Resources
for medical professionals
Oncology
Management of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women
17/05/2023
Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women and the third most common in men, accounting for nearly 900,000 deaths worldwide each year
17/05/2023
Personalized Colorectal Cancer Management in Older Adults: Summary and Recommendations
A globally aging population has brought about an increasing number of older adults who require surgical intervention for a variety of ailments, including colorectal cancer.
10/05/2023
Palliative Care for Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed worldwide, and accounts for 8% of all cancer deaths
9/05/2023
Colon and Rectal Cancer Pharmacology Review
Overview[1-9] Epidemiology Risk Factors Molecular testing Clinical Presentation Staging: TNM (tumor, nodes, metastasis) staging system Colon Cancer Treatment [7,9] Surgery: Radiation: Minimal role as rates of distant recurrences are higher than local recurrences Systemic Therapy: Table 1: Summary of NCCN guidelines for adjuvant therapy for early stage colon cancer Adjuvant Treatment for Early Stage Colon […]
2/05/2023
Surgical Management of Recurrent Rectal Cancer
Many changes have occurred in the management of rectal cancer in the last several decades. These changes have included transition of radiation and chemotherapy to the neoadjuvant setting, new and improved chemotherapy regimens, and focus on high quality surgery with total mesorectal excision. Together, this change in strategy has resulted in a dramatic decrease in local recurrence rates from 20% down to approximately 10%.
25/04/2023
Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Current State of Knowledge and Future Perspectives
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide
24/04/2023
Rectal Cancer: Local Excision
Local excision for a rectal tumor dates back to the early 1800s, with a report by Dr. Jacques Lisfranc describing excision of a benign rectal mass in the lower rectum.
18/04/2023
The Role of Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) in the Surgical Management of Rectal Cancer
The oncologic principle of total mesorectal excision (TME), introduced by Heald and colleagues,[1] involves dissection along the mesorectal fascial plane and removing the rectum and mesorectum as one intact specimen. TME is associated with decreased local recurrence and improved cancer-free survival rates and remains the gold standard surgical technique for rectal cancer. Laparoscopic TME has since been demonstrated to have better short-term and long-term surgical outcomes with no significant oncologic differences in local recurrence and disease-free survival in comparison to the open approach
17/04/2023
Surgical Management of Patients with Rectal Cancer: LAR/APR
Management of rectal cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, which includes: oncology, pathology, radiation oncology, radiology, genetics, ostomy consultation and colorectal surgery
11/04/2023
Workup and Evaluation of Patients with Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer is among the most common malignancies, making up 9.4% of all new cancer diagnoses with an estimated worldwide incidence of over 700,000 cases in 2020
10/04/2023
Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Colon and Rectum
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the colon and rectum are a rare malignancy. NETs represent about 1% of colonic malignancies and about 2% of rectal malignancies
1/04/2023
Desmoid tumors
Desmoid Tumors (DTs) are locally aggressive but non-metastasizing, deep-seated, monoclonal fibroblastic neoplasms with an annual incidence of 5 to 6 cases per million.
30/03/2023
Melanoma of unknown primary
Melanoma of unknown primary (MUP) accounts for 3-4% of melanoma cases and consists of pathologically confirmed melanoma metastases involving the lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissues and/or visceral without an identifiable primary after adequate workup
28/03/2023
Update on Management of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women with 528,000 new cases and 266,000 deaths globally in 2012. More than 85% of cervical cancer related deaths occur in underdeveloped regions of the world.
9/03/2023
Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Appendix
Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms of the appendix, comprising approximately 50% of all appendiceal cancers
7/03/2023
Management of Adnexal Masses
Adnexal masses (masses of the ovary, fallopian tube, surrounding connective tissues, or other pelvic organ systems that occur near the adnexa) are common and may be discovered in females of any age.
28/02/2023
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Gynecologic Oncology
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways were developed as a tool to optimize the body’s response to the altered physiological state induced by intraoperative stress. Specifically, the catabolic state experienced during surgery leads to alterations in cardiac, respiratory, and gastrointestinal function, while also affecting tissue metabolic function
27/02/2023
Managing Nausea in the Cancer Patient Population
Nausea is an unpleasant sensation of feeling the need to vomit, which often but does not always precede vomiting (emesis). Although nausea is a common symptom among patients with various end-stage illnesses, it is especially prevalent in patients with advanced cancer
17/02/2023
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Introduction Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive primary malignancy of the pleural surface. Most cases of MPM are associated with previous asbestos exposure with a reported latency period of approximately 40 years.[1, 2] Within the United States the current incidence of MPM is reported to be between 2,000 and 3,000 cases per year.[3] It […]
14/02/2023
Extremity and Trunk Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Extremity and trunk soft tissue sarcomas (ETSTS) constitute a broad group of histologically diverse tumors which make clinical management challenging. There are more than 70 recognized subtypes of sarcoma, each with distinct biology and clinical course. Extremity and trunk locations make up nearly 80% of all soft tissue sarcomas
14/02/2023
Management of the Early-Stage Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy among men in the Western hemisphere. In the United States (US), PCa accounts for approximately 11% of all new cancer diagnoses and 4% of all cancer deaths, accounting for 191,930 new cases and 33,330 deaths in 2020
4/01/2023
Cancer and recommendations for Covid-19 vaccination
Several national and international health organizations recommend that current and recent cancer patients should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
16/11/2022
Malignant Pleural Effusion
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) indicates advanced disease and incidence is expected to increase with increase in cancer diagnoses and longer survival as cancer therapies evolve. Malignant pleural effusion is most commonly seen in lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma and is associated with poor survival, median of 3-12 months after diagnosis, depending on tumor type, comorbidities, functional status
28/10/2022
Esophageal Cancer: symptoms, staging and treatment
Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer among men and the 13th most common cancer among women, making it the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide
26/10/2022
Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Gastric cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for approximately 1 in 12 of all oncologic deaths (Rawla; Global Cancer Observatory). In 2018, there were an estimated 783,000 gastric cancer deaths, just behind those reported for lung and liver cancer deaths. Gastric cancer is the fifth-most common cancer worldwide with over one million new cases annually. East Asia has the highest incidence of gastric cancer. Overall, the incidence and number of deaths attributable to gastric cancer has risen over the past 2-3 decades (GBD stomach).
