Quality measurement in cancer care delivery.

During the past decade, increasing emphasis has been placed on defining and measuring the quality of health care delivery. The Outcomes Committee of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) was established in 2008 to explore and promote emerging outcomes-related topics that are most relevant to society membership. In recognition of the importance of health care quality, a mini-symposium was held at the SSO's 63rd Annual Cancer Symposium in St.

Getting to better cancer care: results of a society of surgical oncology survey.

Introduction: The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) created a task force to address the issue of surgical outcomes as it pertains to clinical practice. A survey of its members was conducted to determine which domains of "outcomes" are important and relevant to surgical oncologists.

Methods: Participation of 1,929 SSO members was solicited via e-mail; 1,881 messages were successfully delivered.

Risk factors for nodal recurrence after lymphadenectomy for melanoma.

Background: The risk and outcome of regional failure after elective and therapeutic lymph node dissection (ELND/TLND) for microscopically and macroscopically involved lymph nodes without adjuvant radiotherapy were evaluated.

Methods: Retrospective melanoma database review of 338 patients (ELND 85, TLND 253) from 1970 to 1996 with pathologically involved lymph nodes.

Results: Regional recurrence occurred in 14% of patients treated with ELND (n = 12) and 28% of patients treated with TLND (n = 72; P = .

Nodal basin recurrence following lymph node dissection for melanoma: implications for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Purpose: To analyze patterns of failure in malignant melanoma patients with lymph node involvement who underwent complete lymph node dissection (LND) of the nodal basin. To determine prognostic factors predictive of local recurrence in the lymph node basin in order to select patients who may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective analysis of 338 patients undergoing complete LND for melanoma between 1970 and 1996 who had pathologically involved lymph nodes was performed.

Paraesophageal omental hernia mimics pleural lipomatous tumor.

Paraesophageal omental herniation (POH) is uncommon. CT scan and MRI are complementary in diagnosis. We present a posterior mediastinal mass in a 43 year old male with a history of myxoid liposarcoma raising the suspicion of latent secondary tumor.

Patterns of nodal metastasis and surgical management of the neck in supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.

Background: Appropriate management of the clinically negative (N0) neck in supraglottic laryngeal cancer continues to be an area of controversy in head and neck surgery. Our treatment policy has been aggressive surgical management even in the clinically N0 neck.

Methods: Between 1971 and 1991, 104 patients had the primary diagnosis of supraglottic laryngeal cancer.

Paget's disease of the breast: a 33-year experience.

Background: Paget's disease (PD) of the breast is an uncommon condition traditionally treated with mastectomy. To assess the natural history and treatment options in PD we have reviewed the experience at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI).

Study Design: The medical records of patients treated for PD at RPCI between 1963 and 1996 were reviewed.

Determination of methylparaben, propylparaben and chlorpromazine in chlorpromazine hydrochloride oral solution by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of methylparaben and propylparaben preservatives and chlorpromazine hydrochloride active component in a liquid oral pharmaceutical formulation. The method separated the analytes as well as some degradants and other components, providing good resolution and moderate tailing. The performance of various C18 columns was compared.

Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) in breast cancer may be used in place of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) if SNB accurately stages the axilla. This study assessed the success and accuracy of axillary SNB with isosulfan blue (ISB) and technetium-99 sulfur colloid (TSC) compared to ALND.

Methods: Forty-two women with T1 or T2 breast cancer underwent SNB and ALND.

Predictors of mortality in pulmonary contusion.

Background: Associated injuries and central nervous system (CNS) trauma are historically associated with poor outcome in patients with pulmonary contusions, but the value of specific factors reflecting shock, fluid resuscitation requirement and pulmonary parenchymal injury in predicting mortality in this population is not well established.

Methods: The medical records of 100 consecutive patients with pulmonary contusion, admitted over a 5-year period, were retrospectively reviewed. Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared in terms of age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), PaO2/FiO2 (oxygenation ratio), the severity and adequacy of shock resuscitation reflected in plasma lactate, resuscitation volume and transfusion requirements, using one-way ANOVA.