Articles

Avoiding ‘whoops’ surgery in primary bone tumours in the spine: An intake protocol for all possibly involved caregivers in a tertiary hospital

BJMO - volume 17, issue 1, january 2023

B. Depreitere MD, PhD, S. Schelfaut MD, F. Sinnaeve MD, H. Wafa MD, M. Lambrecht MD, PhD, M. Christiaens MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, F.J. Sherida H. Woei-A-Jin MD, PhD, P. Brys MD, M. Renard MD, R. Sciot MD, PhD, J-F. Daisne MD, PhD

SUMMARY

Primary bone tumours of the spine are relatively rare when compared to metastatic lesions and haematopoietic neoplasms. This often results in misdiagnosis leading to a high incidence of inadvertent intralesional surgery, which is associated in many cases with worse progression-free survival and overall survival. Based on evidence and consensus, a protocol was designed at the University Hospitals Leuven, intended to guide all possibly involved caregivers in different clinical situations. The protocol raises awareness of potentially suspicious situations and provides expert input to avoid unfortunate decisions, even in situations with alarming neurological deficits.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2023;17(1):4–10)

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Soft tissue sarcoma: the clinically relevant basics and an update on systemic therapy options for patients with advanced disease

BJMO - volume 7, issue 3, july 2013

P. Schöffski MD, MPH , D. Hompes MD, PhD, A. Wozniak PhD, H. Dumez MD, PhD, I. Samson MD, M. Stas PhD, F. Sinnaeve MD, O. Bechter MD, PhD, M. Debiec-Rychter MD, PhD, E. Van Limbergen MD, PhD, S. Pans MD, PhD, R. Sciot MD, PhD

Summary

Sarcomas are a group of rare solid tumours arising from mesenchymal or connective tissue. This review focuses on soft tissue sarcoma and covers general topics such as the epidemiology, age distribution, site of disease, histogenesis, histological subtypes, prognosis and outcome of treatment. In more detail the article reviews current systemic treatment standards and selected adverse events of agents such as doxorubicin, ifosfamide, trabectedin and pazopanib, and briefly highlights some drugs that are used off-label in rare subtypes of sarcoma.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2013;7(3):80–88)

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