Cochrane

Background Cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread to other organs (metastatic colorectal cancer) is a commonly occurring disease that usually cannot be surgically removed. The main treatment is chemotherapy, targeted therapy (such as EGFR inhibitors, the subject of this review), or both. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a protein ...

Review question What are the benefits and harms of various gases for insufflation (inflation with gas) of the abdominal (tummy) cavity to allow easier access to organs during laparoscopic (key-hole) abdominal surgery? Background Laparoscopic (key hole) surgery is now widely performed to treat various abdominal diseases. An ideal gas for insufflation ...

Background The pancreas is an organ in the abdomen that secretes pancreatic juice that aids digestion; and it contains cells that produce important hormones such as insulin. Partial removal of the pancreas (pancreatic resection) is performed to remove cancerous and non-cancerous growths in the pancreas. During this process, new connections (anastomoses) ...

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) arises from the liver cells and is distinct from cancer arising from other parts of the body and spreading to the liver. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) group staging classifies cancer based on patient's life expectancy. It is broadly based on the size of the cancer, number of cancers ...

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) arises from the liver cells and is distinct from secondary liver cancer, arising from other parts of the body and spreading to the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma can be classified in many ways. One classification is by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) group stage which classifies the ...

Review question What are the benefits and harms of radiotherapy administered externally in people with advanced liver cancer compared with other available therapies or no therapy? Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) is the most common cancerous tumour of the liver and the sixth most common cancerous tumour worldwide. In the ...

Review question We reviewed the ability of chemotherapy drugs (medicines used to treat cancer) to reduce tumour size and improve survival in people with metastatic colorectal cancer who had not responded to a prior treatment. We also looked at the side effects caused by the different drug regimens. Background People with metastatic colorectal cancer ...

We asked Does nutritional supplement of dietary fibre prevent recurrence of precancerous polyps and cancer in the bowel in participants with a history of polyps having been removed to achieve a polyp-free colon at baseline for the intervention. Background Colorectal (bowel) cancer is common worldwide but is especially prevalent in industrialised ...

What is the issue? Colorectal cancer affects about 1 in 20 people in developed countries. Most patients (about two thirds) have curable disease. Follow-up after curative treatment usually means visits to the doctor as well as having some tests. Many people believe that follow-up saves lives, but we are not sure how often the patient should see the ...

Review question Is drain use able to reduce postoperative complications after pancreatic surgery? Background The use of surgical drains has been considered mandatory after pancreatic surgery. The role of drain use to reduce complications after pancreatic surgery (called postoperative complications) is controversial. Study characteristics We searched for ...