Superior vena caval obstruction: detection using CT

A review of 210 chest computed tomographic (CT) examinations demonstrating upper chest masses revealed 16 cases of superior vena caval obstruction (SVCO); 11 of these were clinically occult. Two of the occult cases subsequently became clinically evident. Contrast-enhanced chest CT permits the diagnosis of clinically occult SVCO and should be considered in patients with upper chest masses, even in the absence of any physical signs of SVCO.     

Pylon fractures of the ankle: a distinct clinical and radiologic entity

Pylon fractures are a distinct clinical and radiologic entity that should not be confused with trimalleolar fractures. Radiographic and clinical comparison of 20 surgically documented pylon and ten trimalleolar fractures revealed four major features of pylon fractures distinguishing them from trimalleolar fractures: (a) the presence of profound distal-tibial comminution, (b) intra-articular extension of tibial fractures through the dome of the plafond, (c) the presence of a fractured talus, and (d) anatomic relationship of the lateral malleolus to the talus at the level of the ankle mortise. With use of clinical history in addition to plain radiography, pluridirectional tomography, and computed tomography, these two fractures can be clearly separated. This distinction carries important surgical and prognostic implications.     

Rationale and development of a survey tool for describing and auditing the composition of,and flows between,specialist and community clinical services for sexually transmitted infections

Background  

National health strategies have called for an expansion of the role of primary care in England to increase access to sexual health services. However, there is little guidance for service planners and commissioners as to the public health impact of different combinations of specialist genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics and primary care based services for local populations. Service planning for infectious diseases like sexually transmitted infections (STI) is further complicated because the goal of early detection and treatment is not only to improve the health of the individual, but to benefit the wider population and reduce future treatment costs by preventing onward transmission. Therefore, we are developing a survey tool that will enable service planners to better understand the needs of their local STI care-seeking population and which will help inform evidence-based decision-making about current and future service configurations. Here we describe the rationale and development of this survey tool.