Introdução: Pacientes com câncer de laringe costumam apresentar histórico de tabagismo. Nos pacientes submetidos à tratamento cirúrgico, as complicações pulmonares podem levar à morte no período pós-operatório. Um método com dispositivo extratraqueal padronizado, simples e de baixo custo para a avaliação pulmonar dos pacientes laringectomizados seria muito útil. Objetivo: Validar a metodologia para a avaliação pulmonar em pacientes submetidos à laringectomia total por meio da aplicação de um dispositivo extratraqueal adesivo. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo transversal 50 pacientes submetidos à laringectomia total há pelo menos seis meses como modalidade de tratamento para o câncer de laringe em acompanhamento no Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Por meio da anamnese e do prontuário dos pacientes foram obtidos dados demográficos, tabagismo, a presença de doenças respiratórias nos últimos 30 dias, dados acerca do tumor e sobre o tratamento realizado. Os testes de função pulmonar foram utilizados para caracterizar a presença de limitação funcional respiratória e o padrão funcional do paciente laringectomizado. Na intenção de avaliar a reprodutibilidade dos exames realizados, foram utilizados parâmetros com respectivos critérios de aceitação dos exames. Os critérios de reprodutibilidade são indicadores de exatidão. Foi feita a comparação desses parâmetros com 50 exames realizados em pacientes não laringectomizados, no mesmo período com o mesmo equipamento, pareados para idade e gênero. Resultados: Em todos os casos de nosso estudo, uma vedação aérea foi mantida durante todo o procedimento com o uso do dispositivo extratraqueal adesivo. Após a realização dos testes de função pulmonar, encontramos que 44% dos pacientes apresentavam um padrão respiratório normal e 56% alterado. Comparando a frequência e porcentagem dos exames rejeitados entre os laringectomizados e o grupo controle, dos nove parâmetros avaliados, cinco foram exatamente iguais, três apresentaram frequência de rejeição maior no grupo controle e somente um mostrou uma maior frequência de exames rejeitados no grupo dos pacientes submetidos à laringectomia total. O total de exames rejeitados foi maior no grupo controle (72%) do que no grupo dos laringectomizados (46%). Conclusões: A maioria dos pacientes submetidos à laringectomia total apresenta função pulmonar alterada, de caráter obstrutivo, na maioria das vezes, devido ao histórico de tabagismo. A metodologia para a avaliação da função pulmonar por meio do uso do dispositivo extra-traqueal proposto é confiável, precisa e reprodutível / Introduction: Laryngeal cancer patients usually have a smoking history. In patients submitted to laryngectomy, pulmonary complications may lead to death in the post-operative phase. A simple and low-cost method with a standardized extra-tracheal device for the pulmonary assessment of laryngectomized patients would be very useful. Objective: Validate the methodology for pulmonary assessment in patients submitted to total laryngectomy through the application of an adhesive extra-tracheal device. Methods: This transversal study included 50 patients who had been submitted to total laryngectomy at least six months prior to this investigation, as choice of treatment for laryngeal cancer while followed by the Head and Neck Service from Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University. Through anamnesis and patients medical records the following information was collected: demographic data, smoking habits, the presence of respiratory diseases in the last 30 days, as well as information about the tumor and the performed treatment. Pulmonary tests were used to characterize the presence of respiratory functional limitation as well as laryngectomized patient\'s functional standards. Aiming at evaluating the reproducibility of the performed tests, parameters were used with the respective criteria for the acceptance of the tests. The reproducibility criteria are indicators of accuracy. A comparison of these parameters was made with 50 tests performed in non-laryngectomized patients, in the same period with the same equipment, paired up according to age and gender. Results: In all cases of our study, an air-tight seal was maintained through the entire procedure with the use of the adhesive extra-tracheal device. After the performance of pulmonary function tests, 44% of patients presented a normal respiratory standard whereas 56% had an altered one. When comparing the frequency and percentage of the rejected tests between laryngectomized and control group, out of nine assessed parameters, five were exactly the same, three presented a greater rejection frequency in the control group and only one showed a greater frequency of rejected tests in the group of patients submitted to total laryngectomy. The total of rejected tests was greater in the control group (72%) when compared to the laryngectomized one (46%). Conclusions: Most patients submitted to total laryngectomy present altered pulmonary function, of the obstructive type most of the times, due to a smoking history. The methodology for the assessment of the pulmonary function by using the extra-tracheal proposed device is reliable, accurate and reproducible

