Hemispheric infiltrative grade II gliomas in adults: association of residual tumour volume and extent of tumour resection with malignant transformation.

Objectives: Evaluation of the impact of surgical treatment on malignant transformation (MT) of adult supratentorial infiltrative grade II gliomas (G2G) in a series of chemotherapy and radiotherapy-naïve patients.

Background: Despite G2G are slow-growing tumours, they typically undergo MT with a subsequent fatal disease course. An extensive resection alone likely changes their biological behaviour and defers MT; however, this impact is not unequivocally confirmed.

Spontaneous Regression of a Symptomatic Intramedullary Spinal Cord Lesion.

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors and cavernous malformations are rare lesions that can lead to progressive neurologic deficits, impaired quality of life, and even death. Early diagnosis and surgical resection of spinal cord tumors and cavernous malformations are often quoted as essential to optimizing a patient's functional outcome. Unfortunately, these are high-risk operations, with many patients having worse neurological deficits after surgery - sometimes permanent.

Congenital hemangioma of the face-Value of fetal MRI with prenatal ultrasound.

We report the presentation, workup, and pre/perinatal management of a fetus with a large congenital hemangioma of the face. Hemangiomas are benign vascular neoplasms frequently encountered in neonates and infants. The less common congenital variant develops in utero and can present on prenatal ultrasound with diagnostic uncertainty as well as clinical implications for delivery.

Rituximab Versus Cyclophosphamide for Central Nervous System Involvement of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A Case Series.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of rituximab (RTX) with cyclophosphamide (CYC) in patients who have central nervous system (CNS) involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: A computer-assisted search was conducted to identify all adults who received a diagnosis of AAV with CNS involvement from January 1, 1997, through July 1, 2017, at our institution.

Results: Of the 17 patients identified, 11 had received RTX, and 6 had received CYC.

XEN Gel Stent in Medically Refractory Open-Angle Glaucoma: Results and Observations After One Year of Use in the United States.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering and safety of XEN stent in medically refractory, progressive, open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Methods: Forty-seven eyes of 42 patients were treated with XEN stent alone or combined with phacoemulsification.

Results: Mean IOP decreased from 22.

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Triterpenoid Thiazoles Derived from Allobetulin, Methyl Betulonate, Methyl Oleanonate, and Oleanonic Acid.

A total of 41 new triterpenoids were prepared from allobetulone, methyl betulonate, methyl oleanonate, and oleanonic acid to study their influence on cancer cells. Each 3-oxotriterpene was brominated at C2 and substituted with thiocyanate; subsequent cyclization with the appropriate ammonium salts gave N-substituted thiazoles. All compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic activity on eight cancer cell lines and two non-cancer fibroblasts.

Time-dependent estimates of recurrence and survival in colon cancer: clinical decision support system tool development for adjuvant therapy and oncological outcome assessment.

Unanswered questions remain in determining which high-risk node-negative colon cancer (CC) cohorts benefit from adjuvant therapy and how it may differ in an equal access population. Machine-learned Bayesian Belief Networks (ml-BBNs) accurately estimate outcomes in CC, providing clinicians with Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) tools to facilitate treatment planning. We evaluated ml-BBNs ability to estimate survival and recurrence in CC.

A novel nomogram for peritoneal mesothelioma predicts survival.

Background: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare disease treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Estimation of personalized survival times can potentially guide treatment and surveillance.

Methods: We analyzed 104 patients who underwent CRS and cisplatin-based HIPEC for MPM.

Multiple myeloma of the thyroid cartilage.

A 60-year-old male presented with hoarseness. His past medical history was remarkable for a plasmacytoma of the left maxillary sinus having been resected without systemic evidence of plasma cell myeloma (PCM), also known as multiple myeloma (MM), at the time. This maxillary sinus disease recurred and was treated with radiation.

Brooke-spiegler syndrome with multiple scalp cylindromas and bilateral parotid gland adenomas.

A 62-year-old female presented with numerous soft tissue lesions of her scalp and bilateral preauricular region. Several of these have been biopsied or removed with a diagnosis of cylindromas. Cylindromas are benign tumors with a differentiation towards apocrine sweat glands that increase in number and size throughout life.

Pediatric cerebellar hemorrhagic glioblastoma multiforme.

We report the case of an 11 year old boy who presented with nausea, vomiting and ataxia. He was evaluated with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Imaging demonstrated minimal enhancement and hemorrhage of a cerebellar mass.

Using machine-learned bayesian belief networks to predict perioperative risk of clostridium difficile infection following colon surgery.

Background: Clostridium difficile (C-Diff) infection following colorectal resection is an increasing source of morbidity and mortality.

Objective: We sought to determine if machine-learned Bayesian belief networks (ml-BBNs) could preoperatively provide clinicians with postoperative estimates of C-Diff risk.

Methods: We performed a retrospective modeling of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) national registry dataset with independent set validation.

Synaptophysin negative central neurocytoma.

Background: Central neurocytoma is a rare primary brain tumour, mostly localised in the lateral ventricles in relation to the foramen of Monro.

Objectives: To report a case of a rare central neurocytoma with a complete loss of Synaptophysin expression and provide the differential diagnosis.

Methods And Results: We describe a case of a 34-year old man with a headache, unsteady gait and dim vision.

Application of multivariate probabilistic (Bayesian) networks to substance use disorder risk stratification and cost estimation.

Introduction: This paper explores the use of machine learning and Bayesian classification models to develop broadly applicable risk stratification models to guide disease management of health plan enrollees with substance use disorder (SUD). While the high costs and morbidities associated with SUD are understood by payers, who manage it through utilization review, acute interventions, coverage and cost limitations, and disease management, the literature shows mixed results for these modalities in improving patient outcomes and controlling cost. Our objective is to evaluate the potential of data mining methods to identify novel risk factors for chronic disease and stratification of enrollee utilization, which can be used to develop new methods for targeting disease management services to maximize benefits to both enrollees and payers.

MR imaging of late radiation therapy- and chemotherapy-induced injury: a pictorial essay.

Radiation to the brain and adjuvant chemotherapy may produce late delayed changes from several months to years after treatment of intracranial malignancies with a reported prevalence of 5-24%. The pattern of treatment-related injury may vary from diffuse periventricular white matter lesions to focal or multifocal lesions. Differentiation of treatment-related injury from tumor progression/recurrence may be difficult with conventional MR imaging (MRI).

Post-therapeutical changes in the brain: novel trends in imaging and their infuence on external beam radiotherapy.

Unlabelled: Presented is the analysis of patients who underwent external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to the brain in the period from 2003 to 2006 at the department of Radiation Oncology of the St. Elisabeth Cancer Institute.

Spinal epidural hematoma in an infant as the initial presentation of severe hemophilia.

We describe the clinical manifestations, radiographic features, and management options of an extensive spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a 7-month boy who had severe hemophilia that had not been previously diagnosed, despite a baseline factor VIII level less than 1% of normal. We believe this to be the youngest reported case of a symptomatic spontaneous spinal epidural hemorrhage in an infant subsequently initially establishing a diagnosis of hemophilia.