Challenge of uncontrolled enteroatmospheric fistulas.

Introduction: With the popularization of damage control surgery and the use of the open abdomen, a new permutation of fistula arose; the enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF), an opening of exposed intestine spilling uncontrollably into the peritoneal cavity. EAF is the most devastating complication of the open abdomen. We describe and analyze a single institution's experience in controlling high-output EAFs in patients with peritonitis.

Radiographic and metabolic response rates following image-guided stereotactic radiotherapy for lung tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate radiographic and metabolic response after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for early lung tumors.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine tumors were treated prospectively with SBRT (dose=48-60 Gy, 4-5 Fx). Thirty-six cases were primary NSCLC (T1N0=67%; T2N0=25%); three cases were solitary metastases.

Dosimetric impact of online correction via cone-beam CT-based image guidance for stereotactic lung radiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric impact of online cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) guided correction in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Methods And Materials: Twenty planning and 162 CBCT images from 20 patients undergoing lung SBRT were analyzed. The precorrection CBCT (CBCT after patient setup, no couch correction) was registered to planning CT using soft tissue; couch shift was applied, with a second CBCT for verification (postcorrection CBCT).

Image-guided radiotherapy via daily online cone-beam CT substantially reduces margin requirements for stereotactic lung radiotherapy.

Purpose: To determine treatment accuracy and margins for stereotactic lung radiotherapy with and without cone-beam CT (CBCT) image guidance.

Methods And Materials: Acquired for the study were 308 CBCT of 24 patients with solitary peripheral lung tumors treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. Patients were immobilized in a stereotactic body frame (SBF) or alpha-cradle and treated with image guidance using daily CBCT.

Analysis of treatment efficacy, cosmesis, and toxicity using the MammoSite breast brachytherapy catheter to deliver accelerated partial-breast irradiation: the william beaumont hospital experience.

Purpose: To review our institution's experience of treating patients with the MammoSite (Cytyc Corp., Marlborough, MA) breast brachytherapy catheter to deliver accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI), for determining short-term treatment efficacy, cosmesis, and toxicity.

Methods And Materials: From January 2000 to April 2006, 80 patients treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) received adjuvant radiation using the MammoSite (34 Gy in 3.

Clinicopathologic analysis of extracapsular extension in prostate cancer: should the clinical target volume be expanded posterolaterally to account for microscopic extension?

Purpose: We performed a complete pathologic analysis examining extracapsular extension (ECE) and microscopic spread of malignant cells beyond the prostate capsule to determine whether and when clinical target volume (CTV) expansion should be performed.

Methods And Materials: A detailed pathologic analysis was performed for 371 prostatectomy specimens. All slides from each case were reviewed by a single pathologist (N.

Identification of chondrocyte proliferation following laser irradiation, thermal injury, and mechanical trauma.

Background And Objective: Cartilage has a limited regenerative capacity, and there are a lack of reliable techniques and methods to stimulate growth of new tissue to treat degenerative diseases and trauma. This study focused on identifying chondrocyte cell proliferation in ex vivo cartilage tissue following heating Nd:YAG laser using whole-mount analysis and flow cytometry, and compared findings with results produced by contact, and water bath heating methods, mechanical injury, and the addition of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta).

Study Design/materials And Methods: Ex vivo rabbit nasal septal cartilages were either irradiated with an Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 1.

Clinical implications of different image reconstruction parameters for interpretation of whole-body PET studies in cancer patients.

Unlabelled: The standardized uptake value (SUV) is the most commonly used parameter to quantify the intensity of radiotracer uptake in tumors. Previous studies suggested that measurements of (18)F-FDG accumulation in tissue might be affected by the image reconstruction method, but the clinical relevance of these findings has not been assessed.

Methods: Phantom studies were performed and clinical whole-body (18)F-FDG PET images of 85 cancer patients were analyzed.

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma.

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) is a distinctly rare tumor characterized by a variegated histologic architecture of epithelial and mesenchymal components. By reported accounts, SNTCS is a highly malignant tumor displaying rapid, aggressive growth. Prognosis is poor: less than 45% of all patients survive past 5 years.

Measurement of the elastic modulus of rabbit nasal septal cartilage during Nd:YAG (lambda = 1.32 microm) laser irradiation.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this study was to quantitatively measure changes in the elastic moduli of rabbit nasal septal cartilage during laser heating. While the efficacy of laser cartilage reshaping has been established for use in nasal surgery, few studies have investigated the temperature-dependent viscoelastic behavior of cartilage.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Cyclic force versus displacement curves were generated during the Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 1.

The effect of optical design on micromanipulator spot size using CO2 laser irradiation.

Objective: The study goal was to compare the laser spot size created using reflective and refractive micromanipulators with a CO(2) laser and to determine the sensitivity of spot size to laser power.

Study Design And Setting: A CO(2) laser and operating microscope (400-mm focal length) was coupled to either a reflective (Cassegrain-like) or refractive micromanipulator. Laser spot size was determined by measuring the region of ablation created by laser irradiation of wood (dry tongue depressors), exposed photographic film, and agar gel using optical micrometry.