomes. Quality of DIVA assessment instruments were reviewed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments checklist. Methodological quality of CPGs and escalation pathways was assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation-II (AGREE-II) instrument. Overall, 24 DIVA resources comprising 16 DIVA assessment instruments and nine CPGs or escalation pathways (including one combined assessment instrument and escalation pathway) were identified. Instruments commonly focused on vein visibility and palpability as indicators of DIVA. CPGs and escalation pathways unanimously recommended use of vessel visualisation technology for patients with or suspected of DIVA. Methodological quality of the resources was mixed. Consensus and standardisation of resources to identify DIVA and recommendations for managing patients with DIVA is limited. Adopting consistent, evidence-based CPGs, escalation pathways or DIVA assessment instruments may significantly improve clinical outcomes.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Catheterization, Peripheral; Administration, Intravenous; Evidence-Based Practice; Checklist; Catheters
PubMed: 36038953
DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14069 -
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery Mar 2022Composite phaeochromocytoma is a tumour containing a separate tumour of neuronal origin in addition to a chromaffin cell tumour. This study reports on two cases from a... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Composite phaeochromocytoma is a tumour containing a separate tumour of neuronal origin in addition to a chromaffin cell tumour. This study reports on two cases from a single centre's records and presents a systematic literature review of composite phaeochromocytomas.
METHODS
In addition to describing 2 case reports, a systematic search of the Medline database from inception up to April 2020 was done for human case reports on composite phaeochromocytomas. Relevant titles and/or abstracts were screened, and full texts were reviewed to identify appropriate studies. Data was extracted and a descriptive analysis of presentation, clinical features, management strategies and outcomes was performed. The quality of included studies was assessed using a critical appraisal checklist.
RESULTS
There were 62 studies included, with a total of 94 patients. Of 91 patients where data was available, the median (range) age of patients was 48 (4-86) years. Of 90 patients where information was provided, 57% were female. In at least 28% of patients, a genetic cause was identified. Common presenting features include abdominal pain, palpable mass, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. The most common tumour component with phaeochromocytoma is ganglioneuroma; other components include ganglioneuroblastoma, neuroblastoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours. In patients with follow-up data (n=48), 85% of patients were alive and well at a median (range) follow-up time of 18 (0.5-168) months.
CONCLUSION
Composite phaeochromocytoma is a rare tumour, with a significant genetic predisposition. This review summarises available epidemiological data, which will be useful for clinicians managing this rare condition.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Pheochromocytoma
PubMed: 33651160
DOI: 10.1007/s00423-021-02129-5 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2021Traditional open orchiopexy is still a standard of treatment for palpable undescended testicles. Recently several authors reported successful results using a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Traditional open orchiopexy is still a standard of treatment for palpable undescended testicles. Recently several authors reported successful results using a laparoscopic approach in the treatment of palpable cryptorchidism. The present systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the utility of laparoscopic orchiopexy for palpable cryptorchidism.
METHODS
Scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE) were systematically searched for relevant articles using the following terms: (palpable cryptorchidism or palpable undescended testes) AND (laparoscopic orchiopexy or laparoscopic orchiopexy). The inclusion criteria were all children with unilateral or bilateral palpable undescended testes who underwent laparoscopic orchiopexy (LO) compared to children who underwent conventional open orchiopexy (CO). The main outcomes were the proportion of children requiring redo-orchiopexy and the incidence of postoperative complications. Secondary outcomes were duration and the cost of surgery.
RESULTS
The final meta-analysis included five studies involving 705 children; LO, = 369 (52.3%) and CO, = 336 (47.7%). The majority of the included patients had unilateral palpable cryptorchidism. No significant differences were found in regard to average age at the time of surgery and follow-up periods between the investigated groups. No statistically significant differences were found in regard to redo-orchiopexy rates (RR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.03-1.88, = 0.17), early complications (RR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.21-2.08, = 0.48) and incidence of testicular atrophy (RR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.03-3.88, = 0.40). No significant differences in the operative duration were observed among the groups. Laparoscopy was associated with higher costs in most of the studies.
CONCLUSION
LO is safe and effective in children with palpable cryptorchidism. The rates of redo-orchiopexy as well as an incidence of early complications and testicular atrophy rates are comparable to CO.
