Importance Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cause of cancer and cancer death in women worldwide. In 2022, ovarian cancer was diagnosed in approximately 324 398 individuals, and 206 839 died of ovarian cancer worldwide. In 2025, it is estimated that 20 890 US women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 12 730 patients will die of ovarian cancer. Observations Approximately 90% of ovarian cancers are epithelial malignancies, of which 70% to 80% are high-grade serous ovarian cancers. Less common epithelial subtypes include endometrioid, clear cell, low-grade serous, mucinous, and carcinosarcoma. The median age at diagnosis of ovarian cancer is 63 years. Risk factors include older age, family history of breast or ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and nulliparity. Hereditary factors are associated with 25% of cases, predominantly linked to BRCA1 / 2 gene variants. At diagnosis, approximately 95% of patients experience nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and urinary urgency and frequency, and about 80% have advanced-stage disease (stage III-IV), including extrapelvic disease, ascites, and abdominal masses. Diagnostic and staging evaluation includes pelvic ultrasound; computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and serum tumor markers such as carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen. First-line treatment for early-stage ovarian cancer, defined as limited to the ovary or fallopian tube (stage I) or confined to the pelvis (stage II), is surgery (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and lymphadenectomy), followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel). With treatment, early-stage ovarian cancer has a 5-year overall survival of 70% to 95%. Advanced-stage ovarian cancer may be treated with primary cytoreductive surgery (removal of all visible cancer in the abdominal cavity) and adjuvant chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Most patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer receive maintenance therapy with bevacizumab (a monoclonal antibody that blocks angiogenesis) and/or poly–adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. With treatment, the 5-year overall survival rate for advanced-stage ovarian cancer is 10% to 40%. However, individuals with BRCA -related gene variants have a 5-year overall survival rate of approximately 70% with PARP inhibitor treatment. Despite an initial remission rate of 80%, approximately 75% of patients with advanced-stage disease have ovarian cancer relapse within 2 years. Conclusions and Relevance Approximately 21 000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually in the US, and approximately 80% have advanced-stage ovarian cancer at diagnosis. First-line treatment of early-stage ovarian cancer is surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. Treatment of advanced-stage ovarian cancer includes cytoreductive surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy, and targeted maintenance therapies such as bevacizumab and/or PARP inhibitors.
A reply to the comment on “investigating the ‘diabetes paradox’ in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy”
Transsellar and Transplanum Endoscopic Endonasal Resection of a Sellar and Suprasellar Craniopharyngioma With Virtual Reality Modeling: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
The incidence and predictors of false-negative pancreatobiliary fluorescence in situ hybridization (PB-FISH) in biliary strictures: A prospective study
Background: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is recommended as part of multimodality sampling in the evaluation of biliary strictures, but can be false negative in 40%–50% cases. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess predictors of false-negative FISH in patients with biliary strictures. Methods: Patients undergoing tissue sampling for biliary strictures from October 20 to February 22 were prospectively enrolled (NCT04572711). Procedural factors such as sampling techniques, order, and utilization of combination sampling were recorded. Results of an optimized pancreatobiliary FISH panel with locus-specific probes for 1q21, 7p12, 8q24, and 9p21 were reported per guidelines. Statistical analyses were performed using BlueSky Statistics v.10.3.1, R package v8.81. Results: Of 327 patients, 93 (28.5%) were diagnosed with malignancy. A false-negative pancreatobiliary fluorescence in situ hybridization (PB-FISH) was reported in 40 (43.1%) patients. A history of primary sclerosing cholangitis was associated with lower odds of having a false-negative PB-FISH (aOR=0.38, 95% CI=0.16–0.82, p=0.02), whereas a hilar stricture was associated with a significantly higher false-negative PB-FISH in those with cholangiocarcinoma (aOR=3.2 [1.4–7.9], p=0.009). Dilation of biliary strictures prior to brushing was not associated with a lower rate of false-negative PB-FISH. Conclusions: In this prospective study, hilar strictures were more likely to have false-negative PB-FISH. Dilation of strictures did not affect PB-FISH performance. These results can help guide PB-FISH interpretation.
