Articles

Case report: Seeding metastases after percutaneous vertebroplasty procedure for pathological fracture: a rare complication

BJMO - volume 13, issue 6, october 2019

C. Debeuckelaere MD, A. Van Goethem MD, G. Maleux MD, PhD, H. Prenen MD, PhD

SUMMARY

Percutaneous balloon vertebroplasty (PVP) is an effective treatment for pathological vertebral compression fractures in oncological patients. The procedure is considered safe and the analgesic effect is fast and long lasting. Seeding metastases after PVP are a rare complication. At present, there is no standard of care how to prevent or treat this complication. Further research is necessary to determine preventive measures.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(6): 255–257)

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Blood sampling at home: a pilot project

BJMO - volume 12, issue 5, september 2018

D. Schrijvers MD, PhD, L. van Asch , A. Van Goethem MD, E. Heylen MD, P. de Schouwer , S. van Eeckhout , V. Verheyen

Haematological and biochemical parameters are two of the important factors for safely administering oncological medication. These values should be available to the oncologist prior to administration of anticancer drugs in order to decide if they can be administered safely or if a dose reduction or postponement is necessary. In this project, the possibility of a blood sampling at home by a home care organisation 48–72 hours before the patient’s contact with the oncologist was evaluated to ensure that these parameters were available at the moment of consultation and to integrate these results in the patient electronic file.

From January 9, 2017, until April 30, 2017, 418 blood samplings were performed at home. Problems were not frequently encountered (4.7% of blood samplings). The pros and cons of this project are discussed. This project demonstrates that blood sampling at home is feasible and that the oncologist receives the required parameters in due time to ensure safe prescription and administration of anticancer medication.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2018;12(5):247–251)

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Radium-223, patient selection is of utmost importance

BJMO - volume 11, issue 3, may 2017

D. Schrijvers MD, PhD, A. Van Goethem MD

SUMMARY

In this practice guideline, the use of clinical indicators to increase the chance of completing six cycles of radium-223 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is discussed.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(3):107–109)

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