Introdução: Desde as primeiras laringectomias totais, a perda da voz natural é considerada uma das principais consequências. Durante décadas, têm-se desenvolvido mecanismos e próteses na tentativa de conseguir a reabilitação vocal com taxas variáveis de sucesso. Após a introdução das punções traqueoesofágicas e passagem da prótese fonatória, esta passou a ser o método de escolha. A passagem primária (PTE1) traz a vantagem da utilização mais precoce da voz, no entanto, existe a preocupação com o risco aumentado de complicações. Objetivo: Comparar as complicações e o sucesso na reabilitação vocal de pacientes submetidos à reabilitação por punção tráqueoesofágica (PTE) primária e secundária por meio de uma revisão sistemática. Métodos: Foram incluídos estudos que compararam a eficácia da PTE primária e secundária quanto a reabilitação fonatória e taxas de complicações. Foi consultada a base de dados eletrônica MedLine via Pubmed, Scielo, Lilacs, Cochrane e Websco até junho de 2016, utilizando-se a estratégia de busca com descritores os \"laryngectomy AND (tracheoesophageal puncture OR punctures)\", \"(laryngeal neoplasms OR laryngectomy) AND (pharyngocutaneous fistula OR cutaneous fístula)\" no PubMed e EMBASE; e \"(neoplasias laríngeas OR laringectomia) AND (fistula cutânea)\" no MEDLINE. Resultados: Para o vazamento ao redor da prótese, o grupo PTE1 apresentou índice maior que o PTE2 (22,5% vs. 6,9%), p=0,03. Houve maior ocorrência de infecção de ferida operatória (9,1% vs. 3,9%) e para estenose de traqueostoma (8,5% vs. 4,5%) no grupo PTE1 em relação ao PTE2, porém, sem significado estatístico. A avaliação da qualidade de voz não foi possível devido à heterogeneidade dos estudos. Conclusão: Há redução do risco de vazamento ao redor da prótese de aproximadamente 10% no grupo de pacientes submetidos à punção traqueoesofágica secundária / Introduction: Since the first total laryngectomy was performed, the loss of natural voice has been considered one of its main consequences. For decades, mechanisms and prosthesis have been developed in an attempt to achieve speech rehabilitation with varying rates of success. After the introduction of the tracheoesophageal puncture and placement of the voice prosthesis, this has become the method of choice. The primary passage (TEP1) has the advantage of earlier use of the voice; however, there is the concern about the possible increased risk of complications. Objective: To compare the complications and success in speech rehabilitation of patients undergoing rehabilitation after primary and secondary tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP1 and TEP2) through a systematic review. Methods: The literature survey included research in MedLine, Scielo, Lilacs, Cochrane and Websco until June, 2016 considering the descriptors \"laryngectomy AND (tracheoesophageal puncture OR punctures)\", \"(laryngeal neoplasms OR laryngectomy) AND (pharyngocutaneous fistula OR cutaneous fistula)\" in PubMed and EMBASE; and \"(neoplasias laríngeas OR laringectomia) AND (fístula cutânea)\" in MedLine. The intervention analyzed was rehabilitation with TEP1 and TEP2 regarding complications and speech rehabilitation. Results: The rate of leakage around the prosthesis was higher in TEP1 (22.5% vs. 6.9%), p=0.03. There were higher rates of wound infection (9.1% vs. 3.9%) and tracheal stenosis (8.5% vs. 4.5%) in TEP1 group in relation to TEP2, with no statistical significance, however. The evaluation of speech quality was not possible due to the heterogeneity of the studies. Conclusion: There is a reduction of the risk of leakage around the prosthesis of approximately 10% among TEP2 patients

Background: This prospective study was conducted to assess changes in quality of life (QoL) of patients who undergo a partial laryngectomy (PLE). Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 were used pre-procedure (n=218), one week (n=159), three months (n=122) and one year after PLE (n=88). Changes over time were analyzed with the Wilcoxon-signed-rank-test and the Holm-Bonferroni-method, and interpreted regarding clinical relevance. Results: Most subscales worsened one week post-procedure, but many recovered to baseline level after one year. Dyspnea and cognitive functioning deteriorated over time, with worst scores recorded after one year. Financial difficulties and fatigue increased after surgery and maintained that level throughout the follow-up period; sticky saliva remained worse than at baseline, despite some improvements over time. Conclusions: The discovered limitations of QoL should be observed more closely during follow-up treatment, and patients should be informed about these potential eaffects before PLE.:1 Einführung ........................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Das Larynxkarzinom ......................................................................................... 3 1.2 Therapiemöglichkeiten des Larynxkarzinoms ................................................... 4 1.3 Lebensqualität ................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Methodik bei der Evaluierung von Lebensqualität ............................................. 7 1.5 Lebensqualität bei Krebspatienten .................................................................... 8 1.6 Lebensqualität nach Therapie von Kopf-Hals-Tumoren .................................. 10 2 Zielstellung der Studie ....................................................................................... 13 3 Publikation ......................................................................................................... 14 4 Zusammenfassung ............................................................................................ 37 4.1 Einführung....................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Methoden ........................................................................................................ 39 4.3 Ergebnisse ...................................................................................................... 39 4.4 Diskussion....................................................................................................... 41 5 Literaturverzeichnis ............................................................................................ 44 6 Anlagen ............................................................................................................. 49 6.1 Darstellung des eigenen Beitrags ................................................................... 49 6.2 Selbstständigkeitserklärung ............................................................................ 50

No description available.

