Management of metastatic colorectal cancer in patients ≥70 years - a single center experience.

Background: Age-standardized mortality rates for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are highest among elderly patients. In current clinical guidelines, treatment recommendations for this patient population are based on a limited number of clinical trials.

Patients And Methods: In this monocentric, retrospective analysis we characterized patients aged ≥70 years undergoing systemic therapy for mCRC and overall survival (OS) was investigated.

Manufacturing flexible vascular models for cardiovascular surgery planning and endovascular procedure simulations: An approach to segmentation and post-processing with open-source software and end-user 3D printers.

306Three-dimensional (3D)-printed vascular models for cardiovascular surgery planning and endovascular procedure simulations often lack realistic biological tissues mimicking material properties, including flexibility or transparency, or both. Transparent silicone or silicone-like vascular models were not available for end-user 3D printers and had to be fabricated using complex and cost-intensive workarounds. This limitation has now been overcome by novel liquid resins with biological tissue properties.

Endovascular embolization techniques in acute thoracic and abdominal bleedings can be technically reproduced and trained in a standardized simulation setting using SLA 3D printing: a 1-year single-center study.

Background: Endovascular embolization techniques are nowadays well established in the management of acute arterial bleedings. However, the education and training of the next generation of interventionalists are still based on the traditional apprenticeship model, where the trainee learns and practices directly at the patient, which potentially affects the patient's safety. The objective of this study was to design and develop a standardized endovascular simulation concept for the training of acute bleeding embolizations, based on real-life cases.

Practice patterns among thyroid cancer surgeons: implications of performing a prophylactic central neck dissection.

Background: Indications for performing a prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remain controversial. It is unclear how identification of lymph node (LN) metastases should impact the decision to treat with radioactive iodine (RAI). The goals of this study were to identify indications for performing pCND and identify factors that predict the use of adjuvant RAI.

The impact of compliance in posttreatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Importance: Posttreatment surveillance (PTS) is a key component in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. It is unclear how beneficial this is in improving patients' survival.

Objective: To determine how compliance with follow-up affects clinical outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Extent of central neck dissection among thyroid cancer surgeons: Cross-sectional analysis.

Background: It is unclear if surgeons are performing comprehensive central neck dissections for well-differentiated thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine mean lymph node retrieval in central neck dissection as well as variability across surgeons and institutions.

Methods: A prospectively collected database identified 18 surgeons performing 425 central neck dissections, 313 unilateral and 112 bilateral.

Postpartum woman with pneumomediastinum and reverse (inverted) takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a case report.

Introduction: Pneumomediastinum is known to occur during labor. Patients typically present with chest pain and symptoms may be suspicious, for example of pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection. The condition itself, however, is rather harmless and self-limiting.

Use of a Low-fidelity simulator to improve trans-nasal fibre-optic flexible laryngoscopy in the clinical setting: a randomized, single-blinded, prospective study.

Background: Trans-nasal flexible fibre-optic laryngoscopy (TFFL) is an essential skill for otolaryngologists. There is evidence to suggest that simulators help residents acquire procedural skills. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of simulation on endoscopy skill acquistion.

Radiologic reporting for paranasal sinus computed tomography: a multi-institutional review of content and consistency.

Objectives/hypothesis: To optimize clinical care, radiologic reporting should consistently include clinically pertinent information. The purpose of this study was to: 1) determine the current satisfaction of otolaryngologists with paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) radiologic reporting and 2) evaluate the comprehensiveness of paranasal sinus CT radiologic reporting.

Study Design: Two parts: 1) A national survey of all practicing otolaryngologists in Canada and 2) a retrospective review of paranasal sinus CT scan radiologic reporting.

Occult multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma presenting as a supraclavicular mass containing anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Importance: There are reports in the literature of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes with evidence of only papillary carcinoma in the thyroid gland. There have been no cases of this clinical scenario with only papillary microcarcinoma in the thyroid gland.

Observations: We describe the case of a 60-year-old man who initially presented with an enlarged right, level 5, supraclavicular lymph node.

Polyethylene implants in nasal septal restoration.

Importance: Numerous techniques have been described to repair nasal septal perforations (SPs). However, many are technically challenging, with varying degrees of success.

Objective: To evaluate the use of polyethylene (Medpor; Porex Technologies) implants in the closure of nasal SPs.

The significance of Streptococcus anginosus group in intracranial complications of pediatric rhinosinusitis.

Objective: To assess the significance of the Streptococcus anginosus group in intracranial complications of pediatric patients with rhinosinusitis.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary pediatric hospital.

Fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): predictor of swallowing-related complications in the head and neck cancer population.

Background: The treatment of head and neck cancer is associated with significant dysphagia and morbidity. Prescribing a safe oral diet in this population is challenging.

Methods: Data from 116 consecutive patients having 189 fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) examinations over a 3-year period were analyzed.

Endoluminal therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease: prospective assessment of quality of life in 190 patients.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the impact of endoluminal treatment on health-related quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Subjects And Methods: Changes in quality of life were prospectively evaluated in 190 patients before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Physical, emotional, and general health components were determined using the short-form (36 items) health survey (SF-36).

Hydronephrotic kidney: pediatric three-dimensional US for relative renal size assessment--initial experience.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography (US) for assessment of relative renal size in infants and children with hydronephrosis.

Materials And Methods: Informed consent was obtained from parents and also from children who were older than 8 years. Study was approved by ethics committee.

Aortoiliac enhancement during computed tomography angiography with reduced contrast material dose and saline solution flush: influence on magnitude and uniformity of the contrast column.

Rationale And Objectives: To compare the magnitude and uniformity of aortoiliac contrast enhancement obtained from uniphasic contrast material injections versus contrast material injections with reduced iodine dose followed by a saline flush in aortoiliac multislice CT angiography (CTA).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms underwent aortoiliac CTA using protocols A and B. With protocol A, 120 mL contrast material (300 mgI/mL), and with protocol B, 100 mL contrast material followed by a 40-mL saline solution flush were administered at a flow rate of 4 mL/s.

Abdominal multidetector row computed tomography: reduction of cost and contrast material dose using saline flush.

Objective: To evaluate the potential of a saline solution flush after the contrast material bolus in abdominal multidetector row CT (MDCT) in contrast material dose and cost reduction.

Methods: Abdominal MDCT was performed in 78 patients who were assigned randomly to 2 groups receiving 120 mL nonionic contrast material (300 mgI/mL) alone or 100 mL of the same contrast material pushed with 40 mL of saline solution. Mean attenuation values for both groups were measured in the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, the portal vein, the inferior vena cava, and the abdominal aorta.

Improvement of parenchymal and vascular enhancement using saline flush and power injection for multiple-detector-row abdominal CT.

The aim of this study was to determine if a saline solution flush following low dose contrast material bolus improves parenchymal and vascular enhancement during abdominal multiple detector-row computed tomography (MDCT). Forty-one patients (24 men and 17 women; mean age 49 years, age range 27-86 years) underwent abdominal MDCT (collimation 4x5 mm, 15-mm table increment, reconstruction interval 5 mm, gantry rotation period 0.8 s) with a single- as well as with a double syringe power injector.