Sex estimation of the subadult ilium prior to acetabular fusion.

Previous studies evaluating sexual dimorphism in subadult pelvic features present variable, and at times conflicting, conclusions. As a result, there is yet to be a consensus on whether the subadult pelvis can be used in sex estimation methods. This study aims to assess the forensic utility of ilium shape and greater sciatic notch morphology in sexing subadult pelves prior to acetabular fusion.

The importance of processing procedures and threshold values in CT scan segmentation of skeletal elements: An example using the immature os coxa.

As the accessibility and utility of virtual databases of skeletal collections continues to grow, the impact that scan processing procedures has on the accuracy of data obtained from virtual databases remains relatively unknown. This study quantifies the intra- and inter-observer error generated from varying computed tomography (CT) scan processing protocols, including re-segmentation, incrementally varying thresholding value, and data collectors' selection of the threshold value on a set of virtual subadult pelves. Four observers segmented the subadult ossa coxarum from postmortem CT scans of the fully-fleshed bodies of eleven individuals of varying ages.

High risk of rectal cancer and of metachronous colorectal cancer in probands of families fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria.

Objective: To investigate the risk of metachronous colorectal cancer (CRC), its impact on survival, and the risk of rectal cancer in a cohort of probands meeting the Amsterdam criteria.

Background: Several determinants of decision-making for the management of CRC in patients with a putative diagnosis of Lynch syndrome are scarcely defined, and many of them undergo segmental bowel resection instead of the advised total colectomy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 65 probands of the Amsterdam-positive families who had surgery for primary CRC and at least 5-year surveillance thereafter.

Loupe magnification reduces postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy.

We aimed to evaluate the impact of loupe magnification (LM) on incidental parathyroid gland removal (from pathology reports), hypocalcemia, and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury after total thyroidectomy and answer the question of whether this tool should be always recommended for patient's safety. Between January 2005 and December 2008, 126 patients underwent total thyroidectomy with routine use of 2.5 x galilean loupes; their charts were compared with data on 118 patients operated on between January 1997 and December 2000 without LM (two different equally skilled surgical teams operating in the two periods).

Modifiable risk factors in colorectal surgery: central role of surgeon's volume.

Background: Our objective was to inform the ongoing debate regarding selective referral of colorectal cancer patients to high-volume surgeons in order to improve outcomes.

Patients And Method: We evaluated data on patients treated by colorectal-dedicated surgeons (first study-group) and non specialized surgeons (second study-group). Particular attention has been paid to patients selection in order to collect two study-groups with similar demographic and clinical characteristics, differing only as regards providers' surgical experience in the colorectal field.