-
Pain Physician Jan 2024Splanchnic nerve neurolysis (SNN) is commonly used as an alternative pain control technique to celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) in patients with distortion of anatomy, but... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Splanchnic nerve neurolysis (SNN) is commonly used as an alternative pain control technique to celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) in patients with distortion of anatomy, but the analgesic effect and relative risks of the 2 procedures remain controversial in general condition.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the pain condition, safety, and symptom burden of SNN compared with CPN.
STUDY DESIGN
A systematic review and meta-analysis of neurolysis therapy for intractable cancer-related abdominal pain.
METHODS
A systematic search was performed for randomized controlled trials comparing SNN and CPN using the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata Version 15.0. Outcomes included pain condition, opioid consumption, adverse effects, quality of life (QOL), and survival rate. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated for continuous outcomes with its corresponding 95% CI.
LIMITATIONS
Study limitations include challenges to make subgroup analysis by intervention measures and addressing inevitable heterogeneity. Larger studies are needed for survival rates and further insights.
RESULTS
Seven studies involving 359 patients were included. No significant difference was found in pain condition at 2 weeks [SMD = 0.75, 95% CI (-0.25, 1.74), P > 0.05], 2 months [SMD = 1.10, 95% CI (-0.21, 2.40), P > 0.05] and 6 months [SMD = 0.53, 95% CI (-0.02, 1.08), P > 0.05] between SNN and CPN. Opioid consumption was comparable at 2 weeks [SMD = 0.57, 95% CI (-1.21, 2.34), P > 0.05] and one month [SMD = 0.37, 95% CI (-1.33, 2.07), P > 0.05]. However, SNN was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the opioid consumption at 2 months postoperatively [SMD = 0.99, 95% CI (0.68, 1.30), P < 0.05]. A systematic review was performed for adverse effects and QOL.
CONCLUSIONS
Our evidence supports that the analgesic effect of SNN is equivalent to that of CPN, independent of changes in the anatomical structure of the abdominal nerve plexus. SNN requires less use of opioids at 2 months and does not show greater improvement in pain burden compared to CPN.
Topics: Humans; Cancer Pain; Quality of Life; Splanchnic Nerves; Analgesics, Opioid; Celiac Plexus; Abdominal Pain; Abdominal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38285023
DOI: No ID Found -
Seminars in Oncology Nursing Feb 2024Patients with gynecologic cancers experience a very high symptom burden that has a negative impact on their quality of life. This systematic review aims to identify the... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Patients with gynecologic cancers experience a very high symptom burden that has a negative impact on their quality of life. This systematic review aims to identify the common co-occurring symptoms, the prevalence of common symptoms, common instruments used to measure symptoms, associated risk factors, and the symptom burden in patients with gynecologic cancers.
DATA SOURCES
A search of four databases (ie, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL) was done from January 1, 2012, through September 5, 2022. A qualitative synthesis of the extant literature was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines (PRISMA 2020).
CONCLUSION
A total of 118 studies met the prespecified inclusion criteria. Ninety-six symptoms were assessed across these studies. The top six symptoms and their grand mean prevalence rates were lack of energy (64.4%), fatigue (62.1%), abdominal pain (53.3%), depression (52.6%), concentration dysfunction (52.0%), and drowsiness (51.9%). Numerous methodologic challenges were evident across studies. Future research needs to develop a disease-specific symptom assessment measure, evaluate for risk factors associated with a higher symptom burden, and determine the impact of multiple symptoms on patient outcomes.
IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE
The results are relevant for oncology clinicians to assess patients with gynecologic cancers for the presence of common symptoms and risk factors for higher symptom burden in the patients and to offer effective management interventions.
Topics: Humans; Female; Quality of Life; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Medical Oncology
PubMed: 38246840
DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151572 -
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy Feb 2024This study provides an overview of the effectiveness and safety of PDT for the treatment of HPV-associated precancerous cervical conditions and contains recent findings...
Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of photodynamic therapy in the treatment of precancerous diseases of the cervix (neoplasia) associated with the human papillomavirus: A systematic review.
