Costs Associated with Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy Are Lower Than Anterior Temporal Lobectomy for Treatment of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive alternative to anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy. It has gained popularity as familiarity with technique increases and outcomes are better characterized. There has been no direct cost comparison between the 2 techniques in literature to date. The current study directly compares hospital costs associated with LITT with those of ATL patients and analyzes the factors potentially responsible for those costs. METHODS: Patients who underwent ATL (27) and LITT (15) were retrospectively reviewed for total hospital costs along with demographic, surgical, and postoperative factors potentially affecting cost. T-tests were used to compare costs and independent linear regressions, and hierarchical regressions were used to examine predictors of cost for each procedure. RESULTS: Mean hospital costs of admission for single-trajectory LITT ($104,929.88) were significantly less than for ATL ($134,980.04) (P = 0.001). In addition, length of stay, anesthesia costs, operative room costs, and postoperative hospitalization costs were all significantly lower in LITT. CONCLUSIONS: Given the minimally invasive nature of LITT, it is associated with shorter length of stay and lower hospital costs than ATL in the first head-to-head comparison of procedural costs in literature to date. Long-term efficacy as it relates to these costs associated with LITT and ATL should be further investigated to better characterize the utility of LITT in temporal lobe epilepsy patients.

Comparison of minimally invasive and traditional surgical approaches for refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes.

Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial laser therapy (MRgLITT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represent two minimally invasive methods for the treatment of drug-refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis to compare outcomes and complications between MRgLITT, RFA, and conventional surgical approaches to the temporal lobe (i.e., anterior temporal lobe resection [ATL] or selective amygdalohippocampectomy [sAHE]). Forty-three studies (13 MRgLITT, 6 RFA, and 24 surgery studies) involved 554, 123, 1504, and 1326 patients treated by MRgLITT, RFA, ATL, or sAHE, respectively. Engel Class I (Engel-I) outcomes were achieved after MRgLITT in 57% (315/554, range = 33.3%-67.4%), RFA in 44% (54/123, range = 0%-67.2%), ATL in 69% (1032/1504, range = 40%-92.9%), and sAHE in 66% (887/1326, range = 21.4%-93.3%). Meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in seizure outcome between MRgLITT and RFA (Q = 2.74, p = .098), whereas ATL and sAHE were both superior to MRgLITT (ATL: Q = 8.92, p = .002; sAHE: Q = 4.33, p = .037) and RFA (ATL: Q = 6.42, p = .0113; sAHE: Q = 5.04, p = .0247), with better outcome in patients at follow-up of 60 months or more. Mesial hippocampal sclerosis (mTLE + hippocampal sclerosis) was associated with significantly better outcome after MRgLITT (Engel-I outcome in 64%; Q = 8.55, p = .0035). The rate of major complications was 3.8% for MRgLITT, 3.7% for RFA, 10.9% for ATL, and 7.4% for sAHE; the differences did not show statistical significance. Neuropsychological deficits occurred after all procedures, with left-sided surgeries having a higher rate of verbal memory impairment. Lateral functions such as naming or object recognition may be more preserved in MRgLITT. Thermal therapies are effective techniques but show a significantly lower rate of Engel-I outcome in comparison to ATL and sAHE. Between MRgLITT and RFA there were no significant differences in Engel-I outcome, whereby the success of treatment seems to depend on the approach used (e.g., occipital approach). MRgLITT shows a similar rate of complications compared to RFA, whereas patients undergoing MRgLITT may experience fewer major complications compared to ATL or sAHE and might have a more beneficial neuropsychological outcome.

Lasers in Tonsillectomy: Revisited With Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: In 2005, the National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit was conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons England, reporting hot tonsillectomy techniques being associated with more postoperative pain and hemorrhage when compared with dissection. In 2006, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence declared its position on laser tonsillectomy reporting that bleeding may be less intraoperatively but is more postoperatively, that initial pain may be less but medium term is more and that healing is delayed. AIM: To revisit the literature surrounding laser tonsil surgery and assess the aforementioned factors for any trend changes. METHODOLOGY: A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-style systematic review conducted in July 2019 searched Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials comparing laser tonsil surgery with other techniques with the terms laser, tonsillectomy, and tonsillotomy for nonmalignant indications. A total of 14 articles were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1133 patients received surgery accounting for a total of 2266 tonsil removals. A variety of laser techniques were used including CO2 (66%) potassium-titanyl-phosphate (19%) and contact diode (15%). Nonlaser techniques included dissection (62%), diathermy (20%), and coblation (18%). The summated conclusions suggest that laser techniques are superior regarding intraoperative bleeding and procedure duration. Laser techniques also provide equivocal or superior outcomes regarding postoperative hemorrhage, pain, and total healing time. CONCLUSION: Outcomes following laser surgery in recent years suggest an overall improvement. This could be due to enhanced familiarity with techniques and established centers performing laser procedures more routinely.

