Radiographic Course of Medically Managed Pediatric Orbital Subperiosteal Abscesses.

PURPOSE: To describe the natural radiographic course of subperiosteal orbital abscesses that were managed medically in pediatric patients. METHODS: A retrospective case review was undertaken at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics of Kansas City, Missouri. All patients admitted to the hospital and diagnosed as having orbital cellulitis or subperiosteal abscess from 2008 to 2017 were included in the study. Of the 418 patients identified, 15 patients had repeat imaging and did not undergo surgery prior to the second scan. The initial size of the empyema, size of the empyema on repeat imaging, and clinical course were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The size of the empyemas increased 240% on average in the first 2 to 3 days. Imaging up to 11 days after the diagnosis showed that 9 cases persisted; meanwhile, 4 cases had radiographic resolution, with the earliest by 21 days. Two cases recurred months later. The largest increase in size was 500% over 3 days, but the initial empyema was only 0.3 cm3. CONCLUSIONS: This review describes the natural history of radiographically reimaged subperiosteal empyema. Empyema size will increase for a few days prior to a gradual resolution in 1 to 3 weeks. An ultimate resolution of radiographic evidence of an empyema takes up to 21 days. This information will help guide clinical management and decision making in caring for patients with pediatric orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal empyema. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(6):387-392.].

Aspirin use is associated with lower prostate cancer risk in male carriers of BRCA mutations.

Previous studies have shown that male BRCA mutation carriers stand at increased risk of developing prostate cancer and have concerns about developing cancer. Genetic counseling practitioners often discuss strategies for reducing the risk of cancer for patients at high risk due to their genetic background. Addressing modifiable health habits is one such strategy. Unfortunately, modifiable risk factors for prostate cancer have only been documented in the general population and have not yet been studied in the BRCA carrier subpopulation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify modifiable risk factors for prostate cancer in BRCA carriers. We examined prostate cancer risk factors in 74 men who were part of families with a BRCA mutation. This study examined nine dichotomous variables including: exercise, history of vasectomy, smoking history, alcohol use, finasteride use, statin use, aspirin use, coffee use, and vitamin use. The survey was sent to all cases of prostate cancer in the Hereditary Cancer Center Database at Creighton University with a known BRCA status. This study confirmed the protective benefits of daily aspirin use, which have been observed in previous studies of the general population, and suggests its benefit in BRCA carriers. Protective benefits from regular vigorous exercise and daily coffee use trended towards significance, but neither factor withstood the Bonferroni Correction for multiple comparisons.