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P Belafsky

Publications and source records attributed to P Belafsky.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Melanoma in African-Americans: trends in biological behavior and clinical characteristics over two decades.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of melanoma in the United States is increasing. Data on this disease in African-Americans is sparse. METHODS: Chart review of patients diagnozed with melanoma from 1975 to 1997 at Charity Hospital New Orleans (CHNO). Age, gender, anatomic distribution, histology, presenting stage, survival, and race were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-four of 198 patients were African-American, of whom the majority developed cutaneous melanoma on the acral surface of the foot. African-American males were four times more likely to present with a cutaneous lesion than were African-American females. The median survival time for African-American with cutaneous lesions was 45 months, compared to 135 months for caucasians who were 3.6 times more likely to present with early disease (P < 0.05). TNM stage at presentation, and ulceration were significant, independent factors associated with a worse outcome in African-Americans. CONCLUSION: Overall survival time for African-Americans with cutaneous melanoma is significantly shorter than for caucasians with this disease. This trend may be attributable to the fact that African-Americans present with advanced disease. An increased level of awareness among both patients and health-care providers is necessary to identify African-Americans with melanoma at earlier stages of disease and to improve survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Posturographic performance in patients with the potential for secondary gain.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of nonorganic sway patterns on computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) among patients with potential secondary gain compared with patients without any obvious secondary gain. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 100 patients who underwent clinical evaluation, audiometry, electronystagmography, and CDP was undertaken. Group 1 consisted of 50 patients who were randomly selected from a group who had pending lawsuits, worker's compensation claims, or disability claims. Group 2 consisted of 50 randomly selected patients who had no pending legal status, worker's compensation claims, or disability claims. Previously published criteria for nonorganic sway patterns were then applied to each group. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The average age of group 1 patients was 43.8 years compared with 63.2 years for group 2 patients (P < 0.0001). Among group 1 patients 50% had normal audiovestibular evaluations compared with only 4% of group 2 patients (P < 0.0001). Nonorganic sway patterns were found in 76% of group 1 patients, but only in 8% of group 2 patients (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Patients who have the potential for secondary gain are generally younger and have a much higher prevalence of normal audiovestibular evaluations and a much higher prevalence of nonorganic sway patterns on CDP. A high degree of clinical suspicion should be maintained when evaluating the dizzy patient who has a pending lawsuit, worker's compensation claim, or disability claim.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Vestibular autorotation testing in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVES: The current gold standard for diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. However, because of fatigability, the Dix-Hallpike is often falsely normal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of vestibular autorotation testing in the diagnosis of BPPV. METHODS: The charts of 210 patients at a tertiary referral center for vertiginous disorders were reviewed. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, Dix-Hallpike testing, audiometry, electronystagmography, and vestibular autorotation testing. The vestibular autorotation results of patients with BPPV were compared with the findings in patients with non-BPPV vestibular disorders. The sensitivity and specificity of vestibular autorotation testing in diagnosing BPPV were calculated. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients (42.9%) had BPPV, 76 patients (36.2%) had vertigo of uncertain cause, 28 (13.3%) had unilateral vestibular hypofunction, 9 patients (4.3%) had Meniere's disease, and 2 patients (1.0%) had perilymphatic fistula. Patients with BPPV were 3.32 times more likely to have a normal horizontal gain (95% CI = 1.54-7.19). A normal horizontal gain is 85% sensitive but only 36% specific for BPPV. Patients with BPPV were 1.9 times more likely to have vertical phase lead (95% CI = 0.95-3.93). Patients with BPPV were 2.20 times more likely to have both normal horizontal gain and vertical phase lead (95% CI = 1.03-4.69) The sensitivity of the combination of normal horizontal gain and vertical phase lead on vestibular autorotation testing is 87% specific but only 25% sensitive in the diagnosis of BPPV. CONCLUSION: A normal horizontal gain or vertical phase lead on vestibular autorotation testing in a vertiginous patient is suggestive of but not exclusive to a diagnosis of BPPV. The combination of a normal horizontal gain and vertical phase lead on vestibular autorotation testing is highly suggestive of the diagnosis of BPPV. Adjuvant use of these parameters in vestibular autorotation testing may prove to be helpful in the diagnosis of BPPV.

Electrooculography↗
PubMed1999

Giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus.

Giant fibrovascular polyps (FVP) are the most common intraluminal tumors of the esophagus. The case of a second, nonrecurrent FVP is presented. A thorough review of the literature was conducted to provide an informative discussion on this benign but potentially life-threatening neoplasm.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

HIV sinusitis: rationale for a treatment algorithm.

Over 12 million individuals worldwide are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Up to 60% of these persons may suffer from disease of the paranasal sinuses. Numerous differences exist between sinusitis in HIV and non-HIV infected patients. Some of the differences include HIV sinusitis pathogenesis, bacteriology, and management. This paper addresses these issues so that physicians may adequately prevent, diagnose, and treat persons suffering from HIV sinus infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of acoustic rhinometry in predicting outcomes after sinonasal surgery.

Today's healthcare environment demands objective assessment of surgical outcomes. The recent otolaryngologic literature has established acoustic rhinometry (AR) as a valid instrument to objectively document nasal patency. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the utility of AR in predicting outcomes after sinonasal surgery. All patients scheduled for sinonasal surgery at the Tulane University and University of Mainz Departments of Otolaryngology between 10/1/98 and 12/15/98 were enrolled. All subjects underwent AR and completed a sinonasal outcome survey (SNOT-20) one day before and two months after their surgical procedure. Thirty-one patients were enrolled. The SNOT-20 raw scores improved from a mean of 7.93 (+/- 3.78) preoperatively to 3.35 (+/- 2.33) postoperatively (p < 0.05). The I-notch revealed no significant change postoperatively. The mean bilateral predecongestion C-notch increased from 1.257 cm2 to 1.451 cm2 (p < 0.05). Patients with a bilateral C-notch > 1 cm2 were 1.96 times more likely to have a five-point improvement in the SNOT-20 raw score (95% CI = 1.17, 3.27). The mean value of the C-notch is significantly altered (increased) as a result of sinonasal surgery. Patients with a preoperative cross-sectional area < 1 cm2 are less likely to report large postoperative subjective improvement. These results indicate that patients with poor geometry at the area of the C-notch do not fare as well surgically as those with better preoperative measurements.

Adult↗