Endometrioma Within the Anterior Abdominal Wall Causing Cyclic Abdominal Pain.

Lesions from endometriosis contain endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. The lesions occur in the pelvis but are also found in the bowel, diaphragm, and pleural cavity. Endometriosis within the extraperitoneal abdominal wall is rare, though, and usually within c-section scars (incidence is .03%-.5%). The typical triad includes: mass in the abdominal wall, cyclical pain, and history of previous abdominal surgery. We present the case of a 28-year-old female with a past history of cesarean section and obesity (BMI = 31) who presented with approximately 3 years of abdominal pain which was "waxing and waning" in severity depending on her menstrual cycle. Multiple doctors and US imaging did not reveal a diagnosis. During consultation, she had a palpable 3 cm mass several centimeters above and right of her abdominal incision. She underwent a CT showing an inflamed subcutaneous mass abutting her anterior rectus sheath. She underwent wide excision which confirmed the diagnosis of endometrioma. This case demonstrates the need for good history and physical exam skills, as well as proficiency in reviewing radiographic imaging. Due to habitus and pain, the physical exam was difficult. However, there was a firm mass upon deep palpation. Her initial imaging was "negative," but review of the images revealed only intraperitoneal views and further imaging revealed the mass. There must be high clinical suspicion for this disease because failure to remove all tissue (including the surrounding fibrosis and desmoplastic tissue) or biopsy can lead to spread of residual endometrial cells and recurrence.

Impact of hospital volume on surgical outcome for head and neck cancer.

The objective of this study was to define the prognostic significance of surgical center case volume on outcome for head and neck cancer (HNC). Florida cancer registry and inpatient hospital data were queried for HNC diagnosed from 1998 to 2002. Of the 11,160 operative cases of HNC identified, 35.3% were treated at low-volume centers (LVCs), 32.7% in intermediate-volume centers (IVC), and 32.1% at high-volume centers (HVC). A larger proportion of high-grade tumors (27.9%) and lesions over 30 mm (39.7%) were resected at HVC (p < 0.001). Median survival was 61 months for HVC, 52 months for IVC, and 47 months for LVC (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis demonstrated significantly improved survival at HVC for low-, medium-, and high-grade tumors, small tumors (<30 mm), and for cancers of the parotid, larynx, and pharynx. On multivariate analysis, corrected for patient comorbidities, treatment at a HVC was a significant independent predictor of improved survival (HR = 1.25, p = 0.001). We conclude that HNC patients treated at HVC have significantly better long-term survival and cure rates. Where possible, patients with large (>30 mm), high-grade or parotid, larynx, and pharynx tumors should be evaluated and offered care at a high-volume center.

African American and poor patients have a dramatically worse prognosis for head and neck cancer: an examination of 20,915 patients.

BACKGROUND: Differences in cancer survival based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) are a major issue. To identify points of intervention and improve survival, the authors sought to determine the impact of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status for patients with cancers of the head and neck (HN). METHODS: HN cancer patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2002 were examined using a linked Florida Cancer Data System and Florida Agency for Health Care Administration data set. RESULTS: A total of 20,915 patients with HN cancers were identified, predominantly in the oral cavity and larynx. Overall, 72% of patients were male, 89.7% were white, 8.4% were African American (AA), and 10.6% were Hispanic. The median survival time (MST) was 37 months. MST varied significantly by race (white, 40 months vs AA, 21 months; P < .001), sex (men, 36 months vs women, 41 months; P = .001), and area poverty level (lowest, 27 months vs highest, 34 months; P < .0001). Only 32% of AA patients underwent surgery in comparison with 45% of white patients (P < .001). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of poorer outcomes were race, poverty, age, sex, tumor site, stage, grade, treatment modality, and a history of smoking and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Carcinomas of the HN have an overall high mortality with a disproportionate impact on AA patients and the poor. Dramatic disparities by race and SES are not explained completely by demographics, comorbid conditions, or undertreatment. Earlier diagnosis and greater access to surgery and adjuvant therapies in these patients would likely yield significant improvement in outcomes.

Internal mammary sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the value of lymphoscintigraphy (LS) for internal mammary sentinel node (IMSN) identification, the metastatic rate, and the change in staging and treatment. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2007 a prospective database was obtained of all patients undergoing IMSN biopsies using an open or thoracoscopic approach. Radiotracer injection was peritumoral. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were included. There was one man. Three had ductal carcinoma in situ. LS showed IMSN in 47.1%. The IMSN biopsy success rate was 91.2%. Seven of the 28 successfully biopsied invasive cancer patients had metastatic IMSNs (25%). Positive IMSNs were associated with positive axillary nodes in 71.4% (P = .036). All patients with positive IMSNs were upstaged and received radiation to the internal mammary chain. In 4 of 28 patients (14%) the chemotherapy plans were probably altered. In univariate and multivariate analyses tumor size, location, nuclear grade, estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, Her-2, and histology were not significant predictors of positivity. CONCLUSIONS: IMSNs were positive in 25% of the invasive cancer patients. All had treatment changes. LS identified less than 50% of IMSNs. There are no good tumor-related predictors of IMSN positivity.

Defining the role of surgery for primary gastrointestinal tract melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the outcomes for primary gastrointestinal melanomas (PGIM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1973-2004) was queried. RESULTS: Overall, 659 cases of PGIM were identified. The annual incidence of PGIM was approximately 0.47 cases per million in 2000. Overall median survival time was 17 months. Tumors were identified in the oral-nasopharynx (32.8%), anal canal (31.4%), rectum (22.2%), esophagus (5.9%), stomach (2.7%), small bowel (2.3%), gallbladder (1.4%), and large bowel (0.9%). Univariate analysis demonstrated age, tumor location, stage, surgery, and lymph node status were significant predictors of improved survival. MST has not been reached for tumors located in the large bowel, while tumors located in the stomach demonstrated the shortest median survival (5 months). Improvement in MST was observed for those patients undergoing surgical resection. The presence of lymph node involvement conferred a poorer prognosis. Multivariate analysis of the cohort identified that location, advanced tumor stage, failure to undertake surgical resection, positive lymph node status, and age were all independent predictors of poorer outcome. CONCLUSION: PGIM occurs most often in the oral-nasopharynx and anal canal. Surgical extirpation is the only identifiable treatment modality that significantly improves survival.