The Clinical and Economic Effect of Vascular Access Selection in Patients Initiating Hemodialysis with a Catheter.

Patients in the United States frequently initiate hemodialysis with a central venous catheter (CVC) and subsequently undergo placement of a new arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or arteriovenous graft (AVG). Little is known about the clinical and economic effects of initial vascular access choice. We identified 479 patients starting hemodialysis with a CVC at a large medical center (during 2004-2012) who subsequently had an AVF (=295) or AVG (=105) placed or no arteriovenous access (CVC group, =71).

Secondary intracranial neoplasms exhibiting features of astrocytoma and neuroblastoma in 2 children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: report of 2 cases.

With the advent of more aggressive antineoplastic combination chemotherapies, agents with fewer adverse effects, prophylactic central nervous system radiation treatments, and more efficacious antibiotics, the number of childhood cancer survivors is continually increasing. These patients place a new responsibility on clinicians; systematic follow-up with effective intervention is necessary to reduce the consequences of the treatments themselves. We report 2 patients who were diagnosed with pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and later presented with intracranial malignancies.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the upper thoracic spine in a 7-year-old patient. A case report and review of the literature.

Background: We report a case of a 7-year-old white female who presented with acute, progressive bilateral lower extremity weakness over 48 h.

Methods: Case report and presentation of clinical, radiological and pathological data on a single case of chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) of the T2 vertebral body.

Results: Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine revealed an extensive mass invading the lamina of the second thoracic vertebra, causing extensive cord compression and progressive neurological deterioration.