Variant‐Specific Late Gadolinium Enhancement Patterns Influence Clinical Outcomes in
LMNA
‐Related Cardiomyopathy
Background Disease‐causative variants in LMNA ‐encoded lamin A/C cause a genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and systolic dysfunction. The influence of LMNA variant type/localization on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Methods Retrospective analysis of 822 genotype‐positive patients with arrhythmogenic/dilated cardiomyopathy was used to identify those with disease‐causative variants in LMNA . Data on LGE distribution and prevalence of advanced heart failure, thromboembolic and sudden cardiac death/major ventricular arrhythmia events were extracted from the electronic record and analyzed by variant type/localization. Results Among the 72/116 (62%) LMNA variant‐positive patients with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data, LGE was observed in 40/72 (56%) cases. Most exhibited a nonischemic, midmyocardial or subepicardial pattern (73%), and 6/40 (15%) showed a unique “pseudo‐infarct” transmural pattern, predominantly affecting the apical segments. All 6 patients with this distinct LGE pattern harbored C‐terminal IgD (immunoglobulin‐like domain) variants (p.Arg471His or p.Arg541His). In patients with clinically manifest disease (76/116), those with IgD‐localizing variants had a lower prevalence of atrioventricular block (25% versus 72%, P =0.002) and atrial fibrillation (50% versus 81%, P =0.019) but higher rates of thromboembolic events (42% versus 16%, P =0.038). During a median follow‐up of 37 months, IgD variant presence independently predicted sudden cardiac death/major ventricular arrhythmia (hazard ratio, 2.391 [95% CI, 1.046–5.464]; P =0.039). Conclusions LMNA missense variants localizing to IgD present a distinct apical pseudo‐infarct LGE pattern associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and thromboembolic events but reduced atrioventricular block and atrial fibrillation. Multicenter studies are warranted to develop variant‐specific risk‐stratification strategies in cardiac laminopathy.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease as a Career? Examining Encouraging and Deterring Factors in the Global ACHD Survey
Background There is a global mismatch between the number of adults with congenital heart disease and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cardiologists, potentially impacting patient outcomes. This survey explores factors influencing trainees and cardiologists' career choices in ACHD. Methods An online, anonymous global survey on demographics, ACHD as a career choice, encouraging and deterring factors assessed via a 5‐point Likert scale and open‐ended questions on recommending ACHD was distributed through targeted emails and social media. Responses meeting a 75% completion criterion were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results Among 811 included responses, most were from women (53.5%), aged 31 to 40 years (48.3%), White individuals (43.3%), non‐Hispanic individuals (85%), from outside the ACHD field (79.0%), and from North America (42.7%). Only 30.9% of non‐ACHD physicians considered specializing in ACHD despite 78.9% recommending it. Encouraging factors included awareness of ACHD significance, mentor influence, and clinical exposure. Key deterrents were inadequate financial incentives, limited job opportunities, and lengthy training. Regional variations showed that longer training duration and lack of compensation incentives were the main deterrents in North America. Suggested solutions included structured training programs, salary improvements, and early ACHD exposure during medical education. Conclusions Less than a third of respondents considered ACHD as a career largely due to inadequate financial incentives, limited job opportunities, and long training duration. Addressing these barriers could enhance recruitment and help meet the growing demands of the ACHD population.
Diagnostic Neuromuscular Ultrasonography of Spinal Accessory Nerve Injury After Cosmetic Rhytidectomy
ABSTRACT Iatrogenic spinal accessory nerve (SAN) injuries can occur as complications of posterior triangle of the neck surgery, resulting in lateral scapular winging and a shoulder droop. Rarely has this complication been described after a cosmetic rhytidectomy (face‐lift procedure). Here, we present two cases of iatrogenic SAN injuries that occurred after cosmetic rhytidectomies. The use of electrodiagnostic and ultrasound examinations provides invaluable information to assess peripheral nerve injuries. Electrodiagnostic testing can confirm the presence and severity of the injury, while ultrasound can provide additional anatomical information and direct visualization to confirm the continuity of the nerve and assess muscle denervation changes.
ERRATUM: Aberrant DNA hypermethylation of SDHC: a novel mechanism of tumor development in Carney triad
Abstract Background Methylation class pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (mcPXA) comprises tumors with the DNA methylation signature of classical PXA but with a wider histologic spectrum, including overlap with glioblastoma (GBM). Methods To clarify the histologic and molecular scope of mcPXA and characterize its clinical behavior, a cohort of 469 tumor samples from 458 patients matching to mcPXA by the DKFZ classifier (v12.6 score ≥0.85) was interrogated. Results Patient median age was 23 years (range 1-73 years) with a female predominance (259 female/199 male). CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion was observed in 406 of 469 (87%) samples. In samples tested for BRAF p.V600E mutations (n = 279), 240 (86%) harbored the mutation. A chr7+/chr10− pattern was observed in 103 of 469 (22%) samples. Among samples tested for TERT promoter mutations (n = 143), 32 (22%) harbored the mutation. Progression-free and overall survival of patients with mcPXA were comparable to patients with methylation class IDH-mutant astrocytoma, low grade, but a GBM-like subset (ie, cases with a pre-methylation working diagnosis of GBM) showed shorter survival. Histologic features of high grade, including palisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation, were prognostic in mcPXA. Compared to patients with BRAF p.V600E-altered GBM, patients with mcPXA were younger and had a lower frequency of TERT promoter mutations. Conclusion Tumors in mcPXA share molecular characteristics with histologically defined PXA, and high-grade histologic features can help predict their clinical behavior. The use of an epigenetic classification of PXA reveals that this group of tumors is more common than previously appreciated and warrants in-depth study to identify efficacious therapeutic options.