Bakgrund. Kardiovaskulära sjukdomar är globalt sett den ledande dödsorsaken bland befolkningen. Hälften av dödsfallen beror på plötsligt hjärtstopp. Bakomliggande orsaker kan vara kardiellt eller icke-kardiellt betingat. Optimal luftvägshantering är av avgörande betydelse vid ett hjärtstopp då patienten inte andas själv. Larynxmasken är ett supraglottiskt hjälpmedel och har fått en viktig roll i akuta situationer såsom hjärtstopp där fri luftväg och ventilering snabbt måste upprättas. Syfte. Att beskriva specialistsjuksköterskors upplevelser av att använda larynxmask vid prehospitalt hjärtstopp. Åtta specialistsjuksköterskor vid tre ambulansstationer i norra Sverige deltog i studien. Metod. Data samlades med semi-struktuerade intervjuer och analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat. Analysen resulterade i fyra kategorier; Att handhavandet är enkelt, att den prehospitala miljön ökar riskerna, att vara i behov av träning för att vara förberedd samt att larynxmasken inte är helt säker. I resultatet framkom att larynxmasken är enkel att använda vid prehospitalt hjärtstopp, men att det finns vissa svårigheter och risker vid applicering till följd av den prehospitala miljön, samt att den inte alltid går att få att sluta tillräckligt tätt för att minska risken för aspiration. Trots detta beskrevs larynxmasken vara ett bra förstahandsval. Slutsats. Vår slutsats är att larynxmasken är ett vitalt hjälpmedel vid prehospitla hjärtstopp men att specialistsjuksköterskor behöver kontinuerlig träning för att känna sig säkra i handhavandet och upprätthålla sin kompetens.

Introduktion: Anestesisjuksköterskor arbetar inom flera olika delar av sjukvården. Tack vare deras kunskaper om luftvägar och omhändertagande av kritiskt sjuka patienter så anställs anestesisjuksköterskor inom olika prehospitala verksamheter så som exempelvis resursenheter. Vid plötsliga hjärtstopp är upprättandet av en fri luftväg kritiskt. Detta görs vanligen genom användandet av olika medicintekniska hjälpmedel som larynxmask eller endotrachealtub. De respektive hjälpmedlen har olika styrkor och svagheter som är väl studerade, men upplevelser av att använda dessa metoder finns det lite forskning om. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att studera anestesisjuksköterskans upplevelser av att använda larynxmask och endotrachealtub vid plötsliga hjärtstopp utanför sjukhuset. Metod: En kvalitativ induktiv enkätstudie med öppna semistrukturerade frågor genomfördes för att fånga användarnas upplevelser av skillnader mellan dessa metoder av luftvägshantering. 14 anestesisjuksköterskor med minst två års erfarenhet samt erfarenhet av att arbeta prehospitalt deltog i studien. Deltagarna arbetar i tre regioner vilka har stora skillnader i resurser och arbetsrutiner. Resultat: Larynxmask var mest använt, trots att nästan alla deltagare föredrog att ha patienten intuberad. Orsaken till att laynxmasken användes trots att deltagarna föredrog att patienten skulle ha en endotrachealtub varierade något men hade flera gemensamma faktorer så som tidsåtgång och enkel användning. / Introduction: Nurse anesthesias work in different parts of healthcare. In various prehospital activities and different resource units these specialist nurses are often hired for their knowledge of the airways and critical patients. In case of sudden cardiac arrest, the establishment of a free airway is critical. This is usually done using various medical aids such as a laryngeal mask or endotracheal tube. These have their different strengths and weaknesses that are well studied, but there is little research on experiences of using these methods. Aim: The aim of the study was to study anesthesia nurses' experiences of using a laryngeal mask and endotracheal tube in sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital. Method: A qualitative inductive survey with open semistructural questions, was done to capture the users’ experiences of the differences between these methods of airway management. This study included 14 nurse anesthetists, with at least 2 years of experience and experience of working in a prehospital setting. Participants from three regions participated, those regions differ in resources and ways of working routines. Result: The laryngeal mask is most commonly used, even though almost all participants prefer to have an intubated patient. The reasons for that varies between the participants but have several common factors such as time of application and ease of use.

