Neuroendocrine tumors: current recommendations for diagnosis and surgical management.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare neoplasms found in diverse locations within the body. These tumors are commonly classified by the primary tumor's location, further subclassified by their differentiation, and finally segregated by their ability to hypersecrete peptides or amines. A number of groups have summarized their recommendations for diagnosis and therapy; however, the rarity of these lesions makes prospective randomized multiinstitutional trials difficult.

The role of VEGF pathways in human physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis.

Background: In preclinical models, VEGF is a potent stimulant of both physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis. Conversely, anti-VEGF regimens have successfully inhibited angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that VEGF would stimulate both physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis in a human-based fibrin-thrombin clot angiogenesis assay.

A phase I/II trial of 125I methylene blue for one-stage sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be associated with delays in operating room schedule and with significant pain during the preoperative Tc colloid injection. To avoid these problems, we developed a novel radiolabeled blue dye that can be injected intraoperatively.

Methods: We performed a phase I/II trial (IND#70627) of sterile pyrogen-free I-methylene blue to identify sentinel nodes in patients with breast cancer.

Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid-induced hepatitis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report a rare side effect of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid resulting in drug-induced hepatitis in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Methods: This is a case report and literature review of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid-induced hepatitis in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. A MEDLINE search of the published literature from 1966 to 2006 was performed using the term "amoxicillin-clavulanic acid + hepatitis.

Development of 125I-methylene blue for sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an established alternative to complete lymph node dissection in some patients. We have developed a novel, radiolabeled methylene blue dye that may be a useful alternative to the traditional two-step procedure involving 99mTc-labeled colloid and unlabeled blue dye. We hypothesize that 125I-labeled methylene blue will be rapidly absorbed into the lymphatics and transported to the drainage basin containing the sentinel nodes.

Cogan's syndrome: a cause of progressive hearing deafness.

In 1934 Morgan and Baumgartner first described a nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis (IK) associated with vestibuloauditory dysfunction (Morgan RF, Baumgartner CF, Menier's disease complicated by recurrent interstitial keratitis. Excellent result following cervial ganglionectomy. West J Surg 1934;42:628).

Gamma-guided diagnostic peritoneal lavage for detection of bowel perforation.

Hypothesis: Bowel perforation can be diagnosed by detection of orally administered technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid ((99m)Tc SC) in diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) fluid using a handheld gamma-detection probe.

Design: A canine intestinal-injury model was used to test the hypothesis. The (99m)Tc SC (55.

Botulinum toxin A for the treatment of lateral periorbital rhytids.

The lateral periorbital area represents one of the earliest and most bothersome facial stigmata of aging. Although traditional techniques have had limited success in treating the static cutaneous component to rhytid formation in this region, they have been largely unsuccessful in addressing the dynamic hyperkinetic lines that are created by the activity of the lateral orbicularis oculi muscle. Botox A injection represents a safe and reproducible technique to selectively denervate muscle activity in this troublesome area.

Cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced-stage carcinoid tumors.

The role of aggressive surgical resections as well as criteria for resectability in patients with advanced carcinoid tumors is not clearly defined. Thirty patients (17 male and 13 female) who were previously diagnosed to have "unresectable carcinoid disease" were treated using a multimodality approach over a period of 2 years. Extensive liver involvement was present in 28 of 30 (93%) of the cases.