Sarcoma is a cancer that arises from cells of mesenchymal origin, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, vascular, or hematopoietic tissue. It is a very rare form of cancer with over 50 histologic subtypes. This chapter discusses selected individual subtypes of sarcomas and characteristics specific to each one. It will broadly go over molecular biology, etiology, risk factors, and the clinical features of this disease. It discusses diagnostic evaluation and the principles of management including imaging, biopsy, staging, treatment, follow-up, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.
Background The most common site of sarcoma metastasis is the lung. Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases and chemotherapy are treatment options that have been employed, but many patients are poor candidates for these treatments for multiple host or tumor-related reasons. In this group of patients, radiation might provide a less morbid treatment alternative. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic sarcoma to the lung. Methods Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) was used to treat 117 pulmonary metastases in 44 patients. Patients were followed with serial computed tomography imaging of the chest. The primary endpoint was failure of control of a pulmonary lesion as measured by continued growth. Radiation-associated complications were recorded. Results The majority of patients (84%) received a total dose of 50 Gy per metastatic nodule utilizing an image-guided SBRT technique. The median interval follow-up was 14.2 months (range 1.6–98.6 months). Overall survival was 82% at two years and 50% at five years. Of 117 metastatic nodules treated, six nodules showed failure of treatment (95% control rate). Twenty patients (27%) developed new metastatic lesions and underwent further SBRT. The side effects of SBRT included transient radiation pneumonitis (n=6), cough (n=2), rib fracture (n=1), chronic pain (n=1), dermatitis (n=1), and dyspnea (n=1). Conclusion Stereotactic body radiotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for the ablation of pulmonary metastasis from sarcoma. Further work is needed to evaluate the optimal role of SBRT relative to surgery or chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic sarcoma.
Management of humeral shaft fractures has historically been largely conservative. A significant body of literature, dating back to the 1970s, has shown that functional bracing may achieve greater than 90 % union rates and acceptable functional outcomes. More recently, however, with the advent of new surgical techniques and implant options, less tolerance for acceptable deformity and functional deficits, and less patience with conservative management, many treating orthopaedic surgeons are increasingly likely to consider surgical intervention. This article reviews the current recommendations for treatment of humeral shaft fractures, including both nonoperative and operative intervention. It also discusses the current thinking and operative trends in humeral shaft fracture fixation.
Introduction: The Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a scoring tool that allows comparisons between patients with rare conditions and more common ailments, or the general US population. PROMIS outcomes were compared between the limb salvage and amputee patients for nonmetastatic sarcomas to the US population. Methods: One hundred thirty-eight patients were included in the analysis. Patients were divided into the limb salvage and amputee cohorts, as well as based on the follow-up (1 to 11 or 12+ months). Results: Seven PROMIS domains were evaluated, and higher scores were found in both the limb salvage group and patients >12 months from surgery. The limb salvage group also had improved emotional health compared with the US population. Discussion: Improvements in PROMIS values are observed in limb salvage patients and in patients >12 months from surgery. Limb salvage patients demonstrate improved emotional health compared with the US population.
Tibial shaft fractures distal to total knee arthroplasty are rare, but they are likely to become more common with the increasing number of arthroplasty procedures being performed. These fracture patterns have been treated in the past either with closed reduction and casting/bracing or with open reduction internal fixation using plates. Weight-bearing precautions in the elderly patient population can affect patient disposition, and weight bearing on extramedullary fixation can lead to early hardware failure. We present a series of nailing techniques that can be used for tibial fractures distal to a well-fixed total knee arthroplasty that avoids the tibial baseplate, provides stable fracture fixation, and allows for early weight bearing.
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