ABSTRACT
A retrospective study was performed of 17 dogs and seven cats with various stages of thymoma treated with radiation alone or as an adjunctive therapy. Analysis revealed an overall response rate of 75% (15/20 evaluable cases). Partial (i.e., >50% reduction in tumor size) and complete (i.e., no detectable tumor) responses were included. Complete responses were rare (4/20). Three of five animals with stable disease (i.e., <50% change in tumor size) had improvements in clinical signs, despite lack of measurable response. A median survival time of 248 days (range, 93 to 1,657+ days) was achieved in dogs, and a median survival time of 720 days (range, 485 to 1,825+ days) was achieved in cats. Radiation therapy appears to be useful in the management of invasive thymomas in dogs and cats.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/radiotherapy , Dog Diseases/radiotherapy , Thymoma/veterinary , Thymus Neoplasms/veterinary , Animals , Cat Diseases/mortality , Cats , Dog Diseases/mortality , Dogs , Female , Male , Records/veterinary , Retrospective Studies , Survival Analysis , Thymoma/radiotherapy , Thymus Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The medical records of 13 dogs (10 spayed females, one intact male, one castrated male, and one dog of unknown gender) with histopathologically diagnosed thyroid carcinoma that were treated with cisplatin chemotherapy were reviewed. The mean age was 10.6 years. Three of the dogs were beagles. One dog had a c-cell medullary carcinoma, while the remaining 12 had follicular thyroid carcinoma. Eight of 13 dogs had tumors greater than 5 cm in diameter. In all 11 tumors for which information was available in the medical record, the masses were attached to underlying tissue. One dog underwent a complete remission, six had partial remissions, three had stable disease, and three had progressive disease. The mean time between initiation of cisplatin chemotherapy and development of progressive disease was 223.7 days (median, 202 days), with a mean survival time of 191.8 days (median, 98 days).
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/veterinary , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Medullary/veterinary , Cisplatin/therapeutic use , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents/therapeutic use , Thyroid Neoplasms/veterinary , Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/drug therapy , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Carcinoma, Medullary/drug therapy , Cisplatin/administration & dosage , Cisplatin/adverse effects , Dogs , Female , Male , Neoplasm Staging/veterinary , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents/administration & dosage , Radiation-Sensitizing Agents/adverse effects , Retrospective Studies , Thyroid Neoplasms/drug therapyABSTRACT
This article describes a proposed model for a case management certificate program in Canada. It provides information on the Canadian context within which case management is being developed, and information on the proposed program model. Targeted to case managers, the program is to be offered by a university continuing education division. The article describes the developmental process, students' learning objectives, course content areas, university certificate requirements, and program structure and organization. Further the program model is discussed with reference to flexibility and responsiveness to individual student and employer needs.
Subject(s)
Case Management , Certification/organization & administration , Education, Continuing/organization & administration , Health Occupations/education , Canada , Curriculum , Humans , Models, Educational , Program DevelopmentABSTRACT
Three cases of disseminated cryptococcosis associated with massive levels of cryptococcal antigen in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid are presented. These patients had antigen titers of at least 1:32,768. Titers of this magnitude have not previously been reported.
