An ovarian cancer blog which includes quality resource materials: education, research, social networking, genetics and (some) healthcare politics.
“Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.”
Albert Einstein
Trials is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal that encompasses all aspects of the performance and findings of randomized controlled trials. We publish articles on general trial methodology as well as protocols, commentaries and traditional results papers - regardless of outcome or significance of findings.
Original Paper
Issue
Background The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of preoperative positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) in the initial staging of patients with early-stage breast cancer.
Patients and methods A total of 103 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed operable breast cancer with tumors ≥2 cm were independently examined preoperatively with conventional assessment (mammography, breast/axillary ultrasound, chest X-ray and blood samples) and PET/CT with no prior knowledge of the other.
Results PET/CT identified a primary tumor in all but three patients (97%). PET/CT solely detected distant metastases (ovary, bones and lung) in 6 patients and new primary cancers (ovary, lung) in another two patients, as well as 12 cases of extra-axillary lymph node involvement. In 15 patients (15%), extra-axillary malignancy was detected by PET/CT only, leading to an upgrade of initial staging in 14% (14/103) and ultimately a modification of planned treatment in 8% (8/103) of patients.......,
OBJECTIVE: Most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who are alive at 5 years have active disease. Thus, 10-year survival rather than 5-year survival may be a more appropriate endpoint. Relative survival adjusts for the general survival of the United States population for that race, sex, age, and date at which the diagnosis was coded. Our objective was to estimate relative survival in epithelial ovarian cancer over the course of 10 years.
METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 1995-2007 database, epithelial ovarian cancer cases were identified. Using the actuarial life table method, relative survival over the course of 10 years was calculated, stratified by stage, classification of residence, surgery as the first course of treatment, race, and age.
RESULTS: There were 40,692 patients who met inclusion criteria. The overall relative survival was 65%, 44%, and 36% at 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The slope of decline in relative survival was reduced for years 5-10 as compared with years 1-5 after diagnosis. Relative survival at 5 years was 89%, 70%, 36%, and 17%, and at 10 years relative survival was 84%, 59%, 23%, and 8% for stages I, II III, and IV, respectively. At all stages, patients with nonsurgical primary treatment and those with advanced age had reduced relative survival.
CONCLUSIONS: The 10-year relative survival for stage III is higher than expected. This information provides the physician and the patient with more accurate prognostic information.
From: "U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)" <fda@service.govdelivery.com>
Date: 25 August, 2012 8:42:31 AM EDT
Subject: U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Daily Digest Bulletin
Subject: FDA MedWatch - CareFusion Alaris Pump Module Model 8100: Class I Recall - Motor Stalls During Infusion