Lasers in Rhinology-An Update.

OBJECTIVES: A wide and evolving range of lasers and their applications often makes it difficult for a busy surgeon to choose the ideal laser for a specific indication. With this in mind, this article aims to summarize the most recent literature concerning laser application in rhinology. METHODS: A literature search from 2000 to 2020 using the PubMed database was employed. Keywords used included "laser," "rhinology," "endonasal endoscopic surgery," "hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia," "rhinitis," "refractory rhinitis," "Inferior turbinate hypertrophy," "dacryocystorhinostomy," "septoplasty," "cartilage reshaping" and "choanal atresia." The most up to date studies published for each rhinology condition that could potentially be treated with laser surgery was included. RESULTS: Rhinological conditions appropriate for laser applications are discussed. We identified articles related to a number of applications including hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, rhinitis, turbinate surgery, dacryocystorhinostomy, septoplasty, choanal atresia, and sphenopalatine artery ligation, paying attention to the outcomes of the studies and their limitations. CONCLUSIONS: There is currently no one-size-fits-all laser and therefore being up to date on the latest clinical application results can help the clinician decide which are the best treatments to offer their patients.

Laser procedures in the treatment of BPH: a bibliometric study.

PURPOSE: To perform a bibliometric analysis of lased-based BPH treatment publications and to obtain an understanding of the publication trends over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Medline database was searched for articles in English language regarding laser-based BPH therapy up to 2018. Matching articles were assigned to at least one of the following categories: Ho:YAG, Tm:YAG, green light, diode, Nd:YAG laser and review articles. The laser categories were analysed using bibliometric procedures regarding citation rate, authors, country of origin and journal of publication. Moreover, the articles on laser BPH therapy included in the EAU, AUA and JUA guidelines were analysed to evaluate the most influential articles. RESULTS: In total, 982 articles were included: 317 articles were assigned to green light, 283 to Ho:YAG, 101 to Tm:YAG, 74 to Nd:YAG and 39 to diode lasers. The publication rate for Nd:YAG laser has declined, but continues to grow for Ho:YAG and Tm:YAG lasers. We found a positive correlation between number of authors and year of publication (R = 0.3, p < 0.001*). Articles on Ho:YAG lasers are cited the most (mean 23.0 ± 37.1). Asia has contributed the most articles. Mostly, countries with high health and research and development (R&D) expenditures influenced the guidelines regarding laser-based approaches. Yet, after adjustment of all search results to GDP, health and R&D expenditure, India and China were the most prolific countries. CONCLUSION: Laser-based approaches for BPH treatment are increasing but have not been implemented worldwide. Asia's contribution should be acknowledged. An inflationary trend regarding the number of authors per article is confirmed.

Lasers in the era of evidence-based medicine.

Transvaginal laser therapies are being increasingly used for a variety of indications, particularly genitourinary syndrome of the menopause and stress urinary incontinence. This article reviews the current data pertaining to the place of these devices in current clinical practice. Whilst there has been a rapid increase in the number of publications over the last few years, many of the studies are of small numbers, short duration, and poor quality and are device-sponsored. The evidence suggests that vaginal laser therapy with either the erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (FotonaSmooth®) or the CO2 laser (MonaLisa Touch®) is an effective intervention for the relief of symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy in symptomatic women. The benefits of three laser treatments appear to last for at least 12 months and the procedure is generally well tolerated, with transient minor discomfort being the most common adverse event. Whilst the vaginal laser certainly has the potential to be an alternative treatment to vaginal estrogens for those groups of women, such as breast cancer patients, who cannot take them, there are still many unanswered questions about the role of vaginal laser therapy in clinical practice, particularly in relation to standard conservative management. The place of vaginal laser therapy in other conditions such as stress urinary incontinence is less clear. The outcomes from several ongoing randomized trials should help to answer some of these questions. In the meantime, the use of vaginal laser devices should be confined to clinical trials.

