1/13. A systematic history for the patient with chronic pelvic pain.Chronic pelvic pain is a source of frustration to both the physician and the patient. physicians have been ill equipped by their training to confront the multifaceted nature of the complaints of patients with chronic pelvic pain. patients have experienced a repetitive dismissal of their complaints by physicians too busy in their practices to address their problems comprehensively. The approach to the patient with chronic pelvic pain must take into account six major sources of the origin of this pain: 1) gynecological, 2) psychological, 3) myofascial, 4) musculoskeletal, 5) urological, and 6) gastrointestinal. Only by addressing and evaluating each of these components by a very careful history and physical examination and by approaching the patient in a comprehensive manner can the source of the pain be determined and appropriate therapy be administered. This article was developed to provide the clinician with a set of tools and a methodology by which the patient with this complaint can be approached.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/13. Assessing and interviewing the elderly: interpretation of signs and symptoms.Interviewing the elderly patient, typified by poor memory, often confused and sometimes hard of hearing, requires great patience and perseverance on the part of the physician to extract pertinent information from a complicated history involving past and present illnesses, multiple medications (both prescribed and over-the-counter), and social as well as economic issues. These circumstances may include retirement, death of a spouse and a change of living conditions. Assessment of these issues, followed by a careful physical examination, must lead to a diagnostic programme that is thorough yet practical, with consideration of the benefit of each procedure contemplated. The ultimate goal must be to renew the patient's ability to function as well as to improve the patient's quality of life. Many illnesses characteristic of the aged person are treatable but not curable. The goal is to improve the quality of life and to make the declining years as comfortable as possible. Typical cases illustrating these points are presented and discussed and their resolutions described.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/13. A family with gastrointestinal amyloidosis associated with variant lysozyme.Hereditary nonneuropathic systemic lysozyme amyloidosis is a very rare form of amyloidosis, and only 4 families with this condition have been detailed until now in the literature. Clinical manifestations of lysozyme amyloidosis observed until now mainly concerned the kidneys, liver, and digestive tract. We report here a new family with hereditary lysozyme amyloidosis who presented predominantly with gastrointestinal involvement. The proband, a middle-aged woman, underwent partial gastrectomy for a hemorrhagic "gastric peptic ulcer" in 1984. Gastrointestinal amyloidosis was diagnosed in 1998 on biopsies performed on the gastroduodenal anastomosis, which appeared to be very congestive at presentation. Immunohistochemical stainings in tissue sections were positive for lysozyme. Amyloid was also observed in the colonic mucosa. The patient had a mutation in the lysozyme gene characterized by substitution of the amino acid at position 64 in the mature protein from tryptophan to arginine, previously described in only 1 French family with prominent nephropathy. It is interesting to note that her father had died many years before with an uncharacterized digestive amyloidosis. Our observation shows that a search for gastrointestinal amyloidosis is important, particularly when physicians are faced with congestive mucosa, unexplained abdominal hemorrhage, or abdominal symptoms. When gastrointestinal amyloidosis is diagnosed, it is important to determine with precision the nature of the amyloid fibril proteins, because various types of amyloidosis can involve the gastrointestinal tract.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/13. carcinoembryonic antigen: clinical and historical aspects.To further define and determine the usefulness of CEA, 1100 CEA determinations have been made over the past two years at The ohio State University hospitals on patients with a variety of malignant and nonmalignant conditions. Correlation of CEA titers with history and clinical course has yielded interesting results not only in cancers of entodermally derived tissues, for which CEA has become an established adjunct in management, but also in certain other neoplasms and inflammatory states. The current total of 225 preoperative CEA determinations in colorectal carcinomas shows an 81% incidence of elevation, with postoperative titers remaining elevated in patients having only palliative surgery but falling to the negative zone after curative procedures. An excellent correlation exists between CEA levels and grade of tumor (more poorly differentiated tumors showing lower titers). Left-side colon lesions show significantly higher titers than right-side lesions. CEA values have been shown to be elevated in 90% of pancreatic carcinomas studied, in 60% of metastatic breast cancers, and in 35% of other tumors (ovary, head and neck, bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers). CEA levels in 35 ulcerative colitis patients show elevation during exacerbations (51%). During remissions titers fall toward normal, although in 31% still remaining greater than 2.5 ng/ml. In the six colectomies performed, CEA levels all fell into the negative zone postoperatively. Forty percent of adenomatous polyps showed elevated CEA titers (range 2.5-10.0) that dropped following polypectomy to the negative zone. Preoperative and postoperative CEA determinations are important in assessing the effectiveness of surgery. Serial CEA determinations are important in the follow-up period and in evaluation of the other modes of therapy (e.g., chemotherapy). These determinations of tumor antigenicity give the physician added prognostic insight into the behavior of the tumor growth. Rectal examination with guaiac determinations, sigmoidoscopy, cytology, barium enema, and a good clinical evaluation remain the primary tools for detecting colorectal disease. However, in the high-risk patient suspicious of developing cancer, CEA determinations as well as colonoscopy are now being used increasingly and provide additional highly valuable tools in the physician's armamentarium.