PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Lack

Publications and source records attributed to E Lack.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Alopecia neoplastica simulating alopecia areata and antedating the detection of primary breast carcinoma.

A woman with no previous history of breast carcinoma presented with focal hair loss, which was presumptively diagnosed as alopecia areata. After treatment failures, a scalp biopsy was performed, which subsequently led to the diagnosis of breast carcinoma. This case illustrates the subtle course which breast cancer can take and the insidious manner in which it may present. It alerts clinicians and pathologists to the possibility of secondary causes, including malignancy, in the differential diagnosis of alopecia refractory to usual treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Development of a laser balloon for the treatment of gastrointestinal obstruction.

This work describes the initial results using a laser balloon in a canine model in an attempt to deliver the energy in a circumferential pattern. A balloon catheter, 2 cm long and 3 mm in diameter, was developed. Using a standard cw 100 watt Nd:YAG laser, a 600 micron fiber was tapered to 200 microns and passed through the proximal end of the balloon. Laparotomies were performed on mongrel dogs 14-18 kg in weight. After a gastrotomy, the gastric mucosa was exposed and rugal folds were pulled over the balloon to create a cylinder. Using power settings between 10 and 60 watts, and pulse durations between 10 and 40 seconds, radial energy was delivered and the tissue was examined for both gross and histologic effects. Circumferential zones of coagulation and necrosis were demonstrated.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Preliminary results of a randomized study of adjuvant radiation therapy in resectable adult retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas.

Between January 1980 and September 1985, 35 adult patients with resectable retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas were entered on a randomized trial comparing two forms of adjuvant radiation therapy. Fifteen patients received the experimental therapy consisting of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) to 20 Gy using high-energy electrons followed by low-dose (35 to 40 Gy) postoperative external beam irradiation. Twenty patients received standard therapy consisting of high-dose (50 to 55 Gy) postoperative external beam irradiation. With a minimum follow-up of 15 months, there is no significant difference in the actuarial disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) comparing the two groups (median DFS, 34 months; median OS, 38 months). At 5 years follow-up, approximately 40% of patients are alive and 20% of patients remain disease-free. Although there is a trend towards an improvement in in-field local control in the experimental arm, the predominant pattern of failure in both groups was locoregional within the retroperitoneum and/or peritoneal cavity. Acute and late radiation enteritis were significantly reduced in the experimental group. However, four experimental patients developed late (greater than 6 months following treatment) peripheral neuropathy believed related to the use of IORT; all four recovered. We conclude that there is no difference in the therapeutic effectiveness of the combination of IORT and low-dose external beam radiation compared with conventional high-dose radiation as adjuvant treatment in retroperitoneal sarcomas, although the former appears to be less toxic. Newer combined modality treatment strategies are discussed to improve the prognosis in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Metabolic imaging of human extremity musculoskeletal tumors by PET.

The measurement of glucose utilization rate (GUR) by positron emission tomography (PET) using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is a valuable method to assess the grade of malignancy of brain tumors. We have designed a feasibility trial to determine whether PET could be used to image and predict the grade of malignancy of human extremity musculoskeletal tumors. Five patients with extremity tumors (four soft-tissue tumors and one osteogenic tumor) were studied. Peak and mean apparent GURs were determined in the tumor region. All tumors were subsequently resected and graded in a standard fashion using the NCI grading system. Peak apparent GURs ranged from 3.3 mg/100 g/min to 15.2 mg/100 g/min, with the highest values found in the high grade tumors. Although the number of patients studied was small, a good correspondence was shown between GURs and histopathologic grading. Our results indicate that PET can be used to image and evaluate the metabolic activity of human musculoskeletal tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Malignant pseudomyxoma peritonei of colonic origin. Natural history and presentation of a curative approach to treatment.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an unusual malignancy arising from the goblet cells of the large bowel or appendix. Its characteristic clinical features are low histologic grade of malignancy and widespread dissemination throughout the abdominal cavity. In a clinical study of 14 patients, the most common initial symptoms were abdominal distention or right lower quadrant pain suggestive of appendicitis. All patients underwent radical procedures in an attempt to surgically remove all gross disease from the abdomen. Six patients had small-bowel obstruction and five of these had bowel function restored. All of eight patients had relief from bulky intra-abdominal tumors. Six cycles of intraperitoneal 5-FU and three doses of mitomycin C were used following cytoreductive surgery in seven patients. Five of these seven patients are disease free following staging by celiotomy with two- to four-year follow-up. This new treatment strategy, designed to cure some patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei, has given favorable results in a disease that previously had a uniformly lethal outcome.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1985

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (retinal anlage tumor).

Six cases of the melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy, including light and electron microscopic findings, are presented. The tumor, now believed to originate from neural crest, is usually cured by wide excision; however, malignant cases have been reported. Histopathologically, this lesion resembles neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium. It may involve the orbit but most frequently occurs in the maxilla. One case presented involved the orbit, another the anterior fontanelle, and four presented in the maxilla.

Facial Neoplasms↗