Tumors involving peripheral nerves may be extremely challenging lesions to diagnose and treat. In order to optimize their management, physicians should have a thorough knowledge of peripheral nerve anatomy and pathology (both gross and microscopic), as well as familiarity with microsurgical techniques and intraoperative neurophysiological recording. This compendium deals with all aspects of tumors affecting peripheral nerves, from diagnosis to treatment; the topics it addresses range from epidemiology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical diagnosis to electrophysiology, imaging, genetic/cytomolecular aspects. Surgical approaches, biopsies and resection of various benign, malignant and pseudo-tumoral lesions, plexus tumors (both brachial and lumbosacral), and adjunctive treatment modalities and pain-related issues are described in detail. The book is intended not only for neurosurgeons, hand surgeons, plastic and orthopedic surgeons new to the field, but also for seasoned specialists who wish to update their knowledge with new insights based on robust experimental and clinical material. In addition, it will be a helpful tool for general and oncological surgeons who are sometimes faced with the treatment of mass lesions that may be potential nerve tumors, and for all practitioners who are engaged in the arduous struggle to bring relief to patients affected by these lesions.

Despite the rising popularity of the minimally invasive laparoscopic option, open nephron-sparing surgery is still seen by many experts as the 'gold standard' for open surgery for kidney tumors and should remain the first choice for many patients. This challenges the idea that less-invasive therapies are always more desirable than open surgery. While laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery may be a more attractive option for treating small, easily accessible kidney tumors, for large tumors this is not always the case. Nephron-sparing surgery is a outstanding text that analyses all forms of surgery, open or laparoscopic, as well as providing a backdrop on renal cell carcinoma in general, and the complications and outcomes following surgery that both surgeon and patient will face. Featuring 100 colour photos, the text includes chapters on: Imaging renal masses: current status Open nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma Minimally invasive approaches for renal cell carcinoma: an overview Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy Controversies in nephron-sparing surgery Renal cell carcinoma: long-term outcome following nephron-sparing surgery Dr Sasidharan and Professor Soloway have created a superb text covering all aspects of nephron-sparing surgery that should provide excellent guidance for all those who are just beginning to perform nephron-sparing surgery or act as an aide-memoire for those familiar with nephron-sparing surgery.

This volume provides a broad background of the basic sciences, clinical and therapeutic aspects, and management of uterine cervical cancer. It offers state-of-the-art information on the molecular genetics, biology, and clinical aspects of premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix, and provides a better understanding of the molecular and cellular events that underlie uterine cervical cancer. Uterine Cervical Cancer: Clinical and Therapeutic Perspectives contains extensive, updated information on the promising new developments in the diagnosis and management of uterine cervical cancer. It will serve as an invaluable resource for all clinicians and basic medical scientists caring for women with uterine cervical cancer, including attending surgeons, physicians, clinical fellows, and residents in the disciplines of gynecologic oncology, medical oncology, and surgical oncology.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as an important innovative treatment for various primary and metastatic cancers. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the physical/technological, biological, and clinical aspects of SBRT. It will serve as a detailed resource for this rapidly developing treatment modality. The organ sites covered include lung, liver, spine, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, head and neck, and female reproductive tract. Retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials on SBRT for various organ sites from around the world are examined, and toxicities and normal tissue constraints are discussed. This book features unique insights from world-renowned experts in SBRT from North America, Asia, and Europe. It will be necessary reading for radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents and fellows, medical physicists, medical physics residents, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and cancer scientists.

This important book provides up-to-date information on a series of topical issues relating to the approach to minimal residual disease in breast cancer patients. It first explains how the study of minimal residual disease and circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs) can assist in the understanding of breast cancer metastasis. A series of chapters then discuss the various technologies available for the detection and characterization of CTCs and DTCs, pinpointing their merits and limitations. Detailed consideration is given to the relevance of CTCs and DTCs, and their detection, to clinical research and practice. The role of other blood-based biomarkers is also addressed, and the closing chapters debate the challenges facing drug and biomarker co-development and the use of CTCs for companion diagnostic development. This book will be of interest and assistance to all who are engaged in the modern management of breast cancer.

This volume provides a comprehensive review and detailed description of surgical techniques for prostate cancer surgery. All aspects are covered, including surgical anatomy and methods of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies, step-by-step approach techniques for radical prostatectomy, and the latest data on outcomes. Furthermore, limitations as well as tips and tricks are detailed in addition to management of common complications. Lastly, with the increasing use of ablative therapy and brachytherapy, the mechanism of action as well as the keys to obtaining optimal outcomes are illustrated. Surgical Techniques for Prostate Cancer is a concise and valuable resource to surgeons that documents the different approaches to prostate cancer surgery.

