G207, a mutant herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, is safe when inoculated into recurrent malignant glioma. We conducted a phase 1 trial of G207 to demonstrate the safety of stereotactic intratumoral administration when given 24 hours prior to a single 5 Gy radiation dose in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Nine patients with progressive, recurrent malignant glioma despite standard therapy were included. Patients received one dose of G207 stereotactically inoculated into the multiple sites of the enhancing tumor margin and were then treated focally with 5 Gy radiation. Treatment was well tolerated, and no patient developed HSV encephalitis. The median interval between initial diagnosis and G207 inoculation was 18 months (mean: 23 months; range: 11-51 months). Six of the nine patients had stable disease or partial response for at least one time point. Three instances of marked radiographic response to treatment occurred. The median survival time from G207 inoculation until death was 7.5 months (95% confidence interval: 3.0-12.7). In conclusion, this study showed the safety and the potential for clinical response of single-dose oncolytic HSV therapy augmented with radiation in the treatment of malignant glioma patients. Additional studies with oncolytic HSV such as G207 in the treatment of human glioma are recommended.

Objective-Intracranial electroencephalography (ICEEG) with chronically implanted electrodes is a costly invasive diagnostic procedure that remains necessary for a large proportion of patients who undergo evaluation for epilepsy surgery. This study was designed to evaluate whether magnetic source imaging (MSI), a non-invasive test based on magnetoencephalography source localization, can supplement ICEEG by affecting electrode placement to improve sampling of the seizure onset zone(s).Methods-Of 298 consecutive epilepsy surgery candidates (between 2001-2006) 160 cases were prospectively enrolled on the basis of insufficient localization from seizure monitoring and MRI results. Prior to presenting MSI results, decisions were made as to whether to proceed with ICEEG, and if so, where to place electrodes such that the hypothetical seizure onset zone would be sampled. MSI results were then provided with allowance of changes to the original plan.Results-MSI indicated additional electrode coverage in 18 of 77 (23%) ICEEG cases. In 39% percent (95% CI: 16.4, 61.4) seizure onset ICEEG patterns involved the additional electrodes indicated by MSI. Sixty-two patients underwent surgical resection based on ICEEG recording of seizures. Highly localized MSI was significantly associated with seizure-free outcome (mean=3.4 years, minimum > 1 year) for the entire surgical population (n=62).Interpretation-MSI spike localization increases the chance that the seizure onset zone is sampled when patients undergo ICEEG for presurgical epilepsy evaluations. The clinical impact of this effect--improving diagnostic yield of ICEEG--should be considered in surgery candidates

DIEP flaps are cost-effective compared with implants, especially for unilateral reconstructions. Cost-effectiveness of autologous techniques is maximized in women with longer life expectancy. Patient-reported outcomes findings can be incorporated into cost-effectiveness analyses to demonstrate the relative value of reconstructive procedures.

Purpose Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) is effective in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women with a well-defined family history of breast cancer or in women with BRCA 1 or 2 mutations. Evaluating patient-reported outcomes following BPM are thus essential for evaluating success of BPM from patient’s perspective. Our systematic review aimed to: (1) identify studies describing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients following BPM with or without reconstruction; (2) assess the effect of BPM with or without reconstruction on HRQOL; and, (3) identify predictors of HRQOL post BPM. Methods We performed a systematic review of literature using the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched. Results The initial search resulted in 1082 studies; 22 of these studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Post BPM, patients are satisfied with the outcomes and report high psychosocial well-being and positive body image. Sexual well-being and somatosensory function are most negatively affected. Vulnerability, psychological distress and preoperative cancer distress are significant negative predictors of quality of life and body image post BPM. Conclusion There is a paucity of high quality data on outcomes of different HRQOL domains post BPM. Future studies should strive to use validated and breast-specific PRO instruments for measuring HRQOL. This will facilitate shared decision-making by enabling surgeons to provide evidence-based answers to women contemplating BPM.

Based on our meta-analysis, the overall hemorrhagic complication rate from ventriculostomy placement by neurosurgeons is approximately 7%. The rate of significant hemorrhage from ventriculostomy placement is approximately 0.8%. Further prospective studies are warranted to better address this question.

Background Inadequate access to breast reconstruction was a motivating factor underlying passage of the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act. It remains unclear whether all patients interested in breast reconstruction undergo this procedure. The aim of this study was to determine whether geographic disparities are present that limit the rate and method of postmastectomy reconstruction. Methods Travel distance in miles between the patient’s residence and the hospital reporting the case was used as a quantitative measure of geographic disparities. The American College of Surgeons National Cancer Database was queried for mastectomy with or without reconstruction performed from 1998 to 2011. Reconstructive procedures were categorized as implant or autologous techniques. Standard statistical tests including linear regression were performed. Results Patients who underwent breast reconstruction had to travel farther than those who had mastectomy alone (p < 0.01). A linear correlation was demonstrated between travel distance and reconstruction rates (p < 0.01). The mean distances traveled by patients who underwent reconstruction at community, comprehensive community, or academic programs were 10.3, 19.9, and 26.2 miles, respectively (p < 0.01). Reconstruction rates were significantly greater at academic programs. Patients traveled farther to undergo autologous compared with prosthetic reconstruction. Conclusions Although greater patient awareness and insurance coverage have contributed to increased breast reconstruction rates in the United States, the presence of geographic barriers suggests an unmet need. Academic programs have the greatest reconstruction rates, but are located farther from patients’ residences. Increasing the number of plastics surgeons, especially in community centers, would be one method of addressing this inequality.

Background Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is often deferred, when post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is anticipated, due to high complication rates. Nonetheless, because of robust data supporting improved health related quality of life associated with reconstruction, physicians and patients may be more accepting of trade-offs. The current study explores national trends of IBR utilization rates and methods in the setting of PMRT, using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). The study hypothesis is that prosthetic techniques have become the most common method of IBR in the setting of PMRT. Methods NCDB was queried from 2004-2013 for women, who underwent mastectomy with or without IBR. Patients were grouped according to PMRT status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds of IBR in the setting of PMRT. Trend analyses were done for rates and methods of IBR using Poisson regression to determine incidence rate ratios (IRR). Results In multivariate analysis, radiated patients were 30% less likely to receive IBR (p<0.05). The rate increase in IBR was greater in radiated compared to non-radiated patients (IRR: 1.12 vs. 1.09). Rates of reconstruction increased more so in radiated compared to non-radiated patients for both implants (IRR 1.15 vs. 1.11) and autologous techniques (IRR 1.08 vs. 1.06). Autologous reconstructions were more common in those receiving PMRT until 2005 (p<0.05), with no predominant technique thereafter. Conclusion Although IBR remains a relative contraindication, rates of IBR are increasing to a greater extent in patients receiving PMRT. Implants have surpassed autologous techniques as the most commonly used method of breast reconstruction in this setting.