Biomedical subjects

Victoria A Marcus

Publications and source records attributed to Victoria A Marcus.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma presenting first with gastrointestinal tract involvement in a HIV-negative Inuit male--a case report and review of the literature.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric low-grade vascular malignancy. In North America, it is usually seen in AIDS and solid organ transplant populations. Classic KS is a subtype that traditionally occurs in elderly HIV-negative males of Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Jewish descent. Patients with classic KS characteristically present with skin lesions in the distal extremities. Involvement of the viscera is uncommon in classic KS, but may occur in the late stages of the disease. We report the first case of classic KS presenting in the gastrointestinal tract of an elderly HIV-negative Inuit male from Northern Quebec, Canada.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2006

Postchemotherapy characteristics of hepatic colorectal metastases: remnants of uncertain malignant potential.

Accepted management for colorectal cancer (CRC) involves resection of the primary neoplasm and chemotherapy; the debate continues over the most beneficial order of these components. Preoperative chemotherapy aimed at liver metastases may result in complete pathologic response and replacement of the malignancy with scar. The McGill University liver diseases database was retrospectively reviewed. Forty-one patients receiving treatment between December 2003 and August 2004 were identified, their medical records examined, and liver histology reviewed. The histology of the remnants was linked to the appearance of the lesions on preresection imaging and to the primary colorectal neoplasms. Twenty-seven of the 41 patients (66%) received preoperative chemotherapy (oxaliplatin or irinotecan). Features of the primary neoplasm that predicted resolution of the metastases were absence of tumor budding (P = 0.04), absence of a diffusely infiltrative tumor margin (P = 0.02), and loss of expression of the DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (P = 0.08). Oxaliplatin and irinotecan demonstrate beneficial effects in treating hepatic colorectal metastases and should be considered in such patients before resection. We propose the acronym RUMP to denote the remnants of uncertain malignant potential remaining. Further investigation is required to determine any correlation between the drug received and the resulting lesion.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Autoimmune hepatitis: effect of symptoms and cirrhosis on natural history and outcome.

Although the natural history of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been characterized, little is known about patients who present asymptomatically. Consequently, whether they require immunosuppressive therapy with its associated complications is unclear. To compare the natural history of asymptomatic AIH with symptomatic AIH, a large cohort of patients from a single center was examined. All patients with a clinical diagnosis of AIH were reassessed using the revised criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. Liver histology, response to therapy, and survival were assessed. Patients asymptomatic at presentation (n = 31) had lower serum aminotransferase, bilirubin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) values at baseline. Half of the asymptomatic patients received no therapy, and their survival was no different from that of the total cohort. Ten-year survival was 80.0% (62.5%-97.5%) in the asymptomatic group and 83.8% (75.1%-92.6%) in the symptomatic patients (P = NS). Survival to liver-related endpoints at 10 years was similar in both groups: 89.5% (75.7%-100%) asymptomatic and 83.8% (75.1%-92.6%) symptomatic patients (P = NS). Patients with cirrhosis at baseline had poorer 10-year survival (61.9% [CI 44.9%-78.9%]) than those without cirrhosis at presentation (94.0% [CI 87.4%-100%]) (P = .003) regardless of whether they presented with symptoms or whether they received immunosuppressive therapy. In conclusion, patients with AIH who are asymptomatic at presentation have a good prognosis and may not require immunosuppressive therapy. Cirrhosis on initial liver biopsy portends a poor prognosis in all patients with AIH.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Collagenous colitis with spondyloarthropathy presenting as fibromyalgia syndrome.

Collagenous colitis is a newly recognized clinicopathologic entity that presents with diarrhea and weight loss. In some patients arthropathy may be a concomitant feature. We describe a patient whose initial presentation masqueraded as fibromyalgia with associated bowel symptoms, but who was finally diagnosed as having collagenous colitis and inflammatory spondyloarthropathy.

Colitis↗

PubMed2002

The atypical colitides.

Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis are atypical colitides that should be considered in elderly patients with unexplained diarrhea. The lack of natural history data and apparent underreporting of these disorders have made the determination of true incidence difficult. Better insight into the pathogenesis and heightened awareness of these conditions will lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.

Aged↗