24/10/2022
Pancreatic Cancer
There will be approximately 57,600 new pancreatic cancer diagnoses in the United States in 2020. While the incidence has been stable over the last decade in the United States at a rate of 12.3-12.8 cases per 100,000 persons, worldwide, the incidence of pancreatic cancer has risen 2.3-fold since 1990, resulting in 400,000 deaths in 2017 alone
19/10/2022
Current Diagnostics and Treatments for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) arise from endocrine cells, sometimes referred to as islet cells, within the pancreas. The hormone producing islet cells cluster into small groups, known as islets of Langerhans, or simply islets, throughout the pancreas
17/10/2022
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) are a heterogenous group of rare malignancies that arise from the biliary tract epithelium. CCA subtypes, which include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), and distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA), have distinct anatomic, biologic, and molecular characteristics. iCCAs arise proximal to the second order bile ducts
14/10/2022
The Diagnosis and Management of Gallbladder Cancer
Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. The overall 5-year survival rate is 19%, ranging from 65% for localized cancers to 28% for regional and less than 2% for distant or metastatic disease
13/10/2022
Management of Premalignant Lesions of the Endometrium
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S., with 66,750 new cases and 12,940 deaths annually.
10/10/2022
Endometrial Cancer
Uterine cancer is the sixth most common cancer among women, accounting for 4.5% of female cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2020. The prevalence of uterine cancer has risen in recent decades, particularly in developed countries in North America and Europe
7/10/2022
Colon cancer: diagnosis, treatment, and emerging frontiers
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, among men and women, in the United States. 104,610 new cases of colon cancer are expected in the United States in the year 2020
3/10/2022
Surgical Management of Peritoneal Metastases from Colorectal Cancer
The peritoneal cavity is the third most common metastatic site for colorectal cancer (CRC) after the liver and lungs. Approximately 8-13% of CRC patients have synchronous or metachronous peritoneal metastases, with up to 2/3 occurring at the moment of diagnosis
2/10/2022
The role of genetic testing and risk stratification in breast cancer prevention and screening
Our understanding of breast cancer has notably evolved from the early ancient times when this malignancy was described as the “black bile containing crab like tumors” by Hippocrates 460 BCE. The advent of modern medicine revolutionized our approach to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and further progress was achieved over the past few decades. Our therapies have exponentially improved to match the complexities of this multifaceted malignancy.
29/09/2022
Diagnosis and surgical management of early stage breast cancer
Breast cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, surpassing lung cancer in 2021. While breast cancer mortality has decreased in high-income countries, it continues to be elevated in low-middle and low-income countries
28/09/2022
Breast Cancer Pharmacology
Breast cancer therapies encompass a wide array of medications from different drug classes depending on the cancer’s receptor status. The chapter below will broadly discuss evidence-based therapies for breast cancer including endocrine agents, targeted agents (both oral and intravenous), immunotherapies, and chemotherapies. Please refer to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for the most up to date recommendations or specific citations from this chapter or the guidelines for clinical trial specific information.
26/09/2022
Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and highly lethal malignancy, representing 0.02% of all carcinomas. With an incidence of 2.5 cases per million individuals and generating a 5-year survival of less than 25% for advanced cancers, it remains a significant clinical challenge as effective systemic therapy options continue to evade clinicians and scientists [1, 2]. In general, patients present with advanced disease (20%-40% metastatic) owing to limited screening modalities, and the retroperitoneal location of the tumor which facilitates extensive invasion and growth before symptoms arise [3, 4].
26/01/2022
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer worldwide and a woman’s lifetime risk of disease development is 1.3%.[1] The American Cancer Society has estimated that in 2020, about 21,750 women will be newly diagnosed and about 13,940 women will die from ovarian cancer. Based on this, ovarian cancer would rank fifth in the United States (US), with respect to cancer deaths among women.[2] The term “ovarian cancer” is often used to describe a single diagnosis. In reality, “ovarian cancer” includes a diverse group of malignancies that affect the ovary, fallopian tube and peritoneum.
22/11/2021
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the world, following lung cancer. Every year, nearly two million women across the globe are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is also the leading cause of cancer mortality in women in the world. Fortunately, with advances in screening and systemic therapies, breast cancer outcomes are improving.
7/10/2021