Identifying early symptoms of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States. Surgical resection of tumors is considered the only curative form of treatment and can occur only when tumors are diagnosed early. Currently, researchers are attempting to develop screening tests to detect pancreatic cancer while at an early stage. Until the tests are perfected, primary care providers need to be aware of the earliest symptoms of pancreatic cancer and know which tests will assist in diagnosing pancreatic cancer at an early stage. The purpose of this article is to educate primary care providers about the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer and appropriate diagnostics to order.     

Erectile dysfunction: the role of penile Doppler ultrasound in diagnosis

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and debilitating condition with physical, psychological, and pharmacological aetiologies. The physical causes can be divided into problems with arterial inflow, structural penile abnormalities, or problems with the venous occlusion mechanism. Penile Doppler sonography is a specialized technique requiring a thorough knowledge of the topic in order to aid diagnosis and direct subsequent treatment. This technique is indicated in those patients with erectile dysfunction who do not respond to oral pharmacological agents (e.g., PDE-5 inhibitors). This pictorial essay will visit the anatomy and physiology of penile erection, the technique for performing the procedure, and review the imaging features for specific causes of ED.     

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of post-percutaneous renal biopsy hematoma

Perirenal hematoma is an uncommon, but significant complication of renal biopsy. Ultrasound provides a quick, non-invasive means of diagnosis.