A systematic scoping review exploring variation in practice in specimen mammography for Intraoperative Margin Analysis in Breast Conserving Surgery and the role of artificial intelligence in optimising diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose: Specimen Mammography (SM) is commonly used in Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS) for intraoperative margin analysis. A systematic scoping review was conducted to identify sources of methodological variation in Specimen Mammography Interpretation (SMI) and assess the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to optimise Diagnostic Accuracy (DA).

Methods: Embase, Pubmed, Cochrane and web of science databases were searched.

The association of breast surgery ASPIRE: breast pain pathway rapid evaluation project - study protocol.

Background: Breast pain accounts for 20-40% of new referrals to breast units in the UK and these patients have a very low risk of breast cancer. Patients have previously been assessed in resource-intensive, cancer-exclusion, one stop clinics, which are now failing to meet government targets due to excessive demand. UK Breast units are increasingly piloting Breast Pain-only Pathways (BPP) to assess these patients, and there is no consensus for the optimal pathway.

Evaluating a novel patient pathway to manage symptomatic breast referrals (the blue flag clinic): a longitudinal observational study.

Introduction: A novel referral pathway for exhibited breast symptom (EBS) referrals to manage increasing referrals of urgent suspected cancer (USC) was implemented in our trust. We report on the safety and effect on compliance with the 2-week-wait rule (2WW).

Methods: A single-centre longitudinal observational study included all patients referred to a UK breast unit during 13 May 2019 to 27 March 2020 (period 1) and 8 February 2021 to 31 January 2022 (period 2).

Outcomes of patients with non-lower gastrointestinal cancer diagnosed via the lower gastrointestinal two-week-wait service.

Introduction: Patients referred via lower gastrointestinal two-week-wait (LGI-2WW) services deemed at 'low risk' of LGI cancer may have delayed or no investigation. However, 20% of patients diagnosed with cancer via the LGI-2WW have non-LGI cancer. This study investigates the outcomes in this under-reported group.

Survival outcomes of elderly patients referred to the lower gastrointestinal 2-week wait service.

Aim: The benefit to elderly patients (≥80 years old) of referral to the resource-intensive lower gastrointestinal 2-week wait (LGI-2WW) pathway is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the survival outcome of elderly patients referred to a LGI-2WW service.

Method: This study comprised a retrospective analysis of a prospectively gathered database of patients referred to a single-centre LGI-2WW service and conformed to STROBE guidelines.

Significance of a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in staging for distant metastasis in breast cancer: are current guidelines relevant?

Introduction: In breast cancer, early identification of distant metastasis changes management. Current guidelines recommend radiological staging in patients with a preoperative positive axilla; no guidelines address a preoperative negative axilla with subsequent positive sentinel lymph node biopsy. This study investigates whether current guidelines adequately identify distant metastasis in a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy population that had radiological staging.

Raman spectroscopy for rapid intra-operative margin analysis of surgically excised tumour specimens.

Raman spectroscopy, a form of vibrational spectroscopy, has the ability to provide sensitive and specific biochemical analysis of tissue. This review article provides an in-depth analysis of the suitability of different Raman spectroscopy techniques in providing intra-operative margin analysis in a range of solid tumour pathologies. Surgical excision remains the primary treatment of a number of solid organ cancers.

Jejunal diverticulum enterolith causing perforation and upper abdominal peritonitis.

A patient presented with a 4 h history of acute onset, progressive upper abdominal pain. There was localised peritonitis, with raised inflammatory markers and lactate. CT scan showed a large calcified mass, with evidence of mesenteric twist/volvulus causing some degree of small bowel obstruction.