This study provides an overview of the effectiveness and safety of PDT for the treatment of HPV-associated precancerous cervical conditions and contains recent findings from relevant research studies. A comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Central Library, and Google Scholar was conducted, including analytic epidemiological studies, and 11 papers were included. The narrative synthesis approach was used to summarize the results of the included studies. Studies were critically appraised using The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool for assessing the risk of bias. The results of the study demonstrate that CRR for HPV remission ranges from 66.7 % to 92.73 %, whereas for CIN1 it fluctuates from 57.1 % to 83.3 %. The frequency of recurrence of the disease ranged from 3.3 % to 8.9 % during the follow-up period of up to 2 years. Adverse events were observed in 8 (66 %) studies and the most common were cervical stenosis, abdominal pain, vaginal pain, and focal edema. Five types of topical and intravenous applications along with lasers of various wavelengths and intensities were mostly used. However, all studies demonstrated relatively similar results. According to the results, PDT has demonstrated favorable outcomes, but no impressive effect on the treatment of CIN. It should be emphasized, that the effectiveness of PDT for the treatment of HPV-associated CIN may vary depending on some variables, including the kind of PDT agent used, the dosage, duration and frequency of PDT administration, the severity and location of the lesions, and the host immunological response.
Topics: Female; Humans; Cervix Uteri; Human Papillomavirus Viruses; Papillomavirus Infections; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents; Precancerous Conditions; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
PubMed: 38070631
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103925 -
Indian Journal of Palliative Care 2023The management of chronic pain among patients with abdominal cancer is complex; against that, the neurolysis of the celiac plexus (CPN) is the best technique at the...
Efficacy and Safety of Celiac Plexus Neurolysis in the Treatment of Chronic Pain Secondary to Oncological Pathology of the Upper Hemiabdomen: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
OBJECTIVES
The management of chronic pain among patients with abdominal cancer is complex; against that, the neurolysis of the celiac plexus (CPN) is the best technique at the moment o determine the efficacy and safety in the treatment of chronic pain secondary to oncological pathology of the upper abdomen.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This was a systematic review of controlled clinical trials between 2000 and 2021, in the sources MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Three independent evaluators analysed the results of the bibliographical research. The quality of the studies was assessed with the Jadad scale and the mean difference (95% confidence interval) and heterogeneity of the studies (I2) were calculated with Review Manager 5.3.
RESULTS
Seven hundred and forty-four publications were identified, including 13 studies in the qualitative synthesis and three studies in the quantitative synthesis. No difference was found in the decrease in pain intensity between 1 and 12 weeks after the intervention, comparing the experimental group with the control ( > 0.05). The adverse effects related to neurolysis were not serious and transitory, mentioning the most frequent adverse effects and reporting a percentage between 21% and 67% (with 17% for echoendoscopic neurolysis and 49% for percutaneous neurolysis).
CONCLUSION
Celiac plexus neurolysis for the treatment of severe chronic pain secondary to oncological pathology in the upper hemiabdomen produces similar pain relief as conventional pharmacological analgesic treatment. It is a safe analgesic technique since the complications are mild and transitory.
PubMed: 38058484
DOI: 10.25259/IJPC_203_2022 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Jan 2024In this review, we aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of ultrasound for assessing the tumor spread in the abdomen in women with ovarian cancer. A search for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
In this review, we aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of ultrasound for assessing the tumor spread in the abdomen in women with ovarian cancer. A search for studies evaluating the role of ultrasound for assessing intrabdominal tumor spread in women with ovarian cancer compared to surgery from January 2011 to March 2023 was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 evaluated the quality of the studies (QUADAS-2). All analyses were performed using MIDAS and METANDI commands in STATA 12.0 software. We identified 1552 citations. After exclusions, five studies comprising 822 women were included. Quality of studies were considered as good, except for patient selection as all studies were considered as having high risk of bias. The pooled sensitivity and specificity could be calculated for three anatomical areas (recto-sigma, major omentum and root of mesentery) and the presence of ascites. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting disease in the recto-sigma, major omentum and root of mesentery were 0.83 and 0.95, 0.87 and 0.87, and 0.29 and 0.99, respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting ascites was 0.95 and 0.91, respectively. There is evidence that ultrasound offers good diagnostic performance for evaluating the intra-abdominal extent of disease in women with suspected ovarian cancer.
Topics: Female; Humans; Ascites; Ovarian Neoplasms; Ultrasonography; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 38042117
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.11.017 -
Cancer Treatment Reviews Jan 2024In primary localised resectable retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), loco-regional and distant relapse occur frequently despite optimal surgical management. The role of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
A systematic review of the role of chemotherapy in retroperitoneal sarcoma by the Australia and New Zealand sarcoma association clinical practice guidelines working party.
