Heterotopic Ossification Causing Radiculopathy after Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty.

To date, no reports have presented radiculopathy secondary to heterotopic ossification following lumbar total disc arthroplasty. The authors present a previously unpublished complication of lumbar total disk arthroplasty (TDA) secondary to heterotopic ossification (HO) in the spinal canal, and they propose a modification to the McAfee classification of HO. The patient had undergone an L5/S1 lumbar TDA two years prior due to discogenic back pain.

Bier block regional anesthesia and casting for forearm fractures: safety in the pediatric emergency department setting.

Background: Bier block regional anesthesia was first described in 1908; however, it is uncommonly used for fears of cardiac and neurological complications. Although recent studies have documented safe usage in an adult population, no study to date has investigated its use in a pediatric setting. In addition, most emergency departments feel that splint placement is safer than casting after acute forearm fracture reduction in the pediatric population.

Recurrence of a giant cell tumor of the hand after 42 years: case report.

Giant cell tumors of bone in the hand are rare. We present a case of a recurrent giant cell tumor in the metacarpal 42 years after intralesional excision and autogenous bone grafting. The possibility of recurrent disease should be considered in the evaluation of any patient presenting with new onset of pain at the site of a previously addressed giant cell tumor.

Human papillomavirus genotype distributions: implications for vaccination and cancer screening in the United States.

Background: Limited data are available describing human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distributions in cervical cancer in the United States. Such studies are needed to predict how HPV vaccination and HPV-based screening will influence cervical cancer prevention.

Methods: We used the New Mexico Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Registry to ascertain cases of in situ (n = 1213) and invasive (n = 808) cervical cancer diagnosed during 1985-1999 and 1980-1999, respectively, in the state of New Mexico.

Benign breast biopsy diagnosis and subsequent risk of breast cancer.

Background: We examine benign breast biopsy diagnoses as reported by community pathologists in New Mexico and investigate associations with future breast cancer development.

Methods: Using data collected between 1992 and 2000 by the New Mexico Mammography Project and cancer data through 2003 from the New Mexico Tumor Registry, we calculated breast cancer rates following 14,602 benign breast biopsies for women ages 30 to 89 years. For comparison, we also calculated the breast cancer rate following 215,283 normal screening mammograms.

External validation of medicare claims for breast cancer chemotherapy compared with medical chart reviews.

Background: Although Medicare claims data have been increasingly used to examine the patterns and outcomes of cancer chemotherapy, their external validity has not been well studied.

Objectives: We sought to validate Medicare claims for chemotherapy compared with medical chart reviews.

Patients And Methods: We completed medical chart reviews for 1228 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at age 65 and older between 1993 and 1999 in New Mexico that were linked with Medicare claims data, achieving an estimated sensitivity of more than 90% and a 0.

Pathologic findings from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium: population-based outcomes in women undergoing biopsy after screening mammography.

Background: To the authors' knowledge, a comprehensive analysis of pathology outcomes after screening mammography, as it is practiced clinically in the U.S. general population, has not been performed.

Information on chemotherapy and hormone therapy from tumor registry had moderate agreement with chart reviews.

Background: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries provide accurate information on cancer surgery and radiation, but the validity of registry data on chemotherapy and hormone therapy for breast cancer has not been well studied. We validated the registry data for chemotherapy and hormone therapy against an independent medical chart review.

Methods: We identified 1,228 women diagnosed with breast cancer at age > or = 65 in 1993-1999 in the New Mexico SEER Tumor Registry and completed medical chart reviews.

The frequency of ipsilateral second tumors after breast-conserving surgery for DCIS: a population based analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is increasing, although to the authors' knowledge there is no consensus regarding optimal treatment. This analysis of women treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) evaluated the impact of radiation therapy (RT) in patient outcomes.

Methods: The current study included a population-based sample of 1103 women residing in selected Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries who were diagnosed with DCIS between 1991-1992.

Tissues from population-based cancer registries: a novel approach to increasing research potential.

Population-based cancer registries, such as those included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) Program, offer tremendous research potential beyond traditional surveillance activities. We describe the expansion of SEER registries to gather formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from cancer patients on a population basis. Population-based tissue banks have the advantage of providing an unbiased sampling frame for evaluating the public health impact of genes or protein targets that may be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes in defined communities.

Community-based assessment of adjuvant hormone therapy in women with breast cancer, 1991-1997.