Fotovaporización próstata (FVP) con láser Greenlight. Pasado, presente y... futuro / Greenlight laser vaporization: Past, present and future?

La Fotovaporización Prostática (FVP) con láser Greenlight es considerada como una alternativa válida a la Resección Transuretral de Próstata (RTU) para el tratamiento de los pacientes con sintomatología de tracto urinario inferior (STUI) condicionado por la hiperplasia benigna de próstata (HBP). En este artículo revisamos la evidencia actual de la técnica y el papel o estado actual de la misma. Analizamos los distintos puntos de mayor interés clínico, como son la limitación de tamaño prostático de los pacientes a intervenir, las consecuencias o repercusiones económicas de su aplicación o la posibilidad de realizar la misma en régimende Cirugía Mayor Ambulatoria (CMA). Por otra parte detallamos las cambios evolutivos en loque respecta a la tecnología Greenlight desde su introduccción hasta la época actual, con el impacto asociado en las nuevas técnicas de vaporización. SITUACIÓN ACTUAL: En base a la evidencia obtenida con el ensayo clínico Goliath, la FVP Greenlight 180W se considera como una técnica no inferior a la RTU de Próstata, con similares resultados funcionales, a medio plazo, con beneficio respecto a la misma en lo que respeta esencialmente a la estancia hospitalaria, manteniendo una tasa de ausencia de complicaciones mayor del 80% a los 2 años. Con los nuevos generadores láser, de mayor potencia, se puede coseguir un efecto de ablación tisular más eficaz, lo que se asocia a menor tiempo operatorio. Una de las claras ventajas de la FVP Greenlight es la posibilidad de realizar la intervención quirúrgica en régimen de CMA, con una muy baja tasa de re-ingresos hospitalarios, lo que la hace una técnica más coste-efectiva que la RTU de Próstata. CONCLUSIONES: Pese el avance de nuevas técnicas, minimamente invasivas, aún en fase de experimentación, o las técnicas de enucleación láser que se están expandiendo en los últimos años, la FVP Greenlight sigue siendo actualmente una alternativa válida y plenamente vigente respecto a la RTU de Próstata

Greenlight laser prostate vaporization is considered a valid alternative to transurethral prostate resection (TURP) for patient with LUTS due to BPH. The current review highlights the current evidence on greenlight technique and current state of-the-art. We will review clinically relevant concerns such as size limitation, economic issues and same-day surgery options. We will also describe technological improvements over time and its relationship with current vaporization practices. CURRENT SITUATION: Based on clinical trial Goliath, Greenlight 180W vaporization showed non-inferiority to TURP and similar mid-term functional outcomes. A benefit towards length of hospital stay, similar complication rate (below 80% at 2 years). The current laser generators (higher potency) are able to provide an ablative effect on tissue that is associated to a shorter operative time. The major advantage of greenlight laser is the same day discharge, with a low readmission rates. Greenlight laser is more cost-effective than TURP. CONCLUSIONS: Green light laser remains as an alternative valid option despite the technological improvements in the field

Treatment and management strategies of onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is one of the most prevalent and severe nail fungal infections, which is affecting a wide population across the globe. It leads to variations like nail thickening, disintegration and hardening. Oral and topical drug delivery systems are the most desirable in treating onychomycosis, but the efficacy of the results is low, resulting in a relapse rate of 25-30%. Due to systemic toxicity and various other disadvantages associated with oral therapy like gastrointestinal, hepatotoxicity, topical therapy is commonly used. Topical therapy improves patient compliance and reduces the cost of treatment. However, due to poor penetration of topical therapy across the nail plate, research is focused on different chemical, mechanical and physical methods to improve drug delivery. Penetration enhancers like Thioglycolic acid, Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD), Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), carbocysteine, N-acetylcysteine etc. have shown results enhancing the drug penetration across the nail plate. Results with physical techniques such as iontophoresis, laser and Photodynamic therapy are quite promising, but the long-term suitability of these devices is in need to be determined. In this article, a brief analysis of the treatment procedures, factors affecting drug permeation across nail plate, chemical, mechanical and physical devices used to increase the drug delivery through nails for the onychomycosis management has been achieved.

