Introduction: Radiation therapy is one of the main treatments for rectal cancer. In three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, exposure of healthy tissue around the tumor is unavoidable. The small intestine is the most important organ at risk of rectal cancer radiotherapy. Intestinal complications are a major factor limiting the dose radiotherapy for rectal cancer. The most com...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To compare organ-at-risk doses and setup reproducibility using the prone and supine orientations in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventeen consecutive rectal cancer patients undergoing preoperative radiation were selected and setup in either the prone (N = 8) or supine (N = 9) position. All patients were treated using ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic value of supine and upright carotid sinus massage in elderly patients. DESIGN Prospective controlled cohort study. SETTING Three inner city accident and emergency departments and a dedicated syncope facility. PATIENTS 1375 consecutive patients aged > 55 years presenting with unexplained syncope and drop attacks; 25 healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS Bilat...

conclusions sonography is valuable method in diagnosis pneumothorax in unstable patients after invasive thoracic procedures. background ultrasound is the choice modality in the unstable patients and after performing certain procedures, such as a thoracentesis or the placement of a central venous line, which helps to rule out an iatrogenic pneumothorax. upright ap radiograph has less sensitivity...

STUDY OBJECTIVES Approximately 30% of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients have supine-predominant OSA, and simply avoiding supine sleep should normalise respiratory disturbance event rates. However, traditional supine-avoidance therapies are inherently uncomfortable, and treatment adherence is poor and difficult to monitor objectively. This study evaluated the efficacy of a novel, potentiall...

We present the case of a 35-year-old woman with a severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) as a complication of ovulation induction for primary infertility. The clinical picture showed massively enlarged ovaries, pleural effusion and haemoconcentration. She needed a thoracentesis for evacuation of the large pleural effusion. High levels of renin and prorenin were observed in plasma and p...

Nephropleural fistulae are rare but serious thoracic complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Herein, we present the management of a 54-year-old female with a delayed presentation of nephropleural fistula. The role of serial thoracentesis as a safe, less invasive, less painful alternative to tube thoracostomy is highlighted. In select cases, this may represent an attractive managem...

The samples of pleural fluid obtained by thoracentesis for the diagnosis of transudates and exudates shall follow a routine of collection and preservation for an appropriate laboratorial analysis. Equally, fragments of pleura biopsy obtained for the differential diagnosis of the exudates should be collected in a systematic way in order to optimize the diagnosis and facilitate the institution of...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To assess the necessity of thoracentesis in febrile medical ICU (MICU) patients, and to evaluate the efficiency and reliability of sonographic effusion patterns for diagnosing empyema. DESIGN AND SETTING A prospective, 1-year, tertiary-care hospital study of febrile MICU patients with physical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic evidence of pleural effusion. PATIENTS During...