Renal Cell Carcinoma: Diagnosis and Management.

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the United States with 90% being attributed to renal cell carcinoma. Men, especially black men, are more likely to be affected than women. Renal masses, either cystic or solid, are best detected with contrast-enhanced, triple-phase computed tomography. Renal tumors are often detected incidentally during a computed tomography scan of the abdomen or chest that was ordered for unrelated symptoms. Hematuria serves as a warning sign that necessitates further evaluation and imaging leading to a diagnosis and treatment plan. Treatment options include active surveillance, ablation, nephron-sparing tumor excision, nephrectomy, and systemic treatment. Predictors of a poor prognosis include poor functional status and metastasis. In recent years new therapies have improved the prognosis for patients with metastatic disease. The family physician should be aware of risk factors (e.g., hypertension, tobacco use, exposure to trichloroethylene, familial syndromes) and lifestyle and dietary modifications that may reduce risk.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as a Novel Way to Manage Postvasectomy Pain Syndrome.

Postvasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) can be debilitating and is notoriously difficult to treat, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach. In this case report, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) was used to treat a patient with PVPS. After vasectomy, an otherwise-healthy man experienced chronic right testicular pain, aggravated by exercise, touch, and sexual intercourse, resulting in marital strain and an inability to perform routine fitness activities. Symptoms persisted for 8 years, despite lifestyle modifications, orally administered pain regimens, pelvic floor physical therapy, nerve blocks, steroid injections, epididymectomy, spermatic cord denervation, and counseling. After the patient's urologist suggested orchiectomy, his family medicine physician referred him for OMT. The OMT interventions, applied over a 4-month period, were directed at the lumbar spine, pelvis, pelvic floor, and lower abdomen. After treatment, the patient reported absence of testicular pain most of the time and described his quality of life as "10 times better." Literature review revealed no reports of OMT used to manage PVPS.

RADIOLOGY REPORT: An imaging guide to abdominal pain.

When patients present with acute nontraumatic abdominal pain, knowing what disorders and which imaging modalities to consider is essential. Let this article and handy table be your guide.