Irish journal of medical science
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The Rapid Access Lung Cancer Clinic (RALC) experienced fewer referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic had minimal impact on the performance of RALC at our institution. Fewer referrals to RALC in period II may relate to hesitancy in attending general practitioner (GP) and/or GPs raising the thresholds for referrals to RALC during the early lockdown period of the pandemic. A national evaluation will be required to fully determine the impact of this pandemic on lung cancer in Ireland.
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Observational Study
Management of patients with adrenal myelolipoma: experience from a tertiary referral centre.
Adrenal myelolipomas are rare, benign, tumours of the adrenal cortex. ⋯ For patients with adrenal myelolipoma, the presence of symptoms and/or indeterminate features on imaging may be more clinically useful indications for operative intervention over size alone. The surveillance of adrenal myelolipomas, even in patients with adrenal lesions > 4 cm, is a safe clinical strategy, provided the imaging characteristics are benign and patients remain asymptomatic.
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Cosmetic tourism is an increasingly common phenomenon, both in Ireland and internationally. Complications associated with procedures performed abroad may manifest after the patient has traveled back to their home country with patients often presenting to local health services. Such complications can be infectious in nature requiring either antimicrobial therapy and/or source control in the form of wound debridement or radiologically guided interventional procedures. ⋯ Post-operative infections related to cosmetic tourism are a growing concern in plastic surgery. The bacterial etiology is varied, and antimicrobial resistance poses significant challenges, highlighting the need for early intervention and wound cultures to guide effective management.
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Appendectomy is the standard treatment of acute appendicitis. However, recent advancements have introduced medical treatment as a potential alternative. Within this context, it's important to recognize the rare occurrence of appendiceal tumors, often incidentally discovered during histopathological examination following appendectomy. Consequently, there's a concern about the possibility of overlooking appendiceal neoplasms, particularly in cases where conservative treatment for acute appendicitis is considered. ⋯ Although appendiceal neoplasms are relatively rare in proportion, they represent a significant numerical value due to the density of cases. Therefore, this information should be taken into consideration when evaluating treatment options for acute appendicitis.
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Diabetic foot disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Patients at high risk of developing diabetic foot disease can reduce their risk, however, by practicing appropriate foot self-care behaviours. Despite this fact, and often despite education regarding appropriate foot care, patients frequently engage in risky foot care practices which place them at risk of foot ulceration. ⋯ In this cohort of Irish patients with high-risk feet, foot care knowledge and practice varied widely. Participants frequently engaged in high-risk behaviours despite prior education. Improved strategies to impart diabetic foot care advice to patients with diabetes and high-risk feet are urgently required.