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Biomedical subjects

D Ravichandran

Publications and source records attributed to D Ravichandran.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pyogenic hepatic abscess after pancreatic resection for chronic pancreatitis.

Seventeen patients underwent surgery for alcohol-induced chronic pancreatitis. Three patients later presented with pyogenic liver abscess. The time interval between surgery and presentation with hepatic abscess varied from 6 weeks to 3.5 years. All patients were diabetic, the presentation was insidious and all made an uneventful recovery, two with percutaneous drainage and one with antibiotics alone. The aetiology of this uncommon complication is discussed.

Adult↗

Cystic carcinoma of the breast: a trap for the unwary.

Cystic breast masses are a common presentation to breast clinics. While the majority of cysts can be managed by simple aspiration, a small proportion are malignant. Histology records for a 10-year period have been examined to identify patients with cystic breast carcinomas. In all, 31 patients were identified. Of these, 18 had cystic degeneration of high-grade tumours, while 13 had intracystic papillary carcinoma. Both of these tumour types were diagnosed by a combination of cyst fluid cytology and breast imaging. The prognosis of high-grade tumours was poor, while that of intracystic papillary carcinomas was excellent. After cyst aspiration, bloodstained fluid should be sent for cytology and breast imaging arranged in all patients. Patients in whom a cyst refills within 2 week of aspiration require a careful re-evaluation. Cysts in postmenopausal women should be viewed with suspicion. Excision should be performed in patients with positive cytology or imaging.

Adult↗

Management of fibroadenoma of the breast.

Fibroadenoma is a common cause of discrete breast lumps in young women. There is agreement that fibroadenomas can be diagnosed preoperatively with a high degree of confidence and that some of the lesions thus diagnosed will resolve, possibly obviating the need for excision. There is, however, wide disagreement over the proportion of fibroadenomas that resolve spontaneously and therefore the benefit that accrues from an expectant policy. The aim of this study was to audit the management of fibroadenomas on one unit and clarify their natural history over a 5-year period. A cohort of 70 women with 87 fibroadenomas diagnosed using a triple assessment of clinical examination, cytology and imaging (sonomammography) have been followed for a minimum of 5 years. In all, 53 of the 'fibroadenomas' have been excised. In four cases the histology revealed benign disease other than fibroadenoma; there were no neoplasms. The sensitivity of cytology and sonomammography for the diagnosis of fibroadenoma were 84% and 98% respectively. Thirty-four fibroadenomas have not been excised. Of 25 fibroadenomas that have been reassessed after at least 5 years of follow-up, 13 (52%) have reduced in size, 4 (16%) are unchanged in size and 8 (32%) have grown. No patient has developed a carcinoma at the site of the presumed fibroadenoma. This study confirms that an expectant management policy of fibroadenomas has not resulted in misdiagnosis of carcinomas. Further, since a significant proportion of fibroadenomas remain static or reduce in size over a 5-year period many women can avoid excision.

Adolescent↗

Extended lymph node dissection (D2 resection) should now be performed routinely in the curative surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma.

Gastric cancer has a dismal prognosis in the Western world. In contrast, in Japan where extended lymphadenectomy is the rule in curative gastric cancer surgery, the prognosis is much better. The arguments for and against the adoption of this procedure in the West are presented. This procedure is safe in the hands of experienced surgeons and by improving locoregional control, may improve survival. However, in the absence of controlled data supporting a survival advantage, the excess morbidity and mortality of this extended procedure in the West may not be justified.

Humans↗

Randomized comparison of fine-needle aspiration cytology and Biopty-Cut needle biopsy after unsatisfactory initial cytology of discrete breast lesions.

In a minority of patients with a discrete breast lump the initial cytological assessment is either unsatisfactory or at variance with the results of other methods of diagnosis. A randomized comparison of repeat cytology and needle-core biopsy provided clinically useful information in 14 of 31 patients receiving repeat cytology and in 26 of 29 randomized to core biopsy. Nineteen patients had carcinoma: ten who received repeat cytology, which indicated malignancy in only three (diagnostic of malignancy in one, suspicious in two), while all nine patients who underwent core biopsy had a correct diagnosis (only suspicious of malignancy in one). The sensitivity for the definitive diagnosis of carcinoma on repeat cytology and core biopsy was 10 and 89 per cent respectively. Patients with a discrete breast lump and unclear cytology results require needle-core biopsy. This has more diagnostic value than repeat cytology.

Adult↗

Prospective study of outcome in women presenting with nipple discharge.

In this study, 56 women who presented to the breast clinic with nipple discharge have been reviewed. Patients were selected for surgery by a triple assessment of clinical examination, discharge cytology and breast imaging. Surgical intervention was required in 17 women. Significant pathology was found in 11 cases including five with carcinoma (in situ or invasive). Those women who did not have carcinoma detected at their initial presentation have been reviewed after a minimum of 5 years. None has gone on to develop breast cancer. We conclude that women with nipple discharge, but no positive findings on triple assessment, are not at an increased risk of the development of carcinoma. In addition, nipple discharge spontaneously resolves in 73% of women over a 5 year period.

Adolescent↗

Cecal volvulus occurring after laparoscopic appendectomy.

Less than 2% of cases of intestinal obstruction in adults is caused by cecal volvulus. Although recent abdominal surgery has been implicated, no previous case of cecal volvulus has been reported after laparoscopic appendectomy.

Adult↗