Metastatic brain tumors represent 20% to 40% of all intracranial neoplasms and are found most frequently in association with lung cancer (50%) and breast cancer (12%). Although brain metastases occur in <4% of all tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the incidence of GI brain metastasis is rising in part due to more effective systemic treatments and prolonged survival of patients with GI cancer. Data were collected from 25 studies (11 colorectal, 7 esophageal, 2 gastric, 1 pancreatic, 1 intestinal, 3 all-inclusive GI tract cancer) and 13 case reports (4 pancreatic, 4 gallbladder, and 5 small bowel cancer). Brain metastases are found in 1% of colorectal cancer, 1.2% of esophageal cancer, 0.62% of gastric cancer, and 0.33% of pancreatic cancer cases. Surgical resection with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been associated with the longest median survival (38.4-262 weeks) compared with surgery alone (16.4-70.8 weeks), stereotactic radiosurgery (20-38 weeks), WBRT alone (7.2-16 weeks), or steroids (4-7 weeks). Survival in patients with brain metastasis from GI cancer was found to be diminished compared with metastases arising from the breast, lung, or kidney. Prolonged survival and improvement in clinical symptoms has been found to be best achieved with surgical resection and WBRT. Although early treatment has been linked to prolonged survival and improved quality of life, brain metastases represent a late manifestation of GI cancers and remain an ominous sign. Cancer 2011;117:3630-40. V C 2011 American Cancer Society.KEYWORDS: gastrointestinal cancer, brain metastasis, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, gallbladder cancer, small bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer, whole brain radiation therapy, radiosurgery. 1 An estimated 25% to 35% of cancer cases are complicated by brain metastasis, the development of which is associated with a poor prognosis and an overall median survival of 4.2 months.2 Although brain metastases are frequently diagnosed in patients with lung cancer (48%), breast cancer (15%), testicular cancer (10% to 15%), and malignant melanoma (6% to 10%), 3,4 they rarely arise from gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers. Bartelt et al 5 reported brain metastases in <4% of malignancies affecting the esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum. However, the reported incidence of brain metastasis from GI cancers is rising due in part to an increased use of brain imaging modalities in these patients and prolonged survival associated with more effective systemic treatments. 6Gait disturbances, altered mental status or personality changes, and focal neurologic deficits are the most common clinical manifestations of metastatic brain disease, whereas memory loss and seizures are less common. 3,7 Brain metastases are a late manifestation of GI cancer 5 and associated with a median survival of 3.8 months compared with <7 months in similarly affected patients with primary breast or lung cancer. 3This report provides a comprehensive review of the incidence, prevalence, epidemiology, risk factors, ...

No abstract

No abstract

Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a soft tissue tumor found in the subscapular region. The pathogenesis of ED is unclear, but may involve a regenerative or reactive hyperproliferation due to mechanical microtrauma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred to diagnose ED and complete excision is curative. When bilateral, subscapular masses are identified in the elderly patient and MRI characteristics are typical, biopsy and excision can be avoided. Symptomatic EDs should be excised, and recurrence is rare. Three hundred and thirty cases of ED have been reported since 1980. Fourteen case series and 43 isolated case reports involved 263 women and 67 men (F:M ratio = 3.9:1), with a mean age of 62 years (range 6–94 years). Bilateral ED was present in 164 patients and unilateral ED in 157. The reported prevalence in the elderly population ranges from a minimum of 2% to a maximum of 24%.

Medical Education 2012: 46: 491–500 Objectives  This study sought to evaluate the practices and perceptions of US residency programme directors (PDs) and residency applicants with reference to the use of social media and Internet resources in the resident doctor selection process. Methods  A survey was distributed via e‐mail (SurveyMonkey®) to 2592 PDs of programmes in 22 specialties accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. A separate survey was distributed to all residency candidates applying for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) positions at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey. Results  A total of 1200 (46.3%) PDs completed the survey. Overall, 16.3% (n = 196) of respondents reported visiting Internet resources to gain more information about applicants, 38.1% (74 of 194) of whom had ranked an applicant lower as a result. American medical graduates (AMGs), US international medical graduates (USIMGs) and non‐USIMGs all felt that performance on Step 1 of the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) was a critical aspect of a residency application. More AMGs than USIMGs and non‐USIMGs believed that PDs made use of social media resources when evaluating applicants and that their online profiles might influence their rankings. Conclusions  Residency candidates universally understand the importance of USMLE Step 1 scores in maintaining a competitive application. However, significant differences exist among AMGs, USIMGs and non‐USIMGs in their perceptions of the value of other applicant criteria, which may place some applicants at a disadvantage. A small but growing number of PDs currently use Internet resources to learn more about applicants and base their recruitment decisions in part on the information they encounter. At present, applicants are generally unaware of the implications their online activity may have on their selection for residency. Content guideline programmes that raise awareness of the possible impact of social media on the residency recruitment process are needed and should be delivered early in medical education.

No abstract

Hypoalbuminemia is a well-known predictor of morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. Our aim was to establish the impact of serum albumin on outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This was a single-institution retrospective review, including all patients who underwent LVAD implantation between March 2006 and June 2014. Two hundred patients were included in the analysis. Mean serum albumin was 3.27 ± 0.47 g/dl, with 7% in the low albumin group (<2.5 mg/dl), 67.5% in the mid-range (2.5-3.5 mg/dl), and 25.5% in the normal albumin groups (> 3.5 mg/dl). Lower albumin was associated with a significant increase in postoperative renal failure (42.9 vs. 16.5 vs. 17.3%; p = 0.05) and prolonged hospitalization (median 28.5 vs. 16 vs. 15.5 days; p = 0.008). Six month, 1 year, and 5 year survival was 79%, 79%, and 49% with low, 84%, 78%, and 51% with mid-range, and 94%, 88%, and 60% with normal albumin, respectively (p = 0.22). Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is associated with postoperative acute renal failure (ARF) and prolonged hospitalization after LVAD implantation, with no effect on overall survival. Hypoalbuminemia is most likely a marker of advanced disease and should not, in itself, be considered a contraindication to LVAD candidacy.

Appropriately-selected patients at the extremes of BMI can safely undergo LVAD implantation with no difference in survival. BMI should not in itself be considered a contraindication to LVAD placement.