BACKGROUND
In primary localised resectable retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), loco-regional and distant relapse occur frequently despite optimal surgical management. The role of chemotherapy in improving outcomes is unclear.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted, using the population, intervention, comparison outcome (PICO) model, to evaluate whether neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy improve outcomes in adults with primary localised resectable RPS. Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central were queried for publications from 1946 to June 2022 that evaluated recurrence free survival, overall survival, and post operative complications. Each study was screened by two independent reviewers for suitability. A qualitative synthesis of the results was performed.
RESULTS
Twenty three studies were identified; one meta-analysis of retrospective studies and 22 retrospective studies including three with propensity matched cohorts. Most studies did not analyse outcomes by histology, detail treatment regimens, provide baseline characteristics or selection criteria for those receiving chemotherapy. Evidence of selection bias was illustrated in several studies. Newcastle-Ottawa quality of retrospective cohort studies was good for 12 studies and poor for 10 studies. All studies were assessed as Level III-2 evidence by the Australian NHMRC hierarchy. Overall, the addition of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy to surgery was not associated with improvement in local recurrence, metastasis free survival, disease free survival or overall survival in primary localised resectable RPS. There is some evidence of an association of chemotherapy with worse overall survival. One single centre study showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with increased post operative complications compared to surgery alone in primary localised resectable RPS.
CONCLUSIONS
There is currently no evidence that demonstrates the addition of chemotherapy to surgery improves outcomes in adult patients with primary localised resectable RPS. Available evidence is limited by its retrospective nature and high likelihood of selection bias with chemotherapy generally administered to patients at higher risk of recurrence and many patients not receiving care in high volume sarcoma centres. Randomised trials are required to conclusively determine the role of chemotherapy in primary localised resectable RPS.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Retrospective Studies; New Zealand; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Australia; Sarcoma; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38039565
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102663 -
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology Mar 2024The investigation of the role of preoperative conization in cervical cancer aiming to explore its potential clinical significance. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The investigation of the role of preoperative conization in cervical cancer aiming to explore its potential clinical significance.
DATA SOURCES
Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science, up to April 28, 2023.
METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION
(1) Observational cohort studies, (2) studies comparing radical hysterectomy with preoperative conization (CO) vs radical hysterectomy without preoperative conization (NCO) in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, and (3) studies comparing disease-free survival outcomes.
TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS
Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of the studies. The meta-analysis used combined hazard ratios along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals to compare CO and NCO. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to compare minimally invasive CO, open CO, minimally invasive NCO, and open NCO. Our study included 15 retrospective trials, 10 of which were used to traditional pairwise meta-analysis and 8 for network meta-analysis. The NCO group exhibited a notably higher probability of cancer recurrence than the CO group (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.65). In the network meta-analysis, minimally invasive NCO showed the worst survival outcome.
CONCLUSION
Preoperative conization seems to be a protective factor in decreasing recurrence risk, assisting clinicians in predicting survival outcomes for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. It may potentially aid in selecting suitable candidates for minimally invasive surgery in clinical practice.
Topics: Female; Humans; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Conization; Retrospective Studies; Bayes Theorem; Network Meta-Analysis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Disease-Free Survival; Hysterectomy; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Neoplasm Staging
PubMed: 38016630
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmig.2023.11.019 -
BMC Public Health Nov 2023The diagnostic criteria for abdominal obesity are usually waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio. The magnitude of the risks for cancers of the digestive system and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The diagnostic criteria for abdominal obesity are usually waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio. The magnitude of the risks for cancers of the digestive system and abdominal obesity is unknown. To assess whether abdominal obesity increases the risk of digestive cancer, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies in a database.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to December 2022. The 9-star Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Pooled relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using fixed or random effect models respectively. The stability of the results was explored by one-by-one exclusion. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by Begg's and Egger's tests.
RESULTS
A total of 43 cohort studies were included. There were 42 and 31 studies in the meta-analysis of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio on digestive system cancer, respectively. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the greater waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were correlated with increased incidence of digestive system cancers: waist circumference: RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.38-1.59, p < 0.001; waist-to-hip ratio: RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.28-1.38, p = 0.001. Subgroup analysis by cancer type showed that higher WC and WHR would increase the prevalence of LC, PC, GC, EC, and CRC. The sensitivity analysis was conducted by a one-by-one elimination method, and the results of the meta-analysis remained stable. It is proved that the results were robust by the trim-and-fill method.