This fourth volume in the series Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis discusses various methodologies for the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of Colorectal Cancer. Both standard and emerging therapies for this cancer, written by expert oncologists/pathologists in this field, are included. This fully illustrated volume * Presents surgical, radiological, and molecular therapies and prognostic markers for colorectal cancer. * Highlights a large number of methods for diagnosing colorectal cancer at various stages of development, including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization immunoscintigraphy, RT- PCR, free circulating DNA levels in blood and stool, ultrasonography, CT, PET, and MRI. * Includes imaging technologies for assessing the treatment results, as are details related to colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. * Explains the use of anticancer agents and monoclonal antibodies, including 5-fluorouracil, fluoropyrimidines, leucovorin, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, raltitrexed, capecitabine, cetuximab, and bevacizumab. * Compares preoperative chemoradiotherapy with postoperative chemoradiotherpy. The technological advances presented in this volume are expected to expedite new discoveries and their translation to clinical practice. Oncology will benefit the most from these advanced methods, as a combination of therapies and personalized medicine will improve early detection of colorectal cancer and other cancer types. Professor Hayat has summarized the problems associated with the complexities of research publications and has been successful in editinga must-read volume for oncologists, cancer researchers, medical teachers and students of cancer biology.

Manfred Georg Krukemeyer first describes magnetic drug targeting, by which is meant the focused application of drugs, e.g. the introduction of a cytostatic, and which is aimed at optimising its locally therapeutic effect. The author thus achieves a high concentration of cytostatic at the site of the tumour. The particles have to be large enough to be attracted by a magnetic field and so find their way into the tumour, where they release their active ingredient. The aim of the hypothesis formed by one of the author's study groups was to show in a scientific experiment that in this case cytostatics coupled with iron particles [Fe3O4] can be introduced into a tumour. The focused introduction of drugs - magnetic drug targeting - results in faster arrival of the active ingredient at the target site together with a reduced quantity of active substances. For this reason magnetic drug targeting is also interesting from an economic point of view.

This open access book looks at the dramatic history of ovariotomy, an operation to remove ovarian tumours first practiced in the early nineteenth century. Bold and daring, surgeons who performed it claimed to be initiating a new era of surgery by opening the abdomen. Ovariotomy soon occupied a complex position within medicine and society, as an operation which symbolised surgical progress, while also remaining at the boundaries of ethical acceptability. This book traces the operation's innovation, from its roots in eighteenth-century pathology, through the denouncement of those who performed it as 'belly-rippers', to its rapid uptake in the 1880s, when ovariotomists were accused of over-operating. Throughout the century, the operation was never a hair's breadth from controversy.

This issue of Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Mark Arnold, is devoted to Colon Cancer. Dr. Arnold has assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer; Colon Cancer: What We Eat; Colon Cancer: Inflammatory Associated Cancer; Colon Cancer: The Imaging Conundrum; Minimally Invasive Surgical Approaches to Colon Cancer; Population Screening for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer; The Economics of Colon Cancer; Clinical Trials in Colon Cancer; Advanced Colonoscopic Techniques; Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Disease; The Metastatic Lymph Node; and more!

This book provides a state-of-the-art review of the role of radiation therapy in various pelvic malignancies as well as the consequences of the radiation in the pelvic tissues. With sections covering the role of radiation therapy in the various pelvic malignancies, the pathophysiology of radiation related injury and the risk factors that increase the possibility of such an injury, and the latest in medical, endoscopic and surgical therapies for these radiation related complications the text offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of radiation therapy in the human pelvis, its role and the adverse effects on the pelvic organs. Written by experts in the field with readers in mind, Radiation Therapy for Pelvic Malignancy and its Consequences is the first of its kind standalone reference on the subject. Radiation Therapy for Pelvic Malignancy and its Consequences is of great value to urologists, medical radiation and gynecological oncologists, and gastroenterologists.

This volume reviews the evolution of information regarding the epidemiology of DCIS and its modes of detection, as well as treatment options as a function of both clinical trial data and ongoing investigational therapeutic prospects. Several of the challenging and clinically-relevant scenarios of DCIS that appear in daily practice is discussed, including the difficulties of distinguishing "true" DCIS from borderline patterns of other breast diseases and the therapeutic implications of differentiating these various diagnoses. Particular attention is paid to pathologic evaluation of DCIS, including histologic patterns and the importance of margin evaluation/margin control. The text also explores the data regarding DCIS in medical research in hereditary susceptibility for breast cancer and race/ethnicity-associated disparities in breast cancer. Written by experts in the field, Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Microinvasive/Borderline Breast Cancer is a comprehensive, state-of-the art review of the field, and serves as a valuable resource for clinicians, surgeons and researchers with an interest in breast cancer.

