Accelerated mutation analysis using a fully automated PCR platform improves the management of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Background: Determination of BRAF status is important for the therapeutic management of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of a faster determination of BRAF mutational status on the delay between initial consultation and initiation of treatment.

Results: For the FA-PCR group a median delay of 16 days [11;18] was observed between initial consultation and the implementation of treatment, which was significantly lower than that observed for the SOP group (26 days [20;46], = 0.

Options for treating different soft tissue sarcoma subtypes.

Management of soft tissue sarcoma is increasingly subtype-dependent. Surgery is recommended for uterine leiomyosarcoma, with trabectedin being the preferred option for advanced disease when the treatment goal is long-term tumor stabilization. Liposarcoma subgroups are characterized by distinctive morphologies and genetics, different patterns of disease progression and clinical behavior, and variable responses to treatment.

Improved image contrast with mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP) during MR-guided percutaneous cryosurgery of the liver.

The present study was undertaken to measure the gain observed in the liver-to-tumor contrast of perioperative images when using mangafodipir trisodium, a liver-specific contrast agent, during percutaneous cryosurgery of the liver performed under the guidance of magnetic resonance images. Retrospective quantitative analyses of MR images were performed on eleven patients having a total of 30 liver tumors treated by MR-guided percutaneous cryosurgery. An initial group of four patients were treated with no contrast agent, and was compared with a second group of 7 patients who received an intravenous injection of 5 microM/kg of mangafodipir for their cryosurgery.