Conversion of locally advanced to resectable pancreatic body cancer aided by phosphorus-32 brachytherapy (OncoSil).

Nil.

Clinical utility of technetium-99m-labelled leukocyte scan in diagnosis of vascular infections.

Introduction: The diagnosis of vascular graft infections and infected aneurysms via conventional methods such as computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) can often be challenging. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques can detect infection in these difficult cases. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic value of technetium-99m-labelled leukocyte scans in diagnosing vascular graft infections in our centre.

An unusual case of interstitial lung disease in a patient with cardiopulmonary syndrome as the initial presentation of Erdheim-Chester disease.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a very rare disorder with only approximately 600 cases reported in the literature. ECD has been recently reclassified as a histiocytic dendritic cell neoplasm. The clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic tissue accumulation of histiocytes to invasive tissue infiltration, which can cause fulminant multisystem failure.

Missed Intrapulmonary Lymph Node Metastasis and Survival After Resection of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Pathologic nodal stage is a key prognostic factor for patients with surgically resected lung cancer. We previously described the extent of missed intrapulmonary nodal metastasis in a cohort of patients treated at institutions in metropolitan Memphis, TN. With long-term follow-up, we now quantify the survival impact of missed nodal metastasis.

Improving the pathologic evaluation of lung cancer resection specimens.

Accurate post-operative prognostication and management heavily depend on pathologic nodal stage. Patients with nodal metastasis benefit from post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy, those with mediastinal nodal involvement may also benefit from adjuvant radiation therapy. However, the quality of pathologic nodal staging varies significantly, with major survival implications in large populations of patients.

Size and histologic characteristics of lymph node material retrieved from tissue discarded after routine pathologic examination of lung cancer resection specimens.

Redissection of discarded lung resection specimens after routine pathology examination reveals missed lymph node metastasis. We sought to determine if size can be used to grossly select lymph nodes for microscopic examination. This is a prospective cohort study of lymph nodes retrieved from discarded lung resection specimens.

Incomplete intrapulmonary lymph node retrieval after routine pathologic examination of resected lung cancer.

Purpose: Pathologic nodal stage affects prognosis in patients with surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unlike examination of mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs), which depends on surgical practice, accurate examination of intrapulmonary (N1) nodes depends primarily on pathology practice. We investigated the completeness of N1 LN examination in NSCLC resection specimens and its potential impact on stage.

Pathologic lymph node staging practice and stage-predicted survival after resection of lung cancer.

Background: Lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor in resectable nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We examined the relationship between the pattern of lymph node examination (including the number and anatomic location of resected lymph nodes), pathologic nodal stage, and survival after NSCLC resection.

Methods: Retrospective review of all NSCLC resections in the Memphis Metropolitan Area from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2007.

Outcome of surgical resection for pathologic N0 and Nx non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Metastasis to lymph nodes (LNs) connotes poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sufficient LNs must be examined to accurately determine LN negativity. Patients with no LNs examined (pNx) have an indeterminate stage, may have undetected disease and erroneous assignment to a low-risk group.