Percent Absent End-Diastolic Velocity in the Umbilical Artery and Donor Twin Demise after Laser Surgery for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the association of preoperative absent end-diastolic velocity (AEDV) and percent AEDV (%AEDV) in the umbilical artery (UA) with donor twin intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) after laser surgery for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of stage III/IV TTTS patients who underwent laser surgery from 2006 to 2016. Donors were classified as having preoperative persistent AEDV (yes/no). %AEDV was calculated for those with AEDV as 100× the proportion of the total cardiac cycle in AEDV. Using multiple logistic regression, we tested for an association between the outcome donor IUFD and AEDV risk factors (part 1) and %AEDV (part 2). We stratified these analyses by estimated fetal weight (EFW) discordance ≥20 versus <20%. RESULTS: Of 344 cases, 153 (44.5%) donors had AEDV. Part 1 did not confirm an independent association between AEDV and donor IUFD. In the part 2 analysis of the 153 patients with AEDV, %AEDV was a positive risk factor for donor IUFD only in those with discordance (n = 129) (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, p = 0.0278) when adjusting for %EFW discordance, presence of arterioarterial anastomoses, and multiparity. DISCUSSION: Among stage III/IV TTTS patients with AEDV, %AEDV was a risk factor for donor IUFD only in the presence of EFW discordance.

Preoperative pelvic floor muscle exercise for early continence after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Transient postoperative urinary incontinence is a bothersome complication of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). The effects of preoperative pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) for early recovery of continence after HoLEP have never been elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the benefit of preoperatively started PFME for early recovery of continence after HoLEP. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients to start PFME preoperatively and continue postoperatively (group A) or start PFME no earlier than the postoperative period (group B). The primary outcome was time to complete urinary control, defined as no pad usage. The secondary outcome was measured using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) score. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify parameters associated with recovery of continence after HoLEP. RESULTS: Seventy patients were randomized across groups A (n = 35) and B (n = 35). Patients' characteristics were not different between groups A and B. The postoperative urinary incontinence rate significantly decreased in group A compared with that in group B at 3 months postoperatively [3% vs. 26% (P = 0.01)]. However, there were no significant differences between groups A and B at 3 days [40% vs. 54% (P = 0.34)], 1 month [37% vs. 51% (P = 0.34)], and 6 months [0% vs. 3% (P = 1.00)] postoperatively, respectively. The postoperative ICIQ-SF score was not significantly different between groups A and B at any time point postoperatively. In univariate analysis, patients who performed preoperative PFME had a 0.56-fold lower risk of urinary incontinence 1 month after HoLEP and a 0.08-fold lower risk of urinary incontinence 3 months after HoLEP. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperatively started PFME appears to facilitate improvement of early urinary continence after HoLEP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry in Japan (UMIN000034713); registration date: 31 October 2018. Retrospectively registered.

The changing role of lasers in urologic surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize recent publications on the topic of laser in urology and explore new developments which may impact the future role of lasers in surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: Ho: Yttrium-aluminium garnet (YAG) laser with Moses technology allows less retropulsion during a lithotripsy, yet its efficacy needs to be tested in clinical trials. Data on the efficacy of this device for benign prostatic obstruction treatment is also pending. A new promising generation of laser systems - thulium-fiber (Tm-fiber) lasers - has been introduced. Tm-fiber has already been shown to be effective and well tolerated in endoscopic enucleation of the prostate and has demonstrated favorable outcome compared with Ho:YAG in preclinical lithotripsy studies. However, more studies are needed to better understand the use of this novel technology and elucidate its role within the armamentarium of available technologies. SUMMARY: Lasers remain an integral part of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery and stone treatment and gain popularity in en-bloc resection of bladder cancer. Current efficacy of laser systems in prostate cancer ablation and their place in laparoscopy remain unclear, despite promising initial reports.

Predictors of Local Control of Brain Metastasis Treated With Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) has been used to treat recurrent brain metastasis after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Little is known about how best to assess the efficacy of treatment, specifically the ability of LITT to control local tumor progression post-SRS. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive factors associated with local recurrence after LITT. METHODS: Retrospective study with consecutive patients with brain metastases treated with LITT. Based on radiological aspects, lesions were divided into progressive disease after SRS (recurrence or radiation necrosis) and new lesions. Primary endpoint was time to local recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 61 consecutive patients with 82 lesions (5 newly diagnosed, 46 recurrence, and 31 radiation necrosis). Freedom from local recurrence at 6 mo was 69.6%, 59.4% at 12, and 54.7% at 18 and 24 mo. Incompletely ablated lesions had a shorter median time for local recurrence (P < .001). Larger lesions (>6 cc) had shorter time for local recurrence (P = .03). Dural-based lesions showed a shorter time to local recurrence (P = .01). Tumor recurrence/newly diagnosed had shorter time to local recurrence when compared to RN lesions (P = .01). Patients receiving systemic therapy after LITT had longer time to local recurrence (P = .01). In multivariate Cox-regression model, the HR for incomplete ablated lesions was 4.88 (P < .001), 3.12 (P = .03) for recurrent tumors, and 2.56 (P = .02) for patients not receiving systemic therapy after LITT. Complication rate was 26.2%. CONCLUSION: Incompletely ablated and recurrent tumoral lesions were associated with higher risk of treatment failure and were the major predicting factors for local recurrence. Systemic therapy after LITT was a protective factor regarding local recurrence.

