Surgery (Austin & Northern Health) - Research Publications

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    Fixed drug eruption of the penis secondary to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
    Lawrentschuk, N ; Pan, D ; Troy, A (HINDAWI LTD, 2006)
    Penile lesions are encountered in a variety of fields from family medicine practice through urology, to sexual health specialists. It is important that practitioners consider and recognize fixed drug eruptions of the penis while being able to initiate appropriate treatment in order to avoid misdiagnosis and avoidable stress. In summary, withdrawal of the offending medication and initiation of corticosteroid therapy remain the cornerstones of treatment of fixed drug eruptions of the penis.
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    Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging of prostate cancer.
    Lawrentschuk, N ; Lindner, U (Faculty Opinions Ltd, 2010-12-08)
    This concise review attempts to highlight the recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in relation to all the different aspects of prostate cancer (PCa), and outlines future implications of MRI in the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of PCa.
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    Extensive urinary system lymphoma delineated by coronal computed tomography.
    Ooi, J ; Elmes, MR ; Lawrentschuk, N (Hindawi Limited, 2004-11-20)
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    Active Surveillance for Favorable-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Short Review
    Lawrentschuk, N ; Klotz, L (KOREAN UROLOGICAL ASSOC, 2010-10)
    Active surveillance is becoming a more widely accepted management strategy in men with low-risk localized prostate cancer. This is in recognition of the knowledge that most men with such cancer are likely to die from other causes. The obvious benefits of active surveillance are reduced morbidity by delaying or avoiding radical gland therapy. These advantages should be balanced against appropriate selection criteria and triggers for moving to radical therapy while on active surveillance. The optimal method by which to identify the small number of men who will progress by use of clinical, biopsy, and imaging data is yet to be defined. Nevertheless, active surveillance is an appealing management option in selected men with prostate cancer and represents a solution to the significant problem of the overdiagnosis of clinically insignificant disease that accompanies prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.
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    Severe Irritant Contact Dermatitis Causing Skin Ulceration Secondary to a Testosterone Patch
    Lawrentschuk, N ; Fleshner, N (HINDAWI LTD, 2009)
    Testosterone replacement has undergone somewhat of a revolution in the past decade with the introduction of topical administration techniques, including patches and gels, as well as an increasing interest in the treatment of older men with low testosterone levels for what is now termed andropause. Increasingly, testosterone replacement therapy is being individually tailored. Side effects to skin patches have been reported with irritant contact dermatitis being the most common. However, ulceration has previously not been reported. Herein, we present a case that highlights testosterone transdermal therapies, their potential side effects and management strategies, and broadens our knowledge as we approach an era where these types of treatments are likely to be more common.
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    Critical appraisal of meta-analyses: an introductory guide for the practicing surgeon
    Lawrentschuk, N ; McCall, J ; Gueller, U (BMC, 2009)
    Meta-analyses are an essential tool of clinical research. Meta-analyses of individual randomized controlled trials frequently constitute the highest possible level of scientific evidence for a given research question and allow surgeons to rapidly gain a comprehensive understanding of an important clinical issue. Moreover, meta-analyses often serve as cornerstones for evidence-based surgery, treatment guidelines, and knowledge transfer. Given the importance of meta-analyses to the medical (and surgical) knowledge base, it is of cardinal importance that surgeons have a basic grasp of the principles that guide a high-quality meta-analysis, and be able to weigh objectively the advantages and potential pitfalls of this clinical research tool. Unfortunately, surgeons are often ill-prepared to successfully conduct, critically appraise, and correctly interpret meta-analyses. The objective of this educational review is to provide surgeons with a brief introductory overview of the knowledge and skills required for understanding and critically appraising surgical meta-analyses as well as assessing their implications for their own surgical practice.
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    Anatomic Considerations for Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy in an Achondroplastic Dwarf
    Gyomber, D ; Angus, D ; Lawrentschuk, N (HINDAWI LTD, 2009)
    This is the first report of a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) in an achondroplastic dwarf. We highlight the pelvic anatomy, precluding laparoscopic or robotic prostatectomy, and making open surgery extremely difficult. We review relevant literature regarding general, urological, and orthopedic abnormalities of achondroplasia (ACH) and present a clinical case. No reports of RRP in achondroplastic dwarfs exist, with only one case of an abandoned RRP due to similar pelvic anatomy in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta. Significant lumbar lordosis found in ACH results in a short anteroposterior dimension, severely limiting access to the prostate. We present a case of a 62-year-old achondroplastic dwarf who had Gleason 3+4 disease on transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy in four from 12 cores. Surgery was difficult due to narrow anteroposterior pelvic dimension, but achievable. Histological analysis revealed multifocal prostate cancer, with negative surgical margins and no extraprostatic extension. RRP in ACH patients, although possible, should be approached with caution due to the abnormal pelvic dimensions, and discussions regarding potential abandonment of surgery should be included during informed consent. This case highlights the preoperative use of computed tomography to assist in the surgical planning for patients with difficult pelvic anatomy.
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    Imaging renal cell carcinoma with ultrasonography, CT and MRI
    Leveridge, MJ ; Bostrom, PJ ; Koulouris, G ; Finelli, A ; Lawrentschuk, N (NATURE PORTFOLIO, 2010-06)
    The increased use of abdominal imaging techniques for a variety of indications has contributed to more-frequent detection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Ultrasonography has been used to characterize the solid versus cystic nature of renal masses. This modality has limitations, however, in further characterization of solid tumors and in staging of malignancy, although contrast-enhanced ultrasonography has shown promise. Cross-sectional imaging with multiplanar reconstruction capability via CT or MRI has become the standard-bearer in the diagnosis, staging and surveillance of renal cancers. The use of specific protocols and the exploitation of different imaging characteristics of RCC subtypes, including variations in contrast agent timing, MRI weighting and digital subtraction, have contributed to this diagnostic capability. Cystic renal masses are a special case, evaluation of which can require multiple imaging modalities. Rigorous evaluation of these lesions can provide information that is crucial to prediction of the likelihood of malignancy. Such imaging is not without risk, however, as radiation from frequent CT imaging has been implicated in the development of secondary malignancies, and contrast agents for CT and MRI can pose risks, particularly in patients with compromised renal function.