Patients' views and experiences on the supported self-management/patient-initiated follow up pathway for breast cancer.

Purpose: To explore patients' expectations and experience of Supportive Self-Management (SSM)/ Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU) following breast cancer treatments over a 12-month period.

Methods: In total, 32/110 (29%) patient participants in the PRAGMATIC (Patients' experiences of a suppoRted self-manAGeMent pAThway In breast Cancer) study were interviewed at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews in this sub-study used a mix-methods approach to explore understanding of the pathway, confidence in self-management, triggers to seek help and/or re-engage with the clinical breast team and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients' experiences of a suppoRted self-manAGeMent pAThway In breast Cancer (PRAGMATIC): quality of life and service use results.

Purpose: To describe trends and explore factors associated with quality of life (QoL) and psychological morbidity and assess breast cancer (BC) health service use over a 12-month period for patients joining the supported self-management (SSM)/patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) pathway.

Methods: Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months that measured QoL (FACT-B, EQ 5D-5L), self-efficacy (GSE), psychological morbidity (GHQ-12), roles and responsibilities (PRRS) and service use (cost diary).

Results: 99/110 patients completed all timepoints; 32% (35/110) had received chemotherapy.

Surgical dilemma of the management of breast cancer in a patient with neurofibromatosis: case report and a review of the literature.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1)-also commonly known as Von Recklinghausen's disease-is an autosomal dominant disease that represents a constellation of clinical features. There are well-established links between NF-1 and many tumors; however, the link between NF-1 and breast cancer has more recently been elucidated. While the management of breast cancer is generally well established, there are unique challenges noted in patients with NF-1.

Oncoplastic breast surgery technique for retroareolar breast cancer: a technical modification of the Grisotti flap in patients with short nipple to inferior mammary crease distance.

The introduction of breast conservation surgery together with advances in oncoplastic techniques has revolutionized the management of retroareolar breast tumours. Traditionally, cancers in this location were often managed with central excision and primary closure or mastectomy. More recently, oncoplastic breast-conserving techniques such as the Grisotti mammoplasty have been increasingly encouraged as an alternative option as it allows oncological safe margin resections while restoring cosmesis.

Lipomodelling for the management of symptomatic peristomal contour abnormalities: a pilot and feasibility study.

Aim: Lipomodelling has been successfully used in reconstructive breast surgery but not yet in patients with permanent stomas.

Method: A feasibility study of six patients with permanent stomas was undertaken. Patients underwent lipomodelling of the peristomal area.

Role of lipomodelling in improving aesthetic outcomes in patients undergoing immediate and delayed reconstructive breast surgery.

Aims: The objective of this article is to report our findings regarding large-volume fat transfer in patients who have undergone autologous breast reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi (LD) flap and/or implant-based reconstruction with subsequent lipomodelling for symmetrisation.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on all patients who have undergone lipomodelling from October 2008 to October 2011. Fat was harvested using a low-negative pressure syringe method and centrifuged at 3000 r.

Prevention of postoperative seroma-related morbidity by quilting of latissimus dorsi flap donor site: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically analyze the effectiveness of quilting of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap donor site in the prevention of seroma and related morbidities.

Methods: All published studies comparing the effectiveness of quilting versus no-quilting of LD flap donor site in the prevention of seroma and related morbidities in patients undergoing breast reconstruction were analysed systemically.

Results: Five comparative studies on quilting versus no-quilting encompassing 440 patients were suitable for statistical analysis.

Chronic breast abscess due to Mycobacterium fortuitum: a case report.

Introduction: Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly growing group of nontuberculous mycobacteria more common in patients with genetic or acquired causes of immune deficiency. There have been few published reports of Mycobacterium fortuitum associated with breast infections mainly associated with breast implant and reconstructive surgery.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 51-year-old Caucasian woman who presented to our one-stop breast clinic with a two-week history of left breast swelling and tenderness.

Pre-emptive angioaccess for haemodialysis in the elderly.

Background: The fastest growing population group in the UK is the elderly, particularly those aged ≥ 80 years. The primary aim of this study was to assess if age was a determining factor for successful first dialysis through a pre-emptive angioaccess. The secondary aim was to investigate what risk factors are associated with angioaccess failure and to assess their patency and complications in three different age groups of patients who had pre-emptive angioaccess.

Spontaneous ruptured splenic artery aneurysm: a case report.

Splenic artery aneurysms are rare. We discuss a case of a 58-year-old gentleman presenting with collapse and shock secondary to spontaneous splenic artery aneurysm rupture. Patient underwent laparotomy and splenectomy then discharged home within a week of presentation.

Enormous brachio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula aneurysm after renal transplantation: case report and review of the literature.

Creation of arteriovenous fistulae provides readily available vascular access for haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, it is associated with various potentially serious complications if left unattended. We report a case of a 73-year-old male presenting with an enormous brachio-cephalic fistula aneurysm measuring 70-5.

Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour (PNET) in subcutaneous abdominal wall: a case report.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) is a rare tumour mainly found in children under ten years old. It may be broadly categorised into those occurring from the central or peripheral nervous system of which the majority arise centrally. We report a 61 year-old lady who had previous lobular breast cancer presenting with a rapidly expanding lesion in her anterior right upper abdominal wall.

Monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pharynx: a case report.

Synovial sarcomas are a rare form of soft tissue sarcomas. We present a case of a 62 year-old male presenting with a left thyroid lump initially though to be a thyroid adenoma but subsequently diagnosed as a monophasic synovial sarcoma of the pharynx. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment of this case.

Postprandial decrease in splenic volume demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging and stereology.

The aim of this study was to determine if the volume of the spleen changes after food intake. We applied an unbiased and efficient method for splenic volume estimation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with modern design stereology. MR images of the spleen were obtained for 10 healthy volunteers (five men and five women; mean age 28.

Segmentation and numerical analysis of microcalcifications on mammograms using mathematical morphology.

The top-hat and watershed algorithms of mathematical morphology have been applied to detect automatically and segment microcalcifications on mammograms digitized to a pixel resolution of 40 microns using a CCD camera. The database comprised 38 cases from the breast assessment clinic in Liverpool. For all cases, both craniocaudal (CC) and lateral oblique (LO) views were available.

Objective quantification of muscle and fat in human dystrophic muscle by magnetic resonance image analysis.

Information about changes in muscle composition has to date been primarily restricted to histological examination of biopsy samples or qualitative assessment of images obtained using a variety of techniques (e.g., ultrasound, CT, and MRI).