Management of patients with malignant bowel obstruction and stage IV colorectal cancer.

Background: Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO), a serious problem in stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, remains poorly understood. Optimal management requires realistic assessment of treatment goals. This study's purpose is to characterize outcomes following palliative intervention for MBO in the setting of metastatic CRC.

Prognostic impact of RT-PCR-based detection of peritoneal micrometastases in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing curative resection.

Background: Positive peritoneal fluid cytology predicts poor outcome in patients with resected pancreatic cancer. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been proposed as a more sensitive means of detection of peritoneal micrometastases than conventional cytology. The clinical significance of RT-PCR positivity in the absence of other evidence of peritoneal disease is unknown.

Detection of micrometastases in peritoneal washings of gastric cancer patients by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Background: Gastric cancer patients with positive (+) peritoneal cytology have a prognosis similar to stage IV patients. We studied the ability of quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect peritoneal micrometastases in patients undergoing staging laparoscopy.

Methods: Peritoneal washings were obtained prospectively from 34 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma undergoing staging laparoscopy and 6 patients undergoing laparoscopy for benign disease.

EBV-Associated Smooth Muscle Neoplasms: Solid Tumors Arising in the Presence of Immunosuppression and Autoimmune Diseases.

Background. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related smooth muscle neoplasms (SMNs) have been associated with immune dysregulation, most notably in patients who have undergone solid organ transplantation or in patients with HIV/AIDS. Objective.

Analysis of the extent of resection for adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder.

Gallbladder cancer has historically been considered an incurable malignancy; although, extended resection has been associated with cure in selected patients. However, the optimal extent of resection is unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the extent of resection for gallbladder adenocarcinoma on disease-specific survival (DSS) and perioperative morbidity.

Methods of detection of first recurrence in patients with stage I/II primary cutaneous melanoma after sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Background: An understanding of the methods of detection of recurrent melanoma after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is essential for the coordination of a rational plan of follow-up.

Methods: Clinical stage I/II melanoma patients who underwent SLNB from 1991 to 2004 were identified from a prospectively maintained single-institution database. Detection of recurrence by self (awareness of symptoms or abnormal physical findings) or physician (discovered on routine physical or scheduled test) and timing of clinic visit were recorded.

Diagnosis and management of lipomatous tumors.

Lipomatous tumors range from benign lipomas to high-grade liposarcomas. Liposarcomas are classified into five histologic subtypes: well-differentiated, dedifferentiated, myxoid, round cell, and pleomorphic, which differ in outcomes and patterns of recurrence. Surgical resection is the mainstay of curative treatment; however, large, high grade liposarcomas may benefit from multimodality treatment with chemotherapy and radiation.

Detection of micrometastases in peritoneal washings of pancreatic cancer patients by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Objective: Pancreatic cancer patients with positive (+) peritoneal cytology have a prognosis similar to stage IV patients. We studied the ability of quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect micrometastases in patients undergoing staging laparoscopy.

Methods: Peritoneal washes were obtained prospectively from 35 consecutive patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma undergoing staging laparoscopy and 16 patients undergoing laparoscopy for benign disease.

Subtype specific prognostic nomogram for patients with primary liposarcoma of the retroperitoneum, extremity, or trunk.

Objective: To determine the prognostic significance of histologic subtype in a large series of patients with primary liposarcoma (LS) and to construct a LS-specific postoperative nomogram for disease-specific survival (DSS).

Summary Background Data: Nomograms, used to define and predict outcome following operative intervention, may contain variables not conventionally used in standard staging systems. A 12-year DSS postoperative nomogram for all sarcomas has already been established.