Trends in glaucoma procedures and surgeries at the eye foundation hospital group, Nigeria.

AIMS: To review the trends in glaucoma procedural treatments from January 2009 to December 2017. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective search was carried out from the operating theater and laser room records of the Eye Foundation Hospitals in Lagos, Abuja, and Ijebu-Imushin. Consecutive glaucoma procedures for each year from January 2009 to December 2017 were recorded in the data sheet prepared for the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2017, trabeculectomy had been decreasing in frequency from 117 to 65 (44%), except for 2015. The frequency of use of glaucoma drainage device (GDD) has been steadily increasing from 1 in 2013 to 26 in 2017, but this is not statistically significant. The frequency of cataract extraction with trabeculectomy reduced drastically from 20 in 2009 to 3 (566%) in 2014. Bleb review (BR) increased from 2 in 2009 to 18 (800%) in 2015, however, it dropped to 6 in 2017 (66%). Among the laser procedures, transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (g-probe) is commonly done. It increased from 40 procedures in 2009 to 98 in 2014 (145%). There has been an increase in laser trabeculoplasty from 15 in 2009 to 44 in 2013 (193%). Laser iridotomy increased from 12 in 2009 to 26 in 2015 (116%). From 2009 to 2015, there was an increase in glaucoma procedures and surgeries - 206 to 325 (58%) but this declined by 27% from 2015 to 2017. CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy is the most performed procedure at our centers. This is followed by g-probe and laser trabeculoplasty. The rate of trabeculectomy is on the decrease, while the rate of GDD is increasing. The laser procedures are also on the increase.

Mechanisms and Risk Factors Contributing to Visual Field Deficits following Stereotactic Laser Amygdalohippocampotomy.

Selective laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) is a minimally invasive surgical treatment for medial temporal lobe epilepsy. Visual field deficits (VFDs) are a significant potential complication. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between VFDs and potential mechanisms of injury to the optic radiations and lateral geniculate nucleus. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 3 patients (5.2%) who developed persistent VFDs after SLAH within our larger series (n = 58), 15 healthy individuals and 10 SLAH patients without visual complications. Diffusion tractography was used to evaluate laser catheter penetration of the optic radiations. Using a complementary approach, we evaluated evidence for focal microstructural tissue damage within the optic radiations and lateral geniculate nucleus. Overablation and potential heat radiation were assessed by quantifying ablation and choroidal fissure CSF volumes as well as energy deposited during SLAH.SLAH treatment parameters did not distinguish VFD patients. Atypically high overlap between the laser catheter and optic radiations was found in 1/3 VFD patients and was accompanied by focal reductions in fractional anisotropy where the catheter entered the lateral occipital white matter. Surprisingly, lateral geniculate tissue diffusivity was abnormal following, but also preceding, SLAH in patients who subsequently developed a VFD (all p = 0.005).In our series, vision-related complications following SLAH, which appear to occur less frequently than following open temporal lobe -surgery, were not directly explained by SLAH treatment parameters. Instead, our data suggest that variations in lateral geniculate structure may influence susceptibility to indirect heat injury from transoccipital SLAH.

Significant physician practice variability in the utilization of endovenous thermal ablation in the 2017 Medicare population.

