The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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The neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) has been recommended for pain relief in patients with upper abdominal cancer by the WHO Cancer Pain Relief Program. In this article, we review the indications, techniques, and adverse effects of NCPB based on the previous findings in the literature and our own experience of 142 NCPBs during the past 11 years. No well-validated indication criteria for the NCPB have been available from invasive trials or non-invasive pain evaluations. ⋯ The diarrhea may counteract the morphine-induced constipation. NCPB relieves visceral pain in upper abdominal cancer with no serious adverse effects. We recommend this procedure to improve the quality of life of the patients suffering from abdominal cancer pain.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Oct 1999
Review Case ReportsExtra-abdominal desmoid tumor of the hand: a case report and review of the literature.
Extra-abdominal desmoid tumor of the hand is rare and only 10 cases have been described in the literature. We present a 14-year-old boy with a recurrent extra-abdominal desmoid tumor in the dorsal site of the right hand. MR image demonstrated the tumor in the third dorsal interosseous muscle, and adhered to the radial side of the forth metacarpal bone. ⋯ The size of the third recurrent tumor has not been changed for 2 years and 3 months. Therefore, we have not performed any additional surgery. Since extensive resection markedly diminishes the function of the hand, we consider that a marginal surgical margin is acceptable for the quality of daily life of patients with a desmoid tumor of the hand.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Mar 1999
ReviewPathophysiologic significance of host reactions in human cancer tissue: desmoplasia and tumor immunity.
Invasive growth of malignant cells, particularly carcinoma cells, induces host reaction within and around tumor tissue. Representatives of them are desmoplasia, angiogenesis and immune reactions. Desmoplasia, a process of fibrosis, is induced by activation of fibroblasts with increased production of matrix proteins and matrix degrading enzymes. ⋯ T-cells were co-localized with these cells. Clinicopathologic analysis confirmed that CD8+ T-cells distributed within cancer cell nest (intraepithelial) have the most significant impact on the patients' survival in colorectal cancer. These data suggest that various host reactions take place in the stroma of cancer tissue, which modulate the biologic behavior of cancer.