This text provides a comprehensive overview of orthopaedic oncology – the field of orthopaedic surgery that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors of the musculoskeletal system. The opening chapters cover musculoskeletal imaging interpretation and the principles of musculoskeletal biopsy. Assessment and treatment of the full range of tumors are then described in a series of well-illustrated chapters. Detailed consideration is given to benign tumors, osteosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, chondrosarcomas, metastatic bone disease of the axial and appendicular skeleton, and soft tissue sarcomas. This book will be invaluable for both orthopaedic surgeons and medical oncologists, providing a framework for understanding the fundamentals of these tumors and a sound basis for their treatment.

This book provides an up-to-date review of current management techniques for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. It addresses all of the latest issues that have been raised by the discovery of oncogenic drivers and the improvement of diagnosis and therapeutic methods, including new radiotherapy techniques and anticancer strategies like immunotherapy. New strategies for patients with molecular alterations and the management of particular types of cases are also highlighted. Written by recognized experts in their field, the book represents a unique and valuable resource in the field of lung cancer, both for those currently in training and for those already in clinical or research practice.

The risk of cancer increases with age, and the number of older adults seeking treatment is increasing dramatically in line with the aging population. The care of older patients differs from that of younger adults because of differences in the biology of the tumor, age-related differences in host physiology, co-morbidity burden and psychosocial issues, which might impact the efficacy and side effects of cancer therapy. This book focuses on the management of hematological cancer and provides guidance on the management issues specific to older patients, spanning background and epidemiology, special considerations in the management of older people, therapeutics and psychosocial considerations.

This Recent Results in Cancer Research volume provides an up-to-date overview of the multidisciplinary management of locally confined rectal cancer as well as colorectal cancer with synchronous resectable liver metastases. The contents comprise the majority of the invited contributions from the Second St. Gallen EORTC Gastrointestinal Cancer Conference, held on 6-8 March 2014 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Written by some of the world’s leading experts in the imaging, endoscopy, pathology, molecular biology, surgery, radiotherapy and medical oncology of rectal cancer and liver metastases, the chapters offer a comprehensive view on the latest recommendations in diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment. Every clinician involved in the care of patients with rectal cancer will find this book interesting and helpful.

This monograph summarizes state of the art knowledge regarding peritoneal surface malignancies, with in-depth description of treatment options and the results achieved to date. It explores the most challenging problems on the basis of the authors’ very extensive clinical experience and examines the most relevant clinical trials. A comprehensive summary is provided of all phase 2 studies (the only available completed studies) and of ongoing and future phase 3 studies. Particular attention is paid to the results of integrated treatment comprising cytoreduction (peritonectomy) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Helpful background information is also included on the definition and clinical assessment of each clinical form. The book, drawing on data from the entire Italian experience as well as world literature, will be an outstanding benchmark for health professionals and researchers.

This book presents the most recent developments in oncologic breast surgery and takes full account of diagnostic, pathologic, and radiologic inputs. It is divided into three parts, the first of which discusses the premises underlying the modern surgical approach to breast cancer. The second part is devoted to what might be termed the conservative program, i.e., breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery, conservative mastectomy, and sentinel node biopsy and axillary dissection. The final part of the book covers different forms of surgery and other treatments in particular settings. Topics include plastic and reconstructive surgery, DCIS surgery, radio-guided surgery, adjuvant systemic therapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, and the role of surgery in locally advanced and metastatic disease. The detailed descriptions of techniques are accompanied by numerous high-quality illustrations. This book will be of value to both experienced practitioners and surgical trainees.    ​

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) represent an opportunity to treat pancreatic tumors before they develop into aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers. Beginning with morphological classification and its clinical significance, natural history, and malignant change of both main duct and branch duct IPMNs, this book covers the whole field of IPMNs of the pancreas. It reviews the various methods of investigation: imaging, diagnostic investigation of cyst fluid, and those using pancreatic juice; and also examines aspects ranging from the development of malignancy to the timing and method of resection, focusing on both main duct and branch duct IPMNs. Aimed at residents, clinical fellows, and pancreatologists who treat patients with this common disease of the pancreas, this book is a landmark in the current understanding and future perspectives of IPMNs of the pancreas.