Bakgrund: Dagligen drabbas mer än 25 personer av hjärtstopp utanför sjukhus där ungefär 500 av dessa räddas årligen. Luftvägshanteringen är en av de viktigaste faktorerna under hjärt-och lungräddning och en obehandlad hypoxi i samband med hjärtstopp ökar risken för att patienten kan erhålla neurologiska skador. Enligt Erikssons omvårdnadsteori kan olika former av lidande upplevas, men när kroppen, själen och anden är i balans uppnås hälsa. För att hantera luftvägen kan ambulanspersonal använda sig utav mask-och blåsa eller larynxmask. Endotrakeal intubation är även ett alternativ, men kräver särskild kompetens i Sverige vilken främst specialistsjuksköterska inom anestesisjukvård innehar. Studier visar på en låg procentuell framgång för antal lyckade försök gällande utövandet av endotrakeal intubation prehospitalt och att larynxmask numera används i stället av ambulanspersonalenför att den kan appliceras snabbt och enkelt. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa om förekommande luftvägshjälpmedel vid hjärtstopp utanför sjukhus kan påverka patientens utfall vid återkomst av spontan cirkulation. Metod: Litteraturöversikt med systematisk ansats. Cinahl plus och PubMed har använts som databassökning. Totalt 15 artiklar av kvantitativ metod inkluderades. Artiklarna har därefter analyserats genom integrerad analys. Resultat: De signifikanta huvudfynden som framkom med var att luftvägshantering med mask-och blåsa påvisade en hög prevalens för gynnsamt neurologiskt utfall och överlevnad medan endotrakeal intubation påvisade en högre prevalens för återgång av spontan cirkulation. Slutsats: Utifrån resultatet visade sig användning av mask-och blåsa ge mest utdelning för att uppnå ett gynnsamt neurologiskt utfall och ökad chans till överlevnad för patienten. Däremot framkom det att användning av endotrakealtub vid prehospitalt hjärtstopp medförde störst chans till återkomst av spontan cirkulation. Av de tre förekommande luftvägshjälpmedlen att använda sig av vid prehospitalt hjärtstopp kan det förekomma skillnader i utfallet för patienten. Det förekommer däremot inte tillräckligt med stora skillnader och resultatet bördärmed tolkas med försiktighet då det anses behövas fler studier inom området. / Background: Every day more than 25 people suffer from out-of hospital cardiac arrest, of which approximately 500 rescued annually. Airway management is one of the most important factors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and an untreated hypoxia in conjunction with cardiac arrest increases the patient’s risk of receiving neurological damage. According to Eriksson's nursing theory, various forms of suffering can be experienced, and a state of health can only be achieved when the body, soul and spirit are in balance. To manage the airway, the ambulance clinician can use a bag-valve mask or laryngeal mask. Endotracheal intubation is also an alternative, but in Sweden, it requires specific competence that mainly specialist nurses in anesthesia care possess. Studies shows a low success rate regarding the practice of performing a prehospital endotracheal intubation and that laryngeal mask nowadays more used instead by ambulance staff because it’s applied quickly and easily. Aim: The purpose was to shed light on whether the available respiratory aids in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can affect the patient outcomes on the return of spontaneous circulation. Method: Literature overview with systematic approach. Cinahl plus and PubMed has been used as database search. A total of 15 articles of quantitative method were included. The articles were analyzed through integrated analysis. Results: The significant main findings that emerged were that airway management with bag-valve mask correlated with a high prevalence for favorable neurological outcome and survival while endotracheal intubation showed a higher prevalence for return of spontaneous circulation. Conclusion: Based on the results, the use of bag-valve mask found to be the best option to achieve a favorable neurological outcome and increased chance of survival for the patient. However, the use of endotracheal tube in out-ofhospital cardiac arrest for increasing the chance of the patient regaining return of spontaneous circulation. Out of the three available airway aids to use in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, there may be differences in the outcome for the patient. However, there are not enough significant differences, and the result therefore should be interpreted with caution as it is considered that more studies in the subject required.

