Palliative Management of Peritoneal Metastases

Despite significant recent advances in the management of peritoneal carcinomatosis, this diagnosis still is accompanied frequently by a grim survival prognosis, often measured in weeks to months. The poor prognosis also is accompanied often by complications and symptoms that have a dramatic impact on quality of life and are challenging to the managing health care provider and devastating to loved ones caring for the person who is suffering. Consequently, management of carcinomatosis often revolves around palliation of symptoms such as bowel obstruction, nausea, pain, fatigue, and cachexia as well as emotional and existential concerns. This article reviews several palliative treatment options for some of the more common symptoms and complications associated with advanced, incurable peritoneal carcinomatosis. Although readers should recognize that carcinomatosis is no longer an imminent death sentence, providers caring for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis also must be well-versed in the palliative management of this condition and recognize the utility of early palliative care referral in this setting.     

Primary care perspective and implementation of a multidisciplinary,institutional prostate cancer screening algorithm embedded in the electronic health record

Purpose

In response to controversy regarding prostate cancer (CaP) screening recommendations, a consolidated Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) multidisciplinary algorithm for CaP screening was developed and implemented. We conducted an online survey within the year following its implementation to assess primary care provider (PCP) attitudes and adoption as well as to evaluate how this program affects screening rates.

Decision-Making for the Management of Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas: How Satisfied Are Patients with Surgery?

Introduction

This study aims to understand patients’ perspectives and satisfaction with choosing surgery for the treatment of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs).

Methods

A 62-question survey was administered to 113 patients who had a resection for a PCL by 12 surgeons at two pancreatic specialty centers (2004–2016). Patients’ final diagnoses and perioperative outcomes were correlated to the survey’s results using univariate analysis.

Results

Fear of cancer was quite or extremely important in most respondents’ decision to have surgery (95.4%). Respondents were quite or fully satisfied with the outcomes of surgery (91.1%) and with the decision-making process (89.3%). Distress from anxiety about the cyst before surgery (58.6%) largely outweighed that from postsurgical lifestyle changes (14.4%). Furthermore, 88.7% of patients with pathologically non-malignant disease were quite or fully satisfied with their decision to have surgery, and patients with mucinous neoplasms reported high satisfaction rates independent of grade of dysplasia or malignancy (p = 0.641).

Conclusion

Patients with a resected PCL are highly satisfied with their decision to have surgery, regardless of the final diagnosis or clinical outcome. Fear of cancer is the main driver in the decision-making process, and the anxiety of harboring a cyst is a greater cause of distress than are postsurgical lifestyle changes.

     

Do findings identified on magnetic resonance imaging predict future neck pain? A systematic review

Background Context

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to identify pathology contributing to neck pain. However, the importance of findings on MRI remains unclear.

Technical issues in the determination of cerebrovascular reserve in elderly subjects using 15O-water PET imaging

The accurate determination of cerebrovascular reserve (CVR), especially in elderly subjects, entails several technical issues. From a review of the literature, the optimal technique employs quantitative 15O-water PET imaging determinations of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and acetazolamide (ACZ) (1 g iv with measurements at 10- to 20-min post-administration) as the vasodilating agent. CBF and CVR measurements were made using this methodology on 12 elderly subjects (3 males, 9 females, 66-84 years of age) meeting criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) without other significant medical problems. Applying this quantitative technique, the cognitive and emotional status of the subject during the imaging procedure influenced the magnitude of the measurements. The semiquantitative measures resulted in even more pronounced subject state influences. The conditions under which CBF or CVR measurements are made should be controlled and reported. If semiquantitative techniques (e.g., single-photon emission-computed tomography [SPECT] imaging) must be employed for the determination of CVR, the validity of any measurement is dependent on the careful control of the general physiological status (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, level of anxiety) of the patient.     

Predicting the Feasibility of Correcting Mechanical Axis in Large Varus Deformities With Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Background

Due to disappointing historical outcomes of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), Kozinn and Scott proposed strict selection criteria, including preoperative varus alignment of ≤15°, to improve the outcomes of UKA. No studies to date, however, have assessed the feasibility of correcting large preoperative varus deformities with UKA surgery. The study goals were therefore to (1) assess to what extent patients with large varus deformities could be corrected and (2) determine radiographic parameters to predict sufficient correction.