Mariana Isola

Direct 64-row MDCT venography in the diagnosis of an inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma

We report the usefulness of a technique called direct-MDCT venography in the diagnostic workup of a patient with an inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma. The technique consists in the injection of contrast agent through both lower limbs achieving maximum enhancement in the inferior vena cava. Images are similar to those of the gold standard conventional cavography. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the direct-MDCT imaging appearance of an inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma.

Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Buenos Aires: An Operational Overview

As part of the emergency medical care system, helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) have a different crew composition from the traditional team. HEMS consist of a pilot, doctor, and firefighter with rescue skills and training in basic life support on board an air ambulance. This allows the adaptation to different environments and increases the varieties of air procedures normally performed. HEMS began operating relatively recently in Buenos Aires. Yet, in 3 years, its use grew to such an extent that in 2015 it tripled, and by 2016 the number of medical assists was 4 times greater than in 2014. Furthermore, over the 3-year study period, 92% to 95% of assisted victims were traffic accident casualties requiring primary care. The HEMS crew is informed about the availability of resources in the acute care general hospitals and can therefore transfer patients to the most appropriate trauma center in the shortest time. However, 75% to 85% of the time, the choice of destination is strongly influenced by the availability of a helipad and the operational safety that it provides.

Histopatología y perfil molecular de un caso de sarcoma de Ewing prostático

We report a case of Ewing sarcoma localized in the prostate gland of a 33-year-old patient without bone or soft tissue involvement. Evidence of EWS and FLI1 gene translocation was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This is an unusual case with an interesting clinical presentation; indeed, only a few cases have been reported to date and not all have the supporting biological studies now considered essential for the diagnosis.

Resulta necesaria la colocación de una pinza quirúrgica tempranamente en el cordón espermático durante la exploración testicular por vía inguinal

OBJECTIVE The presence of tumor cells in the spermatic cord was evaluated in patients undergoing inguinal testis study in order to assure if the placement of a clamp in it was necessary to avoid tumor dissemination. MATERIAL AND METHODS Inguinal testis studies were performed over a two year period in 38 patients diagnosed of testicular mass. The presence of tumor cells in blood vessels or lymph nodes of the cord was evaluated in all of the patients. RESULTS Testicular tumors were found in 28 patients (20 seminoma, 5 mixed tumor and 3 embryonal) with an average age of 42 (range 21-82) years. There were T1N0M0 21; T1N1M0 3; T2N0M0 2 and T2N1M0 2 cases, respectively. Independently of the stage and tumor lineage, tumor cells in the cord vessels were not observed in any of the cases through the pathology study. CONCLUSION In our causistics, it seems that the surgical act consisting in the placement of a clamp early in the cord lacks a scientific foundation. However, this study does not make it possible to state that not performing this maneuver during the surgical procedure is oncologically safe. Thus, a precedent is established to perform studies with a larger number of patients that will make it possible to corroborate this observation. This would result in less traumatic and safer surgical techniques that would allow conserving the testis and its functionality.