PCI at a moderate dose reduced brain metastases in LAD-NSCLC to a clinically significant extent, comparable to that in limited-disease small-cell lung cancer. Late toxicity to normal brain was acceptable. This study supports the use of PCI within intense protocols for LAD-NSCLC, particularly in patients with favorable prognostic factors.

CT is useful for the evaluation of patients with fever or sepsis without a known source. Due to the detection of a septic focus by CT, 19% of the patients in our study could be immediately referred to causal therapy as percutaneous drainage or surgery.

Sigmoid perforation due to diverticulitis is a life-threatening complication in the postoperative course of allogenic kidney transplantation.

SPIO-MR produced a significantly better detection rate for malignant focal liver lesions compared with double-phase spiral DPS-CECT but was associated with a higher rate of false-positive findings.

BackgroundThe First International Breast (Implant) Conference was held by the EAoS® (European Academy of Senology) in cooperation with the German Society of Senology during its 29th annual meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany, on 13 June 2009.MethodsIt was performed as a whole-day interactive workshop in which the standards of implant surgery within reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery were discussed and defined by telecommunication dialogue voting.ResultsThis article describes the conference results concerning pre- and post-procedural imaging in patients with breast implants. Both before and after augmentation, imaging is mandatory and provides essential information concerning tissue and implant integrity. Whereas mammography is the first-line method before surgery, ultrasound is the mainstay of post-procedural imaging. Cancer screening in augmented breasts generally follows the same guidelines as for non-augmented breasts.ConclusionWhereas agreement about the indications for mammographical and sonographical evaluations is largely unanimous, there was substantial disagreement as far as the application of magnetic resonance imaging is concerned. There is an obvious demand for an evidence-based evaluation of this modality and the implementation of appropriate guidelines.

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Sigmoid perforation due to diverticulitis is a life-threatening complication in the postoperative course of allogenic kidney transplantation. The incidence of diverticulosis is especially high among patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Thus, those who undergo allogenic kidney transplantation represent a high-risk group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of diverticulosis in ADPKD patients awaiting renal transplantation and the incidence of bowel perforation following allogenic kidney transplantation due to ADPKD. Within the group of 1128 patients who underwent transplantation between January 1974 and January 1990, there were 46 patients (4.07%) whose indication for transplantation was ADPKD. There was one patient who developed a sigmoid perforation under postoperative immunosuppression. Surgical treatment was a discontinuity resection of the sigmoid (Hartmann's procedure). The postoperative course was favorable, the bowel continuity has already been restored, and the graft is still functioning well. Fifteen of the 28 (53.5%) ADPKD patients awaiting transplantation had colon diverticulosis (12 male and 3 female patients). No case of bowel perforation has thus far been observed in 15 of these patients who have undergone transplantation. A sigmoid resection was necessary in one patient due to diverticulitis without perforation. We did not find a higher prevalence of diverticulosis in patients with ADPKD, nor did we see a higher incidence of sigmoid perforation during post-transplant immunosuppression in this study.

Background: This study presents first feasibility experiences with a new 3-dimensional (3D) marker clip system in clinical practice. The rate of clinical complete responses in the treatment of breast cancer patients is increasing; additionally, a change to targeted axillary dissection is being considered after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Consequently, marker clips are needed which are reliable and easy to handle even in the axillary lymph node system. Methods: A total of 50 patients from the Breast Care Unit of the Kliniken Essen Mitte were included. Clip marking of all 50 primary breast cancer lesions as well as 23 lymph nodes was performed using the Tumark Vision® clip. Following application, the position and visibility of the marker clip were monitored and documented in 2 axes. Results: The feasibility of the Tumark Vision clip was excellent in everyday clinical practice as none of the markers dislocated. After clip marking of the tumor region and/or suspicious lymph nodes, all Tumark Vision clips could be detected in both axes. The 3D shape could be observed in all cases after application. Conclusion: The new 3D-shaped marker clip seems to be a promising tool for marking breast cancer lesions and even lymph nodes before NACT. As there are many studies ongoing to prove the feasibility of a shift from standard axillary dissection after NACT towards targeted axillary dissection, the Tumark Vision clip seems to provide good visibility even in lymph nodes after NACT. Further studies are warranted.