Earlier Recurrence Detection Using Routine FDG PET-CT Scans in Surveillance of Stage IIB to IIID Melanoma: A National Cohort Study of 1480 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The effect of routine imaging in melanoma surveillance is unknown. In 2016, Denmark was the first country in the world to implement routine imaging with positron emission tomography-computed tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG PET-CT) in a nationwide, population-based surveillance program. This study aimed to determine the impact of surveillance with routine FDG PET-CT on hazard, cumulative incidence, and absolute risk of overall, locoregional, and distant recurrence detection in patients with stage IIB to IIID cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: This retrospective, population-based, nationwide cohort study used prospectively collected data from five national health registries to compare hazard, cumulative incidence, and absolute risk of recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in 2008-2010 (cohort 1, followed with clinical examinations) and patients with cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in 2016-2017 (cohort 2, followed with clinical examinations and routine FDG PET-CT at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months). RESULTS: The study included 1480 patients with stage IIB to IIID cutaneous melanoma. Cumulative incidences of overall and distant recurrence were higher in cohort 2, with a peak difference at three years (32.3 % vs 27.5 % and 25.8 % vs. 18.5 %, respectively). The hazard of recurrence was higher in cohort 2 during the first two years, with hazard rates for overall and distant recurrence of 1.16 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.44) and 1.51 (95 % CI, 1.16-1.96), respectively. The patterns persisted in absolute risk estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stage IIB to IIID melanoma followed with routine FDG PET-CT had a 51 % increased hazard of distant recurrence detection within the first two years of surveillance. Future studies must determine whether this earlier recurrence detection translates into improved survival.

Christmas article: Have your cake and eat it too: a comparison of temptations in the confectionery and the operating room.

Introduction The use and consumption of "products", such as cosmetic procedures and confectionery, is on a rise in the Danish population. However, it has never been evaluated if the same tendency can be observed among the providers of these products. In view of the upcoming Christmas, we decided to investigate this delicate matter. Methods This study was a survey-based cross-sectional study examining demographics, professional backgrounds, as well as frequency and preferences regarding confectionery and cosmetic procedures among confectioners and plastic surgeons. Results A total of 90 persons answered the questionnaire. Results showed that consumption of confectionery was high among both confectioners and plastic surgeons, and that the use of cosmetic procedures was higher among both confectioners and plastic surgeons than among the background population. Both groups preferred to know the person who provided "the product" within their respective area. Conclusion Most plastic surgeons do not need to know their confectioner but would like to know their cosmetic procedure provider. So, if you, as part of the department management, or simply as a well-meaning colleague, want to treat your staff/colleagues, you can safely order cake from a random confectioner but not cosmetic procedures from a random surgeon! Funding none. Trial registration not relevant.