This study used population-based tumor registry data to describe the patterns of adjuvant hormone therapy and to examine the correlates of hormone therapy for women with breast cancer. The study population included 5101 women (age 20 years) who were diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 through 1997 in the entire state of New Mexico. Overall, 32% of women with stage I, II, or IIIA breast cancer received adjuvant hormone therapy.

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in American Indians.

Objective: To analyze gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) trends among American Indians (AI) using population-based data.

Study Design: GTN incidence, by race and age, was calculated using data collected by the New Mexico Tumor Registry over 29 years (1973-2001). Live birth, pregnancy and women at risk were tabulated using data derived from the state's vital record annual reports and from the registry.

An exercise in controversy. Case study: revising a physician employment agreement.

The physician employment agreement at a faculty practice plan did not meet the needs of a modern health care employer or its medical staff. This article describes the communication among medical group management, medical leadership and the medical staff during the revision of the agreement, as well as the process used to develop a new document.

Trends in gestational choriocarcinoma: a 27-year perspective.

Objective: To evaluate trends in incidence and survival rates for gestational choriocarcinoma with the use of population-based data.

Methods: Overall and 5-year average age-adjusted incidence rates were computed with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program public-use database. Differences by age at diagnosis, race, stage, registry, and over calendar time were compared by Poisson regression, and survival censored for deaths other than choriocarcinoma by log-rank tests and Cox's proportional hazard ratios.

Childhood cancer among Alaska Natives.

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of cancer in Alaska Native (AN) children (under age 20). Although several studies have compared differences in cancer incidence between white and black children, few have examined cancer among Alaska Natives/American Indians. We know of no published article describing cancer incidence in AN children.

Changes in nonmelanoma skin cancer incidence between 1977-1978 and 1998-1999 in Northcentral New Mexico.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is a highly common form of malignant disease in light-skinned populations. In 1977-1978, the National Cancer Institute sponsored a population-based skin cancer survey that found marked geographic variability in the incidence of NMSC within the United States. Some of the highest rates were observed in the southwestern state of New Mexico within its non-Hispanic white population.

Effects of misattribution in assigning cause of death on prostate cancer mortality rates.

Purpose: Estimate the magnitude of misattribution in death certification and to determine whether misattribution could explain temporal trends in New Mexico prostate cancer mortality.

Methods: Investigators retrospectively reviewed medical records to classify cause of death for men with prostate cancer who died in New Mexico in either 1985 or 1995. The investigator-assigned cause of death, either prostate cancer or another cause, was compared with the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Statistics' (BVS) assignment.

Ethnic differences at risk for gestational trophoblastic disease in New Mexico: A 25-year population-based study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare gestational trophoblastic disease incidence rates with the use of population-based data.

Study Design: All incident cases between 1973 and 1997 and live birth, pregnancy, and women at risk were tabulated with the use of data that were derived from the New Mexico Tumor Registry and Vital Records and Health Statistics Annual Reports. Statistical methods included trends analyses, odds ratios, and Poisson regression.

Discrepancy between consensus recommendations and actual community use of adjuvant chemotherapy in women with breast cancer.

Background: Although the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in prolonging survival for women with breast cancer has been well documented, limited population-based information is available on the actual use of chemotherapy.

Objective: To examine the relationship between age and chemotherapy use.

Design: Cohort study.

Prostate-specific antigen testing accuracy in community practice.

Background: Most data on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing come from urologic cohorts comprised of volunteers for screening programs. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of PSA testing for detecting prostate cancer in community practice.

Methods: PSA testing results were compared with a reference standard of prostate biopsy.

Is there a difference in survival for IA1 and IA2 adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix?

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine if International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) subdivision into IA1 versus IA2 is predictive of survival differences for early invasive adenocarcinoma.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) Public-Use Database was used to identify all cases of IA1 and IA2 adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 1983 and 1997. A systematic literature search (MEDLINE 1966-2000) was used to identify all previously published cases.

Breast and cervical cancer screening and disease incidence and stage in New Mexico.

Objective: Data on the health impact of breast and cervical cancer screening programs for low-income women are limited. We sought to determine whether a statewide program to provide breast and cervical cancer screening services influenced trends in disease incidence and stage.

Methods: We assessed trend data regarding breast and cervical cancer incidence and stage gathered by the New Mexico Tumor Registry and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program before (1975 through 1990) and during (1991 through 1998) implementation of the New Mexico Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.