No description available.

Εισαγωγή: Ο καρκίνος του λάρυγγα, ιδιαιτέρως σε προχωρημένα στάδια, είναι μία καταστροφική νόσος η οποία χαρακτηρίζεται από αυξημένη διηθητικότητα και μεταστατικότητα. Η ανεύρεση ενός δείκτη πρώιμης διάγνωσης, παρακολούθησης και πρόγνωσης της νόσου θα ήταν ιδιαίτερα ευπρόσδεκτη. Συνεχώς αυξανόμενα δεδομένα στη βιβλιογραφία υποστηρίζουν την προγνωστική αξία των ζελατινασών και τον πιθανό ρόλο τους ως μοριακών δεικτών μεταξύ άλλων και στον καρκίνο του λάρυγγα. Σκοπός: Η διαπίστωση μεταβολών στα επίπεδα ορού των ζελατινασών Α και Β σε ασθενείς με καρκίνο του λάρυγγα μετά από εφαρμογή θεραπείας, καθώς και η πιθανή συσχέτιση με διάφορες κλινικοπαθολογικές παραμέτρους πριν και μετά τη θεραπευτική παρέμβαση. Υλικό και μέθοδος: Σαράντα εννέα ασθενείς και 8 υγιείς μάρτυρες συμπεριλήφθηκαν στη μελέτη. Ελήφθησαν προεγχειρητικά και μετεγχειρητικά δείγματα ορού τα οποία στη συνέχεια υποβλήθηκαν σε ζυμογραφία ζελατίνης. Η παρουσία ζελατινασών επιβεβαιώθηκε με την τεχνική western blotting. Οι ζώνες λύσης ποσοτικοποιήθηκαν με τη χρήση Scion Image PC. Η ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων πραγματοποιήθηκε με το πρόγραμμα SPSS 17 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Αποτελέσματα: Στα ζυμογραφήματα αποτυπώθηκαν μόνο οι λανθάνουσες μορφές των ενζύμων (προένζυμα). Τα προ της θεραπείας επίπεδα και των δύο ζελατινασών στον ορό του αίματος των ασθενών με καρκίνο του λάρυγγα ήταν σημαντικά υψηλότερα σε σχέση με αυτά των υγιών μαρτύρων. Ασθενείς με υπεργλωττιδικό καρκίνωμα και ενεργοί καπνιστές είχαν σημαντικά υψηλότερα επίπεδα proMMP-2 σε σχέση με ασθενείς που έπασχαν από γλωττιδικό καρκίνωμα και με πρώην καπνιστές αντίστοιχα. Ασθενείς με πρωτοδιαγνωσμένη νόσο και ασθενείς με λεμφαδενικές μεταστάσεις είχαν σημαντικά χαμηλότερα προ της θεραπείας επίπεδα proMMP-9 σε σχέση με ασθενείς που προσήλθαν με υποτροπή και με ασθενείς στους οποίους δεν διαπιστώθηκε επιχώρια νόσος αντίστοιχα. Κατά τη διάρκεια της συστηματικής παρακολούθησης τα επίπεδα της proMMP-2 στον ορό παρουσίασαν σημαντική αύξηση τις πρώτες 10 με 15 ημέρες μετά την εφαρμογή θεραπείας, για να μειωθούν σταδιακά εντός των επόμενων μηνών. Οι ενεργοί καπνιστές παρουσίασαν σημαντική μείωση των επιπέδων της proMMP-2 κατά την περίοδο παρακολούθησης, σε αντίθεση με τους πρώην καπνιστές οι οποίοι εμφάνισαν σημαντική αύξηση κατά το ίδιο χρονικό διάστημα. Οι ασθενείς σταδίου ΙΙ είχαν σημαντικά χαμηλότερα επίπεδα proMMP-2 σε σχέση με ασθενείς προχωρημένων σταδίων πέντε με οκτώ μήνες μετά τη θεραπεία, όπως και οι ασθενείς οι οποίοι υποβλήθηκαν σε συντηρητική αντιμετώπιση σε σχέση με τους χειρουργημένους ασθενείς. Τα επίπεδα της proMMP-9 στον ορό επίσης παρουσίασαν σημαντική πτώση μετά την εφαρμογή θεραπείας. Διαφορές στο ρυθμό μείωσης των επιπέδων της proMMP-9 παρατηρήθηκαν μεταξύ των διαφόρων ομάδων ως προς το στάδιο, τη διαφοροποίηση, την εντόπιση, τον τύπο της νόσου (πρωτοδιαγνωσμένη ή υποτροπή), τις λεμφαδενικές μεταστάσεις, τον τρόπο αντιμετώπισης και την κατανάλωση αλκοόλ. Ωστόσο αυτή η διαφορά δεν διατηρήθηκε πέντε με οκτώ μήνες μετά την εφαρμογή θεραπείας, με εξαίρεση την ομάδα των χειρουργημένων ασθενών, οι οποίοι διατήρησαν σημαντικά υψηλότερα επίπεδα ενζύμου στον ορό. Αύξηση των ζελατινασών παρατηρήθηκε στον ορό ασθενών που εκδήλωσαν υποτροπή μετά από αντιμετώπιση πρωτοδιαγνωσμένης νόσου σε σχέση με αυτούς που δεν υποτροπίασαν. Ωστόσο εξαιτίας του μικρού δείγματος δεν είναι δυνατόν να εξαχθούν ασφαλή συμπεράσματα. Συμπεράσματα: Αν και δεν υφίστανται φυσιολογικές τιμές, το πρότυπο μεταβολής των επιπέδων της proMMP-9 στον ορό μετά από θεραπεία καταδεικνύει πιθανές ιδιότητες μοριακού δείκτη. Ωστόσο υπάρχουν ενδείξεις ότι και οι δύο ζελατινάσες θα μπορούσαν να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την εξατομικευμένη παρακολούθηση ασθενών με καρκίνο του