Uptake of risk-reducing surgery in BRCA gene carriers in Wales, UK.

Women who inherit a mutated copy of the BRCA gene have a higher lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. No large epidemiological studies exist looking at BRCA mutation carriers in UK populations. All patients with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation identified between 1995 and 2015 were included.

Intervisceral artery origins in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysmal disease; evidence for systemic vascular remodelling.

What is the central question of this study? To what extent focal abdominal aortic aneurysmal (AAA) disease is associated with systemic remodelling of the vascular tree remains unknown. The present study examined whether anatomical differences exist between distances of the intervisceral artery origins and AAA location/size in patients with disease compared with healthy patients. What is the main finding and its importance? Intervisceral artery distances were shown to be consistently greater in AAA patients, highlighting the systemic nature of AAA disease that extends proximally to the abdominal aorta and its branches.

Breast disease diagnostic ability of nurse practitioners and surgeons.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to compare history-taking and breast and axillary examination skills of nurse practitioners and surgeons.

Background: In the United Kingdom, patients referred by their general practitioners with suspected breast cancer should be seen within 2 weeks by a specialist. As a result of the European Working Time Directive there has been a reduction in junior doctors' working hours within the European Union.

Reviewing interval cancers: time well spent?

Objectives: To categorize interval cancers, and thus identify false-negatives, following prevalent and incident screens in the Welsh breast screening programme.

Setting: Breast Test Wales (BTW) Llandudno, Cardiff and Swansea breast screening units.

Methods: Five hundred and sixty interval breast cancers identified following negative mammographic screening between 1989 and 1997 were reviewed by eight screening radiologists.