Gender associations with selection into Australian General Surgical Training: 2016-2022.

Background: For those who have maintained an interest in general surgery after medical school and their early post-graduate years, selection is the first step to a career in general surgery. Identifying differences secondary to gender in selection tools and their outcomes should assist the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian Board in General Surgery to improve gender equity in the general surgical workforce. Selection tools for general surgery include the curriculum vitae (CV), referee report (RR) and multiple mini-interview (MMI).

Rare direct embolism of urothelial carcinoma causing acute mesenteric ischaemia during remission.

Metastatic abdominal carcinomas have been reported in the literature to cause bowel ischaemia. However, these are often associated with diffuse disease or direct invasion of adjacent bowel secondary to high-grade malignancies. There are no reported cases of extensive small bowel wall nor arterial occlusion as a result of metastasis from treated early-stage urothelial carcinoma.

Variations in intrinsic breast cancer characteristics in screen-detected breast cancer patients aged between 45 and 69 and above the age of 70.

Background: Increasing age is a well-recognized risk factor for breast cancer. With an increase in life expectancy of women, more older patients are diagnosed with breast cancer. This study aimed to identify the variations in breast cancer attributes and mortality in different age groups in New Zealand.

Looking for Metastasis in Early Breast Cancer: Does Bone Scan Help? A Retrospective Review.

Background: Routine staging investigations are not recommended for early breast cancer (EBC). Staging scans and further confirmatory tests add to the cost of breast cancer treatment. Despite recommendations from international guidelines, whole body bone scan (BS) is commonly used for staging EBC.

A Novel Breast-Conserving Surgical Technique in the Management of Phyllodes Tumours of the Breast.

Background: Despite advances in oncoplastic breast-conserving techniques, very large phyllodes tumours (PT) may still be recommended for mastectomy.

Methods: We report a novel 2-staged breast-conserving technique that enables smaller excisional volumes whilst maintaining safe oncological excision. Stage-1 is a capsular dissection via a posterior glandular approach without sacrifice of native breast volume.

Extending Screening in "Elderly" Patients: Should We Consider a Selective Approach?

Background: Breast cancer screening has been shown to reduce breast cancer-associated mortality. However, screening is limited to the targeted age group of 45 to 69 years in New Zealand despite the recognized increased risk with age. This study aims to compare the outcomes of women aged over 70 years with screen-detected and clinically detected cancers.

A comprehensive renal vascular access clinic results in improved patient outcomes and reduced costs.

Background: Management of vascular access for haemodialysis is a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization in patients with end-stage renal disease. We sought to evaluate the change in admission and procedural outcomes before and after the establishment of a vascular surgeon-led comprehensive renal vascular access clinic (RVAC).

Method: A retrospective clinical study was conducted after an RVAC was established in January 2013, with retrospective database created for the 24-month period prior to and after.