This study investigated the level of awareness of the availability of preconception care in a tertiary obstetric hospital for women with type 1 and 2 diabetes, the willingness of these women to attend for preconception counselling and the barriers that may impact upon access to preconception care in Western Australia. The results show greater effort is needed to improve the awareness of women about the importance of preconception care and their willingness to attend the clinic. Access to consistent preconception care should be available for all women with diabetes. The counselling process should be individualised to accommodate different needs.

Malignancy is a common cause of disseminated intravascular coagulation and usually presents as a chronic disorder in solid organ tumours. We present a rare case of recurrent acute disseminated intravascular coagulation in neuroendocrine carcinoma after manipulation, firstly, by core biopsy and, later, by cytotoxic therapy causing a release of procoagulants and cytokines from lysed tumour cells. This is reminiscent of tumour lysis syndrome where massive quantities of intracellular electrolytes and nucleic acid are released, causing acute metabolic imbalance and renal failure. This case highlights the potential complication of acute disseminated intravascular coagulation after trauma to malignant cells.

We present three patients with lung nodules with an antecedent history of primary cutaneous melanoma or metastasis of melanoma to extrathoracic lymph nodes. Based on radiological findings, it was suspected that these patients had metastatic disease. Subsequent investigations confirmed the cause of the nodules was non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. We discuss the similarities in symptoms and radiological features between atypical mycobacterial infections and metastatic disease and why a biopsy is important prior to planning a patient's treatment.