The Clinical Presentation of Endometriosis and Its Association to Current Surgical Staging.

(1) Despite its high prevalence, the diagnostic delay of endometriosis is still estimated to be about 7 years. The objective of the present study is to understand the symptomatology of endometriosis in patients across various countries and to assess whether the severity of symptoms correlates with the diagnosed stage of disease. (2) An international online survey collected self-reported responses from 2964 participants from 59 countries. Finalization of the questionnaire and its distribution was achieved by cooperation with various organizations and centers around the globe. (3) Chronic pain presentation remarkably increased between Stage 1 and 2 (16.2% and 32.2%, respectively). The prevalence of pain only around and during menstruation was negatively correlated to the stage, presenting with 15.4% and 6.9% in Stages 1 and 4, respectively. Atypical presentation of pain was most commonly reported in stage 4 (11.4%). Pain related solely to triggering factors was the most uncommon presentation of pain (3.2%). (4) Characteristics of pain and quality of life tend to differ depending on the reported stage of the endometriosis. Further research may allow a better stage estimation and identification of patients with alarming symptomatic presentation indicative of a progressive stage, even those that are not yet laparoscopically diagnosed.

Lymphoma Masquerading as an Ear Mass.

Due to the infrequently reported location, malignancies of the ear are usually misdiagnosed at the time of first presentation. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports in literature regarding diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presenting as an ear mass, as was seen in our patient. We describe a case of a 38-year-old gentleman who presented with four months of worsening dyspnea on exertion and nonproductive cough. On exam there was a 4 cm x 5 cm erythematous, non-tender, and immobile mass on the right lower ear in the intertragic notch, sparing the lobe. CT of the neck and chest revealed prominent cervical lymph nodes and a diffusely spread circumferential soft tissue mediastinal mass involving the lungs, pleura, and pericardium. Malignancy was suspected, so the right ear mass was biopsied. Findings were consistent with DLBCL, germinal center B-type. This case provides a rare example of DLBCL presenting as an ear mass in a 38-year-old male with a chronic cough. We believe that prompt radiological evaluation of the chronic nonresolving cough may have helped in timely diagnosis of the malignancy, possibly halting the extensive infiltrative spread of disease, and thereby reducing the morbidity that the patient eventually suffered.

The Influence of Academic Hospitalists on Labor and Delivery Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to examine differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes following the transition from a private practice to an academic model at a community hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of a high-volume community hospital labor and delivery unit. A private practice hospitalist group was replaced with academic hospitalists. Maternal and neonatal outcomes for patients cared for by these groups were compared. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal morbidity that included blood transfusion, anal sphincter injuries, dilation and curettage, hysterectomy, chorioamnionitis, endometritis, wound infection, intensive care unit admission, and readmission. The secondary outcomes were cesarean delivery rate and a composite of neonatal morbidity that included Apgar score ≤3 at 5 min, shoulder dystocia, birth trauma, seizure, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, or mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: 245 patients were delivered by private physicians and 447 by academic physicians over the study period. No difference in the composite maternal morbidity between private and academic hospitalist groups was identified (21 vs. 25%; aOR 1.37, 95% CI: 0.36-5.21). The academic hospitalist group had a higher cesarean delivery rate compared to the private group (25 vs. 18%; aOR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.17-3.53). There was no difference in a composite neonatal morbidity (9 vs. 8%; aOR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.052-1.63). CONCLUSION: Women cared for by academic hospitalists were more likely to have a cesarean delivery, but there was no difference in maternal or neonatal morbidity in patients delivered by private or academic hospitalists.