λάρυγγα. Περαιτέρω έρευνα απαιτείται για την αποσαφήνιση του ζητήματος. / Introduction: Laryngeal cancer, especially in the advanced stages, is a highly devastating disease, characterized by increased invasiveness and high rates of metastasis. The identification of reliable tumour marker for prompt diagnosis, surveillance and prognosis would be highly desirable. There is a growing body of evidence with regard to the prognostic value of gelatinases and their possible role as tumour markers. Aim: To identify the pattern of alteration of serum gelatinases A and B in patients with laryngeal cancer following treatment, and a possible correlation with various clinicopathological parameters prior to and past treatment. Materials and methods: Forty nine patients and 8 healthy controls were included in the study. Pre-treatment and post-treatment serum samples were collected and processed by gelatin zymography. The presence of gelatinases was verified by western blotting. The zymograms were scanned by a digital scanner and the lysis bands were quantified by Scion Image PC. Analysis of the quantitative results was performed by using SPSS 17 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Only the latent forms of MMP-2 and -9 (proforms) were identified. Both gelatinases were increased in the serum of laryngeal cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. Patients with supraglottic tumours and active smokers had significantly higher pre-treatment levels of proMMP-2 than patients with glottic tumours and ex-smokers, respectively. Patients with primary disease and patients with lymph node involvement showed lower proMMP-9 pre-treatment levels than patients with recurrence and patients without neck disease, respectively. During the follow-up period the proMMP-2 serum levels increased significantly in the first ten to fifteen days after treatment, gradually decreasing over the following months. Smokers showed a very high decrease rate of proMMP-2 levels during the follow-up period, whereas in ex-smokers proMMP-2 levels significantly increased. Stage II patients showed significantly lower levels of circulating enzyme compared to patients with more advanced disease five to eight months past treatment. Similarly, conservative management was associated with lower levels of serum proMMP-2 compared to surgical management five to eight months following treatment. The proMMP-9 serum levels also showed a gradual decrease after treatment, which was statistically significant. Significant alterations in the rate of decrease developed among groups with regard to stage, grade, location, type of disease (primary or recurrence), regional disease, treatment modality and alcohol consumption. Nevertheless those differences were not maintained five to eight months past treatment, with the exception of patients who underwent surgery and who maintained higher levels of proMMP-9. An increase to the levels of both gelatinases were observed in patients with recurrent disease after having been treated for a primary compared to patients who did not develop a recurrence. However, the small sample of patients with recurrent disease during the follow-up period does not allow extrapolating sound conclusions. Conclusions: Although as yet normal values have not been established in the literature, the post-treatment alteration pattern of proMMP-9 serum levels indicates that this enzyme might play a role as a tumour marker. Nevertheless this study provides evidence that both gelatinases might be useful for surveillance on strictly individual basis in laryngeal cancer patients. Further research is necessary to clarify the contribution of both gelatinases to the disease progress and determine their role as prognostic factors and tumour markers.

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