Fast Facts: Cholangiocarcinoma

Fast Facts: Cholangiocarcinoma
Author: R.T. Shroff
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 84
Release: 2021-04-08
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3318068101

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are a group of heterogeneous tumors that have traditionally had poor prognosis. Despite being rare, the global incidence of CCA has increased dramatically over the last few decades. However, alongside this, there have been advancements in our understanding, diagnosis and treatment, improving the overall survival and quality of life of patients with advanced disease. This compact yet comprehensive review of CCA serves as a guide for physicians, oncologists, allied health professionals, scientists, patients and caregivers to update their knowledge of the most recent clinical developments and most promising areas of research. Table of Contents: • Pathophysiology, etiology and epidemiology • Diagnosis • Biliary drainage and supportive care • Surgical resection and transplantation • Translational research • Systemic therapy • Immunotherapy • Radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy

Fast Facts: Cholangiocarcinoma for Patients and their Supporters

Fast Facts: Cholangiocarcinoma for Patients and their Supporters
Author: Crystal Denlinger
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 50
Release: 2021-04-08
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3318068128

Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) is a cancer of the bile duct and liver. A person can seem healthy and/or can have a variety of symptoms, such as weight loss, bloating, abdominal pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes), itchy skin, dark urine and/or pale stools. The location of the tumor within the liver/bile duct and its size and spread to other areas of the body will determine the cancer treatment plan. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, liver transplant, targeted therapies and clinical trials. This book aims to help patients understand their options, enabling informed decisions, in conjunction with their doctor and other members of the medical team, about their cancer treatment. Table of Contents: • Understanding cholangiocarcinoma • How does cholangiocarcinoma develop? • Symptoms • Seeing your doctor • Diagnostic tests and procedures • Staging • Biomarker testing • Multidisciplinary teams and tumor boards • Surgery • Radiation therapy • Systemic therapy • Treatments and schedules • Infusion therapy • Clinical trials • What new treatments are being studied? • Targeted treatments • Taking part in research • Palliative procedures • Stents • Reducing side effects • Follow-up care • Outlook • If treatment is unsuccessful • Coping • Being supported • What can I do to help myself?

Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Patients and their Supporters

Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Patients and their Supporters
Author: F. Shanahan
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 50
Release: 2019-10-24
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3318065420

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is in fact two long-term conditions – ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease – that cause problems in the digestive system. No two patients with IBD have the same experience. How the disease progresses, the type of complications and the response to treatment all differ from person to person. The information in this booklet is designed to help you and your family better understand your IBD, its treatment and how you can help yourself. With simple clear illustrations, explanation of medical terms and space to write down the questions you want to ask your doctor or nurse, this resource will help you take control of your condition.

Fast Facts: Pancreas and Biliary Tract Diseases

Fast Facts: Pancreas and Biliary Tract Diseases
Author: Manoop S. Bhutani
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2017-10-09
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1908541946

Pancreaticobiliary diseases are extremely common, and all primary care staff will encounter patients with diseases of the pancreas and biliary tract. Rapid differentiation, diagnosis, treatment and/or referral to a specialist must be made to avoid serious life threatening consequences. It is therefore essential that every clinician has at least a basic understanding in this area. 'Fast Facts: Pancreas and Biliary Tract Diseases, 2nd edn' provides a clear and concise guide to diagnosis and management of these diseases. It is an invaluable resource for primary care providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical students, medical residents, interns, house physicians and all other health professionals faced with the challenge of caring for patients with diseases of the pancreas and biliary tract. Contents: • Anatomy, physiology and epidemiology • Evaluation of pancreaticobiliary diseases • Diseases of the gallbladder • Bile duct stone disease (choledocholithiasis) • Bile duct tumors • Unusual diseases of the biliary tree • Dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi complex and gallbladder Acute pancreatitis • Chronic pancreatitis • Hereditary pancreatitis • Pancreatic adenocarcinoma • Unusual tumors of the pancreas and ampulla of Vater

Fast Facts: Molecular Profiling in Solid Tumors

Fast Facts: Molecular Profiling in Solid Tumors
Author: Parneet Cheema
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 104
Release: 2022-11-14
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3318070750

Identifying tumor-specific molecular aberrations via molecular profiling is vital for the use of targeted therapies. Understanding a patient’s unique tumor genetics provides predictive and prognostic information that enables a personalized care plan to be put in place, improving outcomes and minimizing ineffective treatments. 'Fast Facts: Molecular Profiling in Solid Tumors' provides a firm knowledge foundation of somatic molecular profiling methodologies, key information to help with the use of molecular profiling in daily practice and advice on communicating with patients about molecular testing and results. Table of Contents: • Molecular profiling: the basics • Rationale for testing • Sample collection • Test selection and process • Interpreting the report • Talking to patients • Challenges and opportunities

Fast Facts: Liver Disorders

Fast Facts: Liver Disorders
Author: Thomas Mahl
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2014-11-03
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1908541644

