Central nervous system abnormalities in Fanconi anaemia: patterns and frequency on magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: Fanconi anaemia (FA) is an inherited disease associated with congenital and developmental abnormalities resulting from the disruption of a multigenic DNA damage response pathway. This study aimed to define the MRI appearances of the brain in patients with FA in correlation with their genetic and clinical features.

Methods: A review of the brain MRI in 20 patients with FA was performed.

Radiotherapy versus open surgery versus endolaryngeal surgery (with or without laser) for early laryngeal squamous cell cancer.

Background: This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 2, 2002 and previously updated in 2004, 2007 and 2010.Radiotherapy, open surgery and endolaryngeal excision (with or without laser) are all accepted modalities of treatment for early-stage glottic cancer. Case series suggest that they confer a similar survival advantage, however radiotherapy and endolaryngeal surgery offer the advantage of voice preservation.

Management of the compromised airway and role of tracheotomy in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an uncommon thyroid malignancy with a poor prognosis. American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines acknowledge the complexity of airway management in these patients. We studied our local experience with the aim of providing guidance in airway management in ATC.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: the addition of systemic chemotherapy to radiotherapy led to an observed improvement in survival--a single centre experience and review of the literature.

Introduction: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is rare yet accounts for up to 50% of all thyroid cancer deaths. This study reviews outcomes of patients with confirmed ATC referred to a tertiary oncology centre plus reviews the literature to explore how poor outcomes may be improved.

Materials And Methods: The management and outcomes of 20 patients with ATC were reviewed.

Use of Pre-Ablation Radioiodine-131 Scan to Assess the Impact of Surgical Volume and Specialisation following Thyroidectomy for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: We evaluated the relationship between thyroid remnant size following thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma and surgical volume and specialisation by assessing pre-ablation radioiodine-131 ((131)I) thyroid bed uptake (TBU) scanning as a surrogate for residual thyroid tissue.

Methods: We analysed data of 651 patients in our thyroid cancer database. Patients' data were included if the following criteria were met: (1) diagnosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, (2) total or near-total thyroidectomy, (3) pre-ablation (131)I scan prior to radioiodine ablation (RAI), (4) no distant metastasis, and (5) >3,000 MBq ablative dose of (131)I.

Continuing clopidogrel during elective total hip and knee arthroplasty: assessment of bleeding risk and adverse outcomes.

Limited research assessing risks of continued clopidogrel perioperatively in patients undergoing elective orthopedic procedures exists. Patients that underwent elective primary or revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) from 2007 to 2012 while taking clopidogrel at the time of surgical evaluation were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics, last dose of clopidogrel, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, and presence of 30-day adverse cardiac events (ACE) were collected.

Audit of clinical coding of major head and neck operations.

Introduction: Within the NHS, operations are coded using the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) classification system. These codes, together with diagnostic codes, are used to generate Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) codes, which correlate to a payment bracket. The aim of this study was to determine whether allocated procedure codes for major head and neck operations were correct and reflective of the work undertaken.

Nasal polyposis: prevalence of positive food and inhalant skin tests.

Objectives: To investigate the etiology of nasal polyps and its relationship to allergy. The prevalence of positive food and inhalant skin tests in patients with nasal polyps and nonatopic controls was compared.

Study Design And Setting: Prospective controlled study in tertiary referral rhinology clinic.

Does patient-perceived handicap correspond to the modified clinical test for the sensory interaction on balance?

Objective: To determine whether patient self-reported handicap correlates with scores obtained from the modified Clinical Test for the Sensory Interaction on Balance as assessed by the Neurocom VSR Balance Master platform.

Study Design: Prospective observational.

Setting: Balance clinic in tertiary referral center.

A prospective randomized single-blind trial comparing ultrasonic scalpel tonsillectomy with tonsillectomy by blunt dissection in a pediatric age group.

Objective: To determine if there was a difference in postoperative pain and dietary intake when comparing ultrasonic scalpel (US) with blunt dissection tonsillectomy (BD) in children.

Study Design And Setting: A prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing US and BD tonsillectomy in children aged between 5 and 13 years who undergo tonsillectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis in a specialized pediatric hospital.

Results: One hundred and twenty-two children were enrolled.