BACKGROUND Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma is a rare dermal neoplasm usually arising from the pilar smooth muscle. It is considered a relatively indolent neoplasm, and there is debate whether designation as sarcoma is appropriate. Owing to some conflicting data in the literature, however, its behavior warrants further clarification. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical behavior and demographic and pathologic characteristics of cutaneous leiomyosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was used to collect data on cutaneous leiomyosarcoma and 2 reference populations: cutaneous angiosarcoma (aggressive) and atypical fibroxanthoma (indolent). Demographic and oncologic characteristics were examined, and overall survivals (OS) and disease-specific survivals were compared. RESULTS Leiomyosarcoma and atypical fibroxanthoma displayed lower stage (localized: 69.7% and 66.8% respectively), smaller size (<3 cm: 90.5% and 72%), and lower rates of disease-specific mortality (2.9% and 7.8%) compared with angiosarcoma. Patients with leiomyosarcoma had a 5-year disease-specific survival rate of 98% and OS rate of 85%. CONCLUSION Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma shows outcomes similar to atypical fibroxanthoma. It is nearly always indolent and should be distinguished from more aggressive cutaneous and subcutaneous sarcomas. Clear communication of the biologic potential may be best achieved using alternate diagnostic terminology such as “atypical intradermal smooth-muscle neoplasm.”

The “technological singularity” is forecasted to occur in the mid-21st century and is defined as the point when machines will become smarter than humans and thus trigger the merging of humans and machines. It is hypothesized that this will have a profound influence on medicine and population health. This paper describes a new course entitled “Technology and the Future of Medicine” developed by a multi-disciplinary group of experts. The course began as a continuing medical education course and then transitioned to an accredited graduate-level course. We describe the philosophy of the course and the innovative solutions to the barriers that were encountered, with a focus on YouTube audience retention analytics. Our experience may provide a useful template for others.

Two widely discussed and debated aspects of health law literature are 'informed' consent to medical treatment and the right of access to personal health information. Both are tied to the larger subject of patients' rights, including the right to privacy. This article looks at the issue of informed consent internationally, and goes further to explain some of the inequalities across the world with respect to informed consent and patients' rights legislation via an analysis of the take-up of key legislative attributes in patient consent. Specifically, the effect that national culture, as defined by the GLOBE variables, has on the rate and pattern of adoption of these consent elements is analysed using binary logistic regression to provide evidence of the existence or otherwise of a cultural predicate of the legislative approach. The article concludes by outlining the challenges presented by these differences.