Classification of follicular-patterned thyroid lesions using a minimal set of epigenetic biomarkers.

Objective: The minimally invasive fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the current gold standard for the diagnosis of thyroid nodule malignancy. However, the correct discrimination of follicular neoplasia often requires more invasive diagnostic techniques. The lack of suitable immunohistochemical markers to distinguish between follicular thyroid carcinoma and other types of follicular-derived lesions complicates diagnosis, and despite most of these tumours being surgically resected, only a small number will test positive for malignancy.

From Lauren's diffuse gastric cancer to WHO's poorly cohesive carcinoma. Clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics.

Introduction: since Lauren classified gastric cancer into intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and diffuse gastric carcinoma back in 1965, countless categorizations have been published that attempt to elucidate the clinicopathological and prognostic differences between histological subtypes.

Objective: a retrospective study was performed of gastric cancer cases managed in a third-level site over ten years in order to compare subtypes between the most widely used classifications (Lauren and World Health Organization [WHO]).

Methods: a comparative study of the most relevant clinicopathological characteristics and a multivariate survival analysis were performed.

Liver transplantation following hepatic artery avulsion in a trauma patient.

Background: Hepatic artery avulsion following politrauma is an extremely rare condition with a very high mortality rate. Management is based on damage control surgery given the precarious situation of these patients. Ligating the artery is one option under such circumstances, despite potential consequences including ischemic cholangiopathy (IC).

Glove port, how do we do it? A low-cost alternative to the single-port approach.

Background: The need for cosmetic results in our society and the necessity of an early recovery have promoted the development of minimally invasive techniques, including single-port approach. Some studies have tried to demonstrate the advantages of this access compared with conventional laparoscopic approach. This type of approach requires a high-cost multi-port device, so that some surgeons have tried to create a low-cost homemade device.

Pelvic hemangiopericytoma. An unusual location of a vascular tumor.

Background: The hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon vascular tumour. We report a case of interest because of its rarity, size and location.

Case Report: We present the case of a 63-year-old woman who consulted for abdominal pain.

Clinical Pathway for Thyroidectomy.

Clinical pathways are care plans applicable to patient care procedures that present variations in practice and a predictable clinical course. They are designed not as a substitute for clinical judgment, but rather as a means to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedures. This clinical pathway is the result of a collaborative work of the Sections of Endocrine Surgery and Quality Management of the Spanish Association of Surgeons.

Is organizational progress in the EFQM model related to employee satisfaction?

Background: To determine whether there is greater employee satisfaction in organisations that have made more progress in implementation of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model.

Methods: A series of cross-sectional studies (one for each assessment cycle) comparing staff satisfaction survey results between groups of healthcare organisations by degree of implementation of the EFQM model (assessed in terms of external recognition of management quality in each organisation).

Setting: 30 healthcare organisations including hospitals, primary care and mental health providers in Osakidetza, the Basque public health service.

[Surgical treatment of adrenal gland metastases: results in a series of 35 patients].

Introduction: The objectives of this study are to present the results of adrenalectomies due to metastasis, and to analyse the prognostic factors that may help to predict long-term survival in this patient group.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 35 patients who underwent adrenalectomy for metastases in the Hospital de Cruces from 1996 to January 2010. The survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan and Meier method.

[Teaching surgery: new times, new methods].

Introduction: The organisation, follow-up and quality of post-graduate teaching may be in need of appraisal in our area. This study sets out a clear objective: to use a more practical and effective teaching tool than we currently have available. Not only will it set out to assess the resident, but also provide material already approved and reviewed by their tutors.