PubMed: 34438568
DOI: 10.3390/children8080677 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jan 2021Primary liver tumours and liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma are two of the most common malignant tumours to affect the liver. The liver is second only to the...
BACKGROUND
Primary liver tumours and liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma are two of the most common malignant tumours to affect the liver. The liver is second only to the lymph nodes as the most common site for metastatic disease. More than half of the people with metastatic liver disease will die from metastatic complications. Electrocoagulation by diathermy is a method used to destroy tumour tissue, using a high-frequency electric current generating high temperatures, applied locally with an electrode (needle, blade, or ball). The objective of this method is to destroy the tumour completely, if possible, in a single session. With the time, electrocoagulation by diathermy has been replaced by other techniques, but the evidence is unclear.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of electrocoagulation by diathermy, administered alone or with another intervention, versus no intervention, other ablation methods, or systemic treatments in people with liver metastases.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, LILACS, Science Citation Index Expanded, Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP, and FDA to October 2020.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We considered all randomised trials that assessed beneficial and harmful effects of electrocoagulation by diathermy, administered alone or with another intervention, versus comparators, in people with liver metastases, regardless of the location of the primary tumour.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We assessed risk of bias of the included trial using predefined risk of bias domains, and presented the review results incorporating the certainty of the evidence using GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We included one randomised clinical trial with 306 participants (175 males; 131 females) who had undergone resection of the sigmoid colon, and who had five or more visible and palpable hepatic metastases. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological assessment (biopsy) and by carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. The trial was conducted in Iraq. The age of participants ranged between 38 and 79 years. The participants were randomised to four different study groups. The liver metastases were biopsied and treated (only once) in three of the groups: 75 received electrocoagulation by diathermy alone, 76 received electrocoagulation plus allopurinol, 78 received electrocoagulation plus dimethyl sulphoxide. In the fourth intervention group, 77 participants functioning as controls received a vehicle solution of allopurinol 5 mL 4 x a day by mouth; the metastases were left untouched. The status of the liver and lungs was followed by ultrasound investigations, without the use of a contrast agent. Participants were followed for five years. The analyses are based on per-protocol data only analysing 223 participants. We judged the trial to be at high risk of bias. After excluding 'nonevaluable patients', the groups seemed comparable for baseline characteristics. Mortality due to disease spread at five-year follow-up was 98% in the electrocoagulation group (57/58 evaluable people); 87% in the electrocoagulation plus allopurinol group (46/53 evaluable people); 86% in the electrocoagulation plus dimethyl sulphoxide group (49/57 evaluable people); and 100% in the control group (55/55 evaluable people). We observed no difference in mortality between the electrocoagulation alone group versus the control group (risk ratio (RR) 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 to 1.03; 113 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We observed lower mortality in the electrocoagulation combined with allopurinol or dimethyl sulphoxide group versus the control group (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.95; 165 participants; low-certainty evidence). We are very uncertain regarding post-operative deaths between the electrocoagulation alone group versus the control group (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.07 to 16.12; 152 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and between the electrocoagulation combined with allopurinol or dimethyl sulphoxide groups versus the control group (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.09 to 10.86; 231 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The trial authors did not report data on number of participants with other adverse events and complications, recurrence of liver metastases, time to progression of liver metastases, tumour response measures, and health-related quality of life. Data on failure to clear liver metastases were not provided for the control group. There was no information on funding or conflict of interest. We identified no ongoing trials.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The evidence on the beneficial and harmful effects of electrocoagulation alone or in combination with allopurinol or dimethyl sulphoxide in people with liver metastases is insufficient, as it is based on one randomised clinical trial at low to very low certainty. It is very uncertain if there is a difference in all-cause mortality and post-operative mortality between electrocoagulation alone versus control. It is also uncertain if electrocoagulation in combination with allopurinol or dimethyl sulphoxide may result in a slight reduction of all-cause mortality in comparison with a vehicle solution of allopurinol (control). It is very uncertain if there is a difference in post-operative mortality between the electrocoagulation combined with allopurinol or dimethyl sulphoxide group versus control. Data on other adverse events and complications, failure to clear liver metastases or recurrence of liver metastases, time to progression of liver metastases, tumour response measures, and health-related quality of life were most lacking or insufficiently reported for analysis. Electrocoagulation by diathermy is no longer used in the described way, and this may explain the lack of further trials.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Allopurinol; Cause of Death; Colonic Neoplasms; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Electrocoagulation; Female; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Solvents
PubMed: 33507555
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009497.pub3 -
Current Urology Apr 2017The purpose of this study is to study the main epidemiological, clinical, para clinical, pathological, therapeutic, and evolutionary features of patients with testicular... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to study the main epidemiological, clinical, para clinical, pathological, therapeutic, and evolutionary features of patients with testicular neuroendocrine tumors (TNET).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Nine case series and sixteen case reports were identified by searching PubMed database and qualified for inclusion in this study. We added the data of one case treated in the department of urology in Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax, to the published cases.
