Pulmonary metastatic melanoma: current state of diagnostic imaging and treatments.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer with an estimated incidence of over 160,000 cases annually and about 41,000 melanoma-related deaths per year worldwide. Malignant melanoma (MM) primarily occurs in the skin but has been described in other organs. Although the respiratory system is generally afflicted by tumors such as lung cancer, it is also rarely affected by primary MM. The estimated incidence of pulmonary MM of the lung accounts for 0.01% of all primary lung tumors. The current understanding of pulmonary MM of the lung pathophysiology and its management are not well established. We aim to survey current clinical modalities with a focus on diagnostic imaging and therapeutic intervention to guide providers in the management of patients with a high index of suspicion.

Adult Intestinal Intussusception Caused by the Gastrojejunostomy Tube: An Endoscopically Treatable Phenomenon.

Adult duodenoduodenal intussusception is extremely rare due to the retroperitoneal fixation of the second, third, and fourth parts of the duodenum. A majority of clinically significant intussusception with identifiable etiologies is typically neoplastic with more rare causes including retained food and indwelling enteral tubes, specifically with gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tubes. Herein, we discuss the case of a 23-year-old male who developed duodenoduodenal intussusception upon a PEGJ placement with associated gastroduodenal dilation and telescope phenomenon. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of intussusception found to be caused by GJ tubes in the adult population. The reported patient was found to have a 4-cm enteroenteric intussusception without obstruction or ischemia with bowel thickening proximal to the pathology. Although adult intussusception cases are typically managed surgically, we were able to reduce the intussusception via endoscopy due to rapid diagnosis upon presentation and intervention before the bowel wall could be compromised.

Utilization of a New Customizable Scoring Tool to Recruit and Select Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellows.

BACKGROUND: Finding the ideal candidate for a residency/fellowship program has always been difficult. Finding the "perfect" match has always been the ultimate goal. However, many factors affect obtaining that "perfect" match. In the past, we would have each attending physician review around 20 to 50 Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) applications and rank them into three categories: high, middle, or low. Depending on their ranking, the applicant would be invited for an interview. After the interview, the applicants' files (ERAS and interview) would be reviewed and ranked by the faculty as a group. This was time-consuming and fraught with too much subjectivity and minimal objectivity. We, therefore, sought to find a way to assess and rank applicants in a more objective and less time-consuming manner. By creating a customizable scoring tool, we were able to screen applicants to our pulmonary/critical care fellowship program in an efficient and a more objective manner. OBJECTIVES: A customizable scoring tool was developed weighting components in the ERAS and interview process, allowing residency/fellowship programs to create a final rank list consistent with the programs' desired applicants. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty pulmonary/critical care fellowship applications were reviewed from 2013 to 2018. In 2018, we used our new scoring rubric to create a rank list and rescore previous applicants. The traditional and new lists were compared to the final rank list submitted to the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) for 2018. We wanted to ascertain which scoring method correlated best with the final rank list submitted to the NRMP. We obtained feedback from eight faculty members who had reviewed applicants with both scoring tools. RESULTS: The novel customizable scoring tool positively correlated with the final rank list submitted to the NRMP (r= 0.86). The novel tool showed a better correlation to the final rank list than the traditional method. Faculties (6/6, 100%) responded positively to the new tool. CONCLUSIONS:  Our new customizable tool has allowed us to create a final rank list that is efficient and more focused on our faculty's desired applicants. We hope to assess and compare the quality of applicants matched through this scoring system and the traditional method by using faculty evaluations, milestones, and test scores.

Prospective Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of High-Intensity Lightbox Phototherapy to Prevent ICU-Acquired Delirium Incidence.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the role of disturbed circadian rhythm in potentiating intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired delirium.Previous studies have demonstrated bright light therapy (BLT) as an effective modality to improve sleeping patterns and cognitive function in non-critically ill patients. However, its benefit in the ICU has not been clearly established. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the application of daily high-intensity phototherapy at the bedside to deter ICU delirium incidence and duration. Methodology This was a single center, prospective study conducted in ICUs at the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA. Adults patients admitted to the ICU from July 9, 2018 to March 20, 2020 were included in the study. The patients were subjected to 30-minute BLT session (10,000 lux) at the bedside starting at 0700 while in the ICU. Patients were randomized into either the control group (standard hospital lighting) or phototherapy group. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables, Pearson chi-square test for categorical variables, and logistic regression for multivariable analysis that examined significant risk factors for ICU delirium. Results Delirium incidence between BLT (18%) and control (17.5%) groups was non-significant. Total number of delirium-free, coma-free days, as determined by Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU, demonstrated no differences between groups with a median of 28 days (p = 0.516). In multivariable analysis, patients with a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score >3 also showed no significant change in ICU delirium incidence when provided bedside BLT compared to those with standard hospital lighting (odds ratio: 0.08; 95% confidence interval: 0.002-1.40; p = 0.867). Conclusions In this randomized control pilot study, daily morning 10,000 lux BLT of 30-minute duration alone was not associated with a significant decrease in ICU-acquired delirium incidence or duration compared to standard hospital lighting. Future studies should consider a nuanced approach to better elucidate the role of disturbed circadian rhythm in influencing ICU-acquired delirium by not only undertaking BLT during the day but also minimizing nighttime light exposure.