Editor's Note, Volume 6 Issue 6

D’Arcy Little, MD, CCFP, FRCPC
Medical Director, JCCC and HealthPlexus.NET

I am pleased to introduce the last issue of the Journal of Current Clinical Care that you can add to your holiday reading list.

Drs. Yoga Raja Rampersaud and Hamilton Hall, present Referral Criteria for Non-emergent Spinal Symptoms in the Neck and Low Back: A Survey of Canadian Spine Surgeons. The majority of the patients referred for surgical consultation are not candidates for surgery. Appropriate operative candidates endure unnecessary and potentially detrimental delays in obtaining their surgery while the rest waste time waiting to be told that surgery is not the answer. The Canadian Spine Society surveyed its membership to establish a set of practical surgical referral recommendations for non-emergent spinal problems. The results support referrals of patients with leg or arm dominant pain but, in the absence of a significant structural abnormality, discourage referring patients with neck or back dominant symptoms.

In his case study,A Large Sublingual Dermoid Removed Successfully Using a Sublingual Approach, Drs. Pradeep Shenoy and Farah Tabassum, from Campbellton Regional Hospital in New Brunswick reviews sublingual dermoid cysts that are rare lesions in the oral cavity. Common oral lesions include: ranula; benign mucosal swelling; and sublingual salivary gland tumours. Uncommon types of lesions include: thyroglossal cysts, pilomatrixomas,12 pilomatrix carcinomas, and arteriovenous malformations. The etiology, diagnostic problems, radiological findings, various treatment approaches, and histopathological findings are described in the case study.

In their article Undescended Testis, Drs. Yvonne Y. Chan, Stanley A. Yap, and Jennifer H. Yang, from the University of California Davis in Sacramento, CA, examine the most common genitourinary anomaly in boys. Undescended testis is found in 2-4% of those born full term and 20-30% of those born premature. Spontaneous descent occurs in 50-70% of cases. Physical exam is critical and sufficient in the diagnosis and characterization of testicular location. As such, imaging is not necessary prior to referral to pediatric urology as it will not affect management. Testicular maldescent impairs spermatogenesis and increases risk for testicular germ cell tumors, so timely diagnosis and intervention are key.

In his blog, Should We Keep Meeting Like This—The Place for Reunions, Dr. Mchael Gordon, from the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto reminisces about attending his uniersity reunions and the importance of meeting with old friends and colleagues.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition. Please consider commenting or submitting an article of your own.

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season!