The British journal of surgery
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Total mesorectal excision (TME) remains commonplace for T1-2 rectal cancer owing to fear of undertreating a small proportion of patients with node-positive disease. Molecular stratification may predict cancer progression. It could be used to select patients for organ-preserving surgery if specific biomarkers were validated. ⋯ This methylation biomarker panel provides a step towards accurate discrimination of indolent and aggressive rectal cancer subtypes. This could offer an improvement over the current standard of care, whereby fit patients are offered radical surgery.
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The accepted management of lithium-associated hyperparathyroidism (LiHPT) is open four-gland parathyroid exploration (OPTX). This approach has recently been the subject of controversy. A recent study has shown very high long-term recurrence rates after OPTX, whereas some have promoted unilateral focused parathyroidectomy as appropriate management. The aim was to evaluate long-term outcomes after surgery for LiHPT and to assess the accuracy of preoperative imaging. ⋯ Surgery provided a safe and effective management option for patients with LiHPT in this series, with a long-term cure rate of well over 80 per cent.
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Comparative Study
Outcomes after endovascular or open repair for degenerative descending thoracic aortic aneurysm using linked hospital data.
The population-based effectiveness of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) versus open surgery for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm remains in doubt. ⋯ In England, operative mortality for degenerative descending thoracic aneurysm was similar after either TEVAR or open repair. Patients who had TEVAR appeared to have a higher reintervention rate and worse long-term survival, possibly owing to cardiopulmonary morbidity and other selection bias.
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Many patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer receive radiotherapy for the treatment of the primary tumour. It is unclear whether reirradiation is safe and effective when a local recurrence develops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and oncological outcome of reirradiation in patients with locally recurrent rectal carcinoma. ⋯ Reirradiation (with concomitant chemotherapy) has few side-effects and complements radical resection of recurrent rectal cancer.
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Comparative Study
Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune pancreatitis types 1 and 2.
Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is characterized by diffuse or focal swelling of the pancreas. AIP has been divided into types 1 and 2. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the clinicopathological characteristics, therapy and outcome of patients with AIP. ⋯ Patients with AIP type 2 frequently present with abdominal pain and a tumour-like mass. Differentiating AIP from PDAC is difficult, so making the clinical decision regarding operative versus conservative management is challenging.