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Background: Laparoscopic surgery has potential for less tumor cell spread because of the no-touch technique. We assessed the effect of the surgical approach (open versus no-touch laparoscopic) on the presence of tumor cells in sentinel lymph nodes (SN) of patients with stage I and II colorectal cancer.Methods: A single-center consecutive prospective series of patients operated on for colorectal cancer was analyzed. After conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, 107 patients without lymphatic metastases were included; 59 patients had open surgery, and 48 patients underwent laparoscopic resection. Patients in the laparoscopic group underwent a no-touch medial to lateral approach, whereas the conventional lateral to medial approach was applied in open surgery. A SN procedure was performed in all patients. The SNs were immunohistochemically analyzed for presence of occult tumor cells (OTC). According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) these tumor cells were divided into micrometastases (0.2-2 mm) or isolated tumor cells (ITC, < 0.2 mm).Results: In ten patients micrometastases were found, equally distributed between the two groups. However, ITC were more often found after open surgery (18 versus 5 patients, p = 0.03). Presence of OTC was related to depth of tumor invasion and tumor diameter > 3.5 cm. Logistic regression analysis identified lymphovascular invasion as a predictor for micrometastases [odds ratio (OR) 18.4], whereas open resection was predictive for presence of ITC (OR 3.3).Conclusions: No-touch medial to lateral laparoscopic surgery results in less isolated tumor cells in lymph nodes compared with open lateral to medial surgery in patients with stage I and II colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Head-to-head comparison of ultrasound and CT accuracy in common diagnoses causing acute abdominal pain.Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with abdominal pain for >2 h and <5 days referred for imaging underwent both US and CT by different radiologists/radiological residents. An expert panel assigned a final diagnosis. Ultrasound and CT sensitivity and predictive values were calculated for frequent final diagnoses. Effect of patient characteristics and observer experience on ultrasound sensitivity was studied.Results: Frequent final diagnoses in the 1,021 patients (mean age 47; 55% female) were appendicitis (284; 28%), diverticulitis (118; 12%) and cholecystitis (52; 5%). The sensitivity of CT in detecting appendicitis and diverticulitis was significantly higher than that of ultrasound: 94% versus 76% (p < 0.01) and 81% versus 61% (p = 0.048), respectively. For cholecystitis, the sensitivity of both was 73% (p = 1.00). Positive predictive values did not differ significantly between ultrasound and CT for these conditions. Ultrasound sensitivity in detecting appendicitis and diverticulitis was not significantly negatively affected by patient characteristics or reader experience.Conclusion: CT misses fewer cases than ultrasound, but both ultrasound and CT can reliably detect common diagnoses causing acute abdominal pain. Ultrasound sensitivity was largely not influenced by patient characteristics and reader experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify and evaluate profiles of US and CT features associated with acute appendicitis.Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with acute abdominal pain at the emergency department were invited to participate in this study. All patients underwent US and CT. Imaging features known to be associated with appendicitis, and an imaging diagnosis were prospectively recorded by two independent radiologists. A final diagnosis was assigned after 6 months. Associations between appendiceal imaging features and a final diagnosis of appendicitis were evaluated with logistic regression analysis.Results: Appendicitis was assigned to 284 of 942 evaluated patients (30%). All evaluated features were associated with appendicitis. Imaging profiles were created after multivariable logistic regression analysis. Of 147 patients with a thickened appendix, local transducer tenderness and peri-appendiceal fat infiltration on US, 139 (95%) had appendicitis. On CT, 119 patients in whom the appendix was completely visualised, thickened, with peri-appendiceal fat infiltration and appendiceal enhancement, 114 had a final diagnosis of appendicitis (96%). When at least two of these essential features were present on US or CT, sensitivity was 92% (95% CI 89-96%) and 96% (95% CI 93-98%), respectively.Conclusion: Most patients with appendicitis can be categorised within a few imaging profiles on US and CT. When two of the essential features are present the diagnosis of appendicitis can be made accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We treated 11 young children (3-6 years old) who had uncomplicated femoral shaft fractures primarily with an external fixator. 9 children were available for follow-up and were evaluated for the amount of overgrowth and rotational deformity. All underwent a clinical examination and an MRI after mean 21 (13-25) months. The mean overgrowth was 0.4 (-0.3 - -1.1) cm and the anteversion angle showed a mean increase of 12°, as compared to the contralateral femur. In 5 children with an anteversion angle difference of 10° or more, a second MRI was done 4 years after the trauma. The mean anteversion angle difference of the femora in these 5 children had diminished from 15° on the first MRI to 7.4° on the second. 3 of the 5 children had a full correction of their rotational deformity. Growth did not correct the rotational deformity in the oldest child in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]