Phase II Trial of Brain MRI Surveillance in Stage IV Breast Cancer.

Background: Screening of asymptomatic stage IV breast cancer with brain MRIs is currently not recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines. The incidence of asymptomatic brain metastasis is not well documented.

Methods: The study is designed as a single arm, phase II trial, with the goal of investigating surveillance brain MRIs in neurologically asymptomatic patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy caused by posttraumatic severe atlantoaxial dislocation over 10 years in patients with right vertebral artery hypoplasia: A case report of successful management.

Introduction: Degenerative cervical myelopathy caused by long-standing neglected AAD is rare, especially in severe cases. Combined with the exceptional right vertebral artery hypoplasia condition, treatment must be integrated into multitherapy to avoid fatal complications.

Case: A 55-year-old man presented with degenerative cervical myelopathy caused by posttraumatic severe atlantoaxial dislocation for more than 10 years in patients with right vertebral artery hypoplasia.

Can we lower the platelet threshold of ≥ 50 × 10/L for performing a lumbar puncture safely in patients with hematological malignancies?

Lumbar punctures (LP) are routinely used to administer intrathecal chemotherapy for children and adults with hematologic malignancies. The current guidelines suggest a platelet threshold of ≥ 50 × 10/L prior to LP for intrathecal chemotherapy (ITC). This can be challenging in patients with hematological malignancies who are thrombocytopenic.

Bloodless surgery in urologic oncology: A review of hematologic, anesthetic, and surgical considerations.

The urologic oncology patient who refuses blood transfusion can present unique challenges in perioperative blood management. Since blood loss and associated transfusion can be expected in many complex urologic oncology surgeries, a multidisciplinary approach may be required for optimal outcomes. Through collaboration with the hematologist, anesthesiologist, and urologist, various techniques can be employed in the perioperative phases to minimize blood loss and the need for transfusion.

A rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding treated with robotic colorectal surgery.

Background: Metastatic melanoma to the colon is rarely diagnosed with an incidence of only 0.3% and more than 95% of cases identified post-mortem. Survival for patients with metastatic melanoma to the colon is poor, with 5-year survival rates of 26.