LAGREW, J. P.; KRETZER, J.; LAWRENCE, C.; MALIK, D.; MATER, M.; BRUECKNER, J. K. Unilateral double plantaris muscle: a rare anatomical variation. Int. J. Morphol., 28(4):1097-1099, 2010. SUMMARY:The occurrence of a unilateral second plantaris muscle was discovered during the anatomical dissection of a 47 year old female with Huntington Chorea Disease. The cadaver was found to possess bilateral plantaris muscles and a distinct anomalous muscle morphologically resembling a second plantaris on the medial right leg. The inner and outer bellies of the anomalous plantaris arose proximally from the medial condyle of the femur and formed a short tendon that fused distally with the tendon of the lateral plantaris muscle.

No abstract

Introduction 1.1. Melanoma a growing problem The U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Cancer Statistics Review estimates over 70,000 people will be diagnosed and 9,000 will die from melanoma in the United States in 2012. Though melanoma can affect persons of essentially any age, it is mainly a disease of adulthood, with median ages of diagnosis and death between 61 and 68 years, respectively (Weinstock, 2012). Nonetheless, melanoma incidence is increasing across age groups, over the past several decades in the United States (Fig. 1) (Ekwueme et al., 2011). In 1935, the average American individual had a 1 in 1,500 lifetime risk of developing melanoma. In 2002, the approximate risk of developing melanoma increased to 1 in 68 individuals (Rigel, 2002). Globally, Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence rate of melanoma, an abundance of fair-skinned residents living in a UV-rich geography widely believed to be a major factor (Lens and Dawes, 2004). The current melanoma risk for Australian and New Zealander populations may be as high as 1 in 50 (Rigel, 2010). Considering melanoma is being diagnosed more often in young adults, could be prevented by UV-avoiding behaviors, and can be associated with extensive morbidity and mortality, it is truly an emerging public health concern. Part of the apparent increase in melanoma incidence may be due to better surveillance and earlier detection (Erdmann et al., 2012) however, even with heightened melanoma awareness and screening, there seems to have been a real increase in melanoma incidence over the past several decades. 1.2. The ultraviolet connection Historically, humans have been exposed to UV radiation primarily as a consequence of unprotected exposure to sunlight (

The ability to accurately diagnose mediastinal lymph node involvement is significantly important in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has become a standard technique to assess lymph node involvement in patients with NSCLC. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of PET scan imaging as a mediastinal staging tool in patients with NSCLC at our regional teaching institution. We performed a single-institution, retrospective review of patients diagnosed with NSCLC from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007. We included only those patients who underwent computed tomography (CT), PET, and pathologic assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes. Using pathologic assessment as the criterion standard, the overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CT and PET were calculated. One hundred seventeen patients were identified for inclusion in the study. The overall accuracy was 81.2 per cent for CT and 91.5 per cent for PET. Sensitivity was 42.1 per cent for CT and 52.6 per cent for PET. Specificity was 88.8 per cent for CT and 99.0 per cent for PET. Positive predictive values were 42.1 per cent for CT and 90.9 per cent for PET; negative predictive values were 88.8 per cent for CT and 91.5 per cent for PET. False-negative result rates were 9.4 per cent for CT and 7.7 per cent for PET; false-positive result rates were 9.4 per cent for CT and 0.9 per cent for PET. Our analysis confirms the use of PET scan imaging in the staging of patients with NSCLC at a regional teaching institution.

No abstract