Since the implementation in 1977 of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), public school systems have provided special education and related services to students with a wide range of handicapping conditions, including some children served previously in hospitals or other institutions. Although the Federal law does not require physician participation in the special education process, it does imply an active new role for the medical care community, both public and private, in helping schools to identify and diagnose children with disabilities and in ensuring that those children have adequate access to health services. This study explores the experience of five nationally dispersed urban school systems in implementing P.L. 94-142, with particular reference to the interaction of physicians and the schools. The findings highlight continued problems with early identification of certain types of childhood handicaps, classification of children's functional disorders, and adequate participation of practicing physicians in the program, especially with regard to developmental and behavioral issues. In addition, inequities in community health services are documented for a substantial number of the children studied. Improved collaboration between the health and education sectors is needed to address these concerns in order to fulfill the intent of national special education policy and to maximize the potentialities of these children and their families.

Child↗

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Use and sources of payment for health and community services for children with impaired mobility.

A survey was made of the parents of 380 children whose mobility impairments require the use of a wheelchair, walker, or braces. They were asked about equipment, health services, related services, and family support services used during the previous year. There was extensive use of equipment and traditional medical and health services, such as visits to primary care and specialist physicians; there was moderate use of related health services, such as physical or occupational therapy and child counseling; and there was very little use of community-based family support services, such as respite care, after-school care, homemaker services, and summer camp. The cost of health care, particularly medical specialty care, was defrayed in large part by private insurance and public programs, such as Medicaid and Title V Programs for children with special health care needs, while financial support for related services, such as physical therapy and speech therapy, came largely through the schools. Compared to funding for health and related services, financial aid for community-based family support services is largely lacking.

Adolescent↗

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Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Thirty-eight consecutive patients underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. Of 46 lesions, 34 were extraluminal (12 pancreatic masses, 8 periesophageal nodes, 6 celiac nodes, 2 pericolonic masses, 1 mediastinal mass, 1 perigastric mass, 1 liver, 1 periduodenal node, 1 perirectal mass, 1 perirectal node) and 12 were submucosal (8 gastric, 3 duodenal, 1 esophageal). One hundred sixty-three passes were made, with an average of 3.5 passes per lesion and 4.3 passes per patient (range, 1 to 8). Adequate specimens were obtained from 91% of targeted lesions. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 87%. In patients with malignant lesions, sensitivity was 91% and specificity 100%. Celiac nodes were successfully sampled and diagnostic in 5 of 6 (83%) patients. No complications occurred. Using this technique, an initial tissue diagnosis of malignancy was made in 66% of cancer patients without a previous diagnosis and the preoperative stage was changed in 44% of cancer patients. The additional information gained by this modality directly influenced the decision not to perform surgery in 26% of patients with a primary malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration is feasible and can be safely used to evaluate submucosal and extraluminal lesions in both the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy.

Adult↗

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Fine needle aspiration cytology of breast ductal carcinoma in situ.

To evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in identifying in situ breast carcinoma, we reviewed 19 FNACs of histologically confirmed pure or predominantly ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The cytologic diagnosis was positive for malignancy in 53%, suspicious in 31% and nondiagnostic in 16%. An intraductal lesion was suggested prospectively in 21%. Retrospective review showed three distinctive cytologic criteria in cases with DCIS: (1) cohesive groups of atypical ductal cells associated with scattered, individual malignant cells or a necrotic background; (2) hyperplastic ductal cells with associated malignant cells or necrosis; and (3) true tissue fragments composed of cohesive epithelial cells with a cribriform pattern. One or more findings were present in 81% of the malignant or suspicious FNACs; 19% could not be distinguished cytologically from invasive carcinoma. We studied a control group of 30 invasive ductal carcinomas; one or more criteria were found in 35% of cases with no or a minor DCIS component but in 73% of those with an extensive DCIS component. We conclude that these three criteria deserve further study as an aid in suggesting DCIS on FNAC.

Adult↗