With rising levels of alcohol consumption, obesity and viral hepatitis infection, liver disease is presenting more and more frequently in general practice. Health professionals need to be adept at isolating the cause of disease and initiating prompt action. 'Fast Facts: Liver Disorders' is designed to help primary care providers, hospital doctors and specialist nurses understand the most important issues as quickly as possible, including the indicators of severe disease in order to identify patients who need specialist referral. This succinct, practical handbook provides quick access to: • an organized approach to the interpretation of liver function tests • guidance on determining levels of alcohol consumption • the latest hepatitis B and C treatments • key information on the complications of cirrhosis • an overview of the common clinical problems associated with transplantation With its simple explanations, clear illustrations and logical algorithms, 'Fast Facts: Liver Disorders' will help you identify and correct liver disease, minimize permanent damage, and monitor and manage recovery within the community. Contents: • Investigating liver disease • Acute liver disease • Alcoholic liver disease • Drug-induced liver injury • Autoimmune liver diseases • Metabolic liver diseases • Chronic viral hepatitis • Complications of cirrhosis • Benign liver tumors, cysts, infections and abscesses • Hepatocellular carcinoma • Pregnancy and the liver • Liver transplantation

Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Author: David S. Rampton
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2016-10-17
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1910797138

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, referred to collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic debilitating disorders. IBD, particularly Crohn's disease, is increasing everywhere, most notably in the Western world where about 1 in 200 people now has the condition. This highly readable, 'zippy' fifth edition of 'Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease' provides succinct yet thorough information that will aid early recognition of these disorders and their complications, alongside practical holistic management advice. With important emphasis on the doctor–patient relationship and effective multidisciplinary services, 'Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease' is an invaluable resource for all primary care providers, hospital doctors in training, nurses, stoma therapists, dieticians, psychologists, counselors and social workers; in fact, all health professionals involved in the care of patients with IBD, as well as patients who wish to know more about their condition. Contents: • Etiopathogenesis • Clinical features and intestinal complications • Extraintestinal manifestations and complications • Diagnosis • Drugs used to treat inflammatory bowel disease • Principles of management • Medical management of ulcerative colitis • Medical management of Crohn’s disease • Surgery • IBD in pregnancy, childhood and old age • Prognosis

Liver Cancers

Liver Cancers
Author: Tim Cross
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2018-12-12
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3319922165

This book explores in detail the primary liver cancers of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma examining the pathogenesis of disease along with diagnosis and current management options together with exploration of future treatment strategies and areas of controversy. Furthermore, the book highlights management of the common secondary malignancies and touches on benign liver tumours and how to best manage these. Written in a clear and didactic style, this volume includes summaries of the key learning points and questions so that the reader can gauge their knowledge and understanding. This book is aimed to broaden the knowledge base of primary care physicians, general physicians along with specialists in hepatology, oncology and hepato-biliary surgery

Fast Facts: Glioblastoma

Fast Facts: Glioblastoma
Author: Mairéad McNamara
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2020-02-26
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1912776707

Glioblastoma (also known as glioblastoma multiforme) is a malignant intrinsic tumor thought to arise from populations of stem/progenitor cells in the brain. It is the most common aggressive intrinsic brain tumor in adults, with the potential to spread rapidly within the brain. Patients with glioblastoma face a poor prognosis, with median overall survival of approximately 15 months. However, our growing understanding of the molecular biology of gliomas means that this outlook may be improving. The identification of clinically relevant subgroups defined by specific genetic mutations is challenging the traditional delineation between low- and high-grade gliomas that has been based on histological appearance and imaging. Indeed, it is becoming clear that, as a molecular entity, a glioblastoma, which by traditional classification is a grade IV glioma, may present with a lower grade initially and then become more aggressive – an important addition to the established concept. The care of a patient with a glioblastoma requires a coordinated approach delivered by a multidisciplinary team, with the aim of maintaining quality of life for as long as possible. Here, we provide a concise overview of the diagnosis and management of glioblastoma, as well as discussion of our emerging understanding of the molecular drivers that are helping us to delineate different patient subgroups. These subgroups will, hopefully, allow more targeted treatments in the future. This resource will be of interest to all those involved in caring for patients with this aggressive brain tumor, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists, radiation oncologists, palliative care specialists, specialist nurses and medical students. Contents: • Epidemiology, pathophysiology and classification • Clinical presentation • Diagnosis • Management • Treatment of associated conditions • Emerging research and treatment

Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Fast Facts: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Author: D.S. Rampton
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2021-01-26
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3318066567

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises two idiopathic chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Understanding of the etiopathogenesis of IBD, and how best to treat it, continues to advance rapidly and has led to the need for this new edition. Chapter 1 has been substantially revised, emphasizing recent data that indicate how the gut microbiome and its human host may interact to cause IBD in genetically susceptible people. In later chapters, the latest thinking on how best to use immunomodulatory and biological drugs is discussed, along with new sections on recently introduced and imminent therapies. This book is aimed at non-specialist doctors (particularly primary care providers and hospital doctors in training), nurses, stoma therapists, dieticians, psychologists, counselors, social workers and other professionals involved in the care of patients with IBD. Contents: • Etiopathogenesis • Clinical features and intestinal complications • Extraintestinal manifestations and complications • Diagnosis • Drugs used to treat IBD • Principles of management • Medical management of ulcerative colitis • Medical management of Crohn’s disease • Surgery • IBD in pregnancy, childhood and old age • Prognosis