Safe implementation of a minimally invasive hepatopancreatobiliary program, a narrative review and institutional experience.

Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted approaches to hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) operations have expanded worldwide. As surgeons and medical centers contemplate initiating and expanding minimally invasive surgical (MIS) programs for complex HPB surgical operations, there are many factors to consider. This review highlights the key components of developing an MIS HPB program and shares our recent institutional experience with the adoption and expansion of an MIS approach to pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Surgical Management of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). Surgery should be performed by a surgical oncologist with sub-specialization in this disease and in the context of a multidisciplinary team of sarcoma specialists. For primary RPS, the goal of surgery is to achieve the complete en bloc resection of the tumor along with involved organs and structures to maximize the clearance of the disease.

Diagnosis and Management of Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors of the Parotid Gland.

Malignant parotid tumors are heterogeneous and diverse. Accurate diagnosis requires a pathologist familiar with the various histologic subtypes, immunohistochemistry stains, and common translocations. Clinical course varies according to tumor subtype, ranging from indolent, slow-growing adenoid cystic carcinoma to rapidly progressive, possibly fatal, salivary ductal carcinoma.

Lack of exonic sulfotransferase 4A1 mutations in controls and schizophrenia cases.

Sulfotransferase 4A1 (SULT4A1) is a novel sulfotransferase expressed almost exclusively in the brain. The gene is located on chromosome 22q13.3, a region implicated in predisposition to schizophrenia.

Mutation analysis of FANCD2, BRIP1/BACH1, LMO4 and SFN in familial breast cancer.

Introduction: Mutations in known predisposition genes account for only about a third of all multiple-case breast cancer families. We hypothesized that germline mutations in FANCD2, BRIP1/BACH1, LMO4 and SFN may account for some of the unexplained multiple-case breast cancer families.

Methods: The families used in this study were ascertained through the Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer (kConFab).