Traditionally, Chair of Otorhinolaryngology (Medical Faculty University of Ljubljana), ENT Clinic (UKC Ljubljana), and Association of Otorhinolaryngologists (Slovenian Medical Association) organize on annual basis a professional meeting “Otolaryngology Day” on topics suggested by participants of the previous meeting. In 2015, the meeting was organized on March 14 and was dedicated to the most frequent diseases in the region of head and neck. In this context, special attention was paied to therapy of advanced basal cell carcinoma with targeted agents, salivary gland diseases, use of local flaps in head and neck cancer surgery, and cancer of the nasopharynx. There were more than 100 family doctors, pediatricians, school doctors, and otorhinolaryngologists who attended the meeting. Book of lectures was also published.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
COBISS.SI-ID: 278265856BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The absolute number of new cancer patients that will require at least one course of radiotherapy in each country of Europe was estimated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The incidence and relative frequency of cancer types from the year 2012 European Cancer Observatory estimates were used in combination with the population-based stage at diagnosis from five cancer registries. These data were applied to the decision trees of the evidence-based indications to calculate the Optimal Utilization Proportion (OUP) by tumour site. RESULTS: In the minimum scenario, the OUP ranged from 47.0% in the Russian Federation to 53.2% in Belgium with no clear geographical pattern of the variability among countries. The impact of stage at diagnosis on the OUP by country was rather limited. Within the 24 countries where data on actual use of radiotherapy were available, a gap between optimal and actual use has been observed in most of the countries. CONCLUSIONS: The actual utilization of radiotherapy is significantly lower than the optimal use predicted from the evidence based estimates in the literature. This discrepancy poses a major challenge for policy makers when planning the resources at the national level to improve the provision in European countries.
D.06 Final report on a foreign/international project
COBISS.SI-ID: 2023035Invited lecture published in the Book of Lectures given at the annual meeting - 28th Oncology Weekend (organized by the Institute of Oncology and Cancerologic Society at the Slovenian Medical Association, December 4, 2015). Alcohol is one of the most important reasons for morbidity in population and significantly contributes to mortality. In many aspects, consummation of alcoholic drinks is arguable, although one of the most widely spread bad habits (obviously still socially acceptable). Causative relationship between alcohol and development of certain types of cancer was confirmed in many studies. In the lecture/paper the extent of the problem of alcohol abuse in the world and in Slovenia is described, together with molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer development, alcohol-related risk for development of certain cancer types, and measures focused on control of alcohol consumption and related morbidity linked to cancer.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 2199163Background and purpose The impact of differences in the distribution of major cancer sites and stages at diagnosis among 4 European countries on the optimal utilization proportion (OUP) of patients who should receive external beam radiotherapy was assessed within the framework of the ESTRO-HERO project. Materials and methods Data from Australian Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CCORE) were used. Population based stages at diagnosis from the cancer registries of Belgium, Slovenia, the Greater Poland region of Poland, and The Netherlands were used to assess the OUP for each country. A sensitivity analysis was carried out. Results The overall OUP by country varied from the lowest of 48.3% in Australia to the highest of 53.4% in Poland; among European countries the variation was limited to 3%. Cancer site specific OUPs showed differences according to the variability in stage at diagnosis across countries. The most important impact on the OUP by country was due to changes in relative frequency of tumours rather than stage at diagnosis. Conclusions This methodology can be adapted using European data, thus facilitating the planning of resources required to cope with the demand for radiotherapy in Europe, taking into account the national variability in cancer incidence.
D.06 Final report on a foreign/international project
COBISS.SI-ID: 2023291Paresis or paralysis of one or both vocal cords affects phonation, swallowing and breathing. The major cause for reduced mobility or even immobility is innervation damage, less often a mechanical disorder. The main procedures in the diagnostics of disordered vocal fold mobility are indirect laryngoscopy and videoendostroboscopy. Different imaging techniques (especially computerized tomography) are of great value in searching for a cause of the impaired mobility. In unilateral vocal fold immobility, the treatment is focused on the improvement of vocal quality and the prevention of aspiration during swallowing. In bilateral paralysis, it is crucial to find a balance between effective breathing and sufficient voice quality. The treatment of unilateral paralysis is started by voice therapy and swallowing rehabilitation. If these procedures are not enough, surgical treatment for the medialization of the paralyzed vocal folds applied. In the case of breathing difficulties in bilateral vocal fold immobility there is a possibility of surgical lateralization of one or both folds or a surgical excision of a part or the entire vocal fold. Surgical reinnervation, functional electrostimulation of certain laryngeal muscles and gene therapy are the treatment modalities that are being delveoped.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 2528428