RESULTS
A total of 132 cases were collected. Median age at diagnosis was 39 years old (range 10- 83 years). The most common presenting symptom was either a testicular mass or a swelling in 38.46% of cases. Carcinoid syndrome was documented in 10.60% of patients. The clinical examination revealed a palpable mass in 44.70% of patients. This mass was painless and firm in most cases. Serum tumor markers (β-gonadotrophine chorionique humaine, α-feto protein, and lactate dehydrogenase) were within normal limits in all patients except in one case. Most testicular neuroendocrine tumors (76.52%) were primary and pure. The tumors were positive for chromogranin (100%), synaptophysin (100%) and cytokeratin (93.10%). Metastases were detected at time of diagnosis in eight cases (6.06%). The main treatment was radical orchiectomy performed in 127 patients (96.21%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 78.70% and the 5-year specific survival rate was 84.30%.
CONCLUSION
The diagnosis of testicular carcinoids is based on the immunohistochemistry study. The treatment of choice for these tumors is radical orchiectomy. Somatostatin analogues were reported to be effective in patients with carcinoid syndrome.
PubMed: 28559773
DOI: 10.1159/000447146 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022(1) Background: In the last few years, technological developments in the surgical field have been rapid and are continuously evolving. One of the most revolutionizing... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: In the last few years, technological developments in the surgical field have been rapid and are continuously evolving. One of the most revolutionizing breakthroughs was the introduction of the IoT concept within surgical practice. Our systematic review aims to summarize the most important studies evaluating the IoT concept within surgical practice, focusing on Telesurgery and surgical Telementoring. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the current literature, focusing on the Internet of Surgical Things in Telesurgery and Telementoring. Forty-eight (48) studies were included in this review. As secondary research questions, we also included brief overviews of the use of IoT in image-guided surgery, and patient Telemonitoring, by systematically analyzing fourteen (14) and nineteen (19) studies, respectively. (3) Results: Data from 219 patients and 757 healthcare professionals were quantitively analyzed. Study designs were primarily observational or based on model development. Palpable advantages from the IoT incorporation mainly include less surgical hours, accessibility to high quality treatment, and safer and more effective surgical education. Despite the described technological advances, and proposed benefits of the systems presented, there are still identifiable gaps in the literature that need to be further explored in a systematic manner. (4) Conclusions: The use of the IoT concept within the surgery domain is a widely incorporated but less investigated concept. Advantages have become palpable over the past decade, yet further research is warranted.
Topics: Health Personnel; Humans; Internet
PubMed: 35746359
DOI: 10.3390/s22124577 -
Global Pediatric Health 2019. Cervical lymphadenopathy in children is common and its etiologies diverse. No systematic review of the differential diagnosis of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy has... (Review)
Review
. Cervical lymphadenopathy in children is common and its etiologies diverse. No systematic review of the differential diagnosis of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy has been conducted. . To determine the prevalence rate of specific etiologies of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. . EMBASE, PubMed, and SCOPUS were searched electronically. Bibliographies of select studies were reviewed as well. . (1) Any clinical trial, observational study, or cross-sectional case series with 10 or more subjects that included delineation of etiologies and/or associated conditions with lymphadenopathy; (2) subjects aged 0 to 21 years with enlarged lymphoid tissue on body; (3) lymphadenopathy was confirmed by clinical evaluation; and (4) no specific diagnoses were excluded. . Year and location of publication, definition of lymphadenopathy, percentage of lymphadenopathy that was cervical, total number of subjects, gender distribution of subjects, age range of patients, and specific etiologies. . Of the 1790 studies, 7 studies that were combined resulted in 2687 subjects that were selected. Nonspecific benign etiology was the most common diagnosis occurring at a rate of 67.8%. Epstein-Barr virus was the next most prevalent (8.86%), followed by malignancy (4.69%) and granulomatous disease (4.06%). The most common malignancy etiology was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (46.0%), and the most common granulomatous disease was tuberculosis (73.4%). . This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a rate-based differential diagnosis of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. Although the most common causes of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy are nonspecific, the etiologies are diverse. Rates and credible intervals are provided to enable a probability-based diagnostic approach to palpable cervical lymphadenopathy in this age group.
