Breast Cancer Screening Practices in a Tertiary Care Center in the State of Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females. In Qatar, mortality related to breast cancer came in third after lung cancer and leukemia. In this study, we aim to comprehensively evaluate the rate of internal medicine residents and faculty compliance with breast cancer screening in Hamad Medical Corporation (Doha, Qatar), as well as to identify barriers and facilitators that could potentially augment changes to enhance physician-led cancer screening. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed among internal medicine physicians between December 2018 and March 2019 at a tertiary medical centre. It focused on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of physicians regarding breast cancer screening guidelines and explored potential barriers and proposed solutions. Chi-square and t-test statistics were used to draw conclusions where appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 158 physicians responded to the survey, with a response rate of 61%. 75.9% were postgraduate trainees. Around three-quarters of the physicians mentioned that they would recommend breast cancer screening for their age-appropriate average-risk patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the trainees, consultants, and specialists regarding the modality of choice, where the majority of the trainees opted mammogram every 2 or 3 years while 44.4% of the consultants indicated yearly self-breast exam (p<0.001). The percentage of survey participants who rarely to never offer breast cancer screening in the outpatient settings was 37.8%. Unclear pathway (40%) and lack of time in clinic/ward rounds (26.5%) were the major reported barriers for cancer screening. CONCLUSION: In the current era of personalized medicine, physicians should be more oriented to local guidelines to provide optimal care to their patients. While the attitude towards breast cancer screening is positive, the overall compliance with the national recommendations is sub-optimal. Further initiatives and intervention programs are required to promote the breast cancer screening in Qatar.

Comparative effectiveness and safety of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACS) for the reduction of recurrent venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis using a generalized pairwise modeling methodology.

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant improvement in both our understanding and therapeutic choices available to clinicians for the management of cancer associated thrombosis (CAT). Even with the recent publication of a systematic review and landmark trials demonstrating the non-inferiority of DOACS-based anticoagulation strategy compared to the standard of care in patients with CAT, there is unresolved uncertainty regarding the exact hierarchy of risks and effectiveness of various DOAC analogues in these cohorts of patients. METHOD: We will carry out a network meta-analyses, utilizing a novel generalized pairwise methodology to generate direct and indirect comparisons between the various DOAC analogues. We will search the following databases for studies that satisfies pre-specified inclusions criteria; these include PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Clinicaltrials.gov, conference abstracts among other sources. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes are recurrent VTE and major hemorrhagic events, respectively. Two reviewers will Search the databases independently with the view to identify studies that meet eligibility criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies will be determined using a recently validated risk of bias assessment tool. RESULTS: We expect that the result of this review will ascertain the hierarchy of risks and effectiveness of various DOAC analogues in patients with CAT. CONCLUSION: Results of this review will assist in informed decisions making regarding therapeutic guidelines of DOAC in CAT.

Fungal Malignant Otitis Externa Involves a Cascade of Complications Culminating in Pseudoaneurysm of Internal Maxillary Artery: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Pseudomonal infection is the most common cause of malignant otitis externa (MOE), which typically affects elderly diabetic patients. Fungi are a rare cause of MOE. MOE can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated promptly. It can result in a wide spectrum of complications, including skull-base osteomyelitis, cranial nerve palsy, cerebral venous thrombosis, and brain abscess. Pseudoaneurysm formation of the intracranial vessels is a life-threatening complication of MOE that is seldom reported in the literature. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 66-year-old diabetic man with MOE who was initially treated with antipseudomonal antibiotics after negative initial culture results. His MOE resulted in a cascade of complications, including facial nerve palsy, skull base osteomyelitis, and sigmoid sinus thrombosis, and culminated in left maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm formation resulting in massive epistaxis and hemodynamic instability. Endovascular embolization resulted in a successful obliteration of the pseudoaneurysm. A subsequent functional endoscopic sinus surgical (FESS) tissue biopsy confirmed Candida glabrata as the etiological agent. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and antifungal and anticoagulation therapy, and was discharged home in good condition. CONCLUSIONS A high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of fungal MOE, particularly in intractable cases of MOE with negative initial cultures, should be maintained. Pseudoaneurysm formation is a life-threatening complication of MOE that is seldom reported in the literature and should be suspected in any patient with MOE who presents with epistaxis or intracranial bleeding.