CONCLUSIONS
There was evidence to suggest that abdominal obesity increased the incidence of digestive cancer, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to reduce abdominal obesity. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio may be better predictors of digestive system cancers. However, the association between waist circumference and digestive system cancer was greater, so more attention should be paid to measuring abdominal obesity with waist circumference.
Topics: Humans; Obesity, Abdominal; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Waist-Hip Ratio; Waist Circumference; Obesity; Digestive System Neoplasms; Body Mass Index
PubMed: 38012596
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17275-2 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Oct 2023Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant neoplasm of neuroectodermal origin and is commonly observed in children and young adults. The musculoskeletal system is the main body...
BACKGROUND
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant neoplasm of neuroectodermal origin and is commonly observed in children and young adults. The musculoskeletal system is the main body system impacted and ES is rarely seen in the visceral organs particularly the adrenal gland.
AIM
To present a comprehensive review of primary adrenal ES, with emphasis on diagnosis, therapy and oncological outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. PubMed/ MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar bibliographic databases were searched to identify articles from 1989 to 2022 and included patients with ES/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the adrenal gland. PubMed, Google Scholar and EMBASE medical databases were searched, combining the terms "adrenal", "ES" and "PNET". Demographic, clinical, pathological and oncological data of patients were analyzed by SPSS version 29.0.
RESULTS
A total of 52 studies were included for review (47 case reports and 5 case series) with 66 patients reported to have primary adrenal ES. Mean age at diagnosis was 26.4 ± 15.4 years (37.9% males, 57.6% females, sex not reported in 3 cases). The most frequent complaint was abdominal/flank pain or discomfort (46.4%) followed by a palpable mass (25.0%), and the average duration of symptoms was 2.6 ± 3.1 mo. The imaging modality of choice was computed tomography scan (81.5%), followed by magnetic resonance imaging (20.4%). Preoperative staging revealed that 17 tumors (27.9%) were metastatic and 14 patients had inferior vena cava or renal vein neoplastic thrombus at initial diagnosis. Open adrenalectomy was performed in the majority of cases (80.0%), of which 27.9% required more extensive resection. Minimally invasive surgery was attempted in 8.2% of tumors. Complete surgical resection was achieved in 89.4% of the patients. Adjuvant therapy was administered to 32 patients, in the form of chemotherapy (62.5%), radiotherapy (3.1%) or combination (34.4%). Median overall survival was 15 mo and 24-mo overall survival was 40.5%. Median disease-free survival was 10 mo and 24-mo disease-free survival was 33.3%.
CONCLUSION
The significant progress in molecular biology and genetics of ES does not reflect on patient outcomes. ES remains an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis and high mortality.
PubMed: 37900999
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i28.6782 -
BioMed Research International 2023Pancreatic trauma is an uncommon injury that occurs usually in a young population and is frequently overlooked and not readily appreciated on initial examination.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic trauma is an uncommon injury that occurs usually in a young population and is frequently overlooked and not readily appreciated on initial examination. Nowadays, the diagnosis and management of pancreatic trauma are still controversial, and there is no gold standard for the treatment. The aim of this study is to describe our experience in the management of blunt pancreatic trauma with a laparoscopic approach and review the literature on laparoscopic management of pancreatic trauma.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed, and 40 cases were reported and analysed; 10 cases were excluded because the complete data were not retrievable. We also reported our experience with the case of an 18-year-old male diagnosed with a deep laceration of the pancreas between body and tail, involving the main pancreatic duct, and with a concomitant hematoma. The patient underwent exploratory laparoscopy with abdominal toilet, necrosectomy, and suture of main pancreatic duct; the total blood loss was less than 200 ml, and the total operative time was 180 minutes. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day.
RESULTS
30 patients with pancreatic trauma, 10 adults and 20 pediatrics (mean age 28.2 years and 10.5 years), underwent a total laparoscopic approach: 2 distal pancreatic-splenectomy, 22 spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy, and 6 laparoscopic drainage. The mean operative time for the adult and pediatric populations was 160.6 and 214.5 minutes, the mean estimated blood loss was 400 ml and 75 ml, and the mean hospital stay was 14.9 and 9 days, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Laparoscopic management for pancreatic trauma can be considered feasible and safe when performed by an experienced laparoscopic pancreatic team, and in such a setting, it can be considered a viable alternative to open surgery, offering the well-known benefits of minimally invasive surgery.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adult; Child; Adolescent; Pancreas; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic Diseases; Spleen; Laparoscopy; Abdominal Injuries; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37810623
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9296570