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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De-escalation of therapy in head and neck cancer: Where are we standing now, anno 2022?

BJMO - volume 16, issue 4, june 2022

W. Lybaert MD, R. de Bree MD, PhD, J. Meulemans MD, PhD, J-F. Daisne MD, PhD, F. Duprez MD, PhD, D. Nevens MD, PhD, R. Van Hoeyweghen MD, PhD, K. Boeykens RN , J. De Ceulaer MD, W. Huvenne MD, PhD, O. Lenssen MD

SUMMARY

The annual winter meeting of the ‘Vlaamse Werkgroep Hoofd-Hals Tumoren’ on 11 December 2021 handled the different possible de-escalation strategies in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (SCCHN) in anno 2022. Which surgical techniques can be used nowadays to diminish long-term morbidities in SCCHN? To which extent can we lower radiotherapy doses and regions in the treatment planning of SCCHN? Are the systemic treatment options of SCCHN always radical for each patient or more personalised? Is a comprehensive geriatric assessment feasible and already used in our head and neck oncology practice? Last but not least, how can we optimally sustain our patients with nutrition before, during and after treatment of head and neck cancer?

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2022;16(4):198–208)

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