Publications by authors named "Erin Watters"
Article Synopsis
- Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a type of intermediate malignancy, and this study involves a large cohort of patients (182) under the age of 39 to better understand the disease.
- The findings showed that the median age of patients is 11 years, with common symptoms including pain and respiratory issues, and a notable 53% of tumors displayed ALK overexpression.
- Surgery was frequently performed (91%), leading to a high 5-year survival rate of 95%, but certain factors like tumor size and respiratory symptoms were linked to recurrence risk, indicating that aggressive surgical approaches may not always be necessary.*
Article Synopsis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in children is rare and has various subtypes, making it challenging to manage and predict outcomes.
- A study involving 262 children identified three main HCC subtypes: conventional HCC (cHCC), fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC), and hepatoblastoma with HCC features (HB-HCC), revealing significant differences in their clinical behaviors and mortality risk factors.
- The findings suggest that cHCC has a higher mortality risk compared to FLC, and factors such as elevated α-fetoprotein levels and tumor unresectability are associated with poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for tailored treatment strategies based on histological characteristics.
Background: Hyperpolarized Xe is a promising contrast agent for MRI of pediatric lung function, but its safety and tolerability in children have not been rigorously assessed.
Objective: To assess the feasibility, safety and tolerability of hyperpolarized Xe gas as an inhaled contrast agent for pediatric pulmonary MRI in healthy control subjects and in children with cystic fibrosis.
Materials And Methods: Seventeen healthy control subjects (ages 6-15 years, 11 boys) and 11 children with cystic fibrosis (ages 8-16 years, 4 boys) underwent Xe MRI, receiving up to three doses of Xe gas prepared by either a commercially available or a homebuilt Xe polarizer.