Tumor

Click here to read the Cover Story, “Oncologists must be ‘very cautious’ as liquid biopsy use expands.”

Patients who underwent the Capanna technique for intercalary reconstruction after tumor resection had a lower complication rate and higher success rate compared with use of an allograft or a vascularized fibular graft alone, according to published results.

According to study results, limb salvage surgery was associated with an “acceptable means of oncological outcome and function” after resection of a shoulder girdle tumor.

A 14-year-old patient with no significant past medical history presented with a 2-year history of a left arm mass. On exam, the patient was neurovascularly intact with full strength and intact sensation throughout her left upper extremity. There was a firm, semi-mobile mass located over the dorsal ulnar left forearm. The mass had a negative Tinel’s sign, and she had no palpable lymph nodes. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass on the dorsal ulnar left forearm, with indeterminate features, that was closely associated with the radius (Figure 1). Biopsy was consistent with low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. CT of the chest was negative for metastatic disease. Wide resection was planned without radiotherapy secondary to the patient’s age. In anticipation of the need for soft tissue and potential bony reconstruction, a CT angiogram of the bilateral lower extremities was obtained (Figure 2). Despite the patient having palpable dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses, the angiogram revealed absence of the bilateral posterior tibial arteries.

Published results showed bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell implantation may be equally effective and safe as autologous chondrocyte implantation for the treatment of full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee.

Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that affects the body’s soft tissues, such as muscles, fat and ligaments. There are more than 50 types of soft tissue sarcoma, including synovial sarcoma, which accounts for 5% to 10% of all soft tissue tumors diagnosed each year.

With four FDA-approved agents and several potentially practicing-changing studies presented at medical conferences this year, the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, or PARP, inhibitors is becoming more clearly defined.

Circulating tumor DNA detection during follow-up for early-stage breast cancer appeared associated with high risk for future relapse, according to study results published in JAMA Oncology.