This book offers a complete overview on non colorectal non neuroendocrine (NCRNNE) liver metastases and describes in detail the currently available therapies. Each chapter focuses on the treatment of metastases from a particular primary malignancy and also provides valuable information on incidence, natural history and diagnosis. NCRNNE liver metastases are rare entities compared with colorectal and neuroendocrine metastases, for which the treatments are well codified. While more publications have appeared on the topic in recent years, an in-depth study has to date been lacking. Furthermore, most published series are insufficiently comparable as they comprise patients with NCRNNE hepatic metastases from a variety of primary malignancies and consequently overlook differences in tumor behavior, frequency of isolated hepatic metastases, response to neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy and interval between diagnosis of the primary tumor and the liver metastases. This book, with its more specific approach, will serve not only as an up-to-date guide to diagnosis and treatment but also as a reference on which to base future studies.

This is a novel text that highlights the controversial areas in the management of gynecological cancers. None of the topics in this book have definitive answers; they represent the everyday decision-making facing gynecologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other health professionals treating women with these conditions. This book is not to be used as a traditional textbook; it is a text that specialists and trainees will use to help them weigh up the arguments that exist in a variety of areas in the treatment of gynecological cancers. Each chapter will have two or more authors, selected either for their opposing views or for their ability to provide an opposite view or opinion to the other. The content will be evidence-based, illustrating contrasting evidence and scientific opinion in the literature. Each chapter will close on a summary indicating the direction of research needed to address the issues being discussed.

This book pursues a multidisciplinary approach, presenting chapters with updated information on various aspects of treatment for patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Authors have been selected from expert centers in Europe and the United States. The goal of this book is to comprehensively summarize recent data and provide inspiring ideas to optimize the care of patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Neuroendocrine tumors are fascinating multifaceted diseases that can primarily localize in many organs with various presentations. These tumors are rare but their increasing incidence renders likely that physicians caring for cancers may have either already faced or may be certainly exposed to diagnose and/or treat a patient with neuroendocrine tumors. Over the last years, novel therapeutic options have emerged for neuroendocrine tumors, profoundly challenging practices that had previously been the standards for decades. These include - but are not limited to - somatostatin analogues, targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase and mTOR inhibitors, antiangiogenic compounds, but also peptide-receptor targeted therapy or radioembolization. This changing field has generated novel treatment algorithms to guide medical decisions. To better understand and handle the multidisciplinary approaches that are required for optimizing the care of neuroendocrine tumor patients, physicians are now looking for references from experts and comprehensive reviews summarizing current knowledge on treatments for patients with neuroendocrine tumors.

Primum non nocere... The fact that a surgical procedure can leave any kind of pain casts a shadow over this tenet, which is seen as the basis of medical practice and anchor of its principle ethic... It is all the more surprising in that medicine has only paid attention to this paradoxical chronic pain situation for the past few years. Clarifying the knowledge acquired in this field has become all the more urgent for any care-giver today confronted by a legitimate request from patients: Why and how can a surgical procedure, which is supposed to bring relief, leave behind an unacceptable sequela? This is the approach which the contributors to this new subject of major clinical interest invite you to follow as you work your way through this book.

This book describes the current applications of the robotic system in general surgery, focusing on the technical aspects of the procedures most commonly performed by this means. It provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in robotic surgery and presents the most recently available evidence as documented in the literature. The opening chapters review robotic platforms, discuss the general advantages, limitations, and strategies of robotic surgery, and identify challenges and critical elements when setting up a robotic program. The full range of applications of the robotic system is then covered, encompassing thoracic, esophageal, gastric, hepatobiliopancreatic, splenic, colorectal, endocrine, and transplantation surgery. Detailed attention is also paid to innovative applications and future trends in the robotic platform, with inclusion of a special chapter on fluorescence imaging during robotic procedures. The book closes by considering aspects related to credentialing and privileging, such as mentoring, proctoring, and teaching modules for residents and fellows. Against the background of increasing acceptance of the robotic surgery system across the globe, this book will be invaluable for all general surgeons. There is no doubt that within general surgery the system will continue to flourish on account of its undoubted technical advantages, which minimize most of the intrinsic shortcomings of laparoscopy.

This book provides a thorough background to the emerging field of medical robotics. It covers the mathematics needed to understand the use of robotic devices in medicine, including but not limited to robot kinematics, hand-eye and robot-world calibration, reconstruction, registration, motion planning, motion prediction, motion correlation, motion replication and motion learning. Additionally, basic methods behind state-of-the art robots like the DaVinci system, the CyberKnife, motorized C-arms and operating microscopes as well as stereotactic frames are presented. The book is a text book for undergraduates in computer science and engineering. The main idea of the book is to motivate the methods in robotics in medical applications rather than industrial applications. The book then follows the standard path for a robotics textbook. It is thus suitable for a first course in robotics for undergraduates. It is the first textbook on medical robotics.