PubMed: 31384630
DOI: 10.1177/2333794X19865440 -
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) Aug 2021Pre-operative localization of non-palpable breast lesions with non-wired non-ionizing (NWNI) techniques may improve clinical outcomes as reoperation rate, cosmetic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Pre-operative localization of non-palpable breast lesions with non-wired non-ionizing (NWNI) techniques may improve clinical outcomes as reoperation rate, cosmetic outcome and contribute to organizational aspects improvement in breast-conserving surgery (BCS). However only limited literature is available and clinical studies involving these forefront devices are often small and non-randomized. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus on free margins and cosmetic outcomes definitions. The objective of the present meta-analysis was to determine the crude clinical outcomes reported for the NWNI techniques on BCS. A literature search was performed of PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases up to February 2021 in order to select all prospective or retrospective clinical trials on pre-operative breast lesion localization done with NWNI devices. All studies were assessed following the PRISMA recommendations. Continuous outcomes were described in averages corrected for sample size, while binomial outcomes were described using the weighted average proportion. Twenty-seven studies with a total of 2103 procedures were identified. The technique is consolidated, showing for both reflectors' positioning and localization nearly the 100% rate of success. The re-excision and clear margins rates were 14% (95% CI, 11-17%) and 87% (80-92%), respectively. Overall, positive margins rates were 12% (8-17%). In studies that compared NWNI and wire localization techniques, positive margin rate is lower for the first techniques (12%, 6-22% vs 17%, 12-23%) and re-excision rate is slightly higher using the latter (13%, 9-19% vs 16%, 13-18%). Pre-operative NWNI techniques are effective in the localization of non-palpable breast lesions and are promising in obtaining clear (or negative) margins minimizing the need for re-excision and improving the cosmetic outcomes. Randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Margins of Excision; Mastectomy, Segmental; Prospective Studies; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 33991806
DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2021.04.007 -
Asian Journal of Surgery Jan 2022Breast cancer screening has seen an increase in the detection of non-palpable breast lesions. Wire guided localisation (WGL) and Radio-guided occult lesion localisation... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Breast cancer screening has seen an increase in the detection of non-palpable breast lesions. Wire guided localisation (WGL) and Radio-guided occult lesion localisation (ROLL) are well established modalities of localisation of non-palpable breast lesions in the UK. We aimed to compare the outcomes of WGL and ROLL in this updated meta-analysis. We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and LILACS using free text search words as well as relevant MESH-terms. We also searched Medline (02/03/2021), Embase and registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings, reference lists of included studies and contacted experts in the field. Outcomes considered were re-excision rates, margin involvement, specimen volume and weight, accurate localisation of lesions and operative time. We assessed the risk of bias in included studies and performed random effects meta-analyses using Review Manager (version 5.3). Heterogeneity was estimated using the I-statistic. Nine included studies enrolled 1096 patients undergoing localization in breast surgery (534 in WGL and 562 in ROLL). There was a statistically significant benefit in favour of ROLL for non-involved resection margins (OR 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44-0.97); based on seven studies. Nine trials assessed operative time favouring ROLL (OR 1.95; 95% CI, 0.27-3.63). No significant difference in re-excision rates was reported (OR 1.42; 95% CI, 0.83-2.43) based on seven studies. Current evidence favourably supports ROLL, compared to WGL, with respect to margin involvement, localisation and operative time in the treatment of non-palpable breast lesions.
Topics: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Mastectomy; Mastectomy, Segmental; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 34479779
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.06.055