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/13. The pulmonary physician in critical care. Illustrative case 1: cystic fibrosis.The case history of a patient with CF admitted to an ICU is presented and the appropriateness of intensive care management for patients with CF is discussed. Issues relevant to the ICU care of patients with CF are highlighted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/13. Patient-physician discordance about benefits and risks in gastroenterology decision-making.AIMS: To illustrate the characteristics of situations in gastroenterology when patients and physicians harbour different perspectives of medical costs and benefits, and how such different perspectives affect the outcome of medical decision-making. methods: Two exemplary scenarios are presented, in which threshold analysis yields different results depending on the varying values assigned to identical medical events. The occurrence of varying values is subsequently phrased in economical terms of varying utility functions that characterize patient vs. physician behaviour. RESULTS: safety and therapy are the two major preferences that determine patient and physician utility functions. patients and physicians make medical decisions based on two different utility functions. In comparison with their patients, gastroenterologists are more concerned with safety and inclined to spend more health care resources on safety than therapy because safety and the occurrence of medical complications affect their own professional status. In trying to maximize their own utility, gastroenterologists tend to spend more resources on safety than the patient him/herself might have spent given a free choice of management options. CONCLUSIONS: In instances of potential complications associated with risky medical interventions, patients may receive less medical therapy in exchange for more procedural safety.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/13. Posttransplantation malignancy in a patient presenting with weight loss and changed bowel habits: a case report.BACKGROUND: Advancements in immunosuppressive therapy have significantly improved patient and graft survival following renal transplantation. This is paralleled by an increasing occurrence of posttransplantation malignancy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a patient who presented with a history reminding of colon cancer seven years after receiving a kidney transplant. Initial diagnostic imaging seemed to confirm this diagnosis showing a constricting colonic lesion. To our surprise, colonoscopy findings were unremarkable. review of the imaging studies revealed that the tumor-like picture was caused by the renal graft impressing the intestine. The following search for malignancy in other locations resulted in the diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme of which the patient died several weeks later. CONCLUSION: Follow-up of renal transplant patients must include screening tests directed at tumor detection. Imaging studies and other tests in this patient group should be interpreted by physicians who are familiar with transplant related peculiarities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/13. A massive dose of vincristine.An esophageal cancer patient with bilateral lungs and neck lymph nodes metastases received 24 mg of vincristine instead of vinblastine because of the similarity between the two names, and survived multiorgan derangement. Serious states of central and peripheral neuropathy with muscle atrophy, gastrointestinal disorder, bone marrow suppression and mucocutaneous involvement were all encountered. Although hypotension and syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) were not observed as vincristine's side actions, toxicity to the myocardium, which has not been documented, was suggested in our case. These toxic impairments, however, subsided clinically within a month, except for paresthesia in the peripheral extremities. The effectiveness of the chemotherapy was remarkable against both the esophageal cancer and the metastatic lesions. No unintentional overdose of a drug, needless to say, should happen, and in order to minimize its possibility, it would be advisable for chemotherapy to be administered only by an experienced physician who is able to check the dose and concentration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/13. The Groll-Hirschowitz syndrome.Two sisters showed a similar disorder with cachexia, sensory deafness, and upper gastrointestinal abnormalities. The family pedigree suggests autosomal recessive inheritance of the disorder. Demyelinization demonstrated by a peripheral nerve biopsy may explain the basis for the manifestations. Only one family with this unique syndrome has been reported in the literature. The term "The Groll-Hirschowitz syndrome" has been suggested, named after the two physicians who first described this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/13. Diagnostic cues in gastroenterology.Twenty seven gastroenterologists (15 physicians and 12 surgeons) were studied to capture their policy in the usage and weighting of cues in making a diagnosis. This was a relatively small sample and on account of possible sampling bias only tentative generalisations will be made. Five case vignettes, each consisting of four to eight cues, were used. Subjects were asked to give their percentage likelihood estimates of various diagnostic possibilities after each cue. This gave an indication of their perception of the significance of various cues in relationship to each diagnosis. There were marked variations in cue weighting by these experts, and in particular, most individuals were far off the mean regarding the weighting of certain clinical features, thus displaying idiosyncratic behaviour in these instances. As may be expected, there were differences in disease prevalence estimates between physicians and surgeons. Early information had an overwhelming effect on the final diagnosis. In most cases the expert relied on a few critical cues rather than on a pattern to make a diagnosis. In view of the strong influences of early diagnostic formulations, these findings confirm the need for doctors to learn to use and collect accurate factual information on prevalence rates and on the most significant critical cues for various disease processes. The study highlights some of the problems faced by novices in learning from experts who may teach them contradictory information about what are the most significant factors in coming to a diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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