Rapid assessment breast clinics--evolution through audit.

This observational, cohort study aimed to examine the potential utility of Rapid Assessment Breast Clinics (RABC) beyond cancer detection at presentation. One thousand four hundred and twenty nine women were studied over an 18 month period. 154 (10.7%) had breast cancer - 87.7% of whom were seen expediently with 92.9% being diagnosed at one attendance. One hundred and forty three (10%) of those with a benign diagnosis were found by routine questioning to have significant familial risk separate to their reason for referral. Despite careful triage, considerable contamination of appointment allotment occurred with many who were correctly triaged as non-urgent being seen 'urgently'. One hundred and seventy six attendees (12.3%) had neither the symptom that triggered referral, nor breast lump, nipple discharge nor family history of breast cancer, while 283 (19.8%) had no objective clinical or radiological abnormality. Although RABC reliably categorise malignant versus non-malignant diagnoses despite cluttering by low risk women, a significant proportion of non-cancer patients still require address of future risk rather than reassurance of their present status alone.

Quality control in breast cancer surgery.

Quality assurance is the process by which quality care can be assessed. The general principles include setting a standard with the aim of achieving particular outcomes, followed by the evaluation of parameters that allow for quality assessment. Locoregional and survival outcomes are the major parameters but require years to evaluate and have other limitations. Other parameters therefore may assist in evaluation, such as the availability of the structures and processes required to achieve desired outcomes. Unlike chemotherapy and radiotherapy the quality of surgery is difficult to quantify, yet it is central to the issue of locoregional control and survival. In breast cancer surgery, quality control starts at the diagnostic service; from referral by the family practitioner to the appropriate triage of patients thereby preventing diagnostic delays. The surgical oncologist is pivotal in the multidisciplinary input necessary with both radiologists and pathologists in achieving the correct preoperative diagnoses of symptomatic and screen detected lesions as specified by many of the guidelines. Quality control of the operative surgery addresses issues such as training, volume and life audit of the surgeon. Standardisation of operative technique, pathology reporting with emphasis on specimen orientation and margins, management of the axilla and how it impacts on adjuvant treatment are other important issues. More recently, the availability of breast reconstruction services and the development of the oncoplastic surgeon is becoming an important quality issue. Finally, the quality of the follow up process provides the tools to assess the outcome of both the patient and the service.

Small bowel obstruction secondary to a giant enterolith complicating Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Enterolith formation associated with Crohn's disease is a very uncommon clinical entity. AIM: To describe a case of sub-acute small bowel obstruction secondary to a giant enterolith in a patient with Crohn's disease. RESULTS: A 54-year-old male with a history of Crohn's disease presented with sub-acute small bowel obstruction secondary to a giant enterolith. The diagnosis was confirmed utilising plain film radiography and computed tomography CONCLUSION: Plain film radiography and computed tomography play a central role in establishing the diagnosis of this rare complication of Crohn's disease and assist in planning surgical intervention.