The role of race in thyroid cancer: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing. There is conflicting evidence as to why. However, studies suggest that it is not an apparent increase resulting from enhanced diagnostic practices, but a true increase with more affected patients. This study aimed to assess racial variation in thyroid cancer. METHOD: A narrative systematic review of the literature was conducted. RESULTS: Eight retrospective cohort studies were identified, comprising 611 777 adult patients. Variations exist between racial groups, which are also dependent on gender; white patients have a slightly higher male population when compared to their counterparts. Black and white patients have a higher proportion of follicular cancer. Hispanics were younger at the age of diagnosis. Outcomes are greatly affected by socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: This study identified many gaps in the way that these types of data are presented. A more concise manner of reporting, with individual-level risk factors, is recommended.

The tin whistle: a rare and serious cause of penetrating oropharyngeal trauma in children.

Impalement injuries of the oral cavity are common in children and the potential for serious complications including internal carotid artery thrombosis can be unnoticed. We present a patient who sustained a penetrating injury in which a "tin whistle" caused herniation of the parotid gland which was not detected on clinical examination. We discuss the challenging clinical examination, the role of investigations, and consequences of these injuries aiming at increasing awareness and optimizing patient management.

A rare case of paediatric neck swelling: cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma.

Schwannomas are indolent benign lesions arising from schwann cells in the nerve. They are especially rare in the paediatric population. We report an interesting case of a swelling in the upper neck, which highlights an atypical presentation of this tumour, as well as the complex details of its clinical, radiological, and surgical management.

Acid-base titrations in nonaqueous solvents Analysis of dimethyl sulphate.

A nonaqueous titrimetric procedure was developed for the determination of the dimethyl sulphate, methyl hydrogen sulphate and sulphuric acid content of dimethyl sulphate samples. Methyl hydrogen sulphate and sulphuric acid are determined by a differentiating potentiometric titration in pyridine with tributylethylammonium hydroxide. Pyridine converts the dimethyl sulphate into the weakly acidic methylpyridinium methyl sulphate which does not interfere in the titration. Dimethyl sulphate is determined by reacting it with an excess of 2-dimethylaminoethanol and titrating the excess with perchloric acid. Precision and recovery data for commercial samples of dimethyl sulphate are presented.