BACKGROUND: There has been a substantial increase in the use of procedures to treat lower extremity venous disease in the United States over the past decade. A specialty society-selected metric was applied to evaluate the use of endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA) in Medicare beneficiaries and factors associated with physician practice variations. We used confidential physician reports of this benchmark data to increase physician recognition of individualized usage relative to their peers. METHODS: We used 100% Medicare fee-for-service claims data to identify all patients 18 years of age and older who underwent at least one lower extremity EVTA over a 1-year period (January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017). A physician-specific annual rate of EVTA performed per patient was calculated. Individual physician results were shared confidentially with each provider billing Medicare for more than 10 ablations during the study period by mail, benchmarked to the distribution of use by their peers nationally. Hierarchical multivariable linear regression was used to identify patient and provider characteristics associated with high rates of thermal ablations per patient. RESULTS: A total of 102,145 Medicare beneficiaries (median age, 72.1 years; 67.8% female) underwent an EVTA by 2462 physicians during the study period. The majority (96.4%) of patients underwent 1 to 5 ablations, 3.3% underwent 6 to 10 ablations, and 0.3% underwent 11 or more ablations. The median and mean physician ablation rates were 1.6 (interquartile range, 1.3-2.2) and 1.9 ± 0.8 ablations per patient annually, respectively. There were 106 physicians (4.3%) who had an ablation rate of 3.4 or greater, which is two or more standard deviations above the national mean. After adjusting for patient-level variables, characteristics independently associated with outlier physicians included specialties other than vascular surgery, fewer years in practice, and higher overall venous ablation practice volume (P ≤ .03). CONCLUSIONS: Using a physician-generated metric of performance, the physician use EVTA performed annually per patient is highly variable, and this variability correlated with physician discipline, years in practice, and is more common in physicians who perform ablation the most. Our data show that there is considerable variability in the use of EVTA in Medicare beneficiaries, and that outlier physicians performing a high number of venous ablation procedures per patient are identifiable using a peer-benchmarked practice pattern measure via claims-based data.

Port wine stain treatment outcomes have not improved over the past three decades.

BACKGROUND: Since the early '80s, the pulsed dye laser has been the standard treatment tool for non-invasive port wine stain (PWS) removal. In the last three decades, a considerable amount of research has been conducted to improve clinical outcomes, given that a fraction of PWS patients proved recalcitrant to laser treatment. Whether this research actually led to increased therapeutic efficacy has not been systematically investigated. OBJECTIVE: To analyse therapeutic efficacy in PWS patients globally from 1986 to date. METHODS: PubMed was searched for all available PWS trials. Studies with a quartile percentage improvement scale were included, analysed and plotted chronologically. Treatment and patient characteristics were extracted. A mean clearance per study was calculated and plotted. A 5-study simple moving average was co-plotted to portray the trend in mean clearance over time. The data were separately analysed for multiple treatment sessions in previously untreated patients. RESULTS: Sixty-five studies were included (24.3% of eligible studies) comprising 6207 PWS patients. Of all patients, 21% achieved 75-100% clearance. Although a few studies reported remarkably good outcomes in a subset of carefully selected patients, there was no upward trend over time in mean clearance. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of PWS therapy has not improved in the past decades, despite numerous technical innovations and pharmacological interventions. With an unwavering patient demand for better outcomes, the need for development and implementation of novel therapeutic strategies to clear all PWS is as valid today as it was 30 years ago.

Unfavorable Outcomes in Solid and Spongiform Thyroid Nodules Treated with Laser Ablation. A 5-Year Follow-up Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Laser Ablation (LA) is a therapeutic modality for reducing the volume of large benign thyroid nodules. This retrospective study was aimed at assessing the outcome of LA in patients with benign nonfunctioning thyroid nodules in a 5-years follow-up. METHODS: Sixty-two patients (47 females; mean age 54.7±12 yr) with benign cold thyroid nodules underwent LA from July 2009 to March 2012. Nodule volume, thyroid function test, and ultrasound were monitored at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure, then annually. After dividing nodules in solid and spongiform, we evaluated unfavourable outcomes: 1) nodule's volume reduction <50%; 2) need for surgery; 3) need for additive LA session (due to nodule re-growth with persistence of cosmetic concern or compressive symptoms). RESULTS: Baseline volume did not differ between solid and spongiform nodules as well as energy delivered and the number of needles used. Unfavourable outcomes occurred in 24 patients (38.7%). Nineteen/ 24 (79.2%) patients who experienced unfavourable outcomes belonged to the solid nodules group (P<0.01). When considering only those who benefited from LA, the 5-years reduction was 59.7% for solid and 78.6% for spongiform nodules (P<0.05). One/6 patients who underwent surgery (solid nodules group) had a final diagnosis of Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Cancer (FVPTC). CONCLUSION: Large solid nodules, unlike spongiform, submitted to LA are characterized by a long-term unfavourable outcome and entail a potential risk of false negative cytologic results.