Impact of molecular staging methods in primary melanoma: reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of ultrasound-guided aspirate of the sentinel node does not improve diagnostic accuracy, but RT-PCR of peripheral blood does predict survival.

Purpose: This study analyzes (1) the value of tyrosinase reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of aspirates obtained by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC) of sentinel nodes (SNs) in patients with melanoma before sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and (2) the value of RT-PCR of blood samples of all SLNB patients.

Patients And Methods: Between 2001 and 2003, 127 patients with melanoma (median Breslow depth, 2.1 mm) underwent SLNB.

Posttraumatic and postoperative cardiac luxation: computed tomography findings in nine patients.

Background: Posttraumatic and postoperative cardiac luxation represents a serious complication of pericardial rupture, and early diagnosis is important. The purpose of this study is to determine signs of left cardiac luxation on computed tomography (CT).

Methods: CT scans in nine patients with pericardial rupture and cardiac luxation after blunt chest trauma (n = 7) and postoperatively after extended left pneumectomy (n = 2) were reviewed for abnormalities.

Molecular staging in stage II and III melanoma patients and its effect on long-term survival.

Purpose: To assess the prognostic value of serial reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) -based measurements of tyrosinase mRNA in peripheral blood of stage II and III melanoma patients.

Patients And Methods: During routine follow-up of American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II and III melanoma patients, serial testing for tyrosinase transcripts in peripheral blood was performed by RT-PCR. The PCR results were compared with the clinical data collected during the follow-up.

Primary stent placement for infrarenal aortic stenosis: immediate and midterm results.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and the long-term clinical and hemodynamic results of primary stent placement of atherosclerotic calcified stenosis of the infrarenal aorta.

Material And Methods: Between July 1996 and July 1999, 15 patients (nine male, si- female; mean age, 53.9 years) with symptomatic, calcified aortic stenosis were treated with primary stent placement.

Role of power Doppler techniques and ultrasound contrast enhancement in the differential diagnosis of focal breast lesions.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the diagnostic impact of ultrasound in differentiating focal breast lesions with special regard on power Doppler and US contrast agents. The sonographic evaluation of breast lesions has become a standard procedure during the past 15 years. Especially the improvement of B-mode resolution and the use of high-frequency probes increased the diagnostic value of US.