Communicative characteristics of interactions between surgeons and Chinese women with breast cancer in oncology consultation: a conversation analysis.

Background: While previous studies have analysed features of interaction in cancer consultations using observational coding frames, relatively little attention is being given to how actual interactions are sequentially organized and achieved by participants in the course of talk-in-interaction. Research into the interactional practices in consultations, which involves Chinese patients, is largely absent.

Objective: To provide insight into the talk-in-interaction in surgical-oncology consultations in the context of a Chinese medical setting.

Does the use of shared decision-making consultation behaviors increase treatment decision-making satisfaction among Chinese women facing decision for breast cancer surgery?

Objective: To assess the extent to which breast surgical consultations used shared decision making (SDM), identify factors associated with use of SDM, and assess if using SDM increases decision-making satisfaction.

Methods: Two hundred and eighty-three video-recorded diagnostic-treatment decision consultations between breast surgeons and women with breast cancer were assessed using the Decision Analysis System for Oncology (DAS-O) coding system designed for assessing SDM behaviors. Women completed a questionnaire at pre-consultation, one-week post-consultation and one-month post-surgery.

Intra-operative assessment of axillary sentinel lymph nodes by frozen section-an observational study of 260 procedures.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the standard treatment for patients with invasive breast cancer. Intra-operative frozen section allows for the detection of nodal metastases, thereby allowing a simultaneous axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for those patients with nodal metastases. We herein report the accuracy of frozen section in the detection of SLN metastases.

Isotope-guided surgery for nonpalpable breast cancer.

Background: The hook-wire technique is used to guide surgical excision of nonpalpable breast lesions. Recently, isotope has been used to guide the excision, and when sentinel node biopsy is performed during the same operation, the procedure is termed Sentinel Node and Occult Lesion Localization (SNOLL). We evaluated the use of this procedure for nonpalpable cancers in Chinese women.

Radiofrequency ablation of breast cancer: a comparative study of two needle designs.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging minimally invasive technique for breast cancer treatment. There are two different needle designs. One is to deploy a series of arrays to allow an even distribution of heat within the tumor.

The impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with a core biopsy diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Background: When ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is found on core biopsy, histological underestimation can occur due to sampling error. When an invasive cancer is subsequently found, another operation is required for nodal staging. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) enables nodal staging at the same operation.

Laparoscopic intragastric approach for stromal tumours located at the posterior gastric wall.

Surgical resection is indicated for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). Laparoscopic resection with clear margins is effective in gastric GIST. However, GIST located in the posterior gastric wall with close proximity to the oesophagogastric junction poses special challenges.

Randomized trial comparing pantoprazole infusion, bolus and no treatment on gastric pH and recurrent bleeding in peptic ulcers.

Background: To study the effects of pantoprazole on gastric pH and recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment for bleeding peptic ulcers.

Methods: After endoscopic haemostasis, patients were randomly assigned to infusion group (pantoprazole 80 mg i.v.