Intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising from the sacral spinal nerve root

An unusual case of intraspinal primitive neuroectodermal tumor arising from the sacral spinal nerve root is presented with the first documentation of myelographic, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings.     

Detection of cancer in augmented breasts by positron emission tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic efficiency of positron emission tomography with 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose in detecting breast cancer in augmented breasts. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Korea. SUBJECT: 9 cases or 8 patients with breasts augmented with paraffin or silicone. INTERVENTION: FDG-PET, mammography, and ultrasonography RESULTS: The mammogram detected the breast cancer in only 1 of 3 patients, and ultrasonography gave a false positive result in 1 patient with an augmented breast. In contrast, PET predicted all the cancers and 5/6 benign lesions. 2/3 breast cancers had axillary FDG uptake interpreted as showing metastatic involvement, and in 1 case with cancer with no axillary lymph node involvement there was no FDG uptake in the axilla, which correlated with the pathological finding. CONCLUSIONS: Although the high cost of PET makes its use as a screening test for all patients with augmented breasts unrealistic, it would be the best diagnostic choice if other methods failed.     

Age <40Years is an independent prognostic factor predicting inferior overall survival in patients treated with breast conservative therapy

To evaluate the effect of age at diagnosis on the treatment outcome after breast conservative therapy (BCT), retrospective analysis was done for 378 patients undergoing BCT for early breast cancer. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age: 'younger' (<40years, n=108) and 'older' (≥40years, n=270). Multivariate analysis was performed on the variables including tumor characteristics, the use of systemic therapy, and age to assess risk factors for local-regional relapse-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival rates (OS). The median follow-up duration was 94months. The 8-year LRRFS, DMFS, and OS for younger and older groups were 88.1% and 96.5% (p=0.0022); 85.7% and 93.7% (p=0.0310); 89.2% and 95.9% (p=0.0205), respectively. On multivariate analysis, younger age was the only significant predictor of poor LRRFS (p=0.0022). Younger age and ER negativity showed borderline significance for DMFS (p=0.0828 and 0.0618, respectively). Younger age had trend toward inferior OS (p=0.0702). In conclusion, age younger than 40years was associated with inferior LRRFS in early breast cancer patients treated with BCT. There was also a trend for inferior DMFS and OS in younger patients. Age at diagnosis should be considered for individualized patient management.     

What kind of cancer information do Internet users need?

Purpose  

The Internet becomes one of the most effective communication media in healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate the cancer information sources and the needs of various types of Internet users.     

Somatotype analysis of elite Taekwondo athletes compared to non-athletes for sports health sciences

The purpose of this study was to show somatotype and physical characteristic differences between elite taekwondo (TKD) athletes and non-athletes. Differences between weight divisions for Gyorugi and Poomsae athletes were also examined. In this study, we first observed 51 elite TKD athletes and 30 non-athletes. The participants were measured with the modified somatotype method of Heath-Carter, resulting in three kinds of somatotypes (endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph) and a balanced type (central type). The non-athletes consisted of eight endomorphic, eight mesomorphic, seven ectomorphic, and seven central types. The TKD athletes consisted of 26 ectomorphic, 14 mesomorphic, six central type, and four endomorphs. Subdividing the Gyorugi athletes somatotypes resulted in seven mesomorphectomorph, five balanced ectomorph, four mesomorphic ectomorph, four endomorphic ectomorph, three central types, two endomorphic mesomorph, two ectomorphic mesomorph, two balanced endomorph, one mesomorphic endomorph, and one mesomorphendomorph, And poomse athletes resulted in four balanced ectomorph, four balanced mesomorph, three central type, three mesomorph-endomorph, two endomorphic ectomorph, one mesomorph-ectomorph, one mesomorphic ectomorph, one endomorphic mesomorph, and one balanced endomorph, respectively. TKD athletes had tall, higher ectomorphic component values than the non-athletes. However, the athletes’ endomorphic and mesomorphic components were lower than in the non-athletes. Furthermore, Gyorugi athletes are taller and more frequently ectomorphic than Poomsae athletes. A lower weight division in Gyorugi athletes was positively correlated with a higher ectomorphic component, but negatively correlated with the endomorphic and mesomorphic components. The ?80 kg class had the highest mesomorphic component value and the lowest endomorphic component value. Our study provides, in part, physical characteristics of TKD athletes to establish a reference for the study of sports health sciences.